The Tuesday Morning Group crossed the county line to visit the wildflower jewel of Washtenaw County this morning.:  The nature Conservancy's Nan Weston Preserve.     The weather cooperated and was cool and kept the mosquitos down.  Joann Balbach lead us on a walk through Trilliums in full bloom.  We also saw Spring Beauty, May Apple, Maiden Hair fern, Violets of various colors, Ragwort, Wild Strawberry, Gooseberry, Solomon Seal & False Solomon Seal, Dwarf Ginseng, Anemone, Phlox, Wild Geranium, and Ginger.

She shared her knowledge of the various species as well as some folklore and ancient remedies used for some of the plants.

On the bird front, the thrushes were quite active and Lynn Eckerle spotted a Barred Owl. 

The Tuesday Morning Group took a drive out to the Muskegon County Wastewater plant today to check out wildfowl on the west side.  Five of us drove along the dikes from the Administrative office past the aeration ponds and around the west pond.  

The sky was overcast but fair light for viewing. The wind was driving at times and the rain and snow sometimes impeded views.  the west side of the pond was pretty choppy bu the east side drive was much calmer.

There were lots of scaup and ring neck ducks.  We also saw a Bonaparte's gull and some horned grebes.  Full trip list is below.  Oh, and there were some ring-billed gulls...

Number of Taxa: 36

13 Canada Goose -- (1),(2)
3 Blue-winged Teal -- (2)
95 Northern Shoveler -- (2)
55 Gadwall -- (2)
30 Mallard -- (2)
12 Redhead -- (2)
60 Ring-necked Duck -- (2)
120 Greater/Lesser Scaup -- (2)
40 Bufflehead -- (2)
1 Common Goldeneye -- (2)
6 Common Merganser -- (2)
3 Ruddy Duck -- (2)
5 Wild Turkey -- (1)
7 Horned Grebe -- (2)
1 Great Blue Heron -- (1)
2 Turkey Vulture -- (1)
2 Red-tailed Hawk -- (1),(2)
50 American Coot -- (2)
2 Killdeer -- (2)
1 Bonaparte's Gull -- (2)
2000 Ring-billed Gull -- (1),(2)
18 Herring Gull -- (2)
1 Mourning Dove -- (2)
1 Downy Woodpecker -- (2)
7 American Crow -- (1),(2)
1 Black-capped Chickadee -- (2)
1 Tufted Titmouse -- (2)
1 White-breasted Nuthatch -- (2)
1 Eastern Bluebird -- (2)
3 American Robin -- (2)
40 European Starling -- (2)
2 American Tree Sparrow -- (2)
8 Dark-eyed Junco -- (2)
2 Song Sparrow -- (2)
20 Red-winged Blackbird -- (2)
5 Common Grackle -- (2)

Checklists included in this summary:
(1): JAS Muskegon WWT Trip
(2): Muskegon Wastewater System

The rain held off most of the morning for the annual Jackson Audubon Society Early Waterfowl Tour.  JAS president Connie Spotts lead eleven members on a driving tour of Jackson area lakes in search of local and migrating waterfowl.

We started at Watkins Lake State Park.  (And don’t you just love saying “state park” after Watkins Lake?)  While the numbers of birds were not huge, we were not disappointed.  The highlights were Common Loon, Belted Kingfisher, and Common Goldeneye.  But these were overshadowed, or overflown, by a flock of about 20 Tundra Swans to the west.

From Watkins, we checked out Norvell Lake on Palmer and Austin Roads.  We added Gadwall and our first Tree Swallows for the morning.

Next, we checked out the north part of Portage Lake in hopes of seeing the White-winged Scoter reported earlier, but did not see it.

We had lunch at nearby Portage Lake Parlor, a newly opened restaurant on Seymour Rd. at Welch Lake Rd. 

We finished the trip with two stops, in the rain, at Gilletts Lake.  We had a grebe but could not determine if it was Horned or Eared as it was in transitional plumage.

The next JAS trip is the Tuesday Morning Group’s visit to the Muskegon Wastewater facility (http://jacksonaudubon.org/event-2829557)

Total species/taxa recorded was 45, complete list is below.

