Dedicated to creating a greater awareness, appreciation, and understanding of the interrelatedness of all Michigan’s wild places and wildlife and the need for stewardship.
A NOTE FROM OUR PRESIDENT Join Us
ATOUR FEBRUARY MEETING!
Thursday, February 2nd 7:00pmFoster Community Center, Room 213 200 N. Foster Ave, Lansing MI
Michigan's Wildlife Action Plan and State of the Bird Speaker - Tony Henehan, DNR Wildlife Action Plan Coordinator, Wildlife Division
Join us to learn about the State Wildlife Action Plan, how it helps birds and species of special concern here in Michigan and what the Restoring America's Wildlife Act could mean for our state.
Tony Henehan oversees the State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP), a 10-year recovery plan for the Species of Greatest Conservation Need of Michigan. SWAPs are guiding documents for rare species recovery across the United States. Michigan’s SWAP outlines management goals and recommendations for our 406 Species of Greatest Conservation Need.
Tony began his position with the DNR in November of 2021. Before this, he spent 8.5 years in South Texas where he attended Texas A&M University-Kingsville for his Master’s degree in Rangeland and Wildlife Management and then worked as a Wildlife Biologist for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Tony enjoys birding, exploring, and board games.
Michigan is a big part of my life and has helped foster my love of the outdoors. I was born and raised in Michigan and spent the majority of family vacations visiting the Upper Peninsula, Lake Michigan, various state parks and camping at county parks close to home.
My dad and great-uncle taught me to fish, my grandpa inspired my love of birds, my step-dad fueled my sense of adventure with impromptu road trips to discover local areas of interest, and my mom gave me the confidence and curiosity to explore on my own and the understanding that outdoor spaces should be available for everyone.
When my husband and I started dating, we took trips to the U.P., were engaged on Mackinaw Island, and were married overlooking the Little Traverse Bay. As we started our own family, we took summer trips to the Higgins Lake, bought a camper and a boat, and spent time each summer visiting a new-to-us state parks and some of our long time favorites.
So as you can see, Michigan and my family are deeply intertwined. The plans for Michigan's wildlife conservation, outdoor recreation and land management will impact our family as well as many future generations of Michiganders.
I am very thankful for the conservation and recreation focus that the State of Michigan has taken, but also am reminded that each of us are personally responsible for reaching out and participating in the planning decisions and supporting legislation that keeps wild animals and wild spaces at the forefront.
It can seem like many of the wildlife plans in our state revolve around those species that are revenue generators for the state, like deer and waterfowl, but this month's speaker, Tony Henehan will share with us how the State Wildlife Action Plan helps many different birds including the migratory species we love to see each spring.
He will also share how the Restoring America's Wildlife Act could impact our state and the birds that depend on it.
Keeping our waters clean, and restoring wildlife habitats is one of the most important ways to help keep Michigan healthy as our climate warms. The passing of the Resorting America's Wildlife Act will help contribute additional funds to keep Michigan's Wildlife Plan on track. I can't wait to hear all about it at our meeting.
Hope to see you all soon!
Kristy Taylor CAAS Board President2022 Lake Michigan (UP Shoreline)
CAAS EVENTS
Monthly meetings are held the first Thursday of the month September - June All meetings are open to the public.
Meetings will begin at 7pm in Room 213 at Foster Community Center, 200 N. Foster Ave. Lansing, MI (unless otherwise listed)
WEBSITE UPDATE - Our website is currently being updated to a new server. Online dues payments may not be available. We will be collecting dues in person at the monthly meetings, or you can mail a check to our PO Box. (Details on Page 4.)
A big Thank You to Sandra Conn for taking on the management and migration of our website!
Thursday March 2 - Red-tailed Hawk Research and Migration Speaker - Nick Alioto
Do Red-tailed Hawks migrate Strait? Unraveling the mystery of a soaring migrant in the Great lakes region.
Thursday April 6 - TBA
Spring Bird Walks - Saturday Mornings in April and May at Fenner Nature Center Walks begin at the parking lot at 8am. Learn about the spring migrants moving through the area. Beginners and birders of all ages are welcome.
Thursday May 4 - Migration in MidMichigan at Capital City Bird Sanctuary
Enjoy a walk at this local Michigan Audubon managed property and see what birds are moving through! If you are new to eBird, helpers will be available during this walk to help get you started. Please download eBird and complete your registration prior to the walk.
