Wildflowers 2026

5/19  Kal-Haven Trail (trailhead to F and 8th), Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Great Waterleaf (Hydrophyllum appendiculatum)
• Great Waterleaf and Canada (white) Violets grow well under maples; Canada Violets turn pinkish after being fertilized, like Trillium!
• Go to West Lake: on the boardwalk at the back, go past the chain to the "closed" section and look down into the plant foliage for Lady Slippers! Wear boots - it'll be wet.
• Golden Oyster Mushrooms (Pleurotus citrinopileatus) in 2 places
• American Cancer-root or Bear Corn (Conopholis americana)

5/12  Kal-Haven Trail (trailhead to F and 8th), Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Solomon's Seal (Polygonatum biflorum)
• Starry False Solomon's Seal (Maianthemum stellatum)
• Aniseroot or Sweet Cicely (Osmorhiza longistylis)

5/4  Home, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)
• Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
• Wild Blue Phlox (Phlox divaricata)

5/4  Kalamazoo Nature Center, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Wild Geranium (maculatum)
• Wild Blue Phlox (Phlox divaricata)
• Large-flowered Trillium (grandiflorum)
• False Rue Anemone (Enemion biternatum)
• Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum)
• Marsh Marigolds (Caltha palustris)
• Swamp Buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus)
• Golden Ragwort (Packera aurea)
• Downy Violets (Viola pubescens)
• Canada violets (Viola canadensis)
• Common violets (Viola sororia)
• Blue-eyed Mary (Collinsia verna) 

4/22  Home, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Wild Blue Phlox (Phlox divaricata)
• Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)
• Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virg.) 
• Wood Poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum)
• Tall Meadow Rue (Thalictrum dasycarpum)
• (Lilacs!)

4/21  Kal-Haven Trail (trailhead to F and 8th), Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Wild Blue Phlox (Phlox divaricata)
• Wild Geranium (maculatum)
• Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)
• Early Meadow Rue (Thalictrum dioicum) - fringed flowers
• Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides) - starry yellow-green flowers
• Large-flowered Bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora)
• Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)
• Squirrel Corn (Dicentra canadensis)

• Common violets (Viola sororia)
• Canada violets (Viola canadensis)
• Downy Violets (Viola pubescens)
• Celandine Wood Poppies (Stylophorum diphyllum) 
• Marsh Marigolds (Caltha palustris)
• Large-flowered Trillium (grandiflorum)
• Dutchman's Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria)
• Cut-leaved Toothwort (Cardamine concatenata)
• False Rue Anemone (Enemion biternatum)
• Spring Beauties (Claytonia virginica)

4/17  Home, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Serviceberry tree
• Marsh Marigolds (Caltha palustris) in backyard tub
• Large-flowered Trillium (grandiflorum) in SE corner of backyard
• Virginia Bluebell buds in SE corner of backyard

4/14  Kal-Haven Trail (trailhead to F and 8th), Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Common violets (Viola sororia)
• Canada violets (Viola canadensis)
• Downy Violets (Viola pubescens)
• Celandine Wood Poppies (Stylophorum diphyllum) 
• Marsh Marigolds (Caltha palustris)
• Hepatica
• Large-flowered Trillium (grandiflorum)
• Dutchman's Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria)
• Cut-leaved Toothwort (Cardamine concatenata)
• False Rue Anemones (Enemion biternatum)
• Spring Beauties (Claytonia virginica)
• Spring Cress (Cardamine douglassii)

4/13  Home, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Trout Lilies (Erythronium americanum)

4/7  Home, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Dutchman's Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) (SE corner of backyard, near border)

3/31  Home, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)
• Sharp-lobed Hepatica (acutiloba) - white
• Common violets (Viola sororia)
• Canada violets (Viola canadensis) - white

3/22  Kleinstuck Nature Preserve, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) blooming

Birding 2026

* = new to life list 

5/19 Kal-Haven Trail (trailhead to F and 8th), Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Gray Catbird
• Northern Yellow Warbler
• Rose-breasted Grosbeaks
• Sandhill Cranes (pair)
• Song Sparrow (heard call)
• Red-eyed Vireo (heard call)
• Wood Thrushes - many! (heard calls)
• Eastern Wood-Pewees (heard calls)
• 
  
• Common Yellowthroat (heard call)
• Blackpoll Warbler (heard call)

5/17 Rose St. north of Fairview, Kalamazoo Co., MI

• Pileated Woodpecker flew across the road right in front of me!

