Words of Wisdom from Donald Duck

I stumbled across this gem of a story in Chuck Shepherd’s News of the Weird newspaper column, distributed weekly by the Universal Press Syndicate:

Quacking Up

Donald Duck may be a lovable icon of comic mishap to American youngsters, but in Germany, he is wise and complicated and retains followers well past their childhoods. Using licensed Disney storyline[s] and art, the legendary translator Erika Fuchs created an erudite Donald, who often “quotes from German literature, speaks in grammatically complex sentences, and is prone to philosophical musings,: according to a May Wall Street Journal dispatch. Though Donald and Ungle Scrooge ("Dagoberto") speak in a lofty richness, nephews Tick, Trick, and Track use the slang of youth. Recently in Stuttgart, academics gathered for the 32nd annual convention of the "German Organization for Non-Commercial Follwers of Pure Donaldism" with presentations on such topics as Duckburg’s solar system. [hyperlinks added]

Trout in the St. Joseph River Valley of Michigan: Relative Importance

In previous posts, I examined (a) 20th century distribution of trout and (b) species diversity and annual variation in streams within the Michigan portion of the St. Joseph River. Here, I continue my assessment of trout populations by looking at species diversity and annual variation. The information presented here is derived from the creel-census data provided by Wesley and Duffy (1999).

Throughout the entire Michigan portion of the St. Joseph River system, trout accounted for about one-quarter of the fish caught during the period 1928-1965. They were most abundant in the Lower and Mouth segments of the system, where they accounted for 94.9 and 88.6 percent of the catch, respectively. Details follow:

Trout As a Percentage of Total Catch (All Streams):

Headwaters: Mean = 4.8 (11 of 229 fish in 2 streams). Median = 2.8 (range 0.0 – 5.5)

Upper: Mean = 0.7 (20 of 2,953 fish in 7 streams). Median = 4.9 (range 0.0 – 9.8)

Middle: Mean = 8.9 (1,118 of 12,515 fish in 14 streams). Median = 96.5 (range 0.0 – 100.0)

Lower: Mean = 94.9 (3,047 of 3,210 fish in 16 streams). Median = 100.0 (range 3.6 – 100.0)

Mouth: Mean = 88.6 (1,176 of 1,328 fish in 15 streams). Median = 100.0 (range 0.0 – 100.0)

TOTAL: Mean = 26.5 (5,372 of 20,235 fish in 54 streams). Median = 100.0 (range 0.0 – 100.0)

Trout represented a somewhat lower percentage of the total catch in McCoy Creek (90.9 percent) than in the remaining 15 streams in the Lower valley segment (95.1 percent).

In the 41 trout streams (i.e., streams or stream segments where trout were available and caught as a result of intentional or unintentional stocking), trout usually accounted for a majority of the fish caught. For example, trout represented more than 50 percent of the reported catch in 36 streams (88 percent), more than 90 percent of the catch in 34 streams (83 percent), and 100 percent of the catch in 28 streams (68 percent).

Except for the poorly-sampled Headwaters and Upper valley segments, trout of one or more of the three species were predominant in the overall catch in trout streams throughout the system, accounting for 86 to 95 percent of the reported catch. Details follow:

Trout as Percentage of Total Catch in Trout Streams:

Headwaters: Mean = 5.5 (11 of 201 fish in 1 stream)

Upper: Mean = 9.8 (20 of 204 fish in 1 stream)

Middle: Mean = 86.1 (1,118 of 1,299 fish in 9 streams). Median = 100.0 (range 44.2 – 100.0)

Lower: Mean = 94.9 (3,047 of 3,210 fish in 16 streams). Median = 100.0 (range 3.7 – 100.0)

Mouth: Mean = 91.5 (1,176 of 1,285 fish in 14 streams). Median = 100.0 (range 26.5 – 100.0)

TOTAL: Mean = 86.7 (5,372 of 6,199 fish in 41 streams). Median = 100.0 (range 3.7 – 100.0)

Among the eight high-diversity trout streams (i.e., streams with all three species represented in the catch) in the Lower valley segment, trout represented a slightly smaller percentage of the total catch in McCoy Creek (90.9 percent) than in the remaining seven streams (97.5 percent).

Reference:

Wesley, J. K., and Joan E. Duffy. 1999b. St. Joseph River assessment. Appendix 2 (.pdf). Miscellaneous historical creel data. Michigan Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Division Fisheries Report 24: 117-227. URL: http://www.michigandnr.com/PUBLICATIONS/PDFS/ifr/ifrlibra/special/reports/sr24/sr24App2.pdf

Trout in the St. Joseph River Valley of Michigan: Species Diversity and Annual Variation

In a previous post, I examined 20th century distribution of trout in streams within the Michigan portion of the St. Joseph River. Here, I continue my assessment of trout populations by looking at species diversity and annual variation. The information presented here is derived from the creel-census data provided by Wesley and Duffy (1999).

In streams (including McCoy Creek) where trout were known to be present during the period 1928-1965, anglers could universally expect to encounter (at least on occasion) up to three different species of trout, not always in the same year but over a period of years. Of the 41 streams with trout, 58 percent (24) yielded three species, 17 percent (7) two species, and 42 percent (10) one species. Details follow:

Number of Trout Species by Stream (1 – 2 – 3)

Headwaters: 1 – 0 – 0 (n=1)

Upper: 0 – 0 – 1 (n=1)

Middle: 2 – 2 – 5 (n=9)

Lower: 6 – 2 – 8 (n=16)

Mouth: 1 – 3 – 10 (n=14)

TOTAL: 10 – 7 – 24 (n=41)

There was a strong correlation between the number of trout species caught in a stream and the number of creel censuses conducted. For example, in streams with one species detected the median number of creel censuses conducted was 1 (range 1 – 4), in streams with two species it was 2.5 (range 1 – 5), and in streams with three species it was 7 (range 2 – 19).

I next examined yearly variability in species diversity by taking a closer look at the 24 streams in which three species of trout were detected. Trout were detected in 78 percent (149) of 190 yearly creel censuses. In the 149 census-years in which trout were reported as being caught, there was a 30 percent probability of encountering one species, a 42 percent probability of two species, and a 28 percent probability of three species. Details follow:

Yearly Variation in Number of Trout Species Caught (1 – 2 – 3)

Upper: 1 – 1 – 1 (n=11)

Middle: 8 – 14 – 7 (n=37)

Lower: 24 – 30 – 15 (n=80)

Mouth: 12 – 17 – 9 (n=62)

TOTAL: 45 – 62 – 42 (n=149)

PERCENT: 30 – 42 – 28

There was variability in both the number of species and the specific species caught each year, perhaps because of variability in stocking patterns of different species in each of the 24 streams.

The creel-census data show that trout were encountered less frequently by anglers in McCoy Creek (57 percent) than at other trout streams in the St. Joseph River drainage (78 percent), and average species diversity was lover in years when present (1.5 versus 2.0).

