The Pack is Back: Wolf population up on Isle Royale

Posted on by farlane
Isle Royale Wolf Pack by Isle Royale National Lakeshore

Isle Royale Wolf Pack by Isle Royale National Park

The Smithsonian shares that the Isle Royale wolf population has reached the highest level in nearly 50 years. This is an excellent article you should read in full that begins:

After completing their annual survey this year, scientists estimate 37 of the apex predators are now roaming around Isle Royale, a 132,000-acre U.S. national park that’s part of Michigan and located near Thunder Bay, Canada. The moose population, meanwhile, has declined to an estimated 524 animals, according to a report released in April.

Together, the new figures suggest Isle Royale is returning to a healthier predator-prey dynamic after years of imbalance.

“The wolf and moose populations are now approaching the edge of where they have been in the past, with moose low and wolves high,” says Rolf Peterson, an ecologist at Michigan Technological University and co-leader of the Isle Royale Wolf-Moose Project, in a statement.

The photo is from a 2021 post by Isle Royale National Park about GPS collars they use to monitor wolf packs and their dynamics that are referenced in the Smithsonian article.

Michigan in Pictures has lots more about wolves & Isle Royale. One highlight is a look at where we were just over a decade ago in April of 2015 when the Freep reported that wolves were almost gone from Isle Royale.

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American Kestrel helping Michigan Cherry farmers

Posted on by farlane
American Kestrel by Kevin Povenz

American Kestrel by Kevin Povenz

MyNorth shares that northern Michigan cherry farmers are turning to the tiny American kestrel to protect orchards from pests:

In 2010, Dr. Catherine Lindell, an avian ecologist and associate professor at Michigan State University, began hearing that Michigan fruit farmers struggled to manage the birds that fed on their crops. “Because American kestrels search for already-existing cavities to nest in, it’s possible to lure them to specific places in the landscape, like orchards, by putting up nest boxes,” Lindell explains. A small wooden box, properly placed, can reshape an ecosystem.

In Leelanau County, farmers have installed these nestboxes along the orchard’s edges for more than a decade. The idea is simple: Give this native bird of prey a home, and it will manage the smaller birds, mice and voles that peck and spoil ripening fruit. Cherries define summer in NoMI—from farm stands along M-22 to slices of pie cooling on windowsills. When damage drops, profits rise. Protecting the fruit protects a way of life.

Read on for lots more & it’s always good to see the Michigan Agricultural College making farming better!

Kevin took these photos way back March of 2015 at the Outdoor Discovery Center in Holland. You can see a lot more great photos in his Birds of Prey gallery. For sure follow him on Flickr or at Kevin Povnez Photos on Facebook for the latest!

PS: If you want to learn more about the American Kestrel aka the Sparrowhawk, there’s a Michpics post featuring another of Kevin’s fantastic photos!

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Michigan’s nightmarish Spring weather is here to stay

Posted on by farlane
Cheboygan Flooding by MSP Emergency Management

Cheboygan Flooding by MSP Emergency Management

mLive shares that if you enjoyed Michigan’s tumultuous spring weather bursting dams and wiping our bridges, you’re in luck because scientists say that this disastrous flooding will only get worse as aging infrastructure meets extreme storms:

From record flooding to devastating ice storms, Michigan has been hit by a string of extreme weather disasters in recent years, and scientists say it’s exactly what a warming planet foretells. The latest example is widespread flooding this spring that pushed rivers and lakes over their banks, damaging homes, roads and bridges while raising concerns about dam safety across the state.

…Scientists say this pattern is consistent with a warming climate and serves as a warning that Michigan’s infrastructure must be upgraded to keep pace.

Research shows that for every 1-degree Fahrenheit increase in temperature, the atmosphere can hold about 4% more water vapor. That has contributed to a 45% increase in heavy downpours in the Midwest over more than six decades, according to Climate Central.

“The warming atmosphere can carry and transport more moisture,” said Andrew Gronewold, a hydrology researcher and associate professor at the University of Michigan’s School for Environment and Sustainability. This water that’s getting dumped on us is being carried by a bigger bucket in the sky. It’s gathering moisture from the oceans. It gathers moisture from across land surface, across the continent, and a lot of it gets dumped right in our region here,” he said.

Read on for a whole lot more at mLive (note: you may need to access the story through their Facebook page).

When I found today’s photo, I also learned of a faith-based group called Mercy Chefs who worked to help feed people displaced by the flooding in Cheboygan. I also included a few Michigan Department of Natural Resources photos from the Cheboygan area in late April after their historic round of flooding & dam breaches. Lots more from recent years at the Flood tag on Michigan in Pictures.

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It’s not your imagination: Meteors & fireballs are bigger this year

Posted on by farlane
Meteor Strike? by Matt Kazmierski

Meteor Strike? by Matt Kazmierski

The first quarter of 2026 has produced a significant surge in large fireball events, and the American Meteor Society says that the data shows a pattern that warrants serious investigation. This article is for sure wonky but the topline takeaway is that more sightings seen by more people, especially those accompanied by sonic booms mean bigger objects:

The AMS fireball reporting system has been in continuous operation since 2005 and reached maturity around 2016–2018, with annual Q1 event totals stabilizing in the range of 1,100–1,400 events. What follows is an analysis of Q1 data from 2011–2026, with particular attention to the 2021–2026 window where the reporting platform has been fully stable.

