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 Jackson Audubon Society

 The Audubon Society of Jackson County, Michigan

  • Monday, November 02, 2015 7:40 PM | Steve Jerant (Administrator)

    Over sixty visitors were on hand for the view tonight.  Our weather was fair and we had good lighting for scopes & cameras.  There was a great final flyover between sunset & dusk of about 15 cranes which included a juvenile with its distinctive squeak sound. 


    We had a slow start and a late finish tonight.  Cranes continue to come in for their nightly roost although we had nearly 500 “fly bys” to seek another location.  At 1615, the count was lower than last week, but our historical peak week is still two weeks away.  They continued to come in past dusk and several hundred  were counted in low light.


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


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


    Crane Count-1615


    Species count- 40

    Pied-billed Grebe

    Great Blue Heron

    Turkey Vulture

    Mute Swan

    Trumpeter Swan

    Canada Goose

    Wood Duck

    Green-winged Teal

    American Black Duck

    Mallard

    Northern Pintail

    Northern Shoveler

    Gadwall

    American Widgeon

    Ring-necked Duck

    Bald Eagle

    Northern Harrier

    Sharp-shinned Hawk

    Red-tailed Hawk

    American Coot

    Sandhill Crane

    Wilson's Snipe

    Ring-billed Gull

    Red-bellied Woodpecker

    Northern Flicker

    Blue Jay

    American Crow

    Black-capped Chickadee

    Carolina Wren

    Eastern Bluebird

    American Robin

    Cedar Waxwing

    European starling

    American Tree Sparrow

    Song Sparrow

    Red-winged Blackbird

    Rusty Blackbird

    Common Grackle

    House Finch

    American Goldfinch


  • Monday, October 26, 2015 8:40 PM | Steve Jerant (Administrator)

    Ninety visitors joined us for a great night of crane viewing.  We counted over twenty five hundred cranes this evening.  The lead up was a bit sluggish, but starting about 6:30 large groups started coming in.  The full moon rose to the northeast and was a great backdrop for some of the crane groups flying by.  


    The species count was also very good.  In the 4 o’clock hour we were visited by a Golden Eagle.  Later, a Northern Shrike perched for us and many visitors were able to view this passerine hunter in one of the scopes.


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


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


    Crane Count-2516


    Species count- 47

    Pied-billed Grebe

    Great Blue Heron

    Great Egret

    Turkey Vulture

    Mute Swan

    Canada Goose

    Wood Duck

    Green-winged Teal

    American Black Duck

    Mallard

    Northern Shoveler

    Gadwall

    American Widgeon

    Ring-necked Duck

    Bald Eagle

    Golden Eagle

    Northern Harrier

    Sharp-shinned Hawk

    Cooper's Hawk

    Red-tailed Hawk

    American Coot

    Sandhill Crane

    Yellowlegs species

    Ring-billed Gull

    Mourning Dove

    Red-bellied Woodpecker

    Downy Woodpecker

    Hairy Woodpecker

    Pileated Woodpecker

    Blue Jay

    American Crow

    Black-capped Chickadee

    White-breasted Nuthatch

    Golden-crowned Kinglet

    Eastern Bluebird

    American Robin

    Cedar Waxwing

    Northern Shrike

    European starling

    Yellow-rumped Warbler

    American Tree Sparrow

    Fox Sparrow

    White-throated Sparrow

    Red-winged Blackbird

    Rusty Blackbird

    Common Grackle

    American Goldfinch


  • Monday, October 12, 2015 9:19 PM | Steve Jerant (Administrator)

    This is looking to be a very good year for crane viewing.  Crane numbers continue to rise this season and we spotted 555 cranes coming in to roost at Haehnle Sanctuary tonight.  Visitors were treated to about a dozen groups of cranes flying directly above the Harold Wing overlook.  They were close enough for us to hear the call of some juveniles.  The colors were good, but muted due to the cloudy sky.  We did have about 30 minutes of direct sunlight and later the low sun lit the tops of the clouds with pinks and purples. 


    In the 6 o’clock hour we had two separate steams of thousands of blackbirds coming in from the east and passing in front of us and reaching all the way across the marsh to the west. The first stream was well over a mile long.  They traveled to a location where we normally see a lot of blackbird activity.  But tonight the sky was boiling with activity. We continue to get Great Egrets coming in to roost. 


    This Saturday we will be having our annual Cranes, Colors, & Cabernet Festival at Haehnle Sanctuary starting at 1200.  And we are celebrating the 65th anniversary of the Sanctuary.  Come out and joins us!