Reference:

Wesley, J. K., and Joan E. Duffy. 1999b. St. Joseph River assessment. Appendix 2 (.pdf). Miscellaneous historical creel data. Michigan Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Division Fisheries Report 24: 117-227. URL: http://www.michigandnr.com/PUBLICATIONS/PDFS/ifr/ifrlibra/special/reports/sr24/sr24App2.pdf

Trout in the St. Joseph River Valley of Michigan: 20th Century Distribution

The St. Joseph River valley has been described thusly by Wesley and Duffy (1999):

The St. Joseph River basin, located in southwest Michigan and northwest Indiana, is the third largest river basin in Michigan. The river begins in Michigan’s Hillsdale County at Baw Beese Lake, and flows in a northerly arc before turning south and entering Indiana. The river flows west across Indiana before making an abrupt turn to the north at South Bend. It re-enters Michigan in southeastern Berrien County and flows northwest until it reaches Lake Michigan between the cities of St. Joseph and Benton Harbor. The St. Joseph River mainstem is 210 miles long and its tributary streams total an additional 1,641 miles (Brown 1944). The river drains a watershed of 4,685 square miles: 3,000 square miles in Michigan and 1,685 square miles in Indiana.

Trout (Family Salmonidae) are not native to any of the streams in the St. Joseph River system. Three species—Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), Brown Trout (Salmo trutta), Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)—were introduced to various streams within the drainage by the Michigan Department of Conservation (forerunner of the Department of Natural Resources) in the latter decades of the 19th century or the early decades of the 20th century.

Wesley and Duffy (1999a) divided the St. Joseph River watershed into five valley segments (Headwaters, Upper, Middle, Lower, and Mouth) based on physiographic characteristics. These river valley segments are illustrated here.

A picture of the historic (1928-1964) distribution of non-native trout throughout the Michigan portion St. Joseph River watershed comes to light by reviewing the presence of trout in creel-census data gathered by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (Wesley and Duffy 1999b).

Trout of 1-3 species were recorded in 41 (76 percent) of 54 streams in the Michigan portion of the St. Joseph River drainage at which creel censuses were conducted between 1928 and 1964. The percentage of streams in which trout were present and caught by sport anglers ranged from a low of 14 percent in the Upper segment to 100 percent in the Lower (including McCoy Creek) and Mouth segments. Details follow:

Headwaters: 50 percent (1 of 2 streams)

Upper: 14 percent (1 of 7)

Middle: 64 percent (9 of 14)

Lower: 100 percent (16 of 16)

Mouth: 100 percent (14 of 15)

TOTAL: 76 percent (41 of 54)

These figures illustrate that, within the St. Joseph River watershed (and especially among streams within the Lower segment of that watershed), McCoy Creek was not unusual in providing trout-fishing opportunities to sport anglers in the period from 1928-1964.

References:

Brown, C. J. D. 1944. Michigan streams: their lengths, distribution and drainage areas. Michigan Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Division Miscellaneous Publication 1.

Wesley, Jay K., and Joan E. Duffy. 1999a. St. Joseph River assessment (.pdf). Michigan Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Division Fisheries Species Report 24, 116 pp.
URL: http://www.michigandnr.com/PUBLICATIONS/PDFS/ifr/ifrlibra/special/reports/sr24/sr24Text.pdf

Wesley, J. K., and Joan E. Duffy. 1999b. St. Joseph River assessment. Appendix 2 (.pdf). Miscellaneous historical creel data. Michigan Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Division Fisheries Report 24: 117-227. URL: http://www.michigandnr.com/PUBLICATIONS/PDFS/ifr/ifrlibra/special/reports/sr24/sr24App2.pdf

Prairie Plants Associated With McCoy Creek, Berrien County, Michigan

Thompson (1983) assessed the floral composition of 26 prairie stands in southern Michigan from 1972-1981. His study sites included the Dayton Prairie (located on Curran Road at McCoy Creek 2 miles southeast of Dayton) and the McCoy Fen (along the railroad tracks southwest of Buchanan at McCoy Creek).

Thompson’s Dayton Prairie site corresponds with the Dayton Wet Prairie Preserve owned and managed by The Nature Conservancy since 1978. His McCoy Fen site is situated near where Bakertown Road crosses McCoy Creek and the Amtrak railroad tracks. It probably corresponds closely with Kohring’s (1981) Bakertown Fen, which she described thusly:

Bakertown Fen, in Berrien County, Buchanan Township, T7S, R18W, Section 34, SE1/4, is located on both sides of the [Amtrak] tracks from mile post 119.5 to 200. The fen and wet prairie soils are Houghton Muck with a pH of 7.2. This fen encompasses both wet and mesic prairies. The area has White Lady’s-Slipper (Cypripedium candidum), Spotted Phlox (Phlox maculata), Jacob’s Ladder (Polemonium reptans), Sullivant’s Coneflower (Rudbeckia sullivantii), and Rosinweed (Silphium integrifolium) which are all on the Michigan list of threatened plants. Valerian (Valeriana ciliata), which is listed as rare, is also present.

Thompson (1983) tabulated 204 species of "prairie plants" on the 26 study sites, including a combined total of 123 species at Dayton Prairie and McCoy Fen. Of these 123 species, 92 were documented at Dayton Prairie, 111 at McCoy Fen, and 79 at both sites, yielding an index of similarity of 0.78 for the two prairie floras. These sites are located less than two miles apart along the upper reaches of McCoy Creek. Both of these prairies are described (Thompson 1983) as being occupied to some extent by prairie fen communities, a unique and increasingly rare wetland habitat in Michigan (Spiels et al. 1991).

In an earlier paper, Thompson (1981) provided a comprehensive list of 176 plant species found on the Dayton Prairie based on visits from 1974 to 1977. Kohring (1983) found a total of 273 species at Bakertown Fen during surveys in spring and fall 1978 , and reported the following dominants in decreasing order: Eleocharis spp., Carex spp., Thelypteris palustris, Solidato spp., Andropogon gerardi, Aster spp., and Cacalia tuberosa. Thompson's (1983) composite list of "prairie plants" from Dayton Prairie and McCoy Fen was dominated by composites (46 species), grasses (12), and legumes (7).

Most of the 123 species documented by Thompson (1983) at the Dayton Prairie and/or McCoy Fen are broadly distributed, but 25 are notable for being (a) of relative rare occurrence (i.e., recorded at 7 or fewer of the 26 sites studied), or (b) for being "special plants" in Michigan (i.e., Endangered, Threatened, or of Special Concern). Twelve of these "rare" species occurred at Dayton Prairie, 23 at McCoy Fen, and 10 at both sites. These species are not necessarily rare in the context of the broader landscape, just relatively rare in the prairie/fen sites studied by Thompson:

Arnoglossum plantagineum (=Cacalia tuberosa), Groovestem Indian Plantain: 2 sites, including McCoy Fen.

Bidens connata, Purplestem Beggarticks: 6 sites, including Dayton Prairie and McCoy Fen.

Bromus ciliatus, Fringed Brome: 2 sites, including McCoy Fen.

Campanula aparinoides, Marsh Bellflower: 7 sites, including McCoy Fen.

Cypripedium candidum, White Lady’s Slipper: 5 sites, including Dayton Prairie and McCoy Fen. State Threatened. Abstract (.pdf).

Dasiphora (=Potentilla) fruticosa, Shrubby Cinquefoil: 6 sites, including Dayton Prairie and McCoy Fen.

Dichanthelium (=Panicum) oligosanthes, Heller’s Rosette Grass: 5 sites, including McCoy Fen.

