Tag Archives: Loons

Lead and Loons

By Howard Meyerson Τom Cooley has examined a lot of dead loons during the past 27 years. They appear every year, dead on beaches and inland lakes where cottage owners, researchers, national park volunteers, or Michigan Department of Natural Resources … Continue reading

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Climate Change: Shifting Climate, Shifting Birds

By Howard Meyerson Adam Byrne had the good fortune last year to observe a nesting pair of Blue Grosbeaks. He wasn’t in Tennessee, Florida or other southern state where they commonly sing their songs. He found them in Kalamazoo County—once … Continue reading

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Avian Botulism Takes its Toll: Scientists Continue to Look for Clues

By Howard Meyerson Joe Kaplan didn’t have to look far to find dead birds in 2007. Thousands had washed up on the northern Lake Michigan shoreline, from Sleeping Bear Dunes north across the Upper Peninsula. Carcasses littered the light-colored sands. … Continue reading

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Climate Change: The Risks for Michigan birds

By Howard Meyerson While global climate change reports often focus on iconic creatures like polar bears and penguins, species that would be in jeopardy if the polar ice cap melts, Michigan and Great Lakes scientists are looking to understand what … Continue reading

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Climate Change: Butterflies, game birds and game animals threatened

By Howard Meyerson We hear a lot about the effects of climate change these days. Polar ice caps are melting. Polar bears are threatened as a result. The Minnesota Star Tribune recently published an extensive report on how it will … Continue reading

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Making Life Better for Birds: Peg and Tom Comfort

By Howard Meyerson Tom and Peg Comfort have a lot in common: an appreciation of natural places, a love of Torch Lake where they make their home and a strong dedication to making life better for birds, loons and bluebirds … Continue reading

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Magnificence in Nature: Common Loons

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Avian botulism kills off hundreds of loons and other birds

Nearly 300 loons and other birds have been reported dead along the shores of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The Detroit Free Press today reported that southwest and northwest winds in recent weeks caused the birds to wash ashore. Botulism … Continue reading

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Michigan’s oldest banded loon dies from avian botulism

Michigan’s oldest banded loon died last weekend on a Lake Michigan beach, according to  Michigan Audubon Society which reported that the 21-year-old loon died from avian botulism. The loon is known as “The Patriarch.” It was born in 1991 to … Continue reading

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