live green...naturally!

Enjoy Our Archive

2011-10-10T10:01:00.000-04:00

Chippewa Nature Center launched this blog on March 4, 2009 to share tips for a greener lifestyle in a world where such information was scattered and hard to come by. Over the past two and a half years, access to such information has exploded across the web and many excellent resources are now available for easy access to information. A few choices include The Daily Green, The Queen of Green and National Geographic's Green Guide.

Instead of continually trying to "reinvent the wheel", we've decided to let this blog sit in "archive mode" for a while as we assess how we can best use this format to connect with our readers. We've found that a huge majority of our online friends prefer our Facebook page, where daily program updates, trail conditions, photographs, and more are shared not only by CNC staff, but by YOU as well. That, we feel, is the best of all circumstances, when you are asking questions, sharing discoveries and interacting with us and each other.

In that spirit, we hope you enjoy perusing the archive of articles and links on live green...naturally and check out our trail map and other information here. For up-to-date information, trail conditions, photo sharing, and to ask a question of CNC staff, please visit our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/cncmidland.

For the most complete source of information about Chippewa Nature Center, visit our Home Page at http://www.chippewanaturecenter.org. Here, you'll find a yearly program calendar, information about facilities, hours, directions, newsletters, checklists, affiliate groups, and MUCH more!

As always, if you have a question, comment or concern, please feel free to give us a call at 989.631.0830 or stop by the Visitor Center and chat with us in person. Our facilities are open year round, seven days a week and are free to the public.

Visitor Center Hours: 8am-5pm (M-F), 9am-5pm (Sat), 1-5pm (Sun)

Building closed Thanksgiving & Christmas Day.

Trails open dawn-to-dark every day

No pets, please

Many thanks to all of you who make Chippewa Nature Center a part of your lives. We hope to see you on the trail, on the river, and in the Visitor Center as you Venture Out into the wonderful world of nature!

Fun Fall Fungi

2011-09-26T09:35:00.002-04:00

Autumn is here and the woods are alive with migrating birds, squirrels fattening up and the changing leaves of trees. It's also the season on amazing fungi, which fruit this time of year, spurred on by rain showers. As you take your next fall color walk at Chippewa Nature Center, don't forget to look down and enjoy these amazing residents of the forest floor. To learn more about amazing fungi, sign up for our weekend workshop, scheduled for October 7-9. For more details, visit http://www.chippewanaturecenter.org/cal_oct11.htm. Don't delay, the registration deadline is September 30th!

The Chicory Coffee Capitol of America

2011-08-17T10:18:00.000-04:00

Take a drive through the Michigan countryside in August and you're likely to see pretty blue flowers in full bloom growing in the gravel alonside the road. As you might imagine, this "weed" was first brought to the U.S. on purpose, like many other common flowers we now find in our yards, fields and ditches (i.e. dandelion, mullein, purple loosestrife, etc.)

This lovely lavender blossom is of a plant known as Chicory, originally a native of Europe, which was brought to the United States as a coffee substitute and medicinal potherb. Chicory coffee? Down at the local coffee shop today, you'll have to choose between coffee beans grown in Columbia or Costa Rica, Kenya or Guatamala, Mexico or Peru. Ask for a cup of chicory root and you'll probably have a pretty confused waiter!

But once Midland, Michigan was known as the "Center of America's Chicory Field." Roasted and ground chicory roots were first used as a coffee substitute in Germany in the 1770s, though it has been grown as a medicinal herb for roughly 5,000 years. The Coffee Book, by Dawn Campbell and Judith Smith states: "Kaffee Ersatz was much in use during WWI and II when coffee was hard to come by and not affordable. Chicory's ability to blend well with coffee, tea leaves, or herbs has long been known."

In 1926, a local newspaper bragged about Midland County's place in the chicory-growing industry in its book, The Midland Sun, Second Development Edition. It said: "Few people, even in Midland, realize that all the chicory used in the entire United States is raised in Michigan, in fact, in Midland county and tributary territory. Formerly vast quantities of this root, which is used so extensively...as an addition to coffee, was not grown profitably anywhere in the United States, and practically all imported from Europe. Then somebody discovered that the soil in Midland and nearby counties was peculiarly adapted to the raising of this root. In fact, nowhere else in the whole country are conditions so favorable..."

Chicory coffee was grown, processed and sold in Midland by the Franck Chicory Company, who owned kilns to roast the root in Bay City, Pinconning, Midland and Kawkawlin. In fact, a 1922 edition of The Midland Sun, stated that it wasn't unusual for area farmers to earn $100 per acre when growing chicory in their fields. The root was harvested in a similar fashion to sugar beets.

In spite of its success, producing chicory coffee in mid-Michigan came to an end after World War II as affordable coffee beans were shipped from Central and South America. Today, most cultivated chicory is grown in France and South Africa. In the United States, the French culture of New Orleans and rural Louisiana stubbornly stuck with the tradition and it lives on with companies such as the Orleans Coffee Exchange.

So as you fill up your morning cup of coffee, pause for a moment to consider where it comes from. What environmental price do we pay for those beans that are grown in the tropics and shipped halfway across the world? What other habits do we cling to that may have more sustainable, home-grown alternatives? As you drive those country roads, take a moment to consider those pretty blue flowers and the amazing story they have to tell.

ladybug, ladybug -- get out!

2011-08-01T08:00:00.002-04:00

Just because you enjoy going outside to look for wildlife, doesn’t mean you want to share your home with critters! But how can you remove common home invaders without spraying stuff that comes in a can with a huge “WARNING” label? Here are some tips.

ANTS: Stir boric acid powder into two different types of bait – canned pet food, and jelly (some ants seek sugar, others protein). Set the bait in a shallow lid in areas you are finding ants. Foraging ants will carry the loaded bait back to the nest and feed it to other members of the colony. The boric acid will do the rest (it hits the nervous system, and is also abrasive to their digestive system).

EARWIGS: Place a dozen or so layers of newspaper in the areas earwigs are found (they love to hide in such shelters). Roll up the papers and take them outside periodically, well away from the house, and either 'release’ the earwigs or stomp them, depending on your mood. :-)

LADYBUGS/BOX ELDER BUGS: Use a shop vacuum to suck them up, then blow them into a plastic garbage bag and put the bag in the freezer for a few days. (Like most insects, they can survive the cold of the freezer, but not the dryness.)

Just remember, when you do choose to use poison insect control it often harms many beneficial insects as well as the pesky ones. So if you do choose a more chemically-based approach, please follow all instructions and warnings carefully and use sparingly. When you think of it, people are WAY outnumbered by our insect friends. We live in a bugs' world, not the other way around!

Emerald Ash Borer Control

2011-07-18T08:00:00.005-04:00

Check out this excellent video about Emerald Ash Borer infestations by the Knight Center for Environmental Journalism at Michigan State University. We unfortunately have a large infestation in Midland County, including ash trees at Chippewa Nature Center. For more information about the City of Midland's recent efforts to fight this invasive parasite, visit their website here.

Summer Photo Feature

2011-07-06T10:34:00.001-04:00

Summer is here! Walk the woods, fields or wetlands at Chippewa Nature Center and you'll discover abundant life whichever way you turn. Be sure to watch your step, as slow-moving critters such as snails might be using the path. Bees are buzzing, flowers are blooming and green leaves are coming into their prime. Be sure to check our program calendar for our next guided hike or paddling trip, and also enjoy our trails on your own from dawn to dark every day of the year. Check us out on Facebook to let us know what you find and post your own favorite pictures from your adventures at CNC!

Snail Eyes

Young American Basswood leaves

Spiderwort

Widow Skimmer Dragonfly (immature male)

Green Frog (female)

Michigan Lily

environmental film series

2011-06-20T08:00:00.005-04:00

If you are interested in films with an environmental message, and happen to be "up north" this summer, check out the University of Michigan's film and lecture series! (Free admission) The films range from "A Bug's Life" to more serious subjects such as "Gasland" (the environmental impact of natural gas fracking) and "The City Dark" (environmental and cultural impact of night sky pollution). They will be shown at the U of M's Biological Station at Pellston. Be sure to call in advance, because sometimes there is a "hiccup" in the scheduling and titles/dates might be changed. For a listing of films and directions to the biological station, check out this website: http://www.lsa.umich.edu/umbs/events/environmentalfilmseries

The lecture series offers an equally diverse list of topics, including "Why do Smart People do Dumb Things", "Secret Singing Lives of Chickadees", and "Insect-Plant Interactions." Here is the website for the lecture series: http://www.lsa.umich.edu/umbs/events/summerlectureseries

Enjoy the shows!

Bird Banding at CNC

2011-06-06T08:00:00.000-04:00

A Common Yellowthroat warbler gets banded
at the CNC Wetlands Area.

This year marks the 8th season of bird banding research at the Chippewa Nature Center Wetlands Area. The project is headed by Mike Bishop, professor of biology and ornithology at Alma College in Alma, Michigan. From year-to-year, the data he gathers gives us clues to the overall health of different species that live at CNC. Mike’s research follows the protocol of the national “MAPS” program (Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship). A Nature Center staff member will also be on hand to help answer your questions and identify birds and other animals that are swimming in the ponds or flying by.

Mike Bishop demonstrates banding a
Downy Woodpecker to CNC Day Campers.

Visitors are welcome to observe banding from 8am-Noon on days which Mike is here banding birds. During this time, you'll hear facts such as the species, sex and age of the birds and have the opportunity to ask questions. Bring your camera, as you'll have excellent opportunities for photography!

For a full list of banding dates this year, check out our webpage calender here. If rain or windy weather is threating, please check the website, our Facebook page or give us a call for updated schedule information.

The Merry Month of May

2011-05-30T14:11:00.000-04:00

May is a special time of year at Chippewa Nature Center. It is a month of rain showers and blooming flowers, young rabbits and new fawns, paddling trips and birding trips galore. We hope you enjoy these pictures of the season, all taken in the month of May at CNC. Remember, you don't have to travel to the depths of wilderness or to exotic mountain locations to be immersed in the beauty of our natural world. All you have to do is open your door and step outside! For a full list of upcoming programs at Chippewa Nature Center, visit our website calendar.

American Robin

Painted Turtles can be found on many Nature Center ponds.

This stylized photo is a Rusty Blackbird along the Chippewa River.

Eastern Chipmunk with a full cheek!

Serviceberry Blossoms

White-tailed Deer resting in the woods

May Apple leaves in the Beech-Maple Woods

A young Great-horned Owl perched near the Homestead

Celebrate National Walk in the Woods Day!

2011-05-17T16:26:00.000-04:00

From http://celebrateforests.com

This Saturday, May 21 is National Walk in the Woods Day. The American Forest Foundation is helping develop and facilitate a variety of U.S. celebrations for 2011 International Year of Forests throughout the year. This year, Saturday, May 21 is National Walk in the Woods Day, and we invite you to share this day with others. Consider helping youth and adults alike to discover a forest and learn about its importance by participating in, or leading, a “walk in the woods.”

Here are some ideas:

Discover your forest! Visit a nearby woodland, city or state park, or a national forest.
If you own woodland, invite your family, neighbors, elected officials, or other members of your community to join you for a walk on your property.
Take your children, grandchildren, or family/friends/neighbors’ children for a walk in the woods. Conduct an informal educational activity, for example using Project Learning Tree’s “Connecting Kids to Nature” activity series.
Help a school improve its grounds by planting trees with students and teachers; involve a local youth club.
Go camping, or just step outside and enjoy trees and all that they give us!

For more information, click here to plan your National Walk in the Woods Day activity.

Leelanau BirdFest: June 1-5, 2011

2011-05-09T08:00:00.001-04:00

Though many people are aware of the Traverse City area's fame for cherries, wineries, lighthouses and spectacular sand dunes, the first annual Leelanau BirdFest is another great reason to visit the area this spring. Held from June 1-5, the event promises to "offer a wide variety of unique field trips including Birding by Tallship, endangered Great Lakes Piping Plovers, a 300 acre prairie, and pontoon boat to the Leelanau Conservancy’s Cedar River Preserve. Every field trip, seminar and keynote program reflects our conservation theme."

The event is sponsored by a diverse group of organizations including the Leelanau Chamber of Commerce, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Michigan Audubon Society, Leelanau County Parks and Recreation and many more.

Birding highlights in the area include nesting Piping Plover (a federally-listed endangered species), nesting Prairie Warblers, and a wide variety of field species, such as Grasshopper and Vesper Sparrows, in areas of preserved farmland. For more info, you can print a checklist of birds found at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore by clicking here.

To find a full schedule of information and to register for the BirdFest, visit their website.

Choosing the Right Field Guide

2011-05-02T08:00:00.000-04:00

Let's say you want to get started in birding so you head out to the local bookstore. With so many field guides out there, it can be a daunting task to figure out which one will work best for you outdoors! While choosing a field guide has a lot to do with personal preference, here are a few things to look for as you decide what’s right for you.

Narrow the focus
If you do most of your birding close to home, choose a guide that specializes on your area of the country. Books that cover all of North America can get confusing.

Pictures or drawings?
A photograph gives you a sample of a real-life bird in the wild, but drawings
may capture variations in plumage better.

Organization
A guide that presents bird species by family (ducks, warblers, etc.) is easier to use than
one that organizes birds by color or size.