Dodecatheon meadia, Pride of Ohio, or Shooting Star: 4 sites, including Dayton Prairie and McCoy Fen. State Endangered.

Eryngium yuccifolium, Button Eryngo, or Rattlesnake Master: 5 sites, including McCoy Fen. State Threatened.

Gentiana crinita, Greater Fringed Gentian: 7 sites, including McCoy Fen.

Heliopsis helianthoides, Smooth Oxeye: 5 sites, including McCoy Fen.

Hierochloe hirta (=odorata), Northern Sweetgrass: 7 sites, including Dayton Prairie and McCoy Fen.

Lobelia kalmii, Ontario Lobelia: 7 sites, including Dayton Prairie and McCoy Fen.

Mentha arvensis, Wild Mint: 7 sites, including Dayton Prairie.

Phlox maculata, Wild Sweet William: 2 sites (Dayton Prairie and McCoy Fen). State Threatened.

Polemonium reptans, Greek Valerian, or Jacob’s Ladder: 3 sites, including McCoy Fen. State Threatened.

Rudbeckia fulgita (=sullivantii), Orange Coneflower: 3 sites, including McCoy Fen.

Rudbeckia lascinata, Cutleaf Coneflower: 3 sites, including McCoy Fen.

Silphium integrifolium, Wholeleaf Rosinweed: 10 sites, including Dayton Prairie and McCoy Fen. State Threatened

Solidago patula, Roundleaf Goldenrod: 6 sites, including McCoy Fen.

Solidago uliginosa, Bog Goldenrod: 5 sites, including Dayton Prairie and McCoy Fen.

Symphyotrichum (=Aster) praealtus, Willowleaf Aster: 6 sites, including Dayton Prairie. State Special Concern.

Triantha (=Tofieldia) glutinosa, Sticky Tofieldia: 5 sites, including McCoy Fen.

Valeriana edulis var. ciliata, Tobacco Root, or Edible Valerian: 8 sites, including Dayton Prairie and McCoy Fen. State Threatened.

Zigadenus elegans (=glaucus), Mountain Deathcamas: 6 sites, including McCoy Fen.

References:

Kohring, Margaret A. 1981. Saving Michigan’s railroad strip prairies (.pdf). Pp. 150-151 in Proceedings of the 6th North American Prairie Conference (Ronald L. Stuckey and Karen J. Reese, eds.). Ohio Biological Survey Notes 15.
http://images.library.wisc.edu/EcoNatRes/EFacs/NAPC/NAPC06/reference/econatres.napc06.mkohring.pdf

Kohring, Margaret A. 1983. Effect of a fall burn on Bakertown Fen (Berrien Co., Michigan) (.pdf). P. 265 in Proceedings of the 7th North American Prairie Conference (Clare L. Kucera, ed.). Southwest Missouri State University, Springfield, Missouri.
http://images.library.wisc.edu/

Spieles, J. B., P. J. Comer, D. A. Albert, and M. A. Kost. 1999. Natural community abstract for prairie fen (.pdf). Michigan Natural Features Inventory, Lansing, Michigan. 4 pp.
http://web4.msue.msu.edu/mnfi/abstracts/ecology/Prairie_fen.pdf

Thompson, Paul W. 1981. Flora of Dayton Prairie: a remnant of Terre Coupee Prairie, in Michigan. Pp. 148-150 in Proceedings of the 6th North American Prairie Conference (Ronald L. Stuckey and Karen J. Reese, eds.). Ohio Biological Survey Notes 15.
http://images.library.wisc.edu/EcoNatRes/EFacs/NAPC/NAPC06/reference/econatres.napc06.pthompson.pdf

Thompson, Paul W. 1983. Composition of prairie stands in southern Michigan and adjoining areas (.pdf). Pp. 105-111 in Proceedings of the 8th North American Prairie Conference (Richard Brewer, ed.). Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan.
http://images.library.wisc.edu/EcoNatRes/EFacs/NAPC/NAPC08/reference/econatres.napc08.pthompson.pdf

McCoy Creek – Mill Race – Pears Mill Controversy Simmers in Berrien County, Michigan

Discussions about restoration of the Mill Race—which was constructed about 160 years ago by diverting water from McCoy Creek—to provide water sufficient for the continued summertime operation of Pears Mill, a historic attraction in downtown Buchanan, Michigan, have continued off and on for the past four years. Proponents (notably the Buchanan Preservation Society, property owners along the Mill Race, and a majority of local residents) claim that the mill race can be restored and the mill operated without affecting the quality of McCoy Creek, while opponents (notably Trout Unlimited, St. Joseph River Valley Fly Fishers, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, and Michigan Department of Environmental Quality—which agency must issue a permit before any restoration work can begin) claim otherwise. And there the standoff remains.

On June 11, 2009, the Buchanan City Commission held a special work session to receive comments from the public on the future of the Mill Race and Pears Mill. Subsequently, an article by correspondent Debra Haight appeared in two local newspapers under different headlines and slightly different opening paragraphs:

Some Want More Water for Pears Mill—-Plans to dredge and improve mill race remain under discussion
South Bend Tribune – Tuesday, June 16, 2009, pages B1 and B2

If Buchanan city officials and many local residents had their way, something would be done right away to get more water into the McCoy’s [sic] Creek mill race that feeds water to the historical Pears Mill in downtown Buchanan.

Unfortunately, the decision on taking action to bring more water from the creek to the mill race isn’t up to the city, as city commissioners and City Manager Meg Mullendore were quick to point out at a recent work session on the issue.

[NOTE: Remainder of article is continued below…]

Millrace is Hot Topic at Special Work Session
Berrien County Record – Thursday, June 18, 2009, pages A1 and B8

The millrace was once again the topic of discussion at a special work session held last week by the Buchanan City Commission.

While many of those in attendance asked the city to act to get more water into the millrace so that historic Pears Mill can operate during the summer months, it looks like the decision isn’t necessarily one the city can make on its own.

City Commissioners and City Manager Meg Mullendore were quick to point out that bringing more water from the creek to the millrace isn’t up to the city.

[NOTE: From this point on, the text of the article is identical in both papers...]

"I’ve lived with this controversy for several years," Commissioner Patricia Moore said. "Many times we have come up with solutions and the state is there to put up an obstacle.... We’ve come up with solutions and been stonewalled."

Mullendore said that ultimately whatever happens is up to Michigan Department of Environmental Quality officials since they would have to approve a permit to dredge and make improvements to the millrace.

She said the DEQ would also have to approve a permit for replacing part of the dam structure damaged by vandals earlier this spring. That vandalism apparently caused less water to go into the millrace this spring and summer.

The work session was attended by over 40 people, many of whom spoke out in support of getting more water into the millrace. The issue isn’t a new one for the city, officials and residents have debated what to do for the last few years.

Two years ago, a city proposal to replace the dam-like structure that diverts water from the creek into the millrace on the south side of the city was rejected by DEQ officials.

Also in 2007, a plan the DEQ approved calling for a well to be dug to provide water for the mill was rejected by some local residents who wanted to see not only more water for the mill but also the preservation of the millrace.

The focus of Thursday’s meeting was on the most recent proposal—as mentioned above—that would dredge the race and make improvements to the millrace and creek.

That proposal was prepared by a consulting firm [Wetland and Coastal Resources of Lansing, Michigan] last fall. Their cost estimate of $65,400 would cover getting designs, permits, endangered species studies done as well as the work itself.

