The Field Sparrow's most distinctive feature may be its song, which always starts with clear, somewhat plaintive notes that gradually become compressed into a trill. An apt analogy often given is that of a bouncing ping-pong ball. Its second distinctive feature is its bright orange bill. The literature reveals its size as varying from 5 to 5 3/4 inches.

Sexes are similarly adorned with a white eye ring; a rusty crown, ear patch, and eyeline; dark eyes; a face that is buff in the winter and gray in the summer; a buffy breast; a somewhat white belly and undertail coverts; brownish wings with two, white wing bars; pink legs; a slim, forked tail; and a rusty, darkly streaked back.

It is not found in freshly tilled or mown fields but rather in old fields overgrown with weeds and brush, open, bushy woodlands, young evergreen tree plantations, deciduous forest edges, and recently cut forest lands. It is not found in the immediate vicinity of human homes.

It breeds in habitat also sought by Song Sparrows, Brown Thrashers, and/or Eastern Towhees. It is described by Graf as a confirmed breeder but an uncommon summer resident and very uncommon transient of Leelanau County.

Males of this species tend to return to the same breeding territory each year. The male sings until it finds a mate, after which it sings just occasionally,

The female selects the nesting site, often locating the first nest on or very close to the ground. The 2nd nest is usually built higher. Over a period of 4-5 days, she carefully fashions a cup shaped nest of grass and forbes which is then lined with fine materials. She lays 3-5 eggs.

Incubation takes 10-17 days. The female does most of the brooding with the male occasionally feeding the incubating female. Once hatched, the young fledge in 7-8 days. Both parents feed the young although the male may do most of the feeding while the female builds the second nest. Usually there are 2 broods but occasionally three.

This species is frequently a cowbird host. If a cowbird is a observed by the nest-building female, work on the nest ceases until the cowbird leaves. Nests parasitized by cowbirds are often abandoned.

The diet of this species is made up of seeds and invertebrates gleaned from the ground and near the ground foliage. Nestlings are fed almost 100 % macro-invertebrates.

Young from the first broods gather in small flocks of 10-12 individuals tolerated by the territorial males. Larger postbreeding flocks roost in small trees and shrubs prior to migration.

In Michigan, Field Sparrow presence decreases the more northerly the location. There seems to be a gradual increase in numbers in the northern lower peninsula counties and in the UP as population density and concurrent deforestation in those areas increases. In recent years, though its summer range in the state is growing, its overall numbers seem to be in decline. The appearance of this species on Christmas Bird Counts in Michigan is rare.

The literature indicates that Field Sparrows breed from eastern Montana eastward to southern Quebec and southern Maine, and southward to central Texas and northwestern Florida. They winter from Kansas, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts southward to very northeastern Mexico and northern Florida.

~bob c.

Posted by Publius at 06:54 PM | Permalink

As a retired Ranger at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, I’m often asked about Park issues. Recently, the subject has been the Park’s General Management Plan, which is now being revised. (The Park Service is requesting public comments on this by May 14; see www.nps.gov/slbe/parkmgmt/gmphome.htm for details.)

The following is offered for those who might be interested in one former Ranger’s thoughts on the three alternatives that have been offered by the Park Service:

Alternative A (the “Conservation of Natural Resources” Option):

• This alternative includes substantial roadless wilderness areas, much like the way the Park has been managed for many years. As such, it appears to be the best plan for protecting the National Lakeshore and keeping it a great place to enjoy the natural world. (All wilderness areas are fully accessible by non-mechanized means.)

• It’s often noted that one roadway creates noise that impacts a vast area off to its sides. Establishing limits on new roads will help preserve our remaining quiet areas.

• Some have said that wilderness protection is not needed, since “Experience Nature” zoning in the Park is similarly protective. However, wilderness designation provides a legislative mandate to preserve these areas, regardless of political climates, future management personalities, etc.. Establishing designated wilderness represents a commitment for future generations.

• Congratulations to the Park planners for proposing the Sleeping Bear Plateau (not including the Dune Climb area) for wilderness designation! Truly the most significant and fragile feature in the Park, this will ensure its proper protection. This is a major improvement over past plans.

• One aspect of Alternative A that would be unfortunate is the proposed abandonment of the Benzie Corridor portion of the Park. This hill-top route is an extraordinary resource for observing the surrounding glacial landforms and scenery (which have been identified as "fundamental values" of the Park). Once abandoned and developed, it will surely never be available to the public again. As northern Michigan continues to be populated, such places will become increasingly precious. The corridor would make a fantastic route for a hiking trail, and possibly a bike trail. (The Park Service welcomes you to pick & choose features from the various alternatives, so you can make note of portions such as this one if you agree that it is undesirable.)

