Robin numbers continue to grow

You’ve probably heard of the American robin, and may have seen one tugging at worms in your yard. These birds – harbingers of spring, joyful songsters, jolly, round bundles of grey and rust – are a common sight in Michigan. 

In fact, the robin is so identifiable and well-loved that it was named the Michigan state bird in 1931. There was a time, however, when robins were not as common as they are today.

In the post-World War II years, DDT and other pesticides were widely used. Farmers sprayed DDT on their fields to reduce crop pests, cities applied it to elm trees to kill the beetles that spread Dutch elm disease, and homeowners used it to control household insects. 

Luckily, scientists began to recognize that widespread use of pesticides, including DDT, was causing problems for birds like the American robin. An ornithologist from Michigan State University named George Wallace and his graduate students collected birds from MSU and surrounding suburbs from the mid-1950s into the 1960s. Most of these birds were robins. While some birds were found dead, others were discovered on the ground suffering from seizures or tremors before dying. Tests on the birds’ carcasses revealed elevated levels of DDT.

The studies by Wallace and his students revealed that DDT did not kill only insects. Because DDT does not quickly degrade, the poison remained on the leaves of sprayed plants. When the sprayed leaves dropped in the fall, they became compost in the soil, bringing the DDT with them. DDT also came in contact with the soil when rain washed it off the leaves or when it fell directly onto the soil during spraying.

Earthworms ingested the affected soil and compost, and then robins and other birds ate the earthworms. The DDT concentrated in the birds’ fat cells and was not excreted like some other toxic substances. A little DDT in an earthworm became a lot of DDT in a robin eating dozens of worms a day.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency banned DDT use in 1972. Since then, robin populations have bounced back, and these cheerful birds are common in backyards once more. 

The federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, offering protections for migratory birds and their nests and eggs, also helped bolster robin populations.  Birds, their nests and their eggs must be left alone, and unless you have a permit, taking a baby bird or eggs from the wild is breaking the law.  

The year 2016 marks the centennial of the Convention between the United States and Great Britain (for Canada) for the Protection of Migratory Birds (also called the Migratory Bird Treaty), signed on Aug. 16, 1916. Three other treaties were signed shortly thereafter with Japan, Russia and Mexico. The Migratory Bird Treaty, the three other treaties signed later, and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act form the cornerstones of efforts to conserve birds that migrate across international borders.

The 2016 Migratory Bird Treaty Centennial celebration will include monthly featured bird stories to our DNR Wildlife Viewing email subscribers, celebration events including a weekend of bird-based programming at state parks and visitor centers June 24-26, an educational program for schools and conservation groups, and more! 

To learn more about the Migratory Bird Treaty Centennial, visit www.fws.gov/birds/MBTreaty100. 

U.P. deadline is March 31

DNR reminds anglers of mandatory ice shanty removal dates

Michigan Department of Natural Resources reminds anglers that mandatory ice shanty removal dates are approaching. 

Regardless of the date, shanties must be removed as soon as the ice is unable to safely hold them.

Ice shanties on Lake St. Clair must be removed by sunset Sunday, Feb. 21.

For counties in the southern Lower Peninsula, shanties must be removed from the ice by midnight Tuesday, March 1.

The deadline for removal from waters in the northern Lower Peninsula is midnight Tuesday, March 15. Counties included in this area are: Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Arenac, Bay, Benzie, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Clare, Crawford, Emmet, Gladwin, Grand Traverse, Iosco, Isabella, Kalkaska, Lake, Leelanau, Manistee, Mason, Mecosta, Midland, Missaukee, Montmorency, Newaygo, Oceana, Ogemaw, Osceola, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle, Roscommon and Wexford.

On Michigan-Wisconsin boundary waters, ice shanties must be removed by midnight Tuesday, March 15. For all counties in the Upper Peninsula, shanties must be removed by midnight Thursday, March 31.

Following the mandatory removal dates, ice shanties still may be used but must be removed daily from the ice.

Shanty owners whose structures fall through the ice are subject to penalties of up to 30 days in jail, fines of $100 to $500, or both. If a shanty is removed by a government agency, the court can require the owner to reimburse that agency for an amount of up to three times the cost of the removal. 

For more information on Michigan’s ice fishing regulations and shanty removal dates, check out the 2015 Michigan Fishing Guide.

New campground opens in June

DNR announces new camping options at Wilderness State Park

Michigan Department of Natural Resources hopes campers are excited about the the summer opening of a new campground at Wilderness State Park in Emmet County. The campground will open to the public Thursday, June 23, and reservations (which can be make up to six months in advance) are now being accepted.