A majority of the dozen or so speakers at Thursday’s meetng as well as four letters received at city hall favored doing more to help the millrace and spoke of its historical value, its importance to Pears Mill and to local tourism in general.

Buchanan Preservation Society President Tom Fehlner said the proposal won’t harm McCoy’s [sic] Creek, a coldwater trout stream, but will help the millrace which was constructed around 1850.

He said the community can’t depend anymore on industry to provide jobs and must look to tourism and history to attract visitors.

"We’re very lucky here to have a mill site with a building, machinery and a race to drive it," he said. "That distinguishes Buchanan from other communities in a 30 to 40 mile radius. The mill will never make a lot of money itself but it can help other businesses."

"This is my seventh year as president of the Preservation Society," Fehlner said. "The plan was proposed in 2005, the DEQ public hearing was in 2007 and the consultant was hired in 2008. I’m now 72 years old and would like to see this finished before they plant me in the ground."

Others hit on his themes of preserving history. Marjorie Foster said history is important to the social make-up of the community and that Pears Mill gives people a reason to stop in Buchanan and visit.

Randal Peart moved here from Chicago a few years ago and is a licensed engineer. He said he’s studied the consultants’ report and thinks it would work. As for the history, he said if people "forget the past, they won’t have any future."

John Trapp is a retired U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist and urged action to restore the water levels in the millrace.

"Downtown Buchanan without a functioning mill is like the Washington Monument without the reflecting pool," he said. "It’s a no-brainer, it helps the mill and brings tourists to town with no damage to the creek."

Sending letters of support were Dick and Mae Proud, Shirley Roti Roti, Jerry Flenar and his family, and Jeff Antisdel and his family.

The Prouds said that tourism could be a lifeline for the community to grow and spoke against closing off the millrace. "Once you tear something down, you can’t get it back," they wrote.

On the other side, resident Larry Elliot presented a letter from the Michigan Trout Unlimited chapter in opposition to the dredging plan and what they see as its negative effect on the creek. He also pointed out that state official are against having dams in waterways.

Elliot said the consultants’ report was not comprehensive and did not consider the millrace’s imact on the creek, a point supported by another resident, Peter Hartz. "If I go to the doctor and he says I have cancer, I’ll go to another doctor and get another opinion," he said.

Hartz noted that the city has made environmental mistakes that have helped create the situation such as not clearing out sediment traps at locations on the creek. "If the city stepped up its stewardship, we could have both the creek and the millrace healthy," he said.

"What strikes me is that the people who are so gung ho for the mill act like we (fishermen and creek supporters) want to torch the mill," he said. "That’s not case. We can have a viable mill and a viable cold water trout steam and together they could bring in 10 times more money than just the mill."

The meeting ended with comments from the four commissioners in attendance. Bill Norton thanked people for coming, said he wanted to see both the millrace and the creek prosper but noted that the city is restricted by what the state will allow it to do.

Warren Weaver said he hoped the city would get cooperation from the state all the parties involved to find a solution including possibly constructing a well to provide water to the mill.

Moore spoke in favor of providing more fishing opportunities as well as protecting history. Carla Cole said the city needs to come to a conclusion on the issue and said she’d like to see a reward established to find out who blocked the millrace off earlier this year.

Southwestern Michigan’s Natural River

Michigan is blessed with more than 36,000 miles of rivers and streams, including more than 12,000 miles of cold-water trout streams. Michigan’s Natural Rivers Program was:

developed to preserve, protect and enhance . . . [the] State’s finest river systems for the use and enjoyment of current and future generations by allowing property owners their right to reasonable development, while protecting Michigan’s unique river systems [emphasis added].

Of the 16 Michigan waterways designated as State Natural Rivers, only one is located in the ten southwestern-most counties (i.e., Allegan, Berrien, Barry, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Eaton, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, and Van Buren), that being portions of the Lower Kalamazoo River and selected tributaries in Allegan County.

Fishing Regulations for McCoy Creek, Berrien County, Michigan

McCoy Creek is a designated trout stream, as legally determined by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) in FO-210 (.pdf). The MDNR has classified trout streams into 7 different categories, or types, for regulatory purposes.

McCoy Creek is a Type-1 stream. Regulations for Type-1 streams are among the most restrictive in Michigan in terms of season length and among the least restrictive in terms of types of tackle that can be used, daily possession limits, and minimum size limits.

Specific regulations, as they apply to McCoy Creek for the 2009 season, are as follows:

Open Season: last Saturday in April to September 30.

Possession Season: Same.

Tackle: All (including artificial flies, lures, and live bait).

Daily Possession Limit: 5 fish, of which no more than 3 may be 15 or more inches in length. EXCEPTION: Up to 5 salmon (Chinook^ and/or Coho^) 15 inches or larger may be kept daily.

Minimum Size Limits: Brook^ and Brown trout—8 inches; Rainbow Trout^—10 inches; Chinook^ and Coho^ salmon—10 inches.

^Wesley and Duffy (1999) do not depict McCoy Creek as being part of the “known past or present distributions” of any of these four species. However, they do show them as occurring in the mainstem of the St. Joseph River between Berrien Springs and Niles, so it is possible that some individuals of these introduced species make seasonal movements into the lower reaches of McCoy Creek. However, if one or more of these species were to enter the mouth of McCoy Creek, the water-control structure at the lower end of the McCoy Duck Pond—if not the falls at the site of the former Bainton Mill further downstream—provides an effective barrier to further upstream movement of fish.

The only other sport fish known to occur in McCoy Creek (historically or at present) is the Warmouth, a type of panfish.

Reference:

Wesley, Jay K., and Joan E. Duffy. 1999. St. Joseph River Assessment. Appendix 1c (.pdf). Distribution maps of fish species. Michigan Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Division Fisheries Report 24: 69-111. URL:
http://www.michigandnr.com/PUBLICATIONS/PDFS/ifr/ifrlibra/special/reports/sr24/sr24App1c.pdf

Exploring McCoy Creek, Berrien County, Michigan

This video—produced by Joseph Dits of the South Bend (Indiana) Tribune—is narrated by Scott King, a volunteer with McCoy’s Creek Trail in Buchanan, Michigan:



This is indeed a lovely area, but to compare it to a West Virginia Appalachian Mountain trout stream is a bit of a stretch. The trout and salmon that Mr. King describes are not native to McCoy Creek; all of them owe their presence in the watershed to intentional (and repeated) releases by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Birdwatching As a Stress Reliever

This article from Health News and Information for Women argues that birdwatching is a great activity for relieving stress.

While backyard birding can indeed be relaxing and an ideal way to relieve stress, I would argue that the competitive birding and listing that is so popular these days is anything but relaxing and stress-free.

Designated Trout Streams of Southwestern Michigan

Fisheries Order (FO) 210.08 lists Designated Trout Streams for the State of Michigan (.pdf), to wit:

Under the authority of Section 48701(o), as amended, being Sections 324.48701(o) of the Michigan Compiled Laws, the Director of the Department of Natural Resources on November 8, 2007, order that for a period of five years the streams and portions of streams in the list which follows are hereby designated as trout streams.

