Michigan Nature Magazine Fall 2019

Michigan Nature Association Fall 2019 Volume 67 Issue 1

magazine

michigan nature MNA Receives Planet Award Q&A: Dan Eichinger, Director, MDNR Singing Insect Survey

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We’re All in This Together Nature needs everyone and everyone needs nature How you can help protect Michigan nature: • Join or renew your membership • Become a monthly supporter • Honor a loved one with a memorial gift • Remember MNA in your will or estate plan Use the enclosed envelope, call (866) 223-2231 or visit www.michigannature.org to contribute.

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Redbud Romance

by Dustyn Blindert

Fall 2019

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Features Planet Award Helps MNA Protect Michigan’s Most Vulnerable Species ... Before It’s Too Late

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Q & A: Dan Eichinger, Director, MDNR

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“

We know climate change is happening and we’re seeing the effects here in Michigan.

”

- Dan Eichinger page 35

In this Issue MNA 360

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MNA Online

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Sanctuaries

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Research

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Stewardship

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Education

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Booknotes

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Legacy

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DNR Wildlife Specialist Talks Big Cats at Annual Meeting Kirtland’s Warbler Conservation Partner Organizations Celebrate Success

Good News from Washington Species Spotlight: Tamarack Tree Cricket

Donation Establishes New 80-Acre Sanctuary The Holly Family Legacy Spans Generations Karner Blue Project Funds 40-Acre Acquisition

Singing Insect Survey Turtle Surveys

Restoring Habitat at Five Lakes Muskegon Conservation Superheroes Welcome New Stewardship Staff

Wayne County Invests in Hines Park Wildflower Association of Michigan Science Gallery Engages “Often-Ignored” Youth

Recommended Reading from MNA

Tribute to Sharon E. Johnson

On the Cover: Eastern Prairie Fringed Orchid, photo by Rachel Maranto

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Order Walking Paths & Protected Areas of the Keweenaw Today!

Michigan Nature Association

Walking Paths & Protected Areas of the Keweenaw is a guide that features publicly accessible nature and wildlife sanctuaries, preserves, and parks located in Houghton and Keweenaw Counties on Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula that have been protected through citizen action and private initiative.

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We envision a future where Michigan’s rare, threatened and endangered species and imperiled natural communities thrive, and where they are valued by people of all walks of life who embrace and benefit from Michigan’s natural heritage.

Board of Trustees

Staff

Yu Man Lee President

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Kurt Brauer Vice President

Conservation

Margaret Welsch Secretary

Andrew Bacon Conservation Director

Ruth Vail Treasurer

Rachel Maranto Stewardship Coordinator, L.P.

David Cartwright Trustee-at-Large

Zach Pacana Regional Stewardship Organizer, E.L.P.

Bill Bobier

Robb Johnston Regional Stewardship Organizer, W.L.P.

Kara Haas Garret Johnson Steve Kelley Gisela Lendle King Stan Kuchta Paul Messing

Bill Atkinson Regional Stewardship Organizer, Thumb Nancy Leonard Regional Stewardship Organizer, Keweenaw Natalie Kent-Norkowski Land Protection Technician

Outreach & Education Julie Stoneman Outreach & Education Director Lauren Ross Communications & Events Coordinator

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Please direct questions about this magazine to Communications and Events Coordinator, Lauren Ross at lross@michigannature.org or 866-223-2231. © 2019. Except where used with permission, entire contents copyright 2019 Michigan Nature Association.

From the Executive Director One million out of eight million. One million plants and animals are

threatened with extinction according to the Global Assessment Report by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services and released in May by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

These mind-numbing and heart-stopping projections come on the heels of other devastating numbers we already know too well. In Michigan, over 700 plants and animals are rare and/or declining according to the Michigan Natural Features Inventory.

“The planet is on notice,” declared UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay.

Indeed. In our corner of the globe, MNA’s mission to protect rare, threatened and endangered species, imperiled natural communities, and unique geologic features is more relevant than ever.

That’s why the reintroduction of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA) in Congress is so vitally important, as reported in this issue of Michigan Nature, and why we will work towards passage of the legislation. It would redirect $1.4 billion of existing federal funds to states to implement congressionally mandated Wildlife Action Plans (WAP) across the country. As I’ve written before, MNA is a strongly invested partner in Michigan’s WAP as we consider it the state’s most important partnership-driven, collaborative strategy to help wildlife species of greatest conservation need.

To bolster our own conservation efforts, we were thrilled to be recognized and named as an inaugural recipient of the Consumers Energy Foundation’s Planet Award. Our $250,000 grant will be used to protect and restore critical habitat for rare species in eight counties over the next three years.

So, when faced with a global wildlife crisis too large to comprehend how one person can possibly make a difference—take heart; your generous support of MNA makes a very direct and day-to-day difference right here at home in Michigan. Together we will take on this daunting challenge in our part of the world with our conservation work, strategic partnerships, and support for the passage of legistlation such as RAWA because, yes, we are on notice.

Our Values Integrity | Commitment | Collaboration | Diversity and Inclusiveness | Accountability and Transparency | Respect

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James and Alice Brennan Memorial Nature Sanctuary Photo Š Jason Steel

Leave a Lasting Legacy

By Including MNA in Your Will or Estate Plan By including MNA in your estate plans, such as a will, trust or other planned gift, you will join a group of dedicated people — our Guardians of the Future — who sustain MNA’s work and leave a legacy for many generations to come.

How to Help Secure Michigan’s natural heritage • • • •

Include a bequest to MNA in your will or estate plan Donate stocks, bonds or other securities Donate real estate or other property Invest in a charitable gift annuity

To learn more, please return the attached card, visit www.michigannature.org or call (866) 223-2231.

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Karner Blue Butterfly Photo by Martha Hitchiner

Inside | MNA

MNA 360

People • Land • Legacy MDNR Wildlife Specialist Talks Big Cats at Annual Meeting

A cougar is captured on a trail camera in Gogebic County, northwest of Ironwood, in the far western portion of the Upper Peninsula. Courtesy MI DNR

The 2019 MNA Annual Meeting was held at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park with more than 150 members and guests in attendance to learn about the impact that MNA has had over the past year in protecting rare, threatened, and endangered species in the state. Attendees also heard from MDNR Wildlife Specialist, Adam Bump, about how the state tracks the presence of bobcat, cougar, and lynx in the state.

Meeting attendees were eager to share their wildlife sightings with Mr. Bump, and he was kind enough to attempt to identify a variety of animals. Mr. Bump also explained the department’s process of reviewing potential sightings across the state, including some surprising confirmed cougar sightings as far south as Bath Township in southeastern Clinton County. Cougar had been believed to be extirpated from the state since the early 1900s, but in recent years many sightings have taken place, leading experts to conclude that these large cats are once again returning to the state.

Thank you to everyone who attended - save the date for next year’s meeting - Saturday, April 25, 2020!

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DNR Wildlife Specialist, Adam Bump, speaks to a member at the Annual Meeting at Frederik Meijer Gardens.