    Crane counters:    Robyn Henise, Don Henise, and Garg Siegrist

    Compiler:  Steve Jerant

    Submitted by Steve Jerant


    Crane Count-555


    Species count-37

    Pied-billed Grebe

    Double-crested Cormorant

    Great Blue Heron

    Great Egret

    Turkey Vulture

    Canada Goose

    Wood Duck

    Green-winged Teal

    American Black Duck

    Mallard

    Northern Shoveler

    Ring-necked Duck

    Northern Harrier

    Sharp-shinned Hawk

    Cooper's Hawk

    Red-tailed Hawk

    Sandhill Crane

    Greater Yellowlegs

    Wilson's Snipe

    Ring-billed Gull

    Mourning Dove

    Red-bellied Woodpecker

    Downy Woodpecker

    Northern Flicker

    Blue Jay

    American Crow

    Eastern Bluebird

    American Robin

    Cedar Waxwing

    European starling

    Yellow-rumped Warbler

    Rufous-sided Towhee

    Song Sparrow

    White-throated Sparrow

    Red-winged Blackbird

    Rusty Blackbird

    Common Grackle

  • Monday, October 05, 2015 9:11 PM | Steve Jerant (Administrator)

    162 Sandhill Cranes came to roost for the night in the Haehnle Sanctuary. There were 29 cranes that flew past looking for some where to spend the night. 


    Crane counters:    Robyn Henise, Don Henise, and Garg Siegrist

    Submitted by Robyn Henise


    Crane Count-162


    Species count-45

    Pied-billed Grebe

    Great Blue Heron

    Great Egret

    Turkey Vulture

    Trumpeter Swan

    Canada Goose

    Green-winged Teal

    American Black Duck

    Mallard

    Northern Pintail

    Blue-winged Teal

    Gadwall

    American Widgeon

    Northern Harrier

    Sharp-shinned Hawk

    Red-tailed Hawk

    American Coot

    Sandhill Crane

    Greater Yellowlegs

    Ring-billed Gull

    Mourning Dove

    Great Horned Owl

    Red-bellied Woodpecker

    Downy Woodpecker

    Hairy Woodpecker

    Pileated Woodpecker

    Blue Jay

    American Crow

    Black-capped Chickadee

    White-breasted Nuthatch

    Ruby-crowned Kinglet

    Eastern Bluebird

    American Robin

    Gray Catbird

    Cedar Waxwing

    European starling

    Yellow-rumped Warbler

    Common Yellowthroat

    Field Sparrow

    Song Sparrow

    Swamp Sparrow

    Red-winged Blackbird

    Rusty Blackbird

    Common Grackle

    American Goldfinch

  • Sunday, September 27, 2015 11:16 PM | Steve Jerant (Administrator)

    Water levels look favorable for a good season of roosting, and the cranes seem more confident coming in than they were last year.  The sky was cloudy this afternoon, with only a few patches of blue breaking out.  Some sunlight peeked through the openings to cast a bit of gold on the marsh, but overall it was muted.  50 visitors came out to view the cranes coming in and enjoy the mild evening.  It was still warm enough for a few mosquitoes, but at dusk we were helped by a bat (probably a big brown) who was feeding and hopefully ate a few dozen.  



    Our weekly count continues to increase, albeit slowly.  In addition to the 88 cranes landing in the marsh, 14 were fly-bys who sought another venue for the evening.  We’re hoping to break 100 next week.  

    Crane counters:    Don Henise and Gary Siegrist

    Submitted by Steve Jerant


    Crane Count-88

    Species count-38


    Pied-billed Grebe

    Double-crested Cormorant

    Great Blue Heron

    Great Egret

    Turkey Vulture

    Trumpeter Swan

    Canada Goose

    Wood Duck

    Mallard

    Northern Pintail

    Blue-winged Teal

    Northern Harrier

    Cooper's Hawk

    American Coot

    Sandhill Crane

    Yellowlegs (species)

    Mourning Dove

    Red-bellied Woodpecker

    Downy Woodpecker

    Hairy Woodpecker

    Pileated Woodpecker

    Blue Jay

    American Crow

    Eastern Bluebird

    American Robin

    Gray Catbird

    Cedar Waxwing

    Tennessee Warbler

    Nashville Warbler

    Magnolia Warbler

    Blackpoll Warbler

    Common Yellowthroat

    Northern Cardinal

    Field Sparrow

    Lincoln's Sparrow

    Swamp Sparrow

    Red-winged Blackbird

    American Goldfinch


  • Sunday, September 20, 2015 9:37 PM | Steve Jerant (Administrator)

    Submitted by Robyn Henise


    Thirty-three visitors were treated to a spectacular afternoon at the Phyllis Haehnle Memorial Sanctuary.  As the sun was setting, the sky over the Mud Lake Marsh changed from golden yellow to deep purple and finally to deep red.


    Many species of birds were tallied for the day and they are listed below.  Of note were 9 Wilson's Snipe that flew past the overlook and 2 Greater Yellowlegs were heard from the overlook.  68 Sandhill Cranes come in at dusk to roost in the marsh.  