Unless otherwise described, the location description listed after the stream name indicates the downstream limit of the trout designation. All of the stream and its tributaries, unless excepted, from that point upstream are designated trout waters [emphases added]. Exceptions are italicized.

The following lists—excerpted from FO-210.08—include all streams, or portions of streams, currently designated as trout streams in Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren counties. These three counties encompass all of southwestern Michigan, as defined by the Southwestern Michigan Tourist Council.

Of the 52 designated trout streams of southwestern Michigan, 23 (including McCoy Creek) are located in Berrien County, 13 in Cass County (including 2 shared with Berrien), and 16 in Van Buren County:

Berrien County

Cass County

Van Buren County

Twenty-nine of the streams (including McCoy Creek) are part of the St. Joseph River basin, 8 are part of the Paw Paw River basin (which is technically a sub-unit of the St. Joseph River basin), 5 are part of the Galien River basin, 5 are part of the Black River basin, and 3 drain directly into Lake Michigan.

Each of these 52 localities is within a 1 hour drive of Buchanan, Michigan.

Designated Trout Streams of Van Buren County, Michigan

Fisheries Order (FO) 210.08 lists Designated Trout Streams for the State of Michigan (.pdf), to wit:

Under the authority of Section 48701(o), as amended, being Sections 324.48701(o) of the Michigan Compiled Laws, the Director of the Department of Natural Resources on November 8, 2007, order that for a period of five years the streams and portions of streams in the list which follows are hereby designated as trout streams.

Unless otherwise described, the location description listed after the stream name indicates the downstream limit of the trout designation. All of the stream and its tributaries, unless excepted, from that point upstream are designated trout waters [emphases added]. Exceptions are italicized.

The following list—excerpted from FO-210.08—includes all streams, or portions of streams, currently designated as trout streams in Cass County, which borders Berrien County to the east and north. The 16 designated trout streams of Van Buren County are distributed as follows: 5 in the Black River basin, 3 that drain directly into Lake Michigan, 6 in the Paw Paw River basin (which is technically a sub-unit of the St. Joseph River basin), and 2 in the St. Joseph River basin:

Black River Basin:

South Branch Black River Mainstream from T1S, R17W, Sec. 2, to T2S, R16W, Sec. 1

Moon Lake Drain (T1S, R16W, Sec. 20)

Three Mile Creek (T2S, R16W, Sec. 2)

Spicebush Creek (T1N, R16W, Sec. 23) [shared with Allegan County]

Barber Creek (T1N, R15W, S21) [shared with Allegan County]

Coastal Streams between Black River and St. Joseph River:

Deerlick Creek (T1S, R17W, Sec. 21)

Brandywine Creek (T2S, R17W, Sec. 8)

Rogers Creek (T2S, R18W, Sec. 36)

Paw Paw River Basin:

Mill Creek (T3S, R17W, Sec. 23)

Brush Creek (T3S, R15W, Sec. 10) EXCEPT: Reynolds Lake Drain

North Branch Paw Paw River and tributaries above M-40 (T2S, R14W, Sec. 30)

West Branch Paw Paw River (T3S, R14W, Sec. 14)

East Branch Paw Paw River above M-40 bridge (T3S, R14W, Sec. 13)

Pine Creek from Mouth (T3S, R16W, Sec. 17)

St. Joseph River Basin:

Dowagiac River upstream to M-51 bridge (T4S, R15W, Sec. 26)

Dowagiac Drain (T4S, R15W, Sec. 34)

Designated Trout Streams of Cass County, Michigan

Fisheries Order (FO) 210.08 lists Designated Trout Streams for the State of Michigan (.pdf), to wit:

Under the authority of Section 48701(o), as amended, being Sections 324.48701(o) of the Michigan Compiled Laws, the Director of the Department of Natural Resources on November 8, 2007, order that for a period of five years the streams and portions of streams in the list which follows are hereby designated as trout streams.

Unless otherwise described, the location description listed after the stream name indicates the downstream limit of the trout designation. All of the stream and its tributaries, unless excepted, from that point upstream are designated trout waters [emphases added].

The following list—excerpted from FO-210.08—includes all streams, or portions of streams, currently designated as trout streams in Cass County, which borders Berrien County to the east. The designated trout streams of Cass County number 15 (including 2 shared with Berrien County), all within the St. Joseph River basin:

Dowagiac River Mainstream (T7S, R17W, Sec. 22) [shared with Berrien County]

McKenzie Creek (T7S, R16W, Sec. 7)

Pokagon Creek (T6S, R16W, Sec. 30)

Peavine Creek (T6S, R16W, Sec 17)

Dowagiac Creek (T6S, R15W, Sec. 11) upstream to Bunker Lake

Cook Lake Drain (T5S, R16W, Sec. 24)

Unnamed creek (T5S, R15W, Sec. 18)

Wilson Creek (T5S, R15W, Sec. 9)

Osborn Drain (T5S, R15W, Sec. 9)

Glenwood Creek (T5S, R15W, Sec. 4)

Brandywine Creek (T8S, R17W, Sec. 3) [shared with Berrien County]

Thorpe Creek (T7S, R15W, Sec. 36)

Trout Creek (T8S, R13W, Sec. 11)

Sheldon Creek (T5S, R13W, Sec. 24)

Creamery Creek (T5S, R13W, Sec. 23)

Designated Trout Streams of Berrien County, Michigan

Fisheries Order (FO) 210.08 lists Designated Trout Streams for the State of Michigan (.pdf), to wit:

Under the authority of Section 48701(o), as amended, being Sections 324.48701(o) of the Michigan Compiled Laws, the Director of the Department of Natural Resources on November 8, 2007, order that for a period of five years the streams and portions of streams in the list which follows are hereby designated as trout streams.

Unless otherwise described, the location description listed after the stream name indicates the downstream limit of the trout designation. All of the stream and its tributaries, unless excepted, from that point upstream are designated trout waters [emphases added].

The following list—excerpted from FO-210.08—includes all streams, or portions of streams, currently designated as trout streams in Berrien County. These total 23 in number, distributed as follows: 5 in the Galien River basin, 2 in the Paw Paw River basin (which is technically a sub-unit of the St. Joseph River basin), and 16 (including McCoy Creek) in the St. Joseph River basin:

Galien River Basin:

Galien River from T7S, R19W, Sec. 17, Weesaw upstream (mainstream only)

East Branch Galien River (T7S, R19W, Sec. 17, Weesaw) to Boyle Lake (mainstream only)

Blue Jay Creek (T7S, R19W, Sec. 20, Weesaw)

South Branch Galien River (T8S, R21W, Sec. 36, New Buffalo) mainstream only

Spring Creek (T8S, R20W, Sec. 20, Three Oaks) upstream to T8S, R20W Sec. 22, excluding tributaries

Paw Paw River Basin:

Sand Creek (T4S, R18W, Sec. 7, Benton)

Blue Creek (T4S, R18W, Sec. 4, Benton)

St. Joseph River Basin:

Hickory Creek (T4S, R19W, Sec. 35, St. Joseph)

Big Meadow Drain (T5S, R18W, Sec. 8, Royalton)

Pipestone Creek and tributaries (T5S, R18W, Sec. 4, Royalton)

Lemon Creek (T6S, R18W, Sec. 11, Oronoko)

Farmers Creek (T6S, R17W, Sec. 6, Berrien)

