SPRING 2023
(in the Thumb of Michigan)
"
+++ NEWS +++
SPRING EQUINOX - MARCH 20, 2023 - 5:24 P.M. EDT
FIRST FULL DAY OF SPRING - MARCH 21, 2023
GLORIA'S 100th BIRTHDAY - JANUARY 30, 2023
INDIAN DAVE IN THE MINDEN CITY HERALD
++TWO ARTICLES BY J.H. MCCOY
Born in Detroit on January 30, 1923, Gloria grew up in Minden City and lived there all her life. She married Joseph McCoy, and together they had twelve children, eleven of whom grew into adulthood. She was selfless and giving - a blessing and an example to all who knew her. On her birthday, she lies covered with snow -
at peace and at rest in the white winter silence.
ETERNAL REST GRANT ONTO HER, O LORD
"DEER TALK" / "OVERHEARD" IN HURON COUNTY
"I don't care if deer season IS OVER! I am not taking any chances!"
"We are spending our last winter together as a family.
In the spring, we will all go our separate ways."
"I hate being a one-horner!"
"Can we be on your website? That IS a camera, isn't it?"
"Where is everybody going?"
JANUARY SNOW AND ICE ON LAKE HURON
GEESE AND SWANS AT HOME IN THE FRIGID WATERS: CAN YOU LOCATE THE INVASIVE SPECIES?
(WWW.MINDENCITYHERALD.COM)
SCREECH OWL - RED PHASE - A FIRST
ALL PREVIOUS OWLS WERE GRAY PHASE
OWL HOUSE FROM THE BLACK CROW IN MINDEN CITY, MICHIGAN
"If you build it, they will come."
KESTREL
SNOWY OWL - FIRST ONE OF THE YEAR
OMEN?
Seen on Ruth Road in Huron County, January 30, 2022.
On my way to the cemetery to take a picture of my mother's grave on her 99th birthday!
BEST BUTTERFLY OF THE SUMMER....SO FAR.
AUGUST 18, 2022
REMEMBERING MONICA
BIRD WATCHER EXTRAORDINAIRE, HEAD OF THE PORT CRESCENT HAWK WATCH, CHAIRMAN OF THE HURON COUNTY CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT, ENVIRONMENTALIST, CRUSADER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES, EXPERT ON HURON COUNTY BIRDS, MENTOR, AND FRIEND.
MONICA KORNACKI ESSENMACHER
AUGUST 26, 1952 - APRIL 21, 2022
Monica Essenmacher died in the late afternoon on April 21, 2022. Her unexpected death shocked the Thumb Area birding community and brought many to tears.
She succumbed to complications after a heart procedure in Bay Regional Medical Center.
The day before her death she was at Kinch Road counting hawks and enjoying the spring weather during the annual raptor migration along Lake Huron. While in the hospital, she was concerned about recruiting volunteers to cover the hawk watch while she recuperated. Her beloved hawks were on her mind to the end.
Monica was a very spiritual person; she believed in the power of nature and the environment. She had a "spirit animal," the Osprey
(of course, it was a raptor). On the day of her death, her friend and fellow birder Darlene Friedman was in Harbor Beach, watching and photographing birds.
At about 5 p.m., almost the exact time of Monica's passing, Darlene took this picture of an osprey, which flew right over her car. She
sent the picture to Monica's daughter in the hospital, unaware of
her friend's death. Her daughter found a special meaning in the circumstance and photo. She said it was a comfort to her.
All who see this picture and knew Monica share in the sentiment.
The Osprey was Monica's "spirit animal," her totem; and now like
the Osprey, Monica also "flies free."
Monica was a mentor and a friend. However, I did not learn of her passing until April 27th. A fellow birder gave me that awful news
as we talked on the phone. I was shocked, stunned, and saddened.
I still find it hard to believe that she is gone.
In fact, the morning of the 27th, it had snowed and I sent Monica a picture of my snow-covered deck with the caption: "Michigan, my Michigan." Little did I know that she would never see it - that she
was already beyond all earthly care.
Monica Essenmacher was a legend in the Thumb birding community. Her name will always be associated with hawks and the hawk migration. Each spring and fall, she will be remembered by those
who look skyward and follow the raptors on their annual flight across the Thumb.
