The Black Capped Chickadee is a favorite of many. Truly a busy little creature with such a distinct song.....chickadee-dee-dee. This one looks like it's found a winter store of food for the taking. In the ever growing Pasty Gallery, you can view a nice slideshow with several shots of this little feathered friend, by Bugsy Sailor.

My favorite bird! I love to watch/feed them in the winter (all year, actually).

I heard that they might make the chickadee the state bird because they stay in Michigan year-round.

What a cutie, however, my favorite is the white throated sparrow. It sings a beautiful song.

I vote for the robin. They are plentiful throughout the state and also have a beautiful morning song.

I had an old drunken robin at my previous house. I assume he was old because his breast was turning grey. He'd come to the candy apple crab tree in front of my kitchen window in late winter/early spring in Commerce Township. The tiny crab apples would be fermented. He'd eat a few then fly off straight into the lovely reflection in my kitchen window. BAM! Fall to the porch. Get up and fly back to the tree and repeat the process. Eventually get the message and fly away to sleep it off. But he'd be back the next day!

Good Morning Everyone, Great picture this A.M. Just a bit of info, do not feed chickadees peanut butter. They can choke and it affects their egg-laying. I recently learned this and I had a peanut butter feeder out. Well, its gone now!!! Thanks for the wonderful website!!! Hurry up Spring!!!!!

I have a food question ... since lots of ppl
eat pasties which are cornish...do many families
eat shepards pie .. thats an english dish also...
just a thought since thats what Im going to have
for dinner tonite :) ...I think I make the
"poormans" recipe since its with groundmeat...would like some new ideas tho :)

I think the state bird should be the
Gilly Galu Bird

I love the sound of the Morning Doves in the morning as I awake. It's such a nice coo. I love the photo of the day. Even tho this bird is here year round it still made me yearn for Spring. Up in the UP Spring must come about....June? I know I enjoy the two weeks of summer in August. lol

Since there is a bird for the picture of the day, I would like to let all of you know that the geese are on their way north. Ellen, I believe spring should not be far behind.

Good morning all. I think I saw a robin this morning. Is it possible? Aren't they ground feeders? It was in a nearby tree and I watched it for about a minute, then it flew off. It had the prominent orangy breast like a robin and the size. It didn't sing or I'd be certain!

Uncle Bud --- would that be the double crested Gilly Galu or the crimson throated Gilly Galu Bird? ;>)

Julie Barrie! Hello from Michigan! It has been my good fortune to eat meat pies in many parts of the world, including Australia and Japan and Iowa (don't go there!) I've had shepards pie, chickin pot pie, beef pies of all descriptions including pasites from all over Michigan. I'm a pie guy of the first order! Nothing, however, compares to a pasty from the Keweenaw. It is my firm belief that when you get more than 50 miles from Laurium the quality starts to suffer somewhat. That's not to say that there aren't good pasties lurking in kitchens around the country but I suspect they all had there origins somewhere near "Red Jacket".
So if you are hankering for the real thing, order some pies from Pasty.Net. :>)

Ahh the Black Capped Chickadee, Poecile Atricappillus, a recurrent patron to the backyard feeder indeed. One must extol its spirit and intrepidity as it pursues its regalement amidst the baleful demeanor of the Blue Jay. Kudos on the fine shot.

Wheatman

We always love to hear and see the chickadees at our feeder or when out walking during the winter. We saw our first robins yesterday. BRRR! They may be sorry they came back yet. We still have lot of snow, so hope they will be able to find food to eat. The birds are returning slowly, and it is always good to see and hear them.

OK, you two, just what is a Gilly Galu?? Oh, and I live in Iowa...ok, so I married that Downstate Dutchman MTU grad that actually has a JOB(remember the mail on that sugject!) here in Cedar Rapids. It ain't the U.P. but NOWHERE is. I know a fellow from MO who may visit this summer and he loves pasties. You can betcha that I am going to order some Yooper pasties. I truly cannot make them as good, even using ground steak. Right now I cannot find a rutabaga to save my soul! That blueberry photo from the other day was so beautiful Today's is just beautiful, also. There are some talented people out there running around with a camera. Spent a week in Scotland, bought tiny pasties there and a magnet in the shape of a lamb that says "don't eat shephard's pie";)
former yooper

Julie Barrie The Netherlands formly Michigan,

I can't speak for anyone else, but I fix Shepard's Pie quite regularly. I also make it with ground meat. There are quite a few different recipes....the one I use has creamed corn in it, but I also add other vegetables along with the corn.

