Nongame Grants Awarded

During this fiscal year, universities, conservation organizations, and individuals are all helping to preserve Michigan’s Wildlife Heritage. They are the recipients of one of over two dozen grants made from the Nongame Fish and Wildlife Trust Fund. Early this year, $200,000 in grants were awarded. Now, most of the recipients are hard at work on field surveys, construction of viewing platforms, and other activities.

Here is just an example of some of the projects being supported.

Disappearing squirrels?
Though seldom seen, the flying squirrel is one of Michigan's most fascinating wildlife species. A truly nocturnal animal, flying squirrels are only encountered by those who venture outside after dark. The two species, the southern flying squirrel and northern flying squirrel, can typically be found anywhere woodlands are nearby. (photo by James Heinzmann)

While relatively abundant, researchers have been noticing a change. Northern flying squirrels are no longer being found in their historic range. Yet researchers are finding not only higher numbers of flying squirrels but in areas they had not been found previously.

The question for researchers is why it seems that the northern flying squirrel population is retreating while the southern flying squirrel is increasing. Some evidence suggests that the continued existence of the northern flying squirrel in the Lower Peninsula is at risk.

Researchers from Michigan State University will be establishing survey plots to document the range of the two species and compare this to historical information.

Blanding’s turtles
During the last 38 years, data has been collected on Blanding’s turtles in marshes protected in Kalamazoo County. This project will look at describing this undisturbed research area and the turtle population. This information will be used to compare population information for Blanding’s turtles in unprotected areas.
The information provided will give a better picture of what environmental stresses may be occurring to Blanding’s populations statewide.

Species using Canada yew
Canada yew was considered a major ground cover in the northern hardwood forests of northeastern United States. The abundance and distribution of yew has greatly decreased over time.

Several species of songbirds, small mammals, and even some salamanders utilize the yew as part of their habitat. This research project will examine which species utilize Canada yew and the expected impacts if Canada yew continues to decline.

Wildlife viewing
Wildlife viewing is the fastest growing segment of wildlife recreation in the United States. Most viewing is done within one mile of the person’s primary residence. Creating opportunities close to home is an important part of providing a statewide viewing network.

As part of the redevelopment of its property, St. Clair Middle School will be constructing a wildlife viewing platform. The platform will provide an area for students to learn and study wetland habitat on the school grounds. The site will also provide an opportunity for the public to view wetland species year round.

Each of these grants shows just one small piece of the activities being completed throughout the state with funds provided through citizen contributions to the Nongame Fish and Wildlife Fund. These important projects will only continue if Michigan’s citizens support the Fund through purchase of the wildlife habitat license plate or by making a direct contribution to: State of Michigan, Nongame Wildlife Fund, P.O. Box 30180, Lansing, MI 48909.

Gray Wolf Recovery

Michigan’s gray wolves were reclassified to threatened status on June 17. The reclassification only applies to their listing under Michigan's endangered species regulations. A similar process is occurring with the wolf’s classification under the federal Endangered Species Act. Until they are federally reclassified, wolves are fully protected.

The annual winter count identified 278 wolves scattered in packs throughout the Upper Peninsula. Historically, wolves once occupied the entire area of Michigan. Their numbers were decimated through a systematic eradication effort by Michigan’s settlers. Wolves were viewed as a danger to livestock and humans. They were also considered competition for the wildlife resources.

By the 1960s, only a handful of wolves remained. No evidence of successful breeding was found until a den was located in 1981. Over the next 20 years, the population has continued to increase. A state recovery plan was developed and adopted in 1992. Two recovery goals were identified in the plan. The first goal was to have a sustained population of 100 animals between Wisconsin and Michigan. This goal was reached in 1994. Both the state and national recovery goals for delisting the wolf are 200 animals during a five-year period. The annual population estimate has exceeded 200 animals for the last three years.

