We’ve had another rare sighting of a snowman in the area! You can’t miss this one–he looks so colorful and patriotic in his red bowtie and blue hat. Chasitey Farmer, 9, of Cedar Springs, and her cousin Samantha Harmon, 9, built this snowman on February 20, at Chasitey’s home, located in Solon Township. Both girls had a great time building the snowman, and, when the job was finished, they spent the remainder of their evening enjoying another winter pastime—sledding!

March 19, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.  Leopold Education Project (for adults interested in environmental education)

Location: Howard Christensen Nature Center, Kent City

A FREE, hands-on, environmental education workshop for teachers, scout leaders, parents, and anyone interested in increasing young people’s ecological awareness and appreciation for the land. Contact Wendy Cheek at (616) 688-5172 or wcheek@allcom.net to register or for more information. The workshop is generously underwritten by the Michigan Chapter of Pheasants Forever, but advance registration is needed to determine class size.

March  27, 2:30-3:30 p.m.  John Ball Zoo Comes to You: Backyard Naturalist

Location: Howard Christensen Nature Center, Kent City

Who lives in your backyard? We’ll get to know some of our local animals and learn how to share your backyard space.  Learn what the zoo does to take care of our animals and how you can be a “good nature neighbor.” Cost is $4 per adult/$3 per child (3-12 years old). Group discounts available. Advance registration forms available on-line. Seating limited.

For more info call (616) 675-3158 or (866) 675-3158, or email hcnc@kentconservation.org.Forms can be found at hcnc@kentconservation.org,

In the northern Lower Peninsula, ice shanties need to be removed by midnight on March 15. Counties included in the northern Lower Peninsula are: Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Arenac, Bay, Benzie, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Clare, Crawford, Emmet, Gladwin, Grand Traverse, Iosco, Isabella, Kalkaska, Lake, Leelanau, Manistee, Mason, Mecosta, Midland, Missaukee, Montmorency, Newaygo, Oceana, Ogemaw, Osceola, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle, Roscommon and Wexford.

In remaining counties of the southern Lower Peninsula, shanties needed to be removed by midnight March 1. In the Upper Peninsula, shanties must be removed by midnight March 31.

After mandatory removal dates, shanties may be placed on the ice on a daily basis, but must be removed daily.

Shanty owners who allow the structures to fall through the ice are subject of penalties of up to 30 days in jail, fines of not less than $100 or more than $500 or both. If a shanty is removed by a government agency, the court can require the owner to reimburse the government for an amount of up to three times the cost of removals.

Squirrely delights

Kimberly Magoon, of Cedar Springs, sent us this photo of a squirrel in her back yard. Evidently people aren’t the only ones who have a sweet tooth!

“This is the gingerbread house that we made at Christmas, using graham crackers, frosting, candy, etc. It’s all edible,” explained Magoon. “Every year we put it out and the squirrels or other critters eat it, but this is the first time I was able to catch them in action!”

If you have a wildlife photo you’d like to share, please send it to postnews@charter.net.

Snow fort fun!

The Baker family had a great time playing in the snow building their very own igloo on Cedar Springs Avenue in Nelson Township. Ethan Baker, age 9, and his sister Nichole Baker, age 7, along with their dad Rich Baker made this igloo with an old set of tools Ethan’s grandpa had given him. Ethan used a saw to chop pieces out of the igloo. The three of them stayed out in the cold from 4-9 pm to make the igloo. Now that’s dedication! Ethan and his sister attend Cedar Springs schools. Way to go, you’re on your way to becoming eskimos.

Snowman alert!

This jolly character was spotted guarding a house on East Muskegon Street last week. Or was he? We haven’t heard of any cases of marauding snowmen in town, but this fellow definitely had a mischievous smile. Our advice is to keep your eyes peeled for any strange snowmen in the area, and send us a photo if you can! Send it to postnews@charter.net, along with some info on where it was seen, and any unusual identifying marks or tattoos it might have. We’ll check our “Most Wanted Snowmen” database and see if it’s a match!

Bird watchers needed to help scientists discover changes in bird populations

What happens in the backyard should not stay in the backyard—at least when it comes to bird feeders. By sharing information about which birds visit their feeders between November and April, backyard bird watchers can help scientists track changes in bird numbers and movements from year to year, through Project FeederWatch, a citizen-science program from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Bird Studies Canada.

Project FeederWatch began on November 14 and runs through early April, so it’s not too late to join! Taking part is easy. Anyone can count the numbers and kinds of birds at their feeders and enter their information on the FeederWatch website. Participants submitted nearly 117,000 checklists last season. Since 1987, more than 40,000 people from the United States and Canada have taken part in the project.

“To get the most complete picture of bird movements, we always need new sets of eyes to tell us what species are showing up at backyard feeders,” says David Bonter, leader of Project FeederWatch. “Participants always tell us how much fun it is and how good it feels to contribute to our understanding of birds by submitting their sightings.”