I am hoping RCW or someone else can help me out here. Is there any rules about landing a seaplane on Lake Fanny Hoe? I've been considering running a sight seeing business out of Copper Harbor eventually. Anyone think this would work. Anyone have any staunch objections to it?

Mark, MI,...I don't know what the FAA regs are, but locally you would probably have to do some dealings with the Copper Harbor business community or the Grant Township Board and possibly the Keweenaw County commissioners. If you call just about any business in Copper Harbor, they may lead you in the right direction.

Does anyone know which bird sounds like it's singing through a pipe? I hear it often during the summer, usually in the early evening. I live on the edge of town next to the "bush", and because this bird is so elusive, I can't get a look at it so I can find it in my Birds of North America book. Anyone know which one I mean?

Mark. Im not sure the DNR would like that to much. However way back in the 70s I landed in Copper Harbor in a Grumman Goose several times, maybe that might be a second choice for you.As noted above, better to check with the power that be in the Harbor!!

Mark..are those planes particilarly noisy? Family yoopers since 1912 from Finland.

Copper Country Bird Lover:

The first bird that comes to mind that sings in the evening and sounds like the song is comming from a pipe is the "cooing" of the Mourning Dove...

Marilynn - I won't say they aren't noisy, but they are only noisy on takeoff and that would only happen once in a while. On landing, they are quite quiet. I would say they make much less noise than snowmobiles do.

RCW - I have read up on the rules, and the state sides with the pilots on the issue. They have been quite understanding and try to keep public waterways open to everyone.

I am living in troll land now and have all my life, but have fallen in love with the Keweenaw. I flew up there last week looking for places to move to and can't wait till I can find a way to make it happen. My wife and I are looking at starting or buying a lodging business. We were going to move to Alaska, but decided that the UP was really where we want to be.

I heard on the radio this morning that the Nimrods from
Watersmeet, Michigan are going to be on the Tonight Show with
Jay Leno on Monday; March 15.
Here's a link for more information.


Iron Wood Daily Globe


WATERSMEET -- It's official, Watersmeet's gone Hollywood, or at
least its boys basketball team is headed there.

The team will be on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno next
Monday in another media appearance after a series of ESPN
commercials have aired, centering on the Nimrod nickname.


It's nice to know that they've made the Big TIme and the whole
team plus their coach gets to go.

Da Nimrods, who'da thunk it??

Dave-Colorado
I know what the mourning dove sounds like, this bird I speak of, sounds like a nice trill coming through a long skinny pipe, if that makes any sense.

Sorry to intrude on the delighful bird talk, but I've noted a few inquires on the board about my third, and I hope last, open heart surgery. All went well, albeit a bit slow, last Tuesday. I was discharged from Marquette General Monday morning, travelled to Mpls that day where I'm now getting TLC. I don't have access to my Eagle Harbor Web for updating, so will leave a progress note here. I expect to return to the Harbor on the 26th with the rest of the spring-time birds.Thanks to all for the many "good wishes".

Gilly Galu birds laid their eggs between the cracks of the White City dock so the Sackalawhooly cats couldn't get them. Sackalawhooly cats liked Gilly Galu bird eggs as well as Side Hill Gulgers. These Side Hill Gulger critters had the distinction of having long legs on one side and short legs on the otherside. It allowed them to run around a hill on even keel,thus out distancing a pursuing Sachalawhooly cat.

A seaplane service operating out of Lake Fanny Hooe? Plenty of length there, it's the width that may be the limiting factor. And then there's the campground users with thier canoes, kayaks and such. There would be a problem with congestion. I don't think Lake Fanny Hooe is suitable for this type of operation. Bete Gris/Lac La Belle would be a better location.

Wild Bird Lover-

Sounds to me like you have heard a Wood Thrush--they have a beautiful song like a tune played on a wooden flute. They are shy birds, and though I have heard them in the woods around Mohawk, I can never get close enough to see one.

