Greet spring at an ACRES preserve

The first day of spring is just one week away (March 20, if you’re counting down the days)! In March, we’ll gain almost 2 hours of daylight. That’s more time to enjoy ACRES trails, open daily from dawn to dusk, free of charge. Here are four signs of spring to look and listen for during ...

Curtain now going up on nature’s grand show

The curtain is going up on the greatest show on earth. Its nature’s display of spring wildflowers. And we have ringside seats, because the most beautiful display of spring wildflowers in the world is found in the American Midwest. Actually the curtain parted over a month ago, but few people recognized that the show had ...

Welcome Spring!

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, ...

Get in on Bird Blitz fun! Pledge your support today.

74 participants have registered for ACRES’ first ever Bird Blitz! Pledge your support online HERE. 74 Bird Blitzers! That’s many teams, families, duos and individuals who will be counting birds all day long on Saturday, June 3, on ACRES preserves throughout our 32-county service area. (You can read more about Bird Blitz here) Many registered Bird ...

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 ...

Wanna play? Save This Date

You’re invited: Gather friends and family: We’re playing in the woods! All Ages Preserve Play Day Sunday, May 7, 1 – 4 pm ALLEN COUNTY | Tom and Jane Dustin Nature Preserve 1802 Chapman Road, Huntertown, IN 46748 You’re welcome to drop in at anytime. The Play Day is an open house. Play on preserve trails on your own or join some activities: ...

Spring Members-only Events

Members*, celebrate your results! ACRES’ spring member events are as varied as the habitats we protect together. In support of your shared values and in honor of your commitment to keeping our local wild places wild, you’re invited to participate in unique seasonal outings. Get together with your fellow members, break bread and enjoy the ...

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 | ...

Exploring the preserves: anticipating spring wildflowers

By John J. Smith Skunk cabbage (picture 1 below) is the first native plant to flower, most years in March. Then come harbinger-of-spring, hepatica, false rue anemone and many more. But 2016 may have surprises. Already on Christmas day 2015 I found skunk cabbage spathes starting to emerge a few inches, and one hepatica flower and one ...