Puterbaugh Creek (T6S, R17W, Sec. 8, Berrien)

Love Creek (T6S, R17W, Sec. 7, Berrien)

Townsend Creek (T6S, R17W, Sec. 19, Berrien)

Old Bitty Creek (T7S, R18W, Sec. 23, Buchanan)

McCoy Creek (T7S, R18W, Sec. 25, Buchanan)

Walton Creek (T7S, R17W, Sec. 16, Niles)

Glen Creek (T7S, R17W, Sec. 15, Niles)

Dowagiac River Mainstream (T7S, R17W, Sec. 22, Niles)

Bertrand Creek (T8S, R17W, Sec. 22, Bertrand)

Brandywine Creek (T8S, R17W, Sec. 3, Bertrand)

Unnamed creek (T8S, R17W, Sec. 10, Bertrand)

Trout Stocking in McCoy Creek, Berrien County, Michigan

The little information I have found to date on the origin of trout stocking in McCoy Creek indicates that Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were being stocked as early as 1931, Brook Trout (Salveninus fontinalis) as early as 1945, and Brown Trout (Salmo trutta) as early as 1955 (Wesley and Duffy 1999).

In actuality, it is likely that trout of several species were being transplanted into McCoy Creek much earlier than the dates listed above. For example, the first Rainbow Trout transplant in the State of Michigan was in the mid-1870s. "Prior to that time the rainbow was a total stranger to Michigan waters and was entirely absent throughout the east and middle west" (Bower 1909).

The first reported planting of Brook Trout in Berrien County occurred in March or April 1879 when a release was made in Blue Creek, and additional fry were planted at unspecified locations in Berrien County the following year (Anonymous 1925).

The Brown Trout, an exotic species from Europe and western Asia, was imported to the United States from Germany in 1883 and stocked in Michigan's Pere Marquette River by the U.S. Fish Commission (Fuller 2009).

Fish stocking efforts by the (then) Michigan Department of Conservation expanded rapidly in the early decades of the 20th century as evidenced by the stocking of 60.9 million Brook Trout, 23.7 million Brown Trout, and 15.8 million Rainbow Trout in Michigan's inland waters between 1926 and 1932 (Michigan Department of Conservation 1929, 1932).

Since 1979, intentional releases of trout into McCoy Creek have been restricted to a single species, the Brown Trout. The information summarized below is from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ Fish Stocking Database, which covers the period from 1979-2009.

(1) By Year of Release: The number of fish stocked each year ranged from a low of 1,900 (1979) to a high of 4,490 (1988), with a median annual release of 3,110. Over a 31-year period (1979-2009), a total of 99,122 fish were released into the stream.

1979 – 1,900 (n=2 release sites)

1980 – 2,500 (n=2)

1981 – 2,700 (n=5)

1982 – 3,050 (n=5)

1983 – 3,480 (n=5)

1984 – 3,600 (n=5)

1985 – 2,810 (n=5)

1986 – 3,130 (n=5)

1987 – 3,340 (n=5)

1988 – 4,490 (n=5)

1989 – 4,300 (n=5)

1990 – 4,296 (n=5)

1991 – 4,360 (n=5)

1992 – 4,190 (n=5)

1993 – 3,287 (n=5)

1994 – 3,470 (n=5)

1995 – 3,101 (n=4)

1996 – 3,300 (n=5)

1997 – 3,548 (n=5)

1998 – 3,240 (n=5)

1999 – 2,700 (n=4)

2000 – 3,110 (n=4)

2001 – 2,750 (n=4)

2002 – 2,740 (n=4)

2003 – 2,700 (n=4)

2004 – 2,900 (n=4)

2005 – 2,700 (n=4)

2006 – 3,030 (n=4)

2007 – 2,550 (n=4)

2008 – 2,700 (n=4)

2009 – 3,150 (n=4)

(2) By Location of Release: Fish were released at 5 different locations along the course of McCoy Creek in Buchanan (T7s,, R18W) and Bertrand (T8S, R18W) townships.

T7S R18W Sec. 25 (Buchanan) – 22,958 (=30 years)

T7S R18W Sec. 34 (Bakertown Road)– 21,007 (n=30)

T8S R18W Sec. 03 (U.S. 12) – 23,448 (n=30)

T8S R18W Sec. 09 (Buffalo Road) – 20,163 (n=29)

T8S R18W Sec. 16 (Curran Road) – 12,346 (n=18)

(3) By Strain of Fish: Fish representing at least 7 different strains of Brown Trout were released into McCoy Creek, with the Gilchrist Creek, Wild Rose, and Plymouth Rock strains accounting for 19.9, 19.2, and 16.5 percent of the fish stocked, respectively.

Gilchrist Creek – 19,730 (n=7 years, 2003-2009)

Harrietta – 13,970 (n=5, 1981-1985)

Plymouth Rock – 16,327 (n=4, 1988, 1991-1993)

Saint Croix – 3,470 (n=1, 1994)

Seeforellen – 8,560 (n=3, 1999-2001)

Soda Lake – 8,596 (n=2, 1989-1990)

Wild Rose – 19,059 (n=6, 1986, 1995-1998, 2002)

Not specified – 9,410 (n=4, 1979-1980, 1985, 1987)

(4) By Date of Release: Release dates range from March 16 (1979) to May 2 (2007), with a median date of April 1.

March 10-20 – 5,380 (n=2 years)

March 21-30 – 36,646 (n=11)

April 1-10 – 29,377 (n=9)

April 11-20 – 14,751 (n=4)

April 21-31 – 10,418 (n=4)

May 1-10 – 2,550 (n=1)

(5) By Size at Time of Release: Fish ranged in size from 4.2 inches to 7.6 inches, with a median of 6.0 inches at the time of release.

4.0-4.9 inches – 8,550 (n=13 releases)

5.0-5.9 inches – 39,876 (n=54)

6.0-6.9 inches – 42,306 (n=57)

7.0-7.0 inches – 8,390 (n=13)

References:

Anonymous. 1925. Notes on the Brook Trout in Michigan (.pdf). Michigan Department of Conservation, 4 pp. URL:
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/dnr/Notes-History-brook-trout_275552_7.pdf

Bower, Seymour. 1909. The Rainbow Trout in Michigan (.pdf). Transactions of the American Fisheries Society [reprint], 13 pp. URL:
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/dnr/RainbowTrout1909_272427_7.pdf

Fuller, Pam. 2009. Salmo trutta [Brown Trout] Fact Sheet. In Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database. U.S. Geological Survey, Gainesville, Florida. URL:
http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.asp?speciesID=931

Michigan Department of Conservation. 1929. Fourth Biennial Report of the Fisheries Division, 1927-1928 (.pdf). 35 pp. URL:
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/dnr/Department-Conservation-4th-Biennial-Report_274789_7.pdf

Michigan Department of Conservation. 1933. Fifth Biennial Report of the Fisheries Division, 1929-1930 (.pdf). Pp. 139-164. URL:
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/dnr/Department-Conservation-5th-Biennial-Report_274791_7.pdf

Wesley, Jay K. and Joan E. Duffy. 1999. St. Joseph River Assessment. Appendix 2 (.pdf). Miscellaneous historical creel data. Michigan Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Division Fisheries Report 24: 117-129. URL:
http://www.michigandnr.com/PUBLICATIONS/PDFS/ifr/ifrlibra/special/reports/sr24/sr24App2.pdf

Fish Fauna of McCoy Creek, Berrien County, Michigan

McCoy Creek is a small, second-order tributary of the St. Joseph River of southwestern Michigan and northern Indiana. It originates near the Indiana State line in Bertrand Township (T8S, R18W, Section 21) and enters the St. Joseph River in Buchanan Township (T7S, R18W, Section 25) just northeast of the city of Buchanan.