Project FeederWatch is for people of all ages and skill levels. To learn more and to sign up, visit www.feederwatch.org or call the Cornell Lab toll-free at (866) 989-2473. In return for the $15 fee ($12 for Cornell Lab members) participants receive the FeederWatcher’s Handbook, an identification poster of the most common feeder birds, a calendar, complete instructions, and Winter Bird Highlights, an annual summary of FeederWatch findings.

Participant Nancy Corr of Harrisburg, Oregon, sums up her Project FeederWatch experience: “Thanks for the wonderful opportunity to share our love of birding and to participate in something meaningful!”

Muskegon State Park, in conjunction with the Muskegon Sports Council, is hosting a “GO-Get Outdoors” Youth Ice Racing championship event on Friday, Feb. 12, as part of a three-day West Michigan Youth Winter Sports Fest, where hundreds of young athletes compete in novice and expert divisions in over 23 sports.

This is a pack-style racing event on a measured oval track, with six to eight skaters beginning on the ice rink starting line. All participants will skate in three races, set at different distances, based on age and gender. Points are awarded based on the finishing positions in each race. Overall winners are determined by the combined, three-race, total points, and medals will be awarded to the first three places in each age division. Check-in and registration will be held from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Muskegon Winter Sports Complex. Registration is encouraged before Jan. 30 if the competitor wishes to receive an event t-shirt. The entry fee is $15 for all participants.

The Muskegon Winter Sports Complex is located at 462 Scenic Dr. in North Muskegon, at the north entrance of the park. Information about this event, or other events taking place at the Muskegon Winter Sports Complex, or to obtain an entry form, visit www.msports.org. The sports complex also requires everyone to show proof of health insurance.

For more information about the park, accessibility or persons needing accommodations to attend this event, contact the park supervisor at 231-744-3480 (TTY/TDD711 Michigan Relay Center for the hearing impaired) or visit the park’s Web site at michigan.gov/muskegon.

All motor vehicles entering a state park or recreation area must display a 2010 Motor Vehicle Permit, available for purchase at the entrance. Cost is $24 for a resident annual and $6 for a resident daily. A non-resident annual is $29 and a non-resident daily is $8.

“GO-Get Outdoors” is a series of continuous, special events designed to encourage people and families to take advantage of the many outdoor recreational opportunities provided at Michigan’s state parks, recreation areas and boating sites. For a list of events taking place at Michigan state parks, recreation areas and boating sites, visit the Get Outdoor Calendar at www.michigan.gov/dnrgogetoutdoors.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment is offering free basic archery instructor (BAI) courses for teachers at Rockford North Middle School, from 8 a.m to 4 p.m. on Feb 13, Mar. 20, Apr.10, May 6, and June 5.

Each eight-hour session is for physical education teachers who wish to join the DNRE’s Archery in the Schools program.

Archery in the Schools introduces international-style target archery to students in 4th through 12th grade physical education classes. The in-school curriculum’s core content covers archery history, safety, technique, equipment, mental concentration and self-improvement. To date, more than 360 schools across Michigan have implemented the program.

“Target archery is a safe sport, in which students of all skill levels can be successful regardless of age, size or physical ability,” said Mary Emmons, coordinator for the Archery in the Schools program. “Incorporating archery as a school sport choice in the physical education curriculum creates an opportunity to engage students who otherwise may not participate in traditional athletics, and it is an individual sport they can enjoy throughout their lifetime.”

The DNRE also is offering archery equipment grants to schools, both public and private, that enroll in the Archery in the Schools program.

To sign up for this location, contact Jeff DeRegnaucourt, 616-977-7750.

For more information on Archery in the Schools, contact Mary Emmons at

517-241-9477, or by email at emmonsm@michigan.gov.Information also is available online at www.michigan.gov/dnrarchery.

Join the Great Backyard Bird Count February 12-15

Bird watchers coast to coast are invited to take part in the 13th annual Great Backyard Bird Count, Friday, February 12, through Monday, February 15, 2010.

Overall Winner Lynne Marsho, Illinois Great Blue Heron in Banner Marsh (2009)

Participants in the free event will join tens of thousands of volunteers counting birds in their own backyards, local parks or wildlife refuges.

Each checklist submitted by these “citizen scientists” helps researchers at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology , the National Audubon Society, and Bird Studies Canada learn more about how the birds are doing—and how to protect them. Last year, participants turned in more than 93,600 checklists online, creating the continent’s largest instantaneous snapshot of bird populations ever recorded.

“Taking part in the Great Backyard Bird Count is a great way to get outside with family and friends, have fun, and help birds—all at the same time,” said Audubon Education Vice President, Judy Braus. “Even if you can identify a few species you can provide important information that enables scientists to learn more about how the environment is changing and how that affects our conservation priorities.”