Our top picks
Guides preferred by CNC staff are The Sibley’s Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America by David Allen Sibley and Birds of Eastern and Central North America by Roger Tory Peterson.

You'll find a great selection of field guides right here at the Chippewa Nature Center store!

April Photo Sampler

2011-04-25T08:00:00.010-04:00

Enjoy these pictures all taken in the month of April at Chippewa Nature Center. You can post your favorite photos taken at CNC on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/cncmidland.

Canada Goose swimming in the Chippewa River

Wild Turkey Feather in the Arbury Woods

Flowers on a Basswood Tree

Red Maple Tree flowers

Opossum Hiding in the Brush

White-Tailed Deer Jumping in the Snow

White-Tailed Deer Peeking Through the Trees

Choosing the Right Binoculars

2011-04-18T08:00:00.000-04:00

Spring is a great time of year to grab your camera or a pair of binoculars and head outdoors to enjoy the natural beauty that is appearing all around us every day.

When choosing binoculars consider how well they fit your hands, eyes and of course, pocketbook. Numbers such as “8X42,” refer to the magnification (first number) and field of view (second number), or how much area can be seen. To choose the best ones for you, "field-test” binoculars indoors first by looking at small type on distant signs, items of similar color, and poorly-lit areas. Ask yourself “field” questions, such as: Do they fit your hands? Are they light enough to hold up to your eyes for a while? Can you focus quickly, and on something nearby, or only on distant objects?

There are many great articles and reviews online with expert advice to help you choose the best pair for your needs. For more information, check out this review at Bird Watcher's Digest or feel free to call a Chippewa Nature Center Naturalist at (989) 631-0830.

Naturally...

2011-04-11T08:00:00.001-04:00

We've nearly run out of our first order of Blurb Books in the Chippewa Nature Center Store, but more are on the way! Get your autographed copy today for only $24.95 (members receive a 10% discount). Live far away? You can also pick it up in our Blurb Bookstore. For every copy sold online, Blurb donates and extra dollar to CNC! For an article about our book, including an interview with the author, check out Janet's Journals.

N A T U R A L L Y by Kyle W. Bagnall | Make Your Own Book

The Test Tube with David Suzuki

2011-04-04T08:00:00.012-04:00

What would you do if you had an extra minute to spare? Check out this playful look at the serious subject of global overpopulation and food shortages in this interactive film project The Test Tube with David Suzuki.

Brought to you by the National Film Board of Canada, they describe the experience as follows: "Lasting just a few minutes,The Test Tube with David Suzuki takes a playful look at global overpopulation and food shortages. The visitor is “placed” in a test tube as a bacterium. It starts with a simple question: 'We know you’re busy, but if you could find an extra minute right now, what would you do?' Those who answer are addressed by the Canadian scientist and environmental activist David Suzuki. Since 1971, Suzuki has been dedicating himself to combating the consequences of climate change – in both his scientific work and his activities as a radio and television personality. While Suzuki explains his analogy of a test tube slowly filling with bacteria for our increasingly overpopulated planet, we see the screen gradually fill with digital bacteria. Clicking on individual bacteria reveals messages from other people who answered the initial question. It turns out we are not as unique as we might like to think."

The short film is a blend of animation and live action like you've likely not experienced before. Take some time to check it out along with the cool interactive features of the site. If you had an extra minute, what would you choose to do?

drive on the wild side

2011-03-28T08:00:00.008-04:00

Bald Eagle
photo by Kim LeBlanc

STOP THE PRESSES! The refuge just announced that the auto drive described below will NOT open April 15, because a pair of Bald Eagles are building a nest along the route. If they continue to use that nest, it might be mid-June before the route opens. But since eagles often build "practice" nests, the route might yet be opened in early May. Stay tuned!

The Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge has over 9,000 acres, but most of it has been accessible only by foot or bike, or not at all (the better to maintain it as a "refuge" for wildlife!). But this year that changes, as a 7.5-mile auto tour opens in April. (http://www.fws.gov/midwest/Shiawassee/)

The auto route will be open 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. from April 15 - October 5, barring flooding conditions or soft roads. And since four rivers come together at Shiawassee, take that "except when flooding" clause seriously! To be certain of conditions, it's a good idea to call the refuge headquarters, (989) 777-5930, ahead of time. Another complication could be one of the more popular critters at Shiawassee -- the Bald Eagle. If eagles choose to nest alongside the driving route, the opening date would have to be postponed until the young eagles leave the nest.

The route will provide wonderful access to the forests, floodplains, wet meadows, cattail marshes and rivers of Shiawassee, and its incredibly diverse wildlife. People driving the route will be asked to remain in their cars, except at designated viewing areas, in order to limit their impact on birds and other wildlife. (Cars make great wildlife blinds!)

Check out Janet Martineau's
blog for more information
on the auto route at Shiawassee

For more information about the auto route, check out this blog by "Friends of the Shiawassee" member, Janet Martineau, http://janetmartineau.blogspot.com/2011/01/shiawassee-national-wildlife-refuges-75.html.
If you haven't visited this refuge before, you are in for a treat! Over 270 species of birds use the refuge, including thousands of waterfowl during spring and fall migrations. The refuge has been designated as a U.S. Important Bird Area by the American Birding Association. Prothonotary warblers, rails, shorebirds, nesting Bald Eagles. . . every season brings a variety of sightings!

Help map the moon!

2011-03-21T08:00:00.010-04:00

"Citizen Science" has long allowed amateur ornithologists, lepidopterists, herpetologists, and lots of other "ologists" to take part in monitoring populations of plants and animals here on Earth. But now is your chance to reach beyond our planet by helping to map the moon! The Citizen Science Alliance needs lots of eyes to help classify tens of thousands of NASA's moon photos. It's a daunting task for a handful of scientists, but with the help of hundreds (or thousands?) of the rest of us, the craters, boulders, fallen space debris and other features of the moonscape will be mapped in fine detail.

Participants are asked to simply sort through a variety of photographs and count the craters, look for other oddities, and compare the numbers of boulders strewn across different areas of the moon. It's an exercise in pattern recognition and counting that is still best done by the good ole human eye rather than by computers! To help out with this project, check out this website: http://www.moonzoo.org/

More clues in deformed frog mystery

2011-03-14T08:00:00.022-04:00

Deformed Leopard Frog
photo courtesy David Skelly/Yale University

Year-by-year, scientists are gathering more information about what is causing deformities and "intersex" (mix of male and female parts) conditions in frogs across North America. As the clues come in, it becomes more and more obvious that the deformities are almost certainly due to agents humans are introducing into the environment.

The most recent research, by Yale University's David Skelly, is further evidence that the deformities are not caused by a single culprit, but rather by a suite of estrogen-mimicking drugs, industrial chemicals and pesticides. Skelly's research studied frog populations in the ponds of four different Connecticut ecosystems: forested landscapes, agricultural areas, suburbs and cities. Not surprisingly, the frogs of forested landscapes were perfectly normal. Those in some agricultural area ponds had deformities. However, the rate of deformities in urban and suburban areas was THREE times the rate of deformities in agricultural areas! “The fact that these kinds of estrogens out in the environment can have this kind of effect on a vertebrate — many people would say that that alone is a basis for us to be concerned,” Skelly says of the potential impact of his studies.

Skelly says drugs that are meant to act as estrogen (though not intended for the environment!), such as birth control pills, along with unintentional estrogen mimics such as the plasticizer agent Bisphenol A (BPA), are not removed by standard wastewater treatment, so they pass easily from our homes and factories into nearby rivers, streams and ponds. For a more complete report of his findings, check out the Yale Environmental 360 website: http://e360.yale.edu/feature/unraveling_the_mystery_of_the_bizarre_deformed_frogs/2368/

lights out!

2011-03-07T08:00:00.058-05:00

Night, or what is left of it,
in North America.

From parking lots to ball diamonds to our own backyards, we have lit up our nights to the point that we don't really have "night" anymore. Light seemed like a good idea back when we lived around campfires, but it turns out there really is too much of a good thing. Our relunctance to deal with the dark has been proven to have a negative impact not just on backyard stargazers and professional astronomers, but on wildlife , and on our own health and safety. From baby sea turtles crawling away from the ocean instead of into it (due to nearby town lights), to various cancers (due to a decrease in the production of melatonin when exposed to nighttime lights), to safety issues caused by outdoor lights that create glare rather than security, night sky pollution is a serious hazard! For more information on this topic, and to learn how you can use light without reducing your safety or endangering your health or that of wildlife, check out the website of the International Dark Sky Association, http://www.darksky.org/.

Typical mercury "security"
light that provides
more glare than security.

This organization does not recommend simply turning lights off and living in the dark, but using lights WISELY -- as needed, where needed, and most importantly, with light fixtures that put light where it is needed, rather than shooting it off into the sky (or worse, into your eyes, which keeps you from seeing the very dangers you are trying to expose). The "frequently asked questions" page is a good starting point. So as always, turn off lights where you can. But where you can't, use the right light.

bats in big trouble

2011-02-28T08:00:00.002-05:00

Not everyone loves bats, but most people can appreciate the billions of bugs that bats eat! That free pest control, not to mention part of the stunning biodiversity of our planet, is now in serious danger. For the past five years, bat colonies throughout the East have been literally wiped out by a fungal infection known as "white nose syndrome." (One symptom of the fatal disease is a patch of white fungus on the nose and wings of the affected bats.) At this time, little is known about how the disease got started, how it is spread, or more importantly, how to stop its spread. If wildlife biologists don't figure it out FAST, several bat species could literally go extinct in the next decade, and even common species such as the Little Brown Bat will be severely impacted. The disease was first found in New York State, but has QUICKLY spread south and west to 16 states and Ontario, affecting nine different bat species, including the highly-endangered Indiana Bat. Sadly, many more bat species are now likely to join the "highly-endangered" list:( The most recent cases were discovered in North Carolina and our near neighbor, Indiana.

For more information on this wildlife disease crisis, check out the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service information page, http://www.fws.gov/northeast/pdf/white-nosefaqs.pdf, or Bat Conservation International (http://www.batcon.org/index.php/what-we-do/white-nose-syndrome.html) . Although white-nose syndrome has not yet been found in Michigan, it is tragically only a matter of time before our bats are also threatened with this disease. If you find a bat with a white fungal growth on its face or wings, please contact the U.S. Fish &Wildlife Service immediately.

too cold for stargazing?

2011-02-21T08:00:00.003-05:00

Winter constellations are beautiful to behold -- on the few clear nights we get! But if you would like to go beyond stargazing, or just want to learn more in the warmth of your living room, check out this amazing website by a retired astronomy professor from the University of Illinois: http://stars.astro.illinois.edu/sow/sowlist.html Whether your interest is the ancient stories of the constellations, or the science of star formations and supernovas, this website has it all!

In the meantime, enjoy the great views of the waning moon (waning gibbous at first, then "last quarter" on the 24th, followed by waning crescent), along with the planet Jupiter glowing brightly in the western sky just before sunset. 'Tis also the season for spectacular views of the constellations in the southern sky, such as Orion, the Winter Hexagon (called a "circle" by some, but really, it's more of a hexagon), and Orion's hunting dogs (Canis Major and Canis Minor). For great information on finding these constellations, check out this website; click on "tonight" in the upper right-hand corner: http://earthsky.org/space From there, you can see not only stars for "tonight", but see what the coming week is bringing or search through previous articles.

The Great Backyard Bird Count

2011-02-09T16:08:00.000-05:00

If you love birds, you're invited to join thousands of other birders in the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), held this year from February 18-21. The Great Backyard Bird Count is a joint project of the National Audubon Society and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology with Canadian partner Bird Studies Canada. This four-day event is open to bird watchers of all ages and provides information about more than 600 bird species. “There’s simply no better way to collect information about all these birds so quickly across such a large range,” said Janis Dickinson, Citizen Science director at the Cornell Lab.From reports of rare species to large-scale tracking of bird movements, the GBBC provides insight into the lives of bird populations.

In 2010, the GBBC had a record-breaking year for participation as more than 97,200 bird checklists were submitted by an estimated 63,000 volunteer bird watchers from across the United States and Canada. To participate, you just have to spend at least 15 minutes counting birds on one day of the count. When you're done counting, you simply enter your data on the GBBC webpage.

For full details, visit http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/howto.html.

Converting plastic back into oil

2011-02-07T08:00:00.000-05:00

We are surrounded by plastics every single day. But as we drink a soda, use a cell phone or drive our car it's easy to forget that those plastics started their "life cycle" as raw petroleum. Check out this amazing video of a Japanese inventor who found a way to convert plastics back into oil. Just think how different the world would be if plastic garbage was instead seen as a resource to be used again!

Visions of Winter

2011-01-31T08:00:00.007-05:00

As we close out the first month of the New Year, enjoy these scenes of winter, all taken at Chippewa Nature Center. Better yet, check out our program calendar and join us for a snowshoe hike, bird walk or other adventure on and off the trails at CNC!

Our "famous" Red Oak near the Maple Sugarhouse.

If you can't come see a view in person, check out our webcam,
which hangs directly below the River Overlook.

White Pine cone

Snowy Fungi

A Black-capped Chickadee searches for seeds in the snow

A Gray Squirrel (black phase) trying to keep warm under its tail

Sunshine through snowy branches

Buy Michigan Now!