The hawk migration was on her mind to the end. She left this world thinking about what she loved most.
Monica's spirit lives on - in the ever-changing seasons; in the winds that propel hawks and raptors on their migratory journeys; and in
their freedom and power.
Look skyward. Listen for her in the wind. She is there.
Rest in peace, Monica.
Fly free in the unbounded skies.
PHOTO BY DARLENE FRIEDMAN - HARBOR BEACH, APRIL 21, 2022, 5 PM.
WATCHING FOR WARBLERS IN THE "TANGLE"
BLUE JAY CLOSE-UP IN THE "TANGLE"
NOTHING GOLD CAN STAY
ROBERT FROST
** THERE HAVE BEEN VERY FEW BIG BUTTERFLIES THIS YEAR,
AND I HAVE BEEN WATCHING. ONLY AN OCCASIONAL MONARCH.
NATURE'S FIRST GREEN IS GOLD,
HER HARDEST HUE TO HOLD.
HER EARLY LEAF'S A FLOWER;
BUT ONLY SO AN HOUR.
THEN LEAF SUBSIDES TO LEAF.
SO DAWN GOES DOWN TO DAY.
SO EDEN SANK TO GRIEF,
+++ WINTER 2021 - PICTURES AND FEATURES +++
NOTHING GOLD CAN STAY.
**(9636 Roberts Rd. - HOME)**
THE NEWS SECTION IS TEMPORARILY PAUSED DUE TO HEALTH ISSUES.
ENJOY PHOTOS FROM EARLIER SEASONS, AND CHECK BACK LATER. THANKS.
+++ SCROLL DOWN FOR "REMEMBERING MONICA"
4/21/2022 Linwood, Michigan
Monica Kornacki Essenmacher, an ardent naturalist, birder, and teacher, who recorded hundreds of hawk migrations across Michigan, died April 21. She was 69. Friends knew her simply as "Birdie," and it was clear why. Over the past four decades, she spent countless hours crisscrossing the Saginaw Valley and Thumb in her Subaru, binoculars in hand, documenting Michigan's native birds as few have.
Monica had a special love for raptors and founded the Port Crescent Hawk Watch, a nonprofit that enabled fellow enthusiasts to track avian migrations across the Thumb.
She also co-founded the Huron Audubon
Club, which, in addition to supporting birding,
sought to protect and improve native habitats
in Huron County.
She passed away suddenly due to heart disease April 21. A memorial service will
take place in the coming months.
Monica was born in 1952 in Windsor, Ontario, where her parents resettled after World War II. Her mother, Zofia Marcinkowska, spent five years in a Nazi concentration camp for helping Jews escape Poland. Her father, Emil Kornacki, was a Polish officer who earned the nation's highest medal of valor while fighting in Italy.
Her parents gained entry to the United States
as refugees shortly after Monica was born and built a life here.
Monica and her younger sister, Elizabeth, grew up on Detroit's east side during the height of Motown. She became a U.S. citizen in 1965, graduated from Osborn High School, and later earned a teaching degree from Eastern Michigan University. She spent three decades as a Catholic elementary school teacher in Auburn, Mich., educating several generations of students. She also directed youth theater in Port Austin for several summers when her daughter and nephew were young.
Monica's biggest commitment was to her family. She was a devoted mother to Elise,
her daughter, who she loved more than anyone; a lifelong best friend to Elizabeth, who she considered her best friend and other half;
and a second mom to Elizabeth's son, Ian.
Monica was a lover all animals and had many pets throughout her life-including six dogs, three cats, and countless Guinea pigs and hamsters.
Monica and Elizabeth, both divorced, moved to Linwood in 2013, turning their 3.5-acre property into a nature sanctuary
of sorts. They built bat houses, planted wildflowers, cared for their three rescued hounds - Alice, Annie, and Lucky - and constructed endless gardens around the property. Before her death, Monica had recently devoted much of her time to spaying, neutering, and re-homing stray cats in Huron County.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Mitten Kitten Rescue and the American Bird Conservancy.
Monica's eyes were always on the sky. She often said she hoped to become a hawk when her life came to an end, as to see the world from the perspective of the creatures she admired so much.
We have no doubt she is flying among them.
WINTER 2022: STILL SAILING IN DECEMBER
FIRST MATE DAVID CONNELL, A FORMER STUDENT, GIVES ME A HEADS-UP WHEN HIS SHIP PASSES SAND BEACH TOWNSHIP.
