Gifts for Your Birding Friends

From new birdsong collections to smartphone apps, online learning, and a kit for beginning birders, here are 10 holiday gift suggestions for the bird and nature lover in your life. All these items are available from the nonprofit Cornell Lab of Ornithology at www.birds.cornell.edu/BirdGifts. Your purchases "pay it forward" by supporting the Cornell Lab's bird conservation efforts.
 
Cornell Lab 2015 Calendar
Spend a year with the birds! This new calendar features stunning photos with fascinating facts about each species. This colorful cast of characters is yours with a gift of $10 or more to the Lab. ($10) Donate now

Be a Better Birder Tutorials
Cornell Lab of Ornithology and eCornell
Part 1: Size and Shape; Part 2: Color and Pattern
These new online tutorials are designed to help beginning birders learn how to identify birds on their own time, at their own pace. They feature interactive exercises and engaging media. In Part 1, you’ll learn which parts of a bird will be most useful in making an ID and the basic groupings used to organize the many species of birds. In Part 2, learn how to locate bits of color on a bird for identification, instead of trying to memorize every color and pattern. Other topics in this section include the challenges posed by juvenile birds and molting birds, and how you can even be fooled by the lighting. $29 each; access provided for 6 months following registration. Purchase and register

Online Bird Behavior Course
Cornell Lab of Ornithology and eCornell
In five weeks it’s possible to learn enough about bird behavior to forever change the way you look at these complex and beautiful creatures. Gain new insight and enjoyment through our online interactive course, “Courtship and Rivalry in Birds.” The goal of the course is to help you learn how to observe and interpret bird behavior and communication. A basic principle of bird behavior as it relates to survival and reproduction is explored each week using multimedia and interactive activities, guided by an instructor. The course is offered multiple times during the year. $295 ($255 for Cornell Lab members). Online Bird Behavior Course 

Master Set Bundle
This year we're offering a special pairing of the Cornell Guide to Birds Sounds: Master Set for North America: Master Set and the unparalleled Birds of North American Online reference. This combo includes a one-year subscription to BNA Online, the most complete source of  information for the more than 700 species of birds that breed in Canada and the United States. Each species account includes the latest science as well as photos, sounds, and videos of interesting behaviors. The new, revised Master Set includes multiple examples of sounds for each of 737 bird species in more than 4,900 tracks. This version of the Master Set requires less storage space than the original. ($69.99; a 20%  savings over separate purchase of these items) Master Set Bundle

Essential Set Bundle
This package includes a six-month subscription to Birds of North America Online and the Cornell Guide to Birds Sounds:Essential Set for North America. The Essential Set provides the most common sounds of 729 bird species found in North America with 1,379 tracks. ($24.99; save more than 30% over purchase of these items separately) Essential Set Bundle
You can still purchase the sounds sets and BNA Online separately:
Cornell Guide to Bird Sounds: Master Set for North America
This comprehensive guide features nearly 5,000 soundtracks for 737 North American bird species. Download includes MP3 sound files and photographs ($49.99), or get files pre-loaded on a flash drive. ($64.99) Sound Sets

Cornell Guide to Bird Sounds: Essential Set for North America
This set includes the most common sounds for 729 species in downloadable MP3 files ($12.99) or on a pre-loaded flash drive. ($24.99) Sound Sets
The Birds of North America Online
This is the most comprehensive reference available for all of North America’s 716 species of breeding birds, updated with the most current scientific information and brought to life with photos, sounds, and video. Image and video galleries show plumages, behaviors, habitat, nests and eggs, and more. This is a gift of knowledge for anyone who loves to learn more about birds. A 30-day subscription is just $5; $42 for a full year.  Birds of North America Online

Project FeederWatch
You can now give FeederWatch as gift, introducing friends and family to this long-running citizen-science project. By submitting bird observations to the Lab, participants help contribute to scientific understanding of feeder birds and learn more about their backyard friends along the way. ($18) Project FeederWatch
BirdSleuth Game Cards
Hit the deck! This deck of 5" x 7" game cards from the Lab’s BirdSleuth K-12 program has full-color images of the 36 most common backyard birds, plus games and a bonus online quiz. With each purchase you also receive a finch sock feeder, two bird ID posters, and BirdSleuth Investigator, the program’s kid-friendly publication. ($14.95) Game cards

