Weekend Events!

Sat 10/8 9:30am: Fall stream monitoring from the Mid-Michigan Environmental Action Council.

Where: Munn Park on Jolly road.

Event Description:

"Come join the Mid-Michigan Environmental Action Council for a fun day out in the streams. Meet at Munn Park (near the Jolly / Aurelius intersection in Lansing) at 9:30am for a short training session, then we will head out into the streams and collect some bugs! The bugs we collect tell a story of the health of the stream at each of our 6 sites. Complementary snacks, refreshments, and a light lunch will be provided. NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY! Dress to have fun, and help us take care of the Red Cedar watershed. Monitoring will end in the early afternoon. Waders provided, but feel free to bring your own."

https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=248800841826549

*Meet at 9:00am behind the NR Building for rides.

Sat 10/8 4:30pm: Crane Fest in Bellevue!

*Meet behind the NR Building at 4:30pm for rides!

Event Description:

"Imagine a cool crisp afternoon amidst the splendor of autumn colors. The stillness is interrupted by the eerie prehistoric cry of the cranes. As the Sandhill Cranes glide into view, you are thrilled by the majestic beauty of Michigan’s largest bird.

The Festival was started to raise awareness and appreciation of our natural heritage, and to support ongoing educational and conservation projects of the Michigan Audubon Society and Baker Sanctuary. CraneFest is a jointly-sponsored event between the Kiwanis Club of Battle Creek and Michigan Audubon; the festival site is the Kiwanis Youth Area, overlooking Big Marsh Lake.

A major attraction will be watching thousands of Sandhill Cranes return to the adjoining Baker Sanctuary. The “Fly-In” typically begins slowing around 4 PM with best viewing of large numbers of cranes between 5 PM and dusk. Admission is free and parking is $3.

More than 6,000 cranes are expected to greet more than 5,000 CraneFest visitors again this year. With autumn color predicted to be near its peak the same weekend, everyone should consider making CraneFest 2010 part of their fall color tour.

Sandhill Cranes are believed to be the oldest living bird species, having existed for more than 9 million years in their present form. The cranes are Michigan’s largest bird measuring up to five feet tall with wings spanning an impressive six to seven feet. Thousands of these majestic birds return annually to roost at Big Marsh Lake in Baker Sanctuary before completing their autumn migration to Florida. With more than 9,400 Sandhill Cranes counted last October, Baker Sanctuary set a new single day state record for crane numbers. Saved from the brink of extinction, cranes have become a Michigan environmental success story."

Festival includes nature walks, food, merchandise stands, falconers, talks, and most importantly the sandhill cranes flying in. It's a relaxed social kind of event.

Plan on getting there between 4:30-5:30 and staying til about 7:00is.

http://cranefest.org

U.P. Camping Trip

Well as most of you know the Fisheries and Wildlife Club is going on a grand adventure to Michigan's beautiful Upper Peninsula on September 30th, 2011. This will be a camping excursion located in the Picture Rocks National Lake Shore area. There are marvels in store beyond belief and a fun time is always a guarantee.

So here are few more details of what you need:
-The trip fee is $30 (you must pay before you go)
-Tent (if you have one!)
-Sleeping bag/pad
-Outdoor gear (hiking shoes, rain clothes, and warm clothes)
-Binoculars and Field Guides
-Extra spending money (souvenirs and spontaneous meals out(this almost always happens))
-And this is a carpooling event so if you can drive please let us know!

And an itinerary you might ask?
Friday September 30th
-8am Depart East Lansing
-12(noon) Lunch (this may be on the road)
-2pm Arrive at Big Springs
-3:30pm Arrive at Seney N.W.R.
-6pm Setup camp and make dinner

Saturday October 1st
-8am Breakfast at campsite
-9am Depart for waterfall(s)
-10:30am Pictured Rocks National Lake shore
-12(noon) Lunch (we are brown baggin' it)
-2pm Recreational opportunities (hiking, fishing, naturalist identification, or just a relaxing afternoon)
-6pm Dinner

Sunday October 2nd
-8am/10:30am Breakfast and pack-out
-10:30am Exploration or fun (or maybe both)
-12(noon) Lunch
-6pm/8pm arrive back in East Lansing

*Any question contact Matt Ocko (ockomatt@msu.edu) or just leave a comment on the blog. I would like this to serve as a way for others to communicate about the trip as well in reference to camping supplies one might need!*

Event: FW Club vs. GSO Soccer Challenge!

This Saturday (4/9) @ 4pm the Fisheries and Wildlife Club will be taking on the Graduate Student Organization in a game of soccer! This game is for sport, friendship, and ultimately bragging rights! It will be held at the Veterinary Medical Field, this field is located to the eastern side of the vet med building! Come out and support your club and gain the right to claim SUPREMACY!

FENNER OUTREACH EVENT

Join the FW Club for some fantastic Earth Day fun on Sunday, April 17th, from 12:00pm-4:00pm at Fenner Nature Center just south of campus! This event is a great opportunity for students to get the chance to get kids excited about wildlife and the natural world! We will be holding three different walks, as well as making crafts, and having informational talks inside the center. The schedule for Sunday is as follows:

12:00-4:00pm - Crafts (Native Plants, Earth Chain), One-on-one animal exhibit tours, Animal taxidermy explanations, Story time
1:00pm - Macro invertebrate/Pond Life Walk
2:00pm - Forest Floor/Leaf Litter Walk
3:00pm - Bird/Tree Walk

So, whether you can stay for the whole shebang or only stop on by for a few minutes, we would love to see you there!

FW Grad Student Symposium

~The FW Graduate Student Symposium. We've mentioned this for the last few meetings, but it is strongly encouraged that you go. This provides an excellent opportunity to familiarize yourself with the different projects graduate students in the department are working on. We've attached the schedule, so you can pick out the talks that are of interest to you. You can attend as much of it as you'd like. More information can be found at http://fw.msu.edu/gsosymp/. Even if you are thinking about going, the G.S.O. asks that you go to this website and take a minute to sign up for FREE.

-Friday February 25th.
- 8:00am - 8:30pm
- The Union, 2nd Floor


Schedule: http://fw.msu.edu/gsosymp/2011schedule.xlsx

GPS/GIS Workshop

Come get a crash course in GPS use and simple GIS use! We will be meeting in the Polar Bear Room at the Natural Resources Building and then heading out behind the building to the FW Club’s Management Area to play with some GPS units! We will then head inside to the computer lab to play around with some GIS tools.

-Lead by Graduate Student Daniel Wieferi

*Cost is FREE for dues paying FW Club members and $5 for non-members!

There is limited space, so if you would like to attend, please email us with your name at
msufwclub@gmail.com.

Wood Duck Box Cleanout

Come have a fun couple of hours hiking around in the snow and helping the DNR collect data from wood duck boxes! We will use GPS to locate the boxes and collect data on how many egg shells are there, other animal activity, etc.

WHEN: Saturday 2/12
9am - 12pm

WHERE: Rose Lake DNR Research Center

**We will all meet behind the Natural Resources Building at 8:45am to give everyone a ride.

Make sure to bring warm clothes and boots if you have them!