The Fading Light

The frozen Lake Michigan at sunset

Another trek to Wisconsin for the holidays had me searching for a VERY short list of birds in my area.  There were only 3 or 4 birds I could hope to gain for the life list while keeping myself within short distance of family events. And to be honest, I love that challenge.  When I'm home, most of my birding takes place in beautiful Manitowoc County along Lake Michigan.  It's a fun challenge.  Plus I love revisiting my favorite places here in town. 

Northern Cardinal

If I can do it, I like to "straddle" the year when it comes to birding.  I ended my birding here in 2016 and began 2017 with a nice list of wintering eastern birds to kick start the year. As birders know, we all start over at "0" when January 1st begins.  For many of us, it makes us pause and reflect on what we've seen and experienced over the past year while wondering with excitement what we'll see and experience for the new year. 

Bald Eagle at sunset eating dinner(a gull)

During my trek out to visit family, I tried to prepare myself for the constant need to sleep and eat.  Overcast skies, frozen waterways and early dark nights were constant reminders of the difficulty factor for birding this time of year in the Great Lakes. Time was also a major player on this trip so I had to budget wisely to make it all work smoothly. 

I've found that creating a schedule several days in advance is a good thing.  Then there are the things that I always have to keep in mind while birding back here in the cold. Will a snow storm interfere?  How many warm clothes should I pack?  How can I prevent myself from getting sick? How much prep time is needed to get from point A to point B before it gets dark?  And even more difficult?  Predicting where the birds will be during the various shades of winter.  Even on the lake, we had to be conscious of the open water areas.  Ice drifts are good for gulls, but completely frozen rivers and harbors are not good for ANY birds. It's very different from desert birding:) And the weather can change at the drop of a hat. 

Northern Shrike

And then I got sick.  I just remember waking up one morning and thinking, Oh oh.  This day isn't going to be a good one.  It wasn't.  I worshiped the porcelain goddess for TWO days!  

Eastern Screech-Owl

Life birds don't care.  Nor will they wait. I made a vow that in sickness and in wealth I'd dedicate my life to finding them. Whether I am conscious or not doesn't matter:) So on our scheduled day, I mustered up my energy cells and got in the car and went to visit with friends Nancy and Earl (who were so kind to help me out with a visiting Eastern Screech-Owl).  After we saw the owl and returned home, I went back to bed and proceeded to die slowly.

Herring Gulls in flight

 And then there is the grunt work.  I saved finding a Thayer's Gull for this trek because they are not easy to pick out among the hundreds of similar looking Herring Gulls.  People were reporting Iceland Gulls but I didn't go chasing that bird species because it's most likely going to be lumped back in with the Thayer's Gull.   There's a similar discussion happening with the Hoary and Common Redpoll. So for me, it's just finding a Common Redpoll and Thayer's Gull. We stood in the icy cold 10 degree weather staring at the hundreds of gulls. The fingers in my gloves were frozen. And my desire to search for a Thayer's Gull fizzled out fast.  My decision?  I took a panoramic of the entire colony of gulls from different vantage points and when I got home, I stitched the pictures together and counted and ID'd every single gull on that massive ice sheet from the comfort of my warm living room. 

Common Goldeneyes

On the way home right before the sun set at 4 PM!!, we stopped to observe the Common Goldeneyes in the harbor. As they flew from the waters, I watched their wing flap pattern and listened to their calls. 

So as the skies got grayer and darker, I snapped my pics. Then I would carefully plan and time out my birding  for the next day.  Sometimes I had an hour.  Other times, it was several.  

Rough-legged Hawk

As our time came to a close, I tried to weave in birding time with my family.  They like to be outdoors like I do so the birding thing wasn't really an issue.  I just go slower and get distracted often. 

The good part about short sunlit days is that there is more time to goof around with family and friends at night.  Here, my family set up a cam to capture pictures of several deer visiting the yard.  Instead we captured a pic of the creature known as Bilda The Beast!  More from Wisconsin next week.  Until then, have a great weekend!

