"Thanks for a wonderful spring break program.”
- Eileen, Evelyn, Mae & Lydia (MI)
|
|
|
|
WETLANDS & WOODLANDS SUMMER CAMPS
|
|
Our ever-popular Wetlands & Woodlands summer camps are exciting, hands-on learning adventures for children ages 4-11. Campers have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the outdoors, and develop a greater understanding of God’s creation.
This summer's camp themes for 4-8 year olds are The Giving Tree (explore a tree and the animals that call it home) and Web of Life (explore a food chain). Our younger campers will take part in many fun activities that illustrate tree or food factories, and experience a day in the life of a squirrel or what it's like to live in a grasshopper's world.
Jr. Naturalist Club topics of study for 9-11 year olds will be: botany (study of plants with a focus on trees), entomology (study of insects), and ecology (study of interactions among organisms and their environment). In addition, campers will take an off-site field trip one day during camp to Saul Lake Bog and Flat Iron Lake Preserve.
Registration opens Wednesday, March 1 at 9 a.m.! For more information and to register, click here.
|
|
ENVIRONMENTAL CAREER PANEL
|
|
All college (Calvin or otherwise) and high school students are invited to learn about a variety of environmental careers from professionals working in both the nonprofit and business worlds. Panelists will speak about their current positions, academic and career paths, and will share advice with students wanting to work in the environmental field.
Our panelists this spring include:
Jennifer Howell - Stewardship Manager, Calvin class of 2000
Jackie Landon - Wetland/Aquatic Biologist, Native Edge
Wesley Landon - Landscape Architect, Native Edge
Andy McIntyre - Chief Operating Officer, John Ball Zoo
When: Monday, March 6 at 7 - 8:30 p.m.
Where: Bunker Interpretive Center
Cost: Free, no registration required
Sponsors: Ecosystem Preserve & Calvin Career Center
Refreshments will be provided. Bring questions to ask the panelists about their careers. For more information, contact Jeanette Henderson.
|
|
Spring is coming and with its arrival comes many opportunities here at the Ecosystem Preserve for you to get your hands dirty! Volunteers will mix soil, transplant native plant seedlings and plugs into pots, weed, and number plant sale tags in preparation for our native plant sale. We also need help with spring-cleaning projects such as cleaning out our native gardens, sprucing up the BIC, and planting flowers. Volunteering is a great way to enjoy the outdoors, learn more about native plants and meet like-minded friends!
WHEN: March 6 – May 15, on Mondays at 1:30-3:30 p.m.
For more information, click here.
|
|
Michigan Turtles
Learn all about the turtles you see throughout Michigan, including what to do if you find a turtle in the road. We have four species of turtles for you to see up close and learn to identify This program is great for families with children ages 4 and up. The majority of the program will take place in the BIC.
|
|
|
When: Saturday, March 4 at 10:30 am - 12 pm
Where: Bunker Interpretive Center
Educator: Nancy McIntyre, Naturalist
Cost: Free, no registration required
Dress for the weather and walking the trails.
|
|
MORE UPCOMING PROGRAMS & EVENTS
Mark your calendar to save these important dates:
Spring Break
Enjoy our free, family programs at the preserve April 3 - 7. We will have lots of activities planned all week long; the program schedule will be posted in March.
Critters & Company Spring Series
Get ready for more pre-school fun and learning starting April 18! This spring we will study: Frog Life Cycle│Birds in the Spring│Soil & Dirt│Slugs. Registration is now open.
Native Plant Sale
Go native with us on Saturday, May 6 at our new extended time, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. When Spring arrives, plan to incorporate beautiful, easy to care for native plants into your garden.
|
|
You might find these neighbors at the preserve and near your neighborhood! At a glance, mallards and black ducks are difficult to distinguish. Though the bright green head of the mallard male (drake) is easy to recognize, the mallard female (hen) is nearly identical to both the American black duck drake and hen. However, the species clearly exhibit different behaviors and dispositions. This article will identify some key factors that, with practice, will help you tell these two birds apart.
Meet Your Neighbors:
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) vs. American black duck (Anas rubripes)
|
|
|
American black duck drake
|
|
Description: Both duck species have hefty bodies, round heads and wide, flat bills. Mallard drakes are easiest to discern with their green heads, bright yellow bill, brown breast, gray body and black rear. Mallard hens are less vibrant with mottled brown feathers and orange-brown bills. Both mallards have a blue patch with a white border on their wings called a speculum. Though the American black duck is very similar in appearance to the mallard hen, certain field markings help us tell them apart. The black duck’s feathers are a darker brown than the mallard hen’s. The black duck has a colorful speculum on its wing just like the mallard’s, but it is a deeper blue-purple with no white border. The two species also have different colored beaks; the black duck’s beak ranges from yellow-green to olive.