5/6 Bow-in-the-Clouds Preserve, Kalamazoo Co., MI. p.m.

• Rose-breasted Grosbeaks

5/6 Bow-in-the-Clouds Preserve, Kalamazoo Co., MI. a.m.

• Peregrine Falcon
• 2 Sandhill Cranes
• Baltimore Orioles (male & female)
• Northern Yellow Warblers
• Pileated Woodpecker
• Song Sparrow
• 2 Great Blue Herons
• Palm Warbler (heard call)

5/6 Home, Kalamazoo Co., MI

• White-crowned Sparrow
• Rose-breasted Grosbeak (male)

5/5 Home, Kalamazoo Co., MI

• White-crowned Sparrow
• Leucistic female Cardinal (she has a mate this year!)

5/4 Home, Kalamazoo Co., MI

• Black-throated Green Warblers
• Nashville Warbler
• Blue-winged Warbler
• Rose-breasted Grosbeak female at feeder

4/21 Kal-Haven Trail (trailhead to F and 8th), Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Yellow-rumped Warblers (flock)
• Double-breasted Cormorants (3 flying over)
• Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (heard call)
• Ruby crowned Kinglets
• Kingbird

4/14 Kal-Haven Trail (trailhead to F and 8th), Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Yellow-bellied Sapsucker* 
• Swamp Sarrow

4/10 Home, Kalamazoo Co., MI

• Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)

4/6 Home, Kalamazoo Co., MI

• 16 Sandhill Cranes flew over

4/5 Al Sabo Preserve, Kalamazoo Co., MI

• Cooper's Hawk
• Golden-crowned Kinglet

3/29 Home, Kalamazoo Co., MI

• 18 Sandhill Cranes flew over

3/27 Asylum Lake Preserve, Kalamazoo Co., MI

• Bluebird 
• Hairy woodpecker
• Robins
• Phoebe
• Titmouse
• Blue jays
• Red-winged Blackbirds

3/22 Kleinstuck Preserve, Kalamazoo Co., MI

• Phoebe (heard call)

• Spring Peepers, Wood Frogs (chuckle)

3/16 Home, Kalamazoo Co., MI

• White-throated Sparrow (heard call)

3/14 Asylum Lake Preserve, Kalamazoo Co., MI

• 2 Sandhill Cranes
• Red-winged Blackbirds
• House Finches
• Robins
• Song Sparrow
• Fox Sparrow
• Cardinals
• Blue Jays
• Black-capped Chickadees
• White-breasted Nuthatch

3/8 Home, Kalamazoo Co., MI

• 35 Sandhill Cranes flew over
• Carolina Wren singing

2/28 Plainwell, Allegan Co., MI

• Common Merganser

2/27 6th and TU, Prairie Ronde Township, Kalamazoo Co., MI

• Snow Buntings*
• Lapland Longspurs*

2/27 Home, Kalamazoo Co., MI

• 20 Sandhill Cranes flew over

2/11 6th and TU, Prairie Ronde Township, Kalamazoo Co., MI

• Horned Larks (many)

2/10 Southern Kalamazoo Co., MI

• Tree Sparrows 
• Red-tailed Hawk
• Red-shouldered Hawk 
• Rough-legged Hawk 
• Northern Harrier 
• Sandhill Cranes (3) 
• Wild Turkeys (flock)

Christmas Movies

Christmas Note - Hallmark, 2015 - still one of my favorites. 

Newport Christmas - Hallmark, 2025 - time travel, quite enjoyable.

Merry Christmas, Ted Cooper! - Hallmark, 2025 - goofy optimism wins out!

Keller Christmas Vacation - Hallmark, 2025 - goofy, with great scenery!