The Great Lakes Dilemna

One of the last things that I wanted to do before exiting this Wisconsin series was bring to light an issue that has been spoken about for years.  It is a controversial one and one that I thought I'd share.  Growing up, I remember a discussion about creating a pipeline between the Great Lakes and states that had limited fresh water resources. It was a similiar discussion to that of the Colorado River servicing states like Arizona, Utah, and California.

The shocking part was the discovery that a pipeline actually does exist in Mantowoc.  At first, I had thought, "Did they do the unthinkable?" The answer was yes and no.  The pipeline directs water from the Manitowoc lakeshore to the bay of Green Bay.  Technically the water isn't going anywhere as it all stays in the same lake.  But I have to wonder, is this just the tip of the iceberg?  I'd hate to think what this would do ecologically to the Great Lakes region if they decided to go this route en masse.

While not a Tucson sunset, this is just as beautiful as it sets over the port of Manitowoc.   Water from the Great Lakes is considered "safer" than that of country water which has been contaminated with copper or mercury.  The following writing is from a really nice guy back at home.  I used to babysit his kids!  But here are the facts by Doug Day....

            "Six suburbs of Green Bay, Wis., are looking forward to another Midwest winter, because that’s when they expect to have a new, cleaner, and more reliable source of drinking water. By the end of 2006, a $106 million pipeline will transport water from Lake Michigan and the lakeshore city of Manitowoc along state and county highways, under picturesque rivers, through solid rock deposits, and up and down the scenic hills of the northeastern Wisconsin countryside to Brown County. When completed, the pipeline and associated distribution system will deliver 8 mgd from Manitowoc’s microfiltration water plant southeast of Green Bay. It will take about 65 miles of pipeline to cover the 30 miles and deliver the water to six communities, say members of the Central Brown County Water Authority. The communities lie along the north, south, and western borders of Green Bay. By 2030, it’s expected that about 12 million gallons a day will be pumped to customers in the fast-growing suburbs — one city, three villages and two towns. The authority may also build a 10-million-gallon storage reservoir sometime in the future to supplement individual communities’ storage capacity." End of article.  Source here.

Lighthouses dot the shores of the Lakeshore.

So what will that do to the city of Manitowoc?  What will it do to the lakeshore?  What are the consequences?  Are there any? So many questions.  I would imagine a study was done by the Wisconsn DNR.  I just hope that there aren't any negative repercussions to it all.

Growing up on Lake Michigan, I remember that some years the lake would rise and fall during others.  In fact, in the late 19th century, my old high school was built on dunes....no water at all!  The lake slowly covered the dunes and today maintains those levels.

My question to you, "Should people be messing with Mother Nature?"  I can tell you the folks back home are mostly for this plan.  The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources does a great job keeping things in order(well minus the loads of paperwork that prevents Park Rangers from leaving their desks:)  What do you think?

The Porcupine Mountains

This blog acts on many different levels for me.  One is basic plant info.  The second part deals with travel.  A third of the posts deal with the progress/setbacks in the actual El Presidio gardens. The fourth speaks of the design on desert and other landscape ideas.  And finally, random elements, like current events in Tucson or lectures are added to keep things from getting mundane.  Some of you may have noticed that I've taken a break from point 3....the El Presidio Gardens.  The simple fact is that this year has been financially tight with the spring projects and with our historic winter freeze, the plants just don't look so amazing right now.  I'll be getting back to the garden soon as I restore the property with the finishing touches on the planters and begin by putting in garden art around the various garden areas.  For now, there is a lot of fun reporting to do.  I just received my blogger cards in the mail and it's official.  I'm a blogger:)  I'd like to begin with a chilly and fun story from the Upper Penninsula of Michigan. Some of you college students, maybe from my alma mater at Stevens Point, may be thinking of an epic Lord of the Rings trek into the beautiful Porcupine Mountains.  One.  Good choice.  Two. Do it.  Three. Go before winter happens.  This story takes place in the early 90's before I turned into an old spanish Arizonan teacher. I was exposed to skinny dipping, girls who let their armpit hair grow out and the infamous bear creatures .  My naturalist friends took me for an unforgettable weekend trip to the Porcupine Mountains during the month of October when the fall season colored this magical pristine and PRIMARY forest with hues of reds, oranges, and yellows!

