Great Lakes Endangered Species Doing Well, Including a Record-Breaking Snake

Radiograph showing eggs in line and implanted radio transmitter. – Photo Credit: Kile Kucher

As heard Friday, May 25, 2012, on Q-90.1 FM, Delta College, Friday Edition, Environment Report …

Plovers a Plenty

There’s some good news when it comes to endangered species in the Great Lakes region.

According to new analysis from the Center for Biological Diversity, 90 percent of endangered species are on track to meet recovery goals set by federal scientists.

A total of 110 species were part of the research, and those in recovery include the piping plover, Kirtland’s warbler, Lake Erie water snake, and gray wolves.

The center, a nonprofit headquartered in Arizona, looked at population trends of plants and animals protected by the Endangered Species Act.

The analysis found many species on a path toward recovery, and some that are exceeding expectations.

On average, species have been protected for 32 years and have a typical expected recovery period of 46 years, according to the report.

In the Great Lakes region, the piping plover is a shorebird that was listed as endangered in 1985. At the time, only 19 nesting pairs remained in Michigan.

Most recently, MIchigan has maintained 50 percent of its 100-pair breeding goal for four years in a row.

Like other species, the plover recovery was due to management programs and other measures undertaken as part of the Endangered Species Act.

Eggs a Plenty

In other animal news, an eastern fox snake at the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge in Saginaw County has broken a record.

Refuge manager Steven Kahl says a recent article published in a scientific journal describes a new documented record for an eastern fox snake egg clutch size.

A radiograph of one of the refuge’s female snakes showed she was carrying 34 eggs.

That’s beyond the previous known record of 29 eggs.

And the 34 eggs is more than twice the mean clutch size of about 14 eggs for an eastern fox snake.

This particular snake also was 5 feet 9 inches long, just an inch under the longest-measured eastern fox snake.

The Shiawassee Refuge is one of only three in the nation in which the fox snake is known to live.

Refuge officials are working with Central Michigan University researchers to conduct a study of the eastern fox snake.

The species is listed as threatened in Michigan. Its global range is confined to the coastal plains of Lakes Huron, Erie and Ontario.

-30-

Michigan Sulfide Mining Report, Contest WINer & Air Monitoring Comments Due

As heard on May 18, 2012, Friday Edition, Q-90.1 FM, Delta College public broadcasting …

Battery Acid

via NWF

A report says the Great Lakes remain vulnerable to a new wave of sulfide mining.

That’s due to gaps, inconsistencies and loopholes in U.S. state and Canadian laws. The report, a legal analysis by the National Wildlife Federation and Ecojustice Canada,  says vulnerable areas include Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

Sulfide mining has proven to be devastating to natural resources in parts of the western U.S. and Canada, the report’s authors say.

The report says that, across Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota and Ontario, laws do not offer adequate protections. Areas threatened by mining include the shores of Lake Superior.

Michigan ranked considerably lower than other states in the analysis.

The Michigan Environmental Council, representing groups in the Bay City area and elsewhere, is pushing for added protections in the state.

Spy on a Bluebird

An Earth Day Facebook Contest will fund a live-streaming webcam in the Saginaw Bay area.

The Saginaw Bay Watershed Initiative Network (WIN) held a contest last month, seeking the best ideas for environmental projects in the region.

After a round of entries, a proposal by the Chippewa Nature Center emerged with the most votes. The center will receive a $1,000 grant to develop a live-streaming webcam.

The cam will be placed in a bluebird nesting box on property owned by the center, located in Midland. The cam will be viewable via the Internet, and include infrared capabilities for nighttime viewing.

WIN is an organization funded by 11 foundations in the Saginaw Bay region.

And leaders say the group still has grants available for projects that address land use, water resources, agriculture, energy efficiency, wildlife habitat and regional marketing.

See saginawbaywin.org for more information.

The Air We Breathe

The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality is taking public comment on plans for air monitoring in 2013.

A draft Ambient Air Monitoring document recommends changes based on history, population and modifications to Clean Air Act requirements.

The state’s ambient air monitoring network includes a device in Bay City that monitors particulate matter emitted by power plants and vehicles. There are plans to shut down a lead monitoring site in Vassar.

The document is available online (as a pdf), and comments are being taken through June 5.

-30-

Mich Enviro Report: Ban on Hunting and Snowmobiling in Huron-Manistee & Avian Botulism

As heard Friday, Oct. 28, 2011, on Q-90.1 FM, Delta College, NPR:

1.

Comments are being taken until Dec. 21 on snowmobile and firearm use in the Huron-Manistee National Forests.

…

A proposal to ban gun hunting and snowmobiling within certain areas of the forests was prompted by a federal court decision.

The U.S. Forest Service has now developed alternatives related to snowmobile and firearm use in areas of the national forests.

Michigan United Conservation Clubs is encouraging people to attend several public meetings planned to explain the process and submit written comments.

The alternatives include no action, no snowmobiling or firearm hunting in the forest areas, and allowing firearm hunting and snowmobiling use to continue as is.