Bird Spy Bingo Cards
This is a great stocking stuffer from the Lab's BirdSleuth program! Each dry-erase card invites kids outside to look for birds. Spotting a group of birds, a colorful bird, a feather, or even bird poo can help you win bingo! Play while traveling, out for a walk, or just sitting in your backyard. Cards are available in English and Spanish. ($1.50) Bingo cards

Birds of Paradise: Revealing the World’s Most Extraordinary Birds
By Tim Laman & Edwin Scholes
National Geographic Books & Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Marvel at the stunning images and groundbreaking research that reveal, for the first time, all 39 species of the spectacular birds-of-paradise. Male birds have developed intricate dances, outrageous plumes, and decorative ornaments to woo as many mates as possible. It took 18 expeditions and 8 years for Cornell Lab of Ornithology biologist Ed Scholes and photojournalist Tim Laman to document all the species. Retail: Wild Birds Unlimited at Sapsucker Woods

BirdLog app
Birds-in-the-Hand LLC
The BirdLog data entry app for both iPhone and Android smartphones allows users to record bird observations as they make them and submit their data directly to the eBird online checklist program. BirdLog is available via the iTunes app store or at the Google Play app store for Android devices. A portion of the proceeds goes to fund research and conservation work at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Cornell Lab Membership
When you become a member of the Cornell Lab you give back to the birds by supporting our mission of research, education, conservation, and citizen science. Benefits of membership include our award-winning Living Bird magazine and discounts on projects and courses, plus the latest birding news and discoveries in our monthly eNewsletter. Whether it’s a membership for yourself, your family, or a gift for a loved one, this is a meaningful way to support conservation and enhance the understanding and enjoyment of birds. Supporter level memberships begin at $44 per year. Lab Membership

Cornell Lab Bird Q&A: Your Birding Questions Answered App
This new app from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology makes learning more about birds fun. Find the answers to questions you have about birds and learn more about bird identification. This app is based on real questions asked of the experts at the Cornell Lab. Compatible with iPhone 3Gs, iPod Touch (3rd & 4th generation), and iPad. Search "Cornell Lab" in iTunes store to download.

The Bird Watching Answer Bookby Laura Erickson
Storey Publishing
Drawing from the tens of thousands of inquiries that pour into the Cornell Lab each year, author and bird expert Laura Erickson has compiled answers to more than 200 common and not-so-common bird questions. This handy pocket-sized book reads like a conversation with your friendly neighborhood "bird lady" and contains down-to-earth answers to questions about watching and feeding birds, bird behavior, and bird biology. Readers will find plenty of quirky stories and interesting facts tucked into every corner. Retail: Wild Birds Unlimited at Sapsucker Woods
BirdsEye & BirdsEye Lite bird-finding apps
Bird-in-the-Hand LLC
It’s like having thousands of local birding experts at your command. The BirdsEye app for iPhone® and iPod touch® harnesses the power of current data from the Cornell Lab’s eBird program to help users find the birds they want to see—showing where specific species have been reported and providing a map to get there. The app includes images and audio for the 470 most frequently observed birds in North America. Additional content is available for more elusive birds—for a total of 847 species. (BirdsEye Lite features 135 species.) Bird sounds come from the Cornell Lab’s Macaulay Library archive, images from the VIREO collection at the Academy of Natural Sciences. Acclaimed birder and author Kenn Kaufman wrote each species account describing habitat where each species is likely to be found. BirdsEye App

Birds and Beans Gift Set
Just in time for the holidays, get more than 25% off this special gift set. It contains a dozen 12-ounce bags of bird-friendly coffee, including Wood Thrush Breakfast Roast, American Redstart Light Roast, Scarlet Tanager French Roast, and more. Ground or whole bean available. Your purchase supports organic shade-grown coffee farms that shelter migratory birds. A portion of the proceeds supports Cornell Lab conservation efforts. ($115, includes shipping) Birds & Beans

Singing Plush BirdsWild Republic

The plush birds in this popular series make great collectibles for children and adults with new species introduced each year. Each bird contains authentic sounds from the Cornell Lab’s Macaulay Library and is created with colorful anatomical details. From the haunting wail of the Common Loon to the familiar call of the Black-capped Chickadee, these fuzzy friends make a bird in the hand informative and fun. Available from: Wild Birds Unlimited at Sapsucker Woods

Outdoor Success is warming Up

Unlike our fall weather, outdoor pursuits are heating up for area hunters and fishers.