Inside | MNA Kirtland’s Warbler. Courtesy MI DNR

Saved from the Brink of Extinction, Kirtland’s Warbler No Longer an Endangered Species The Kirtland’s warbler, once near extinction, was recently removed from the federal endangered species list—a triumph of the Endangered Species Act and the decades of public and private conservation efforts the statute enabled to keep this rare bird from disappearing forever. The iconic bird breeds only in young jack pine forests, mostly in Michigan, but is now also found in Wisconsin and Ontario. Winter months are spent primarily in the Bahamas.

More than 2,000 nesting pairs have been counted in recent years, up from fewer than 200 males found in the 1987 census, thanks to forest management and removal of parasitic cowbirds. However, the bird is “conservation-reliant”, which means that it requires ongoing management to maintain healthy populations. Therefore, it will continue to need its champions to ensure adequate resources are devoted to supporting the bird.

Bill Rapai, Chairman of the Kirtland’s Warbler Alliance, reminds us that we all can be a part of the Kirtland’s warbler comeback.

“If you’re an individual who believes in Kirtland’s warbler conservation, speak up!” he says. “Contact your state and federal legislators and tell them why it’s important that we continue to support Kirtland’s warbler conservation.”

MNA thanks everyone whose dedication over many years ensured the comeback of a very special songbird.

Kirtland’s Warbler Alliance Joins MNA’s “Conservation Center” in Okemos MNA welcomed the Kirtland’s Warbler Alliance (KWA) to its office building in Okemos this summer. They join Michigan Audubon, American Bird Conservancy, Michigan Wetlands Association, and Mid-Michigan Land Conservancy who now work under one roof.

Bill Rapai, Chairman of the KWA, Michigan notable author, and a contributor to Michigan Nature magazine, is pleased his group is in such good company. “We like the collaborative conservation spirit MNA has created. We know we can depend on our partners to help us build capacity as we grow and take on new conservation challenges.”

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Online | MNA

michigannature.org Good News from Washington: Momentum for the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act MNA cheered the reintroduction of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA) earlier this year by Michigan’s own Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, and Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE). The legislation is attracting significant bipartisan support including other Michigan co-sponsors Fred Upton (R), Dan Kildee (D), and Rashida Tlaib (D). If enacted, the RAWA would annually redirect $1.4 billion in existing federal revenues to states and tribes for proactive, voluntary efforts to prevent vulnerable wildlife from becoming endangered across the U.S.

Trumpeter Swan, Courtesy MI DNR

RAWA has the full support of Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s administration, noting that passage of RAWA would represent the largest investment in conservation funding in more than a generation. In October, she spearheaded a bipartisan coalition of Great Lakes Governors (Ohio, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Minnesota and Michigan) who sent a joint letter to the chairman and ranking member of the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources voicing support for RAWA. “The decline of our fish and wildlife, and their natural habitats, are one of the greatest threats to our environment and economy,” said Governor Whitmer. “The future of Michigan, and the entire country, rests on our ability to come together and protect our wildlife and natural resources.

That’s why this bipartisan coalition of governors have come together to support the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act.” Dan Eichinger, Director of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, added, “RAWA represents a unique opportunity to secure long-term support for species that don’t currently have a dedicated source of funding.”

RAWA had its first hearing before a House Committee in October. In a show of support for this legislation, MNA will be watching its progress closely. We extend our appreciation to Congresswoman Dingell for championing the bill.

Brockway Mountain by J. Haara 12

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For more information, visit michigannature.org.

Peregrine Falcon. Courtesy MI DNR

For Michigan that would mean as much as $32 million a year to help over 300 animal species—both terrestrial and aquatic—that are at risk of extinction. Without raising taxes, RAWA would inject critical funds to implement Michigan’s Wildlife Action Plan so that nongame species, both common and rare, would benefit from the conservation of vital habitats such as grasslands, prairies, and floodplain forests.

With incredible success stories like the Kirtland’s warbler and peregrine falcon, we know that given adequate funding coupled with sound, science-driven strategies as found in the WAP, wildlife can recover.

Online | MNA

Species Spotlight: Tamarack Tree Cricket (Oecanthus laricis) Dave Cuthrell

The Tamarack tree cricket is one of several similar tree crickets in the genus Oecanthus, which have earned their name from the short-tomedium height Tamarack pines that they prefer as their homes. Although most people are familiar with the chirping sounds of field and house crickets, tree crickets make more of a trilling sound, which is more songlike than a chirp.

Often mistaken for the pine tree cricket, which is nearly identical in appearance, the distinguishing feature of the Tamarack tree cricket is the location in which it is found. These tiny crickets have been difficult to survey due to their size and coloration, and so there is not as broad an understanding of their taxonomy. There are efforts underway to improve this though, such as a singing insect survey that took place at MNA’s Butternut Creek Nature Sanctuary in Southwest Michigan.

Learn more about these, and other insects being surveyed on page 16-17.

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Sanctuaries | MNA

Donation Establishes New 80-Acre Sanctuary For decades, Frank and Brenda Holly visited the 80-acre family retreat in Mason County, just outside of Ludington. There is a small cottage near the southwest corner of the property that Frank and his family have been slowly building over the past several decades; the rest consists of hemlock and pine forest, featuring wetland and prairie fen. Mr. Holly’s grandfather, Henry Millwood was a local farmer and artist who spent much of his spare time caring for this property. Mr. Holly explained, “Every year in early December, Henry would walk the mile-and-a-half from his farm, with saw in hand, to this place and look for a tall pine tree with a nicely formed top. Then, he would climb way up high on this tree and cut its top off and carry it home so that it could serve as the family’s Christmas tree for that year.”

The onsite wetlands are part of a much larger wetland complex which extends to the west and the southwest, and which drain into the North Bayou on Hamlin Lake. Exploring the vast forest of this property, one will find patches of sandy earth, ferns and cattails among the red maples, eastern hemlocks, and red and white pines. A small creek runs through the property, one of many in a network of arteries that wind up in nearby Hamlin Lake.

In December 2018, Mr. Holly donated this piece of land with the hope that its ecological significance in the broader area will be protected. The property will also serve as an educational opportunity for the local community. MNA will ensure these goals are met by beginning to develop a walking trail system and informational signage for this parcel, while working with local schools and community organizations on educational and outreach programs.

Above: Stream flowing through Holly Nature Sanctuary, Photo by Lauren Ross 14

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Sanctuaries | MNA

The Holly Family Legacy Spans Generations Henry Millwood was clearly a man who liked to be occupied. Between his duties to the family farm, he spent his time drawing (see self portrait at left), and maintaining his 80 acre property in Mason County. Friends and neighbors recall how well he cared for this property, frequently strolling through the woods, picking up sticks from the ground, and keeping it “looking like a park.”

Henry bequeathed his cherished property to his daughter, Doris, who continued to benefit from the tranquility provided by the forest her father had protected. Doris and her children, Franklin and Brenda, visited the family property for decades, eventually building a small rustic cottage, which can still be found on the property.

In her later years, Doris made the decision to continue her father’s legacy by gifting the Mason County property to her children, who in turn passed it on to the Michigan Nature Association, so that its unique geology, and critical wetland and upland forest habitat could be further protected and maintained for the benefit of future generations.