The series of range maps provided by Wesley and Duffy (1999a, 1999b, 1999c) illustrate the "known past and present distributions" of 107 species of fish within various segments and sub-units of the St. Joseph River and its tributaries. A review of these maps indicates the presence of the following eight species within McCoy Creek (numbers in parentheses are references to specific pages in Wesley and Duffy):

Catostomus commersoni, White Sucker (45)

Etheostoma caeruleus, Rainbow Darter (101)

Etheostoma nigrum, Johnny Darter (105)

Lepomis gulosus, Warmouth (92)

Rhinichthys atratulus, Blacknose Dace (40)

Salmo trutta, Brown Trout [Introduced] (77)

Semotilus atromaculatus, Creek Chub (42)

Umbra limi, Central Mudminnow (48)

From an ecological perspective, I find it interesting that McCoy Creek populations of four species (Blacknose Dace, Central Mudminnow, Creek Chub, and Warmouth) are geographically isolated from other populations that occur in the St. Joseph River drainage. This is perhaps not an unusual situation for these denizens of smaller, shallower tributary streams for which the main stem of the St. Joseph River does not provide suitable habitat conditions.

All of these species are native to McCoy Creek and the larger St. Joseph River drainage except for the Brown Trout (Fuller 2009a), whose presence in the system is due solely to repeated intentional stockings of hatchery-reared fish by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for the purpose of providing a cold-water sport fishery.

It should also be noted that two additional species—Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) and Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)—were at one time temporary inhabitants of McCoy Creek, apparently the result of stocking efforts by the DNR, as attested to by their appearance in historical creel data (Wesley and Duffy 1999d). Both of these species are nonindigenous to the St. Joseph River drainage (Fuller 2009b, 2009c). By species, the ratio of 101 trout reported caught by anglers in McCoy Creek (based on 7 creel censuses spanning the 26-year period from 1930-1955) was 77 Brooks, 23 Rainbows, and 1 Brown.

References:

Fuller, Pam. 2009a. Salmo trutta [Brown Trout] Fact Sheet. In Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database. U.S. Geological Survey, Gainesville, Florida. URL:
http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.asp?speciesID=931

Fuller, Pam. 2009b. Salvelinus fontinalis [Brook Trout] Fact Sheet. In Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database. U.S. Geological Survey, Gainesville, Florida. URL:
http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.asp?speciesID=939

Fuller, Pam. 2009c. Oncorhynchus mykiss [Brown Trout] Fact Sheet. In Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database. U.S. Geological Survey, Gainesville, Florida. URL: http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.asp?speciesID=910

Wesley, Jay K., and Joan E. Duffy. 1999a. St. Joseph River Assessment. Appendix 1a (.pdf). Distribution maps of fish species. Michigan Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Division Fisheries Report 24: 1-42. URL:
http://www.michigandnr.com/PUBLICATIONS/PDFS/ifr/ifrlibra/special/reports/sr24/sr24App1a.pdf

Wesley, Jay K., and Joan E. Duffy. 1999b. St. Joseph River Assessment. Appendix 1b (.pdf). Distribution maps of fish species. Michigan Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Division Fisheries Report 24: 43-68. URL:
http://www.michigandnr.com/PUBLICATIONS/PDFS/ifr/ifrlibra/special/reports/sr24/sr24App1b.pdf

Wesley, Jay K., and Joan E. Duffy. 1999c. St. Joseph River Assessment. Appendix 1c (.pdf). Distribution maps of fish species. Michigan Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Division Fisheries Report 24: 69-111. URL:
http://www.michigandnr.com/PUBLICATIONS/PDFS/ifr/ifrlibra/special/reports/sr24/sr24App1c.pdf

Wesley, Jay K. and Joan E. Duffy. 1999d. St. Joseph River Assessment. Appendix 2 (.pdf). Miscellaneous historical creel data. Michigan Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Division Fisheries Report 24: 117-129. URL:
http://www.michigandnr.com/PUBLICATIONS/PDFS/ifr/ifrlibra/special/reports/sr24/sr24App2.pdf

Crows Assume Hitchcockian Traits

Crows are becoming more aggressive when nesting in urban areas, at least in Poland they are, or so this article claims.

Dove Versus Goose

This article from Newsweek focuses on Dr. Carla Dove and the work she does at the Smithsonian Institution’s Feather Identification Lab—literally an ornithological forensics laboratory—in helping to identify the remains of birds that collide with commercial and military aircraft. An excellent video is included.

Unfortunately, this continues to be reported more as a bird issue (i.e., birds colliding with aircraft) than an aircraft issue (i.e., aircraft colliding with birds). Birds are always depicted as the culprits, even though they have been using the airways far longer than have humans and their aircraft. For example, the author of this article leaves the reader with this take-home message:

recent studies suggest that many of the most hazardous [bird] species are increasing in population size and seem to be growing accustomed to noise generated by humans and their machines.

What about increases in the size of aircraft (equals greater monetary damage if struck, and potentially greater loss of human lives) and in the volume of airline traffic? Why are these factors never mentioned? Is it possibly because the airlines/aircraft industries don’t want to shouldered with any of the blame?

Ducks Like Rain Showers (Surprise, Surprise)

I found this news brief buried on page D6 of the South Bend Tribune this morning (6/6/09):

Science Waddles Forward

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Maybe you've said it yourself, looking out a window as rain pours down: "Great day for ducks." Now, scientists in Great Britain have spent 300,000 British pounds (about $471,000) proving that[,] yes, ducks actually enjoy a nice shower.

Britain's Department of Environment, Food[,] and Rural Affairs [DEFRA] funded the three-year study, conducted by two researchers at the prestigious University of Oxford. The intent was to find out the best way to provide farm-raised ducks the water they crave.

The test ducks were placed in an environment where they could choose among a pond, a trough[,] and a shower. Most ducks took to the shower like, well, a duck to water. They spent a lot of time just standing under it and drinking the water as it fell.

Marian Stamp Dawkins, professor of animal behavior at Oxford, told the Guardian newspaper that the study was, too, practical. Duck ponds on farms quickly become dirty and unhygienic, she said. Showers give them the water they need and are more likely to keep them free of bacteria and other nasties.

We're not sure we'd pay half a million dollars to replicate this study, but if your kid is casting about for a science fair project for next year, just buy him [or her] a couple of ducks, a washtub[,] and a shower head. Title: "Making ducks Zestfully clean."

Predictably, news of the study has some Brits seeing red, with a spokeswoman for the Taxpayers' Alliance calling the research a "bonkers waste of money." Adventurous readers can find a sampling of reactions in the British press here.

