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 Jackson Audubon Society

 The Audubon Society of Jackson County, Michigan

  • Tuesday, April 02, 2019 8:26 PM | Steve Jerant (Administrator)

    Eighteen JAS members participated in a tour of Jackson county lakes to view waterfowl. Due to some scheduling and extended cold we moved the date out a bit this year for our tour of the lakes.  (The Saturday tour is April 13th).

    The weather was nice: we had partial to full sun, a bit of wind but not too cold.  The eastern sun on Watkins was not brutal so we were able to see activity on that side of the lake.

    We started at Watkins Lake SP where the highlight was a loon and the DNR's scaup trap.  Later some folks who stayed behind reported Bonaparte's gull and cackling goose. From there we found some shovelers at Norvell Lake where the Raisin river crosses Austin Rd.  Then up to Little Wolf Lake where we did not see much but the Eastern Phoebe reminded us about perhaps taking the "Early" out of the name of this tour.  We visited Grass Lake county park next where we saw some more mergansers and our first Horned Grebe.  The tour finished at Gilletts Lake with more Horned Grebes and a bunch of Red-breasted Mergansers.  After the flyover of the sharpie and Osprey some of us had lunch at Knights in Jackson.

    eBird Checklist Summary for: Apr 2, 2019

    Number of Checklists: 5
    Number of Taxa: 33

    Checklists included in this summary:
    (1): Watkins Lake SP
    Date: Apr 2, 2019 at 09:36
    (2): Norvell Lake (west)
    Date: Apr 2, 2019 at 10:26
    (3): Little Wolf Lake County Park
    Date: Apr 2, 2019 at 10:49
    (4): Grass Lake
    Date: Apr 2, 2019 at 11:29
    (5): Gilletts Lake
    Date: Apr 2, 2019 at 11:53

    2 Cackling Goose -- (1)
    162 Canada Goose -- (1),(2),(4)
    10 Mute Swan -- (1),(2),(4)
    4 Northern Shoveler -- (2)
    3 Mallard -- (2),(5)
    22 Canvasback -- (1),(2)
    10 Redhead -- (1),(2)
    30 Ring-necked Duck -- (1),(2)
    4 Lesser Scaup -- (1)
    74 Bufflehead -- (1),(3),(4),(5)
    4 Hooded Merganser -- (1)
    41 Common Merganser -- (1),(3),(4)
    17 Red-breasted Merganser -- (5)
    2 Wild Turkey -- (1)
    5 Horned Grebe -- (4),(5)
    2 Mourning Dove -- (1)
    3 Sandhill Crane -- (1),(3)
    4 Bonaparte's Gull -- (1)
    2 Ring-billed Gull -- (1)
    1 Common Loon -- (1)
    2 Great Blue Heron -- (1)
    8 Turkey Vulture -- (1),(2),(3)
    1 Osprey -- (5)
    1 Sharp-shinned Hawk -- (5)
    1 Red-tailed Hawk -- (1)
    1 Eastern Phoebe -- (3)
    2 Blue Jay -- (1)
    2 Tree Swallow -- (1),(4)
    2 Eastern Bluebird -- (1),(5)
    8 American Robin -- (1),(3),(4),(5)
    34 Red-winged Blackbird -- (1),(2)
    6 Common Grackle -- (1)
    1 Northern Cardinal -- (5)

  • Tuesday, March 19, 2019 9:02 PM | Steve Jerant (Administrator)

    We had a very successful event tonight!  Ten members of Jackson Audubon came out to the Riethmiller Rd. prairie in Waterloo Recreation area.  After all the ducks, geese, and Sandhills flew over and settled in for the evening, the show began. 

    We were looking all around for the first signs of a woodcock when we realized he was sitting on the trail about 30-40 feet from us!  There was still good light at 8:05, so he showed up well in the scope.  After we were able to get a good look at him, he flew off for what would be the first of his many displays.  During his flight he paired with another woodcock.  This is a pattern no one in our group had ever seen before.  

    The displays continued and we were able to see about six more flights. Each time our performer came down in about the same area on the trail so we were able to continue to observe him in the scope.  The full moon really helped with visibility.  While in flight, he flew to the west of us, so the receding sunset made a great backdrop for his display.

    We ran out of light and called it a night about 8:40.  

    Notable species seen:
    American Woodcock
    Rusty blackbird
    American Tree Sparrow
    Eastern Bluebird

    Full checklist of 14 species available at:  https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S54030078 

  • Tuesday, February 05, 2019 9:55 PM | Steve Jerant (Administrator)

    Gary Siegrist, Haehnle Sanctuary Director, led a group of 15 this morning on a walking tour of the property. He provided an an overview of the ongoing habitat work and future plans for the sanctuary. We walked the trail thorough the grassland into the woods to Eagle Lake.


    The tour continued with a drive to the Hawkins/Dalton Roads area in search of the Golden Eagle that is usually active in the area. Only one of the tour members got a view of the eagle but the group did get a good view of two Bald Eagles and a new nest being built nearby.