Michigan’s wolf recovery is a success story of how endangered species can be recovered. The wolf has now returned as a part of our natural heritage.
 

Crooked Lake Marsh Recognition: The Nature Conservancy Natural Areas Registry Size: 186 acres Location: Approx. 8 miles west of Allegan in southwestern Michigan Management: Allegan State Game Area Activities: Outdoor education, nature study, photography, birdwatching, hunting Importance: Crooked Lake Marsh is the largest of Michigan’s coastal plain marshes, a relict community of plant species disjunct from the North Atlantic coastal plain communities. At one time part of a larger lake that included Little Tom Lake to the west, Crooked Lake Marsh is now a soft-water seepage lake with no inlet or outlet. Although one of several coastal plain marshes in southwestern Michigan, Crooked Lake Marsh shows a greater diversity of habitats than most other sites in the state. Its water level fluctuates greatly, not only throughout the season but also from year to year. During years of low water levels, sedges dominate extensive peat/mud flats which are exposed during the summer.

 
Plovers Increase in 2002

Although all the data are not yet compiled on the total number of nests and piping plover chicks fledged, 2002 appears to be a banner year for this endangered species. Between 40-45 nests were established this year by piping plover pairs in the Great Lakes and all but two of the nests were in Michigan. This is a significant increase from only 32 nesting pairs in 2001.

More importantly was that plovers established new territories in areas that had not been nested in for many years. Tawas State Park had its first pair of nesting plovers in nearly 40 years. The last pair to nest at the Tawas Point site occurred in 1963—the same year the park was officially dedicated. Although the nest was unsuccessful, this was an important new nesting location that hopefully will continue in the future.

Other historical areas where plovers nested for the first time in many years included Ludington State Park, Whitefish Bay in Alpena, and on the Leelanau Peninsula south of Leelanau State Park.

Much of the population increase can be credited to the concentrated effort to protect nests from predators using exclosures and the Department’s volunteer plover monitor watch program. The public’s willingness to share the beaches with nesting plovers also deserves recognition, and we thank those visitors for respecting beach closures established during the critical nesting period.

The plover recovery effort is an excellent example of cooperation among the Department of Natural Resources, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U. S. Forest Service, Whitefish Point Bird Observatory, the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, the National Park Service, the University of Minnesota, and interested citizens.

Creature Profile

Black-backed Woodpecker (Picoides arcticus)

Michigan often sits on the northern edge of the range for a number of species. For the black-backed woodpecker, Michigan sits on the southern edge. This woodpecker, was also known as the three-toed arctic woodpecker, is primarily found in northern boreal forests.

The black-backed woodpecker is a small woodpecker ranging 8-9 inches in length. Males can be easily identified by the yellow patch of feathers on the crown of their black head. Both sexes have a glossy, black back with some barring on the primary feathers. A white stripe runs from behind their bill down under their eye.

In Michigan, these woodpeckers are most abundant in the Upper Peninsula. They prefer habitats with growing tree species similar to their boreal forest. Black spruce and tamarack swamps, white cedar swamps, eastern hemlock, and jack pine forests all provide good habitat. Like most woodpeckers, they feed on insects living in dead or diseased trees. Places disturbed by fire or even beaver floodings can provide good food sources. They hunt for wood boring insects by peeling patches of dead bark.

Black-backed woodpeckers in northern lower Michigan are associated with jack pine areas and can often be seen in the same areas as Kirtland’s warblers. Historically, wildfires kept an abundant supply of dying timber. Modern forest management practices in jack pine stands provide abundant snags (dead trees) for woodpeckers to forage (feed). Nest cavities are made in live conifer trees with the entrance usually 8-15 feet above ground. Each nest will contain two-six eggs which hatch after 14 days of incubation.

Keeping these special woodpeckers in Michigan will require that natural processes, beaver floodings, and forest management activities like prescribed burns and leaving snags continue to provide foraging places for these northern residents.
 