Thursday, June 1 - Member Walk and Ice Cream Social at Fenner Nature Center
Join CAAS members and guests for a quick annual meeting followed by ice cream and a walk around Fenner.
MICHIGAN'S WILDLIFE ACTION PLAN
Michigan’s variety of wildlife is a big part of our state’s history, identity and appeal. These animals enhance our quality of life, and protecting their habitats also provides cleaner water, air and land for us. Uncommon animals can be critical indicators of the health of Michigan’s natural areas. Some animals are cherished Michigan icons, like the Kirtland’s warbler – the rarest migratory songbird in North America – the loon with its haunting call, or the ancient lake sturgeon.
Thoughtful wildlife and habitat conservation also supports Michigan’s multibillion-dollar natural resources economy, giving us places to hike, bike, boat, fish and hunt, or simply enjoy wildlife and the quiet and peace of nature. Wildlife elevates the beauty of our state’s woods and water. Michigan’s Wildlife Action Plan is a partner-developed, strategic framework for cooperatively achieving that conservation.
Conservation partners across the state worked together to identify priorities and goals for a 10-year period (2015-2025). They first selected water and land habitats on which to focus, and then identified priority species within those habitats, needed actions, and links to other Michigan wildlife conservation and restoration plans.
Key habitat types/focus areas and priority wildlife include:
Rivers and streams
Warm water streams and their headwaters, big rivers, the St. ClairDetroit River system Priority wildlife include lake sturgeon, snuffbox and riverine clubtail dragonfly.
Lakes
Inland lakes that support populations of our rare, native cisco (members of the whitefsh family) species and shoreline areas Priority wildlife include starhead topminnow, cisco and Blanchard’s cricket frog.
Great Lakes
Habitat for Great Lakes cisco, an ecologically and economically important group of fishes, as well as dunes and other Great Lakes shoreline habitat Priority wildlife include kiyi, piping plover and common tern.
Wetlands
A variety of wetland types found near the Great Lakes and Michigan’s inland lakes, rivers and streams Priority wildlife include black tern, cerulean warbler, copperbelly watersnake and poweshiek skipperling.
Grasslands
Large grasslands, prairies and savannas Priority wildlife include Karner blue butterfly, rusty-patched bumble bee, eastern box turtle and Henslow’s sparrow.
Forests
Young forests, generally less than 20 years old, and sandy pine forests in northern Michigan Priority wildlife include Kirtland’s warbler, goldenwinged warbler and eastern massasauga rattlesnake.
Emerging diseases
New diseases can have significant effects on wildlife populations, especially species that already are considered rare Priority wildlife include northern long-eared bat and little brown bat.
Michigan’s Wildlife Action Plan calls for conservation partners to work together to:
• Manage habitat and invasive species to make places healthier for wildlife and people.
• Conduct research and surveys to improve how we conserve wildlife and its habitats.
• Teach people about wildlife.
• Protect natural places for wildlife and people.
Working together, we can keep these unique animals around and thriving for future generations. And when we make places better for rare wildlife, we make places better for all of Michigan’s wildlife and citizens.
Visit Michigan.gov/WildlifeActionPlan for more information
AREA EVENTS
Check out our Facebook page at facebook.com/capitalareaaudubon for events around the state and much more!
Owl Prowl Campfire
February 25, 7-8:30pm
Harris Nature Center
3998 Van Atta Road, Okemos, MI
Enjoy an evening around the campfire at the Harris Nature Center. Roast marshmallows, and learn all about Michigan Owls. Participants will enjoy a guided walk in the winter woods and search for signs of owls along the nature trails. The cost is $5/person and is payable at the time of the program.