Pic courtesy of Jeffrey Foltice

Due to the extreme AND muddy trails, I did not bring my camera.  The pics today are used from the Porcupine Mountain website.  Pic credits are below the illustrations. PS.  Do bring your camera, but make sure you have a camera case as it may get very wet on this hike. Established in 1945, and then as wilderness in 1972, Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park is a rare wilderness gem located in the northwoods of Michigan. One of the midwest's largest stand of old growth forest exists here just as it did before European settlement. The park received its name from the Ojibwa people when they referred to the mountains as "skag"(woodland porcupine). Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park checks in at 59,000 acres - a very large size for a midwest park. There are 20 miles of shoreline along massive Lake Superior, providing an enticing mix of woodland and water recreation. Excellent hiking trails cross the park, which is also home to wolves and the rare peregrine falcon. Truly one of the premiere natural attractions in the midwest.

Taken from parkcamper.com

Prepare for an amazing journey on some incredibly beautiful trails.  You'll need to prepare well as it takes several days to hike through the area.  Why write about this place now?  Most college kids start preparing for this trip in August or early September because the trails can book up fast. I remember in college during a dinner conversation at Point that we needed to do a hike somewhere together as a team.  In Wisconsin, there is never a shortage of exploration because quite frankly, the Great Lakes region has been well preserved for many hundreds of years.  The Upper Pennisula of Michigan offers some breathtaking sights.  We took the long road trip up into the North where we started our trek in the misty and rainy forests of the U.P.  Everyone had their backpack on with camping gear galore, spiked boots for the slippery and often times muddy trails, and food supplies.  It is a rugged trip and not for the faint of heart.  I laugh thinking about this one incident where my friend Heidi sunk to her neck in mud.  Now that could have turned out deadly, but she's now a mother of 2 and quite alive.  Thankfully, we were there to pull her out of the mud.  I remember the suction was difficult and it took two of us to get her out.  We laughed about it afterwards.  What else could we do?:)  Here's some basic data....

Total Acreage: 59,000

Square miles: 92

Highest point: 1,958 feet (Summit Peak)

ADA accessible viewing area

Presque Isle River Corridor

2nd highest waterfall in Michigan

Drive-In campgrounds: 6

Hiking trails: 87 miles

Waterfalls: 60

Downhill ski runs: 15

Backcountry campsites: 63 sites

Backcountry cabins: 16

Forest cover: 95%

Designated wilderness: 40,808 acres

Lakes: 4

Contacts:

Park Manager

Porcupine Mountains State Park

412 5 Boundary Rd..

Ontonagon MI 49953

Phone: (906) 885-5275

FAX: (906) 885-5798

TDD: (906) 885-5278
Porcupine Mountain Website

Lake of the Clouds taken from citypictures.org

Plan ahead and early to schedule your hike.  It's similiar to purchasing a permit on Machu Picchu.  Only so many hikers are allowed on per day at each station of the trail.  We spent 3 nights there in tents.  Wildlife is all around you and can be dangerous as there are bear present.  Remember to pack food  1 mile away from your site and up in the trees.  An easy way to do this, if I remember correctly, was fill the food bag up and toss it up around a strong tree limb with a looooong rope.  Secure it and head back before nightfall to your campsite.