The new campground will boast spectacular views of Lake Michigan. It offers two options for camping, including a full hook-up campground and a tent-only rustic campground.

Full hook-up campground

The full hook-up campground, which includes 18 sites, is located on the wooded dunes looking out over Lake Michigan's Big Stone Bay. All camping units must be self-contained because there is no restroom or shower available. All the sites include water, sewer and electrical hookup. The cost for lakefront sites is $45 per night and other sites are $40 per night.

The majority of visitors will be able to watch the sun set over Lake Michigan right from their own campsite. One of the sites is completely barrier-free, so that all visitors can share in the sights, sounds and feel of a Lake Michigan lakefront site. 

Tent-only rustic campground

The tent-only rustic campground, which includes 10 sites, is located along the Lake Michigan shoreline. The sites are designed for campers to walk a short distance into their campsites. A common water source and vault toilet are available in a central location. No electricity, modern restrooms or shower facilities are available. The cost is $20 per night. A designated parking space is provided for each campsite.

The design of this campground was derived from community input gathered both at the park and via an online survey. More than 30 percent of the park’s total campers use tents, and this group expressed a strong desire for more secluded sites, fewer amenities and a location farther away from the sounds of larger campgrounds.

"The new campground is an exciting addition to Wilderness State Park," said Burr Mitchell, park supervisor. "Not only does it have a gorgeous Lake Michigan backdrop, but it also provides several unique features that are only found at this campground."

To check camping availability and make a reservation, please visit www.midnrreservations.com or call 1-800-44PARKS (1-800-447-2757). 

Wilderness State Park is located on Carp Lake at the northern tip of the Lower Peninsula. The park is home to wilderness areas, 26 miles of beautiful Lake Michigan shoreline, multiple campgrounds, six rustic cabins, three rustic bunkhouses and numerous year-round recreational activities.

For more information contact Burr Mitchell, park supervisor at Wilderness State Park, 231-436-5381.

Can you help?

DNR seeks public's help monitoring moose

Michigan Department of Natural Resources asks those who live in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, or those who are just visiting, to share any moose sightings through the Moose Observation Report form, now available online.

The DNR has been monitoring Michigan's moose population since the species’ reintroduction to the state in the 1980s. To estimate the population status of Michigan moose, the DNR conducts aerial surveys across the core moose range in the western Upper Peninsula. When determining the aerial survey sample area, observation reports are important resources that help to identify where resident moose occur.

“Observation reports give insight to where resident moose are being seen in the U.P., allowing us to assess the distribution prior to conducting the aerial survey,” said Chad Stewart, deer, elk and moose management specialist for the DNR. “The survey is an important tool that provides an abundance estimate of moose in Michigan. Using the observation reports helps us tailor our survey to account for any distribution changes that may have occurred over the past couple of years so we can get the most accurate estimate of our moose population.”

Citizen participation is the key to monitoring Michigan’s moose population. Learn more about moose in Michigan or report sightings by visiting mi.gov/moose.

Snowmobile trail closed

DNR temporarily closes snowmobile trail segment in northwestern Chippewa County

Michigan Department of Natural Resources has temporarily closed a 2 ½-mile segment of snowmobile Trail No. 8 in Chippewa County because of unsafe riding conditions. Trail No. 8 is a major east-west trail for snowmobilers in the Upper Peninsula.

 

Warmer temperatures in recent days have caused ice to melt and water to back up near the mouth of the Tahquamenon River. Water has pooled over part of the trail in a lowland area, causing unsafe riding conditions.

The closure is located from about 1.4 miles south of the village of Paradise in northwestern Chippewa County and extends south to the Tahquamenon River.

During the temporary trail closure, snowmobilers still will be able to access businesses in the Paradise area.

“Trail No. 8 will be posted closed along with information signs posted in Paradise and south at the intersection of snowmobile trails 8 and 475 to notify riders of the closure,” said Rob Katona, a recreation specialist with the DNR in Marquette. “This could be a major inconvenience for through traffic with no trail reroute available because of the expansive Tahquamenon River watershed.”

Snowmobilers planning on riding Trail No. 8 through this area should seek an alternate route.

Cold temperatures are forecast for the area within the next few days.

“We are hoping that the trail will refreeze, allowing us to reopen this segment of Trail 8 as early as next week,” Katona said.

Meanwhile, the DNR and the Paradise Area Night Riders – the local trail club – will continue to monitor the situation.

For more information on snowmobiling in Michigan, visit the DNR’s Web page at: www.michigan.gov/snowmobiling.