2011-01-24T08:00:00.000-05:00

A couple of months ago, we introduced our readers to the website Buy Michigan Now! Founder of the site, Lisa Diggs, has created a place where you can search for Michigan-made products and information to help promote the struggling economy of our State. Better yet, buying food and other items grown and produced in Michigan has positive effects for the environment as they don't need to travel halfway across the globe on a ship, plane, train or truck before they make it to your doorstep.

When you head to the grocery store, for example, look for Michigan apples, honey, maple syrup, potato chips, soda pop, wine and beer (just to name a few) instead of products and produce from far away. Sure, not everything is grown or made in Michigan (no bananna trees, for example), but many of us doing a little sure helps a lot. When we bought a new mattress recently, for example, my family chose one by Capitol Bedding, made in Lansing.

Enjoy this short video to learn a little more. And next time you're at the store, don't forget to Buy Michigan!

Seeds of Spring

2011-01-17T08:00:00.006-05:00

After seeing the title of this post, perhaps some of you are thinking "Spring - are you crazy?" But if you've purchased seeds in the past I bet your mailbox is already overflowing with seed catalogs for vegetables, herbs and flowers to be planted after the snows melt and the ground warms up.

We grow heirloom plants in the gardens at Chippewa Nature Center's 1870 Homestead Farm. Heirlooms are defined as open pollinated plants whose "roots" can be traced back at least 50 years. Open-pollinated plants are non-hybrid varieties produced by crossing two parents from the same variety, which in turn produce offspring just like the parent plants.

Thousands of heirloom fruits and vegetables have gone extinct over the past 100 years. Some estimates say only 3% of flower and vegetable varieties that were grown in the U.S. in 1900 are still in existence today. Many of these plants were varieties grown for generations on small farms across America. Each was developed specifically over the years to grow well in a certain area, be resistant to local diseases, and adapted to local climate and soil conditions.

Bean poles and a dried sunflower stalk in CNC's Heirloom
vegetable garden have dreams of spring.

If you want variety, superior flavor, unusual colors and shapes and unique histories, heirloom gardening is a wonderful alternative to growing hybrids featured predominately by many large companies. Most home gardeners, for example, don’t need tomatoes with skins tough enough to withstand cross-country shipment, or potatoes that will pass the McDonald’s uniformity test. Some heirloom gardeners grow plants especially for gourmet chefs. Grow some heirloom plants at home and take the “taste test” for yourself!

Type "heirloom vegetable seeds" in your search engine and thousands of entries will pop up. At CNC, we purchase most of our heirloom seeds from Seed Savers Exchange. Based Decorah, Iowa, Seed Savers in a non-profit organization dedicated to seed saving and educating the public about the importance of heirlooms. As you plan your garden this year, check out their online catalog. You can also download a copy of their regular catalog on their website.

Happy garden planning!

Tiny Houses

2011-01-10T08:00:00.002-05:00

There is a lot of talk these days about reducing our "carbon footprint" in a wide variety of ways. The idea is that by each of us taking steps to save energy, waste less, buy local and more fewer fossil fuels will be used up, whose use adds greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, which in turn adds to man-made global warming.

Adding insulation to your home, using solar energy and wind power, driving less and pedaling more are all simple things we can do on a daily basis without greatly affecting the ways we've come accustomed to living.

Some people, however, are taking this REALLY seriously and are reassessing their priorities entirely, selling their homes and joining the Small House Movement. In terms of this discussion, a small house really small, from 65 to 500 square feet in size. Oftentimes, these are placed on wheels and are entirely off the electrical grid. A self-described voice for the movement is the Small House Society whose mission is to "support the research, development, and use of smaller living spaces that foster sustainable living for individuals, families, and communities worldwide."

Here's an excellent video from PBS which explores this idea with another Tiny House champion, Dee Williams, of Olympia, Washington.

Watch the full episode. See more Need To Know.

Could you live in a tiny house? What would be the hardest thing to give up? What might you enjoy the most about paring life down to the basic essentials?

Happy New Year!

2011-01-03T12:07:00.000-05:00

Happy Green New Year! As the page of the calendar turns to January, let's pause to consider our relationship to the Earth. As each year passes, we're learning more and more about the human impact on our climate, plants, animals and insects and how they're all interrelated in amazing, intricate ways we never paused to consider.

Trees cast shadows on snow in CNC's Beech-Maple Woods.

Remember, reducing our negative impacts on the natural world doesn't necessarily mean we make drastic lifestyle changes. It's better to make manageable resolutions we can keep rather than grandiose ones that will just get dropped altogether after a couple of weeks.

No matter how you approach it, the staff at Chippewa Nature Center hopes your New Year is healthy, happy - and GREEN! We truly appreciate your constant support and look forward to seeing you at one of our upcoming programs or simply enjoying our trails.

For a full 2011 calendar of Chippewa Nature Center programs and events, be sure to check out our web page.

Welcome Winter

2010-12-20T08:00:00.000-05:00

Enjoy these scenes of early winter taken at Chippewa Nature Center. Better yet, grab your boots and a camera and make some special memories of your own on our trails, open every day, all year long. For more information about CNC trails, click the CNC Trail Map on our blog and check out our website for program updates and more.

An American Crow looks for something to eat (or some mischief to get in to).

Mouse tracks lead to the base of a Sugar Maple tree in the Beech-Maple Woods

A Mourning Dove searches for seeds in the snow

Icicles form along the roof of the Nature Study Building

Christmas Bird Count - Volunteers Needed!

2010-12-13T08:00:00.001-05:00

The Audubon Society's Frank Chapman proposed the first "Christmas Bird Census" on December 25, 1900. For the past 110 years, Christmas Counts have become a major factor in tracking the health of bird populations across North America. Why not become a "Citizen Scientist" and get involved this year?

Snowy Owl

With Christmas Bird Counts in Midland and Bay City fast approaching, we are looking for volunteer counters to help out. To sign up as a volunteer for the Midland or Bay City count (or both), please contact the following:

Bay City Count: December 18

Contact Jeanne Henderson: (989) 684-3841

Midland Count: January 2

Contact Audrey Diadiun at (989) 832-9546

This is 111th year of the Christmas count and we are looking keep this tradition alive and well in the Great Lakes Bay Region. You don't have to be an expert birder or have prior experience with bird surveys. All helpers are welcome!

Christmas Trees - Real or Artificial?

2010-12-06T08:00:00.006-05:00

Going to get a Christmas normally brings up thoughts of peace, joy and family. Our ancestors would hitch up the one horse open sleigh, gather the family (and maybe the dog) and go off into the woods in search of the perfect Christmas tree. Now-a-days we might borrow a friend’s truck and land at the neighborhood fundraiser tree sale only to find out that everyone’s idea of the right tree is different and soon the holiday spirit is crushed and we settle for what the baby wants just to keep him quiet.

At this point we begin to think an artificial tree is the way to go. Perhaps the cat won’t be as intrigued by one that smells so piney-fresh and it probably won't shed needles into the carpet. There is also a lower fire hazard with an artificial tree coated with flame-retardant. Just think of the time saved by using an artificial tree. You'll only have to select one every fifteen years, and year after year all you have to do is unpack it and set it up.

If you’re the more traditional type, you'll want the ambiance of a live tree. The aroma alone is almost worth the stab between the toes when you find that last needle stuck in the carpet in late February. One of the best things about using a live tree is that when the holidays are through, your tree becomes an instant shelter for the birds at the bird feeder. There is no need to save a chunk of space to store this baby, out the door it goes!

For every reason to buy a live tree there is one to support using an artificial tree. Burning fossil fuels to go get a live tree each year, plus fuel used to transport the tree to the consumer -- is that really any better than whatever impact the production of an artificial tree has on the environment? The tree factory probably causes some pollution of the air and water. Tree growers use pesticides in order to provide and un-blemished tree and protect their investment. The theory that tree farms displace the natural habitat is countered by the idea that they have only created a different habitat that is now conducive to owls, for instance.

Christmas tree growers are a fairly large industry in Michigan. This gives us the advantage of a fresher tree that will retain needles longer than trees shipped from distant places. Trees are also a renewable resource and are replanted at tree farms year after year. If you buy a pre-cut tree, about two inches should be cut off the bottom of the trunk before you set it in the tree stand. This will expose fresh “straws” for the tree to take up water. There are several commercial so called preservatives on the market that claim to prolong needle retention. A number of scientific studies indicate you should save your money, or spend more on your wife’s gift, because they are simply ineffective or do not perform as well as plain water. Also, home remedies such as aspirin, 7-up or bleach can cause needles to drop sooner than if plain water is used. The most important thing for encouraging needle retention is to make sure it always has plenty of water.

Even if an artificial tree lasts for a decade, it will eventually end up in a landfill. Some people go the opposite extreme and purchase a living, plantable "bulb tree" which is taken out into the back yard and planted after it's done sheltering presents. Or, don't bring a tree into the house at all and decorate a living tree outdoors with garlands of seeds, nuts and berries that will become food for wildlife.

For more information about choosing a tree, visit The Daily Green.

reducing home energy use -- in real life:)

2010-11-29T08:00:00.003-05:00

Over the past decade, I have added many electricity-using items to my household, including a cell phone (charger), an electronic game, an electric garage door opener, and a washing machine (Energy Star model, but still a big energy user). I know, I’m going in the wrong direction on reducing my use! But quite intentionally, I have tried to counter all of those additions with energy-saving steps as well. Apparently my efforts have worked, because despite the new items, along with rate increases, my utility bills for electricity and gas are nearly the same today as they were 10 years ago.

I’ve done a few small things, like replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents – but only as the old bulbs burn out. I don’t know how much electricity that has saved me, but I do know that even the CFLs in ceiling fixtures that I often leave on for security are going on eight years of heavy use!

Ok, yes, it took a few miles
of duct tape, but I
managed to get the
water heater blanket to stay on!

I also added a water heater blanket and weather stripping, neither of which went smoothly, but both of which are hopefully helping somewhat. My water heater is in a tiny room, with only an inch to spare between it and the wall. Trying to get the blanket, which is slick on one side and scratchy insulation on the other, and notably thicker than the available one inch of space, all the way around the heater tank -- can only be described as “wrestling.” And based on the 2,398,932 strips of duct tape I used to secure it in place, I’m not really sure if it will ultimately be better or worse for the environment!

Weather stripping didn’t go much better, and in the end, six inches of it just hang from the door frame over my head. Still, I figure that means it’s 90% effective, and for now, I’ll take it!

Foam insulation on the walls of
my crawl space has greatly reduced
drafts, and made the floor warmer.

The item that helped the most was, without a doubt, insulating my house. The ceiling was already well-insulated, but I had foam added anyway. The walls had NO insulation, nor did the upper blocks of the crawl space, so adding foam insulation to those has made a huge difference! Drafts are down, the temp in both summer and winter stays stable longer, and my utility bills dropped! An added benefit has been the insulation against outdoor noises. I'm sorry to lose the bird sounds, but I sure don't miss the lawnmowers or loud cars!

The price of the insulation was a price-gouger, to be sure, but the payback won’t take many years, and in the meantime, I feel good knowing my energy use has decreased.

The Story of Stuff: Electronics

2010-11-22T08:00:00.006-05:00

Many of us will enjoy this holiday season by getting up to date with the latest electronic gadgets. Let's face it, these items are a part of society now and aren't going away any time soon! But when you make those purchases, consider what happens to the old stuff you're replacing and what chemicals and processes go into what we buy. By making smart choices we can reduce negative impacts on people and the environment as we move toward a more sustainable future together!

start your landscape inventory now

2010-11-15T08:00:00.001-05:00

A good starting point in landscaping is to inventory what is already there, and why not start in the winter months? Pay attention now to where the wildlife hangs out in your yard, and what plants are providing winter shelter or winter food. And notice, too, which plants are good for you – are there plants that have an attractive shape in the winter, or colorful fruits?

Gray Dogwood has lovely white berries
that fall migrant birds love!

Do this same inventory each season, from top to bottom. Are there trees with small flowers you hadn’t noticed before, such as willows, which provide an important nectar source for early-arriving orioles? Is there an open spot where you could plant an attractive (unmown) native grass, such as Little Bluestem, that would provide shelter and food for small ground birds?

Black Gum provides blue berries that
this Gray Catbird loves, and a wonderful
shape and fall colors for you.

Ideally, your yard is providing food year-round, with seeds, berries, insects, leaves, etc., for a wide variety of wildlife. For example, raspberries and serviceberry are excellent summer fruits, strawberry puts a fruit down-low for turtles and ground-feeding birds, dogwood berries are favorites of fall migrants, and winterberry (Michigan holly) is an excellent winter fruit.

Don’t fight what you have, but find plants that will enhance your property. Whether you have wet soil or dry, sun or shade, there are hundreds of native plants that can enhance your yard for both you and wildlife.

purple wind turbines?

2010-11-08T08:00:00.001-05:00

Wind power is growing significantly as a source of energy in our country and throughout the world. Although conservation organizations such as the National Audubon Society support wind energy as a greener alternative to fossil fuels (http://policy.audubon.org/wind-power-overview-0), there is definitely a need to make it even greener by reducing the bird and bat kills that occur when these animal fly near the turbines. (The Audubon Society supports wind energy because despite the fatal collisions involving turbines, the pollution and habitat loss from fossil fuel drilling and burning kills many times more.)

