Happy Mother’s Day 2025!

Two large brown adult birds with long neck, long legs, black bill, and crimson red on top of head bend over the marsh to forage. Their small fluffy chicks stand upright near the adult birds. Phragmites in the foreground partially obscure view of birds, in the background is shimmering water.

For those readers who celebrate, I hope you have a wonderful Mother’s Day with your family and friends.

We saw the family of Sandhill Cranes yesterday at Lake Erie Metropark along the western shore of Lake Erie.

First time we’ve seen a crane family in spring with young chicks (viewed from the road, photo taken at a distance away with a telephoto lens).

Continue reading Happy Mother’s Day 2025!

Photo of the Week: Orchard Oriole at Lower Huron Metropark

Black bird with deep orange breast leans over as it forages for food in the white-blossomed crab apple tree.

I thought it strange when my husband reported seeing an Orchard Oriole  on a car in a parking lot at Lower Huron Metropark near Belleville, Michigan, pecking at the side view mirror.

My husband explained it seemed the bird saw its reflection in the mirror.

Continue reading Photo of the Week: Orchard Oriole at Lower Huron Metropark

Photo of the Week: Pointe Mouillee State Game Area Headquarters Birds Wood Sculpture

A honey-brown tree stump has been transformed into a beautiful wood sculpture of owl babies snuggled together topped off with a bald eagle. In the background you can see the two story state game area headquarters along with signs about the state game area.

We’ve not sure when this wood sculpture was completed, but I believe it was sometime in the past year.

We remember the large shade tree in front of the Pointe Mouillee State Game Area headquarters in southern Wayne County, Michigan that preceded this beautiful wood birds sculpture.

Continue reading Photo of the Week: Pointe Mouillee State Game Area Headquarters Birds Wood Sculpture