Number of Checklists: 5
Number of Taxa: 45

84 Canada Goose -- (1),(2),(3),(4)
12 Mute Swan -- (1),(2)
15 swan sp. -- (1)
2 Wood Duck -- (3)
4 Northern Shoveler -- (1),(2)
3 Gadwall -- (2),(3)
2 American Wigeon -- (3)
6 Mallard -- (1),(2),(3)
1 Redhead -- (4)
180 Ring-necked Duck -- (1),(2),(3),(4)
10 Lesser Scaup -- (3)
10 Greater/Lesser Scaup -- (4)
50 Bufflehead -- (1),(3),(4)
1 Common Goldeneye -- (1)
6 Hooded Merganser -- (1),(3)
10 Common Merganser -- (1)
2 Ruddy Duck -- (3)
1 Common Loon -- (1)
3 Pied-billed Grebe -- (1),(4)
1 Horned/Eared Grebe -- (4)
4 Great Blue Heron -- (1),(2),(3)
1 Turkey Vulture -- (1)
1 Bald Eagle -- (3)
1 Red-tailed Hawk -- (1)
10 American Coot -- (4)
10 Sandhill Crane -- (2)
3 Killdeer -- (1)
1 Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) -- (5)
2 Mourning Dove -- (1)
1 Belted Kingfisher -- (1)
1 Red-bellied Woodpecker -- (3)
3 American Crow -- (1)
2 Tree Swallow -- (2)
1 Black-capped Chickadee -- (5)
1 Tufted Titmouse -- (5)
1 White-breasted Nuthatch -- (5)
1 Eastern Bluebird -- (1)
4 American Robin -- (1)
1 American Tree Sparrow -- (5)
1 Chipping Sparrow -- (5)
1 Song Sparrow -- (5)
1 Northern Cardinal -- (1)
40 Red-winged Blackbird -- (1),(2)
10 Common Grackle -- (1)
1 House Sparrow -- (5)

Checklists included in this summary:
(1): Watkins Lake SP
Date: Mar 31, 2018, 09:30
(2): Norvell Lake (west)
Date: Mar 31, 2018, 10:30
(3): Cutler Rd. and Dunn Rd. wetland
Date: Mar 31, 2018, 11:15
(4): Gilletts Lake
Date: Mar 31, 2018, 14:00
(5): JAS Early Waterfowl Tour - driving
Date: Mar 31, 2018, 09:00

Seven members of the JAS Tuesday Morning Group walked the Moeckel Rd. section of the Waterloo Recreation Area on Tuesday.  We were joined by Ron Hoffman who shared stories of his ancestors who lived in the area, including on nearby Hoffman Rd.  

The bridge over the Portage River is out due to recent high water and beaver activity.  The DNR has closed the bridge.

Gary Siegrist then led the group on a walk and showed us his favorite area of the area that he frequented in his youth.

We did see some signs of spring including some Eastern Bluebirds and a lone Song Sparrow.  Complete list of birds is available HERE.

JAS member Lynn Ward has provided article by Michigan Bluebird Society president Kurt Hagemeister on how you can Help Bluebirds in Michigan.  

MBS has announced their Spring Bluebird Festival to take place on March 24^th.  The sessions this year will include Purple Martin Conservation and Michigan Birds of Prey, in addition to those on bluebirds. 

Details on the festival are available at HERE.

Robert Ayotte presented  “Conifers of the Great Lakes Region" at Hidden Lake Gardens on Tuesday.  His excellent program was enjoyed by about 40 people from Jackson Audubon, Men's Garden Club of Jackson, North American Rock Garden Society, and the Ann Arbor Bonsai Society.   Robert provided an in-depth view of our native conifers of Michigan including habitat, pests, and natural distribution.

Steve Jerant

The indoor presentation was followed by an outdoor walk around Hidden Lake to see some of these species up close. Robert also shared some amusing and informative stories with the group.

Lynne Ekerle

Robert's Presentation is available HERE.

Steve Jerant

Special thanks to Mickey Kress for getting this arranged for the Tuesday Morning Group.

Lynne Ekerle

Lynne Ekerle

Waterloo Recreation Area 49^th Annual Christmas Bird Count 2017

The 49^th annual Jackson Audubon Christmas Bird Count was held this year on December 16^th.  Cloudy conditions and a chilly wind greeted the thirty precipitants as they split up into the ten areas that makes up the Waterloo Recreation Area Count. With temperatures reaching into the mid-thirties by afternoon the counters amassed a total of 95.25 hours in the field with 567.5 miles driven or walked. The fifteen hearty soles that went owling were treated to a cool wind blowing and temperatures in the mid-to-high twenties. Their efforts were rewarded with ten eastern screech owls, 10 great horned owls, and 1 barred owl being heard.   

With very few waterfowl found, sixty-three bird species were recorded for the count day this year with another four-bird species seen in count week but not on count day. This is a very respectable total considering that all water was frozen other than moving water. The record total for a Waterloo Recreation Area CBC happened in 2001 when we found a total of 71 bird species.

