Michael Mazurell placed a halved cantaloupe up high in a tree near a few bird feeders in the backyard of his Independence Township home. It was still there three days later, along with bird feeders still full of seed and berry trees full of fruit.
Usually the fruit and seeds are quicky devoured by a variety of animals. Mazurell spends over $900 a year caring for creatures. He has for 28 years.
“There are always 12 or 13 species ? cardinals, blue jays, mourning doves, squirrels, hummingbirds, chipmunks,” he said. “Two weeks ago they just disappeared ? I’m worried. Earth is an ecosystem. Animals know things. They are sensitive and sense danger. They are our first line of defense when something is wrong.”
Birds face a number of challenges from climate change, loss of habitat, and obstructions like tall buildings and residential windows, said Michigan Audubon Society Executive Director Jonathan Lutz.
But there could also be a natural reason, Lutz said.
“A local predator could be spooking them,” he said. “Over 400 species of birds visit or live in Michigan. Many come and go. Birds are a very transient species.”
Migration is occurring right now, too, he said.
“Some birds begin migrating as soon as their nesting period is over. That can begin in late July for some birds,” Lutz added. “They head south to their winter grounds to Mexico, Florida and many other places.”
Other food sources can draw wildlife, he said.
“They often move to different food sources or habitats. They may seem more scarce when natural food, like bugs and fruit, are plentiful,” he said. “We recently had a late hatch of mosquitos, and several other insects.”
Seed and fruit trees are producing this time of year, so wildlife may be dining on an all natural diet these days, he said.
“It’s been a good year for nut and berries crops,” said Trevor Newman, co-owner of Clarkston-based Roots to Fruits and president of Michigan Nut Growers Association.
Disease harm wildlife, too. Avian Flu was confirmed in Michigan in June. Michigan becomes the 21st state to have positive Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza cases in captive wild birds, wild birds, backyard flocks or commercial flocks, affecting almost 50 million domestic birds, according to the Department of Natural Resources.
Health officials said the first human cases of West Nile disease in Michigan occured in early September. Mosquitos bite infected birds and pass it to humans, horses and mammals. Some birds escape West Nile unaffected, but others like crows, blue jays and ravens die.
To report dead or diseased animals, call the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Disease Lab at 517-336-5030.

Other residents report lots of critters

We asked local residents on Facebook if they have noticed a decline in birds. Here are some responses.
“They are all at my house and my neighbors. Woodpeckers, cardinals, crows, hummingbirds and more. Maybe they’re afraid of their tree falling down. Not a good place to build a home and all that.”
? Cory Johnston
“I was filling my bird feeder almost every day, but then I was gone for a week and it has dropped off; sounds like they’re at Cory’s. I have finches, woodpeckers, doves, and cardinals. Maybe the taxes are too high. I always thought Clarkston was for the birds.”
? Lydia Uguccini Strnad
“Looks like a Hitchcock movie around our house.”
? Chuck In’bnit
“They’re at my house with all my pollinators.”
? Tammie Heazlit
“Robins and blue jays everywhere in Bridge Valley.”
? Jeff Mylenek
“My cats kill one a week at least.”
? Lucianna Regini Bartley
“Tons of birds at my house — we can send some your way since they’re eating us out of house and home lol.”
? Dawn Kelley
“Flocks of birds at our house in the township. I keep the feeders full. More hummingbirds than usual this year.”
? Natalie McCloy
“We have plenty! I could fill my feeders daily ? I had Orioles this year for the first time in a long time. I was so happy to see them.”
? Janet Saile Whitefield
“Mine disappeared during the very hot humid days even with water out there. Some are back now.”
? Dawn Hankin
“I guess I’m more simple-minded. Every year at this time, most of them leave to go south for the winter. And every spring, they return. I think it’s just the season.”
? Lisa Woodbury
“Yes. Drop in birds and a drop off in bees.”
? Scott Cooper
“I still see plenty of birds this summer. Off the top of my head, I have seen hummingbirds, woodpeckers, Baltimore orioles, at least five sandhill cranes, including the pair that have spent the last three summers around Middle Lake, a pair of swans, three surviving babies this summer, redwing blackbirds, robins, gold finches, red finches, crows / ravens, hawks, vultures, chickadees, swallows, mallard ducks, Canadian geese, a cormorant, great blue herons, but no egrets so far, and green herons. These birds are not all around all the time. After raising their offspring, some move off to other areas, or we only see them in the spring and fall as they pass through on their way north. I’m actually watching hummingbirds and the cranes in my yard as I write this. I’m a recently retired high school science teacher, and I love watching birds!
? Sue Wylie