THE HISTORIC VESSEL HAS BEEN CONVERTED INTO A SELF-UNLOADING BARGE, PROPELLED BY A TUGBOAT. ORIGINALLY, SHE WAS THE MARINE ROBIN (1944), A WW II CARGO VESSEL, WHICH PARTICIPATED IN THE ALLIED LANDING AT NORMANDY.
the JOSEPH H. THOMPSON SAILS UP AND DOWN LAKE HURON, HAULING STONE.
BLUE WATER BRIDGE, PORT HURON, MICHIGAN
WHITEFISH BAY, UPBOUND ON THE ST. CLAIR RIVER, JULY 18, 2022
iPHONE
PICTURES
EASTERN TIGER SWALLOWTAIL **
SILVER-SPOTTED SKIPPER VISITS BERGAMOT IN THE BACKYARD - AUGUST 23, 2022
from the Kaufman Field Guide to Butterflies of North America:
"The most easily recognized skipper across North America, in forest edges, fields, and gardens. Adults usually perch with their wings closed, but may bask with wings open in early morning sun....Note the large irregular silver-white patch on hindwing below.... Above brown with glassy yellow-orange band on forewing....".
GREAT SPANGLED FRITILLARY
AUGUST 24, 2022
The silver spots on the hindwing are used to identify this beautiful butterfly.
With a torn and damaged wing, the short life of this Great Spangled Fritillary is just about over.
THE UPBOUND JOSEPH H. THOMPSON PASSES SAND BEACH TOWNSHIP WITH FIRST MATE DAVID CONNELL
AUGUST 24, 2022 - 5:45 PM
1.7 MILES OFFSHORE
DESTINATION: BRUCE MINES IN ONTARIO TO PICK UP A LOAD OF STONE
THE NEWS SECTION IS TEMPORARILY PAUSED DUE TO HEALTH ISSUES. CHECK BACK LATER. IN THE MEANTIME, ENJOY THE "BEST OF" PHOTOS AND FEATURES FROM LAST SPRING AND WINTER.
SOMETIMES MOTHS ARE FOUND IN STRANGE PLACES! WHILE TRYING TO IDENTIFY THEM, YOU CAN LEARN THINGS.
EASTERN TIGER SWALLOWTAIL
MARBLEHEAD, MASSACHUSETTS
THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN WITH AN IPHONE 13 AND SENT TO ME BY MY BROTHER-IN-LAW, BUCK BUCKNAM. THE COLORFUL TIGER SWALLOWTAIL WAS PHOTOGRAPHED ON A BUTTERFLY BUSH AT HIS PARENTS' HOUSE IN MARBLEHEAD, MASS.
NICE PICTURE!
LARGE MAPLE SPANWORM - A GEOMETER
"GEOMETER, MEANING EARTH MEASURER, REFERS TO THE WAY THE CRAWLING LARVAE OF THIS SPECIES DRAW THE REAR OF THE BODY UP TO THE FRONT LEGS, FORMING A LOOP, AND THEN EXTEND THE BODY AGAIN.... GEOMETERS ARE ALSO CALLED LOOPERS, INCHWORMS, MEASURING WORMS, AND SPANWORMS.... MORE THAN 1,000 SPECIES
OF GEOMETERS LIVE IN NORTH AMERICA; SOME ARE SERIOUS PESTS."
(from the Golden Guide: Butterflies and Moths)
+++ SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT +++
"WINTER ROBINS"
DECEMBER 27, 2022
PORT HOPE, MICHIGAN
THE MCCOYS OF MINDEN CITY (1975)
MCCOYS NOT IN THE PHOTO: TOM MCCOY, HELEN BENNETT, MARY SWIGERT
"ONE GENERATION PASSETH AWAY, AND ANOTHER GENERATION COMETH: BUT THE EARTH ABIDETH FOR EVER. / THE SUN ALSO ARISETH, AND THE SUN GOETH DOWN, AND HASTETH TO HIS PLACE WHERE HE AROSE." ++ ECCLESIASTES (KING JAMES VERSION)
NB: THERE IS A GROUP FACEBOOK PAGE - "MCCOY FAMILY MINDEN CITY."
