Plus, we're accepting applications for campground and harbor hosts! Are you in?



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"News Digest - Week of Feb. 12, 2024"

a woman and man kneel beside a little boy in a wheelchair. They are inside a building, next to a contained water feature with variety of plants [ [link removed] ]

"Worth the trip in any season: the Outdoor Adventure Center in downtown Detroit"



Here are a few of this week's stories from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources:?


* Winter Free Fishing Weekend starts Saturday [ #link_16 ]
* Small stature, big personality: Winter birds of Michigan [ #link_17 ]
* This week on 'Wardens': PaddleFit yoga, summer lake patrols [ #link_2 ]
* Photo ambassador snapshot: Winter's brilliant blues [ #link_1 ]

See other news releases, Showcasing the DNR stories, photos and other resources at Michigan.gov/DNRPressRoom [ [link removed] ].

PHOTO FOLDER [ [link removed] ]: Larger, higher-res versions of some of the images used in this email are available in this folder.

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Winter Free Fishing Weekend starts Saturday

smiling little girl in blue winter coat holds a fish in both hands as a smiling little boy in blue winter coat and Superman hat leans next to her

Ready for some outdoor fun with family and friends? Join in this winter?s Free Fishing Weekend ? Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 17-18 ? two full days when residents and visitors can fish without a license, though all other fishing regulations still apply.

It?s a great time to get out and explore: During Free Fishing Weekend, the DNR also waives the regular Recreation Passport entry fee that grants vehicle access to Michigan?s 103 state parks and more than 1,300 DNR-managed boating access sites.

Michigan has celebrated Free Fishing Weekend every year since 1986 to promote awareness of the state?s fine fishing and vast aquatic resources. With more than 3,000 miles of Great Lakes shoreline, over 52,000 miles of rivers and streams and 10,899 inland lakes, Michigan and fishing are a perfect match.

Before heading out, make sure you and your fishing buddies are prepared for changing winter weather. As always, brush up on our ice safety tips at Michigan.gov/IceSafety [ [link removed] ], too.

If you already have a fishing license, take someone new along for the fun and fish tales! Learn more at Michigan.gov/FreeFishing [ [link removed] ]?and get the most current fishing regulations at Michigan.gov/DNRRegs [ [link removed] ].

Questions? Contact Sierra Williams at [email protected] <[email protected]>.



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Small stature, big personality: Winter birds of Michigan

It?s probably no surprise, but this colder time of year is when Michigan?s winter birds are most resilient. How do these small birds thrive when temperatures drop? From storing food to fluffing up their feathers, Michigan's birds are masters at doing what it takes to weather our winters.

We?re highlighting a couple of our favorite winter birds that have adapted to freezing temperatures across the state. Learn how they stay warm, how to identify them and where to spot them!

Downy woodpecker

a white-breasted woodpecker with black and white wings and a hint of red on top of head stands on a pale, tan, snow-dusted tree limb

*Fun winter facts:* An advantage in the winter, the downy woodpecker?s small size allows it to feed on small weed stalks and in large trees. Downies construct new tree cavities in the fall, where they roost and keep warm during cold winter nights.

*How to ID:* This is the smallest woodpecker in North America, between the size of a robin and sparrow. It has a white back, black and white striped face and a very short, stubby bill. Males have a red spot on the nape (back of the neck).



Black-capped chickadee

a red house finch, American goldfinch and black-capped chickadee perched on a hanging, spherical, mesh seed feeder

*Fun winter facts:* Storing food from bird feeders in bark crevices helps chickadees late in winter when other food sources are scarce or trapped under snow or ice. Chickadees are also experts in shivering to stay warm. They can control and lower their body temperature to conserve energy at night, entering what is known as regulated hypothermia!

*How to ID:* These small and lively birds have a black cap and bib, gray back and buff wash on their sides.



Finding winter birds in Michigan

When you?re dressed for the elements, winter can be an exciting time to go birding. Look for winter birds in forests and woodlands or along woodland edges, grassy and weedy fields, and city and suburban parks and yards.

Go birding on your local public lands, such as Audubon Important Bird Areas [ [link removed] ], or IBAs, state game and wildlife areas [ [link removed] ] and Wetland Wonders [ [link removed] ]. Learn more about Michigan's birding trails and where to go birding this winter [ [link removed] ].

Check out the MI Birds blog at the Audubon Great Lakes website for the full story about winter birds in Michigan [ [link removed] ].

For media questions, contact Erin Ford <[email protected]> at 313-820-0809.

"MI Birds [ [link removed] ] is a public outreach and education program presented by Audubon Great Lakes and the Michigan DNR that works to build and bring together wildlife enthusiasts across the state to engage with and conserve Michigan?s public lands for the benefit of birds and people."

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This week on 'Wardens': PaddleFit yoga, summer lake patrols

a man in sunglasses and conservation officer uniform drives a boat on open blue water, with another man in uniform sitting behind him

Need a little warm-weather inspiration? Catch the next episode of ?Wardens? ? the Outdoor Channel's weekly show that tells the story of dedicated DNR conservation officers and other staff members and the work they do to protect and conserve Michigan's natural resources.

This week's show ? here?s a teaser video [ [link removed] ] ? airs Friday and takes you to PaddleFit yoga classes at several state parks and summertime lake patrols in southeast Michigan.

To get the Outdoor Channel, ask your local TV service provider or go to outdoorchannel.com [ [link removed] ], myoutdoortv.com [ [link removed] ] or Amazon Prime Video, or call 855-44-OUTDOOR. More than 78 episodes of "Wardens" have featured Michigan and tallied over 36 million viewers!

Episodes air on the Outdoor Channel every Friday at 9 p.m. Previous episodes air on FOX UP/WLUC-TV6 every Sunday at 9:30 a.m. The show also is available under the title "Wardens of the North" or "Michigan Wardens" on Animal Planet.

Questions? Contact Dave Haupt <[email protected]> at 517-420-0819.



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Photo ambassador snapshot: Winter's brilliant blues
snow-covered rocks on shore and calm, gray-blue water stretch out beneath a brilliant blue winter sky framed by a few white, wispy clouds

See more pictures by Michigan state parks photo ambassadors [ [link removed] ] at Instagram.com/MiStateParks [ [link removed] ]. For more on the program, call Stephanie Yancer <[email protected]> at 989-274-6182. (This photo is by Brandon Johnson [ [link removed] ], for the Michigan DNR, at Hog Island Point State Forest Campground on the shore of Lake Michigan in the Upper Peninsula.)

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THINGS TO DO [ [link removed] ]

From Wild Science Saturdays at the Outdoor Adventure Center to fat-tire biking at Silver Lake State Park, explore the DNR events calenda [ [link removed] ]r to plan your next outing.




BUY & APPLY [ [link removed] ]

Love staying overnight in Michigan state parks and harbors? Apply now for the opportunity to be a campground or harbor host [ [link removed] ]; it just might be your perfect volunteer gig!




GET INVOLVED [ [link removed] ]

Learning how to spot and prevent invasive land and water pests is everyone's job. The 2024 NotMiSpecies webinar series [ [link removed] ] can help! Check out the schedule and get in the know.

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