Michigan Native Plant Conference
March 5, 9am - 5:30pm
Kellogg Center, East Lansing, MI
Hear from Keynote Speaker Dr. Meredith Ann Zettlemoyer about “Extinction in our Backyards: Human Effects on Michigan Prairies.” Dr. Zettlemoyer presents an indepth study of the decline of native tallgrass prairies in southwest Michigan. She examines the conditions and traits that may influence species vulnerability to local extinctions. There will also be opportunities to network, learn and ask questions A delicious lunch will be served. In addition, there will be five webinars presented throughout the year featuring an array of exciting topics. Registration and full conference details are available atwildflowersmich.org/wam-conference
Spring Bluebird Festival
Saturday, March 25
Prince Conference Center
Grand Rapids, MI
This all-day educational event will include programs on bluebirds and other bird topics, a Bluebird Expo, children's activities, and a nature hike at the Bunker Interpretive Center. The keynote program will feature naturalist and filmmaker Charles St. Charles who has been working with MBS on a fascinating film highlighting bluebirds nesting cycle. General Admission is Free! For more information on the event, go to: www.michiganbluebirds.org/springfestival
MI Audubon Spring Tour Registration
Spring Birding Tour Registrations open soon, and will see out quickly. View the dates and registration details on their calendar at -
www.michiganaudubon.org/calendar/
HELPING BIRDS ALL WINTER LONG
New York Audubon - ny.audubon.org
Winter is a tough time for birds, especially when it comes to finding food and shelter - but there are ways that we can help!
Birds have the same needs food, water, shelter in winter as they do any other time. Supporting these needs for overwintering birds could help to sustain their populations. We have compiled the following guide on simple ways you can help.
Creating Bird-friendly Yards and Communities
Where birds thrive, people prosper. One of the most important things we can do to help birds and other wildlife is to make our yards more bird and wildlife-friendly.
Minimize the amount of manicured lawn in your yard. Reduce the amount of pesticides and fertilizers in your yard and plant native species. The wilder and more varied, the better it is for your avian neighbors.
Make a brush pile Collect and set aside fallen branches and logs. This will provide shelter for birds from predators and storms, and a place to roost.
Rake leaves up under trees and shrubs and leave them there. The resulting mulch will make a lush environment for the insects and spiders that birds love to eat.
Create a songbird border of native trees and shrubs to create shelter from wind. Berry and fruit-producing shrubs and trees such as dogwoods, hollies, chokeberries, and elderberries and cherry trees are favored by many types of birds. Plant native species whenever possible, and always avoid invasives.
Clean out old nest boxes and feeders to prevent birds from getting sick.
Protect Your Windows. About a billion birds die from glass collisions each year. You can reduce this threat by making all your windows visible to birds. Glass appears clear or reflective to birds. Visual cues and markers as window decals on the outside of windows alert birds to the presence of glass.
Winter Birdfeeding
Many birds rely on fruits and seeds for survival, especially from feeders when food is scarce.
Providing bird feeders in winter will attract many birds to your yard. Place feeders in locations near, but not directly next to shelters. This allows birds to see any potential predators but doesn’t allow the predators to catch birds on the feeders. This also prevents bird collisions.
Attract different kinds of birds with different kinds of food.
o Suet and peanut butter are attractive to woodpeckers, wrens, chickadees, and others.
o Sunflower seeds appeal especially to finches, but many other small-to-medium sized birds eat sunflower including chickadees and juncos.
o Hulled sunflower seeds can be eaten by smaller birds as well though more pricey, there’s much less waste and less mess under the feeder.
o Nyjer or thistle is attractive to smaller finches like goldfinches, siskins, and redpolls.
o Mixed seed will attract most species to some extent; doves and pheasants like the millet content.
o Cracked corn on the ground will attract ground-feeding species including doves, pheasants, quail, and turkeys.
Provide Water. A clean source of water, such as a birdbath, will be of great use to birds, and a dripping water source can be a magnet for birds. In areas with winter freezeup, it’s best to use a heated birdbath.
Other Ways You Can Help -
Counting birds is a fun, impactful way to contribute to community science. From urban centers to rural towns, everyone can help to monitor bird populations.
Take Part in the Great Backyard Bird Count by counting birds for as little as 15 minutes in your own backyard. Click here for more information.
Learn more about how winter bird populations are shifting and changing due to climate change at climate.audubon.org
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REVERSING AMERICA'S WILDLIFE CRISIS
CAAS MEMBERSHIP
Support community programs with your CAAS Membership. Your membership supports programs in our community and monthly meetings Sept through June.
Memberships run the length of the program year, September to August.
SEPTEMBER 2023 - AUGUST 2024
Membership Categories
Individual $15.00
Family $20.00
Contributing $30.00
Sustaining $50.00
Donor $100.00
To sign up and pay online, visitcapitalareaaudubon.org
If you would like to mail your membership form and payment, please mail toCAAS, PO Box 22065, Lansing, MI 48910
CALL NOTE
Published monthly
September through June by the Capital Area Audubon Society PO Box 22065, Lansing MI 48909. Deadline for submissions: 20th of the month.