Henry Millwood self portrait, courtesy Franklin Holly

Karner Blue Project Funds 40-Acre Acquisition Earlier this year, MNA protected an additional 40 acres of critical habitat in Newaygo County. With this latest acquisition, MNA’s Karner Blue Butterfly Consesrvation Area includes three sanctuaries totaling 245 acres.

“The new acquisition is another important addition to a complex of conservation lands in Brooks Township that protect imperiled natural communities and rare species within a remarkable landscape, “ said Andrew Bacon, MNA’s Director of Conservation.

“Although there are currently no Karner blue butterflies found at the new nature sanctuary, it is an excellent candidate for butterfly restoration given the high quality habitats that are present and the close proximity of existing Karner blue Brooks Oak Pine Barrens dry-sand prairie. Photo by Lauren Ross. butterfly populations.” The land purchase was made possible by a grant from The Conservation Fund with funding from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources as part of a Karner blue butterfly mitigation project.

The Karner blue butterfly is one of Michigan’s rarest butterflies and is listed as endangered by the federal government. It requires dry-sand prairie and oak-barren habitats found in the Newaygo area that can support wild lupine, a native wildlflower. The larvae or caterpillar stage of the Karner blue butterfly feeds exclusively on wild lupine.

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Research | MNA

Singing Insect Survey It is an unmistakable sound on late summer evenings and into the fall - the hum, chirp, trill and buzz of insects heard are the night singing insects, described by Dr. Carl Strang as the cicadas, katydids, crickets and three subfamilies of grasshoppers in which males produce sound displays so females can find them, and humans can hear them.

As a naturalist with the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, IL, Carl initiated a long-term general survey of singing insects in 2006 across a four-state, 22-county region stretching from southeast Wisconsin to southwest Michigan. In 2018, his annual census included a stop at MNA’s Butternut Creek Nature Sanctuary in Berrien County.

Wendy Partridge & Lisa Rainsong look for a long-spurred meadow katydid at Indiana Dunes State Park.

“The night singers are not keystone species, most of them are not dependent on a particular plant, nor are they the main food for other animals,” he continued. They are also limited in movement, and don’t fly very far. “Singing insects can be a good indicator of the health of a system. With some animals you can build it, that is restore habitat, and they will come,” he says, “That’s not so true with singing insects.” Carl believes habitat restoration is important, but not at the expense of protecting and maintaining high quality habitat of critical sizes.

Carl’s survey is yielding interesting results - he is not finding some species that occurred 50 to 100 years ago, but is finding some that did not. Some very common— like the dusky-faced meadow katydid—occurred in every marsh five decades ago. Now he is only finding them in marshes free of invasive plants. Habitat degradation and loss is a big factor in declines of singing insects where they once occurred.

On a cool and rainy day in August 2018, Carl and Nancy Collins, a citizen scientist who is rapidly becoming a recognized tree cricket expert, visited Butternut Creek Nature Sanctuary. They stopped to listen and look for the tamarack tree cricket, a species of special concern in Michigan and one that has been known to occur at the nature sanctuary. According to the Michigan Natural Features Inventory, the tamarack tree cricket inhabits dense to open tamarack swamps and fens. Carl and Nancy identified 14 singing species there—but no tamarack tree cricket.

Carl is not sure whether it was the weather that day or some other factor. “The habitat at Butternut Creek looks fine and healthy with lots of tamaracks,” Carl says. “It is definitely worth getting back in there again.”

Carl plans to continue visiting Butternut Creek Nature Sanctuary in his search for tamarack tree crickets as he conducts his annual 22-county sweep. From late July until the first frost, listen for the night chorus of singing insects—and know that scientists like Carl and Nancy are listening too.

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“With some animals you can ... restore habitat, and they will come. That’s not so true with singing insects.”

-Carl Strang

Singing Insects Observed: Fall field cricket (Gryllus pennsylvanicus) Allard’s ground cricket (Allonemobius allardi) Striped ground cricket (Allonemobius fasciatus) Carolina ground cricket (Eunemobius carolinus) Forbes’s tree cricket (Oecanthus forbesi) Snowy tree cricket (Oecanthus fultoni) Narrow-winged tree cricket (Oecanthus niveus) Say’s trig (Anaxipha exigua) Black-legged meadow katydid (Orchelimum nigripes) Sword-bearing conehead (Neoconocephalus ensiger) Oblong-winged katydid (Amblycorypha oblongifolia) Greater angle-wing (Microcentrum rhombifolium) Fork-tailed bush katydid (Scudderia furcata) Common true katydid (Pterophylla camellifolia)

Research | MNA

David Cuthrell uses a sweepnet attached to a long pole to reach into the top of this Tamarack tree, in search of a Tamarack tree cricket in Oakland County. Learn more about Tamarack tree crickets in the “Species Spotlight” on page 13. Photo courtesy David Cuthrell.

MNA Stewards Survey for Turtle Species MNA stewards and volunteers are conducting two turtle surveys to better understand the presence of Spotted and Blanding’s turtles at several MNA sanctuaries.

Both the Spotted and Blanding turtles are currently under review by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for potential listing under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Both are considered vulnerable to climate change according to the Michigan Natural Features Inventory.

The Blanding’s turtle is a Michigan species of special concern, due to the risk of habitat fragmentation.

Spotted turtles are a Michigan threatened species, which have historically been found in the southern and western areas of the Lower Peninsula.

Blanding’s Turtle, Photo by John Behnke.

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Planet Award Helps MNA Protect Michigan’s Most Vulnerable Species ... Before It’s Too Late Earlier this year the Consumers Energy Foundation selected MNA as a recipient of its inaugural “Planet Awards.” The award provides MNA with $250,000 in funding to help protect, enhance, and restore nearly 600 acres at eleven nature sanctuaries in eight Michigan counties. Work on the Planet Award’s goals is already underway.

Big Valley Nature Sanctuary Photo by Rachel Maranto 14

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Feature | MNA partner in the fight to save endangered species in Michigan, including the Poweshiek skipperling, and this grant will help us save critical habitat that might otherwise be lost.”

“We are excited to support ideas aiming to protect Michigan’s natural beauty for today and the future,” said Brandon Hofmeister, president of the Consumers Energy Foundation.

The award of $250,000 will protect, restore, and enhance 575 acres of critical habitat at or adjacent to eleven of MNA’s more than 175 nature sanctuaries. The lands targeted in MNA’s project are some of the last strongholds for rare, threatened and endangered plants and animals in Michigan.

“Many of the plants and animals that will benefit from our project have existed in Michigan for thousands of years but are facing an uncertain future due to invasive species, climate change and habitat destruction. The funding provided by the Planet Award allows us to act now to try and prevent them from disappearing from our landscapes forever,” Johnson added.

MNA’s work will be conducted in eight counties within Consumers Energy’s service area over a three year period and will leverage $750,000 in additional funds and land donations during that time.

Jack in the Pulpit at Big Valley Nature Sanctuary. Photo by Zach Pacana.

