We had a clear night for watching birds from the overlook and along the trails at Haehnle.  Highlights include both black and yellow-billed Cuckoos, 6 migrating warbler species, two Common Nighthawks, and another Black-Crowned Night Heron again this week.  Cranes were few, with only two in the march but they did not stay overnight in Mud Lake Marsh.

eBird checklist is available at:  https://ebird.org/checklist/S73905577

Crane counters:   Gary Siegrist, Ross Green, & Steve Jerant
Compiler:  Steve Jerant
Submitted by Steve Jerant

Crane Count:  0 (9 observed in the area)
Species count:  45

Jackson Audubon lost a lifetime member and former board member in the passing of Paul Brencher on September 11.

Paul Brencher was a true gentleman who had 0 enemies. He kept his love for plants and the natural world, his desire to rope in others, and his Boilermaker fandom membership to the very end. He left tons of friends who owe him our thanks. –MK

His obituary is available on the Jackson Citizen Patriot.

Members of JAS at Paul's memorial on September 19.

Donations in Paul's memory may be made to The Nature Conservancy Michigan Chapter, Jackson College Foundation nursing program scholarships, or a conservation organization of your choice.

From Gary Mason, JAS VP:
Jackson Audubon Society cares deeply about the welfare of our members and the broader Jackson community. We are carefully considering which of our programs and events we should still offer and which ones we should cancel, in light of the Coronavirus concerns. We are cancelling our April program, but our upcoming spring waterfowl field trip will still be held (with appropriate precautions urged for all participants). Our Tuesday Morning outings are cancelled until further notice. We are seeking to follow the guidelines set forth by health officials and Michigan Audubon. We encourage everyone to be safe and look for ways to help and support others during this challenging time.

Michigan Audubon Response to COVID-19

Fourteen JAS members came out on Tuesday for our annual Haehnle Sanctuary winter tour and a search for the elusive Golden Eagle.  Gary Siegrist, Haehnle's director, was on hand for a guided tour of the grounds.  After a brief history of the sanctuary we walked the nature trail past winter stands of native grasses and into the woods. 

Several habitat restoration projects are underway and Gary provided insight into the process and showed results of the work.  We walked out the prairie in the back of the preserve and saw results of a recent burn and planting.

After the Haehnle walk, we drove out to the Dalton/Hawkins Rd. area near the old Jackson Prison grounds.  We spotted a Golden Eagle, Bald Eagle, Red-Tailed Hawk, and Northern Shrike.  A flock of about 30 American Robins helped raise the temperature a few degrees.  Later, while looping back, a few of us also saw a light morph Rough-legged Hawk.

We finished out with a lunch at the Clear Lake Grill.

Haehnle eBird Checklist
Dalton/Hawkins eBird Checklist

​by Lynne Eckerle

Jackson Audubon’s Tuesday Morning Group traveled to Hidden Lake Gardens in Tipton on January 14^th for Robert Ayotte’s presentation, Environmental Toxidromes, Rashes, Poisonings and Enviromation.  Enviromental Toxidromes are substances that create a syndrome caused by dangerous toxins in the body.  Common symptoms include dizziness, disorientation, nausea, vomiting and shaky or blurred vision.  Enviromation is the exposure to a poison or toxin resulting from a bite or sting from an animal such as a snake, scorpion, spider, insect or from marine life.

​It is surprising the number of plants, insects and animals that cause physical and sometimes physiological reactions.  These effects range from the barely noticeable to sneezing and itchy eyes caused by pollens, severe rashes from touching plants such as giant hogweed and a quick and painful death by ingesting poison hemlock.

​Also mentioned were the use and dangers of several mind altering substances found in nature.  The most bizarre was the practice of sucking toads for the bufotoxin they excrete as a means of self-defense.  Bufotoxin can cause hallucinations, uncontrollable salivating, coughing, vomiting and convulsions.

​Robert also lead a conifer walk around the pond; explaining how to identify the different species of trees by the formation and placement of the needles, through the shape of the trees and the structure of the pine cones.

​Robert is the Vice President of the Huron Valley Chapter of the Michigan Botanical Club.

Post and Photos by Lynn Eckerle

This week was the USFWS fall crane count.  So this is the official government count for us:  2.  Ron Hoffman & I counted in an adjacent property to the north of the sanctuary and our numbers were about the same.

eBird checklist is available at:  https://ebird.org/checklist/S61196527

Crane counters:   Gary Siegrist & Ross Green

Compiler:  Gary Siegrist

Submitted by Steve Jerant

Crane Count:  02 (21 observed in the area)

Species count:  31

115 Canada Goose

3 Trumpeter Swan -- 2 adults and one juvenile  

7 Wood Duck

6 Northern Shoveler

20 American Wigeon

75 Mallard

6 American Black Duck

15 Ring-necked Duck

9 Hooded Merganser

21 Sandhill Crane -- 2 stayed in marsh 

1 Turkey Vulture

2 Northern Harrier

2 Bald Eagle

2 Red-tailed Hawk

2 Red-bellied Woodpecker

1 Downy Woodpecker

1 Hairy Woodpecker

1 Blue Jay

8 American Crow

1 Black-capped Chickadee

2 White-breasted Nuthatch

1 Carolina Wren

2 Eastern Bluebird

7 American Robin

15 Cedar Waxwing

3 House Finch

3 American Tree Sparrow

6 Fox Sparrow -- Observed by Gary S

11 White-throated Sparrow

7 Song Sparrow

225 Red-winged Blackbird

2 Common Grackle

You can view past postings and historical crane counting data at 

Haehnle site at http://www.haehnlesanctuary.org/crane-count

The cranes are back! 