Many don't think of Pointe Mouillie as a deer hunting location but Devin Geiger recently got his buck there. A very nice 9 point.

Terry Middleton headed west for his trophy. This 5 x 5 elk came from Northwest Colorado.

Bill Sugarbaker got his bird in western Monroe county. This is a rare big old bird.

On the fishing side there's Joe Torolski with a black and striped marlin from Cabo.

John Gerlach with a river steelhead by jigging.

 

 My son Justin with his muskie.

Them me with my new inflatable lifejacket and reel.

 

 

Get Outdoors Downriver.





Make it Snappy at Oakwoods Metropark

The native people didn't have it easy back in the day. No shopping decisions to be made because there weren't any stores. Food had to be earned. First with throwing sticks or stones at food.

 Then came the bow and arrow.

 Or you could learn to gather apples.

 

Survival isn't easy. Unless you have Chase watching your back.

You have 20+ explorers handling snapping turtles. What could go wrong?

Nothing actually except for an intimate moment with nature. Baby turtles hatch late summer and have a yoke sack that feeds them for many weeks so they don't even try to eat. So all fingers were safe during this educational exercise.

All the babies were launched successfully. Good job Chase.

Get Outdoors downriver.

Duck Festival Bigger Than Ever

The Point Mouillie Duck Fest was incredible this year. For $2 parking, a day of constant entertainment could be achieved. From vendors to hip boot races and dog jumping there was never a dull moment. Of course, not having duck weather helped out immensely.

Vendors included Cabela's, Gander Mt. and Knutson's Sporting Goods as the largest ones but many, up to 60 others, had wares for sale from antiques to fine crafted duck calls. The big tent held the crafters, mostly wood carvers of all types, that were selling everything from ducks to humming birds. There was also a kids play area to burn off some energy pent up from shopping at all the stops. Live entertainment had this layout shooting exercise, hip boot racing, bb gun and archery shoot, sling shot contest and duck calling. 

Also the Huron River Jump Dogs were practicing and competing all day.

 

Just a great outdoor happening put on by a lot of people but with a big plug to Joe Robison the southern Michigan waterfowl specialist and Pointe Mouillie Supervisor.

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Hawkfest Delivers

What a wonderful day at Lake Erie Metropark. From the kids’ activities to the professional bird counters there was something for everyone to do. Booths for many birding associations, bird info, seminars, live bird displays and a visit by a pair of bald eagles were some of the happenings.

The bird counters set up by the boat launch area and were busy counting. Over 200,000 birds had been counted in the previous week. Saturday was slow, with the strong breeze out of the south hampering kettling for the raptors. Kettling is a group of raptors soaring in a circle riding the warm air drafts and easing their way south. They don’t get the warm updrafts over water so Lake Erie funnels them to the very location of the Metropark.

I learned birding from my brother Roger, who just recently passed away. After my Dad passed away Rog took me on his family vacations and taught me how to spot birds and what to look for in identifying them. From Colorado to Lower and Upper Michigan I got to see a vast variety of birds. That experience has stayed with me and kept me interested in bird watching. Birding is a great exercise in that it only takes a bird ID book and a pair of binoculars to participate. Once you try it you’ll be hooked.

                            

One of the other things going on during the festival was the banding of raptors. The USFWS had a capture operation set up in the area. With the migration in full swing this is a perfect time for them to do this. A report came in that they had captured and banded a Broad Wing Hawk. Normally they catch smaller raptors like the kestrel so there was much excitement about this. After some info talk the captor was released.

Fly away Rog.