More than ten years ago, MNA and Consumers Energy partnered to protect habitat in northern Oakland County where a small butterfly, the Poweshiek skipperling, was found. The Poweshiek once lived throughout the upper Midwest and southern Canada; today however, it survives in less than ten remaining landscapes on Earth.

This year, the Consumers Energy Foundation, Consumers Energy’s charitable arm, named the Michigan Nature Association (MNA) as a recipient of the Foundation’s inaugural Planet Awards.

“We are thrilled and honored to receive one of the first Planet Awards,” said Garret Johnson, MNA’s Executive Director. “Consumers Energy has been a very important Butler’s Garter Snake at Big Valley Nature Sanctuary.

Photo by Zach Pacana 20

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Feature | MNA Securing Habitat for Habitat Specialists MNA’s Planet Award project deploys conservation actions to retain some of the most at-risk biological diversity found in Lower Michigan with goals to acquire 291 acres while restoring an additional 284 acres of habitat through management and invasive species control activities.

These actions will take place within nearly a dozen imperiled natural communities that are part of or connected to 11 existing MNA sanctuaries which provide habitat for a suite of rare, threatened, and endangered plants and animals.

of our natural heritage given the numerous threats they face.

In the targeted habitats, well-known and lesser known wildlife species are at stake such as Blanding’s, Spotted, and box turtles; Blanchard’s cricket frog; cerulean, hooded warblers, and other neo-tropical songbirds; grassland birds including northern harrier and Henslow’s sparrow; the Karner blue and Poweshiek skipperling butterflies.

By protecting habitat, rare plants also benefit, such as the eastern prairie fringed orchid and white ladyslipper.

“These are places that need our attention to stem the loss of ... Michigan’s atrisk species”

Imperiled habitats include coastal plain marsh, prairie fen, oak-pine barrens, lakeplain wet prairie, and dry sand prairie. Restoration actions include invasive species removal, native plantings, and prescribed fire where appropriate. Protecting and restoring habitat identified in the project will increase the likelihood that certain species persist in Michigan as part

These plants and animals are all habitat specialists, which means they survive only in habitats with certain attributes not found in other places. The animals simply cannot be picked up and moved. Their habitats do not cover wide swaths of land but are often found in smaller pockets dotted across the landscape. These are

Beaver Dam at Big Valley Nature Sanctuary. Photo by Zach Pacana

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Feature | MNA

Birding hike at Saginaw Wetlands Nature Sanctuary. Photo by Zach Pacana

places that need our attention to stem the loss of natural communities that harbor Michigan’s at-risk species.

As an example, the Poweshiek skipperling is found in less than ten sites on Earth and one of those is an MNA Nature Sanctuary found in Oakland County. Habitat enhancement is an essential strategy for responsible management of this critical site because the butterfly is such a habitat specialist. It can no longer survive on other prairie fen sites or wetlands and is not able to be translocated elsewhere.

This sanctuary is also a highly important site for other prairie fen dependent species found there such as the federally threatened eastern massasauga rattlesnake.

Similarly, restoring and creating new habitat for the Karner blue butterfly in Newaygo County will provide some ability for the butterfly to expand its population from currently occupied sites. That strengthens its survivability should threats arise at other locations. Habitat restoration will also benefit an entire suite of plants and animals found in these prairie communities. This type of targeted conservation not only helps rare species but also helps to keep common species common.

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Aligning with Michigan’s Wildlife Action Plan Michigan’s natural heritage is at risk. Over 700 plants and animals in the state are rare and/or declining due to habitat loss, invasive species, hydrological alterations, climate change, unsustainable use, and disease. The problem is not unique to Michigan. In 2018, the National Wildlife Federation reported that “an assessment of the best-known groups of U.S. plants and animals indicates that as many as one-third of America’s species are vulnerable, with one in five imperiled and at a high risk of extinction.”

MNA sought the Planet Award as part of our mission to protect rare, threatened, and endangered species and the imperiled natural communities in the state. The award links to the State’s best strategy for addressing the wildlife crisis in Michigan and keeping more species from becoming endangered—the Wildlife Action Plan (See “Hope for Restoration and Renewal”, Michigan Nature magazine, Fall 2018). This Plan identifies over 300 wildlife species of special conservation need and specifically calls for protecting and restoring key habitats, such as those

Feature | MNA experience elsewhere. Researchers will also be able to access these lands to observe ecological systems at play in both pristine and restored habitat. MNA also engages hundreds of local volunteers who help maintain our sanctuary network, providing tangible ways for people to interact with nature.

Additional impacts include water quality benefits through the protection of wetlands, groundwater recharge areas, and riparian lands. Importantly, the project builds on past land protection and restoration investments made by MNA members, other funders, including Consumers Energy, and an incredible network of volunteers and stewards.

Action on the Ground Over the summer, MNA launched the Planet Award project with work underway at a number of sites. The following examples are just a few of the planned actions over the next three years.

Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake. Photo by Zach Pacana

• An expansion of the Black River Nature Sanctuary in Van Buren County will increase floodplain forest habitat for rare animals known to occur such as the cerulean warbler. The Black River Watershed Plan identifies this portion of the river corridor as an area of highest priority for land protection efforts based upon

targeted in MNA’s Planet Award project. These habitats are home to the greatest biological diversity in the state but face the highest number of threats and stressors, from fragmentation to impervious surfaces.

Because MNA helped develop the Wildlife Action Plan and uses it to guide our conservation work, the Planet Award project aligns with it by design. The Plan creates a collaborative framework for both private and public partners so, consequently, MNA’s project will contribute to statewide priorities and wildlife goals shared between partners that include the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and other conservation organizations.

Helping Nature to Benefit People MNA’s Planet Award has a human component as well.

Miles of trails wind through the nature sanctuaries that are part of this project, enabling people to explore natural areas that they may not have the opportunity to Grass Pink Orchid. Photo by Zach Pacana michigan nature | fall 2019

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Feature | MNA

“MNA’s project will contribute to statewide priorities and wildlife goals”

Poweshiek Skipperling. Photo by Dwayne Badgero.

the amount of wetlands and known natural areas information.

federally-listed Karner blue butterfly occurs near the new sanctuary.

• In Huron County, MNA will add acreage to the Saginaw Wetlands Nature Sanctuary to expand lakeplain praire and lakeplain oak openings for rare plants and animals such as the blazing star borer moth, Kansas leafhopper, tall green milkweed, and prairie Indian plantain. Lakeplain prairies are limited in distribution to old Great Lakes glacial lakebeds and Michigan is one of the most important spots in the world for this unique habitat. Lakeplain prairies are very rare and are considered critically imperiled globally according to NatureServe.

• Phragmites and other invasive species management actions will be undertaken at three sanctuaries in Oakland County—Big Valley, Timberland Swamp, and Lakeville Swamp. Targeted habitats include hardwood swamp, prairie fen, southern wet meadow, and emergent marsh to benefit animals such as Louisiana waterthrush, hooded warbler, tamarack tree cricket, blazingstar borer moth, red-legged spittlebug, marsh wren, and Lake Huron leafhopper, as well as rare plants.

