Wildfire!

[Colliemom]

Awhile back, Maraslet posted a thread "Heading South" about her latest birding adventure. I posted in that thread about the rare Kirtland Warbler that flies back and forth from the Bahamas to northern Michigan to nest each spring and the fact that they will only use young jack pine trees (they are ground nesters) whic h grow in northern Michigan about 25-30 miles south and east of me. I also wrote about the pines and how they are very explosive in spring and will only regenerate by fire. Well, this is what happpened to the birds nesting area this past Tuesday and Wednesday. This was caused by somebody burning leaves and the fire got away from them. To date it has consumed 8,800 acres and is 95% contained but not out. I have friends living in this area and by fate of chance due to dying winds, they are spared, but 12 homes are destroyed and numerous outbuildings. It's not over yet. It is yet to be determined if the birds were currently nesting or not. There are only about 1000 pairs in the world all hee except for a nesting pair found in WI and Michigans U.P

[avalen]

what a shame, although I must say the pictures are not showing up for me,
but the wildfires definitely do some damage

[Bethers]

Did you move the images after putting them in the post? I can't see anything either.

[Colliemom]

No Ididn't. I can see them on my post. But I did copy them from the TV station pictures and they should have come through. Got any ideas Beth?

[Bethers]

Your code is in properly if that's where they are on photobucket - but I can't see them. No clue what might have happened - as I get the "this image has been moved or deleted" message from Photobucket.

[BirdbyBird]

They are showing up for me...... and they look scary....

[Bethers]

Maybe it's something in Windows 7 blocking them - don't know what - can see all the other pics.

[BarbaraRose]

I hate hearing about wildfires in the spring! I think about all the babies that can't escape and it breaks my heart! They are totally helpless victims. So sad! Hopefully, those birds hadn't nested yet, or if they did they could get away from there and try again this year.

[Birdie]

They weren't showing before, but they are now.

Friday edit: The pics are gone again today.
That kind of tree really burns fast and hot. Too bad - reminds of the Arizona and New Mexico fires a couple years ago.

Unfortunately the nesting birds would have arrived on territory most likely within the last 3 weeks. Some earlier than others. Let's hope they were a little delayed by the weather pattern, but they come, I believe from the SE flying to the NW. If we are lucky the Mother's day storms up that direction may have kept them back a bit.

I just got back from Mass, NH and VT on a birding trip and many of the warblers there were just arriving and some passing right on thru.

[Colliemom]

Well, theere is going to be trouble down there today I think. The fire is now 80 percent contained, but the winds are expected to be gusy to 25-30 mph from E/SE. They sadi last night that the fire is starting to tir up "dust devils" those little mini tornadoes. That means the winds are starting to pick up. If that happens, it will take off again and my friends will be in danger once again cause I will push the south line toward them. And push the smoke up my way again. I"m about 35 miles give or take from the edge of this fire, so depending on winds, we get the smoke. No danger up here and won't be. We have a differnt type of vegetation and trees here, not that it couldn't happen, but it's going of in the other direction. I told my friends to come up here if they have to ge out. Those pictures are of the crown fire.

[Nasoosie]

Pictures not visible to me, and I have Windows XP---getting message about image being moved or deleted from photobucket.

I am so sorry to hear about that fire. Wildfires like that are terrifying for both humans and all the poor little creatures in their paths. I am praying for a break in the winds, or for some much-needed heavy rains to dampen everything down. Please keep us informed, and stay safe yourself.

[Liz]

I can't see the pictures on my MacBook Pro either.

[snowball]

me either and I have vista
sheila

[JanetA]

darn that photobucket! ! !

[Colliemom]

GRRRRRRRRR I got some pictures from a different source and wanted to post them here to see if you could get them this time and I can't even get Photobucket to download on my computer period. Seems like it's website isn't working right or something.
The fire is completely surrounded now and they are mopping up hot spots etc. People have been allowed to go back home and rain came last night. Just one small area is still closed. It has comsumed over 8500 acres, 13 homes and about 40 outbuildings.