Anyone can take part in the Great Backyard Bird Count, from novice bird watchers to experts. Participants count birds for as little as 15 minutes (or as long as they wish) on one or more days of the event and report their sightings online at www.birdcount.org. One 2009 participant said, “Thank you for the opportunity to participate in citizen science. I have had my eyes opened to a whole new interest and I love it!”

Behavior Winner Eric Wogstad, Texas Laughing Gulls (“The Three Stooges”) (2009)

Bird populations are always shifting and changing. For example, 2009 GBBC data highlighted a huge southern invasion of Pine Siskins across much of the eastern United States. Participants counted 279,469 Pine Siskins on 18,528 checklists, as compared to the previous high of 38,977 birds on 4,069 checklists in 2005. Failure of seed crops farther north caused the siskins to move south to find their favorite food.

On the www.birdcount.org website, participants can explore real-time maps and charts that show what others are reporting during the count. The site has tips to help identify birds and special materials for educators. Participants may also enter the GBBC photo contest by uploading images taken during the count. Many images will be featured in the GBBC website’s photo gallery. All participants are entered in a drawing for prizes that include bird feeders, binoculars, books, CDs, and many other great birding products.

For more information about the GBBC, visit the website at www.birdcount.org. Or contact the Cornell Lab of Ornithology at (800) 843-2473, gbbc@cornell.edu, or Audubon at (202) 861-2242 ext. 3050, citizenscience@audubon.org.

Two days twice a year, families and friends can enjoy one of Michigan’s premiere outdoor activities, Michigan fishing, for FREE!

This winter’s free fishing event is Saturday, February 13 and Sunday, February 14.

All fishing license fees will be waived for two days. Residents and out of state visitors may enjoy fishing on both inland and Great Lakes’ waters for all species of fish. All fishing regulations will still apply.

For many, the annual Free Fishing Weekend has become a tradition—a time to get together and have some fishing fun. While some may find time to reflect while fishing, there are no limits to variations on a great theme!

Michigan offers some of the finest freshwater fishing in the world, with more than 3,000 miles of Great Lakes shoreline, over 11,037 inland lakes and 36,350 miles of rivers and streams. Included are 12,000 miles of trout waters, for which approximately 1,000 miles are considered Michigan’s finest blue ribbon trout mainstreams.

So grab a pole and your family and friends, and let’s go fishing!

Muskegon State Park, in conjunction with the Muskegon Sports Council, is offering a family-friendly, “GO-Get Outdoors” winter triathlon on Sunday, Feb. 7. The event is non-competitive and geared toward those who have never participated in one of these exciting winter Olympic sports—the luge, ice speed skating and cross-county skiing.

The winter triathlon is a fun competition with no pressure. The entire family is encouraged to participate in this unique winter adventure along the shores of Lake Michigan. Serious competitors are welcome to participate, but the main focus is to introduce participants to a new sport. Instructors will teach each sport in continuous, 20-minute clinics at each venue.

All are also invited into the warming lodge to watch the Super Bowl, or to simply warm up so they can keep on luging, skating or skiing into the night at the fully-lit sports complex.

Check-in and registration for all events will be held at the warming lodge from 10 to 11:30 a.m., located at the north entrance of the park. The skating and luge events begin at noon and continue until 2:30 p.m. The cross-country ski race will begin at 3 p.m., and awards will be presented at 4 p.m.

There are age divisions for everyone. The entry fee is $20 for ages 12 and under; $25 for ages 13 and over; and $50 for the family rate (which includes the mother, father and children living in the same house).

Early registration is encouraged, and a full refund will be given to all registrants for any cancelled event.

The sports complex requires everyone to show proof of health insurance and, for safety reasons, persons interested in trying the luge must attend a luge clinic. Skiing and skate clinics are not mandatory.

The Muskegon Winter Sports Complex is located at 462 Scenic Dr. in North Muskegon, within Muskegon State Park. Information about this event, other events taking place at the Muskegon Winter Sports Complex, or to obtain a triathlon entry form, contact the Muskegon Sports Council at 231-828-4627 or MadMarkJ@verizon.net, or visit www.msports.org.

For more information about the park, accessibility or persons needing accommodations to attend this event, contact the park supervisor at 231-744-3480 (TTY/TDD711 Michigan Relay Center for the hearing impaired) or visit www.michigan.gov/muskegon.

All motor vehicles entering a state park or recreation area must display a Motor Vehicle Permit, available for purchase at the entrance. Cost is $24 for a resident annual and $6 for a resident daily. A non-resident annual is $29 and a non-resident daily is $8.
“GO-Get Outdoors” is a series of continuous, special events designed to encourage all people, especially families, to take advantage of the many outdoor recreational opportunities that are available in this great state. For a list of events taking place at Michigan state parks, recreation areas and boating sites, visit the Get Outdoor Calendar at www.michigan.gov/dnrgogetoutdoors.