The most important finding from our analysis is that the total number of fireball events is not dramatically unusual. Q1 2026’s 2,046 total events is the highest on record but only marginally above 2022 (2,037) and 2021 (1,947). If this were simply a matter of more people filing reports, we would expect a proportional increase across all witness-count thresholds. That is not what we see.

…At the 25+ report threshold, 2026 has produced 61 events versus a 2021–2025 average of roughly 43—up about 42%. At 50+ reports, 2026 has 38 events versus an average of 18—more than double. And at 100+, the count of 14 is twice the average of 7. The signal gets stronger as the threshold rises, which is the hallmark of a genuine physical change in the incoming material, not a reporting artifact.

…If the fireballs were simply being seen by more people due to favorable conditions, we would not expect changes in the physical characteristics reported by witnesses. But the data shows an elevated rate of delayed sound reports—sonic booms reaching the ground—which requires objects that penetrate deep enough into the atmosphere to produce pressure waves.

You can (and should) read on for lots more if you are interested!

Matt shared this photo back in 2018 & says he was just kidding about the “meteor strike” part 😉 Check out his showcase on Flickr for more.

Here’s a video of a November 4, 2026 fireball captured from multiple weather cams on the Michigan Storm Chasers network.

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Lyrid Meteor Shower and the dust of Comet Thatcher

Posted on by farlane
Lyrid Star Trails by Daniel Frei

Lyrid Star Trails by Daniel Frei

SpaceWeather.com is one of my go-to sources for information about what’s going on up there, and they explain that what’s going TONIGHT is the peak of the annual Lyrid Meteor Shower:

Every year in late April Earth passes through the dusty tail of Comet Thatcher (C/1861 G1, named by A.E. Thatcher in 1861), and the encounter causes a meteor shower–the Lyrids. This year the shower peaks on Saturday night, April 21st. Forecasters expect 10 to 20 meteors per hour, although outbursts as high as 100 meteors per hour are possible.

Lyrid meteors appear to stream from the bright star Vega in the constellation Lyra. In fact, Lyrids have nothing to do with Vega. The true source of the shower is Comet Thatcher. Every year in April, Earth plows through Thatcher’s dusty tail. Flakes of comet dust, most no bigger than grains of sand, strike Earth’s atmosphere traveling 49 km/s (110,000 mph) and disintegrate as streaks of light.

Lyrid meteors are typically as bright as the stars in the Big Dipper, which is to say of middling brightness. But some are more intense, even brighter than Venus. These “Lyrid fireballs” cast shadows for a split second and leave behind smokey debris trails that linger for minutes. Occasionally, the shower intensifies. Most years in April there are no more than 5 to 20 meteors per hour during the shower’s peak. But sometimes, when Earth glides through an unusually dense clump of comet debris, the rate increases.

Our friends at EarthSky share that the pre-dawn hours of April 22nd are best to see the Lyrid Meteor Shower & they also have info about catching a last glimpse of Comet Panstarrs.

Daniel took this photo back in April of 2013 and shares “I went out in an attempt to catch some meteors from the Lyrid Meteor shower. I was very unlucky and didn’t catch any. My methodology for shooting the meteors is to just find a composition and set it up to take as many 30 second exposures that I am willing to wait through. In this case, 182 exposures. This way if I don’t catch a meteor, I still get some star trails to show off.” See more in his Moon & Stars gallery on Flickr and view & purchase his work on his website.

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NASA wants a Moon base

Posted on by farlane
Airplane passing the moon by Saad M.N.B.

Airplane passing the moon by Saad M.N.B.

Our friends at EarthSky share details on news that NASA is prioritizing the development of a moon base within 5 years:

The announcements build on recent updates to the Artemis program. Artemis 2 will carry a human crew around the moon and back. It might launch as soon as early April. The new initiatives include standardizing the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket configuration and to add an additional mission in 2027. Plus it plans on undertaking at least one surface landing every year thereafter.

Additionally, Artemis 3 – scheduled for 2027 – will focus on testing integrated systems and operational capabilities in Earth orbit. That will be in advance of the Artemis 4 lunar landing. Looking beyond Artemis 5, NASA will begin to incorporate more commercially procured and reusable hardware to undertake frequent and affordable crewed missions to the lunar surface. Plus, NASA will initially target landings every six months, with the potential to increase cadence as capabilities mature.

To achieve a lasting human presence on the moon, NASA also announced a phased approach to building a lunar base. As part of this strategy, the agency intends to pause Gateway in its current form and shift focus to infrastructure that enables sustained surface operations. Despite challenges with some existing hardware, the agency will repurpose applicable equipment and leverage international partner commitments to support these objectives.

The photographer shared this back in 2018. Head over to their Flickr for more great shots!

