This is our resident Bald Eagle, who was hatched in 1985 in Cheboygan, MI. In 2003, he was found with a broken wing. He was treated at Michigan State University’s Veterinary Clinic, and was deemed non-releasable due to his injuries. He lived at the Potter Park Zoo until 2006, when he came to live at the Sanctuary. The Zoo wanted a glove-trained presentation bird, but his amputation prevented him from balancing well enough to do so. He does very well here as a display bird.

Despite the name, Bald Eagles are not actually bald. They are named for their white heads, which they develop around five years of age. Bald Eagles are usually found near bodies of water, and are known for their fondness for fish. When fish are not available, Bald Eagles are known to eat waterfowl such as Mallard Ducks and American Coots, and they also scavenge extensively.  Bald Eagles are one of the largest birds of prey in North America, with a wingspan of nearly seven feet!

Bald Eagles are known for being America’s national symbol. However, founding father Benjamin Franklin did not want the Bald Eagle to be our national symbol because of their scavenging habits. He would have preferred the Wild Turkey, because he thought it was more noble.

The Bald Eagle was listed as endangered in 1978 due to a combination of hunting, poisoning, and the reproductive problems caused by the pesticide DDT. After DDT was banned and purposeful killings were decreased, the Bald Eagle made a dramatic recovery. In 2007, the species was removed from the Endangered Species list. One of the largest continuing threats to Bald Eagle population health is lead poisoning from hunter-shot kills. Because they scavenge so much, particularly during the winter when waterways freeze over (which often coincides with hunting season), Bald Eagles are especially susceptible to lead poisoning.

Bald Eagles are rather vocal birds, though the sounds they make would surprise many people. In movies, the typical “eagle” scream is actually the sound made by a Red-tailed Hawk. Bald Eagles make more of a chittering, high pitched sound. Our resident Bald Eagle is quite chatty. Be sure to stop at his enclosure the next time you visit, and he might talk to you!

From October 17^th-24^th, the Kellogg Biological Station was fortunate enough to be able to host Dr. Nalini Nadkarni as a visiting scholar. Dr. Nadkarni is a professor at the University of Utah, and she specializes in forest canopy research. She has spent the last thirty years researching the canopies of the cloud forests of Costa Rica and the temperate rain forests of western Washington.  She was one of the pioneers of using mountain climbing techniques to climb trees—a method that is safe for both the human and the tree.

Dr. Nadkarni gave several presentations to a wide variety of audiences throughout her visit. On Friday the 19^th, she gave a presentation specifically about her research to the faculty of the Biological Station. The next day, she gave a workshop for a group of high school students about forest ecology, and then did a tree climbing demonstration for them. On Sunday the 21^st, she led a forest walk for people of all ages at the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary, and she concluded the walk with another tree climbing demonstration.

Dr. Nadkarni demonstrating her tree climbing techniques to a group of high school students.

Dr. Nadkarni showing a group of children how to properly rig a tree for climbing during the forest walk on Sunday, October 21st.

On the evening of the 23^rd, Dr. Nadkarni gave a public presentation about her other passion—spreading scientific knowledge to non-scientific communities. She explained how she began a program growing threatened species of mosses in a prison in Washington state. The program has expanded to other prisons across the state of Washington, and now involves the breeding of other endangered species, like the Oregon Spotted Frog. Hearing her speak with such enthusiasm was an inspiring experience. One attendee described her as being “incredibly engaging,” and another said she was “dynamic.”

The Kellogg Biological Station is lucky enough to host a few visiting scholars a year. Be sure to keep an ear out for the next one! These visits are wonderful learning experiences for everyone.

This past weekend was Cranefest, a festival celebrating the Sandhill Crane hosted by Michigan Audubon in Convis Township, just north of Battle Creek.  The Sanctuary hosts an informational booth as part of the Festival each year. The Sandhill Crane is a large, long-legged bird that is about four feet tall, with a wingspan of about six feet. It is characterized by a patch of bright red, bare skin on its forehead and the top of its head, and a “bustle” of feathers on its rump. They are also well-known for their elaborate courtship rituals.

Sandhill Cranes are one of the oldest bird species in the world, and there are six subspecies ranging from Siberia to Cuba, and covering much of North America. They prefer to live in open grasslands and freshwater marshes. Sandhill Cranes eat a wide variety of food items, including grains, seeds, insects, and aquatic invertebrates. In the fall, they are often found in harvested agricultural fields, where they eat the leftover grain.

Depending on the subspecies, Sandhill Cranes will breed between two and seven years of age. They are monogamous, and the families will stay together for around nine months. They can live upwards of 20 years in the wild.

In the fall, Sandhill Cranes migrate to their wintering grounds in Texas and Central America. They will fly in flocks of two to around a hundred birds, and gather in the thousands at night. At Cranefest, people from around Southwest Michigan gathered to celebrate the Cranes. There were guided nature hikes and vendors, as well as chats about native animals. At around 5 o’clock, the cranes started coming in.

It was absolutely amazing to witness all of the Cranes flying into the marsh. The noises they make sound positively prehistoric! Three thousand Cranes were counted in the marsh on Friday night. Cranefest took place at the Bernard W. Baker Sanctuary, near Bellevue, Michigan. The Cranes will continue to come through this area for the rest of the month and through November. Be sure to head out to a Sandhill Crane hotspot some time this fall! The experience is definitely worth it!

This is our resident Barred Owl. He was found as a hatch-year in Indiana in 2009 on the side of a road with a stick in his left eye. He was brought to a wildlife rehabilitator, who treated his injury. Unfortunately, he had completely lost vision in that eye, which made him non-releasable. He was given a home here in 2010, and will remain here for the rest of his life.

Barred Owls are common birds across much of the United States. They are easily identified by their dark eyes and the brown and white barring on their chests, or by their distinctive “who-cooks-for-you” call. Click on this link to hear what they sound like: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Barred_Owl/sounds.

Barred Owls like to live in forested areas around water sources. They are known as “generalists,” meaning that they will eat pretty much anything, from rodents to birds to amphibians. Because of their non-picky eating habits, they are expanding westward beyond their historical range. This expansion is leading them into conflict with the Northern Spotted Owl of the western U.S. The Spotted Owl is similar in appearance to the Barred Owl, but it has very different habits and requirements. The Northern Spotted Owl is a "specialist," and requires old growth forest to survive, and prefers to eat flying squirrels and woodrats.

Unfortunately for the Spotted Owl, the Barred Owl is larger and more aggressive, and is less choosey about where it lives. Barred Owls can live in the type of habitat created by logging and other human activities, while Spotted Owls cannot. In fact, Barred Owls are recognized as one of the biggest threats to the survival of the Northern Spotted Owl. This has led conservationists to an interesting ethical question. Some are arguing that killing Barred Owls is a necessary evil to save the Spotted Owl. But is that true? Because the Barred Owl expanded under its own prerogative, does it really count as an invasive species, and do we have the right to take such drastic action? Ethical questions like this are faced by conservationists every day, and it is difficult decide which position is correct. To learn more about the conflict between the Northern Spotted Owl and the Barred Owl, here are some links. It certainly provides for some thought-provoking reading!

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/The-Spotted-Owls-New-Nemesis.html

http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article_pf.asp?ID=3165

http://www.doi.gov/news/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&pageid=280993

http://www.fws.gov/oregonfwo/Species/Data/NorthernSpottedOwl/FAQ-Feb.29.asp#MoreInfo2