February is national bird feeding month
Bird feeder variety will attract more birds. It is not necessary to become elaborate but some features may cost more upfront and will save money over time.
View ArticleLeaf Experiences
The best learning is a family experience with fun. I was raking leaves and thought about my girls helping or thinking they were helping. Then I thought about when I helped my dad rake leaves or thought...
View ArticleSigns of Spring
Mary Lou Fuller, of Solon Township, sent us this picture of a hawk having his afternoon meal in the lilac bush right outside her kitchen window.
View ArticleGiant Swallowtail
Immobile and vulnerable all winter, the Giant Swallowtail waits. It has many adaptations for survival. During the winter wait, it is too cold to do anything but wait.
View ArticleBird Watching Hotspots
Almost 100 bird watching “Hotspots” is listed for Kent County on ebird. Ebird is a web site where people enter bird-sighting observations. The benefit of entering data to ebird for you is the site...
View ArticleWhy are these robins spotted?
Jennifer August, of Solon Township, sent us this photo of an American Robin, with feathers that look like they are missing some pigment.
View ArticleWhat kind of bird is this?
Jennifer August of Solon Township has been seeing some bright blue birds around her home, and this week she brought in some photos she had taken over the weekend.
View ArticleWarblers Come and Go
Most warblers pass through our yards unnoticed during April and May, and again in August and September. Some stay to raise a family.
View ArticleEaster Egg Bird
By Ranger Steve Mueller What you call it is not as important as what you enjoy about it. In the spring, this bird leaves Michigan’s cozy balmy winter residence, for regions to the north, where it...
View ArticleChanges in Animal Communities
By Ranger Steve Mueller Ernest Thompson Seton and his naturalist partner studied caribou, arctic hares, wolves, arctic foxes, Canada Geese, Lapland Longspurs, Ptarmigans, and many other animals...
View ArticleWatching like a hawk
Mike DeGroot, of Solon Township, sent us this photo of a bird he saw in his backyard recently. “I spotted this bird closely watching over my squirrel feeder in my backyard on White Creek Avenue,” he...
View ArticleSpring to summer wildflowers
By Ranger Steve Mueller The transition from spring wildflowers to summer wildflowers is nearly complete. The greatest difference is whether the plants flower under leafless trees or flower under...
View ArticleI spy; a spider
Mike Cook, of Solon Township, brought this large spider into the Post, which he found under his porch. His friend wanted to take it out of the jar for a picture, but we were perfectly happy to leave it...
View ArticleBig Year Birder Speaks
By Ranger Steve Mueller The Big Year movie showed in area theaters in 2011, and featured Greg Miller, played by Joe Black, in the movie. The movie was about three men trying to see as many bird...
View ArticleRiver fishing challenges
Fishing inland lakes in summer and ice fishing in winter is wonderful outdoor exposure. It’s a joy to look through the ice hole and observe swimming fish. Ice shanties create a dark room and sun...
View ArticleFall Ephemerals
Fall has a resurgence of some spring activity but has its own unique ephemerals. Anxiously we wait for the fall color pageant. By August, cherry trees were dropping red and yellow leaves and sugar...
View ArticleWho was that?
A brown sparrow-sized bird captured my attention. A luminescent white shown from its throat. Narrow black lines framed the white on sides and bottom. Have you identified the bird? Noticing key field...
View ArticleSelective hearing and response
A naturalist walking in an urban area mentioned a bird song. The friend said he could not hear it over city noise. The naturalist dropped a dime on the sidewalk behind his friend who immediately...
View Article365 days of new
New sightings, sounds, smells, tastes, and touch are waiting for you to experience. Do not miss the opportunity to explore nature niches everyday. Spend a few minutes outside reaping at least one...
View ArticleChristmas Bird Count 2015
Fifty-three species of birds were seen (Table 1) by 48 traveling observers and 16 bird feeder watchers on January 2, 2016.
View Article