It was warm, the sun was shining, the wind was mild, the tress were in full color, only three mosquito bites-a prefect night.  I counted nearly 500 cranes last night while working as a greeter along with Carol.  In addition to the cranes, nearly 60 visitors were at the overlook or walking the trails.  In the 5 o’clock hour we had well over a hundred come in with many flying above the overlook.  Several juvenile calls were heard. 

Later, close to sunset, the reminder flew into the marsh, predominantly from the northwest.  We had some good flyovers and a strong finish for the night.

 Of note: we observed three Norther Harriers.

Due to expected bad weather tonight, this will serve as the official crane count for the week.  You can see from the low number of species below I did not have our expert birders, Gary & Ross with me.

eBird checklist is available at: https://ebird.org/checklist/S60817600

Crane counters:    Steve Jerant, Carol Strahler
Compiler:  Steve Jerant
Submitted by Steve Jerant

Crane Count:  487 observed, majority landed in the marsh
Species count:  14

60 Canada Goose

20 Wood Duck

20 Mallard

3 Mourning Dove

487 Sandhill Crane -- Total cranes observed.

4 Great Egret

3 Northern Harrier

1 Sharp-shinned/Cooper's Hawk

1 Red-bellied Woodpecker

10 Blue Jay

10 American Crow

75 American Robin

6 Cedar Waxwing

400 Red-winged Blackbird

1 Common Grackle

You can view past postings and historical crane counting data at

Haehnle site at http://www.haehnlesanctuary.org/crane-count 

JAS members came out of the morning frost to a beautiful day visit to Burke Lake Banding Station. This site is managed by MSU and is doing ongoing bird banding studies.  It's a great place to see birds up close and bird science being done in the field.  Kristy Taylor, education and outreach coordinator, walked us through two sets of mist nets used to capture the birds. 

This ongoing project depends on grant funding and birders like YOU.  Information on the station and how you can contribute is available at:  MSU Bird Observatory

Ruby-crowned kinglet

Hermit Thrush

It was a beautiful fall evening at the sanctuary.  Gloves and hats were in use, so the season is finally changing.  Crane numbers continue to be rather low and only 14 of the 24 cranes seen tonight will be roosting in Mud Lake Marsh.  It is getting colder up north as well so we expect to see more crane traffic coming down to us in the next few weeks.

Sparrows were quite active around the overlook with 5 species observed.  We had some Great Egrets and a good variety of waterfowl in the marsh.  Gary was commenting that we have not seen the Bald Eagle yet this year and the next moment one appeared in his scope.

eBird checklist is available at: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S60627547

Crane counters:   Gary Siegrist, Ross Green, & Steve Jerant
Compiler:  Steve Jerant
Submitted by Steve Jerant

Crane Count:  14 (24 observed in the area)
Species count:  42

20 Canada Goose

2 Mute Swan

2 Trumpeter Swan

15 Wood Duck

1 Blue-winged Teal

1 Northern Shoveler

3 American Wigeon

20 Mallard

7 Ring-necked Duck

2 Pied-billed Grebe

3 American Coot

24 Sandhill Crane -- 14 in marsh

1 Great Blue Heron

7 Great Egret

3 Turkey Vulture

1 Northern Harrier

1 Bald Eagle

1 Red-tailed Hawk

2 Red-bellied Woodpecker

1 Downy Woodpecker

1 Pileated Woodpecker

1 Northern Flicker

1 Eastern Phoebe

10 Blue Jay

1 American Crow

1 Black-capped Chickadee

1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet --

3 White-breasted Nuthatch

1 Eastern Bluebird

70 American Robin

14 Cedar Waxwing

7 House Sparrow

1 American Goldfinch

10 White-crowned Sparrow

20 White-throated Sparrow

35 Song Sparrow

4 Lincoln's Sparrow -

10 Swamp Sparrow

500 Red-winged Blackbird

2 Common Grackle

1 Northern Cardinal

1 Indigo Bunting 

You can view past postings and historical crane counting data at

Haehnle site at http://www.haehnlesanctuary.org/crane-count 

A quiet night at the Sanctuary.  There was very little bird activity at the overlook and in the marsh.  Ten cranes were seen and only 2 will be staying the night. 

But we did have apple pie, so...

eBird checklist is available at:  https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S60439786

Crane counters:   Gary Siegrist,  & Steve Jerant

Compiler:  Steve Jerant

Submitted by Steve Jerant

Crane Count:  2 (10 observed in the area)

Species count:  30

30 Canada Goose

3 Trumpeter Swan -- 2 adults and a signet. Our breeding pair. 

30 Wood Duck

10 Mallard

2 American Black Duck

1 Mourning Dove

2 American Coot

10 Sandhill Crane -- 2 stayed in marsh

2 Great Blue Heron

3 Great Egret

1 Turkey Vulture

1 Northern Harrier

1 Red-tailed Hawk

1 Red-bellied Woodpecker

1 Downy Woodpecker

1 Hairy Woodpecker

1 Northern Flicker

1 American Kestrel

3 Eastern Phoebe

10 Blue Jay

6 American Crow

1 Black-capped Chickadee

20 European Starling

1 Eastern Bluebird

50 American Robin

8 Cedar Waxwing

1 American Goldfinch

1 Chipping Sparrow

5 White-throated Sparrow

200 Red-winged Blackbird

You can view past postings and historical crane counting data at 

Haehnle site at http://www.haehnlesanctuary.org/crane-count