Ride Your Bike

It's spring! The weather is warming up, days are getting longer and bike commuting isn't just for die-hards any more. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, it's time to dust off your spokes, pump up your tires and hop on one of the cleanest (and cheapest) modes of transportation around. It's time to ride your bike! I hooked up a simple little bike computer last spring and had lots of fun logging my miles through the spring, summer and fall. In all, your friendly "blog-master" logged more than 1,000 miles last year, mostly riding back and forth to work nearly every day. My route took me down city streets until I reached the Tridge, where I hopped on the Chippewa Trail for the last 3.8 miles to the Nature Center. Every day, I got at least one hour of exercise built right into my schedule just going back and forth to work. If there was less than a 50-60% chance of rain, I rode. Sometimes I got wet, but I never melted and just wiped down the bike when I got home. My car often sat idle in the driveway and I only filled up the tank once every couple of weeks (gas was more than $4.00 a gallon last summer!) Wildlife, especially along Chippewa Trail, was amazing. One morning, I came around the corner to see a doe nursing her fawn right on the edge of the trail. As I slowly approached, she jumped away and the little guy sat still in the grass, trying to blend in. Until you start spending time outdoors every day you just don't realize how many birds, frogs and other critters are all around us, always! Sure, there are also some inconveniences. Insects can be troublesome sometimes, so I learned to wear sunglasses when I ride. A set of lights (front and rear) and reflective clothing help keep me visible to drivers. But when you build this routine into your day, you just adapt to a new way of doing things. Try it out, you'll be amazed at how it enriches your life!

Earth Day for Everyone

The idea for Earth Day in the United States originated with Gaylord Nelson, U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, in 1969. Senator Nelson envisioned a day which would become an "environmental teach-in" to promote human health and to safeguard the natural environment. About 20 million Americans celebrated the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970. This was an era before many of the environmental controls we enjoy today were in place. Rivers caught fire, Lake Erie was "dead" and DDT was poisoning wildlife. Also in 1970, President Nixon established the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Clean Air Act was strengthened. In 1972, the EPA banned DDT, the Clean Water Act was passed and the U.S. and Canada pledged together to clean up the Great Lakes. While we've come a long way since then, old and new threats to our environment are still evident everywhere. On the first Earth Day, no one had ever heard the phrase "Global Warming" and Emerald Ash Borers, Zebra Mussels and many other invasive species still hadn't invaded our ecosystems. It's easy to feel overwhelmed by the problems facing our world. At the same time, it's very important to remember that we live on an amazing planet, filled with grace and beauty! In that spirit, take time out this Earth Day to enjoy the natural wonders around you. Sit in your yard, go for a walk around the block or come to Chippewa Nature Center! This year, you can enjoy a special Earth Day Hike in the woods to take in the sights, sounds and smells of spring. Naturalist Karen Breternitz will lead this 1½ hour hike and talk about the trees, wildflowers and fungi that are getting ready for their busy season. For information about this and other Nature Center programs, just check out our website. Happy Earth Day!

The Garlic Mustard Blues

The middle of April marks the beginning of the woodland wildflower season. Soon, native flowers such as Large-flowered Trillium, Dutchman's Breeches, Bloodroot and Lady's Slipper will grace the forest floor. High above, trees are just starting to leaf out and the world is turning green again. If you look closely, you'll find that much of the spring green we see nowadays wasn't there twenty years ago. In recent decades, Garlic Mustard, an invasive exotic species from Europe, has swept like wildfire through America's woodland habitats. In some areas (such as large portions of CNC), a dense blanket of garlic mustard grows so thick and tall it chokes out most other native species, including tree seedlings. The problem has gotten so bad, in fact, that some land managers are calling Garlic Mustard one of the most harmful and difficult to control invasive plants in our region. The plants reproduce very rapidly and actually emit chemicals into the soil to prevent other species from growing near them. Garlic Mustard control on Nature Center property consists of pulling the plant in target areas, such as in the Oxbow Woods, in order to prevent it from spreading. What can you do? First, get to know this prolific plant and make sure it doesn't grow in your yard at home! Next, consider joining the Stewardship Network's Garlic Mustard Challenge 2009. Last year, the challenge sponsored events which recorded a whopping 128,470 pounds of garlic mustard pulled! This year there are many places to volunteer to help reach their new goal of 200,000 pounds! Learn more about the garlic mustard problem by watching this great video. After you do, head outside and pull! Garlic Mustard Identification and Control from Barbara Lucas on Vimeo.

Nest Boxes Now

Many species of birds choose holes in trees as their favorite spots to build nests. As old, dying trees are cut down in our neighborhoods, fewer of these cozy nesting cavities are available for our avian friends. These days, many bird species are under major stress and need our help. Habitat loss, climate change, window kills, and other hazards have led to dramatic changes in bird populations in the past 40 years. The State of the Birds Report, released by Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar in March, warns that fully 1/3 of the 800+ bird species in the U.S. are in trouble. It states "Among these species, 67 are federally listed as endangered or threatened. An additional 184 are species of conservation concern because of their small distribution, high threats, or declining populations. Nest boxes are a great way to attract birds to your backyard habitat. Depending on where you live, birds such as Chickadees, House Wrens, Tree Swallows, Nuthatches, Bluebirds, House Finches and even Screech Owls might take up residence. Different species prefer certain size holes and boxes, so be sure to check the specs before you build. Some birds, such as a Robins, Phoebes and Barn Swallows prefer a nest shelf instead of a box. Click Here for plans. And you can build your own predator-resistant bluebird box with these plans from Chippewa Nature Center. Questions? Just contact us here.