A recent study out of Britain's Loughborough University has shed some light on how to reduce wildlife mortality at wind turbines (http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_9067000/9067721.stm). Insects have long been known to be attracted to the turbines, and birds and bats are, in turn, attracted to those insects. The Loughborough study found that the white and gray colors of wind turbines are part of the problem. (Anyone in mosquito territory already knew this -- wear light-colored clothing and mosquitoes will find you much more quickly than if you wear dark clothing.) They tested different colors, including blue, red and purple, on wind turbines and found those with darker colors attracted far fewer insects. The least attractive color was purple, so perhaps there will be a bit more color on the landscape one day?

The researchers are quick to point out that it is too early to just rush out and paint wind turbines purple to "save the day," but this could be an important step in determining how to reduce wildlife collisions with wind turbines.

Buy Michigan Now!

2010-11-05T16:11:00.000-04:00

Lisa Diggs, founder of Buy Michigan Now, spoke at this morning’s WakeUp! Midland. She is campaigning to recruit 10,000 people to sign a pledge to make a valiant effort to buy products made in Michigan, which attendees had the opportunity to do this morning. Web site visitors can also take the pledge there.

Other cool stuff on the site includes:

- iPhone app

- Grocery guide

- Links to their social networking sites

- Search function to find businesses

- Page to list your business

The site has enabled businesses to connect across the state, rather than taking their business out-of-state or even out of the country to find suppliers. CNC's Jamie Hockstra reports, "Lisa encouraged us to buy Michigan products, help spread the word about the site and take the pledge, and make a point to educate our children about the choices we’re making to buy local."

So click on over to explore the site and most importantly, "Buy Michigan Now!"

enjoy that night sky!

2010-11-01T08:00:00.001-04:00

Early winter is a fantastic time for viewing the night sky! It gets dark early enough to view the stars at a reasonable hour (admittedly, some people think midnight and later is still “reasonable":), but it isn’t as bone-chilling cold as those January nights are likely to be. There are many things to watch for, like meteor showers, northern lights (usually visible in mid-Michigan a few times a year), the International Space Station orbiting overhead, and of course, good old “star gazing.”

For some assistance in locating objects in the night sky, check out these links:

1) To find out when the space station will be visible, click on the nearest Michigan city on this NASA website: http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/cities/region.cgi?country=United_States®ion=Michigan It will show how many degrees above the horizon the station will be visible, and from which direction it will enter and leave your view.

2) For SERIOUS northern lights enthusiasts, a move to the far north is warranted. But for Michigan folk, this site will let you know when there is a reasonable chance of a local show: http://www.gedds.alaska.edu/AuroraForecast/
If the forecast number is “4” or higher, we have a shot at seeing the northern lights even this far south!

3) Both of these sites provide good star and planet gazing information, from general “what’s going on this week” to more detailed astronomical highlights: http://www.skyandtelescope.com/ http://stardate.org/

4) And to find out exactly when it might get dark enough to SEE the stars, the U.S. Navy has this very user-friendly site to find out when the sun and moon rise and set: http://www.usno.navy.mil/USNO/astronomical-applications

Chippewa Nature Center's Grand Re-Opening!

2010-10-25T08:00:00.001-04:00

It's finally here! After nearly two years, Chippewa Nature Center's Visitor Center renovation is complete. To commemorate the occasion, you're cordially invited to a Grand Re-Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony this Thursday, October 28, at 3:30pm. After the ceremony, you'll have a chance to explore the renovated building, relax in style in the remodeled River Overlook and play with the kids in the new atrium discovery area.

You'll enjoy shopping in our Nature Center Store, learning about nature with Ecosystem Gallery exhibits and watching birds at the Wildlife Viewing Area. The welcome reception will include light refreshments and special tours and is free and open to the public. For more information, be sure to visit our webpage at www.chippewanaturecenter.org or give us a call at (989) 631-0830. Hope to see you there!

Fall Color Show

2010-10-18T08:00:00.000-04:00

Tulip Tree leaves in the Arboretum.

Fall comes to the banks of the Chippewa River

Maples turn to gold in the Beech-Maple Woods

Aspen leaves on a bed of moss

Green, Orange, Red and Gold against a cloudy sky

Red Oak leaf (literally!)

Spotlight of sun on a maple leaf

Playlist for the Planet

2010-10-11T08:00:00.002-04:00

Last week, we featured some of the amazing green living initiatives of Canada's David Suzuki Foundation. Another of their recent projects was a music contest to create a "Playlist for the Planet." With over 600 entries from musicians across Canada, the monumental task of choosing the winners is complete! Featuring a song from every Canadian province and territory, winners include musicians such as Joel Plaskett, Bruce Cockburn, Broken Social Scene, k-os, Gordon Lightfoot, Randy Bachman (with Sarah McLachlan and Nikki Yanofsky), DOA, Tom Jackson, Johnny Reid, Raffi, LIGHTS, Jessie Farrell, Rush, the Trews, Great Big Sea, and Tanya Tagaq. The playlist will be released as a CD in the coming months, but you don't have to wait to get a preview. You can stream the whole list on the cbc radio website and already download some of the tracks from iTunes. If you're a music fan, be sure to check it out!

Green Living the Canadian Way

2010-10-04T10:36:00.000-04:00

Since 1989, when his radio program It's a Matter of Survival premiered in Canada, David Suzuki has been a leader in the Canadian environmental movement. Today, the David Suzuki Foundation continues to be a voice for the environment through many initiatives, including a Climate Change Team and a green tips blog entitled The Queen of Green, which even includes how-to-videos about green living. Dr. Suzuki is also the author of numerous books including a one just published in September, entitled The Legacy: An Elder's Vision for a Sustainable Future.

One initiative of the foundation was to create "David Suzuki's Nature Challenge" which consists of ten simple ways we can all reduce our impact on the Earth. Accept his challenge to adapt three of these in your own life today!

Reduce home energy use by 10%
Choose energy-efficient homes & appliances
Don't use pesticides
Eat meat-free meals one day a week
Buy locally grown and produced food
Choose a fuel-efficient vehicle
Walk, bike, carpool or take transit
Choose a home close to work or school
Support alternative transportation
Learn more and share with others

Help keep our waters clean!

2010-09-29T12:17:00.001-04:00

Many of us enjoy paddling our local lakes and rivers and a dozens of residents have homes along their banks. Please help keep Midland's waterways free of trash and debris...for the planet, for wildlife and for each other! For some helpful tips from the City of Midland, check out the article here. See you on the water!

September Photo Show

2010-09-20T08:00:00.001-04:00

Sunrise at Chippewa Nature Center's Log Cabin

Big Maple Tree along Arbury Trail

Lily Pads change color too!

Amazing Fungi!

Canada Geese in Flight

Fall Migration Bird Banding Weekend

2010-09-13T08:00:00.003-04:00

Banding birds at the Chippewa Nature Center Wetlands Area helps us understand our feathered friends who share the land we now own. From year to year, data also give us clues to the health of different species. Our banding program is run by Mike Bishop of the Alma College Biology Department. Mike also runs a banding station for Alma College at Vestaburg Bog. You can learn about activities at both stations by checking out this excellent blog, which contains information and pictures from both sites.

Your last chance to catch Mike and his ornithology students in action at CNC this year will be this Friday, September 17th from 4:00pm-dark and Saturday September 18th, from 8am-2:00pm. The parking lot is on the west side of the Wetlands off Grey Road and the gate will be open during banding hours. We hope to see you there!

For up-to-date information about all CNC programs, visit the program calendar on our website.

GreenTree Cooperative Grocery

2010-09-06T08:00:00.001-04:00

In nearby Mt. Pleasant, the GreenTree Cooperative Grocery has been selling organic food long before it became fashionable! Last year, the organization celebrated a milestone of $1 million in sales annually and this year they're celebrating their 40th year.

GreenTree operates a grocery store, stocked with local, organic foods, at 214 N. Franklin Street in Mt. Pleasant. They specialize in selling "local, organic, fair trade, allergen free options." In addition to produce, they also carry fresh meat, environmentally-friendly cleaning products and even snacks for your pets! Anyone can shop at their store, but becoming a member of the co-op has additional benefits, such special sales, a store discount, a newsletter and more. The co-op currently has twelve employees and 760 owners.

For more information about GreenTree, visit their website or give them a call at 989.772.3321. They're open seven days a week, from 9am-8pm. It's hard to think of a better way to "Live Green!"

Remember the Islands

2010-08-30T08:00:00.004-04:00

The article below continues our journey back in time as we look for green living inspiration in the past. One of the most common questions I get as Manager of Historical programs at CNC is "What were the rivers like over 100 years ago?" This article, quoted from page one of the December 27, 1907 edition of The Midland Republican newspapaper helps to untangle that mystery. What will people say about our rivers today when they write about them 100 years from now?

“William Vance, who came to “The Forks” [in 1849] when there was no “Midland” here, says the old Tittabawassee was a much more beautiful river when he first became acquainted with it than it is now. Its banks were green down to the river’s edge, and above, it, as well as the Chippewa, extended away into an unbroken forest. For how many centuries their waters had moved peacefully down to the lakes undisturbed by the works of the pale face, no one can say.

Millions of logs float in the Tittabawasee
River, near today's Immerman Park in
Saginaw County. Photo Courtesy of the
Midland County Historical Society.

There were deep places that have since become filled up and shallow. There were seven or eight feet of water where the famous steamer “Belle Seymour” [steamboat] used to land, a little way below where the north abutment of Benson street bridge now rears its rocky mass of concrete. Further down, about opposite where the lower part of the Dow Chemical plant is now located, there was an island 12 to 15 rods [66-82 yards] in length, covered in part with willows and in part with grass. This was never cultivated, but the millions of logs cut from the trunks of the majestic pines of Midland county and floated down the streams, often covering them from bank to bank for miles, assisted perhaps by changing currents have obliterated this island, now remembered but by few, and destined, no doubt, to be entirely forgotten.

A pair of Mallards rest on island
in the Chippewa River

Another island slept in the bed of the Chippewa, just back of the Wm. Patterson farm, now the property of John McGregor, Jr. Mr. Patterson, father of Wm. Patterson, now a resident here, used to keep his hens on this island “in the good summer time.” It was an island 8 or 10 rods [44 -53 yards] in length, and gave the feathered bipeds a splendid place in which to roam about and gather worms and other rich morsels, at the same time being kept separate and apart from the garden. But this, too, is forever gone. The pine logs, too, have gone to add to the fortune of some enterprising lumber operator, while the rivers flow on between banks much changed in appearance from what they were in primitive days when the Indian and the reindeer and the bear took turns in dancing on the grassy slopes or plunging through the snows of winter.”

August Photo Sampler

2010-08-23T12:34:00.000-04:00

Room with a view

Tiny feet leave no footprints

Yin & Yang

A young grove marches into the field

A Carrot for Queen Anne

Climate Change Symposium Materials Available

2010-08-18T09:07:00.000-04:00

Here's a note from Michigan State University about their excellent climate change conference held this April. You can access resources from the meeting at the links below and be sure to watch their website for your opportunity to attend next year!

"Videos and PowerPoints are now available from the April 2010 conference, “Climate Change Vulnerabilities and Opportunities: Michigan and Beyond,” at Michigan State University. The material is available on the Symposium Website, linked to the agenda.

The conference addressed the impacts of climate change within and beyond Michigan, and how Michigan can respond, possibly borrowing from others’ experiences. The conference also considered issues related to the bioeconomy, especially the use of biomass as a renewable resource.

If you attended the conference, we hope that the posted presentation materials will allow you to check out sessions you weren’t able to go to, or acquaint others with the material. If you weren’t able to attend the conference, we hope the materials will prove useful.

Note: Interviews, videos, and PowerPoints are also available from MSU’s year-long climate speaker series, which brought to campus world-renowned speakers on different aspects of climate change."

The Solar Seventies

2010-08-02T08:00:00.023-04:00

The 1970s were interesting times indeed. Disco, crazy fashion trends and pet rocks were all the rage! The modern environmental movement was also born in 1970 with celebration of the first Earth Day. Environmental concerns intensified in 1973 with the onset of an international oil embargo and an energy crisis felt around the world.

In response to the energy crisis, solar energy became much more popular and affordable in the 1970s. A major milestone occurred when research by Dr. Elliot Berman brought the price of solar energy down from $100 per watt to $20 per watt . While still costly for most residential applications, solar cells began powering items such as navigation lights and railroad crossings.

Chippewa Nature Center got into the business of solar

education in the fall of 1977 with a two-day solar greenhouse workshop. As part of the event, a 200 square-foot solar greenhouse was constructed and plants were grown throughout the winter. Subsequently, an "Alternative Energy Group" was born and education efforts continued over the next five years.

In 1981, CNC constructed a duplex to add additional space for our growing staff. The new building included two solar greenhouses and active solar panel collectors on the roof for the domestic hot water system. Due to maintenance problems over the years, the solar panels and greenhouses were eventually removed. Likewise, cheap fuel in the 1980s led to a fading of the solar energy craze that looked so promising in the 70s.