EarthSky’s Deborah Byrd has an interview with space journalist Eric Berger of Ars Technica. Berger explains the peak-risk moments of the upcoming 10-day Artemis  2 mission & gives an insider’s look at the changes announced on February 27 for the Artemis program.

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Great moments in Michigan Equinox history

Posted on by farlane
Day 188/365 "Equinox" by PhotoLab507

Day 188/365 “Equinox” by PhotoLab507

Spring officially begins today with the vernal equinox at 10:46am, and the statewide forecast from NOAA looks like it will more or less cooperate with highs in the 60s in southern Michigan and the entire state expected to top freezing today – a welcome respite!

The photographer shared this way back in 2008, writing “MOMENTS after I took this shot, I balanced this egg on this nail. Unfortunately I didn’t “catch” that event but here is the lead-up to it. So, an egg CAN balance on the head of a nail on spring equinox.” So close!! For sure follow them on Flickr for the latest!

There’s lots more science on Michigan in Pictures, but to be strictly scientific, the equinox has no measurable effect on your ability to balance an egg! With that said, would love to see your egg balancing photos!!

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Let the sun shine brightly in March

Posted on by farlane

Let me first wish a very happy 313 Day to the city of Detroit & all who love it! There is no city that I would rather be from, and none that I’d rather live in. Then let me also say that I think it’s kind of hilarious that I was looking for the perfect photo to celebrate the city and already had it queued up for a post!

Let the sun shine bright on the city by Scott Laidlaw

Let the sun shine bright on the city by Scott Laidlaw

USA Today shares that the dramatic increase in daylight in March is part of a fascinating and unbalanced yearly cycle:

While sunrise and sunset times are constantly on the move, sunlight rapidly increases in March (and rapidly decreases in September). During the month of March, some parts of the United States will add over an hour-and-a-half of sun by the end of the month.

…The increase in daylight, or the amount of time the sun spends above the horizon, will be most obvious in the northernmost parts of the U.S., which will face the sun more directly as the Northern Hemisphere tilts toward the sun on Earth’s axis at a 23.5-degree angle, according to Brandon Buckingham, a meteorologist at AccuWeather.

FYI, Michigan will pick up between 80 and 100 minutes of daylight this month.

Scott took this back in 2020 and he notes how 3-D it looks. You can see more in his massive Detroit gallery & for sure follow him on Flickr for the latest!

The mural was the 100th painted by Detroit artist Waleed Johnson which is pretty amazing when you consider how much work it is to paint a mural!

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Sun Pillar vs Sun Pillar

Posted on by farlane

Sun Pillars by Stephen Michael Mannina

Atmospheric Optics explains that the mesmerizing solar phenomena known as sun pillars are:

…Typically visible near sunset or sunrise, pillars can reach heights of 5 to 10 degrees, and occasionally even higher. While they may appear as vertical rays, they are actually the collective glints of millions of ice crystals. When it comes to colors, pillars are truly a sight to behold. They take on hues that reflect the sun and surrounding clouds, ranging from brilliant white to various shades of yellow, red, or purple. Depending on the locations of the cloud crystals, pillars can even manifest as several vertically strung patches of light. As the light interacts with the ice crystals in the atmosphere, it creates a stunning display that captivates observers.

Yesterday morning, I came across this photo by Stephen right before I saw him making a positive comment on a photo that Sean – the photographer I featured yesterday – had taken. This was soon after I had seen photos Neil Weaver had taken at an ice cave photography workshop along with fellow Michpics photographer Aubrieta Hope. It made me realize that a huge and underrated part of Michigan in Pictures is the community of real live human beings that are as passionate about their fellow photographers as they are about introducing people to their favorite parts of Michigan. That’s a long way of saying that I am going to be working on ways to showcase the people out there clicking the shutter. One way will be to revive the Michigan Photographer Profiles with a focus on the photographers on my Michigan Photographers page. Stay tuned!!

Thanks to Stephen for allowing me to share both of these awesome sun pillar shots. He’s facing a problem that many photographers face: figuring out which of these two photos is the best to submit for a photography contest? Have a vote? Share it in the comments below or on his Facebook post and for sure view & purchase his work on his website!

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Thundersnow Season

Posted on by farlane
thundersnow aftermath by Christian Collins

thundersnow aftermath by Christian Collins

A reader commented that they had seen lightning & heard the rumble of thunder yesterday, an observation shared by numerous folks around the state. Although a lot of the online articles are hyping up thunder snow as a dangerous or abnormal phenomenon, it’s not.

The NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory’s Severe Weather 101 explains that although thunderstorms are less common in the winter, sometimes lightning does occur within a snowstorms and is called thundersnow. Thundersnow can be found where there is relatively strong instability and abundant moisture above the surface, such as above a warm front. Thundersnow is sometimes observed downstream of the Great Salt Lake and the Great Lakes during lake-effect snowstorms too.

Christian took this back in February if 2017. See more in his barns – graneros gallery on Flickr.

PS: If anyone in the Upper Peninsula captured yesterday’s thundersnow on video, the National Weather Service Marquette Office would love to see it!

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