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Lake Erie Metropark's Hawkfest

This is must see fall action. The raptors migrate south and Lake Erie funnels them west, right over LEMP. Hopefully the timing is right so many kettles will be seen drifting south on the drafts of warm air, drafts aren't found on the lake as much so the birds stick to the warmer land. All that's needed is a pass to the park, binoculars, food for a picnic and the need for having a fun time.

See hawks in the sky and meet a few at Lake Erie Metropark’s “24th Annual Hawkfest,” a two-day celebration of the annual fall migration of birds of prey - hawks, eagles, falcons and vultures - on Saturday and Sunday, September 21 and 22, from 10 am to 5 pm each day at the Marshlands Museum and Nature Center of Lake Erie Metropark in Brownstown.

Programs include talks on birds of prey, including an osprey update, raptor rehabilitation and the Oak Openings Raptor Project. Members of the Michigan Hawking Club will bring hawks and discuss falconry. Live birds of prey will be brought out during special programs by Joe Rogers on Saturday at 10 am and 3 pm, and the Howell Nature Center on Sunday at 11 am and 3 pm. Also, on Sunday, Reg Pettibone’s Native American Hawk Dancers will perform traditional “eagle dances” at 4 pm. Kids can play educational games and make crafts.

Each September, tens of thousands of broad-winged hawks pass over the park, which is designated as an Important Bird Area and one of the premier hawk watching sites in North America. All together, about 16 or 17 different species of migrating birds of prey fly overhead during the fall migration season. Hawk watchers will be counting migrating raptors, and their spotting scopes can be used to take a peek at birds in the sky. Typically, 200,000 birds of prey migrate over Lake Erie Metropark from September through November on their southward journey.

Get Outdoors Downriver

The River has a Thousand Eyes

Sounds reminiscent of an old Twilight Zone episode, or a good day fishing in the spring when the walleyes are running. No, this is about the new world we live in. Cameras are every where from elevators to the streets of Missouri. Now an unfortunate rule breaker has been caught right at the head of the Detroit River. Fishing for the favored walleye he caught a trash fish, at least in his mind. The trash fish was a musky, not of legal size, so he made sure it wouldn't survive and then threw it back in.

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Everyone should be alarmed by this video, not in the way as it pertains to Ray Rice but in a way that cheapens our natural resources. Musky fishermen and especially musky clubs on both sides of the border are spitting mad about this. Some musky enthusiasts even have long tanks on their boats that they put caught fish in to recover after a long battle. These tanks are very expensive and almost required when fishing when the water is warm. So you can understand their voracity when someone kills one of their future prizes.

The buzz created by the video finally got to the authorities and he will be dealt with thru the proper channels.

http://blogs.windsorstar.com/news/accused-muskie-hater-apologizes-for-killing-fish-and-heated-confrontation

Get Outdoors Downriver.

Water, Water Everywhere, Nor Any Drop to Drink

Blue green algae toxins have brought back the curse of the ancient Mariner.
Water everywhere but none to drink. The problem has existed for many years but for some reason no has become acute. Over 40 years ago there was a documentary about the Great Lakes and the narrator canoes from Lake Superior to Lake Ontario. As I remember the context of the film, past history of the waterway was compared to current conditions. When the canoeist gets to Lake Erie he dips his paddle into semi-pristine water and lifts it up to drink from the run off. Quite a trick to pull off but when you're thirsty it is refreshing. As the paddle hits the apex of the lift the water turns from 17th century water to the sludge that existed in the 1960's, green and chunky. Along with DDT and mercury problems many considered Lake Erie dead.

 

An effort was started to clean up the Great Lakes and things turned around quickly. However there's always been an algae bloom in Lake Erie and this causes a dead zone that can cause major fish die offs. The lake is shallow in terms of the rest of the Great Lakes and accepts many chemicals from the Detroit River and the Maumee. This feeds the algae and along with the warm temperatures of the shallow water their population takes off.


 







The problem is very complex with contributions coming from fertilizers and the waste of animals, including humans. Nowhere else on the Great Lakes does this problem happen even though almost every lake has the same types and amounts of contributors. Thankfully now the Feds are chipping in. $12 million is set aside to find out where the worst contributor exist. From manure to excrement to farm runoff, how much and where from. Hopefully we'll get some answers that solve this big problem and get the albatross off our necks.

