Sunset Photo (26 FEB 2015)

Just a pretty picture today. This sunset photo was taken about 2 weeks ago (26 FEB) just east of Mount Pleasant.  On that date, the high temperature was only 13 degrees Fahrenheit - during the night of the 26th/27th the temperature would drop to -13 degrees.  Today the high temperature is supposed to reach 51 degrees!

Michigan Logging Photos

Most of the year, I spend giving presentations on science topics, but during the Winter I switch gears for a couple of months and do a lot of history programs.  One of those programs is about the history of logging White Pine in Michigan (and other Great Lakes states).   This is one of my favorite programs.  Over the past couple of years I have amassed a collection of logging tools, photo postcards, and photographs.  I have shared a few images in the past in three posts.

     Days Gone By - Logging Photos

     Logging Tools Part 1 - Axe and Saw

     Anatomy of an Axe

Here are a few more photographs from my collection. Each of these photos shows logging operations somewhere in mid-Michigan.

This first image shows a group of "river hogs".  River hogs would accompany the logs down the river during the spring log drives to prevent and clear logjams.  Information on the back of this photo identifies the location as the Sugar River in northern Gladwin County.  This was one of the last years that logs were run down the rivers in mid-Michigan.

River hogs on the Sugar River, Gladwin County, MI - 1906

Feeling Shrew(d)

Last Thursday, between classroom presentations I drove to Mill Pond Park for few minutes.  As a I was driving into the parking lot I saw a small dark shape along the curb.  I quickly jumped out of my truck, grabbed my camera, and hurried to find this...

This small mammal could be confused at first glance for mouse or vole, but instead it's a shrew..

I think it was probably a Water Shrew (Sorex palustris).  There are several species of shrews that can be found in Michigan's Lower Peninsula: the Masked Shrew (S. cinereus), Pygmy Shrew (S. hoyi), Water Shrew (S. palustris), Least Shrew (Cryptotis parva), and Northern Short--tailed Shrew (Blarina brevicauda).

Three of the species can be eliminated right away.  The Pygmy Shrew, Least Shrew, and Short-tailed Shrew could all be eliminated by overall size or tail length.

The Masked Shrew could be eliminated by fur color and the amount of fur on its tail.  The Masked Shrew has light brown fur and a lightly furred tail - this animal was almost black and had a moderately furred tail.

Therefore, my best guess at identification is that this animal is a Water Shrew.

During the winter it is unusual to find a shrew on the surface of the snowpack.  Normally they would be found traveling through the subnivean zone where they are hidden from avian predators.  This shrew seemed to be searching for a way back beneath the snow.

Crayfish Test

Blogger has been very cranky toward me over the past few days.  It has not been letting me save or post anything with pictures.  This post is basically just an attempt to see if it will work at all.  On the plus side, if it does work, you get to look at this interesting (and slightly terrifying) picture of the underside of a crayfish.

Squirrels - More Than Meets the Eye

Normally when I post pictures of squirrels, they are cute and cuddly - like this one.

Occasionally, squirrels are not so cute and cuddly - such as in this photograph from January 2009.

What is that squirrel doing?

It's eating a female American Goldfinch, of course!

But, aren't squirrels herbivores?

No, even though their teeth would indicate that they are herbivores - squirrels have big incisors and flat, ridged molars and they lack the sharp canine teeth found in carnivores and most omnivores.

But, like most rodents, squirrels are opportunistic omnivores that will readily consume meat if it is available.  This squirrel happened to catch a goldfinch that strayed too close at the bird feeder.  Other items on their diet include insects, mice and other small mammals, and bird eggs.

Not quite so cute and cuddly now, are they?

Upcoming Event - Wildflower Association of Michigan Conference (08 MAR - 09 MAR)

What the weather today looked like as of 11:00AM (EST)...

 What I am thinking about instead...

I have wildflowers on the brain.  On Sunday and Monday (08 and 09 MAR) I will be attending the Wildflower Association of Michigan annual conference at the Kellogg Center in East Lansing.  The theme of the conference this year is Landscape Design: Where Art and Nature Meet.  The WAM conference is normally my favorite conference of the year - I usually learn more here than I do at any of the other conferences I attend.  Although early registration has closed for this event walk-ins are still welcome.  Cost for one day is $75; registration for both days is $140.  There is also a required $15 membership fee to WAM to attend the conference.

Upcoming Event - Quiet Water Symposium

Monday through Friday is always busy for me.  This weekend will be busy as well.

On Saturday (07 MAR) I will be attending the 2015 Quiet Water Symposium.  The Quiet Water Symposium (QWS) is a gathering dedicated to non-motorized transportation in the outdoors including biking, sailing, backpacking, and especially canoeing & kayaking.  QWS takes place at the Michigan State University Livestock Pavilion at 4310 Farm Lane Road in East Lansing.  Tickets for adults are $10 and free for kids 12 and under.

This year there are over 140 different vendors/exhibitors setting up at QWS.  In addition to the vendor there are thirty-two presentations scheduled over the course of the day.  QWS is a great event whether you are new to paddling and hiking or if you have been doing them for decades. 

Here is a video recap of the 2014 QWS.