2022-2023 CAAS Officers
President Kristy Taylor
Vice President Patricia Deventer
Secretary Nick Segerson
Treasurer Michael Caterino
Membership Richard Yarsevich
Editor & Facebook Kristy Taylor
Publicity & Hospitality
Field Trip Coordinator
Sandra Conn
Program Coordinator Patricia Deventer
Historian Barb Andersen
Website Sandra Conn
2022-2023 CAAS Board of Directors
Michael Caterino
Sandra Conn
Patricia Deventer
Susan Elbin
Barb Andersen
Nick Segerson
Kristy Taylor
Richard Yarsevich
OPEN SEAT
caaudubon@gmail.com
capitalareaaudubon.org
facebook.com/capitalareaaudubon
2018 - National Wildlife Federation
The Growing Wildlife CrisisUnfortunately, many wildlife species are in serious decline in America despite its remarkable diversity. Although populations of many formerly scarce species, like whitetailed deer, elk, and wild turkey, have been successfully rebuilt over the past several decades, these conservation accomplishments mask a far broader pattern of population declines, especially among species that are neither hunted nor fished. Emblematic of these declines, more than 1,600 U.S. species are now receiving protection under the federal Endangered Species Act, of which 442 are vertebrate animals, 272 are invertebrates, and 947 are plants.
Listings under the Act are not an accurate barometer of the overall conservation status of U.S. species, however, and the number of species of conservation concern is far higher than what is formally listed as federal threatened and endangered species. Indeed, an assessment of the bestknown groups of U.S. plants and animals indicates that as many as one-third of America’s species are vulnerable, with one in five imperiled and at high risk of extinction.
Concern about species extinction is not just hypothetical. More than 150 U.S. species already have gone extinct, representing a permanent loss of the nation’s wildlife heritage. Extinct U.S. species include some that previously were common, widespread, and abundant, such as the passenger pigeon and Carolina parakeet (both of which went extinct in 1914). Others, like the Las Vegas leopard frog (last seen in 1942) or Scioto madtom (a fish not observed since 1957), were probably always rare. Documenting extinction is notoriously difficult because “absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.” As a result, a determination to classify a species as “presumed extinct” is made only after a considerable time has elapsed and exhaustive searches of suitable habitat carried out. Nearly 500 additional U.S. species have not been seen in recent decades and are regarded as “possibly extinct.”
Taken together, then, roughly 650 U.S. species have already disappeared or are “missing in action.” America’s freshwater animals have been particularly hard hit and about 40 percent of the nation’s freshwater fish
species are now rare or imperiled. Similarly, nearly 60 percent of the nation’s freshwater mussel species are imperiled or vulnerable, and an additional 10 percent of these globally significant species are already extinct. These declines extend well beyond species historically considered to be rare, threatened, or endangered. Common birds, like eastern meadowlark and common night-hawk, once abundant and easy to spot, have become increasingly scarce, and fully one-third of North American bird species now are in need of conservation attention.
Similarly, pollinators like bees and butterflies that once filled yards are experiencing pervasive declines. Monarch populations, for instance, have dwindled by 90 percent over the past two decades. Bats, which play an important role in controlling agricultural pests, have also suffered steep losses over the past twenty years, with 30 percent of North America’s bat species showing significant declines in conservation status
Conservationists increasingly are concerned not just about the loss of entire species, but also about sharp drops in the number of individual wild animals. Based on a compilation of population monitoring data from around the world, researchers estimate that approximately half of the world’s wild animals have been lost over the past 40 years. These sobering global trends are evident here in the United States as well, as illustrated by declines in amphibian populations. The U.S. Geological Survey has documented that on average populations of U.S. amphibians are disappearing from their known localities at a rate of 4 percent each year, with some of the most threatened species showing annual declines of nearly 12 percent.
Without concerted attention, our growing wildlife crisis will almost certainly lead to many more species qualifying for protection under federal and state endangered species laws, or, in the worst cases, joining the growing list of extinct and missing U.S. species. Indeed, state wildlife action plans collectively have identified nearly 12,000 species nationwide that need conservation attention and action.
To review the full document, and plans for the future, visitwww.nwf.org/ReversingWildlifeCrisis
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Sept-Oct, 2018