Fast forward to recent years. Concerns over climate change and our dependence on foreign oil (not to mention the largest oil spill in U.S. history) have put solar and wind power in the forefront once again. In 2009, CNC opened a new Nature Preschool building (see photo below) which includes solar panels on the roof for hot water and electrical energy.

As alternatives to fossil fuels continue to grow, you can bet CNC will be there, providing education and information on these Earth-friendly energy options. There is talk of a solar panel making workshop in our future as well as other program opportunities. If YOU have an idea of something you'd like to see, be sure to let us know!

Looking Back

2010-07-26T08:00:00.001-04:00

People choose to live a greener lifestyle in a myriad of ways. Perhaps you start recycling more, buy organic vegetables at the Farmer's Market, ride your bike instead of drive or carry reusable bags to the supermarket. Taking things further, some people become "flexitarians" (skipping meat once a week) or even vegetarians, purchase clothing made from organic fibers, buy everything locally-made and grow their own vegetable garden.

Even after you consider all these options, there is still so much to learn and try. Living close to the Earth and all her creatures is a lifelong occupation! After all, we're all part of the interdependent web of life and we need to do our best to get along together.

One major source of inspiration for how to live in the future can be looking back at the past. How did our human ancestors, no matter when or where they lived, meet their daily needs? You don't have to look too far back before you find that almost everything people used for survival was local and all of it was organic - there weren't any other options!

Over the next month, we'll turn back the clock and let the past inspire us. How did people once survive and thrive on the land that is now Chippewa Nature Center? After all, people have lived here for about 10,000 years - there's bound to be something we can learn!

Breakfast on the Farm in Shepherd (and it's FREE!)

2010-07-20T09:42:00.000-04:00

Breakfast on the Farm is a family-oriented program that welcomes neighbors and area residents to enjoy a complimentary pancake breakfast along with a self-guided tour of a family-owned farm that includes visits to various educational stations and opportunities to ask questions of local farmers. The July 24 breakfast and farm tour takes place rain or shine from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (breakfast served from 9 a.m. to noon) at the Joe and Beth Bryant family farm near Shepherd.

The self-guided tour of the Bryants’ beef and cash crop farm will feature a variety of educational stations and interactive activities including a baby farm animal petting area and a maple syrup-making demonstration where people can see firsthand how maple tree sap is cooked into real maple syrup. Attendees of all ages will be eager to stand alongside and climb aboard modern-day farm equipment as well as to pet and feed baby farm animals, take a tractor and wagon ride, and touch and smell the feeds that animals eat.

There is no cost to attend the event or take the tour, but tickets are required for the free breakfast. Free tickets can be obtained from the following locations: Family, Farm and Home, Alma; Siler’s Market, Breckenridge; Johnston Elevator, Clare; Napa Auto Parts, Ithaca; Midland County MSU Extension Office, Tractor Supply Co. and West Midland Family Center, Midland; Animal Health Associates, Chamber of Commerce, First Bank, the Isabella County MSU Extension Office, Papa’s Pumpkin Patch, the Soil Conservation District and Tractor Supply Co., Mt. Pleasant; First Bank, Remus; Baders, Rosebush and St. Louis; First Bank and Shepherd IGA, Shepherd; Wincell Cellular Corporation and Winn Telephone Co., Winn; and all locations of Brown Milling, Inc.

The Isabella County Breakfast on the Farm is organized by the Isabella County MSU Extension Office and the Isabella County Michigan Farm Bureau.

To get more information about Breakfast on the Farm or to reserve tickets, contact Jayme Martin at 989-772-0911, ext. 302 or marti879@msu.edu.

2010-07-17T18:04:00.001-04:00

How much space do you really need?

How Much Land Does It Take to Feed a Bee Colony? More Than You Think

2010-07-09T23:57:00.000-04:00

It's a classic image of summer - busy bees buzzing in the bushes (sorry, I couldn't resist!) But what's really going on when a hive of honeybees take to the air in search of food? How much do bees eat? What flowers do they prefer? And how might their food choices relate to Colony Collapse Disorder of which we've heard so much in recent years?

Kim Flottum, of thedailygreen looks at these questions and more in her blog essay: How Much Land Does It Take to Feed a Bee Colony? More Than You Think. Check it out and next time you see those bees on your bushes or reach for that bottle of honey in the supermarket you'll have a new appreciation for all their hard work!

June Photo Show

2010-06-28T08:00:00.000-04:00

Chippewa Nature Center is named after the Chippewa River, which flows through much of Midland County. The Ojibwa, or Chippewa Indians lived along its shores in seasonal camps for many generations through the mid-1800s. Other local rivers, such as the Tittabawassee, Kawkawlin and Shiawassee also have Ojibwa names.

CNC's Log Schoolhouse is open Sunday afternoons, Memorial Day till Labor Day, from 1:30-5:00pm.

The Nature Study Building is home to Nature Day Camp all summer!

The Homestead Cabin was reconstructed at CNC in the mid-1970s. Sunday afternoon visitors, from Memorial Day through Labor Day learn about life on an 1870s farm through tours and special programs.

Almost three miles long, the River Trail is the longest walking path at CNC. It winds its way along the Pine and Chippewa Rivers, through woods and fields and along the edges of ponds.

Renewable Energy - For Kids!

2010-06-21T08:00:00.000-04:00

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (who even knew there was such a thing?) has put together an excellent website that explains energy for kids of all ages. With categories of biomass, geothermal, hydropower, solar and wind, everyone is sure to learn something new. Also on the site, you can play games, find energy saving tips, and much more! So cozy up to the computer with your kids and check it out together!

Olivia the Artist (age 11) helps oil spill efforts

2010-06-15T16:26:00.000-04:00

Olivia wants to attend Cornell to become an ornithologists some day. For now, her paintings are helping raise money to help oil spill cleanup efforts. See her story in this video and learn more by visiting HERE.

Off the Grid With Solar Power

2010-06-14T08:00:00.002-04:00

In continuing our theme of Green Energy this month, check out this YouTube video of somebody who went past the "talk" of solar power and is "walking the walk!" His home solar power system shows how an individual can really make a difference when it comes to using green energy!

Demystifying Wind Power Myths

2010-06-07T08:00:00.001-04:00

As we all know, the BP oil spill continues to dominate the news around the world. The biggest oil spill in U.S. history is being called by some the worst environmental disaster we've ever faced in the country. A time like this is a good opportunity to look beyond fossil fuels. What types of energy can we use that will wean us off oil, coal and petroleum products? Josh Kennedy, of the Clean Techies Blog does a great job Demystifying Common Myths of Wind Power in his post from May 25th. Check it out...

Join the Funky Nests Challenge!

2010-05-31T08:00:00.008-04:00

Ithaca, NY—The Celebrate Urban Birds project at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology is bringing back its "Funky Nests in Funky Places" environmental challenge! Participants sent in more than 600 entries last year. They found nests in hanging flower baskets, an old boot, a teacup, a coffee can--even on top of a clothespin, where a hummingbird built its tiny nest. Celebrate Urban Birds is a free, year-round citizen-science project from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, focused on birds in neighborhood settings.

For the 2010 Funky Nests in Funky Places challenge, participants may take photos, do a painting, write a story, or shoot a video showing a bird’s nest built in some out-of-the-way or out-of-this-world place.

Photo by Jacquie Tinker, New York

“We've had such fun with this challenge,” says project leader Karen Purcell. “The theme really struck a chord with people. You wouldn't believe how many people showed us bird nests in barbecue grills, bathrooms, garden tools, and signs. We even had Tree Swallows nesting in a cannon!”

Prizes include Kaytee bird feeders and seed, sound CDs, books, Cornell Lab gift baskets, nest boxes, and more. The first 50 entrants will receive a copy of the "Doves and Pigeons" poster by Julie Zickefoose and selected images and videos will be posted on the Celebrate Urban Birds website. We'll also be creating a 2011 calendar using some of the best entries.

Email your entry to urbanbirds@cornell.edu:

1. Write "Funky Nests_Your First and Last Name_ Your City and State" in the subject line.
2. In the email, you MUST include your name, mailing address, and location where photos were taken.
3. Tell us why you submitted your entry to the Funky Nests in Funky Places contest.
4. Choose your best/favorite entry and send just that one, please!
5. Read the terms of agreement
6. Be careful around nesting birds. Read more about how to find nests and what to do once you know where birds are nesting.
7. If you agree to the terms above, send us your entry before July 1, 2010.

Visit the Celebrate Urban Birds website for more information.
The 2010 Funky Nests in Funky Places challenge is sponsored in part by Kaytee.

Project Contact: Karen Purcell, Project Leader, (607) 254-2455, urbanbirds@cornell.edu
Media Contact: Pat Leonard, (607) 254-2137, pel27@cornell.edu
______________________________________________________________________

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is a membership institution dedicated to interpreting and conserving the earth’s biological diversity through research, education, and citizen science focused on birds. Visit the Cornell Lab’s web site at http://www.birds.cornell.edu.

May Photo Show

2010-05-24T08:00:00.000-04:00

Enjoy these photos from Chippewa Nature Center taken in the "Merry Merry Month of May."What a colorful and beautiful time of the year!

Mourning Dove

Dutchman's Breeches

Redbud Blossoms

Large-flowered Trillium

Young Woodchuck

Young Bracken Fern Leaf

Dow Corning is Going Green

2010-05-17T08:00:00.000-04:00

Dow Corning, based in Midland, is purchasing 28,800 renewable energy certificates for 2010 and 2011. According to a company press release, the certificates purchased are equivalent to the amount of energy projected to be used at Dow Corning's Corporate Headquarters which will help balance the environmental impact of the site's carbon emissions and help build new renewable energy facilities. For a full article from the Midland Daily News about the initiative, click here!

Plant Pot Recycling

2010-05-10T08:00:00.001-04:00

Join East Jordan Plastics in their efforts to recycle leftover plant pots, flats, tags, etc. (any horticultural related items made from plastic) this season. You can drop off your rinsed pots other items at Meijer’s or Home Depot throughout the Midwest during the spring and summer months or you can arrange a pick-up for larger quantities. Last year, they collected more than 300,000 pounds of materials! Check out EJP website on how you can help make a difference.

Thanks to Abbey at Midland's Dow Gardens for passing this news along! If you are feeling left out and don't have plant pots to recycle, join Chippewa Nature Center for our annual Native Plant Sale on May 27 (CNC members only), May 28 and May 29. Just click here for more details or give us a call at 989-631-0830.

Where are the Nightjars?

2010-05-03T08:00:00.005-04:00

Whip-poor-wills and other members of the "nightjar" family have been in serious decline for several decades. Now, a volunteer-supported research effort is being coordinated by the Center for Conservation Biology to try to develop a nationwide survey that will provide baseline information on nightjar populations.

Volunteers are needed in 38 states (including Michigan) to spend a couple of hours doing a once-a-year survey along pre-determined routes. The 9-mile-long routes have 10 stopping points, where volunteers will stop and listen for the calls of the birds. In Michigan, the survey period is June 19 - July 4. If you would like to adopt one of these survey routes, check out this website for more information: http://www.ccb-wm.org/nightjars.htm

Photo: Common Nighthawk. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

Come Pull Garlic Mustard!

2010-04-27T08:00:00.002-04:00

Everyone is invited to help control invasive exotic plants at the Nature Center. We will focus on pulling garlic mustard, a very aggressive plant invading our woodland understory that can crowd out spring beauty, Dutchman's breeches and trillium. Our objective is to remove garlic mustard from especially sensitive areas before it completely takes over. We'll meet at the Temporary Visitor Center then tromp off to the woods to begin our work. Gloves will be provided. If weather conditions are unfavorable the cleanup will be canceled. Please call Phil Stephens at 631-0830 if you plan to come.

You can come to one or both sessions:

May 1 (Saturday) 10 a.m. to Noon
May 5 (Wednesday) 4 to 6 p.m.

Trees are Terrific!

2010-04-26T08:00:00.000-04:00

The first Arbor Day took place on April 10, 1872 in Nebraska. The brainchild of Julius Sterling Morton, it was designed to highlight the importance of tree planting and to increase awareness of the importance of trees. Our relationship with trees has been critically important to the human species ever since distant prehistoric times. People have used trees for millions of items over thousands of years from bows and arrows to paper and particle board.

Trees, of course, are homes to innumerable insects, plants, fungi and animals as well. And they (thankfully) "breathe in" carbon dioxide and "exhale" oxygen which all living things need to survive.

So, if you haven't hugged a tree lately, what's stopping you? This year, our National Arbor Day holiday will be celebrated on April 30th. Why not plant a seedling, take a woodland walk, or simply look up through the branches of the maple along the sidewalk and say, "thank you." For some fun kids crafts and activities, click here.

Take Your Kids Outside!

2010-04-22T06:00:00.001-04:00

Whether your a teacher, parent, grandparent, or simply that "crazy uncle" in the family, send your kids outside for some fresh air! It's Earth Day!

Earth Day's 40th Anniversary

2010-04-19T08:00:00.005-04:00

This April 22nd will mark the 40th Earth Day celebration. Browse the web and you'll find many pages commemorating the anniversary, such as this one which tells the story of Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson, who proposed the original idea. From the beginning, however, Earth Day was a widespread grassroots movement. Today, events are held all over the world to celebrate the Earth and it's ecosystems and to promote action on environmental issues from "old school" issues such as water and air pollution to 21st century efforts to reduce (or eliminate) our "carbon footprint."