Michigan Birding Highlights: Nesting Season 2009

Peder H. Svingen’s summary (North American Birds 62:562-563, 2009) of the 2008 nesting season (June through July) in the Western Great Lakes Region includes observations of 93 unusual or out-of-range species reported from the States of Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Here, I include excerpts of the 46 species from Michigan that Svingen chose to highlight:

Snow Goose.—"Unusual for Michigan in summer" was a blue-morph individual in Berrien Co. from June 28 through the end of July (Jonathan T. Wuepper and Tim Baerwald).

White-winged Scoter.—"Unusual for mid-summer" was a male in Houghton Co. on July 18 (Joe Kaplan).

Bufflehead.—Single birds in Saginaw Co. on June 6 (Joe Soehnel) and Pte. Mouillee State Game Area (SGA), Monroe Co., on June 20 (Adam M. Byrne) were "unseasonable" for Michigan’s southern Lower Peninsula.

Pacific Loon.—A hold-over from the spring season was last seen on June 2 (Alec Lindsay).

Horned Grebe.—Two lingered through June 4 in Iron Co. (Greg Cleary).

Eared Grebe.—A bird abandoned its nest on Crow Island, Saginaw Co., but was still in the area on June 10 (Myles Willard, Jerry Ziarno), while another visited the Muskegon Wastewater System, Muskegon Co., on July 23 (Brian Johnson).

Snowy Egret.—Single birds were at the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), Saginaw Co., in July (David J. Peters, Joe Soehnel, Bob Grefe), and along the Bay/Arenac co. line on July 31 (Doug Jackson).

Yellow Rail.—Good numbers were present at Seney NWR, Schoolcraft Co.

King Rail.—One was photographed along the Bay/Arenac co. line on June 27 (Doug Jackson).

Semipalmated Plover.—One at Pte. Mouillee GMA, Monroe Co., on June 20 was injured (Adam M. Byrne).

Piping Plover.—Of the 63 pairs from the Great Lakes Population that fledged 112 wild chicks from 71 nests, "the vast majority" were from Michigan (Source: Great Lakes Piping Plover Call, University of Minnesota, September 17, 2008, E. Roche, ed.).

Black-necked Stilt.—A pair fledged 4 young at Pte. Mouillee GMA, Monroe Co., "the same location where this species nested in 2003."

American Avocet.—More than the usual number of reports.

Willet.—Reported.

Whimbrel.—One at the Muskegon Wastewater System, Muskegon Co., on June 20 (Chip Francke) was "relatively late and farther w. than usual in the Lower Peninsula."

Hudsonian Godwit.—One "transited" Kewenee Co. on June 1 (Joe Kaplan).

Marbled Godwit.—The 5 or 6 reported for the season was "more than normal," including a "presumed spring migrant" at Grand Marais, Alger Co., on June 14 (Jean Carpenter).

Long-billed Dowitcher.—One "identified by voice" at Pte. Mouillee GMA, Monroe Co., on July 20 (Adam M. Byrne) was early.

Franklin’s Gull.—An "out-of-range" adult in Bay Co. on June 7 was "most newsworthy" (photo: Glenn Peterson).

Heerman’s Gull.—A first-cycle bird at Chassel, Houghton Co., on July 18 was "outstanding on the beach" (photo: Joe Youngman). "If accepted, this would establish Michgan’s 4th record, with the previous three probably a returning individual for three consecutive years."

Chuck-will’s Widow.—A bird in Berrien Co. through July 5 (Marvin Budd) was "presumably returning for the 4th consecutive summer."

Green Violetear.—Michigan’s third was a bird that "sought refuge" at Shelter Bay, Alger Co., July 5-6 (Scott C. Hickman).

Black-headed Woodpecker.—A concentration of about 21 pairs was present in about 400 acres in Baraga Co. (Joe Youngman).

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher.—About 50-60 were still migrating on June 2 at the western end of Manitou Island, Keweenaw Co. (Joe Youngman, Zack Gayk).

Least Flycatcher.—About 20-30 were still migrating on June 2 at the western end of Manitou Island, Keweenaw Co. (Joe Youngman, Zack Gayk).

Western Kingbird.—This species was easterly at Whitefish Point, Chippewa Co., on June 2 (fide Chris Neri), and in Monroe Co. on June 11 (Walter G. Pawloski).

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher.—A bird that appeared at Whitefish Point, Chippewa Co., on June 2 (Kelli Heindel Levinson) "was refound the next day 24 km to the south!"

Yellow-throated Vireo.—Two reports from Chippewa Co., including breeding confirmation near McNearny Lake on July 21 (Louie J. Dombrowski), are noteworthy as the species is scarce in the eastern Upper Peninsula.

Philadelphia Vireo.—Reports from 4 counties, including breeding confirmation in Gogebic Co. (Ryne Rutherford).

Northern Wheatear.—A female at Grand Marais, Alger Co., on June 6 (Pat McConeghy) furnishes "Michigan’s first ‘spring’ record and 10th overall."

Northern Mockingbird.—Two on Manitou Island, Keweenaw Co., in early June (Joe Youngman, Zack Gayk) were rather "northerly."

Blue-winged Warbler.—One in the Upper Peninsula on June 12 (Sky Haas) may be evidence of "northward expansion."

"Brewster’s" Warbler.—One was noted in Cheboygan Co. on June 26 (Louie J. Dombrowski).

Golden-winged Warbler.—This species was present in "low numbers" in its northern Lower Peninsula "stronghold" this season.

Magnolia Warbler.—Noted "farther south than normal in Michigan for the 2nd consecutive summer," with individuals noted in Hillsdale (Jack Reinoehl) and Berrien (Brad Anderson) cos.

Yellow-throated Warbler.—One in Marquette Co. July 19-22 (Skye Haas) was "remarkably far north," while one in Allegan Co. on July 21 (Rick Brigham) "was closer to this species’ usual haunts in Berrien" Co.

Kirtland’s Warbler.—"A total of 1,791 singing males in Michigan was the highest number . . . since monitoring began in 1951."

Cerulean Warbler.—One in Marquette Co., June 5-July 4 (Beth Olson) "was farther north than usual."

Kentucky Warbler.—Reported.

Summer Tanager.—None reported "for the first time in several years."

Lark Sparrow.—One in Gogebic Co. on June 16 (Dick Vetch) was "unusual."

Lark Bunting.—One in Berrien Co. on June 4 (Dawn Mutz) was "unusual."

Henslow’s Sparrow.—Though less widespread than in recent years, one was still reported as far north as Menominee Co. (Skye Haas).

Dickcissel.—Widely scattered throughout the State, including one in the Upper Peninsula.

Red Crossbill.—Small numbers were reported, all from the Upper Peninsula.

White-winged Crossbill.—An irruption was evident by mid-July, with "many flocks" reported in the Upper Peninsula.

Another Song About the Ivory-billed Woodpecker

I’m now aware of a trio of songs that pay homage to the Ivory-billed Woodpecker. The latest to come to my attention is by The Moss Piglets, which has been described as "the funkiest old time/bluegrass band in Minnesota." Here is their tribute to this "creature long shrouded in lore:"


Now, I may be all wet, but the lead singer sure seems to bear an uncanny resemblance to David Sibley, while the bass player could well be Kenn Kaufman in disguise. But that's just my impression. Others may disagree.

Just for the record, the other two songs are The Lord God Bird by Sufjan Stevens, and Woodpecker Jam by Susan Krebs and the Soaring Sextet.