Mark, MI: If you really want to move up here bad enough, it will happen. When we moved back up here (in winter with a 3 month old), we didn't even have a place to live! Luck have it, we were able to find a nice house to rent the day we arrived up here (after previously calling for weeks w/ no luck). We had a date set to move, and nothing was going to change that date.

Some may call this crazy, but I beg to differ. Listening to your head will only get you so far in life. Listening to your heart will bring you things greater than you can imagine.

You may have heard this quote before; this quote helped us keep determined:

"What this power is I cannot say; all I know is that it exists and it becomes available only when a man is in that state of mind in which he knows exactly what he wants and is fully determined not to quit until he finds it." -Alexander Graham Bell

We wish you the best of luck with your relocation and business(es).

Thanks for the good news George! We're praying for a quick and complete recovery!

Nice calm discussion today on the site.

Talk about pasties makes my mouth water. I have not had a satisfactory pasty since I moved away 40+ years ago. Mrs Roberts who cooked at the Wesley House made the best I have ever eaten.

I don't know, looks like this bird leans quite a bit to the right wing.

Well the seaplane service was just an idea. I have dumped a lot of money into my pilot licences and would hate to see them go to waste totally. We are really keen on the lodging idea though. Frankly I would move up there tomorrow if I oculd find a job to pay the bills, but looks like I will have to wait till we can worka business to make it happen. Thanks all for your thoughts.

Oh and by the way, to be somewhat relevant to the picture at hand, I love watching the Nuthatches, Finches, Chickadees, Blue Jays, Robins, Woodpeckers, Doves, and verious other birds at my feeders! That is until my dogs get let out and chase them away. They seem to think that's their job. Go figure:)

Uper1... You think he's a conservative or just handicapped?

Wild Bird Lover:
As Mohawk Girl said it could be a wood thrush. Another possibility is a wren. They have a very melodic, high pitched song or "trill" sort of like a flute... I love it in the the spring when all the birds begin to share their songs with us... It is 70 degrees here today along the front range! We have all kinds of flowers beginning to poke their heads up... wahoo!

Today, the page begins with a really pretty pic (I still say you have the best photography on the world wide web!) Then interesting stuff about the Nimrods, and future fly tours (cool), quotes to spur us on, and humor,-- Roudy MI, you're a hoot- where's your next gig? I'm still laughing- by the way, do you have some drawings to share with us of these birds and animals? ;)

THE BEST SITE ON THE WEB!!

Missin the UP: A HOOT eh? Careful with those Bird references. I believe the thing in suppose to be singin' on the other end of a pipe of sorts if I read these posts correctly.

To bird lover, The song you hear is most likely from a veery, one of my favorites too.

The seaplane service is a good idea. Getting people to and from Isle Royale National Park would probably keep you going. Check it out.

I wonder if the former seaplane service dock on the Hoton canal is availible!! The new service, I hear will be out of CMX this time, as was the Grumman Goose system in the 70s.

JRH,MI
The seaplane service is starting back up this summer, out of the Houghton airport. Royale Air Service. Must have wheels and floats on that baby.

First to George, good to hear from you and that all is going well the best place to reach a full recovery would be back home in God's country. Next Mark in MI I think the seaplane idea is a good one and the last suggestion from JRH was going to be mine. There has been talk around a few places of business that I have been in that people want a quicker and smoother way to and from Isle Royale and they miss the old flight service that use to go that way. Next idea how about landing and taking off right from the harbor? I think if you offered sight seeing and travel to and from Isle Royale you could keep yourself busy, I know that I would be first in line to see the beauty of the Keweenaw from the sky as well as a few pictures of my land up there in God's country. Good luck I have always wanted to fly, some day after the house and land are paid off until then I will be looking for you up that way!

To Roudy: Oh THOSE Gilly Galus! But I was just wondering, what hill in White City?

I used to pilot the Copper Harbor Duck (amphibious vehicle) out on Lake Fanny Hooe for Tom Poynter and crew....

The main thing you may run into locally are folks who object to the noise and any HINT of smoke or fumes....

Just a thought...and Fanny Hooe is SO beautiful...