Michigan's largest Earth Day event will take place April 23-25 in Rochester, Michigan. According to event organizers, "The MI Earth Day Fest will welcome to downtown Rochester an anticipated audience of 100,000 people from around Michigan, eager to learn about green and healthy living, and seeking earth-friendly alternatives in food, energy, transportation, clothing, wellness, career, home, garden, finances and more."

Closer to home, Chippewa Nature Center will be holding an Earth Day Hike from 5:30-7:00pm with Naturalist Karen Breternitz. This free program will get you outdoors into the woods to take in the sights, sounds and smells of spring. Along the way, Karen will talk about the trees, wildflowers and fungi that are getting ready for their busy season.

However you choose to celebrate Earth Day this year, we hope you spend some time to reflect on our connection to all living things on the planet we call home. Though it seems big sometimes, we're reminded every day how each insect, plant, animal, air and water molecule are all interconnected. We can all do something to care for the Earth. What will you do this year?

Emerald Ash Borer Fight Continues

2010-04-12T08:00:00.000-04:00

Two press releases in the same month! When this came in, however, we just couldn't resist. It details the most current effort to halt the destructive spread of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) in Michigan. Only time will tell if any Ash trees survive the onslaught of this invasive insect. EAB activity has been discovered at several places now at Chippewa Nature Center including the Wetlands Area, Bicentennial Forest and most recently in the Sugarbush.

Federal funds will help efforts to slow the emerald ash borer invasion in Michigan and beyond

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- All ash trees in North America could eventually be lost to the emerald ash borer (EAB), an exotic pest from Asia first discovered in Michigan and Canada in 2002. At least 15 native ash species appear to be threatened by this invasive pest. In economic terms, scientists have estimated that at least $10.7 billion will likely be spent over the next 10 years simply to protect some of the ash trees in landscapes. That figure does not include the costs of widespread mortality of the ash trees that grow in forests and along streams, ditches and roads.

In an effort to develop strategies for managing recent infestations of EAB, state and federal forest specialists and researchers have been awarded $2.2 million from the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) for a pilot project in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The project, called SLAM, is designed to SL.ow A.sh M.ortality.

“The goals of the pilot project are to test ways to slow the rate of EAB population growth in a relatively isolated infestation,” says Deborah McCullough, Michigan State University (MSU) forest entomologist. “We may also be able to reduce the rate of spread of an EAB population in this kind of setting. Both of these goals will slow down the rate at which EAB kills ash trees within and beyond the project area.”

John Bedford, Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) EAB project director, noted that the ARRA funding will help provide much-needed dollars to accomplish the goals of the project. “The strategies being developed can be used as models for other states that discover new EAB infestations, as well,” he says. “To date, EAB has been found in 13 states and Canada. We need to develop strategies that lower the overall impact of this pest.”

In addition to MSU and MDA, Michigan Technological University (MTU), the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE), the U.S. Forest Service and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) are working cooperatively to do ash tree inventory and mapping, evaluate ash tree survival and death within EAB-infested areas, develop methods to use insecticides and explore other strategies to reduce EAB populations. The SLAM pilot project will be conducted in Mackinac, Delta, Schoolcraft and Houghton counties.

The ARRA money is critical in getting the work done for this project, according to Andrew Storer, forest insect ecologist at MTU. “Much of the work needed for the pilot project is labor intensive,” he said. “We need people out in the field to set up traps and trap trees, survey ash trees and assess forest health. In all, 38 full- and part-time jobs are being created or maintained with the ARRA dollars allocated to the SLAM pilot project.”

In addition, scientists at MSU and MTU will be analyzing data and developing models to help evaluate and plan program activities, and a communications specialist will keep the public informed on the project’s progress. Funds will also be used for the equipment and supplies.

Specialists from MDA and DNRE also play key roles in developing plans for monitoring EAB and for surveying ash across the project areas. The DNRE will be working with the communities of St. Ignace, Manistique, Calumet and Houghton in an effort to respond proactively to possible EAB infestations.

“The ARRA funding will not only benefit Michigan’s Upper Peninsula’s forest resource, but the discoveries made during this pilot project will create a useful model to follow in other areas in the country where invasive insect species threaten our forests and woodlands,” Bob Heyd of the DNRE says.

The ARRA was passed by Congress in 2009 to create new jobs as well as save existing ones, spur economic activity and invest in long-term economic growth, and foster unprecedented levels of accountability and transparency in government spending. For more information about EAB and the SLAM pilot project, go to http://www.emeraldashborer.info/. For more information on ARRA, go to http://www.recovery.gov/.

The Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour

2010-04-10T15:40:00.000-04:00

Join us TONIGHT, at 7pm on April 10 for three hours of amazing films! Just show up at Bullock Creek High School Auditorium and buy your ticket at the door ($10/CNC members, $12/non-members). Midland is one of a handful of stops in Michigan for the World Tour and it's an evening of adventure you won't forget! For more details, just call 631-0830 or log on to our website. Hope to see you there!

Online "Char-ity" Auction: "There's No Place Like Home!"

2010-04-05T08:00:00.000-04:00

"There's No Place Like Home" auction and celebration is a fundraiser in which various local artists donate their time and talents to paint Adirondack chairs following the theme "There's No Place Like Home". This auction pairs the strengths of the local art community with the generosity of businesses and individuals. There are over 30 beautifully decorated functional art pieces that will be featured on the Bidding for Good website for viewing and bidding.

This an "Online to Live Silent Auction" meaning that once an item is available online, individuals may start bidding. Online bidding will be allowed until 8am on April 13th. The event will culminate in a Live Silent Auction and Celebration on Saturday, April 17th at 6:30pm at the Midland Curling Center. Bids will start at the Live Silent Auction where they left off online. If you cannot join us at the event, there is the option for absentee bidding online.

Chippewa Nature Center's entry is by Naturalist Karen Breternitz. Here's a description of her chair: "When you ask a group of naturalists to design a chair around 'There's No Place like Home" you get a chair full of plant and animal homes of course! Humans are not unique in our need for a good home–it's a need we share with all living species. Together we can work to provide quality, affordable housing for our human and other animal friends. This chair is just a sampling of the various homes that you might find around mid-Michigan, from a naturalist's perspective that is!"

Thanks for your support of Chippewa Nature Center and this worthy cause in our community! Now just click to visit and start bidding!

Images of Early Spring

2010-03-29T08:00:00.004-04:00

A pile of spiles await the maple syrup season in early March. Warmer than usual weather for much of the month led to a dramatically slower season than usual.

The "Native American" tree highlights some historic tapping methods of Sugar Maples.

With a mild winter, there was not a major "ice out" event on the rivers this year.

A sleepy Barred Owl perched near the temporary trailers in mid-March.

A pair was seen and heard frequently in the area, likely nesting nearby.

Programs at the Homestead Cabin started on a couple of Saturdays in March with some maple syrup programs. The regular Sunday afternoon season of public Homestead Programs

runs from May 30 through September 5.

Measure Your Energy Savings

2010-03-22T08:00:00.000-04:00

You may have already seen the excellent film, "Kilowatt Ours," which manages in just under an hour to demonstrate the environmental consequences of traditional energy sources such as coal and nuclear, the benefits of clean-energy sources, and most importantly, specific steps that are being taken by homeowners, business owners, and municipalities to save energy. From energy-efficient schools and LED stoplights to installation of geothermal, solar water heaters, and CFLs, the film gives real-life examples of people who are not only reducing their use, but saving thousands of dollars (or in the case of businesses and towns, tens of thousands of dollars) in the process.

One of the latest developments on the Kilowatt Ours website is the "Green Energy Stewardship Program." It is a worksheet that will help you measure the impact of various energy-saving steps you take. Check out the website, and start saving!

Web Cam Fun

2010-03-15T08:00:00.002-04:00

One of the many benefits of modern technology is that it can get us up close views of animals in the wild without thousands of people tromping up to disturb their natural habitat. A good example earlier this winter is the webcam of Lily the Black Bear near Ely, Minnesota. Thanks to the North American Bear Center, thousands of people all over the world are able to peer into her den as she cares for a single cub somewhere in the wilds of northern Minnesota. You can check it out by clicking here.

Other websites can give you up close looks of birds sitting on their nests. The one featured here features a great view of a Bald Eagle on its nest! The nest is located in the Norfolk Botanical Gardens in Norfolk, Virginia. Eggs were laid January 31, so there should be eaglets to watch by mid-March! Enjoy the show!

A Sweet Idea

2010-03-05T08:00:00.000-05:00

As winter comes to a close and everything starts to thaw, maple syrup season arrives at Chippewa Nature Center. At the end of February we start tapping sugar maple trees to get ready for school programs and weekend events. In March, groups of school kids learn how to identify maples and head into the Beech-Maple Woods armed with tools of the trade – measuring calipers, brace and bit, hook and spile, bucket and lid. Slowly but surely, more and more taps get put out during the month and the “plink-plink” sound of dripping sap can be heard through the sugarbush.

Tapping trees at Chippewa Nature Center is quite different than at almost all other maple syrup operations. In a commercial setting, producers aim to gather the maximum quantity of sap possible throughout the short season, therefore placing all their taps right away. Our process, however, is aimed squarely at education. It’s more important to us that each school group has a chance to identify and tap a maple tree so kids can experience something they just might remember for a lifetime!

Sap starts flowing when daytime temperatures rise above freezing and nights are cold. Michigan forester Mel Koelling writes on the Michigan Maple Syrup Association website, “Sap flow in maple tree… occurs when a rapid warming trend in early to mid-morning follows a cool (below freezing) night. Thus, the amount of sap produced varies from day to day. Normally, a single tap-hole produces from a quart to a gallon of sap per flow period (from a few hours to a day or more), with a seasonal accumulation of 10 to 12 gallons per tap-hole likely.”

With tapping throughout the season at CNC, it’s rare that we end up with 12 gallons of sap from an individual tap hole. The sap we do collect is gathered and taken to the Sugarhouse, where it takes about 40 gallons of sap to produce one gallon of maple syrup. In spite of our gradual tapping process, we did gather enough sap in 2009 to draw off 15 batches of syrup from our wood-fired evaporator, totaling nearly 41 gallons of pure maple syrup. That’s about 1,640 gallons of sap that was emptied from buckets on trees and hauled to the Sugarhouse!

You're all invited to join us each weekend in March to see CNC’s maple syrup operation in full swing. As we’re still in the process of renovating the Visitor Center we don’t have space to hold a pancake meal and will not have a Maple Syrup Day festival this year. Instead, we’ll offer special programs every Saturday throughout the entire month. The Sugarhouse will also be open from 1:30-4:30pm every Saturday and Sunday in March

Check out our calendar for full descriptions of programs throughout the maple syrup season. You won’t want to miss the following “sweet” programs: Maple Music Matinee (3/6), The Nature of Maple Syrup (3/13), Celebrating Spring in the Sugarbush (3/20), Sunset at the Sugarhouse (3/23 & 3/25), Maple Traditions (3/27) For more information about making maple syrup at home visit the Resources Section of our website or give us a call at 989.631.0830.

Quiet Water Symposium: March 6

2010-03-01T08:00:00.010-05:00

The following is a press release from the College of Agricultural Resources at Michigan State University about the upcoming Quiet Water Symposium at MSU on Saturday, March 6. Chippewa Nature Center has exhibited at this wonderful event which promotes the "quiet sports" such as canoeing, kayaking, hiking and much more, but we're not able to make it this year. Especially if you love paddling, it's GREAT event and you just might want to attend!

Quiet Water Symposium highlights outdoor recreation during ANR Week conference
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan is rife with lakes, rivers, trails and hills that are waiting for hikers, canoeists, fly fishers, snowshoers and campers. Learn more about these pursuits and the opportunities to enjoy them during the 15th annual Quiet Water Symposium, March 6, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Michigan State University (MSU) Pavilion for Agriculture and Livestock Education.

The symposium, part of Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) Week at MSU, offers participants the chance to learn about human-powered outdoor recreation equipment and activities. Other outdoor equipment related to bicycling, snowshoeing, fly fishing, hiking, diving, sailing, camping, canoeing, kayaking and dog sledding as well as hand-crafted outdoor tools will be on display.

The event will feature booths hosted by representatives from outdoor clubs, outfitters, guides and campgrounds. A number of watershed councils, conservation groups and other organizations will also be on hand. Presenters include Cliff Jacobson, an accomplished outdoor guide and author, who will share his wilderness and camping skills, and Gary and Joanie McGuffin, a Canadian couple, who will talk about their ecology-oriented outdoor experiences. Eric Hanson from the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary will offer a presentation on recreational diving.

The admission fee is $8; children under 12 are admitted free. To learn more, visit www.quietwatersymposium.org. For a complete list of ANR Week programs, conferences and educational opportunities, visit www.anrweek.canr.msu.edu or contact program coordinator Megghan Honke at 517-353-3175, ext. 229, or via e-mail at honkemeg@msu.edu.

Down the Drain

2010-02-22T08:00:00.001-05:00

Water conservation is a way of life in many parts of the world, including our own western states. Despite the obvious supply of water enjoyed by the Great Lakes states, water conservation should play a larger role in our lives as well, because it is a critical natural resource that we have the ability to overuse.