A total of 7,232 birds were counted, with Canada Goose (1,333) and European Starling (722) the most numerous bird species seen. The first ever recorded Peregrine Falcon showed up this year but not surprising with Peregrine’s staying all year around the City of Jackson. Continued rising numbers for Bald Eagles (8) is very satisfying as this regal bird species comes back from the brink of chemical poisoning in Michigan. Two other species, Pileated Woodpecker (12) and Carolina Wren (8) were found in good numbers. Lastly, Turkey Vultures (2) appeared this year and why is this unusual for the count? Well, most years this species has left for parts warmer a month ago, but not this year despite our cold temperatures.

Remember to save the 2018 CBC date, Saturday December 15^th. Thank you all for helping this CBC become one of the most successful counts we have recorded.

Gary Siegrist, Compiler  
Waterloo Recreation Area CBC      

List of bird species:

Canada Goose – 1,333

Tundra Swan – 1

Mallard – 35

Ring-neck Pheasant – 6

Wild Turkey – 209

Great Blue Heron – 3

Turkey Vulture – 2

Bald Eagle – 7

Northern Harrier – 2

Sharp-shinned Hawk – 2

Cooper’s Hawk – 8

Red-shouldered Hawk – 1 (immature)   

Red-tailed Hawk – 45

Rough-legged Hawk – 3

Peregrine Falcon – 1 

American Kestrel – 7

American Coot – 1

Sandhill Crane – 503

Rock Pigeon – 156

Mourning Dove – 652

Eastern Screech Owl – 10

Great Horned Owl – 10

Barred Owl – 1

Belted Kingfisher – 3

Red-bellied Woodpecker – 87

Downy Woodpecker – 95

Hairy Woodpecker – 20

Northern Flicker – 12

Pileated Woodpecker – 12

Northern Shrike – 1

Blue Jay – 253

American Crow – 190

Horned Lark – 64

Black-capped Chickadee – 286

Tufted Titmouse – 112

Red-breasted Nuthatch – 2

White-breasted Nuthatch – 128

Brown Creeper – 3

Carolina Wren – 8

Winter Wren – 3

Golden-crown Kinglet – 12

Eastern Bluebird – 48

Hermit Thrush – 2

American Robin – 14

Northern Mockingbird – 2

European Starling – 722

Cedar Waxwing – 235

American Tree Sparrow – 432

Field Sparrow – 1

Song Sparrow – 15

Swamp Sparrow – 6

White-throated Sparrow – 5

White-crowned Sparrow – 1

Dark-eyed Junco – 412

Lapland Longspur – 99

Northern Cardinal – 176

Red-winged Blackbird – 6

Brown-headed Cowbird – 32

Purple Finch – 9

House Finch – 96

Pine Siskin – 4

American Goldfinch – 165

House Sparrow – 488   

Total number of species – 63        Total number of birds – 7,232

Species seen count week:

Snow Bunting – 15

Common Grackle – 1

Eastern Towhee – 1

Golden Eagle – 1  

Elizabeth Dell, the State Coordinator in Michigan for Citizens’ Climate Lobby,  has sent an invitation to Jackson Audubon members to learn about this organization on Monday, 12/11.   Citizens’ Climate Lobby, is a non-partisan, grassroots advocacy organization with over 450 volunteer-led chapters dedicated to generating the political will for effective national policies to address climate change. We have 16 chapters in Michigan and are hoping to organize one in Jackson so we can more effectively work with Rep. Walberg’s office. 

This coming Monday, two volunteers will be presenting about their work at the Carnegie Library. The local Sierra Club chapter is hosting. 

More information is available at their Facebook page.

The world renowned UofM bird skins collection moved this year to a remodeled facility south of town on Varsity Dr.  The Tuesday Group visited the facility and received a tour from Janet Hinshaw, the Bird Division Collection Manager.  

This facility now contains all the vertebrate and non-vertebrate animal collections and library.  While the move is not yet complete, most of the collection specimens are in place and accessible to researchers. 

Janet showed the group samples of accipiters and thrushes to see size and plumage differences between these easily confused species.   

We also got a chance to see some species that most of us will likely not see in our lifetimes including secretary bird, Steller's Seas Eagle, and a few drawers of penguins.  We finished with a look through the 'extinct taxa' section.  There are some excellent mounts of passenger pigeon and Labrador duck.  

Crane counters observed 4 cranes landing in the marsh and 65 flybys.  With this cold weather the marsh is expected to be frozen next week so this will probably be the last count of the year.

Haehnle Sanctuary is open year-round.  We are plowing the parking lot after heavy snows, so you can enjoy the property throughout the winter.

Don’s eBird checklist of 18 species is available at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S40633278

Crane counters:   Ross Green, Don Henise, and Gary Siegrist
Compiler:  Don Henise
Submitted by Steve Jerant

Crane Count-4, ~65 observed flying in area
Species count-18

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