Voice: The quintessential "quack" belongs to both mallard and black duck hens. Drakes of both species have a quieter, raspy call.
Habitat: The mallard is the most common duck in North America, occupying natural and artificial wetlands from coast to coast and from Alaska to Mexico. Their abundance is attributable to their resilience in areas of high human impact and pollution. Black ducks also reside in wetland habitats; however, black ducks are uncommon and less inclined towards highly impacted areas like parks or suburban wetlands. The black duck population in North America declined by 84% between 1960 and 2004 in part, because of the increase in Mallard-American Black Duck hybrids but also because the black duck has been less successful at adapting to areas with increasing levels of pollution.
Diet: Both species are dabbling ducks; they feed by tipping forward. Mallards are generalist foragers and will eat a wide variety of food, including aquatic vegetation, insect larvae, earthworms, snails and freshwater shrimp. During migration, many mallards consume largely agricultural seed and grain. In city parks, they readily accept handouts from parkgoers. American Black Ducks eat mostly plant matter, with insect larvae and crustaceans added during the breeding season. During migration and wintering, they may eat seeds and fruits of wild terrestrial plants, fish, amphibians and mussels.
Interesting Facts:
- Mallards are better fliers but black ducks are better divers and swimmers.
- American black ducks are shy in comparison with mallards and are less likely to approach humans.
- Mallards are the ancestor of every domestic duck breed except the muscovy duck; mallard hybrids have intermediate characteristics that make identification even more challenging for scientists.
Be A Good Neighbor
American black ducks (and many other animals) are very sensitive to water pollution and harmful runoff. To help prevent this:
- use fertilizers sparingly and compost your yard waste,
- don’t wash your car in your driveway,
- pick up after your pets,
- plant native and low-maintenance plants and grasses.
If you've been approached by a duck at the park, chances are it was a friendly mallard. We love seeing these ducks and a temptation felt by many park-goers is to feed them a bit of bread. However, feeding mallards can be quite harmful to them. Bread is low in nutrients for ducks, can lead to malnutrition, and may even lead to deformity of the birds' wings. Ducks also run the risk of becoming dependent on handouts and losing their foraging skills. Artificial feeding can also lead to delayed or canceled migration plans for many of our feathered friends. Do the ducks in your community a good service by letting them fend for themselves.
|
|
|
Photo credits: mallard male, Derrick Coetzee; mallard female, wallpapercave.com; black duck male, studyblue.com; black duck female, Kevin T. Karlson
|
|
UNPLUGGED: CONNECTING WITH NATURE
|
|
What do you do when you find an injured or abandoned animal?
Your first instinct may be to help, but remember that human intervention is never an animal’s best hope, but their last resort. There are however, situations where wildlife rehabilitation is necessary. But before calling in the professionals, assess the situation by asking some questions.
Is this baby animal really abandoned?
Every year, hundreds of animals (primarily baby birds, rabbits and fawns), are mistakenly taken out of the wild and brought to wildlife rehabilitators. Bird and rabbit parents may leave their babies unattended several times each day while they collect food but they almost never abandon them. Deer parents leave fawns unattended for a good portion of the day to protect them from predators and may only come back at dawn or dusk.
Removing a wild animal from the wild can be dangerous for both humans and animals. When a baby animal is taken from its habitat, it risks losing its natural fear and becomes more vulnerable to predators. Wild animals carry diseases and parasites and are prone to scratching and biting when they feel threatened. Thus, it is important to understand how to transport an animal properly before attempting to move it.
For birds and rabbits, try a stick test experiment! If you find an occupied nest that you think is abandoned, lay a small stick across the top and wait a few hours. When you return, if the stick is gone, the adult has returned in your absence.
For deer, watch to see if the fawn’s parent returns at dawn or dusk to feed.
Is this critter really injured?
If you notice the following signs, the animal likely needs your help.
- Bleeding, shivering, loss of fur or feathers, obvious broken limb
- A dead parent is lying nearby
- Crying and wandering for an extended period of time
Who do I call with questions or if I’m sure an animal needs help?
The Wildlife Rehab Center is Grand Rapids' licensed wildlife rehabilitator. Their website provides information about animals commonly mistakenly rescued and what to do if you find a baby bird or mammal, as well as how to transport these animals safely. When you call, leave a detailed message and be patient (they will call you back).
What else can I do to help with wildlife rehabilitation in my area?
- Learn more and educate others.
- Donate, attend a fundraising event, or volunteer! The Wildlife Rehab Center takes in around 1,800 animals every year. This would not be possible without people like you sharing their time or treasure. The center has many volunteer positions with varying time commitments.
- Find other licensed rehabilitators in Michigan.
|
|
|
|