So where do you begin in reducing your “aquatic footprint?” It’s as simple as THINKING about what you pour down the drain or before you turn on the faucet. Just boiled corn or steamed broccoli? Rather than pour that water down the drain, let it cool and use it to water flowers. Collect the cold water that runs down the drain while you wait for the shower to get hot and use it on your garden, or on a patch of lawn the sprinklers don’t reach. Better yet, turn the sprinklers off or at least don’t run them in the middle of the day when literally half the water evaporates.

Don’t let water just roll down the drain while you wash your hands or brush your teeth – take a second to turn it on and off as you need it. Wash your dishes by hand, or at least run the dishwasher only when it is full. If you have a dog, use that water from the boiled corn to spice up his kibble, or the collected shower water to fill his bowl. Unhook a downspout and let the water off your roof collect into a wading pool for him to frolic in.

What will you save, a gallon a day? Maybe two, maybe three? It adds up, so don’t discount your contribution!

Images of Winter

2010-02-15T08:00:00.000-05:00

Ice took a long time forming on the Chippewa River this winter and

many animals were seen drinking from the open water.

A Great-horned Owl sits on her nest in 2008, across the Chippewa River from CNC.

(You can just see "ears"blowing in the breese, sticking out from the left side of the nest.)

Mouse tracks in the snow at the base of a Sugar Maple in CNC's Beech Maple Woods.

Soon things will start to melt and we'll be tapping the trees for maple syrup season!

A Mourning Dove searches for seeds in the snow.

Great Backyard Bird Count Feb. 12-15

2010-02-08T08:00:00.002-05:00

The 13th Annual Great Backyard Bird Count is coming! Your chance to count for fun and count for the future comes from Friday, February 12, through Monday, February 15. Whether you participate once or several times, by submitting your list of the birds you see at http://www.birdcount.org/ you will help scientists learn more about how birds are faring in your neighborhood.

The count has been a joint project of the Audubon Society and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology for many ears. This year, they are delighted to welcome Bird Studies Canada (BSC) as the first international partner. “Bird Studies Canada is delighted to be the Canadian partner for this extremely valuable program,” said George Finney, President of BSC. “Participating in the GBBC is an excellent way for Canadians to reconnect with their love of nature and birds.”

Help Make this the Biggest GBBC Ever!

The more people who participate in the GBBC, the better the information scientists will have about how bird populations may be changing over time due to habitat loss, climate change, disease, or other factors. To take part, just check out details at the Great Backyard Bird Count website and this Friday, start counting!

Young Naturalist Awards

2010-02-01T08:00:00.004-05:00

For the past 12 years, the American Museum of Natural History has held a "Young Naturalist Awards" contest for middle and high school kids in the United States and Canada. They explain, "The Young Naturalist Awards is an inquiry-based science competition for students in grades 7-12 to promote participation and communication in science."

Contest participants complete a carefully-researched project in the fields of Earth science, astronomy, biology or ecology and document the results. To enter a contest, they must write an essay and submit it along with supporting documents. This year, essay length must fall within the following limits:

Grades 7-8: 500-2,000 words

Grades 9-10: 750-2,500 words

Grades 11-12: 1,000-3,000 words

Each essay, including all appendices, tables, charts, drawings, etc., may not exceed 20 pages.

Entries for the 2010 Young Naturalist Awards are due no later than March 1. For a complete description of contest rules and to see complete essays from winners of the 2009 contest, click here. Good luck!

Can we stop Asian Carp?

2010-01-25T08:00:00.000-05:00

The Great Lakes are one of the natural wonders of the world and a treasure for us all. In Michigan, we depend on this largest freshwater system in the world for drinking water, food, transportation, recreation and unparalleled scenic beauty. In spite of their critical importance to all life, the Lakes have been heavily impacted by people throughout the past century. Water pollution and the introduction of invasive exotic species (such as Zebra Mussels and Sea Lampreys) have dramatically affected water quality, plant and animal life.

One of the newest threats facing the Great Lakes is the possible invasion of Asian Carp from the Mississippi River system. These fish grow up to 100 pounds and eat up to 40% of their body weight each day, devastating native ecosystems. Last December, DNA testing found that Asian Carp were in the Chicago River within a few miles of Lake Michigan (though no fish were found) and the barrier designed to keep them out may have been breached. One way to help prevent the invasion of these fish into Lake Michigan is to close the system of locks that connect the river to the lake, a move long-championed by environmental groups. With the support of Governor Granholm, Michigan's Attorney General, Mike Cox filed a lawsuit designed to force the closing of the locks. Since then, the states of New York, Wisconsin, Ohio, Minnesota and the Province of Ontario have joined the fight.

On January 19, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected Michigan's request for a special injunction to immediately close the shipping locks on the Chicago River. It did not, however, rule on the separate request to reopen other court cases dating back from the 1920s dealing with water diversion from the Lake. Also in January, Federal officials said revealed that Asian carp DNA had been found for the first time in the lake at Calumet Harbor in Illinois. More testing is scheduled to occur in nearby Indiana waters this spring.

On January 21, Senator Debbie Stabenow and Congressman Dave Camp introduced legislation to the U.S. Congress in a new attempt to stop Asian Carp. Senator Stabenow's letter to constiuents about their actions read, in part:

Today, I introduced the CARP ACT in the U.S. Senate. This bill directs the Army Corps of Engineers to construct additional barriers and immediately close the locks between the Chicago waterway and Lake Michigan to protect the Great Lakes from Asian carp. Congressman Dave Camp (R-Michigan) has also introduced the companion legislation in the House of Representatives...

I have been working to ensure that federal and state experts have all the tools they need to protect the Great Lakes from the Asian carp, and so far, the efforts have been very successful. However, the recent announcements by scientists are a troubling development that requires an urgent response. Therefore, the bills that Congressman Camp and I introduced call for immediate action to:

Immediately close the barriers and locks into the Great Lakes

Expedite the installation of interim barriers in rivers where no barriers currently exist

Enhance existing barriers and monitoring systems to prevent fish from crossing into the Great Lakes

Grant full authority to the Army Corps of Engineers to eradicate the Asian carp and prevent them from entering the Great Lakes.

Is it already too late to prevent Asian Carp from entering the Great Lakes? If not, acting swiftly seems to be the only chance we have to stop Asian Carp from invading our Lakes. To learn more about this issue and to sign an online petition in support of Michigan's lawsuit, visit: http://stopasiancarp.com/

love your planet, eat your beans

2010-01-18T08:00:00.009-05:00

We’ve all heard of “win-win” situations, but here’s a triple-win to improve your own health, public health and global health! The factory-and-feedlot production of animals has dire consequences for water, forests, the climate, and our own personal health (high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease and various cancers are strongly linked to meat consumption.) If the thought of all-out vegetarianism is more than you can stomach, consider taking just two steps – reduce your meat consumption by 20%, and make an effort to purchase only locally-grown meat. How much could you help?

Here are some stats to consider in making your decision:

1) If all Americans reduced meat consumption by only 20%, we would reduce the amount of greenhouse gases equivalent to all of us switching to hybrid vehicles.

2) The production of beef in this country consumes more water than our entire fruit & vegetable crop. Want to reduce your use of water? Either don’t shower for a YEAR, or eat just one less pound of hamburger, because it takes over 2,000 pounds of water to produce one pound of hamburger!

3) 30 percent of the ice-free land on this planet is being used for animal production; 30% of Brazil’s deforestation is for cattle ranching.

4) The Exxon Valdez got a lot of press for dumping 12 million gallons of crude oil. But how many of us heard about the spill of hog waste in North Carolina (not an unusual accident in the animal industry) that released TWICE that amount of feces and urine, and caused 364,000 acres to be closed to shellfishing?

5) And for your personal health, fear not the lack of meat – ALL nutrients, including the 8 essential amino acids, vitamins, iron, magnesium, etc. – can be found in a VARIED plant-based diet. To learn more about how to reduce your meat consumption in a healthy manner, check out the North American Vegetarian Society (http://www.navs-online.org/) or the Vegetarian Resource Group (http://www.vrg.org/) , or read “The Food Revolution: How Your Diet Can Help Save Your Life and Our World” (John Robbins).

Brush Piles for Wildlife

2010-01-11T08:00:00.002-05:00

Brush piles have a reputation in some circles as "waste piles," the sign of the Lazy Man who refuses to keep things tidy. But in wildlife circles, they have a much different status. A well-built brush pile is a nesting spot for Northern Cardinals, Song Sparrows and Gray Catbirds. It's shelter for migrating White-throated Sparrows and overwintering Northen Juncos, as well as resident rabbits, grouse and chipmunks. And it is an emergency bomb shelter when a hawk enters the vicinity. So this holiday season, consider giving wildlife a homemade gift - a brush pile!

So how does one built the neighborhood's BEST brush pile? A good shelter has a dry basement, so start with a dry spot, or build up the site a bit before beginning. If there is standing water under the pile, it is of less value to the animals you are building for.

The bottom "floor" should be logs or sizeable branches of leg thickness or greater. This is the foundation, the ultimate factor determining width and length, so plan accordingly. Place the foundation logs parallel to each other, with a foot or two in between (the better for chipmunks, weasels and rabbits to scurry through), then place another layer of similar size on top of these, running in the opposite direction. Layer #3 should be smaller branches, placed thickly enough to catch grass clippings from above but loose enough to provide ventilation.

From this point up, the brush pile is whatever you make it, using whatever "stuff" is available -- straw from the dog pen, branches trimmed from shrubs, grass clippings, fallen branches. All that really matters is that there are alternating layers of loose material (such as branches of various sizes) and more solid material (straw, grass clippings). Solid layers capture fallen seeds and provide insulation, while the open layers allow for ventilation, as well as easeir movement through the pile for those who live there.

If the appearance of the brush pile is a concern, or you want to provide a two-for-one deal for animals (shelter AND food), decorate the brush pile with Wild Grape, Virginia Creeper or other vines to provide a splash of fall color, seeds and berries. As will all really good gifts, a brush pile will bring pleasure to both those that use it, and the one who sees how much it is appreciated.

- Janea Little, Senior Naturalist

Happy Green New Year!

2010-01-04T08:00:00.006-05:00

Happy New Year! It's almost impossible to believe it's 2010 already. It seems only yesterday that many people were storing up food for the great Y2K disaster that never happened. At least that got us thinking about our dependence on technology and lack of survival skills in the "real world!"

This year, as we enter the second decade of the second millenium, we should all pause to consider our relationship to the Earth. As each year passes, we're learning more and more about the human impact on our climate, plants, animals and insects and how they're all interrelated in amazing, intricate ways we never paused to consider.

What resolutions will you make this year to live more lightly on the planet? Will you recycle more, drive less and buy local produce. Which of the "Five Rs" will you focus on this year (Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Renew, Recycle), or perhaps you'll work a little bit on all of them?

Remember, reducing our negative impacts on the natural world doesn't necessarily mean we make drastic lifestyle changes. It's better to make manageable resolutions we can keep rather than grandiose ones that will just get dropped altogether after a couple of weeks.

No matter how you approach it, the staff at Chippewa Nature Center hopes your New Year is healthy, happy - and GREEN! We truly appreciate your constant support and look forward to seeing you on the trails.

December Photo Sampler

2009-12-28T08:00:00.002-05:00

Enjoy these December scenes from CNC. We hope to see you on the trails this winter, snowshoing, cross-country skiing, hiking and birding. Let's hope for lots of good snow!

Explore Michigan’s Winter Wonderland

2009-12-21T08:00:00.004-05:00

Being active in winter is a challenge for many of us. Cold weather drives us indoors and the thought of scraping the windshield and driving on slippery roads keeps many people from venturing out into the winter landscape. This year, once the roads are clear, I challenge everyone to get active and explore the magical, snowy scenery Michigan has to offer. Grab a pair of snowshoes and search for snow!

If you’ve ever enjoyed floating on foot through a winter wonderland, you know what I’m talking about. If not, just imagine the earth shrouded under a smooth white blanket, twinkling like a billion miniature diamonds strewn across the forest floor. Tiny footprints, left by chickadees, mark the ground under a hemlock tree. They’ve gathered to celebrate a winter feast of seeds which drop from cones to dot the snow below.

Winter woods are quiet places. Most birds have left for warmer homes and many mammals den up to sleep the winter away. The rare encounters we do have with our forest friends in winter are special ones. Have you ever seen tracks of a porcupine lumbering down a trail? They drag their quills like tines of a child’s rake through a sandbox filled with snow. If you choose to follow a fox, be prepared for an inquisitive adventure. Filled with twists, turns, leaps and jumps, their wild route just might leave you wondering how they disappeared right into thin air.

Strap on snowshoes in Michigan and you can explore frozen waterfalls, magnificent ice caves, and deep swamplands where midsummer mosquitoes would simply carry you away. Or you might venture out to windy Lake Michigan and walk on thick plates of ice that line the frozen shore. The sublime magnificence of grandfather forest is only an hour and a half from Midland at Hartwick Pines State Park.

You don’t have to travel far to experience some winter fun that can really get your heart pumping. Local adventures at Chippewa Nature Center are planned each week throughout January and February with hikes just right for beginners and families. Participants can borrow several styles of traditional snowshoes to try along with adjustable poles which help you stay on your feet as you get your bearings. For a full calendar of Nature Center programs, visit us at www.chippewanaturecenter.org. Under the “Resources” section, you’ll also discover an article which will help you “Choose the Right Snowshoe.”