    The eBird list for the trip is posted HERE.

    Our next tour will be to Dahlem on February 19 at 9 AM.


  • Wednesday, January 23, 2019 6:28 PM | Steve Jerant (Administrator)

    Robery Ayotte brought in a large crowd (35) again this year for a presentation at Hidden lake Gardens. Folks from JAS as well as other clubs came in from the cold to hear Robert's talk on soils in Michigan. He presented this lecture at the Stewardship Network annual conference in East Lansing earlier this month.

    Summary:  

    Our forest soils are a living and vibrant matrix that has been evolving since the close of the last ice age. They are a key and stable component of forest ecosystems and provide sustenance to plant, animal, and fungal communities, which in turn, enrich the soil.

    We discussed the different classes of soil found in Michigan’s southern forests, and their glacial landform origins. Features such as soil development, horizons, texture, structure, color, nutrients, pH, and drainage class will be explored. Why do certain soils generate specific types of forest ecosystems. Comparisons will be made to soils which have been converted to agriculture.

    Are earthworms invasive? What are the threats posed from invasive species and climate change?

    Robert Ayotte is a gradual student in the field of Forest Ecology; and has previously worked for the USDA Forest Service, and Michigan Natural Features Inventory. He has applied the shovel to soils in several local forests and wetlands, and is enthused about sharing his observations

    Due to weather conditions, we did not do the planned walk to a soil pit on the property.

    Most of the JAS contingent met for lunch at Tecumseh Brewing in Tecumseh after the presentation.

  • Tuesday, January 08, 2019 8:00 PM | Steve Jerant (Administrator)

    Joe Rogers and other employees from Wildlife Recovery Co. put on a nice program to a packed audience at the Jackson Audubon Club's regular January meeting.  Wildlife Recovery Co. rehabilitates raptors that have been hit by vehicles, shot or otherwise injured and whenever possible, returns them to the wild after rehab.  Joe and company had several birds with them that have had serious, permanent injuries and thus can't be returned to the wild, so now these birds are what might be dubbed as "ambassadors" for the company.  These birds will live out their days at the Wildlife Recovery headquarters instead of perishing in the wild.  Though they are in captivity, they are loved and cared for by the handlers.

    Attached are a few photos that I took during the program.  Note that the first photo shows Courtney Bailey of Summit Garden Center with Wildlife Recovery's pet "racing" pigeon, which has "retired" from racing and is now a resident at the business.  Joe brought the pigeon into the audience and let him perch on some of the visitors' hands.  Joe had brought several raptors for the program, including a couple of screech owls, a peregrine falcon, a rough-legged hawk, a merlin , a northern saw-whet owl, a barred owl and and a great horned owl.  All of the birds were brought into the audience for the folks to see.  The younger, school-age kids really had fun seeing them up close!  During the audience walk-through, the raptors were firmly held in control by Joe and his assistants.

    It was a fun and educational evening on a cool, but snow-free winter evening in Jackson.

  • Tuesday, January 08, 2019 12:00 PM | Steve Jerant (Administrator)

    We had a great walk Tuesday out at MacCready.  We got lucky with the weather, with the clouds breaking up and the sun shinning through.  And it was in the 40's.  There ended up being 11 of us.  We picked up 3 folks in the parking lot: a couple from Tecumseh and a graduate student who is going to school in Idaho.   

    We didn't see a whole lot of birds, but the highlight for me was a kingfisher.  He stood out on a bare branch and gave everyone a really good view.  There were nuthatches, jays and we got pretty close to a red-bellied woodpecker.   Anyway, the rain held off until we were leaving the restaurant after lunch.  All in all it was a great walk.

  • Wednesday, December 05, 2018 4:08 PM | Steve Jerant (Administrator)

    We had a great turnout yesterday for our visit tot he Black Spruce Bog in the Waterloo Recreation Area.  Between JAS members and Michigan Botanical Club, 19 of us followed Robert Ayotte into the scrum to see the elusive black spruce.  Robert demonstrated methods for determining soil types and talked abut the identification and natural history of the black spruce in Michigan.

    Photos by Lynne Eckerle


    The Tuesday Morning Group will visit MacCready Preserve on January 8.

