It’s cold, it’s windy, and the lake is frozen solid.  It’s winter in northern Michigan!  There’s enough snow on the flats to keep cross country folks and snowshoers happy.  There’s great snow at Nubs Nob and The Highlands at Harbor Springs (note slight change in name – not Boyne Highlands anymore.  Apparently too many folks couldn’t keep Boyne Highlands separate from Boyne Mountain…or something like that.) So the downhill skiers are happy.  Ice fishing is underway on the lake. Tracks of snowmobiles on lake and trails.
          A couple of foxes have been entertaining us with frolics lakeside on Silver Strand and out on the ice in Marl Bay. Lots of fox prints in the snow.
          FYI: The DLIA annual dues mailing will be sent out around mid March.  We will update the membership at that time on the progress of our work with Munro Township to address the deteriorating Douglas Lake Boat Ramp. 

(photo:  Dawn on Douglas Lake January 3, 2020)

               The Straits Area Audubon Society and the Cheboygan area Public Library will host a program “Forest Management for Birds,” on Wednesday, February 9, 2022, at 6 pm, at the Cheboygan library or you may participate by Zoom. The presenter, Joyanne (Joy) Mittig, is a forester for the American Bird Conservancy. Her work for the Conservancy covers 27 counties in the northern lower peninsula. She works with private landowners, land conservancies, foresters, and government agencies to implement holistic forestry practices that benefit the land and wildlife, with a focus on bird habitat. Although her background is in forestry, Joy is a serious bird lover, and plans her weekend trips and vacations around birding.
          Forestry for Michigan Birds is a new program and toolkit centered around helping Michigan landowners, foresters, and other natural resource professionals manage forests in ways that benefit birds and other wildlife. The toolkit focuses on 20 of our most threatened forest-dwelling species, providing a detailed look at how to create habitat and build on existing forestry practices to benefit these birds.
          Forestry for Michigan Birds was brought to life by a combination of bird lovers, non-profits, the timber industry, and government agencies.

People who wish to attend via Zoom must register in advance  - go to 
https://straitsareaaudubon.com/index.html
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting

(photo:  winter ptarmigans - Greenland)

Watershed Council’s Ice Breaker Talks
         Join the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council’s Ice Breaker Talks on Wednesdays from noon to 1:00 PM for these free sessions online.  Visit link below to register for the Zoom online talk:
www.watershedcouncil.org/attend-an-event

• Feb. 2, “Loons and avian botulism,” presented by Damon McCormick of Common Coast Research & Conservation. McCormick will discuss his long-term research on loons and avian botulism, which causes bird deaths from the botulinum toxin. 
• Feb. 16, “Line 5 Great Lakes Tunnel update,” presented by Watershed Council staff member Jennifer McKay. Join McKay and learn the latest updates on Line 5 and where the Great Lakes Tunnel proposal stands today. 
• Feb. 23, “Manoomin—the food that grows on the water,” presented by Roger LaBine from the Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and Cortney Collia. They’ll speak about their years working to preserve manoomin (wild rice) and Anishinaabe cultural practices surrounding its restoration, growth, and harvest in Northern Michigan. 
• March 2, “LTBB restoring sturgeon,” presented by Kris Dey, hatchery manager at the Little Traverse Bay Bands (LTBB) of Odawa Indians Fisheries Enhancement Facility. Dey will speak on LTBB’s lake sturgeon restoration and work on the Burt Lake Watershed. 
• March 16, “Rolling on the rivers,” presented by Brian Kozminski of True North Trout. Join Kozminski as he regales you with tales of enjoying peace and quiet on northern rivers. Expect a few fly-fishing tips from a master.