More the Merrier - Hallmark, 2025 - funny, lovely story about a snowed-in hospital

Santa Tell Me - Hallmark, 2024 - about the 4 Nicks pursuing Olivia

My Secret Santa - Netflix, 2025 - about a poor mom who takes a job as Santa at a resort!

Single on the 25th - Hallmark, 2025 - how to value yourself, live alone and together. 

Twelve Dates 'til Christmas - Hallmark series, 2025 - wonderfully sweet and funny story set in England about a woman, her dad, mom, best friends, and 12 dating adventures. Definitely watch again!

Christmas Baby - Hallmark, 2025 - about a lesbian couple who end up with a baby left in their care. I loved Katherine Barrell who played Kelly.

Goodbye June - Netflix, 2025 - an older woman (Helen Mirren) is dying just before Christmas and her family try to cope. Sad but sweet.

The Holiday - 2006 - about English and American women who exchange houses at Christmas time and revamp their lives. 

Wildflowers 2025

10/23 Home neighborhood, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

Came across Ginkgo (biloba) fruits (from a female tree) today: 

 

 9/23 Kal-Haven trail, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Bluestem goldenrod (Solidago caesia)
• Pasture Rose (Rosa carolina) hips (fruit)

9/11-9/13 Walnut Creek Preserve, Mill Spring, Polk Co., NC:

• Running Cedar (Lycopodium digitatum or obscurum)
• Downy Lobelia (Lobelia puberula)
• Strawberry Bush (Euonymus americanus)
• Carolina Phlox (Phlox carolina)
• Elephant's foot (Elephantopus tomentosus)
• Sensitive Partridge Pea (Chamaecrista nictitans)
• Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis)
• Hog peanuts (Amphicarpaea bracteata) If you dig near the base of the stems and where the vines go into the ground there are edible legumes - the hulls pull off easily. You can eat them raw or boiled and they taste a lot like string beans)
• Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum)

9/9 Walnut Creek Preserve, Mill Spring, Polk Co., NC:

      Find a Plant, NC Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

• Few-flower Milkweed (Asclepias lanceolata) - compared to Butterfly weed (A. tuberosa)
• American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)
• Rattlebox (Ludwigia alternifolia)
• Appalachian Ironweed (Vernonia glauca)
• Rough Hawkweed (Hieracium scabrum)
• Roadside Thistle (Cirsium altissimum)
• Purple or Hollow Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum or fistulosum)
• Green-head Coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata)
• Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
• Goldenrod (Solidago)

• Round-headed Bush Clover (Lespedeza capitata) ?
• Asiatic dayflower (Commelina communis) - non-native

9/7 Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, McCreary & Whitley Co's, KY:

• Maryland Golden Aster (Chrysopsis mariana)
• Carolina Elephant's Foot (Elephantopus carolinianus)
• Little Brown Jug / Arrowleaf Ginger (Hexastylis arifolia)
• Sweet Autumn Clematis (Clematis terniflora) - non-native
• Purple or Hollow Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum or fistulosum)
• Orange Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis)
• Rosinweed (Silphium)
• Goldenrod (Solidago)

7/7 Asylum Lake Preserve, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• White-flowered Chicory (Cichorium intybus f. album Neuman = white form and Neuman being the person who documented it?) It's also known as Italian chicory, or raddichio. 

7/4 Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Cuyahoga Co., OH: Beaver Marsh

• Field Horsetails (Equisetum arvense)
• Spatterdock / Yellow Pond Lily (Nuphar advena)

6/22 Asylum Lake Preserve, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Yellow Iris

6/21 Home:

Ate a couple of Serviceberries - sort of look like blueberries, but less/different flavor

 6/16 Source Pond Trail, Kalamazoo Nature Center, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Red Elderberry (Sambucus racemosa)

5/26 Wolf Tree Nature Trails, Oshtemo Township, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Wild Strawberries (Fragaria)
• Wild Black Raspberries
• Columbine
• Wild Phlox
• Golden Ragwort
• Common Cinquefoil (Potentilla simplex)
• Celandine? at edge of swampy pond

5/13 Kal-Haven Trail (trailhead to F), Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Mayapples
• Wild Geraniums
• Golden Ragwort
• Solomon's Seal (true) (Polygonatum biflorum)
• Starry False Solomon's Seal (Maianthemum stellatum)

5/9  Home, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Wild Ginger 
• Honeysuckle 

5/3  Learned from Mr. Breyfogle that apples and roses are in the same family, which is why apple blossoms smell as delicious as roses!

