Family-Outdoors

The Gillette Sand Dune Visitor Center at P.J. Hoffmaster State Park in Muskegon today announced a “Wildlife of Michigan in Winter” photo contest. Entrants are asked to submit favorite photos from last year or take a trek through the woods, fields or wetlands this winter and capture the beauty of wildlife in a wintry scene. Photos must be of Michigan wildlife photographed in nature during winter. Entries are limited to two photos per person. Photos must be securely matted without a frame or glass, with a minimum size of 8 x 10 and maximum size of 11 x 16. Laminated photos or those without a matte will not be accepted. An entry fee of $4 per photo must accompany each submission. Please include photographer’s name, address, email, phone number and name of wildlife and location photographed on the back. This contest is intended for amateurs only; the works of published photographers will not be considered. The deadline for submission is 3 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 25. An impartia...

Fledgling. Photo by Joel Trick/USFWS The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reports that 2012 has been a banner year for endangered Kirtland’s warblers. Survey results of the rare bird in Michigan and Wisconsin scored a new record, with 2,090 singing males, up from 1,828 last year. “It was only 1987 when we tied an all-time low of 167 singing males. This is a pretty remarkable recovery -- 12 times the population size from where it was just a short 25 years ago,” said Scott Hicks, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s East Lansing Field Office Supervisor. Biologists, researchers and volunteers in Michigan observed 2,063 singing males during the official 2012 survey period – up from 1,805 in 2011. In Wisconsin, volunteers and paid monitors found and tracked singing male Kirtland’s warblers and were able to monitor nesting. Kirtland’s warblers were recorded in five counties in Wisconsin (Adams, Douglas, Bayfield, Vilas, and Marinette), and at least 24 singing males wer...

Duck season is currently open statewide. For zone maps and complete waterfowl hunting regulations log on to wildlifedepartment.com     NORTHWEST   Canton - Zone 1 : Water level is 8.91 feet below normal. Native vegetation is in good condition, but currently not flooded. Winter wheat around the area is mostly planted and in fair condition. Duck numbers are low. Goose numbers are moderate. Hunting activity was moderate on weekend low on weekdays. Hunting success was low on ducks and unknown on geese. No significant bird movement has occurred. The northwest portion of the lake is dry, and the only usable boat ramp is at the Canadian Campground day use area.   Ft. Supply - Zone 1 : Water level is 2.59 feet below normal. Habitat conditions are fair, very little native food available around the lake as most of the sloughs are dry. Duck numbers are low. Goose numbers are low. Hunting activity has been high, especially on weekends. Bird movement has been l...