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Color Me Bright, Color Me Orange

Article and photos by Fred Wooley, ACRES member, former Wing Haven caretaker and retired DNR Pokagon State Park naturalist Every growing season, changes take place in the wildflower world. Although we may not always consciously think about these changes, we may be noting them in our subconscious. They are as subtle as the changes in daylight when spring ...

  • 07/19/2017
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Digging our region’s natural groove: Cedar Creek’s Tunnel Valley

You’ve probably read about the Cedar Creek Corridor, but have you stood 80 feet over the creek and wondered how this dramatic topography happened? Right here? Recently, Tony Fleming, geologist and long-time ACRES friend, shared geologic theory and evidence as we walked along the corridor’s 80-foot elevated Lanham’s Promontory overlooking Cedar Creek in the Tom and Jane ...

  • 06/16/2017
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ACRES’ Bird Blitz Final Tally

Greetings, fine-feathered friends, Many thanks to the 76 volunteer bird-counters who put in hard work and had fun identifying birds for the first annual ACRES Bird Blitz! 76 of you went out there to tiptoe through 35 different ACRES properties, binoculars and field guides in hand. Your results are in:  89 species of birds were identified, ...

  • 06/08/2017
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What is a Fen? The Nature of ACRES’ “Springy Places”

“Springy places” the early pioneers called them…probably because the pioneers frequently encountered springs of water emanating from these wet landscapes, or maybe because walking on these bouncy wetlands put a spring in their step. These globally rare ecosystems are also known as “fens” or “prairie fens.” Prairie fens are found in the glaciated regions of the upper Midwest: predominantly in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, ...

  • 05/22/2017
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Exploring the Preserves: No place like home

What wildlife returns to spring woodlands and wetlands? by Fred Wooley As days lengthen and air warms, wildlife react to internal clocks triggering seasonal changes in their behavior. Most animals not migrating to warmer climates stay active in our ACRES preserves. Raccoons, squirrels, skunks, deer, fox, rabbits, weasels (the list is long!) hole up or hunker down on only brutal ...

  • 03/29/2017
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Field Notes: early March birds, blooms & ballads

While spring has not yet officially sprung, the preserves are already increasingly active. Spring wildflowers are beginning to bloom and wildlife is returning. As hikers do the same, they’re capturing images and video of the hullabaloo. Enjoy these sights and sounds of early March from ACRES preserves across our region. In video: March 7, 2016 | ...

  • 03/08/2017
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To bird or not to bird? This is your question – and your invitation.

You’re invited to participate in the ACRES Bird Blitz! What’s a Bird Blitz and how can you join? You can help count birds, either as an individual or on a team, on ACRES preserves If you participate, you’ll be invited to a celebratory wrap-up party at the end of the count day Registered participants will receive a ...

  • 03/01/2017
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What kind of year for winter finches? What’s a winter finch?

By Fred Wooley Early September, I saw my first-of-the-season Red-breasted Nuthatch, one of my favorite birds.  Diminutive compared to our more common year-round White-breasted Nuthatch, the Red-breasted is also set apart by its rusty-red chest and distinctive eye stripe and the fact that it spends a bit more time on branches than the trunk-clinging White-breasted. As fall moves ...

  • 02/10/2017
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