Fine Dining at the Nature Center

After putting together the craft for the day, a crayfish trap, Chase took everyone down to the fire pit along with a few dozen of his new best friends. The crayfish were a little docile being store on ice in a cooler for a couple of days. Even so they displayed the double claw over the head move that give most predators a second thought about dealing with the pincher's. The taste of the fine dining usually overcomes this fear.

Most of the explorers have indulged in this delicacy so they don't know the reward is greater than the fear. With a little schooling about how to hold the crawdad all comers grabbed their own and added it to the boiling pot. Just grab behind the head because they can't reach behind it with those claws. Soon all had put in 3 or 4 and we had enough for a feast.

Next was getting at the reward. With help from the adults the explorers were peeling off the shells and dipping their tails in butter. A fine dine was had by all. Thanks Chase.

Get Outdoors Downriver.

Who Would You Want to Look in your Most Treasured Book?

Just about every fanatic outdoor person keeps a book of info garnered from outings into the unknown. Fisherman jot down weather observations, sunlight levels, lure color, trolling speed, how many of what kind of fish caught and on and on. Hunters also use weather observations and sunlight levels and with those direction deer are traveling, time of day which trails leading to which scrape/rub, which calls used and how many deer. As you can see people dedicated to an endeavor try to use all the info they can, whether good or bad, to help them harvest their game. Much of this info is kept secret, hard to come by details earned thru trial and error.

Who would you let look thru that encyclopedia of personal info and tips? Kevin Van Dam if you fish for bass, maybe. Tom Miranda if you're a big game bow hunter. I guess it depends on your fanaticism and what your game is.

 How about J.D. Martinez standing on first base unaware that someone has his secret hitting book.


Should JD be mad? Miguel is by all accounts the best hitter of a baseball in the world. I guess that's someone you'd let look at it but draw pictures, I don't know about that but in 25 years that book might just be worth more than the info inside, just look at the pictures.

Don't Look a Gift Turkey in the Snood

  This is an old story now but I'm finally getting around to tell it. Opening morning broke cool but not too crisp and the birds were very vocal. This is southern Michigan farm country and the amount of birds are amazing. I heard a few on the east part of the farm I was on, enough to keep my interest peeked. My cousin Jojo on the other hand was surrounded by a large flock of turkeys. As if they knew where he was and that it was opening day all the toms stayed too far away, even for him, to take a shot with the booming 10 gauge he uses. The toms I saw were thru binoculars in the farming field hundreds of yards away from my decoy set up. They would gobble to my calling but never took a step closer from the path they naturally take. A little after 10 it was time for breakfast.

  We got back about 1 pm after doing some road scouting. The sun was high and no birds were in the fields. Usually we see some toms trying to determine the pecking order but not today. So back to the blinds we went. On the way out to eat I took down my dominate ton hen pecking decoy so as not to educate any live toms in the area. So I set the decoys back up and got in the blind. Almost instantly and before I even tried calling I heard a gobble of to my east. I'm sure it was on of the toms I had heard gobbling earlier in the morning. I called and he gobbled for quite some time. He got close but nowhere near seeing range let alone shooting range. At some point during the excersice I asertained that what I thought were double gobbles were actually a different birds gobbles.

  Now to my west there were two different toms gobbling to my calls. They were very interested and I could tell one or both would be coming in to the decoys. I set up my camera to capture the event but things didn't go as I had hoped. This turkey came in but didn't go the right way. He's puffed up but became silent when he got close.

Here's the set up I wanted him to come into. He was headed that way but didn't make the commitment. He backed out and started coming straight toward me. I called and the other tom replied.

I had a hard time with the camera and was frustrated so I shot the tom the first chance I got. This was a really nice bird with a 91/2" beard and 1" spurs. A big 2-3 year old and probably still hanging out with his brother.

Get Outdoors Downriver.

Give a Man a Fish...

Have you ever wanted to learn to fish? Join the DNR for "Hook, Line and Sinker", a weekly fishing program conducted by our staff at over 30 state parks and fish hatcheries in Michigan.

They'll teach you casting and fishing basics, and we can provide a rod and reel to use if you don't have your own equipment. Hook, Line and Sinker programs begin in mid-June and continue throughout the summer.

