In the Wild

It is impossible to look outside and not be mesmerized by the dazzling orange, blazing red, and glittering yellow leaves covering the trees and falling from the sky this time of year. It is a magical time to play outside, and the opportunity to enjoy it is not long lasting.

Ever wonder why leaves change color in the fall? It’s fairly simple, but first you must understand the basics of photosynthesis. Trees absorb water through their roots and carbon dioxide from the air. Simply put, plants use the energy from the sun to convert water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and glucose.

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Photo: Sharp-Shinned Hawk, the smallest species of hawk in North America. It was netted at the station on September 22^nd 2014. Photo credit: Zak Pohlen

Ever wonder how wildlife biologists track bird migration, net birds, or determine their age? Look no further than the Burke Lake Banding Station.

Gier Park School "Salmon in the Classroom" release. Photo Credit: David Kenyon, Michigan DNR

Coho salmon are slowly swimming their way back to East Lansing and the public has the opportunity to run with them during the “Red Cedar Salmon Run,” an annual 5K on Michigan State University’s campus.

Photo: White-tailed deer, credit Scott Bauer, USDA Agricultural Research Service

Image: A hawk (probably sharp-shinned) in MSU’s Beal Gardens earlier this year.

Simply put, East Lansing birds, like the one shown above, breathe differently from East Lansing reptiles and mammals, including this author.

Image: Artist’s rendition of what the alley off Ann Street Plaza could look like with art.

Note: This article was updated on August 19th, 2015 to indicate that the location of proposed condo development near Chandler and State Roads is Falcon Pointe, not Hawk's Nest as we originally reported.

The August 18 meeting of City Council was a “work session,” which means it was not videotaped or broadcast. You can listen to an audio recording by clicking here.

Photo of sandhill crane by Tom Hodgson for the Phyllis Haehnle Memorial Audobon Sanctuary near Jackson, MI.

ELi does not allow editorializing, so, reader, when I tell you that sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) are magnificent, I am simply being descriptive., This summer and fall resident of East Lansing is a beautiful, extravagant, fancy-dancing bird.

Echinacea

Native plants offer aesthetic appeal while providing many more environmental and time saving benefits compared to traditionally grown nursery plants.

Native plants provide much needed food and shelter for insects and wildlife and because they have evolved to survive Michigan’s ever-changing weather conditions, they do not require additional fertilizers, pesticides, frequent cuttings or watering once established.

Bees are high-profile creatures these days, and one (tasty) way to help them to thrive is to become a backyard beekeeper.

At times referred to as the “angels of agriculture,” honey bees pollinate millions of crops per year and an estimated one in three bites of food you eat. Unfortunately, their populations have declined dramatically in recent years due to habitat loss, deforestation, industrial agriculture, parasitic mites, and Colony Collapse Disorder.

Honeybee collecting pollen for developing offspring.