Michigan Birds: White-breasted Nuthatch
December 8, 2009
White-breasted Nuthatch, photo by Beth Crawford 65.
On their White-breasted Nuthatch page, All About Birds notes that although this is the largest nuthatch, it’s still a small bird. They say:
Nuthatches are active, agile little birds with an appetite for insects and large, meaty seeds. They get their common name from their habit of jamming large nuts and acorns into tree bark, then whacking them with their sharp bill to “hatch” out the seed from the inside. White-breasted Nuthatches may be small but their voices are loud, and often their insistent nasal yammering will lead you right to them.
For more about these common Michigan birds including photos and songs, click the link above and also see Sitta carolinensis (white-breasted nuthatch) from the UM Animal Diversity Web and White-breasted Nuthatch on Wikipedia.
That Wikipedia link shows the bird upside down, a position that Beth says this one is usually in. Check out more shots in her White-breasted Nuthatch set (slideshow).
Michigan Big Tree Hunt and the White Ash
December 7, 2009
White ash canopy, photo by vaprwere.
A couple of weeks ago mLive featured an article on the 2008-09 Michigan Big Tree Hunt.
The contest, run by Global ReLeaf of Michigan, tries to find the biggest tree in each county every two years, as well as the largest white pine (the state tree), and the largest overall tree in the state — which this year is a 306-inch weeping willow in Van Buren County.
A forester who verified Nelson’s tree said that going by only circumference (206″), it is the largest white ash in a five-county (Grand Rapids) area. But it’s not the largest in the state. The Michigan Botanical Club, a partner in the contest, lists a 247-inch white ash in Leelanau County.
Learn more about the contest (and neighborhood tree planting) from Global ReLeaf of Michigan and more about the White ash at Wikipedia.
Check this photo out bigger and in Joseph’s Tree Images set (slideshow).
Interestingly enough, Joseph is a plant pathologist and writes that this large white ash was photographed in northern lower Michigan, and that like its brethren, it’s threatened by the emerald ash borer, a pretty but destructive insect. The article says that this tree was judged free of the pest.
There’s more about the Emerald Ash Borer and also more tree photos on Michigan in Pictures.
Coach Tom Izzo, #1 for the MSU Spartans
December 5, 2009
Final Four Homecoming #3, photo by Blackbeard Ben. © 2009 Red Cedar Log
Last weekend, Michigan State University Men’s Basketball coach Tom Izzo passed his predecessor and mentor Jud Heathcoate as the all time wins leader for the MSU Spartans. Check out Congratulations Coach Izzo! on Absolute Michigan for more about the Iron Mountain native, including video.
This photo is one of many in Ben’s Red Cedar Log Event Photos set ( slideshow).
Lines
December 4, 2009
Lines, photo by Ralph Krawczyk Jr.
If you don’t know Ralph, you should.
Be sure to check it out bigger or in his Digital Goodness slideshow.
Chapel Rock in the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
December 3, 2009
Chapel Rock (8-15-09), photo by Brevort.
Yesterday we featured a very interesting article about Smart Archaeology in the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore on Absolute Michigan. It explains a very innovative 3-year archaeology project by Northern Michigan University geography department researchers, and you should definitely give it a read. Today I came across this view of Chapel Rock and was surprised to see that I didn’t have a feature of Chapel Rock on Michigan in Pictures. The Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Scenic Sites page says that Chapel Rock and Chapel Beach are:
Located about 15 miles east of Munising off Alger County Road H-58, then about 5 miles north to the end of Chapel Road (drive), then 2.5 miles (hike) to Lake Superior.
Trails to the beach overlook Chapel Lake with views of the beautiful Chapel Falls on the west side.
The Chapel area was named by early European explorers and is found on early maps as La Chappelle. Chapel Rock is a remnant of Cambrian age sandstone. The archway between the rock and the mainland collapsed in the 1940′s. It and the remaining arch were carved by Lake Nipissing high waters some 3800 years ago.
You can read the Geology field notes from the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore for detailed information about the different layers of sandstone in the park that form these incredible structures. Chapel Rock is representative of the 40 to 60 foot thick Chapel Rock Member.
See it bigger and view more in Doug’s Brevort Lake (2009) set (slideshow).
As a person who spent some time trying to capture to totality of this unique formation, I have to say that hiking to it is the only way to fully appreciate Chapel Rock. I can offer the next best thing: the Chapel Rock slideshow from the Absolute Michigan pool.
Explore many more Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore features on Michigan in Pictures.
Michigan December Event Calendar
December 2, 2009
Saugatuck Fall 2009, photo by RichardD72
“Look Doris, someday you’re going to find that your way of facing this realistic world just doesn’t work. And when you do, don’t overlook those lovely intangibles. You’ll discover those are the only things that are worthwhile.”
~ Fred Gailey, “Miracle on 34th Street”
Every month Absolute Michigan rolls out a sampling of the best Michigan has to offer in the way of fun. From Christmas at Crossroads in Flint to Victorian Sleighbell Parade & Old Christmas Weekend in Manistee to the Annual Dickens Festival in Holly, our Michigan December Event Calendar take you all across the Great Lakes State and right up to the New Year.
Speaking of holly, our calendar notes that December’s flower is the holly.
You can see this photo bigger in Richard’s Saugatuck 2009 slideshow.
(back) Into the Woods
December 1, 2009
Into the Woods, photo by jimflix (busy).
With deer hunting season over, that’s where I’ll be going this afternoon.
Jim took this photo on the trail at the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy’s Ransom Lake Natural Area.
Be sure to check this out background bigtastic and in Jim’s Fall Colors set (slideshow).