Meetings are planned for Birch Run, Oscoda, Mio and other locations.

2.

The Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy is looking for help from citizen scientists.

The Bay City-based conservancy says people can help improve the Great Lakes ecosystem by reporting sightings of injured or dead birds, and algal blooms, to the federal Wildlife Health Monitoring Network.

The reports can help with research on avian botulism and protecting birds from the disease.

The reporting system was funded by a grant through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

Injured or dead wildlife, and evidence of algal blooms, can be an indication that an area is being affected by a Botulism outbreak, which can kill waterfowl.

In recent decades, incidences of botulism in the Great Lakes have increased steadily, according to federal sources. Thousands of birds died from 1998-2001 in Lakes Huron and Erie.

— Photo by Paul Williams

-30-

Mich Enviro Report: Birds, Earthworms, Rain & the Rifle River

For Friday Edition, April 29, 2011, Delta College Q-90.1 FM … 

1.

Early to mid-May is prime time for birdwatching.

Photo Credit: John Benson

The Tawas Point Birding Festival takes place from May 12-15, during the spring migration.

The festival is a Michigan Audubon event supported by the local Au Sable Valley chapter.

Birders can expect to see migrating warblers at Tawas Point during the month of May. More than 160 species of birds were spotted during a festival in 2008.

The festival includes field trips, workshops, lighthouse tours, a Charity Island cruise, and Kirtland’s Warbler tours.

This year’s feature presentation is by authors and photographers Don and Lillian Stokes.

For more information, see tawasbirdfest.com.

2.

The Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy has inked an agreement with Huron Pines to permanently protect land in the Rifle River Watershed.

Under the agreement, the Conservancy will identify parcels of land that exhibit important conservation values like wetland habitat or working farmland.

The Conservancy will then work with landowners to secure voluntary conservation easements on at least 100 acres of land in the watershed, according to those involved.

The Rifle River flows through Ogemaw and Arenac counties.

It’s about 60 miles long and drains 396 square miles into Saginaw Bay.

The Rifle is being negatively impact by sediment and nutrient loading.

The Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy is based in Bay City.

Huron Pines is a conservation organization with offices in Grayling.

3.

Rain Rain Rain. The next time you see a worm crawling on the sidewalk, give that worm some respect.

Earthworms are an indicator of soil health, and can impact soil structure and plant growth.

According to the Michigan Nature Association, there are 21 species of earthworms in Michigan, and you can find up to 300 individual worms in a square yard of soil.

Earthworms consume dead and decaying plant material and excrete food for plants.

Their other environmental benefits include helping with soil drainage, especially after a heavy downpour.

Earthworms can live up to eight years, but most don’t survive more than a year.

Thank the birds for that. Foxes, shrews, skunks, moles and garter snakes also enjoy the taste of worms.

The Saginaw Bay area has received plenty of rain this week. The precipitation has resulted in flood warnings for the Saginaw River.

Michigan Enviro Report: Birds in Shiawassee, Rapanos Land & Saving Tobico Towers

For the Jan. 28, 2011, Friday Edition Environment Report on Delta College Q-90.1 FM:

JEFF ENVIRONMENT REPORT 1-28 by jeffkart

1.

Bird watchers, start your engines.

A $2 million auto trail is due to open this spring at the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge.

The trail is 7.5 miles long and takes motorists through the refuge, located in Saginaw County. Construction has been completed, and the route is due to open in May, according to Capitol News Service.

The trail, called Wildlife Drive, includes two observation decks with spotting scopes for viewing birds. There’s also an expanded parking area and new fishing and canoe access site.

Previously, motorists were only allowed to drive through the refuge for one day each year. The new trail will allow more people to view birds during the spring and summer. Officials say the speed limit is 15 mph and the gravel trail was designed not to disturb wildlife.

The project, funded by federal dollars, is part of a conservation plan for all national wildlife refuges in the U.S.

The trail is the second of its kind in Michigan. There’s another one at Seney National Wildlife Refuge, in the Upper Peninsula.

The Shiawassee refuge is home to almost 300 species of birds, including bald eagles and peregrine falcons.

2.

There are three newly protected parcels in the Saginaw Bay area.

The Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy in Bay City has acquired three parcels — two in Pinconning Township and one in Standish Township.

The three parcels have been under a mitigation plan established in 2005, according to Conservancy officials.

The property was originally farm field, and is still being restored. The plans are to turn it into a forested wetland.

The 2005 mitigation plan required about 93 acres of wetlands to be created or restored. Those include forested wetlands and shrub wetlands.

The remaining 125 acres contain buffers in the form of wetlands,  hedgerows, drainage ditches and other land devoted to wildlife habitat.

The three parcels were acquired as a result of a settlement between the federal government and Midland developer John Rapanos.

The Rapanos case stretches back to the late 1980s.

3.

You can help Save Tobico Towers at an event on Saturday, Jan. 29.

