​Elk Rapids Almanac
February 2017

A collection of postings by Green Elk Rapids celebrating the seasons in and around the village.  Postings from the community are welcomed at greenelkrapids.org
 
February 1-An immature bald eagle, dark or speckled, was spotted flying low over the Kid’s Pond, 10 a.m. (Howard Richter)
 
February 9-A fat gray fox lurks in the neighborhood.  Early last week, the fox ambled through the intersection of Oak and Ottawa Streets.  The rabbit population seems to be less than in previous years, and my forsythia bush is not eaten down to nubs.  I wonder if there is a correlation. (Terri Reisig)
 
February 16-Two bald eagles, mature with white heads, were seen sitting on ice flows at Dam Beach, 9:30 a.m. (Doug Bronkema)
 
February 17th-The day length is getting longer and the birds have noticed. As I was heading out for a run I heard a new song from a black-capped chickadee in my backyard.  Instead of singing their usual winter song of "chick-a-dee-dee-dee" I heard the whistled spring song of "cheese-burger, cheese-burger"  or "fee-beeee." As spring approaches, you will hear this song more often as chickadees begin their mating season.  (Lauren Dake)
 
February 17-With spring-like weather in February, look for mammals out and about that are usually not active this time of year, like opossums, skunks, and raccoons. This opossum was seen getting left over seed beneath the bird feeder. (James Dake, Naturalist, Grass River Natural Area)
 
February 19-How amazing it is to walk the entire length of Memorial Park beach on open sand in the middle of February.  With the sun shining, the hint of spring wafting in the air, and the songs of the early spring birds, I feel renewal despite the gentle hillocks of ice on the bay. (Terri Reisig)

Black capped chickadee

Opossum