5/2  Home, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Red trillium (Trillium erectum)
• Flowering Dogwood
• Lilacs

4/29 Kal-Haven Trail (trailhead to F and 8th), Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Wild geraniums
• Solomon's Seal
• Celandine Wood Poppies (Stylophorum diphyllum) (Donna will share some with me!)
• Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides)
• Golden Ragwort (Packera aurea)

4/27  Kalamazoo Nature Center, Maple Beech Trail, Kalamazoo Co., MI: 

• Blue-eyed Mary (Collinsia verna) (first time I've ever seen these!)
• Yellow Violets (Viola pubescens)
• Trout Lilies (Erythronium americanum)
• Marsh Marigolds (Caltha palustris)
• Swamp Buttercups (Ranunculus hispidus)
• False Rue Anemone (Enemion biternatum)
• Squirrel Corn (Dicentra canadensis)
• Dutchman's Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria)
• Cut-leaved Toothwort (Cardamine concatenata)
• Wild Blue Phlox (Phlox divaricata)
• Common Trillium (Grandiflorum)
• Spring Beauties (Claytonia virginica)

4/25 Home, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Serviceberry (Amelanchier)
• Lilacs
• Crabapple tree (Malus prunifolia)

4/22  KalHaven trail to F and 8th, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Common Trillium (grandiflorum)
• Cut-leaved Toothwort (Cardamine concatenata)
• Dutchman's Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria)
• Squirrel Corn (Dicentra canadensis)
• False Rue-Anemone (Enemion biternatum)
• Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)
• Canada Violets (Viola canadensis)
• Sharp-lobed Hepatica (Hepatica acutiloba)
• Spring Beauties (Claytonia virginica)
• Trout Lilies (Erythronium americanum)
• Marsh Marigolds (Caltha palustris)
• Common Violets (Viola sororia)
• Wild Blue Phlox (Phlox divericata)
• Redbud tree

4/19  Home, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• more Bloodroots budded!

4/18  Kleinstuck Nature Preserve, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica) budded

4/14  Home, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Bloodroot: 5
• Toadshade (Trillium sessile) plants

4/7  Home, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Toadshade (Trillium sessile) leaves are up
• Dutchman's Breeches (in galvanized tub)

4/7  Kalamazoo Nature Center, Maple Beech Trail, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Harbinger of Spring (Erigenia bulbosa)
• Cut-leaved Toothwort (Cardamine concatenata)
• Dutchman's Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria)
• False Rue-Anemone (Enemion biternatum)
• Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)
• Sharp-lobed Hepatica (Hepatica acutiloba)
• Spring Beauties (Claytonia virginica)
• Trout lily (Erythronium americanum)
• Common violets (Viola sororia)
• Canada violets (Viola canadensis)
• Marsh Marigolds (Caltha palustris)
• Skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus)
• Scarlet elf cup (Sarcoscypha coccinea) fungi

4/1  KalHaven trail to F and 8th, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Scarlet elf cup (Sarcoscypha coccinea) fungi
• American Columbo (Frasera caroliniensis) - plant takes 3 years to flower - we saw the 1st year basal leaves and the 3rd year dead stalks
• Skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus)
• Hepatica, sharp lobed (Hepatica acutiloba)
• Dutchmans breeches (Dicentra cucullaria)

3/23  Kleinstuck Nature Preserve, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) blooming

3/21  Source Pond Trail, Kalamazoo Nature Center, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Wild Leeks up

3/17 Bishop's Bog Preserve Trail, Portage, Kalamazoo Co., MI: 

• Purple Pitcher Plants (Sarracenia purpurea), although not blooming yet!

