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Elk Rapids Almanac - April 2021
April 2 - The last major ice formation at the end of the breakwater creates a dramatic ghostly presence. -Barb Termaat April 17 - An urban mother fox tends to her five pups, but needs to be careful about letting them plan in the street. -Michael Camp April 22 - Observe International Earth Day, and act to “Restore Our Earth”. April 24 - Celebrate Earth Day with your friends in downtown Elk Rapids, 11-1:00. April highlights - It’s avian migration time and Michigan will see great numbers of bird species heading north, particularly along Lake Michigan and Lake Superior. Birder Ryan Dziedzic, biology instructor at Mid Michigan College, mentions Tawas Point State Park along Lake Huron as a great birding location, often with over 100 species in a day. Your backyard will likely be hosting migrating songbirds such as Baltimore Orioles, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, and Ruby-throated hummingbirds. It’s also the season for the mating dance of the American Woodcock. Find an open field or pasture just before dusk, hear their “peeent”, and watch the male launch himself skyward up to 300 feet, drop earthward, then level off at the last minute and glide back to his spot. Then with drooped wings and spread tail, the singing and the sky dance start all over again. www.audubon.org More highlights: Naturalist Ted Williams describes the joys of spying on foxes. Because of increasing loss of habitat, we commonly see foxes trotting down the street in places like Elk Rapids. One reason they have become urban dwellers is they will eat almost anything, including rabbits, frogs, fish, fruit, nuts, and will even pucker its lips and delicately pick berries one at a time. The pups venture out of the den in early spring, not yet afraid of humans, and may even waddle over and sniff you as take some photos. However, remember they are wild animals, and for their safety and yours, leave them their space. |
Major Ice Formation in April - photo courtesy of Barb Termaat.
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Urban Mother Fox - photos courtesy of Michael Camp
