Later in the show, listeners will learn more about what’s happening with waterfowl season and, specifically, one of the most graceful waterfowl species you’ll see on the wetlands: northern pintail ducks. These elegant birds with long, slender necks and distinct, pointed tails seek out shallow areas with grassy cover such as marshes, potholes, prairies, lakes and ponds.

Want to hear more? Visit the “Wildtalk” webpage for the latest episode, as well as show notes and links to past episodes. Questions about the podcast? Email [email protected].

Vagrants that are seen in unusual places often return to their home range, and many folks suspect this particular bird was from Florida and visited Michigan as a result of Hurricane Helene. Just a few weeks later, a northern hawk owl also was spotted at Whitefish Point. Northern owls such as the northern hawk owl can show up in the Great Lakes region each winter, leaving their colder habitats like the boreal forests of Canada and the Arctic tundra behind – but this visitor arrived a season early!

Both owls drew crowds of interested birders and photographers, and each season hundreds of species draw us outdoors as they flit in the treetops, hop through shrubs or run along shorelines. Whether in the backyard or deep forest, birding best practices can help protect our Great Lakes birds and visitors. Here are a few to start:

• Keep a respectful distance. Getting too close to birds, and their nests, can cause them to flush (or fly away), interfering with their natural behavior and potentially preventing them from eating or caring for their young. If your approach causes a bird to flush, you’ve gotten too close.
• Think carefully before sharing the location of a rare bird. While rare bird sightings are thrilling, they can draw a crowd, which can cause a disturbance.
• Leave the drones to the pros. Although drones can be useful to researchers and biologists documenting bird populations (such as at island nesting colonies), drones in general can be very disruptive to birds, especially osprey. They are also illegal in national parks and some state parks.

Get more top tips and explore helpful resources to guide your next birding trip.

Questions? Contact Erin Rowan Ford at 313-820-0809.

• Detroit Auto Show 5K, 9 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, at Huntington Place in Detroit. Organized by the DNR, Detroit Auto Show and Friends of the Outdoor Adventure Center, the race route travels along the Detroit Riverfront, with the start/finish outside the doors of the Detroit Auto Show. All proceeds of the event will help update the exhibits at the DNR’s Outdoor Adventure Center.
• Lumberjack Pancake Run, Sunday, March 23, at the Outdoor Adventure Center in Detroit. Channel the flannel and run or walk the Flapjack 5K (starting at 10 a.m.) or the Silver Dollar Mile (beginning at 9:30 a.m.) and refuel afterward at the Lumberjack Pancake Run and Pancake Breakfast. Plus, the run is part of a four-day festival of fun and flannel that starts March 20.
• Run for the Trees: Happy Little (Virtual) 5K, which encourages participants to walk, run or roll anywhere outdoors April 19-27. Every participant gets a Bob Ross-inspired T-shirt, medal and bib as a thank-you for supporting tree plantings that now happen in nine states, including Michigan. You pick the pace and the place!

Questions? Read the DNR’s recent news release with more details or contact Michelle O’Kelly (Auto Show 5K and Run for the Trees), 517-899-5211 or Emily Grant (Lumberjack Pancake Run), 313-396-6891.

You can still explore the outdoors safely this hunting season by following a few simple guidelines:

• Wear bright, visible clothing, including “hunter orange” items such as hats and vests.
• Check open hunting season dates.
• Stay on marked trails.
• Keep pets on leashes.

The bottom line is that hunting is a very safe sport. By following these steps, you can confidently enjoy birding during any hunting season! Read the full Audubon Great Lakes story for for more tips.

Questions? Contact DNR bird biologist Karen Cleveland at 517-388-9795.

We are accepting applications for an opening on the Snowmobile Advisory Workgroup, which consists of seven volunteers each serving four-year terms and contributing as volunteers (travel expenses to and from meetings are eligible for reimbursement). The group, which works closely with the Trails Advisory Council, meets quarterly at varying locations around the state.

“Michigan’s Snowmobile Advisory Workgroup collaborates with the DNR’s trails program staff to discuss and implement the sound management of recreational snowmobiling throughout the state,” said Jessica Roehrs, state motorized trails program specialist. “Topics may include snowmobile safety and education, balanced relationships with the environment and wildlife, the collection, development and sharing of snow trail information, and collaboration with other trail user groups.”

The ideal candidate will fill a member-at-large position.

“Members tell us that being part of this workgroup is a rewarding experience,” Roehrs said. “The opportunity provides snowmobile riders or someone with a vested interest in the sport to share their insight and connect with others who want to contribute to our state’s snowmobiling opportunities.”

Interested? Apply for this position by Jan. 15. For more information, contact Jessica Roehrs at 517-331-3790.

In case you missed it, our November 2024 hunting and trapping roundup covers this month’s lineup, including some seasons that extend into December and even into the new year. Plus, you’ll learn where pheasant releases have occurred on state game/wildlife areas, and where more are scheduled throughout December. There’s also info about how to get the popular 2024 wild turkey, bear and deer management cooperator patches.

Questions? Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453.