FULL SWING SPRING
     A silhouette of a small portion of the great blue heron rookery on the North Unit of the Houghton Lake Flats marsh reveals a lot of spring activity late Friday afternoon. Located just north of County Road 300, the rookery is easily viewed from the east side of the marsh on Old 27. (Photo by Thomas Reznich)
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Gahagan receives water quality monitoring grant
      The Marguerite Gahagan Nature Preserve is among four groups to receive a grant from the Department of Environmental Quality and the Great Lakes Commission for water quality monitoring. The preserve was awarded the grant under the Michigan Clean Water Corps (MiCorps) program to monitor the Upper AuSable River watershed in Roscommon, Crawford, Otsego and Oscoda Counties.
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Effort to leave 'no child inside'
      There was a time … when children playing outside, climbing trees, wading in ponds and creeks and hiding in tall grass fields, was a common occurrence, especially in summer. They left home in the morning, returned for a quick lunch, often eaten outside, and then returned to the woods, fields and ponds until evening voices called them to supper.
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Earth Day, 'No Student Left Inside Week' activities planned at Hartwick Pines
      Earth Day 2008 and No Student Left Inside Week will be celebrated April 22 at Hartick Pines State Park, Grayling, with activities for school groups. A weekend "Earth Day Celebration" is also planned on April 26.
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DNR simplifies fishing licenses for youths
      At the request of several sportfishing organizations, the Department of Natural Resources has announced changes that will make it easier to purchase a youth fishing license. Youth fishing licenses, for anglers under the age of 17, are voluntary and cost $2.
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TRUMPETING SPRING
     A pair of trumpeter swans glides at the head of the Muskegon River on Houghton Lake Friday afternoon. The trumpeter swan, the world's largest waterfowl, is a formerly abundant species native to Michigan which was not seen in the wilds of the state for almost 100 years after habitat depletion and market hunting wiped out the population in the 1880's. Efforts to reestablish the bird in Michigan in the 1980'and 90's proved successful, and a 2000 count exceeded 400 individual birds. (Photo by Thomas Reznich)
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Amphibian count planned
      The Department of Natural Resources has announced that 2008 will be the 13th year of a statewide frog and toad Survey coordinated by the Natural Heritage Unit of the DNR's Wildlife Division. Declining populations of frogs, toads and other amphibians have been documented worldwide since the 1980s.
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Friends of NRA chapter formed
      A Houghton Lake Friends of the National Rifle Association (NRA) was formed in late March by a group of area sportsmen.
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GREAT CATCH
     Fishermen (front left to right) Colton Culling, 14, Dale Boudrie, 14, Zane Backus, 14 and (back) Dan Culling, all of Houghton Lake, show off a few of the 125 bluegills and sunfish they caught on Lake James between 7 and 10 a.m. on April 4. Dan Culling said they used spikes on small teardrops for bait. He said Friday he expected there would be sufficient ice to fish on the lake for only a day or two. Also contributing fish to the limit catch was Den Boudrie (not pictured). (TRP)
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Another weapon found for emerald ash borer arsenal
      Valuable landscape ash trees may now be protected from emerald ash borer (EAB) with a new insecticide called emamectin benzoate. Research at Michigan State University (MSU) showed that the new product, which will be sold as Tree-äge, was "remarkably effective" in controlling EAB, reports Deborah McCullough, MSU forest entomologist and EAB researcher.
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Boating safety course scheduled for Saturday
      A free boating safety class will be held Saturday by the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 16-03 of Roscommon County. The one-day class will be held April 12 at Roscommon High School from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Students will learn the basics of boater safety and Michigan and federal boating regulations.
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CCW class planned at Lake Hall April 19, 20
      A Michigan Concealed Pistol License (CCW) class is planned for April 19th and 20th at the Lake Township Hall. The course, conducted by a National Rifle Association instructor, will run from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m on Sunday. Sunday is range time and can be done on another date if needed.
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