Yeah I did know that Royal Air Service is starting up with service to Isle Royale this year. They will be the only air service on contract with the park. I haven't completely dug into if they would allow more than one service, but that was the goal in the back of my mind. They have ferry service out of three places why not have air service out of more than one? It's a thought. I would have to problem operating out of the harbor instead of Lake Fanny Hoe, it just would depend on where I could get property to dock. I figured I could start out with the tours and move to the ferry service, as there are a lot of hoops to jump through when you offer a charter like that. The plane I would be looking at is a heck of a lot quieter and less intrusive than the Goose of the 70s so maybe that would help.

Also don't know if I could make it on the seasonal air business alone, so the lodging is still on the list.

George, good to hear that all went well. Enjoy your
TLC and hurry "home."

We saw a pileated woodpecker. When we approached the tree he was in, he didn't move. He was so busy with his task, he didn't notice us. So we stood quietly watching him "peck" for a good long time, only a few feet away. Are they usually so unafraid of humans?

For those of you who speak Finnish, remember the bird called the Hopo-Nassu? (Sorry I can't type the umlauts in over the Os.)As kids, when we acted silly, my grandmother would say we visited the nest of that bird.

Sounds like Roudy,MI has ben bitten by one of the snow snakes found only in the UP. The bite makes one a little off center!

I'm from NJ, but always enjoy visiting Pasty.com and hearing my co-workers Yooper tales. I especially like this pic since the Chickadee is so cute!

The NJ state bird is either the pigeon or that hand signal I see a lot while driving the roads, but I'm not sure which. :-)

Kauppi's maybe?

Okay Roudy, let's just say I enjoy your sense of humor....laughing is a good thing and you got the gift of humorous storytelling!

Speaking of the Watersmeet Nimrods, did anybody see Bill Geist's great piece on them about two weeks ago on CBS "Sunday Morning?" Very good piece.

Paul

From what I read about the veery, it may be the one I am curious about. If I could actually see one when it's singing .... Thanks to everyone who responded to my query.

CC bird lover,

Check out this link to listen to the bird songs. You'll have to scroll down a bit to find the Veery, there are two of them listed.

NIMRODS
I e-mailed the Ironwood Daily Globe's article to channel 12 Rhinelander. They will be at the Rhinelander airport, and so will I. I hope to get Dale Jenkins (the guy who sings the fight song on ESPN) autograph. Is the U.P. great or what?

Add my thanks to Paul also, and Mary for the link to the sounds. I often hear it, and wondered what bird it was.

Hey, Roudy...Are those Side Hill Gulgers related to the Side Hill Dodgers that Paul Bunyan discovered out West while on an afternoon walk from the UP? They had a similar leg arrangement, as I recall.

Oh, Mary! Thanks, for the link to the bird songs.
It surely was a treat to hear such pleasant sounds of summer. Whenever I start feeling down, I always think of birds to lift my spirits. Thanks, for the lift.

Love, love those Chick-a-dee's, Chick-a-dee used to be my nick-name when I was small.

To the shepard's pie maker, I'd prefer using shredded meat.

Down State Dave,
The answer is both.

me,grantwood county,
The Gili Galu is a bird that flies around backward, faster and faster and faster, until it flies into itself and falls to the ground, exhausted

FANTASTIC PHOTO MY LITTLE CHICKADEE ALSO HAVE THE YOOPERS EVER BEEN ON LENO JUST CURIOUS THANKS

Mary:
Thank you for the link to the different bird songs. I enjoyed it, but now my co-workers think I'm nuts...

Joe Finn when is the team do to leave Rhinelander? I would not mind one of the autographs?

Channel 12TV said they would be there in the morning. Since the planes only leave at 6:00am and 4:00pm; I assume the departure will be at 6:00am. I will be there with a big "Go Nimrods" sign. The biggest thing on ebay right now is a Nimrods T-shirt autographed by Dale Jenkins. GO FIGURE!

Glad I visited this site today and saw your message, George, good to hear you're doing good and will be back home soon. My husband and I really enjoy your Eagle Harbor journal. Best wishes and a speedy recovery!

To wild bird lover: I know exactly which bird you are talking about and I too have wondered what it is!! It is so beautiful sounding and I hear it in the evening when all other birds seem to be "asleep" for the night and also sometimes in the early a.m. It too sings a beautiful song like the white throated sparrow. Thanks for bringing that memory of summer to my attention today, what a pleasant thought!

To George Hite

Great to hear from you and that your surgery went well.

