It’s official !  We have a State Duck, and what a beauty it is – the Wood Duck, Aix sponsa.                                         A stunning waterfowl, Wood Duck males sport green and chestnut colors on their head which is tufted and has striking white markings dashing front to back. Other markings and colors all over the bird make it an absolute pleasure to view.  The females have subdued coloring but sport a characteristic white eye liner. Wood Ducks are one of the few duck species equipped with strong claws that can perch on branches and grip bark.   Most Wood Ducks leave Michigan

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  Another early Spring migrant, Killdeer have returned to Michigan for purposes of breeding.  This common plover is the shorebird that is most associated with our neighborhoods and can be found in fields, playgrounds and golf courses. They are a shorter distance migrant as their range map shows; hence, the early return.                             Hearing their call overhead as they fly, their name-sake “Kill-deer, kill-deer”, brings an uplifting feeling to me.  This bird has made the journey successfully and hopes to find a suitable place to nest.  Nesting for killdeer is a very plain affair – a simple scrape to lay the eggs in, with the male bowing

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Did you know that Michigan holds the nationwide record for the most Red-tailed Hawks seen at one observation area east of the Mississippi River?  In 2019, a total of 22,420 Red-tailed Hawks were counted at the Mackinac Straits Raptor Watch. Locally, we have a pair that can frequently be seen on the lamp posts along I-94, most commonly from Moross to Eleven Mile Road.  Why would Red-tailed Hawks be drawn to the side of an expressway?   The trash that is discarded by vehicles draws mice and rats to the area and those rodents are food for the hawks.  Sitting and observing is one of the ways that a Red-tail locates food, using its excellent vision to see movement below.  Unfortunately,

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There is perhaps no other bird that elicits such strong emotions in us as a Bald Eagle.  Truly majestic in appearance, we are so fortunate that their numbers have increased from 30 nesting pairs in Michigan in the 1950’s to 900 pairs currently. Thanks to Eric H. Wolff for this photo of Bald Eagle with fish The use of DDT, a man-made chemical that seeped into streams and rivers, affected the fish that Eagles ate, causing their eggshells to become so fragile they would break before hatching. After DDT was banned, we have seen the dramatic recovery of this species. Bald Eagle pairs are currently nesting at Belle Isle, the Country Club of Detroit, Stoney Creek Metro Park and on

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While Screech Owls would be the most common owl in south east Michigan, there are other owls that have been sighted and may surprise you with an appearance. The most likely would be the Great Horned Owl.  This very large owl is 22 inches tall with a wing span of 44 inches.  They need a large tree that has a flat area for purposes of nesting, such as a broken off main trunk.  In the past, there have been a pair that have nested in the field across from The Ford House, the only place that fulfills that nesting need.  Food supply in our area is not an issue as Great Horned Owls will eat squirrels, racoons, possum, rats and

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What flies silently in the night, has eyeballs that are 5% of their total body weight, and has ear flaps (operculum) that can be closed to block out sound during the day when they sleep? It’s the Eastern Screech Owl, the most abundant owl in our area, found in open woodlands, readily accepting parks and suburban neighborhoods. Their breeding territories range from ten to 15 acres in wooded suburban areas, depending upon food supply.   Screech owls are 6 ½ to ten inches tall with a wingspan of 18 to 24 inches and a weight of only four to nine ounces. Male Screech Owls are smaller than females, and are more agile fliers and hunters. However, the female with her larger

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Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers are a type of woodpecker. True to their name, these birds drill concentric, evenly-spaced holes on trees in order to get them to weep sap. This is the first food available for hummingbirds when they arrive in spring. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds also eat the flying insects attracted to the sap wells. The hummers dart about and use their tongues to snatch the insects in mid-air.   Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers are 8 1/2 inches from beak to end of tail and have a wingspan of 16 inches, yet weigh only 1.8 ounces.         Sap comprises 20% of the annual diet and during certain periods it may be the only food consumed by Yellow-belled Sapsuckers.  The brushy tongue is a great

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Delicate.  Hardy.  Unique Those three words first came to mind when describing the brown creeper.  The habits of this bird are what endear it to me. When I  find a brown creeper, I feel fortunate to be observe its uniqueness.  Brown creepers prefer a vertical point of view and are built especially for that way of life.  At the end of short legs are incredibly long toes that support long curved claws.  The tail is also noticeably long in relation to the birds’ size.  Its lengthy design allows the tail feathers to support the bird as it hitches up the bark of the tree.  And therein lies part of the essence of this bird. Typically starting at the bottom of

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