Birding 2025

Birding 2025 (* = new to life list)

12/30 Traveling I-94 at mile 102, Calhoun Co., MI:

• Bald Eagle (juvenile)

12/24 Asylum Lake Preserve, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• American Kestrel

10/24 Asylum Lake Preserve, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Blue Jays
• Bluebirds
• Cardinals
• Cedar Waxwings
• Goldfinches
• Juncos
• Mourning doves
• Nuthatches (White-breasted)
• Robins
• Turkey Vulture
• White-crowned Sparrows
• White-throated Sparrows
• Woodpeckers: 
• Downy
• Red-bellied
• Yellow-shafted/Northern Flickers

10/23 Home, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Junco female along with male
• Red-breasted Nuthatch
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

10/22 Home, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Brown Creeper

10/17 Kleinstuck Nature Preserve, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Catbird
• Eastern Towhees
• Robins
• White-crowned Sparrows

10/14 Home, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Junco (male)
• Sandhill cranes (11)

10/8 Asylum Lake Preserve, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• White-throated Sparrow
• Sandshill Cranes - 2 adults, 1 juvenile

9/24 Home, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Red-breasted Nuthatch

9/23 Kal-Haven Trail, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Barred Owl
• Pewee (heard calls)

9/19 Asylum Lake Preserve, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• I think I saw a Red-headed Woodpecker!

9/14 Traveling, NC:

• Black Vulture

9/12-9/13 Walnut Creek Preserve, Polk Co., NC:

• Carolina Wren 
• Yellow-throated Vireo 
• Wild turkeys 
• Whip-poor-will 
• Phoebe 
• Titmouse
• 4 Wild Turkeys
• Scarlet Tanager (hc)

9/9 Walnut Creek Preserve, Polk Co., NC:

• Pileated Woodpecker
• Carolina Chickadee * 

7/7 Asylum Lake Preserve, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Eastern Kingbird
• Mute Swan cygnets

7/2 Gorge Metro Park, Cuyahoga Falls, Summit Co., OH:

• Bank Swallows (nesting in the Cascade Valley Overlook cliff) 

7/3 Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Cuyahoga Co., OH: Brandywine Falls; The Ledges

7/4 Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Cuyahoga Co., OH: Beaver Marsh

• Great Blue Heron
• Wood Ducks (females, juveniles)
• Tree Swallows
• various frogs, including bullfrogs

6/22 Asylum Lake Preserve, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Baltimore Oriole (pair)
• Catbird
• Great Blue Heron (2)
• House Wren
• Indigo Bunting
• Killdeer
• Tree Swallow
• Song Sparrow (hc)
• Common Yellowthroat Warbler (hc)

6/16 Delano Homestead Source Pond & Headwaters Trails, Kalamazoo Nature Center, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Baltimore Oriole
• Barn Swallows
• Blue Jays
• Cardinals
• Catbird
• Chickadees
• Crows
• Goldfinches
• Mourning Doves
• Nuthatches
• Pewee (Eastern Wood) - peee-ooh-wEEEE
• Pileated Woodpeckers (2)
• Red-winged Blackbirds
• Robins
• Sandhill Crane

Heard calls:

• Acadian Flycatcher (whip sound!)
• Common Yellowthroat Warbler
• Wood Thrush

Nonbirds: Bullfrogs!

5/26 Wolf Tree Nature Trails, Oshtemo Township, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Red-eyed Vireo (heard and seen!)
• Indigo Bunting (heard and seen!)
• Great Crested Flycatcher (hc)
• Eastern Wood Pewee (hc)

5/24 Oswalt Farm, east of Vicksburg, southern Kalamazoo Co., MI

Went birding in a Audubon Society of Kalamazoo caravan yesterday in southern-most Kalamazoo county:

• Wild Turkey running fast in a field, parallel to the road 
• Kingbirds 
• Barn Swallows 
• Great Blue Heron taking off from a ditch 
• Turkey vultures lined up roosting on fence posts, some with wings outstretched to warm them in the sun 
• Bobolinks 
• Yellow Warbler
• Great-crested Flycatchers 
• Song Sparrow 
• Meadowlark females 
• Willow Flycatcher

Also, 6 deer running and playing.

