I hate to start every post with we’ve been busy but, hey,
we’ve been busy.
Looks like the cave I was monitoring in the UP was not a
hibernaculum. Either that or the associated bats are dead. There’s a disease
called white-nosed syndrome that is ripping through cave hibernating bats in
the northeast and it has hit Michigan. Some species are seeing 90% die offs in
other U.P. hibernacula. I had some bats flying around the area but none using
the cave while I was monitoring. The numbers were down from two years ago but I
don’t know if that is a function f white-nose syndrome or it’s still too early
in the season. Given what we have heard from other areas I’m voting for the
more pessimistic option.
Despite some disappointment from the bat results, the UP is
always fun, even when the weather doesn’t cooperate. I couldn’t monitor a couple
days because the temperatures were too cold for the bats to come out. Says
something when it’s warmer in a cave than outside on a spring evening. Spring
was a solid week to ten days behind what it was down here in Lansing. But Lise
came anyway up for a couple days to keep me company and we got out for some
fun. Got some birding in and visited some places we did bird surveys for my
work about 12 years ago.
Mackinac Bridge fogged in.
Sunny everywhere but in the actual Mackinac Straits. The fog is exactly where the big freighter and tankers pass under the bridge.
Birds nesting, a sign of spring.
As a sure sign that tourist season is right around the
corner, Java Joe’s finally opened for the season. The proprietor is quite the
character and a full blown liberal. Among other things, restaurants are his
retirement business/hobby. He owns three of them in St. Ignace. In January he
and his wife make a run to Florida in a crazy van to buy “the crap we sell in
here,” meaning souvenir tea pots and cookie jars. When I asked if anyone
really buys that stuff he said he sells about 6,000 a season and makes more
selling that stuff than liquor in the other restaurants. Which scares me a
little. If people are willing to buy that stuff, they’re willing to buy a Trump
presidency.
Java Joe’s van. They travel all over the country in this thing. Joe was a Chippewa County Commissioner for 25 years.
And moving on to retirement, it looks like there’s no going
back. MSU just sent me the official MSU retirement rocking chair, complete with an
engraving of Beaumont Tower. And I just received word that the following will
be my official retirement bio. Not sure where this came from. I really only had
input on the last line;
Edward Schools received his A.A.S.
from Skagit Valley College, and his B.S. in physics and M.S. in applied ecology
from Indiana University. Prior to his time with Extension he served in the U.
S. Navy and worked as a defense contractor. He has been with MSU Extension as
the Geographic Information Systems/Information Technology supervisor for the
Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI) since October 2000.
Throughout his time at MSU, Mr.
Schools’ motivations consistently focused on the good of MNFI and his work
reflected favorably on MFNI, MSU Extension, and MSU. Mr. Schools met and
exceeded expectations time and time again with his strong leadership skills and
high rate of productivity.
Over the
course of his career, Mr. Schools was a key component in accomplishing many
goals that led to development in the MNFI program including testing the Biotics
Software, developing the Rare Species Review program, and completing a major
study of bird migration patterns in the Great Lakes. He played a significant
role in securing funding and participated in multiple projects that made great
contributions to the program.
Ed was known
to challenge thinking, offer fresh perspectives, and bring a positive energy to
the workplace. This, along with his willingness to take on leadership and
motivate personnel, made him an asset that was valued immensely by MSU and the
MNFI program.
In
retirement Ed plans to focus on his photography, travel, play outside, and
produce a CD of Henry Mancini’s greatest hits on the bagpipe.
The official MSU retirement rocking chair holding a soon to be official MSU retiree.
Ed's and Lise's Biggish Years 