Elk Rapids Almanac
Elk Rapids Almanac, April 2025
April
A month of reawakening in Northern Michigan when winter finally loosens its grip and the natural world starts to stir. April takes its name from the Latin word “aperire, meaning “to open”, just like flowers do in spring… buds, blossoms, and new growth. April marks the return of such migratory birds such as Robins, Redwing Black Birds, Sandhill Cranes, and various waterfowl. Warblers and other songbirds begin to appear later in the month. Bald Eagles and Ospreys begin nesting.
Vernal pools come alive. These temporary, seasonal bodies of water form shallow depressions, typically during the Spring (hence “vernal”, from the Latin “vernalis”, meaning Spring). They usually appear after snow melt or heavy rains and dry up later in the summer. Although they don’t support fish populations, they are valuable as critical breeding habitats for certain amphibians and vertebrates that might otherwise be preyed upon. Amphibians like Wood Frogs, Spring Peepers, Spotted Salamanders and Fairy Shrimp begin breeding season in these pools.
Early wildflower bloomers like Blood Root, Spring Beauty and Hepatica light up the forest floors, blooming quickly and taking advantage of sunlight before the canopy fills in and shades the forest floor. Farmers begin soil testing, fertilizing, and composting. Equipment has been repaired and fields assessed for drainage and “frost heaving,” a natural process occurring in cold climates when soil swells upward during freezing conditions. It’s planting time for hardy crops like peas, spinach, lettuce, and onions in late April. Our fruit farmers begin pruning apple and cherry trees if they haven’t been done in the winter months. Our vineyards are pruned and trellises maintained for the season.
We all cross our fingers there won’t be an early Spring frost which can irreparably harm this season’s cherry harvest. If you are lucky enough to live in Northern Michigan in the Spring, a trip down Elk Lake Road in the early evening, with the sun lower in the sky in the perfect spot, offers a picture that simply takes your breath away and makes you realize how lucky we are to call this home.
-Michele Spillane
A month of reawakening in Northern Michigan when winter finally loosens its grip and the natural world starts to stir. April takes its name from the Latin word “aperire, meaning “to open”, just like flowers do in spring… buds, blossoms, and new growth. April marks the return of such migratory birds such as Robins, Redwing Black Birds, Sandhill Cranes, and various waterfowl. Warblers and other songbirds begin to appear later in the month. Bald Eagles and Ospreys begin nesting.
Vernal pools come alive. These temporary, seasonal bodies of water form shallow depressions, typically during the Spring (hence “vernal”, from the Latin “vernalis”, meaning Spring). They usually appear after snow melt or heavy rains and dry up later in the summer. Although they don’t support fish populations, they are valuable as critical breeding habitats for certain amphibians and vertebrates that might otherwise be preyed upon. Amphibians like Wood Frogs, Spring Peepers, Spotted Salamanders and Fairy Shrimp begin breeding season in these pools.
Early wildflower bloomers like Blood Root, Spring Beauty and Hepatica light up the forest floors, blooming quickly and taking advantage of sunlight before the canopy fills in and shades the forest floor. Farmers begin soil testing, fertilizing, and composting. Equipment has been repaired and fields assessed for drainage and “frost heaving,” a natural process occurring in cold climates when soil swells upward during freezing conditions. It’s planting time for hardy crops like peas, spinach, lettuce, and onions in late April. Our fruit farmers begin pruning apple and cherry trees if they haven’t been done in the winter months. Our vineyards are pruned and trellises maintained for the season.
We all cross our fingers there won’t be an early Spring frost which can irreparably harm this season’s cherry harvest. If you are lucky enough to live in Northern Michigan in the Spring, a trip down Elk Lake Road in the early evening, with the sun lower in the sky in the perfect spot, offers a picture that simply takes your breath away and makes you realize how lucky we are to call this home.
-Michele Spillane
|
April 13-A backyard Junco sighting in Elk Rapids. It started with a shout from the backyard: "Mama! What are these Birds, and what are they doing?" My seven-year-old daughter was wide-eyed, watching a busy flock of small, slate-gray birds flitting across our yard, pecking at the ground in unison. They seemed to have arrived overnight, moving like a tiny troupe of foragers. I squinted out the window and quickly realized I didn't have the answer- not without help.
|
|
So, we reached for our copy of the Field Guide to Northwest Michigan by James Dake, and learned these were Dark-eyed Juncos, sometimes called “snowbirds” — not because they head south for the winter, but because they return north as winter fades. Their arrival in Northern Michigan marks a quiet seasonal milestone. With their dark, smoky-gray backs and crisp white bellies, they’re easy to spot as they hop along the ground in small flocks, foraging for seeds and the occasional insect.
A few tips to make them feel welcome:
-Scatter seed on the ground or use low platform feeders. Juncos are ground foragers and love millet, sunflower hearts, cracked corn
-Leave some leaf litter. It provides shelter and insects-natural snacks!
-Skip the pesticides. A healthy insect population helps support these birds, especially during nesting season.
-Keep fresh water available. A birdbath is a simple way to offer a safe drinking spot.
Springtime in Elk Rapids is full of tiny wonders-sometimes it just takes a curious child to help you notice them. Watching the Juncos gather in our yard reminded me that migration isn’t just something that happens far away. It’s happening right here, just outside our windows.
-Lauren Dake
April 16-26-The Lyrid meteor shower, visible from roughly April 16 to April 26, is one of the oldest known meteor showers, and has been observed for 2,700 years, first recorded in 687 BC by the Chinese. Peaking in the predawn hours of April 22, they are known for their fast and bright meteors, and number anywhere from 10 to 20 “shooting stars” an hour during their peak. Their radiant – the point in the sky from which the Lyrids appear to come – is near the constellation Lyra, the harp. It takes about a half-hour for the eyes to acclimate to the night sky for optimum viewing.
Coming soon: the Aquariids meteor shower, April 19-May 28, peaking early morning May 4
-earthsky.org
A few tips to make them feel welcome:
-Scatter seed on the ground or use low platform feeders. Juncos are ground foragers and love millet, sunflower hearts, cracked corn
-Leave some leaf litter. It provides shelter and insects-natural snacks!
-Skip the pesticides. A healthy insect population helps support these birds, especially during nesting season.
-Keep fresh water available. A birdbath is a simple way to offer a safe drinking spot.
Springtime in Elk Rapids is full of tiny wonders-sometimes it just takes a curious child to help you notice them. Watching the Juncos gather in our yard reminded me that migration isn’t just something that happens far away. It’s happening right here, just outside our windows.
-Lauren Dake
April 16-26-The Lyrid meteor shower, visible from roughly April 16 to April 26, is one of the oldest known meteor showers, and has been observed for 2,700 years, first recorded in 687 BC by the Chinese. Peaking in the predawn hours of April 22, they are known for their fast and bright meteors, and number anywhere from 10 to 20 “shooting stars” an hour during their peak. Their radiant – the point in the sky from which the Lyrids appear to come – is near the constellation Lyra, the harp. It takes about a half-hour for the eyes to acclimate to the night sky for optimum viewing.
Coming soon: the Aquariids meteor shower, April 19-May 28, peaking early morning May 4
-earthsky.org