5/22 Asylum Lake Preserve, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Barn Swallows
• Tree Swallows
• Catbird
• Indigo Bunting (hc)
• Baltimore Oriole (hc)
• Red-eyed Vireo (hc)
• Oven Bird (? - acted like it, white circle around eye)

5/14 Kleinstuck Nature Preserve, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Green Herons (3)
• Olive-sided Flycatcher
• Magnolia Warbler (female)

5/13 Kal-Haven Trail (trailhead to F), Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Wood Thrush (heard call)
• Red-eyed Vireo
• Red-shouldered hawk (hc)
• Pileated Woodpecker
• Rose-breasted Grosbeak
• Catbird
• American Redstart !
• Bluebird nesting in a cavity
• Barred Owl !
• Yellow-throated Vireo (hc)

5/9 Home, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Rose-breasted Grosbeak (male)

5/4 Kleinstuck Nature Preserve, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Black-throated Green Warblers
• Black-and-white Warbler
• Northern Waterthrushes (pair)
• Palm Warbler
• Yellow-rumped Warbler (2)
• Common Yellowthroat
• Orange-crowned Warbler
• American Redstart
• Gray Catbird

5/3 Arthur & Mildred Woollam Nature Preserve, Texas Township, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Yellow-rumped Warbler
• 8 Great Blue Herons sitting on nests in a rookery at Scouter's Pond!

5/2 Travelling I-94 westbound, mile 179:

• Great Egret

5/1 Asylum Lake Preserve, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Baltimore Oriole
• Catbird
• Bluebirds

4/30 Home, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Baltimore Oriole

4/29 Kal-Haven Trail (trailhead to F and 8th), Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Nashville Warbler 
• Wild Turkey
• Trumpeter Swans (pair)
• Wood Ducks (pair)
• Indigo Bunting
• Palm Warbler
• Yellow-rumped Warbler
• Common Yellowthroat (warbler with the black mask)
• Yellow-throated Vireo (raspy dog whistle)
• Baltimore Oriole
• Bluebird
• Sandhill Cranes (pair)

4/27  Kalamazoo Nature Center, Maple Beech Trail, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Tree Swallow 
• Yellow-throated Vireo (hc) 
• Pileated Woodpeckers (pair)
• Louisiana Waterthrush (hc) 

4/22  Home, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Chipping Sparrows
• White-throated Sparrows
• Carolina Wren

4/22  Kal-Haven Trail (trailhead to F and 8th), Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Hermit Thrush (reddish tail, 1st of thrushes to arrive in spring, pumps tail) 
• Trumpeter Swans 
• Barred Owl 
• Brown Creepers 
• Sandhill Cranes
• Pileated Woodpecker 
• Black and White Warbler 
• Bluebird (male)
• Blue Gray Gnatcatcher (hc)
• Red-shouldered hawk (hc)
• Towhee (hc)

Not a bird: Mourning Cloak Butterfly!

4/18  Kleinstuck Nature Preserve, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Ruby-crested Kinglet 
• White-throated Sparrows (heard calls)
• Great Blue Heron

4/17  Willard Rose Prairie, Kal Nature Center, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• American Woodcocks 8:30-9:00 p.m.! 20 years since the last time I saw one while sitting on a bench at Blandford Nature Center when I heard rustling and it came out right beside me. First sighting: 1998 at Pelee Island, when I saw the mating ritual for the first time.

4/3  Fort Custer Recreation Area, Blue Trail, Augusta, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Heard Phoebe

4/1  Kal-Haven Trail (trailhead to F and 8th), Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Pair Trumpeter swans
• 1 Carolina wren
• 2 Canada Goose
• 1 Wood Duck
• 1 Mallard
• 1 Wild Turkey
• 1 Mourning Dove
• 1 Turkey Vulture
• 4 Red-bellied Woodpeckers (2 pair)
• 3 Downy Woodpeckers
• 1 Hairy Woodpecker
• 1 Pileated Woodpecker
• 2 Northern Flickers
• 6 Blue Jays
• 4 American Crows
• 4 Black-capped Chickadees
• 7 Tufted Titmice
• 6 Golden-crowned Kinglets
• 3 White-breasted Nuthatches
• 2 Brown Creepers
• 6 American Robins
• 1 House Finch
• 4 American Goldfinches
• 5 Dark-eyed Juncos
• 2 White-throated Sparrows
• 7 Song Sparrows - "dee dee dee" lead in
• 6 Red-winged Blackbirds
• 8 Northern Cardinals