• Managing woody growth and restoring prairie at MNA’s newest sanctuary in Newaygo County, the Brooks Oak Pine Barrens Nature Sanctuary, is underway to create more habitat suitable for the Karner blue butterfly and other important prairie insects and plants. The

A Key Partner

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MNA is profoundly grateful to the Consumers Energy Foundation for recognizing the importance of our work with its significant investment towards the

Feature | MNA

Lefglen Nature Sanctuary Photo by Eugene Lidster

strategic acquisition, stewardship, and management of important natural lands. MNA is the only Michiganbased, statewide land conservancy with a mission to protect rare, threatened, and endangered species and imperiled natural communities in the state. Our network of sanctuaries gives us a broad geographic perspective and management expertise with the many different types of natural communities we protect and manage.

With the support of key partners like Consumers Energy, we can continue to build on this more than 65-year legacy of protecting Michigan’s imperiled natural communities for years to come.

For More Information, visit: michigannature.org

The Consumers Energy Foundation is Consumers Energy’s charitable arm. The Consumers Energy Foundation enables communities to thrive and grow by investing in what’s most important to Michigan – its people, our planet and Michigan’s prosperity. In 2018, the Consumers Energy Foundation, Consumers Energy and its employees and retirees contributed more than $18.5 million to Michigan nonprofits.

michigan nature | fall 2019

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Stewardship | MNA

Restoring Habitat at Five Lakes Muskegon Michigan is home to a wide variety of unique habitats where you will find a number of equally unique, often rare, plants and animal species.

Protecting and maintaining this variety of habitat is critical work in order to support diverse and healthy ecosystems in the state.

One such example of the work that MNA is doing to fulfill this goal is at the Five Lakes Muskegon Nature Sanctuary - a 106 acre sanctuary southeast of Muskegon acquired by MNA in multiple parcels between 1977 and 2011. The sanctuary protects an important habitat complex containing expanses of coastal plain marsh, dry prairie, and oak-pine barrens, all of which are imperiled natural communities in Michigan. The coastal plain marsh at Five Lakes Muskegon contains isolated and sparse populations of plant species typical of marshes along the Atlantic coast, such as the Virginia meadow beauty, and forked bluecurls. Eleven plant species and four animal species have been documented at the sanctuary since 2010 that are listed as endangered, threatened, or of special concern by the State of Michigan, with additional rarities likely also present.

The most recent acquisition of 25 acres was made in 2011. This parcel was subject to an intense timber harvest by the previous landowners, resulting in thick regeneration of oak saplings and other woody species that have been shading out the savanna oriented understory vegetation across the acquisition parcel. In 2018 MNA entered into a partnership agreement with the US Fish and Wildlife Service – Partners for Fish and Wildlife program to enhance the savanna/ barrens community by conducting woody growth mowing across the new parcel. MNA staff and volunteers prepared the area for prescribed burn which was completed in July.

Virginia meadow beauty, rhexia virginica. MNA Archives.

A volunteer holds a green frog.

Photo by John Bagley.

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michigan nature | fall 2019

Map of Five Lakes Muskegon Nature Sanctuary Source: National Geographic, Esri, Garmin, HERE, UNEP-WCMC, USGS, NASA, ESA, METI, NRCAN, GEBCO, NOAA

Stewardship | MNA Aerial view of coastal plain marsh. MNA Archives.

Sanctuary Facts: Size 106 acres Coastal Plain Marsh Habitat Oak-Pine Barrens Dry-Sand Prairie Protected 11 plant Species 4 animal Notable Great Blue Heron Species Common Loon Eastern Milk Snake Spring Peeper Frog

Sustainability Champion Award and Wildlife Habitat Grant In 2019, MNA received a Muskegon Area Sustainability Coalition “Sustainability Champion Award” for its conservation work at the Five Lakes Muskegon Nature Sanctuary. Some of the work recognized in that award included installation and upkeep of fencing, tree trimming and removal, and invasive species monitoring and removal.

MNA and several partner conservation organizations that are focused on savanna management in the western Lower Peninsula also have been awarded a Wildlife Habitat Grant from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to conduct restoration work on hundreds of acres in the region. The Wildlife Habitat Grant will include funding for MNA to hire contractors to conduct prescribed burning at Five Lakes Muskegon, as well as at a separate Karner blue butterfly restoration site in the Newaygo area.

The work at Five Lakes Muskegon Nature Sanctuary is an outstanding example of how MNA approaches stewardship at special sites. Scientifically assessing restoration needs, seeking partnerships to secure needed resources to conduct that restoration, and providing ongoing monitoring and maintenance puts MNA staff and volunteers in the best position to sustain imperiled natural communities and expand habitat for the rare plants and animals found within them.

Volunteer Steward, Claire DeBlanc, and Director of Outreach & Education, Julie Stoneman, accept the Muskegon Area Sustainability Coalition “Sustainability Champion” Award. michigan nature | fall 2019

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Stewardship | MNA

Volunteer Stewards: Conservation Superheroes Liz Gannon and Becky Kenny live and work on the opposite sides in the state’s largest metropolitan areas, Grand Rapids and Detroit respectively. But they are kindred souls when it comes to nature, and their quest to make a difference led them both to becoming volunteer Stewards for MNA nature sanctuaries.

“Being a Steward connects me with other like-minded individuals,” explains Liz, who is a co-Steward for Wilcox Warnes Nature Sanctuary in Macomb County. “It also allows me to learn and teach while helping to preserve Michigan’s rare and precious sanctuaries.”

Becky, MNA’s Steward for Barvicks Dunes in Van Buren County, agrees. “I love getting to know other volunteers and Stewards, as well as the plants, birds, reptiles and amphibians” she says. “And every time I go out, I learn something new.”

Liz and Becky are driven to increase their understanding of nature, so much so that they both graduated from Michigan State University Extension’s Conservation Stewards Program, a program structured similarly to the

popular Master Gardener course but with a focus on caring for natural areas. They also enjoy volunteering at other MNA sanctuaries in their region to learn about diverse natural communities.

For Becky, being a volunteer Steward provides a counterbalance to the city life she loves. “MNA sanctuaries are places to see things that I wouldn’t in my everyday city life. It would be harder to live in the city without that outlet,” she says. Liz, who has converted much of her own yard to native landscaping, believes home gardens should be filled with native plants to provide habitat for wildlife, “I find inspiration for my backyard everywhere I look when I volunteer for MNA. Native landscapes should be commonplace and not rare.”

Both love making a difference for future generations and hope to encourage others to do the same. “I would urge people to try, perhaps start off by going on a couple of walks, then maybe try a workday,” suggests Becky. “Just the awareness that these places exist opens up new doors of opportunities for learning and doing more.”

Liz Gannon

Rebecca Kenny

Welcome New Stewardship Staff!

MNA proudly added two new Regional Stewardship Organizers to its conservation team.

Robb Johnston (left) will be overseeing stewardship activities in the Western Lower Peninsula, and working to develop an educational trail at the new Franklin F. and Brenda L. Holly Nature Sanctuary.

