Birch Song Cottage

06/22/2023

Lots of birds so far this June, a semi-resident bobcat and last night's scampering raccoon, a startled fawn and an unidentified barrel-shaped, light-colored, fast-moving furry object across the backyard just after dusk. Any guesses?? Larger and faster than an opossum with short legs.

02/25/2022

Five pairs of these beauties have been visiting the last couple weeks. Photo by Mark, through the window.

02/14/2022

We have them!

More brightly colored than most wrens, and with a rich musical song, Carolina Wrens are common in open woods and backyards in the southeast. There they busily explore brushpiles and low tangles. The adults live in pairs all year, and they may 'duet' at any season, with the female giving a chattering...

01/08/2022

Sunrise with bird’s nest.

01/02/2022

what to do with your leftover Christmas tree

09/10/2021

Looking for something meaningful and life-affirming to do tomorrow, Sat., 9/11? Head to Rainbow Bend on the Big Manistee River for a sturgeon release! The story has the details.

Sturgeon ready for release in the Big Manistee River. Photo courtesy of LRBOI Natural Resources Department. By Stewart A. McFerran Tour a sturgeon-rearing facility and participate in a ceremony and sturgeon release 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Sept. 11, at the USFS Manistee River Rainbow Bend access off Rive...

07/09/2021

The Carolina wrens built a beautiful moss-covered nest inside a bucket of (old) transplants sitting on our deck. So far, there is one egg. They perch themselves on the roof of the catio (coop) and sing their happy little hearts out.

05/25/2021

We've been hearing and seeing the Carolina wrens, Baltimore orioles, rose-breasted grosbeaks, purple finches, goldfinches, tufted titmice, cardinals, song sparrows, ruffed grouse, starlings, chickadees, nuthatches, red-bellied woodpecker, white-throated sparrow, brown thrasher, flickers, down and hairy woodpeckers and a chorus of frogs every night. 😁

Baltimore oriole. Photo by Mark Videan. By Brian Allen Getting up before dawn, I find the ground around the feeders is already attended by small societies of juncos and tree sparrows, eating their breakfast before the Cooper’s Hawk wakes up.  It’s been really cold and the ground is frosted, but...

05/19/2021

Real-time events are being added daily to the online calendar. It's gonna be a great summer!

DELIVERING NOW! Issue #5 includes a timely look at FishPass and timeless songs by Ludington-born Jay Stielstra. Read about birding in spring, a bakery-cafe owner, and a big month for space science. Learn the fascinating origin of the 150-year-old Onekama post office. Discover area nonprofits helping state parks and keeping cat populations in check. Mark's crossword puzzle is back! The calendar of events is growing. Calendar updates and *full issues* online.

05/03/2021

UPDATE: First rose-breasted grosbeak landed on the orange.
First oriole to visit our bird feeders this morning. Luckily, we just bought a bag of oranges! Waiting for its return...

04/30/2021

Morton Arboretum, Lisle, Illinois. Courtesy photo. By P.G. Misty Sheehan (Editor’s note: This story originally appeared in Freshwater Reporter, April/May 2020 issue.) Arbor Day, observed on the last Friday in April, was founded in 1872 by J. Sterling Morton (1832-1902) at his Nebraska farm named A...

03/13/2021

Kaleva Art Gallery's annual fundraiser today, Sat., 3/13.

By Pat Stinson KALEVA – A bakeless bake sale? Thanks to the pandemic, this year’s St. Urho’s Day Bake Sale at Kaleva Art Gallery is happening without its signature sale of tasty treats, like Finnish nissua, grasshopper cookies and other goodies. “We will forgo that baking and ask folks to do...