Common Coast Research & Conservation

08/12/2022

By any measure, the Fire on the Mountain BBQ Competition on Sunday did not disappoint. The food was wonderful, the weather cooperated (phew), the music was perfect for digestion, the setting was beautiful, and the competition results were dramatic. All proceeds from the event support Common Coast Research & Conservation's partnership with the Hiawatha National Forest to enhance habitat for migratory birds and migrating fall Monarchs at Peninsula Point Lighthouse at the end of the beautiful Stonington Peninsula. In fact, with the first fall cold front moving through early Sunday morning, a few Monarchs were on the wing heading south towards Mexico while we were enjoying BBQ – how cool is that?!?

First and foremost, a heartfelt and humble thank you to Sam Reese and Paul Holeva for envisioning, planning, organizing, and pulling off this fantastic event. The menu consisted of two recipes each of ribs, pulled pork, mac & cheese, beans, and slaw, plus four homemade sauces. The menus were complex, rich, and as savory as the birds that depend on Peninsula Point during migration. Also on the front lines of the BBQs were sous chefs Janelle Buttery (Paul’s partner in Bearded Lady Creations) and Patrick Lickiss (Sam’s brother-in-law). Both kept the prep and cook going at an intensity that this event demanded. Janelle and Patrick were the keel and sail that kept this ship moving forward from food prep to service time. Together, the four made everything look easy, but what’s easy about cooking 600 pounds of meat for over 200 people over a 34-hour period after 3 months of planning?

No question that the biggest “save” of the day were our volunteers who absolutely toiled to make this event a success. With so many logistical unknowns, our volunteers worked and worked and worked to make sure everything happened AT THE SAME TIME. Without the commitment of these capable volunteers, we would have collapsed well before the finish line. A huge debt of gratitude to these wonderful friends and community members for their exceptional efforts: Kim Milligan, Cathy Jefferson, Rhonda Merringer, Amy Reddinger, Kelli Van Gin Hoven (For the Love of Cupcakes!), and Christine Williams.

A BIG THANKS is also in order for our sponsors. The City of Gladstone provided use of the Ski Chalet, a perfect venue for cooking and celebrating! Elmer’s Country Market generously provided the meat sweats by affording us fantastic pricing. Holy Name Catholic School donated our reusable, no-waste serving trays, and RiverRun Press provided our cool retro meal tickets and voting ballots. The fine aucoustic set was provided by Cory and Chasey Williams.

Which brings us to the results of the “friendly” BBQ competition: WIth 1 point awarded for a win in each of the 6 categories and 1 point awarded for the single winningest dish (our “Best in Show”), the competition resulted in an unlikely 3-3 tie; while each competitor won 3 categories apiece, Sam’s slaw and Paul’s mac & cheese each equally qualified for Best in Show at 118 votes. In an impromptu tiebreaker “2nd Best in Show” evaluation, Sam’s pulled pork eked out Paul’s ribs by a score of 109 to 108. Based on this, Sam was awarded the King Slab trophy and Paul the Baby Back trophy–the finish was like the culinary version of Rocky!

Leftover food was gratefully received by the Salvation Army for their community meals and for distribution to other community groups and shelters. It’s satisfying to know another 100 people are going to be delighted by Paul and Sam’s cooking.

Finally, THANK YOU to the 200 folks that arrived hungry, went through our serving lines twice, enjoyed heaps of amazing BBQ and side dishes, and VOTED. You ate, drank, enjoyed friends and family, smiled, and even helped with the cleanup. Your appreciation shined through, and we are grateful to all of you for supporting this event and cause. You were perfect dinner guests, and we loved every accolade!

07/21/2022

An update from Common Coast co-founder, Damon McCormick, related to the organization's long-term study of Common Loons at the Seney National Wildlife Refuge in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

The world’s most productive Common Loon strikes again

From Damon McCormick of Common Coast Research & Conservation:

In July 1990, a female loon was color-marked during nighttime capture on Seney’s E Pool. At the time she was mother to one downy chick, and although she very well may have produced young in prior years, that season’s offspring was the first unambiguously ascribed to her via the insight afforded by banding. Thirty-two years later, that same female, Fe, now the world’s oldest documented Common Loon, hatched her 40th confirmed chick in early July, extending her record fecundity for the species. As detailed in late May (https://www.facebook.com/seneyrefuge/posts/381300254039500 ) this successful reproductive attempt was her first since 1996 to not involve ABJ, her partner of a quarter-century. While Fe spent most of June nesting on her new I Pool home with her new mate, ABJ continued to reprise the circumstances of his early years on the refuge, as a bachelor on H Pool; unencumbered by parental obligations, he will likely depart from Seney by the end of August. In contrast, given the relatively late hatch date of their chick, which will not be capable of sustained flight until early October, Fe and her partner will linger on I Pool well into the fall.

This brief update will be followed by posts in the coming weeks addressing the details of ABJ’s life as a bachelor, the likelihood of an ABJ-Fe reunion in 2023 or beyond, and what we know of the life histories of Fe’s previous 39 chicks, 32 of which were produced with ABJ. Thanks once again to Jen Wycoff of Seney Visitor Services for her invaluable assistance in chronicling loon activity at Seney.

Damon McCormick
Common Coast Research & Conservation


Photo: In early July 2022 on I Pool, a recently hatched chick shadows its mother Fe, the world’s oldest and most productive Common Loon, while Fe’s new mate follows closely behind. Photo by Common Coast Research & Conservation

07/06/2022

In May, Common Coast co-founder Damon McCormick shared the following history about the oldest Common Loon of known age and the bird's split with its long-time partner, Fe

Seney National Wildlife Refuge Seney Natural History Association