Environment

They’re back, but now osprey nests are endangered

By |

By EVAN KREAGER
Capital News Service
LANSING — The osprey, a species of special concern that has rebounded in Michigan over the past half-century, now faces a new threat. A demand for easy communication and power distribution increased the need for cellular and utility towers. Ospreys nest on tall objects and will nest in these towers anytime they can, said Sergej Postupalsky, a Wisconsin-based ornithologist who has specialized in osprey research for 50 years. But the nests obstruct access to towers and lines. The nests also weigh down towers and lines, and in some instances even cause fires So utility workers often move them so that they can work.

Education

Michigan campuses ranked for—what else?—snow

By |

By EVAN KREAGER
Capital News Service
LANSING — Two of the 10 snowiest college campuses in the nation are right here in Michigan, according to a list published by the AccuWeather forecasting service. Michigan Technological University in Houghton at the northernmost part of the Upper Peninsula ranked first with an average of nearly 200 inches of snowfall annually. And the eighth snowiest campus is Western Michigan University, the weather service says. On average, the Kalamazoo University receives 67 inches of snow each year. Placing No.

Environment

Decades change landscape as town dies, lake moves

By |

By EVAN KREAGER
Capital News Service
Buried under huge, rolling sand dunes on Michigan’s southwest coast lies a town once called Singapore. Until about 130 years ago, this Lake Michigan port town was near what is now Saugatuck. Founded in 1836, it was made up of 23 buildings and about 100 people, according to Kit Lane, author of “Buried Singapore: Michigan’s Imaginary Pompeii.”

It was surrounded by dense forests. But they were cut to help rebuild Chicago after the Great Fire of 1871 nearly destroyed that city almost 100 miles away. Little did Singapore residents know that by deforesting the area, they were bringing the dunes to life.

Environment

Undaunted by federal rejection, Michigan pursues drone opportunities

By |

By JESSICA BATANIAN AND EVAN KREAGER
Capital News Service
LANSING – While the state recently lost its bid for a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) drone test site in northern Michigan, aviation officials insist they’ll be able to advance the new industry. The FAA recently designated sites in six other states, none in the Great Lakes region. Those now have federal support for civil and commercial exploration of what are known as unmanned aerial systems.
The competition received 25 applications from 24 states. The winners are Alaska, Nevada, New York, North Dakota, Texas and Virginia. Michigan remains committed to advancing the fledgling industry, said Rick Carlson, transport and safety manager for the Department of Transportation (MDOT) Office of Aeronautics.

Environment

Osprey rebound in Southeast Michigan as researchers track migration

By |

By EVAN KREAGER
Capital News Service
LANSING — There are at least 50 breeding osprey pairs in southern Michigan, up from a single nest some two decades ago. That’s seven years ahead of a goal to have 30 pairs in the area. Nests are spread across counties in the southern part of the state. And the birds are on the move. One of them named Monroe Spark recently reached Cuba.