Get some rest.

We all will be checking the Eagle Harbor Web for your return.

Was just wondering if those Gilly Galu were any relation to thr KiKi or the Nowar Birds? Talking about the Side Hill Gougers with their legs longer on one side Then the other they used to have a breed of mules down in the hills the same way. That was so that when they were plowing on the hillsides they wouldn't roll off sidewise.

Mary Drew, thanks for the bird song link, but it sure did confuse my cat!

Let the glacier come
at the whim of the sun
across the Keweenaw it's just a scrub
Trees ,snomobiles,freighters all sucumb
Chickedees ,Ravens,Trout, all survive
cus the world was meant for thum!

love them wild birds. They make the best stew (Ruffed grouse). Roasted Mallard-Canadian goose under glass, Etc. MMMMMMM GOOD!!!!

George Hite
Another follower "Glad to hear all is well".I have been searching here and John's site for an update and am not alone.
Mary Drew
Brown ground meat with onions add cream of mushroom soup,frozen peas carrots and corn. Maybe a shot of Woostershire sauce, top with mashed potatoes, finish under the broiler and top with grated cheese. Thats high living at deer camp.

Hey me/grant wood country -- I grew up in southwest Iowa so am familiar with the territory. I'm gently pulling my own leg about Iowa cooking. Grew up on it. Have been healthy all my life because of or in spite of Iowa cuisine! Cedar Rapids is a neat town. I have a cousin in Iowa City.

Hey Roudy -- you are a rascal! (but a truthful one);>)

George,
Glad to hear all is well! Hope you don't get snowed in in Mpls. Maybe you'll have to have an outing to the Roberts Bird Sanctuary to check out some of these birds! Take care- looking forward to more of your fine writing when you are able.

did you know that hummingbirds cannot survive just on sugar water alone? thats what most people put in a feeder, walmart sells hummingbird food in a gallon jug for like 2 dollars, the study on them showed that Hbirds in captivity fed only sugar water died within 3 months, so if you have a feeder, buy the food with vitamins in it :)

Good night everbody.

Hey all the bird watchers out there: Besides the link Mary D. suggested, go to http://www.enature.com click on "Field Guides- Birds" Thumbnails will come up of most all North American birds. Click on any one and a page will come up with a nice picture, specs., info writeup and a button to click for a quite good short audio of the song and calls! Also try http://www.northbirding.com They have a seperate page just on Copper Country Birds with links and knowledgeable folks in the Copper Country area regards birds! Lots of interesting links and interesting articles on the home page about feeding, ID, bird houses, tech tips, rare birds, excellent photos, etc. etc. They also have a message/forum board somewhat as this one. Also try http://birds.cornell.edu Excellent North American site by Cornell Universitys Lab of Ornithology with just about anything one could find regards wild birds! (Watch it tho! these tend to be "liberal" oriented sites, Some of you may get "brainwashed"! Can't have that now AY!)
Ellen SSMI: to quote Cornell-- "Some people worry that birds will choke on sticky peanut butter. There's no evidence that they do, but you can completely eliminate any risk by mixing peanut butter with corn meal or oatmeal" unquote. We make a mixture of that combination and/or lard, shortening, & flour. Really draws them in! Been doing it for years--no problems. Not to worry!
Hey Small Game Hunter : can't forget Wild Turkey! Down here we like Pheasant---excellent! They used to years ago hunt Killdeer, Rails, Snipe even Sand Hill Cranes. They stopped that tho so they wouldn't be all gone the way the Passenger Pigeon went. I don't think they need to legalize Mourning Doves now either but I bet they do taste good! I've eaten Pigeons---not too bad!

Let none of us eat crow!

Mary- Many thanks for the bird song link. It definitely is the veery's song that I have been hearing all these years.

Loved the picture of 3/9 - the chickadee has always been my favorite! And to think when living in the Copper Country I wasn't a "birder" - so much that I missed out on. Must tell you that here in western Colorado we are in the mid-60's this week - spring fever has set in. So, how much snow has the CC gotten this year?

Mr. Wheatman,

Your prose in the manner of speaking, is outstanding! I can listen all day long, thank you for bringing back the "true english" whimiscal manner of speach!

Eh! Derre I think that the copper country bird lover is thinking about the chickadee!