  • Monday, November 12, 2018 9:41 PM | Steve Jerant (Administrator)

    Most of the water on the marsh was frozen but a patch to the northwest was open enough for some dozens of wildfowl to gather.  We had 74 cranes come in to roost for the night. They gathered on the ice near their normal roosting location.  The weather held above freezing and we had a touch of rain after sunset.    

    eBird checklist is available at: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S49902196

    Crane counters:   Ron Hoffman, Ross Green, & Steve Jerant
    Compiler:  Steve Jerant
    Submitted by Steve Jerant

    Crane Count:  74 (106 total observed in the area)
    Species count:  24

    Species

    Count

    Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)

    20

    Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)

    2

    Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata)

    4

    Gadwall (Mareca strepera)

    2

    American Wigeon (Mareca americana)

    1

    Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

    45

    American Black Duck (Anas rubripes)

    10

    Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca)

    5

    Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris)

    200

    Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)

    5

    Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus)

    60

    Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)

    2

    Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis)

    106

    Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius)

    1

    Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

    1

    Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)

    1

    Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)

    1

    Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)

    1

    Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)

    2

    American Robin (Turdus migratorius)

    1

    European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

    7

    American Tree Sparrow (Spizelloides arborea)

    2

    Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca)

    1

    Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)

    400

    You can view past postings and historical crane counting data at http://www.haehnlesanctuary.org/crane-count


  • Monday, November 05, 2018 7:55 PM | Steve Jerant (Administrator)

    About 800 cranes were observed today but only 312 roosted in the marsh.  Most of the 500 that did not spend the night with us came down in adjoining property to the west.  The weather was fair with a good splash of golden light near sunset.  We had some great flyovers with dozens of cranes in several groups simultaneously flying above the overlook. I think the crowd of about 25 visitors enjoyed the show. 

    eBird checklist is available at: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S49704843

    Crane counters:   Don Henise & Robyn Henise, Ross Green, & Steve Jerant
    Compiler:  Steve Jerant
    Submitted by Steve Jerant

    Crane Count:  312 (802 observed flying in area)
    Species count:  35

    Species

    Count

    Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)

    200

    Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)

    2

    Gadwall (Mareca strepera)

    10

    American Wigeon (Mareca americana)

    3

    American Black Duck (Anas rubripes)

    5

    Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris)

    200

    Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus)

    29

    Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)

    1

    Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)

    7

    American Coot (Fulica americana)

    4

    Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis)

    804

    Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)

    1

    Great Egret (Ardea alba)

    2

    Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius)

    2

    Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii)

    1

    Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

    1

    Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)

    2

    Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)

    1

    Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus)

    1

    Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)

    1

    Northern Shrike (Lanius borealis)

    1

    Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)

    5

    Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)

    1

    White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)

    1

    American Robin (Turdus migratorius)

    20

    Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)

    25

    House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus)

    2

    Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus)

    2

    American Tree Sparrow (Spizelloides arborea)

    5

    White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)

    1

    Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)

    4

    Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)

    1

    Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)

    500

    Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus)

    8

    Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)

    1

    You can view past postings and historical crane counting data at http://www.haehnlesanctuary.org/crane-count
  • Monday, October 29, 2018 10:41 PM | Steve Jerant (Administrator)

    We had an estimated total of 1200 cranes seen. We counted 617 roosting in the marsh. We saw a lot of cranes to the north going down left of the barn. Ron Hoffman and Don Siegrist were counting over there tonight. It will be interesting to hear what numbers they ended up with. Ron did call early on to tell us that they had the Whooping Crane fly out going north from their sight.

    We had lots of cranes fly into Haehnle from overhead to the delight of all the visitors. The Northern Shrike made a couple of appearances. The marsh really lit up as the sun went down and we were blessed a gorgeous rainbow.

    Don’s eBird checklist is available at:  https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S49383486

    Crane counters:   Don Henise & Robyn Henise
    Compiler:  Don Henise
    Submitted by Don Henise

    Crane Count:  617 (1200 observed flying in area)
    Species count:  36

    200       Canada Goose Branta canadensis

    60         Wood Duck Aix sponsa

    3          Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata

    10         Gadwall Mareca strepera

    5          American Wigeon Mareca americana

    200       Mallard Anas platyrhynchos

    12         American Black Duck Anas rubripes

    3          Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris

    3          American Coot Fulica americana

    1200     Sandhill Crane Antigone canadensis

    617 roosting in Mud Lake Marsh

    7          Great Egret Ardea alba

    3          Northern Harrier Circus hudsonius

    2          Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus

    1          Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis

    1          Red-bellied Woodpecker Melanerpes carolinus

    3          Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) Colaptes auratus auratus/luteus

    1          Northern Shrike Lanius borealis

    35         Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata

    7          American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos

    2          Black-capped Chickadee Poecile atricapillus

    3          Tufted Titmouse Baeolophus bicolor

    1          White-breasted Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis

    7          Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis

    20         American Robin Turdus migratorius

    17         Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum

    4          House Finch Haemorhous mexicanus

    2          Purple Finch Haemorhous purpureus

    3          American Goldfinch Spinus tristis

    4          American Tree Sparrow Spizelloides arborea

    1          White-crowned Sparrow (leucophrys) Zonotrichia leucophrys leucophrys

    4          Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia

    1          Swamp Sparrow Melospiza georgiana

    2000     Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus

    8          Rusty Blackbird Euphagus carolinus

    100       Common Grackle Quiscalus quiscula

    1000     blackbird sp. Icteridae sp.

    1          Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis

    You can view past postings and historical crane counting data at http://www.haehnlesanctuary.org/crane-count 

    11/05/2018 Correction:  12004 seen in area corrected to 1200. 

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