    Crane counters:    Don Henise and Robyn Henise

    Crane Count-68

    Species count-45


    Trumpeter Swan

    Canada Goose

    Wood Duck

    American Black Duck

    Mallard

    Wild Turkey

    Great Blue Heron

    Great Egret

    Turkey Vulture

    Bald Eagle

    Northern Harrier

    Cooper's Hawk

    Broad-winged Hawk

    Red-tailed Hawk

    American Coot

    Sandhill Crane

    Greater Yellowlegs

    Wilson's Snipe

    Herring Gull

    Mourning Dove

    Great Horned Owl (2 heard calling to each other)

    Chimney Swift

    Red-bellied Woodpecker

    Downy Woodpecker

    Hairy Woodpecker

    Northern Flicker

    American Kestrel

    Eastern Phoebe

    Blue Jay

    American Crow

    Black-capped Chickadee

    Tufted Titmouse

    White-breasted Nuthatch

    Eastern Bluebird

    American Robin

    Gray Catbird

    Cedar Waxwing

    Common Yellowthroat

    Magnolia Warbler

    Blackpoll Warbler

    Field Sparrow

    Song Sparrow

    Rose-breasted Grosbeak

    Red-winged Blackbird

    House Finch

    American Goldfinch

  • Sunday, September 13, 2015 10:08 PM | Steve Jerant (Administrator)

    We had a beautiful day for the first count of the season. As always the setting sun put a golden patina on the marsh.  Several Great Egrets looked a pale blue as they came in to land, then turned white before then dipped below view.  Forty-eight egrets were counted but most of them left the sanctuary and headed north before sunset.



    Notable species included a Common Nighthawk and 9 warblers found by Don & Robyn walking the trail and the marsh.  We also had lots of raptor activity with four Northern Harriers (most immature), a Bald Eagle, several Red-tailed Hawks, and lots of Turkey Vultures to remind us to keep moving while we watched for cranes.


    Crane counters:    Don Henise, Robyn Henise, and Gary Siegrist


    Crane Count-45


    Species count-54

    Pied-billed Grebe

    Great Blue Heron

    Great Egret

    Turkey Vulture

    Trumpeter Swan

    Canada Goose

    Wood Duck

    Green-winged Teal

    American Black Duck

    Mallard

    Blue-winged Teal

    Bald Eagle

    Northern Harrier

    Sharp-shinned Hawk

    Cooper's Hawk

    Red-tailed Hawk

    American Kestrel

    American Coot

    Sandhill Crane

    Ring-billed Gull

    Herring Gull

    Mourning Dove

    Common Nighthawk

    Red-bellied Woodpecker

    Downy Woodpecker

    Hairy Woodpecker

    Northern Flicker

    Tree Swallow

    Barn Swallow

    Blue Jay

    American Crow

    Black-capped Chickadee

    Tufted Titmouse

    White-breasted Nuthatch

    House Wren

    Wood Thrush

    American Robin

    Gray Catbird

    Cedar Waxwing

    European starling

    Tennessee Warbler

    Nashville Warbler

    Chestnut-sided Warbler

    Magnolia Warbler

    Black-throated Blue Warbler **

    Bay-breasted Warbler

    Blackpoll Warbler

    Ovenbird

    Common Yellowthroat

    Field Sparrow

    Swamp Sparrow

    Red-winged Blackbird

    Common Grackle

    American Goldfinch


  • Tuesday, September 01, 2015 12:00 PM | Steve Jerant (Administrator)

    We have begun a project to remove the large stand of invasive Glossy Buckthorn that surrounds the fen at Haehnle Sanctuary.  Under a program managed by the US Fish & Wildlife Service, equipment has been brought on site to start the eradication of an old stand of buckthrons.  Tom Eitniear of the USF&WS has brought in Dennis Marshall to mow down these invasives.  They will work on this another few days this year, but only a portion of the stand will be removed this year.  This project will continue for the next several years.  For videos, see our JAS YouTube feed.



    Chipper machine at work



    View of work area looking east from Dike trail


  • Wednesday, August 26, 2015 8:02 PM | Steve Jerant (Administrator)

    Form this morning's visit to the Burke Lake Banding Station.  The highlight of the morning was the capture and banding of a young mourning warbler.  Here is photo of him in the hand of one of the interns at the station just before he was released back into the wild. 


    The photo brings to mind a play on words to an old cliché: "A mourning warbler in hand is better than two in the bush."

  • Friday, August 07, 2015 12:00 PM | Steve Jerant (Administrator)

    Doug has shared some photos from Tuscon, AZ on Friday, August 7th.


    The hummingbirds, the Steller's jay and a yellow-eyed junco were photographed by the Iron Door Restaurant at the summit of Mt. Lemmon, near Tucson.  The restaurant has three hummingbird feeders and they seemed to be fairly busy with hummingbirds while we were there. 

     They have a veranda where you can have a nice lunch and watch the hummers. 

     

    The Steller's jay and the junco were perched right across from the veranda, so photography was a snap (no PUN intended).  The jay photo was so close that the image is full-frame with no cropping.


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