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Furnishing the Interior: Help Us Reach Our Goal with a Match!
We need your help!
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As you can see, we are making great progress on all things ERC. We have received wonderful support from our affiliates both within the University and the Fort Wayne community. Even so, our needs are great to keep things moving. To that end, I am asking you to consider contributing now to the ERC now to help us take advantage of about $15,000 available as 1:1 match still available from the Purdue Fort Wayne Foundation.
These funds would be used to continue to furnish and appoint the interior and other infrastructural elements of the ERC. Remember that deck? What about computers? Co-working stations? A green wall? Animal housing? But the green couch stays. If you feel inclined to help us maximize our match potential, please hit the 'Donate Now' button below or email us directly at erc@pfw.edu with any questions. The bottom line: thank you all for your continued support!
David Van Gilder utilizing the ERC Green Room as a guest lecturer
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Turtle Tales
Dr. Bruce Kingsbury, Reine Sovey, and Liz Cubberley
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Wood turtles and Blanding's turtles are both species of special concern in Michigan and are considered at-risk in the majority of their range. Declines in both species are associated with habitat degradation, road mortality, increased predation, and poaching. In the next few years, we anticipate that they will be federally listed as threatened.
Since 2018, graduate students Reine Sovey and Liz Cubberley from Dr. Kingsbury's lab have been radio-tracking both species at a site in northern Michigan where the species co-occur. The goal of this project is to provide a preliminary understanding of presence and use by the turtles at the site. Reine is focused primarily on comparing microhabitat use between the species, while Liz will compare home range size and macrohabitat use, as well as consider how anthropogenic features influence use. The results of this study will help to inform management decisions in the conservation of wood turtles and Blanding's turtles.
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Reine and Liz process a new Wood Turtle in the study. At each new observation, the researchers measure body characteristics, mark the individual with a unique shell notch, and collect data on surrounding habitat.
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Go Solar Workshop
Free public event to help you make the best decision for you and your household
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Solarize Indiana is a volunteer-based organization whose mission is to accelerate the transition to clean energy by increasing the number of solar owners across Indiana. Solarize Indiana is comprised of local, volunteer teams that help people learn about solar and facilitate group discounts of solar installations.
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On December 14th, take part in a free workshop right here in Fort Wayne! Come to learn about securing competitive rates for your system with others in your community, or just come to learn the ins and outs of solar energy. Find out more information and RSVP on the Solarize Indiana Facebook event page.
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Indiana Native Plant Society Annual Conference
Such a great event, I nearly wet my plants with excitement!
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For the first time ever, the INPS Northeast Chapter hosted the INPS Annual Conference right here in Fort Wayne! The ERC was one of many participants of this 3-day event. Conference attendees were encouraged to take part in a reception Friday evening, a day long conference Saturday, and several pre- and post-conference supplemental activities around the FW community in places like Eagle Marsh, Promenade Park, and Fox Island. Over 350 people came to discuss topics like, climate change, native plants, birding, species diversity, and so much more. To those who missed it, keep an eye out for it next year and don't make the same mistake twice!
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Oops!
Let's take a second to give credit where credit is due
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A quick note on our last newsletter: our sincere apologies for missing the credit on this beautiful photograph. We don't want to misstep, so please see our edit of the correct credit below. Places, scenes, and photos like this are only made possible with help from nonprofit organizations like ACRES Land Trust.
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Photo credit: ACRES Land Trust's Quog Lake preserve, photo copyright The Conservation Fund by Ivan La Bianca.
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Connect with the ERC elsewhere:
Add the ERC to your daily internet scroll and stay up to date with our day-to-day. Be the first to see our most recent shenanigans and then you don't have to wait a whole month for updates. Win-win!
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Did you love what you read?! Share your excitement!
Help us continue our conservation and education efforts by forwarding likeminded people either our QR code (left) or the direct subscribe link through the JOIN page on the ERC website.
You can also share this month's news brief with any of the easy one-click buttons below. Thank you!
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PROMOTE CONSERVATION
To invest in the ERC is to invest in local environmental conservation. Donate now to support research, education, and outreach activities in your own community!
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How Are We Doing?
We value your opinion and we want to hear from you! What did you love? What can we improve on? What do you want to see in the next issue? Drop us an email to let us know!
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