Whether you chose snowshoes, cross-country skis or just your snow boots, bundling up and getting outdoors this winter is really worth it. Being outdoors in the open air can banish the “winter blues” and a good dose of fresh air every day will help you avoid being sneezed upon by any sniffling noses in the house. Looking to burn some calories? Snowshoeing burns up to 45% more calories than walking or running at the same speed!

If snowshoeing sounds interesting, but you still have some questions, don’t hesitate to call the Naturalist on Duty at Chippewa Nature Center by dialing 989.631.0830. We hope you see you on the trail this winter and wish everyone a safe and healthy season – outdoors!

Christmas Bird Count - Volunteers Needed!

2009-12-07T08:00:00.014-05:00

The Audubon Society's Frank Chapman proposed the first "Christmas Bird Census" on December 25, 1900. For the past 109 years, Christmas Counts have become a major factor in tracking the health of bird populations across North America. Why not become a "Citizen Scientist" and get involved this year?

With Christmas Bird Counts in Midland and Bay City fast approaching, we are looking for volunteer counters, as well as a new compiler for the Midland count. We would also like to thank Dr. Gene Beckham for his years of compiling the Midland event and assisting with other counts.

To sign up as a volunteer for the Midland or Bay City count (or both), please contact the following:

Bay City Count: Dec. 19
Jeanne Henderson at 989.684.3641

Midland Count: Dec. 20
Dr. Gene Beckham at 989.631.4927

This is 110th year of the Christmas count and we are looking keep this tradition alive and well in the Great Lakes Bay Region. You don't have to be an expert birder or have prior experience with bird surveys. All helpers are welcome!

November Photo Journal

2009-11-30T08:00:00.001-05:00

Here are a few photos of Chippewa Nature Center from this chilly month of transition as autumn slowly fades toward winter. Even though much of it looks sleepy this time of year, Nature is still very busy and beautiful!

Bald Eagle Gets a Second Chance!

2009-11-24T12:14:00.002-05:00

Bald Eagle released at Shiawassee NWR

Tips for an Eco-Thanksgiving

2009-11-23T08:00:00.000-05:00

This week, families gather together to give thanks for their blessings and celebrate the bounty of the autumn harvest. While this holiday of fellowship and fun can be a wonderful time, it often results in great amounts of wastefulness that can be easily avoided with a little planning ahead. Just type "Green Thanksgiving" or "Eco-Thanksgiving" into a web browser and you'll find dozens of great ideas to make your gathering more Earth-friendly. Here, we offer a few highlights for your consideration:

1. Spare the bird. Take a cue from the President of the United States, who "pardons" a lucky gobbler each year at the White House. Instead, try a vegetarian Thanksgiving!

2. Buy local. If your family just can't think of giving up that turkey dinner, buy organic and buy local. Locally-raised poultry and other produce uses much lower amounts of fossil fuels as they make it from the farmers to your table!

3. Stay local. Consider other alternatives to driving or flying hundreds of miles just for one family dinner. Consider meeting at a centrally-located venue that saves both time and energy for all.

4. Turn it down. If your stove is running full blast and your home is full of people, it'll probably get pretty warm in there! Turn down your thermostat and open some windows if it gets too hot, instead of running the air conditioning!

5. Buy recycled. Many families go through trash bags full of paper products and plastic-ware instead of doing a mountain of dishes. If this sounds like you, search for recycled paper products or ones made from sugar-cane fibers instead.

6. Eat leftovers. Don't just toss that extra stuffing, send it home with your relatives! If you have meat left over, see how creative you can get with turkey sandwiches for the next few days.

7. Don't overbuy. If you have loads of leftovers every year, consider that you may be buying too much. Really plan ahead and only purchase what you plan on eating this year!

8. Decorate creatively. Instead of rushing out and purchasing a cartload of decorations, see what you can come up with that you already own. Make your own cornucopia and dried flower arrangements.

A Bright Idea

2009-11-16T10:32:00.010-05:00

It's definitely begun. Walk through any grocery store or department store and listen carefully. Holiday music is everywhere! Take a stroll down Main Street and you'll find lights, wreaths, and other decorations just waiting for a cold, white covering of snow.

Drive around town at night, and you'll notice that many people have taken advantage of warm days in November to put up holiday lights on their homes and in their yards. If you're looking for ways to make your holidays a little "greener" (more environmentally-friendly, not more pine-scented), here are a few things to consider:

1. The "greenest" option regarding holiday lights is to not put up any at all. Strands of incandescent lights (especially the big, old-fashioned ones), really suck up the energy and can make your electricity bill climb. Instead, enjoy the light of the moon on a blanket of freshly fallen snow!

2. Perhaps you think the first suggestion is crazy. If so, consider recycling old strands of lights that no longer work instead of throwing them away. One Michigan company, based in Jackson, takes strands of lights for recycling and will send you a 15% discount coupon to purchase their LED version.

3. Especially if you're replacing lights that no longer work, think about an upgrade to LED lights. LEDs typically use only 10% of the electricity it takes to run an incandescent strand of the same length, saving at least $20 or more in energy costs for a 30-day holiday season.

For more about LED lighting, and other ways to make your holiday season a little greener, check out Green Holiday Tips from the Sierra Club by clicking here.

Larderhoarding in the Home

2009-11-09T09:03:00.003-05:00

Odds are you are more of a “larderhoarder,” like a Red Squirrel, than a “scatterhoarder,” like the Gray and Fox Squirrels. I say that assuming you store food in only a few locations, probably a refrigerator and nearby cabinets. That concentration is easy to protect, so you would take action against a stranger found pilfering your supplies. Similarly, Red Squirrels cache pine cones in just a few logs or tree cavities, and woe to another squirrel that approaches!

Gray and Fox Squirrels have a different system. Imagine storing soup in the yard, bread under the deck, and milk in the crawl space? Such scatterhoarding is impossible to defend. You might fight off a stranger in the yard, but by then the crawl space is emptied by someone else. Gray and Fox Squirrels bury acorns and nuts individually, but don’t defend them. They simply use their memory and fine sense of smell to search out between 85 – 99 percent of these buried treasures!

Thankfully for all of us human larderhoarders out there, storage has become vastly more energy efficient in recent years. To find out how much energy your fridge uses, check out this nifty database from Home Energy Magazine. If you have a refrigerator that was manufactured before 1993, it might be time to upgrade to an Energy Star model. Then you won't have to feel guilty at all when you visit your horde for that midnight snack!

Plug the Gaps

2009-11-02T08:00:00.001-05:00

No doubt about it, fall is well underway. Leaves are rapidly falling off the trees and a crisp breeze has begun to blow. We've had some nice frosts at night already and (whether we like it or not), winter will be here before we know it!

As temperatures turn, it's important to take a look at where we live and work in order to keep the elements at bay. If you've got some money saved up, perhaps it's time to look into extra insulation in the attic or walls. Do it before the end of the year and you might qualify for a Federal Tax Credit. (Click here for more information and also check with your tax advisor.)

If you don't have a mattress stuffed with money to spend, one of the best energy-saving task you can do is plug the gaps around your windows and doors. A small gap between your window pane or door jam is a direct-line conduit to outdoor air, leaking your heat out and letting cold in. Check these tips from the U.S. Department of Energy about sealing air leaks in your home. Time to get out the caulk gun and get busy!

Geothermal

2009-10-26T08:00:00.000-04:00

Chippewa Nature Center is growing greener! By now, hopefully you’ve heard about our fantastic new Nature Preschool (see diagram) and upcoming expansion of the Visitor Center. The expansion will add additional space for more classrooms, an auditorium for large groups and enough office space to finally fit our entire staff. During the design of our new facilities, CNC staff worked closely with Kubala-Washatko architects to make our expanded facilities as energy efficient and environmentally friendly as possible.

One way to greatly reduce energy consumption is by using a geothermal heating and cooling system. Geothermal pumps use the stable temperatures of the ground as a heat source to warm buildings in winter and as a heat sink to cool them in summer. If you’ve ever explored a cave or been in a tunnel, you may know that the temperature deep underground stays amazingly stable throughout the year (about 55-60 degrees F). By boring vertical wells underground (typically 100 to 400 feet deep), we’re able to borrow some of this stored energy to use for heating and cooling the building.

A geothermal heat pump doesn't create heat by burning fuel, like a furnace does. Instead, in winter it collects the Earth's natural heat through a series of pipes, called a loop, installed below the surface of the ground. Fluid circulates through the loop and carries the heat to a compressor unit in the building. This electrically-driven device acts as a heat exchanger to concentrate the Earth's energy and release it inside at a higher temperature in winter.

In summer, the system draws heat from the building and transfers it into the earth through the loop. Cool liquid then runs from the Earth back into the building. Inside the newly-constructed portions of the building, plastic pipes will run underneath poured concrete, forming a “water-to-water” radiant slab system. In current portions of the building, a “water-to-air” system will use forced air in order to heat and cool the building.

Geothermal systems aren't just for big places! Many people have discovered the energy-saving benefits of geothermal right in their very own homes. For a great introduction to everything about geothermal energy, check out this Energy Kids Website.

Autumn Photo Journal

2009-10-19T08:00:00.001-04:00

Leaves of gold, migrating birds and squirrels getting ready for winter.

Fallen leaves on the forest floor and a crisp chill in the air.

Oh Autumn, if you could only linger!

Squirrels at the Feeder

2009-10-12T08:00:00.004-04:00

I sometimes wonder if the Gray and Fox Squirrels feasting on millions of pounds of sunflower seeds at America’s backyard bird feeders ever think about the “good ole days.” Do they remember burying acorns and other nuts throughout the forest, and scrounging all winter, using their fine noses to rediscover the vast majority of

their cache? (Or perhaps someone else’s cache – 85% of buried nuts are found and eaten, but not necessarily by the original owner.) Do they remember days on end of not having food because a thick layer of ice made digging through the snow impossible? Do Gray Squirrels in particular have family legends of the great emigrations, when thousands of them periodically deserted food-scarce forests, drowning by the hundreds as they tried to swim swollen rivers?

Squirrels have always eaten a varied diet, including not only the nuts they are famous for burying, but the buds, blooms, sap, and inner bark of trees, as well as fungi, insects, galls, bird eggs, and fruit. They know their resources well. Gray and Fox Squirrels, for instance, learn in just one season to snip out the seed embryo from a white oak acorn before burying it, else the acorn will germinate and grow a large taproot, which squirrels aren’t keen on eating. Red oak acorns, on the other hand, are buried “as is,” because they go dormant after falling from the tree, and will store nicely for the whole winter.

Fungi are stored for winter eats as well, though more commonly by Red Squirrels than by the two larger squirrel species. Fungi are not just buried; they are first snipped off at the base or in bite-sized chunks, and left to dry on a stump or in the fork of a tree.

The cynic in me sometimes believes squirrels no longer have need for these basic survival skills, because they simply eat at bird feeders on demand. In reality, though, I know this isn’t true. I get too many calls from people upset about squirrels stripping the bark from maple trees in the spring. (We aren’t the only ones who know about the sweetness of maple sap.) On nearly any walk in the fall woods, I find at least one mushroom drying on a stump. And just to prove how savvy they are (or how little I know), a young black squirrel ran by my window as I wrote this article -- carrying a walnut he was obviously intent on burying!

-Janea Little, Senior Naturalist

Map-Free Travel

2009-10-05T08:00:00.001-04:00

Most people stop and check a map when they take a long trip, or even on a short trip into a new area. You first double-check that you are where you think you are, then look at the route ahead to see what to expect in terms of route changes, distances, and obstacles.

In comparison, the map-free travel plans of birds have long been a mystery. How do they know where they are going, how far to go, or what route to take? Year after year, ornithologists have answered many questions about how birds get oriented.

They have learned birds use stars to navigate by. They have learned that birds have a built-in compass to orient by the magnetic poles of the planet, although they can’t tell magnetic north from south. (A very significant point for long-distance migrants that cross the equator.) And they know that birds can see polarized light, which enables them to orient by the position of the sun even on a fairly cloudy day.

In 2004, another piece of the migratory puzzle was solved. A team of scientists from the Illinois Natural History Survey, Princeton University, and Germany’s Oldenburg University, followed a series of Swainson’s and Gray-cheeked Thrushes that were tagged with radio transmitters and released at sunset for their nocturnal migratory flight. Some of the birds were simply “tagged” and released, while others were first exposed to artificial magnetic fields that were “off” by 80 degrees.

Control birds, as expected, flew due north when released. The birds whose magnetic “readings” had been skewed flew west for the first night, then rested during the day. The next evening, however, the control birds all corrected their course and headed north.

So what does it mean? Apparently birds are able to calibrate their internal compass using the location of the sun, and probably do so every evening before they take flight. It’s a significant factor for those long-distance migrants, who can re-orient after crossing the equator. Question #312 answered, two-and-a-half million to go!

-Janea Little, Senior Naturalist

September Picture Show

2009-09-28T08:00:00.000-04:00

September is a month of transition. Summer has faded into autumn and the first golden leaves are starting to show. Enjoy these photos from this special time of year. Then again, aren't they all special?