A backyard visitor

We live in town in a residential area.  So imagine my surprise when I opened our back door one night last week to see this...

That's an Eastern Screech Owl (Megascops asio) sitting in a large Honey Locust tree less than 25 feet from the house.  This species is common across the eastern United States and can be found anywhere mature trees exist including urban or suburban areas.

This owl was probably hanging out in our yard waiting for a mouse to show up under our bird feeders - it was facing directly toward the feeders. This is actually the first screech owl that I have ever seen in the wild.  It was pretty amazing to see (and photograph) one in my backyard.

To learn more about the Eastern Screech Owl check out this entry from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Thank You Chippewa Watershed Conservancy

Last night during the Chippewa Watershed Conservancy's annual banquet, I was surprised to be honored as their 2016 Robert (Bob) Ball Award winner. 

What is the Bob Ball Award? 

The following comes directly from the Chippewa Watershed Conservancy website:

The Robert (Bob) Ball Award was created in 1996 to honor someone who has made a significant contribution to the Chippewa Watershed Conservancy’s purpose of protecting natural habitat and open space. The late Bob Ball was one of the founders of the CWC. He dedicated a large part of his life to promoting awareness and access to nature.

It's hard to know what to say when you are surprised by something like this.  In an email that I sent this morning to CWC Executive Director Stan Lilley, I expressed that I was both honored and humbled.  Honored because I know and respect many of the previous winners of this award for all that they have done and continue to do in the name of conservation.  Humbled because I often feel that I could be doing so much more (not just for the CWC, but in general).

What's next?

I've got some ideas about what I want to do; I just need to put them forth..

Until then you can help the Chippewa Watershed Conservancy by helping them purchase the tallest point in Isabella County and turn it into their newest preserve.  To contribute please vist

 https://www.gofundme.com/buyingbundyhill