Zach Pacana (right) joins MNA from the Stewardship Division of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, and will be coordinating stewardship activities in the Eastern Lower Peninsula.

See the next page for more information about our Stewardship Regions. You can learn more about our staff by visiting michigannature.org.

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michigan nature | fall 2019

Stewardship | MNA

Join Us in the Field for a Volunteer Workday MNA volunteers work to protect and maintain Michigan’s special natural areas in a variety of ways. To accomplish the mission and goals of MNA, volunteers are needed from many different backgrounds and skill levels to help with our many worthwhile projects and initiatives.

To find a workday near you, visit michigannature.org/menus/calendar or call (866) 223-2231 MNA’s Conservation Team and Stewardship Regions: Andrew Bacon, Upper Peninsula abacon@michigannature.org Nancy Leonard, Keweenaw Peninsula nleonard@michigannature.org Rachel Maranto, Southern Lower Peninsula rmaranto@michigannature.org Robb Johnston, Western Lower Peninsula rjohnston@michigannature.org Zach Pacana, Eastern Lower Peninsula zpacana@michigannature.org Bill Atkinson, Thumb Area batkinson@michigannature.org

To find a volunteer workday or hike near you, visit michigannature.org and click on the ‘Events’ tab.

Photo by Rachel Maranto

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Education | MNA

Wayne County Invests in Hines Park MNA provides small grants to teachers to help cover transportation and other costs of taking field trips to learn about nature. In larger urban areas with high population densities, finding nearby natural areas and nature centers with the right amenities to make an outdoor learning adventure meaningful and fun can be a challenge. That is why it is always great news to hear about new investments to improve or upgrade existing parks for nature-based experiences—especially those that are often destinations requested by MNA field trip grant applicants.

As an example, Wayne County’s Department of Public Services Parks and Recreation Division will invest more than $3 million to upgrade amenities and services in Hines Park with funding from a county millage and grants. An important upgrade is the renovation of the Nankin Mill Interpretive Center to improve animal habitats and fabricate new exhibits.

Another is a new Ellsworth Boardwalk, which will better connect Hines Park with the William P. Holliday Forest & Wildlife Preserve. The Preserve is a remarkable natural asset in Wayne County. It includes approximately 550 acres of forests and wetlands with over 10 miles of hiking trails that runs along the valley of Tonquish Creek, a tributary of the Rouge River in Westland.

MNA applauds investments to improve and enhance access to nature in highly populated areas. As a result, we know more kids will enjoy nature based field trips to great destinations like Nankin Mill, the Holliday Preserve, and Hines Park.

You can help connect children to nature by giving to MNA’s Environmental Education Fund. Learn more on the back page of this issue, or at michigannature.org!

Students from Buchanan Elementary imitate wildlife during their visit to the Nankin Mills Interpretive Center in spring 2018. Photo courtesy Buchanan Elementary.

Wildflower Association of Michigan Partners with MNA and Michigan Audubon Earlier this year, MNA received word that it would be a recipient of funding from the Wildflower Association of Michigan to improve its native pollinator landscaping at the office in Okemos, MI. “We were thrilled to receive a grant from the Wildflower Association of Michigan,” stated Julie Stoneman, Director of Outreach and Education for MNA. “It helped us add more native gardens at our office, expanding an initiative we started in partnership with Michigan Audubon to transform conventional, office park landscaping. Given the conservation and education missions of our organizations, we are striving to establish a landscape that is bird, bee and pollinator friendly.”

Wood Poppy at MNA Office, Photo by Lauren Ross

“Our pollinator populations are struggling, including the rapid decline of some that were once very common,” she said. “With our office landscape, we are bringing more nectar resources to help these beneficial insects while creating an aesthetically pleasing, low maintenance landscape that we hope inspires and informs both individuals and businesses to do the same.”

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Education | MNA

Science Gallery Engages “Often-Ignored” Youth This summer, Michigan State University’s Science Gallery Detroit launched its premier exhibit “DEPTH”, in partnership with the Michigan Science Center. The exhibit explored the importance of water from a local and global perspective. As part of an international gallery network growing local roots in Detroit, Science Gallery Detroit merges science and art to ignite a passion for both in young adults by presenting exhibits in connective, participative and surprising ways. Like all Science Gallery exhibits, DEPTH was geared toward youth ages 15-25, an often-ignored population among museums and galleries.

Instead of traditional docents, Science Gallery Detroit offered “mediators,” ages 18-25, who help guide visitors through brief storytelling experiences to excite further curiosity and bring the exhibition to life.

“Science Gallery represents the future of how Michigan State University engages Detroit and the State of Michigan. Science Gallery is bold, thoughtful, and engaged with cutting edge art and science,” said Jeff Grabill, Science Gallery Detroit Director and MSU associate provost for teaching, learning and technology. “We are part of an international network of universities and galleries designed to ignite passion for creativity and problem solving through the blending of art, science, and conversation.

The Michigan Science Center’s reputation for informal science education made it an ideal host location choice for DEPTH.” DEPTH featured more than 25 interactive, thought-provoking installments from exhibitors across the world, further bolstering Detroit’s rising importance as an arts, culture and travel destination point. There were also more than 12 MSU researchers who participated in the show.

MNA applauds the efforts of Science Gallery Detroit to thoughtfully engage the next generation of scientists in a unique way and we look forward to their next exhibit.

Above: “Scope” by Elizabeth Henaff, Heather Parrish & Leonard Roussel Below: “Eternal” by Maris Polanco

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Hatchling Turkey Photo by Jason Steel

Help Michigan Nature and Receive Income for Life A charitable gift annuity is a planned gift that can support MNA while providing steady, annual payments — an annuity — for you and up to one additional beneficiary for a lifetime.

Consider a charitable gift annuity When you transfer an irrevocable gift to MNA, we commit to making a fixed annual payment during your lifetime. The remainder of the gift then passes to MNA. The benefits include the security of additional income, potential tax savings, and the satisfaction of knowing your gift will benefit MNA long into the future.

To learn more, please return the attached card, visit www.michigannature.org or call (866) 223-2231.

Make a gift for nature that pays you

Michigan Nature Association

www.michigannature.org

Booknotes | MNA Recommended Reading

New & Noteworthy

Endangered and Disappearing Birds of the Midwest Matt Williams Indiana University Press Hardcover, $29.00

From the birds who wake us in the morning with their cheerful chorus to those who flock to our feeders and brighten a gloomy winter day, birds fascinate us with their lively and interesting behavior and provide essential services from controlling pest populations to pollinating crops. And yet for all the benefits they provide, many species across Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio are in danger of extinction due to loss of habitat, agricultural expansion, changing forest conditions, and interactions with humans.

In Endangered and Disappearing Birds of the Midwest, Matt Williams profiles forty of the most beautiful and interesting birds who winter, breed, or migrate through the Midwest and whose populations are most in danger of disappearing from the region. Each profile includes the current endangered status of the species, a description of the bird’s vocal and nesting patterns, and tips to help readers identify them, along with stunning color images and detailed migration maps. An exquisite and timely examination of our feathered friends, Endangered and Disappearing Birds of the Midwest is a call to action to protect these vulnerable and gorgeous creatures that enliven our world.