3/30 Home, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Yet another flock of 25 or so Sandhill Cranes ascending in circles over the house before flying onward

3/19 Home, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Flock of 24 Sandhill Cranes ascending in circles before flying onward

3/17 Bishop's Bog Preserve Trail, Portage, Kalamazoo Co., MI:

• Red-shouldered Hawk
• Grackles

2/1, Kalamazoo Nature Center, Kalamazoo, MI

• pair of Northern Flickers

1/26, southern Kalamazoo Co., MI

Went birding in a Audubon Society of Kalamazoo caravan yesterday in southern-most Kalamazoo county (Schoolcraft, Vicksburg). Thanks to Amy Ranger for driving and scribing! Species listed in order of sighting:

• Red tailed hawk
• Mute swans
• Juncos
• Bluebirds: several different flocks!
• Downy woodpeckers
• Red bellied woodpecker
• Cardinal male
• Goldfinches
• Hooded merganser
• Canada geese
• Mallards
• American Tree Sparrows (a flock)
• Great blue heron (in a drainage ditch)
• Bald eagles: 2 (one a juvenile, still in dark plumage)
• Northern harrier male
• Sandhill cranes

We also saw a red fox dancing (aka hunting) in a field and loads of white tailed deer.

1/28, traveling in MI, OH

Near Galesburg and Battle Creek on I-94:

• 2 Turkey Vultures at each place

OH, along I-80:

• 2 Bald Eagles (1 adult, 1 juvenile); a 3rd one in a huge nest at the top of a tree, further along

1/30, traveling along I-80 in OH

Flock of Snow Geese flying over

Friend-enemy vs Pluralism and Peaceful Activism

French, David. "Us and Them Is All the Rage." New York Times, January 26, 2025. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/26/opinion/trump-maga-schmitt.html?unlocked_article_code=1.sE4.gD60.FTpUuocWWEgj&smid=url-share

Fascinating opinion essay. French quotes Carl Schmitt, a German political theorist who described "the “friend-enemy distinction.” ... "One of liberalism’s deficiencies, according to Schmitt, is a reluctance to draw the friend-enemy distinction."

I disagree - liberals' enemies are those who express hatred (verbally, physically, etc.). Liberals make it impolitic to express hatred overtly.

But French goes on to discuss the founders of the U.S.A.: a metaphor of John Adam's means that, "Pluralism requires both law and ethics to function, and without ethics the law will fail." French describes Jeffrey Rosen's book The Pursuit of Happiness by writing, "the founders envisioned the pursuit of happiness not as the pursuit of pleasure or wealth, but rather as 'the pursuit of virtue — as being good, rather than feeling good.' Benjamin Franklin, for example, listed temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquillity, chastity and humility as indispensable elements of virtue."  ... "The virtues Franklin listed...are universal moral obligations that apply to our treatment of everyone." ... "That's the social compact of pluralism. ... And in all circumstances, your fundamental human rights must be preserved." [all emphases mine]

However, the "friend-enemy" model sees kindness as immoral: "In the world of the friend-enemy distinction, your ultimate virtue is found in your willingness to fight. Your ultimate vice is betraying your side by refusing the call to political war."

French states that in the "friend-enemy" model, loyalty supercedes political idealogy: "Friends can get away with violent crimes." People who "publicly criticized Trump" are "now ... enemies who have to pay the price." ... "Any deviation from orthodoxy is perceived as evil, and evil must be utterly eradicated. ... And there’s no humility...." In this model, people see kindness as evil and cruelty as good.

In my view, thus the difference between passive resistance or peaceful activism and the "friend-enemy" viewpoint! Passivists engage others with dignity, respecting their human rights, while protesting the "enemy's" actions in nonviolent ways.