Family-Outdoors

Horicon Marsh. Photo by Ryan Hagerty/ Horicon means pure and clean water in Mohican.  This important refuge provides breeding habitat for a variety of migratory birds, especially the redheaded duck.  It is approximately 33,000 acres in total, and is located southwest of Lake Winnebago in Wisconsin. More n 300 species of birds spend time in Horicon at some point during the year, and with its relatively close proximity to Milwaukee and Madison, it offers some great opportunities to get out and experience nature. Consider a visit this Spring when the area is especially vibrant with wildlife. We at Family-Outdoors appreciate the great stewardship of this area by the USFWS! http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Horicon/about.html

Oak savanna sunset. Photo by USFWS. In honor of Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge’s 50th birthday, we wanted to reflect on what makes this Minnesota refuge so special. Celebrated both for its wildlife and for its extraordinary recreational opportunities. This 30,700-acre refuge is defined by dynamic upland habitats that range from grasslands to oak savanna. The refuge lies on the  Anoka Sandplain  and consists of a mosaic of habitats including oak savanna, wet meadow, big woods, prairie, and wetlands. Additionally, the refuge has the St Francis River meandering through it as well as several natural lakes that are popular for paddling. Focusing On Oak Savanna Oak savanna is partly what makes Sherburne unique. This rare plant community used to cover 27 to 32 million-acres of the midwestern landscape. Today, this globally endangered habitat is fragmented and only .02 percent remains. Sherburne has one of the largest intact parcels of oak savanna, with 95 percent of th...

Spring means bird migration, and that makes for prime birding opportunities in Michigan’s woods and waters. The Department of Natural Resources has pulled together some tips on enjoying this special time of year in state parks, trails and natural areas: May is the best month  to be on the lookout for colorful warblers (more than 40 species of warbler have been observed in Michigan). Songbird (passerine) migration peaks in mid-May in southern Michigan and shortly afterward in northern parts of the state. Watch the weather . Strong southerly winds can result in good overnight flights of birds (most passerines migrate at night – in fact, in a dark campground, birders might even be able to hear the flight calls and see birds passing in front of the moon). When southerly winds run into storm fronts at night, this can create “fall-out” conditions where migrating birds are forced to land. Fall-out can result in heavy concentrations of birds in their respective habitats. Use your...

North Dakota’s  spring light goose season  opens  Feb. 21  and continues through  May 17 . Residents can hunt during the spring season by having last fall’s 2014-15 bird licenses. Otherwise, hunters will need to purchase either a 2015-16 combination license; or a small game, and general game and habitat license. Nonresidents, regardless of age, need a 2015 spring light goose season license. The cost is $50 and the license is good statewide. Nonresidents who hunt the spring season remain eligible to buy a fall season license. The spring season does not count against the 14-day fall hunting season regulation. A federal duck stamp is not required for either residents or nonresidents. Licenses are available  only from the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s Bismarck office, the department’s website at  gf.nd.gov , or by calling  800-406-6409 . Availability of food and open water dictate when snow geese arrive in the state. Early mig...

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia) By Joe Wilkinson Iowa Department of Natural Resources A week of subzero cold early this month—and more yet to come—provide a quick jolt of Iowa reality.  It gets uncomfortable in the winter! Still, we humans can escape the elements when needed. We just go inside. Not so, with wildlife. Some take the easy way out. “Waterfowl are smarter than all those other critters. They have wings. They fly away,” explains Al Hancock, of Clear Lake. Of course, he would feel that way. He’s an Iowa DNR waterfowl specialist. “It’s a simple balancing act. Geese need very little open water. As long as they can find fields to feed in--windswept, bare crop fields—they will remain,” says Hancock. “When it takes more food to maintain energy to survive up here…they fly right out.” Some look for a cold weather oasis. “Ducks do it even more so,” says Hancock. “A ‘micro climate,’ say a city waste water lagoon, a stream or the drainage just below? If it’s out of t...