The Heart of the Lakes: Freshwater in the Past, Present, and Future of Southeast Michigan Dave Dempsey Michigan State University Press Paperback, $19.95

The water corridor that defines southeast Michigan sits at the heart of the world’s largest freshwater ecosystem, the Great Lakes. Over forty-three trillion gallons of water a year flow through the Detroit River, providing a natural conduit for everything from fish migration to the movement of cargo-bearing one thousand–foot freighters, and a defining sense of place. But in both government policies and individual practices, the freshwater at the heart of the lakes was long neglected and sometimes abused. Today southeast Michigan enjoys an opportunity to learn from that history and put freshwater at the center of a prosperous and sustainable future. Joining this journey downriver in place and time, from Port Huron to Monroe, from the 1600s to the present, provides insight and hope for the region’s water-based renaissance.

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A Season on the Wind

Kenn Kaufman Houghton, Mifflin, Harcourt Hardcover, $26

Thanks to the author’s firsthand experiences and deep knowledge of his subject, readers will learn about winged migration and better understand the significant threats to bird environments covered in this thoughtful, informative book.

The Secret Wisdom of Nature

Peter Wohlleben Greystone Books Paperback, $17 In The Secret Wisdom of Nature, master storyteller and international sensation Peter Wohlleben takes readers on a thought-provoking exploration of the vast natural systems that make life on Earth possible.

The Last Butterflies

Nick Haddad Princeton University Press Hardcover, $24.95 A remarkable look at the rarest butterflies, how global changes threaten their existence, and how we can bring them back from nearextinction.

Voices | MNA

Q&A

“We know climate change is happening and we’re seeing the effects here in Michigan.”

Dan Eichinger

Director, Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Q: Are you enjoying your new role as MDNR Director?

The opportunity to wake up each day and think about fishing, hunting, trapping, camping, hiking and other types of outdoor recreation, and to help improve our natural resources for the citizens of Michigan – that’s a dream job. I worked in the department previously as legislative liaison and later helped to establish the first Policy and Regulations Unit within our Wildlife Division. More recently, I was fortunate to head the Michigan United Conservation Clubs, the nation’s leading conservation organization. This job puts me squarely at the intersection of sound science and public policy, and gives me the opportunity to work every day alongside skilled and dedicated professionals. It’s a privilege.

people, and one of the important issues is whether our funding model is keeping up with those changing patterns. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act is a great example of the kind of creative funding that can help address this problem. Funding for RAWA is targeted at species identified in the Wildlife Action Plan. Michigan could see as much as $32 million annually as a result, which would be a game-changing infusion of revenue for natural resources.

Q: Governor Whitmer is making climate change a priority. What will the Department do to address the impact of climate change?

“Conservation

Q: MNA joined with other stakeholders to help develop the Department’s 2015 Wildlife Action Plan. What steps will the Department take to implement the Plan under your leadership?

in Michigan is a team sport, and organizations like MNA are key partners.”

The Wildlife Action Plan focuses on habitat management and other key issues affecting wildlife, especially populations that are in decline -- critical indicators of the health of our state’s natural resources. The plan brings public and private organizations together to work toward shared goals, and we hope that partners like MNA will help to implement conservation actions identified in the plan that will also help meet their own goals. Collaborating on conservation will benefit and strengthen Michigan’s natural resources for the future.

Q: Adequate funding for the Wildlife Action Plan is a big concern, do you see promise with the reintroduction of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act? Funding for conservation broadly remains a big question. We see continued changes in the types of outdoor recreation that attract

Conservation in the 20th century was about restoration and recovery. We have been successful in restoring damaged places and recovering iconic species. The 21st century is going to be about relevancy and resiliency, including with respect to changing climate.

We know climate change is happening and we’re seeing the effects here in Michigan – whether in coastal zones, declines in pollinator species, changes to fish habitat or shifting range for wildlife species. We have to build resiliency on the landscape to adapt to changes that have already happened and to prepare for the changes we know are coming.

Q: What important actions can groups like MNA do to partner or help?

I say frequently that conservation in Michigan is a team sport, and organizations like MNA are key partners. You are an essential part of the success of our shared mission to properly manage and protect the natural resources of the state. Your mission has a direct correlation to the work of the DNR, especially the MNA’s efforts to protect and preserve natural areas as well as educate the public.

These are a critical complement to the work of our agency. michigan nature | fall 2019

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Legacies | MNA

In Tribute: Sharon E. Johnson Last December, MNA’s Board of Trustees paid tribute to a remarkable woman by naming our newest Brockway Mountain property in the Keweenaw the Sharon E. Johnson Memorial Nature Sanctuary. The new 120-acre sanctuary is our latest addition to MNA’s Brockway Mountain Conservation Area consisting of seven sanctuaries protecting over 400 acres.

Sharon Johnson’s deep love of nature started at a very young age. Her brother said that as a kid growing up in the U.P., Sharon was always bringing a piece of nature home.

Her delight in discovery led to a master’s degree in biology and to teaching science in the Flint school system. Sharon ultimately became an administrator at Mott Community College.

Butterflies and wildflowers were her expertise, and Sharon applied her knowledge and skills in voluntarily conducting species inventories for both MNA and the Michigan DNR. She pursued photography, amassing an incredible collection of plant, bird, and animal photos in travels throughout the state.

View from Brockway Mountain.

Photo by Andrew Bacon.

When she passed away last fall, Sharon left her home to MNA to be sold so the proceeds could be used to acquire natural land of “significance”.

This new sanctuary is a fitting tribute in recognition of Sharon’s contributions as a science teacher and a volunteer naturalist, her U.P. roots, and her extraordinary gift to MNA.

Memorials and Honoraria

August 1, 2018 - December 31, 2018

Donations given in memory or honor of MNA members and friends appear here in tribute.

To learn how you can honor a loved one, call (866) 223-2231 or visit www.michigannature.org.

In Memory of:

Clyde Baker

by Ruth Baker David Bandt

by Beverly Bandt Bill Bernum

by Susan Babcock Jan Berry

by John Copley Jerry Cohen

by Joanna Cohen Judge Paul Komives

by Estelle Gubow Robert F. Kush

by Jennifer Enzer Ralph Markel

by Ralph and Marlena Markel Andrew “Andy” Miron

by Carol Sue Martin Daniel Novak

by Bob and Judy Kelly Caroline and John Elmer Nystron

by Heidi Stoneman

Alicia Jean Orihel

by Marian and Vincent Orihel Robert “Bob” Paton

by Carol Sue Martin Janet H. Pendergrass

by Richard and Rosalind Hadley

by Marilyn and Paul Cantiloro

by K. Stockwell Jim Rooks

by Laughing Loon

by John and Janet Lindgren Alfed E. Selberg

by Janice Selberg Richard Munson Shuster

by Dorotha Cooper Earl Tenney

by Jeanine Center Curtis Vail

by Linda and John Harris Karen Weingarden

by Ruth Vail

by Beverly Bandt

by Jerry and Pat Peck

by Marshall Weingarden Larry West

by Kathy Lund Johnson and Mark Johnson Sharon Zahrfeld

by Ted Zahrfeld JoAnna Zobel

by Debbie Harrison

by Nancy Hardman by the Staats Family

by Betty Bruce Judge Martin Alvin Lois Begun Kathy Borden Mrs. Estelle Brown Regina M. Butler Walter Louis Cohen Barry Elbaum Debra Gaymer Walter Karl Geist Robert “Barney” Gugel Rachael E. Hubers

William R. James Nick M. Madias Edward E. Shaw Anna Tomajko Floyd Wyczalek

by Dr. Lewis Rosenbaum

In Honor of:

Greg Bodker

by Elizabeth Roque Alvina Brower

by Nancy McDonald Bill and Nancy Leonard

by Jill Burkland and Randy Freisinger Cindy and Dickie Selfe

by Jill Burkland and Randy Freisinger Ruth Vail

by Joseph and Sally Wolf Deb and Ron Van Proeyen

by Toni Enright

“The work MNA has done is simply irreplaceable...