A citizens group will be holding the event at 10 a.m. in the front of Bay Banquet Hall at 363 State Park Drive.

It’s a 5-k run and walk, with separate categories for people of all ages.

Registration begins at 9 a.m. The fee is $15, with proceeds going to the Save Tobico Towers effort.

The group is trying to raise $70,000 to restore two wooden observation towers in Tobico Marsh, part of the Bay City State Recreation Area in Bangor Township.

So far, the group has raised about $5,000, according to The Bay City Times.

—

Mich Enviro Report: Slow Down for Eagles, More Warblers & MDOT Praise

1.

While you’re out on the roads this holiday season, watch out for bald eagles. Really.

State and federal wildlife officials say bald eagle deaths from motor vehicles are on the rise in Michigan.

Vehicle accidents accounted for 29 percent of recorded eagle deaths between 1987 and 2008, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. A total of 222 birds are known to have died from auto accidents during that period.

Eagles have been hit when they’re feeding on road kill.  Scavenging behavior tends to increase during the winter months when ice develops on lakes and rivers, making foraging for fish more difficult.

So slow down if you see a dead animal alongside the road. A bald eagle may be nearby.

In Michigan, bald eagle populations have increased from 52 breeding pairs in 1961 to 630 breeding pairs in 2010. The bird was removed from the endangered species list in 2007, but is still protected by law.

http://www.fws.gov/midwest/eastlansing/eagleform.htm
http://www.michigan.gov/som/0,1607,7-192-29938-248523–,00.html

2.

Speaking of birds, the Kirtland’s Warbler is still on the endangered species list. But populations are exceeding recovery goals.

The latest annual survey of the birds in Michigan shows that the state’s population remains steady. A total of 1,733 singing males were recorded this year by biologists and researchers. The numbers have been steady for the last three years.

This year, singing males were found in 11 northern Michigan counties, including, Clare, Crawford, Iosco, Ogemaw, Oscoda and Roscommon counties.

The Kirtland’s Warbler is still listed as endangered, but forest management programs have helped stabilize their habitat, officials say.

The recovery goal for the birds is 1,000 singing males. Now, with the population at almost twice that number, state and federal officials are working to remove the species from the endangered species list, so funds and efforts can be focused on other species more in need of recovery efforts.

http://www.michigan.gov/dnre/0,1607,7-269–248408–,00.html

3.

Environmental groups are praising the reappointment of Kirk Steudle as director of the Michigan Department of Transportation.

Steudle, a former Essexville city commissioner, has been reappointed to the position by incoming Governor Rick Snyder.

The Michigan Environmental Council says MDOT is a key player in transportation policy in Michigan, and Steudle has done a good job with limited resources since taking over the department in 2006.

Steudle also has supported important initiatives in the areas of passenger rail service and making towns and cities safer and more accessible for pedestrians, cyclists, wheelchair users and others, the environmental group says.

Steudle, who now lives in South Lyon, was formerly an MDOT engineer for the bay region.

http://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,1607,7-151-9623_10724-61418–,00.html

— Photo Credit: Alan Vernon

###

Michigan Enviro Report: Christmas Bird Count, Solar in Bay City, Asian Carp Comments

From the Dec. 17, 2010, Friday Edition Environment Report on Delta College Q-90.1 FM:

1.

Photo Credit: Steve Ryan, Flickr

Citizen scientists are out and about in Michigan for the annual Christmas Bird Count.

The count began this week and lasts until Jan. 5.

According to Michigan Audubon, data gathered by volunteers during the count is used to assess the health of bird populations, and to guide conservation action.

This year’s count will be held in spots including Oscoda, Bay City, Higgins and Houghton lakes, Huron County and Tawas City.

Some history: In the 1980′s Christmas Bird Count data documented the decline of wintering populations of the American Black Duck. After that, conservation measures were put in place to reduce hunting pressure on this species.

Last year, the count was instrumental in documenting range shifts of birds due to climate change.

Anyone from experienced birders to parents and kids can participate in the count. For more information, see michiganaudubon.org.

2.

A new solar array is gathering energy from the sun at the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality office in Bay City.

State officials say the 10-kilowatt array will help make the office more energy efficient.

The array includes a total of 44 panels, which sit atop a structure at the north end of the property.

The building already generates power from 50-kilowatt wind turbine, visible from the Independence Bridge.

The latest improvements may earn a building an upgraded Platinum rating from the U.S. Green Building Council, under a program known as LEED. The solar panels will not only gather energy from the sun, but also pull power from parking lot lighting at night, officials say.

The solar array was funded by federal stimulus money. It came from a vendor in Novi and was installed by a contractor from Flint.

3.

If you’re concerned about Asian carp in the Great Lakes, listen up.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is taking comments until March 31 on the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study.

In other words, the Corps is studying ways to prevent invasive species like Asian carp from swimming between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins.

That includes exploring a physical separation of the two basins.

Public meetings on the study are planned for Jan. 27 in Traverse City and Feb. 3 in Ann Arbor.

But you also can make comments online.