The National Park Service is midway through a planning process that will determine how Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore gets used in the future. A previous effort along the same lines was derailed when a local advocacy group, Citizens for Access to the Lakeshore, enlisted the support of powerful local and state politicians to argue for more recreational and motorized access to the park, according to this Record-Eagle article. Others feel equally strongly that the park should be preserved as wilderness as much as possible, but have not succeeded in attracting the attention that Citizens for Access to the Lakeshore has.

The complete newsletter where the Park Service outlines the GMP issues and alternatives is available at www.nps.gov/slbe. There you’ll also find background information, a link to submit your thoughts and comments, and a schedule of public meetings to discuss the issues.

Posted by Publius at 08:32 PM | Permalink

The literature on the Fox Sparrow reveals a lack of consensus concerning the number of subspecies of Fox Sparrows. The range of possible subspecies varies from 4 to 18 subspecies. There seems to be substantial agreement that Michigan migrants tend to be from a single eastern subspecies labeled by many as the Red Fox Sparrow.

This 6.25” –7” sparrow (one of the largest) has plumage characterized by reddish-brown streaks on its wings, and back, with splotches or spots on its breast, flanks , and underparts. Moreover it has a central breast spot in the same fashion, except for color, of the Song Sparrow. Its crown, nape, and upper back are grey. Its tail and rump are a bright rusty color.

The considerable literature I have reviewed for the Fox Sparrow indicates that ordinarily the Fox Sparrow does not breed in Michigan. They are a frequent yet inconsistent migrant. Inconsistency in presence of this species in migration season tends to be attributed to the weather.

The literature does not provide consensus on the perspective that Michigan spring migrants for the most part are a significant eastern subspecies headed for breeding grounds in Northeastern Canada in the area of northern New Brunswick and Newfoundland. Some of the literature expresses the view that some of the Michigan migrants may end up breeding in Alaska.

Fox Sparrows begin to pass through Michigan in late March. The literature indicates that in the 70’s, late March to mid-April was the expected time of migration for this species in the southern portion of the state. The last 2 weeks of April is supposedly migration time in the north. Increasingly there is evidence that significant numbers of these birds embark on their migration voyage at an earlier date than in years past.

If you are reading this during the first week in April, you are likely to have seen your first Fox Sparrow of 2007. The first reported NW Michigan sighting of a Fox Sparrow in 2007 was in Grand Traverse County on March 30. Most Michigan migrant Fox Sparrows should have continued their journey north by the end of the first week in May.

Swamp and woodland thickets, conifer or deciduous undergrowth, woodland edges, and riparian corridors name just a few of the potential habitats sought out by Fox Sparrows for nesting habitat. They are primarily a lower storey and ground dwelling species as they go from spot to spot stirring up the leaf litter and top soil layer in pursuit of edible seeds and insect.

Fox Sparrows rarely place their nests in trees. They usually produce two broods, tending to place the earlier nest somewhat above ground in the branches of a bush or thicket (because of snow/snow melt?). They usually produce 2 broods each breeding season. Clutches contain from 2-5 greenish eggs with reddish brown spots. The female broods. Incubation takes 12-13 days. Male and female feed the young which fledge in 9-11 days. Both adults utilize broken wing tactics in defense of fledglings. Males are occasionally aggressive toward other species that enter the breeding territory.

The song of the Fox Sparrow is distinctive, lyrical, with a lower frequency than the Purple or House Finch but shorter, more varied, and less mellifluous than the songs of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks.

The eastern Fox Sparrow winters in the U.S. primarily along the east coast and Appalachians and into the southeastern states. Fall migration occurs in October and November. They are frequent associates of juncos and other sparrows and often join these other species at feeders. They are being tallied at CBC’s in Michigan with increasing frequency.

~bob c.

Posted by Publius at 10:54 PM | Permalink

When we hear the words "ghost town," visions come to mind of an abandoned town from the days of the Old West, but every U.S. state and each of Canada's provinces and territories have sites where towns were once located. Leelanau County is no exception. Here are a few of Leelanau's ghost towns.