 
Watchable Wildlife:

Ready for Fall

It seems inevitable, just when we get used to enjoying the balmy days of summer, fall starts creeping up on us. For wildlife it means many changes. For early migrants it is time to close up the summer residence and head south. These migrations include seemingly almost impossible feats.

Young Kirtland’s warblers begin migration from the jack pine barrens of northern Michigan before their parents. In most cases, these young birds have never been more than a mile from their nest but will travel 1200 miles without adult supervision to their Bahamian wintering grounds.

Monarch butterflies also fly thousands of miles to a few valleys in Central America. Here they congregate in masses covering the branches like a living carpet. More amazing, these butterflies are not necessarily the offspring of the butterflies which returned north last spring, but in some cases are the second or third generation.

Everything seems to kick into high gear. Mice and squirrels furiously gather nuts and seeds for storage. (I know this because this is also the time that locating stashes of dog chow stored away in my garage is a daily event.)

At the same time, these animals must expend energy to thicken their coats for the long, cold winter days. Many animals have two types of fur. Stiff guard hairs make up the over layers providing protection. In the case of aquatic animals like beaver, muskrats, and otter this layer of fur is oiled to keep water away from their bodies. The underfur is a soft fluffy layer that captures air and provides insulation for the animal.

Other animals like bear and woodchucks have spent the last few months eating as much as possible to gain weight. Seeing them you would think they were not much more than a pelt covering a tub of fat. They will spend the next few months sleeping or hibernating, losing all of the fat stored-up over the past summer.

Keep an eye out during the warm rains of late summer and early fall. That moving road or path ahead just might be a migration of frogs or salamanders heading to their wintering wetlands. About this time, I usually end up with one or two gray tree frogs peering through the screen door.

Once they have reached their hibernation site, these amphibians actually bury themselves alive! Some will dig below the water line of lakes, others just above the water table. Their bodies will reach near freezing temperatures.

The fall is a time of many changes. Many things are happening right under our noses. While changing your storm windows or cleaning the remains of this year's vegetable garden, take a few extra moments and see what changes you can find.
 

Crow River Mouth Recognition: Proposed for Legal Dedication, Michigan DNR Forest Plan, The Nature Conservancy Natural Areas Registry Size: 520 acres Management: Lake Superior State Forest Location: In the western portion of Mackinac County, on the shore of Lake Michigan Activities: Hiking, photography, hunting, nature study Importance: The shoreline of the area features interdunal wetlands that are among the largest and most diverse in the state, placing them also among the world’s best sites for this Great Lakes community. The extensive “flats”—transitional areas between open dunes and typical interdunal wetlands—are unique. Four Great Lakes endemic plant species (found only in the Great Lakes region) are found in the area. The low foredune and boreal forest add to the diversity of the site, increasing the number of species of plants and animals available for nature study. The relatively undisturbed stretch of undeveloped shoreline provides the opportunity for an uncommon recreational experience.   Photo by Denny Albert

 
Bits & Pieces

• Next time, instead of buying the prepackaged hummingbird food, try this recipe. Mix a 1:4 sugar-water solution (1/4 cup sugar for each cup of water). Bring the solution to a boil and let cool. As long as your feeder has some red on it, there is no need to use a food coloring. It is recommended that the solution be changed every 4 days to avoid any fungal growth that could infect the hummingbirds.
   
• An 84 year-old bat tower (house) built in Comfort, Texas, is still in use today by Mexican free-tailed bats. The structure was designed by Dr. Charles Campbell. Dr. Campbell helped pioneer the use of bat houses to control insects and provide a source of bat guano 100 years ago.
   
• The annual Kirtland’s warbler census identified 1050 singing males during the two week census in early June. Surveyors identified 1084 singing males in the 2001 census.
   
• Remember to visit the Michigan E-Store to purchase patches, books, and prints. Funds generated through these sales help support activities supporting nongame, threatened, and endangered species.