• There are sound reasons to abandon Tiesma Road (which is an old private road; not a county road), as proposed. Lake Michigan Road and Peterson Road will continue to provide motorized beach access in that area. Workers who monitor the endangered Piping Plovers in the area have noted that Tiesma Road is a bad area for people driving back and letting their dogs off-leash, endangering the nesting birds.

Alternative B (the “Recreational Opportunities” Option):

• This alternative, which would provide for the most development of recreational facilities throughout the Park, would give up much of what is special about this, the only National Park area in lower Michigan—Its opportunities for solitude, exploration and nature study in a relatively wild, pristine environment.

• While some commercial interests advocate developing the Park intensively in order to attract many more visitors, most folks seem to feel that this would ruin the charm of the area.

• A new group camping area is proposed for development adjacent to DH Day Campground, to replace the existing group camp. This would require the sacrifice of a considerable amount of presently unimpacted forest habitat. Although the present group camp may not be especially attractive, during my years working there I was frequently impressed by how many folks like the location. If the Park Service can make an investment to provide a more attractive environment, why not do a little well-designed landscaping (planting of native trees, etc.) around the present group camp (It is an old farm field, after all), rather than destroy the forest in a new area?

• “If you build it, they will come.” The Crystal River, a very fragile stream environment which is already threatened by over-use, is slated under this proposal to have its access upgraded. The Crystal’s charm is in its quietude, naturalness, and wildlife. All those things will be degraded by heavier use. We don’t need another Platte River. What we do need is to be looking into ways to control use of the Crystal from exceeding its carrying capacity. An upgrade to better protect the put-in environment would be great; one to accommodate more people during peak times will cause problems.

• The Crystal River access is also proposed to be moved downstream, below the dam. This would shorten an already short canoe trip. Going around the dam would be no problem if the portage were properly designed, as it could be. Most folks enjoy this sort of thing.

Alternative C (the “Concentrated Use” Option):

• This alternative is described as concentrating visitor use in selected areas, while facilitating more natural conditions in the rest of the Lakeshore. However, it actually appears that Alternative C would facilitate a significant increase in visitor use as well. This is unfortunate, because the description reads somewhat like the “Mama Bear” alternative. Many folks may choose it because it sounds like it's “not too hot” (developed) and “not too cold” (over-protected). Actually, it is much “hotter” than the park we now know and love—which many find to be “just right”.

• There is a large reduction in wilderness from the area that has been managed that way for many years.

• The large “high-use” and “recreation” zones adjoining the Sleeping Bear Dunes area would inevitably result in greater spill-over of environmental impact onto the dunes—the ultimate “fragile environment”.

• Much of the proposed high-use zone near the mouth of the Platte River is already being used--by endangered Piping Plovers, as nesting grounds; and it is habitat for endangered pitcher’s thistle plants.

• “Improved facilities” at DH Day Campground: I wish I had a petoskey stone for every time someone told me, “Never change DH Day!” The people who want paved roads and pull-through sites have many of them at Platte River Campground. “Leave our nice rustic campground just as it is.”

~ Tom Van Zoeren
Burdickville

Posted by Publius at 08:41 AM | Permalink

Cherry blossom time now comes 7-8 days earlier than it did 30 years ago, according to this article in the Enterprise. While Jim Nugent, former director of the Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Center, is reluctant to attribute the trend to global warming, the change is certainly consistent with that theory.

Another interesting fact from the same article: even within the relatively small area of Leelanau County, the blossom does not come all at once, but rather moves slowly northward from the southernmost edge of the county to the Northport area over 7-10 days.

Posted by Publius at 07:19 PM | Permalink

We've had some critical things to say about the Leelanau Enterprise in the past. I'm sure we'll find things to criticize there in the future as well. But the recent upgrade to the Enterprise's website is very nicely done.

In addition to a cleaner, more readable look, the site now has useful internal links to its own articles and content, including (my favorite) links to stories from the paper's archives at the end of many articles. Kudos to Enterprise publisher Alan Campbell, who had the courage and vision to update a Leelanau institution, and to Andy McFarlane's Leelanau.com, who did the design.

Posted by Publius at 06:08 PM | Permalink