Although it was not an incorporated community, Hatches Crossing was located at what now Fouch Rd. (Co. Rd. 614) is and the Manistee & Northeastern Railroad crossing. It was the location of a small railroad station (begun in 1892) and post office, and in the early 1880's, the Hatches Crossing schoolhouse was built just west of the station at the corner of Fouch Rd. and Co. Rd. 641. In 1916, property was bought for a new school near the railroad crossing, and it was completed two years later. In 1903, the Traverse City, Leelanau, and Manistique Railroad contracted with the M & NE Railroad to use the tracks from Traverse City to Hatches Crossing, then branch off to Northport, where railroad ferries would take railroad cars and products to Manistique in the Upper Peninsula.

One of Hatches Crossing's most prominent residents was Daniel Whipple. Known to his friends as "Uncle Dan," he was known to walk to Traverse City and back to Hatches Crossing when he was past 100 years of age. Daniel Whipple died in 1908 at the age of 108. Things started to decline for Hatches Crossing, beginning with the post office closing in 1925. Passenger service was halted in 1934 with the M & NE, and 1948 with the former TCL & M (freight trains continued from Traverse City to Suttons Bay until 1979). In 1952, Hatches Crossing School was closed, and District No. 3 that it was located in was made part of the then Norris School District. In the late 1980's, the old railroad track saw a revival during the summer months, when the Leelanau Scenic Railroad was established from Greilickville to Suttons Bay as an excursion train for tourists and railroad buffs, but was in business only a few years. Today, only some houses mark where Hatches Crossing was. The railroad tracks and station are gone, along with the original schoolhouse. The second schoolhouse is now a private home still on Fouch Rd. The tower that held the school bell was still preserved, and a path where the tracks were is now paved for walking and bicycle riding as the Leelanau Trail.

Another notable community was located north of Omena near Grand Traverse Bay. Agosatown was named for Native Indian Chief Agosa. When Omena was established by Rev. Peter Dougherty as New Mission in 1852, Chief Agosa went with Dougherty from Old Mission Point to the new settlement, and he established his home a few miles north. His tribes people made their homes by his, thus creating the village named for him.

Only a memory, Oviatt was located on the Leelanau/Benzie County line on what is now County Rd. 669. Begun in 1878, it had two general stores and a sawmill, the latter operated by M.C. Oviatt. The town was named after him by H.C. Pettengill.

The next two places were never incorporated communities, but have interesting and/or identifiable landmarks and businesses. The first one is Cherry Bend, located in Elmwood Township on Cherry Bend Rd. (Co. Rd. 633). In the 1930's, Cherry Bend grocery store and Standard gasoline station was opened for business by the Plamondon family at the sharp bend in the road which was part of M-22 at the time. The area was surrounded by orchards, and catered to the people of the surrounding area. Today, the orchards have been replaced by businesses and a subdivision, and M-22 traffic bypasses (since 1937) the store, but it still does a thriving business, even after getting out of the gasoline business in 1980. A descendent of the founders, Don Plamondon and his family, now own the business, and he will even cut and weigh his meat and cheese products and make deli pizza for his customers.

The other place is Tobin Corners, located just south of the Glen Lake Narrows at the corner of M-22 and Co. Rds. 616 and 677. The surrounding area is primarily summer homes and cottages, with some year round residents. Tobin Cemetery is near the southwest corner of the intersection. The intersection has a fine mom & pop deli sandwich restaurant, and the M-22 bridge over the Glen Lake Narrows is named in honor of Carl Oleson (d. Christmas 1999), a U.S. Coast Guard veteran who ran the Sportsman Shop in Glen Arbor for over 35 years.

~ Thomas Baird

Posted by Publius at 07:46 AM | Permalink

A local group, Leelanau Horse Rescue, is helping to take the lead in the rescue of 69 horses found abandoned on a farm near Grass Lake. The animals appear to have been left to fend for themselves all winter, and several are near starvation. Local farmers have contributed hay, the chief need at this point, but funds are being collected by LHR to provide for medical and other expenses, according to this article.

Posted by Publius at 10:18 AM | Permalink