Participants under 17 do not need a fishing license. Programs are FREE; however, a Recreation Passport is required for park entry.

The  experienced, friendly instructors will introduce you to fishing in a relaxed and fun atmosphere. With step-by-step direction, you'll learn fishing basics like knot-tying, setting up your pole, casting, selecting and using bait, and removing fish from the hook. After the 20- to 30-minute lesson, you'll be ready to hit the water and exercise your new skills.

There are many parks across the state that offer the program and the closest to the DR is - Sterling State Park, Monroe, 734-289-2715. Call for info.

Get Outdoors Downriver.

The Smell of a River

Every year in the spring the Detroit River developes it's own smell. There are many aromas in the smell mostly like fresh caught fish. Throw in some fresh rain smell and a little rotten fish. Ah the ambrosia of a living river.

Usually I get the smell in early April when the first signs of walleye fishing appear. Working just a football field away I can smell the river distinctly on any calm morning. This year however after all the polar vorti's the smell was non existent until just the day after Memorial Day. I hadn't even thought about it until I recognized the smell and noticed I hadn't noticed it. It's always a welcome event because that means fish is going to be red hot, especially with the Wyandotte Kid's Fishing Derby coming up.

Just be thankful we weren't as hard hit by the polar vorti as some in the state.

Get Outdoors Downriver.

Deadline for Elk and Bear Permits is Fast Approaching.

  Applications for Michigan elk and bear hunting licenses are available now through June 1. There will be 100 elk licenses and 7,831 bear hunting licenses available for the 2014 hunting seasons.

  Only Michigan residents are eligible to apply for an elk license. Bear licenses are available for both residents and nonresidents; however, no more than 2 percent of licenses in any bear management unit will be issued to nonresidents.

  Hunters can apply online at www.michigan.gov/huntdrawings, at any authorized license agent or at a DNR Customer Service Center. A nonrefundable $5 fee is charged at the time of application. Hunters may purchase just one bear and one elk application.

  Want another chance at a bear or elk license? Hunters can increase their odds by applying for the Pure Michigan Hunt. Applications are $5 and are available at any license agent or online at www.mdnr-elicense.com. Hunters may buy as many applications as they want. Three lucky winners will win prize packages that include elk (Michigan residents only), bear, deer and turkey licenses; first pick at a managed waterfowl hunt area; plus firearms, crossbows and much more – worth a total of $4,000!

Head to the Detroit River for Some Salmon Jigging?



Fish on the Detroit River long enough and you can catch every kind of fish in the Great Lakes Basin. That's what Joe Richter found out this week jigging for walleye. Joe's the top catcher on the team that won the Wyandotte Boat Launch Walleye Tournament last year. His jigging technique is top notch and he proved it by hooking and landing a chinook salmon.

 

I've heard many reports of salmon being caught in the river mostly by handliners with their controlled depth trolling, just last year as reported on this blog. I can't recall anyone jigging up a salmon though. It looks really healthy and has both eyes so this isn't a fluke. Joe and his partner have caught many fish in the river, including sturgeon, but none have come close to being as unique as this salmon.

Get Outdoors downriver.

Now's your chance at a trophy

The temps are heading up and the chance to catch a 10 lb walleye is at it's peak. The water is in the lower 40's, too cold for spawning but warm enough to get these big fish to feed after a long winter. Look about you for the signs the run has started.

The forsythia bloom is the best one. I saw the first blooms just days after the last ice jam came down the river. 

Then there's also the maple tree bud husks that fall when the leaves are starting to come out. I found many of these on the ground after the last 3"s of snow fell. My son Jason went out yesterday morning and got a monster fish. 12 + pounds and 30"s long.

I went out last evening with my sons and got this 10+ lb personal best walleye also of the magical 30" length.

 Both fish were adding us to the list of thirty inch fish started by my son Justin last year. Here's his 10+ lb 30" fish.

Yes it's a family affair, the Detroit River family. The big fish are in and it's a big time family party. Everyone's invited. Just check in at your local bait shop and view the myriad of giant fish pictures. Tell'em the River invited you.

Get Outdoors Downriver.