Why on Earth would you go here with all this danger?  If you prepare ahead of time, this trip will be a memorable lifetime experience and definitely a bonding moment for you, your friends, and family. The above map shows exactly where the park is located.  I'm kind of a practical joker and on this trip, I remember going to a couple of newbie hikers and scratching on the tents at night.  I nearly wet myself from holding in the laughter as everyone inside the tent freaked out.  It was quiet and then my scratch.  Scratch.  A muffled, "Did you hear that?" came out from one of the ladies.  Scratch. Scratch. Then panic sets in.  A quick escape allowed me to flee the scene for a quick burst of laughter inside my tent.  I've been known at other campgrounds, not here obviously with the threat of bear roaming around, to break up crackers around tents.  I did this with my siblings where only deer, chipmunks and racoon roamed the forests.  At midnight, I'd hear my little brothers freaking out.  Ahhh....to be a kid again.  If you feel bad for my younger siblings, I understand, but you need to know that it sucks being the oldest of 6.  But it does have some advantages:)

But again, why go?  Have you seen fall colors?  WOW!!  Best time to visit the Porkies is during the months of September and October.  It's rainy and cold on some parts of the trail, but it will take your breath away.  Whether you are a college student, photographer, or nature enthusiast, this is a highly recommended trip.  Don't hestitate if you hear some friends "thinking" about doing this hike.  You won't regret it.  Next summer, I plan on taking my camera along with Pat to the timeless Mackinac Island....another of Michigan's gems. If it's kind of familiar sounding, think back a couple of decades to the quiet sleeper hit of a movie known as "Somewhere in Time."  It'll be a historic trek back in time as we explore this cool little island.  Will I be able to bring Christopher Reeves back from the dead?  I need to warn him about that stupid horse accident that would slowly and eventually kill him. I swear I'll empty my pockets of any pennies or debit cards.  I mean.....this guy was Superman!!  If you haven't a clue about what I'm talking about, check out the movie.  Some call it a chick flick while others will call it a classic.  If you're into gardening, you'll love the coastline photography!  So your homework for tonight is to hike the Porcupine Mountains and watch "Somewhere in Time". Until tomorrow....   

Timeless

I grew up in Two Rivers, WI around a lot of forest, gardening, and the beach. As a child I never truly understood the gem that is located about 4.5 miles away. This state park is named Point Beach.  It's a stretch of forest along Lake Michigan that goes on forever and it's absolutely beautiful. 

I have spent so much time camping there as a child, teenager, and adult....even working in the station at one point of my life. This place has a  timeless quality.  We used to camp there during the summer, have pictures taken in the snow, celebrate Halloween with my nephew and nieces. ...and the list goes on and on about how important this state park is to my family.

Every year that passes, a person dies or is born....a city changes...home ownership changes...what once was is never again....and coming home to that every year has an affect on me.  I feel older and out of place. I actually sometimes feel like a foreigner visiting.  The memories are all still there but not all the people are the same.  Change is slow to my hometown but it happens. People that were children are now parents...etc etc....the natural life cycle.

So many times I find myself drawn to Point Beach because time has stopped here.  I know the woods and the trails and it feels good.  Nothing has changed here...I don't feel old or young....I just feel happy to walk amongst the trees and ferns. It's a safe bubble where I feel protected and happy.  Old memories surface of the snowball fights in October, discovering secret bridges, finding magical ponds, or walking upon a bunch of deer quietly eating in the grassy prairie areas.

Throughout the park, you will find benchmarks of things people did from the past as well as from today. There are names on benches of people who have passed but I remember them clearly as if it were from yesterday. They were important people who made a difference in our park and in our lives here locally.

The old lodge by the beach had an ancient woman who died many years ago educating the public about the wildlife and the beach ecosystem.  Winnie was an old craggy woman with a passion to educate.  I spent a lot of time with her growing up being careful not to get in her way too often.  I had been working at the ranger station later on in life only to discover that she had passed away.  She is still remembered today from a cabin she donated to her second home away from home. No one today comes close to what Winnie did.

There are little things like this all over the park that remember people from the old and new days.  People who left a small footprint behind making a difference for people like us.  As I get older, I discover how sacred this forest is and how each forest has its' own feel and is different from the other.  Camping in different locations has helped me see how unique and special each place is.  I am so fortunate to have grown up in such a  pristine place.  If you ever swing by Two Rivers, make sure you visit Point Beach State Park.  Make sure you have reservations as the park is usually full.  If you are staying in town, it's a great bike ride down Port Sandy Bay Road.  There's a trail that will take you straight into the park and it's a nice workout.  Cheers!