Plus, catch the new "Wildtalk" podcast for info on a pretty but invasive flowering plant you need to know about!



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"News Digest - Week of April 7, 2025"

a group of fourth grade students with spring clothes and backpacks walk down a paved trail in an area forested with tall, slender green trees [ [link removed] ]

"A Nature Awaits [ [link removed] ] fourth grade group explores Maybury State Park in southeast Michigan."



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


* Experience the spring sky dance! Join an April woodcock walk [ #link_16 ]
* New 'Wardens': Winter waterfowl, summer boating, Nature Awaits [ #link_17 ]
* Natural Resources Commission to meet Thursday in Lansing [ #link_2 ]
* Photo ambassador snapshot: Beautiful Belle Isle blooms [ #link_1 ]

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

[ [link removed] ]Some of the photos used in this email (Nature Awaits [ [link removed] ], woodcock [ [link removed] ] and white-tailed deer [ [link removed] ]) are available in the DNR's public image gallery [ [link removed] ].

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Experience the spring sky dance! Join an April woodcock walk

a plump, tan and white woodcock with a long, slender beak, nestled in some green grass in a forested area

Spring is in the air – and so are American woodcock! The "peent" of an American woodcock [ [link removed] ] ushers in the signature start of springtime in Michigan. To enjoy the return of migratory birds, grab your binoculars and join the DNR and the Ruffed Grouse Society for a guided woodcock walk [ [link removed] ] at the Lame Duck Foot Access Area GEMS location Thursday, April 24.

Located 15 miles northeast of Gladwin, this 11,000-acre Grouse Enhanced Management Site is Michigan’s largest and provides ideal habitat for American woodcock, ruffed grouse and Wilson’s snipe. As evening falls, watch and listen as male woodcock take to the sky in their mesmerizing courtship display – don't miss this chance to experience one of spring’s most magical wildlife performances!

All ages are welcome and encouraged. Tour participants will meet at 7:30 p.m. at the corner of Bowmanville Road and Lame Duck Truck Trail (44.098025, -84.236925 [ [link removed] ]).

Prepare for the walk

* Bring binoculars (if you have them) and a flashlight or headlamp.
* Dress for the weather and wear sturdy footwear. Trails may be muddy and uneven; due to the terrain, this event is not considered accessible under Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines.
* Enhance your experience with birding apps like eBird, iNaturalist, Merlin Bird ID or Audubon Bird Guide.

For more information and to RSVP, contact Bruce Barlow <[email protected]> at 989-426-9205, ext. 2267630. Learn more about GEMS at Michigan.gov/GEMS [ [link removed] ].

"The walk is presented in partnership with MI Birds [ [link removed] ], a public outreach and education program created by Audubon Great Lakes and the DNR. MI Birds aims to deepen all Michiganders' engagement in the understanding, care and stewardship of public lands that are important for birds and local communities."



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New 'Wardens': Winter waterfowl, summer boating, Nature Awaits

a man wearing a dark knit hat and a dark green Michigan Conservation Officer jacket holds a shotgun while standing in a wetland area

Set your DVR! A new episode of "Wardens" is on the Outdoor Channel Friday, April 11, at 9 p.m.

This week's episode [ [link removed] ] has conservation officers in District 7 (southwest Michigan) checking on winter waterfowl hunters and summer boaters. Viewers also will get an extended look at Nature Awaits [ [link removed] ], a new Michigan program providing free state park visits to fourth graders.

“Our hope is to get more kids more comfortable outside and provide a balance to the technology in their lives,” said Allye Kemme, DNR Nature Awaits communications coordinator. “We start with making sure the kids know state parks belong to them. Then we focus on tapping into our senses, discovering what makes each park unique, having quiet time to soak up the world around us and building connections to nature.”

To get the Outdoor Channel, ask your local TV service provider or go to outdoorchannel.com [ [link removed] ], myoutdoortv.com [ [link removed] ], MAX or Amazon Prime Video, or call 855-44-OUTDOOR.

The DNR partners with the Outdoor Channel to tell the story of dedicated staff and the work they do to conserve Michigan’s natural resources, weaving important conservation messages into every story line. This is the show’s ninth season featuring the state of Michigan.

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 on Animal Planet under the title "Wardens of the North."

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



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Natural Resources Commission to meet Thursday in Lansing

a lean, tawny, white-tailed deer stands in knee-deep, green grass against a lush forest backdrop

The next meeting of the Michigan Natural Resources Commission – Thursday, April 10, in Lansing – includes a Lifesaving Award presentation to a DNR park ranger, overviews of small game, fall turkey and deer regulations, a legislative report, several land transactions, and updates on chronic wasting disease monitoring and surveillance, bovine tuberculosis surveillance and highly pathogenic avian influenza.

The day starts at 9:30 a.m. in Rooms M119-121 on the West Campus of Lansing Community College, 5708 Cornerstone Drive, in Lansing. See the draft meeting agenda [ [link removed] ] and remaining 2025 meeting dates at Michigan.gov/NRC [ [link removed] ].

For more information or to request time to speak at the meeting, email [email protected] <[email protected]>.



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Photo ambassador snapshot: Beautiful Belle Isle blooms
A two-story historic, white clapboard home with a purple flowering tree in front and a lush green lawn full of white and yellow daffodils

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 of the White House, the oldest structure on Belle Isle Park in Detroit, is by Paul Massie [ [link removed] ] for the Michigan DNR.)

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THINGS TO DO [ [link removed] ]

Think rustic cabin camping is for you? Check out this Showcasing the DNR story [ [link removed] ] to hear about one family's cherished tradition at Wilderness State Park.




BUY & APPLY [ [link removed] ]

The state's off-road vehicle season is underway – be sure to get your permit. Get all the safety, route and etiquette information you need at Michigan.gov/ORVInfo [ [link removed] ].




GET INVOLVED [ [link removed] ]

Listen and learn! Check out the April episode of the DNR's "Wildtalk" podcast [ [link removed] ] and discover ways to fight the spread of lesser celendine, an an invasive flowering plant.

 




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This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Michigan Department of Natural Resources · Constitution Hall, 525 W. Allegan St., PO Box 30028 Lansing MI 48909 · 1-800-439-1420