Looking for a new waterfowl hunting or birding spot to explore this fall? Take a trip to  Pointe Mouillee State Game Area  for beautiful views and plenty of ducks. Pointe Mouillee State Game Area is located in Rockwood, on the western shore of Lake Erie. Pointe Mouillee, one of the largest freshwater marsh restoration projects in North America, is composed of 4,040 acres of cattail marsh, field, coastal wetland and forest. Dabbling and diving ducks, as well as Canada geese, can be found at Pointe Mouillee and on the adjoining waters of Lake Erie. Mallards are the most commonly harvested ducks, with a good number of wood ducks and teal taken early in the season. “Pointe Mouillee offers great opportunities for both managed and open hunting, walking in or by boat, and for both divers and dabblers,” said DNR wildlife biologist Zach Cooley. “Whatever type of waterfowl hunting you’re looking to do, you can find it at Pointe Mouillee and the adjacent waters of Lake Eri...

On March 26, the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission approved $61.3 million in funding to protect, restore and enhance more than 205,000 acres of wetlands and associated uplands in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Of that, approximately $6.5 million will go toward projects in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Midwest Region. “Conservation of our nation’s wetlands is critical to protecting our wildlife, watersheds, coastal communities and important economic activities,” said Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell, Chair of the Commission. “Wetlands not only are home to hundreds of species of migratory birds, but they also provide us with clean water, act as buffers against storms, support our vibrant coastal fishing industries, and provide unique opportunities for outdoor recreation.” The commission approved $54.7 million in grants through the North American Wetlands Conservation Act to protect, restore and enhance 200,069 acres of habitat for migratory birds in the U...

North Dakota’s spring light goose season opens  Feb. 15  and continues through  May 18 . Residents can hunt during the spring season by having last fall’s 2013-14 bird licenses. Otherwise, hunters will need to purchase either a 2014-15 combination license; or a small game, and general game and habitat license. Nonresidents, regardless of age, need a 2014 spring light goose season license. The cost is $50 and the license is good statewide. Nonresidents who hunt the spring season remain eligible to buy a fall season license. The spring season does not count against the 14-day fall hunting season regulation. A federal duck stamp is not required for either residents or nonresidents. Licenses are available only from the Game and Fish Department’s Bismarck office, the department’s website  at  gf.nd.gov , or by calling  (800) 406-6409 . Availability of food and open water dictate when snow geese arrive in the state. Early migrants general...

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 13.1 feet below normal. Native vegetation is in good condition, but currently not flooded. Winter wheat around the area is mostly planted and in good condition. Duck numbers are fair. Goose numbers are good. Hunting activity was moderate on the weekend and low on weekdays. Hunting success was fair. The NW portion of the lake is dry, and the only usable boat ramp is at the Canadian Campground day-use area. Fort Supply - Zone 1 : Water level is normal. Habitat conditions are fair; some native food is available around the lake. Local winter wheat is in mostly fair condition. Duck and goose numbers are good. Hunting activity and success not reported, as the area is closed to hunting. Duck numbers increased over this past weekend with recent cold front. Goose numbers are fair. *** NOTE: Fo...

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 13.0 feet below normal. Native vegetation is in good condition, but currently not flooded. Winter wheat around the area is mostly planted and in good condition. Duck numbers are moderate. Goose numbers are moderate, mostly resident. Hunting activity was moderate on weekend low on weekdays. Hunting success was fair on ducks and low on geese. 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 normal. Habitat conditions are fair, some native food is available around the lake. Local winter wheat is in mostly fair condition. Duck and goose numbers are good. Hunting activity has been high on weekends and moderate during the week. Hunting success has been fair. Bird movem...

 (Photo credit: Martin Cathrae ) Duck season is currently open for Panhandle Counties and Zone 1. Zone 2 opens Nov. 2. For zone maps and complete waterfowl hunting regulations log on to wildlifedepartment.com. NORTHWEST Canton - Zone 1: Water level is 13.1 feet below normal. Native vegetation is in good condition, but currently not flooded. Winter wheat around the area is mostly planted and is in fair to good condition. Duck numbers are low. Goose numbers are low, with mostly residents. Hunting activity was high on opening weekend. Hunting success was fair on ducks and low on geese. 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 normal. Habitat conditions are fair, some native food is available around the lake. Duck numbers are good mostly teal and some diving ducks. Goose numbers are very low. Hunting activity has been high. Hunting success has been good on ducks, mos...