MNA is protecting the soul of Michigan.”

Dave Dempsey

award-winning author of Ruin and Recovery: Michigan’s Rise as a Conservation Leader

Photo by William Rowan

Photo by Michigan Nut Photography

MNA’s Statewide Network of Nature Sanctuaries For over 65 years, MNA’s members, donors and volunteers have built an unparalleled statewide network of nature sanctuaries. Today there is at least one MNA nature sanctuary in 58 of Michigan’s 83 counties.

Alcona County

McAlvay Memorial

Alger County

Handford Memorial Twin Waterfalls

Allegan County Allegan Valley Wade Memorial

Alpena County Colby Peter Memorial Gull Island Grass Island Bird Island Morris Bay

Antrim County Cedar River Green River

Baraga County

Baraga Old Growth Lightfoot Bay

Barry County

Thornapple River Thornapple Lake

Benzie County Hart

Berrien County

Harvey’s Rocks Huron County Four Macomb County Carey Memorial Sonnenberg Memorial Ladies Saginaw Wetlands Clare County Pepperidge Dunes Alta Warren Parsons Kernan Memorial Trillium Ravine Memorial Ingham County Beck Memorial Red Cedar River

Branch County Kope Kon

Calhoun County

Campbell Memorial Pennfield Bog Fish Lake Bog Flowering Dogwood

Cass County

Dowagiac Woods Riley-Shurte Woods Radebaugh Memorial Wilding

Chippewa County

Clinton County

A Looking Glass Iosco County Sanctuary Frinks Pond

Delta County

Martin Bay Three Wilderness Islands Bertha K Daubendiek

Genesee County

Dauner Martin White Cedar Swamps Zahrfeld Memorial

Gladwin County

Briggs Cox Memorial

Hillsdale County Pat Grogan Sarah Jane’s Munuscong Lake Hobert Memorial Lake Superior Sand Creek Prairie Lake Huron Sand Dunes Zeerip Memorial Houghton County Soo Muskeg Robert Thorson Brown Schafer Family at Roach Rockafellow Memorial Point River Bend Carlton Lake Wetlands

Jackson County Columbia Lefglen

Kalamazoo County Wilkie Memorial Flowerfield Creek Barton Lake Palmer Memorial Brewer Woods

Kent County Dolan

Keweenaw County

Dean Webster Memorial Estivant Pines Upson Lake Keweenaw Shores I Keweenaw Shores II Klipfel Memorial Rooks Memorial

Hylton Memorial Myrtle Justeson Memorial Gunn Memorial Mason County Grinnell Memorial Franklin F. and Brenda L. Holly Eagle Harbor Red Pine Midland County Dunes Bullock Creek Cy Clark Memorial Black Creek Monroe County Redwyn’s Dunes Swan Creek Gratiot Lake Overlook Montcalm County John J. Helstrom Krum Memorial Mariner’s Preserve at Silver Muskegon County River Falls Five Lakes Muskegon Ruth E. Johnson Memorial

Lake County

Pere Marquette

Lapeer County

Petite Wetland Zucker Memorial

Lenawee County

Martin Beland Miller Robert Powell Memorial Willow Lake Prairie Slough Goose Creek Grasslands McCulley-Bastian Broehl Memorial 1 Broehl Memorial 2 Tiffin River

Livingston County

Bullard Lake Fen Lyle and Mary Rizor Hudspeth Memorial H.E. Hardy Memorial

Luce County

Newaygo County

Brooks Oak Pine Barrens Karner Blue Newaygo Prairie

Oakland County

Lambs Fairbanks Clifford and Calla Burr Memorial Lakeville Swamp Timberland Swamp Yntema Wildlife Oasis Rose Center Wetlands Brandon Township Morgan Porritt Big Valley

Oceana County

Genevieve Casey

Ogemaw County Lost Lake

Ontonagon County

Theodore Hunt Memorial

Osceola County

Two Hearted River Swamp Lakes Moose Osceola Woods Refuge Oscoda County Trout Lake Kenneth R. Luneack

Mackinac County

Stratton Memorial Beaver Dam Fred Dye Scherer Epoufette Bay Bois Blanc Island Beavertail Point Michigan Meridian Hiawatha

Otsego County Frost Pocket

Presque Isle County Mystery Valley Karst Spitler Shore

Roscommon County

Leatherleaf Jack Pine Bog Jackson Memorial

Sanilac County

Macomb County

Birch Creek

Marquette County

Fox River Huntington Memorial Walker Memorial

Wilcox Warnes Braastad Echo Lake

Schoolcraft County

Cedar Lake Manistique Dune and Swale

Prairie Ronde Savanna Hildegard Wintergerst

Shiawassee County

Tuscola County

St. Clair County

Van Buren County

Shiawassee River

Leonatti Memorial Louis G. Senghas Polovich Memorial Bertha A. Daubendiek Trillium Trail Galbraith Ray Memorial McGaw Memorial Jasper Woods Memorial Brennan Memorial Edna S. Newnan Alice W. Moore Woods St. Clair Lakeplain Forest

St. Joseph County Prairie Banks White Pigeon River Sauk Indian Trail Chen Memorial

Wood Duck Domain Phillips Family Memorial Black River Hultmark Memorial Barvicks Sand Dunes Bankson Lake Bog Great Bear Swamp

Washtenaw County

Joan Rodman Memorial

Wayne County

Evans Memorial

Michigan Nature Association 2310 Science Parkway, Suite 100 Okemos, MI 48864 www.michigannature.org

Help Connect Children to Nature

By Donating to MNA’s

Environmental Education Fund Help Michigan’s next generation of conservation leaders with a gift to the Environmental Education Fund. All donations support MNA’s education programs, including outreach efforts like our minigrants to teachers for nature field trips. Other education programs include opportunities for the whole family, like guided hikes and tours, youth volunteer projects, educational publications, and more.

Donate Today Use the enclosed envelope or call (866) 223-2231 to make a contribution to MNA’s Environmental Education Fund.

Lewton Global Studies/Spanish Immersion Magnet School Fall 2018 Photo by Marynia Lorencen