Plus, if you're looking to lend a hand at some of your favorite places, check out upcoming volunteer opportunities.



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"News Digest - Week of June 24, 2024"

A bright orange and yellow mushroom grows, shelf-like, from a tree.

Learn how to find and identify mushrooms, forage for wild edibles and more during July events.



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


* I found a bird nest in a bad location ? now what? [ #link_16 ]
* Summer in full swing at July events [ #link_2 ]
* Tick tock ... Midwest Walleye Challenge closes Sunday! [ #link_17 ]
* Photo ambassador snapshot: Flamingo fungi fans [ #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 below, and others, are available in this folder.

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I found a bird nest in a bad location ? now what?

an American robin feeds her three babies, mouths wide open, in a nest built near the gutter and eaves of a brick house

From gutters to mailboxes, birds can choose inconvenient, silly ? and sometimes dangerous ? places to nest. If you come across such a predicament, what can you do?

First, it?s important to recognize that birds often will abandon their nests and eggs if they have been moved. It?s also good to know that outside of a few exceptions, most species (and their eggs and nests) are federally protected. While it can be inconvenient, the best and recommended course of action in the majority of cases is to leave the nest be until the eggs hatch and the young leave the nest.

To help determine next steps if you do stumble across a bird nest in a bad spot, explore our quick [ [link removed] ] [ [link removed] ] guide [ [link removed] ] to [ [link removed] ] bird [ [link removed] ] nest [ [link removed] ] conflicts [ [link removed] ] across [ [link removed] ] the [ [link removed] ] Great [ [link removed] ] Lakes [ [link removed] ] for the different rules and regulations protecting these nests.

This guide is brought to you by MI Birds [ [link removed] ], a public outreach and education program by Audubon Great Lakes and the Michigan DNR. MI Birds aims to bridge the divide and deepen all Michiganders' engagement in the understanding, care and stewardship of public lands that are important for birds and local communities.

Questions? Contact Erin Ford <[email protected]> at 313-820-0809. "(Robin photo above courtesy Dori Eldridge, Audubon Photography Awards.)"



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Summer in full swing at July events

Two people wearing lightweight river-fishing gear survey the dark waters.

Summer is officially here, and so are opportunities to learn more about Michigan?s natural and cultural resources. Here are just a few events coming up on the DNR?s July calendar:

July Fourth celebrations

Several locations across the state will host Independence Day celebrations. Some events are for campers only, but others ? including the following ? are open to the public.


* July 3: Pentwater Independence Day fireworks at Mears State Park [ [link removed] ].
* July 6-7: July Fourth celebration at Wells State Park [ [link removed] ].

Fish and feathers

July is a great time to learn more about fish and birds in Michigan. Warmer waters and winds make great conditions for birdwatching and fishing, and it?s always a good time to brush up those skills and learn more about these species.

Join Outdoor Skills Academy pro-staff July 6-7 for a beginners fly fishing clinic [ [link removed] ] or attend one of the upcoming classes from the Outdoor Adventure Center: Get Hooked on Fishing July 14 [ [link removed] ] and July 21 [ [link removed] ], or Freshwater Fishing Series: Trout [ [link removed] ] July 14.

Head to Indian Lake State Park July 18 [ [link removed] ] and Palms Book State Park July 19 [ [link removed] ] for a state park turkey tour, where you can learn about wild turkey conservation and hunting heritage. At the Rifle River Recreation Area July 19 [ [link removed] ] and Bay City State Park July 26 [ [link removed] ], learn about firearm safety and efforts from Pheasants Forever to restore habitat for these exciting game species.



A young person draws back a mechanical bow, aiming for a distant target with sharp focus.
Outdoor learning

The Outdoor Adventure Center in Detroit has an excellent lineup for all ages this month, hosting opportunities to get up close and personal with Michigan species, get outdoors and learn a new skill like archery. Here are just a few classes offered this month:


* July 13: Sensory-Friendly Days [ [link removed] ].
* July 16: Explore It Archery [ [link removed] ], Archery Graduate Shoot [ [link removed] ].
* July 18: Active Aging Adventures Brunch & Learn: Detroit River Sturgeon [ [link removed] ].
* July 19: Nature Play for Pre-K: Water Play [ [link removed] ]!
* July 20: Birding Belle Isle [ [link removed] ].
* July 25: Yoga and Mindfulness in Nature at Milliken State Park [ [link removed] ].
* July 27: Wild Science Saturday: Animal Olympians [ [link removed] ].

Plus, don?t miss out on upcoming Outdoor Skills Academy clinics ? classes in July will cover wild mushroom identification [ [link removed] ], bear hunting [ [link removed] ] and survival, bushcraft and wild edibles [ [link removed] ].

Find more exciting events and opportunities like these across Michigan on the DNR?s events calendar [ [link removed] ].



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Tick tock ... Midwest Walleye Challenge closes Sunday!

A person holds a freshly-caught walleye in both hands.

Last month we announced Michigan?s participation in the Midwest Walleye Challenge [ [link removed] ] ? a partnership between the DNR and MyCatch by Angler?s Atlas that invited residents to fish inland waters not just for the fun of it, but also to net some prizes and help the DNR collect valuable data about walleye populations.

This year?s challenge is part of a larger fisheries research project funded by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. Michigan anglers compete only against Michigan anglers for prizes, while all catches from across the Midwest qualify for the grand-prize drawings at the end of the event.

There?s still time to register for the challenge [ [link removed] ], which closes Sunday, June 30. You can choose the free entry option to qualify for noncash prizes or pay the $25 fee to qualify for all prizes, including cash payouts. Full details about prizes and qualifications are available on the prizes tab of the main event webpage.

Nervous about giving up your secret fishing spot? Don?t worry; the MyCatch mobile app maintains anonymous location data, so DNR fisheries biologists are able to get valuable information ? generalized lake and river catch data entered via the app ? while no detailed catch location are shared.

Questions? For all technical/operational information about the challenge, email Angler?s Atlas at [email protected]. For more on Michigan?s walleye fishery and statewide management, contact Seth Herbst at [email protected] <[email protected]>.



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Photo ambassador snapshot: Flamingo fungi fans
A salmon pink mushroom grows in a scallop-like pattern.

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 Paul Massie [ [link removed] ], for the Michigan DNR, at South Higgins Lake State Park in Roscommon County.)

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THINGS TO DO [ [link removed] ]

Study up on foraging knowledge and rules [ [link removed] ] before heading outdoors. Many edible species are found in the wild, just make sure you know how to enjoy safely.




BUY & APPLY [ [link removed] ]

The Recreation Passport [ [link removed] ] is your ticket to year-round fun, giving you motorized vehicle access to many state-managed recreation areas and helping support the parks system. Win-win!




GET INVOLVED [ [link removed] ]

Spotted lanternfly ? an invasive species ? was detected for the second time in Michigan. Wondering how to help? Remember: "See it, squish it, report it [ [link removed] ]!"




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