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Landscriptsummer 2019 Volume 71 landscriptSUMMER 2019 Volume 71 Lower Woodcock Lake – A Gem in the Platte Watershed A New Preserve on Torch Lake Arcadia Marsh UA Trail Open PHOTO BY D SMITH GTRLC.ORG 1 Protecting significant natural, scenic and farm lands — and advancing stewardship — now and for future generations. PHOTO BY DEKE LUDWIG A Letter from Glen Chown FRIENDS, Not long ago, I came across a quote from the there are the organized trail-building work days We are setting a new standard of excellence legendary naturalist Sir David Attenborough that at places like the newly opened Maplehurst in design and quality of construction that is really stuck with me: “No one will protect what Natural Area where people joyfully contribute exemplified at places like Arcadia Marsh (page they don’t care about, and no one will care about sweat equity to make a tangible impact. XX). And there is a deeply spiritual dimension what they have never experienced.” to “access to nature” investments that I did Since the beginning of the not fully anticipate when we envisioned this As we continue to make campaign, our dedicated campaign. I will never forget the comment of great progress with our staff and board have one dedicated supporter after stepping onto ambitious Campaign for worked hard to make the marsh boardwalk for the very first time. Generations goals, I feel sure that our supporters, “I feel like I am walking on water. What the overjoyed at the truly partners, and the general Conservancy has done here is truly miraculous,” remarkable projects we’ve public have opportunities she exclaimed, her face radiant. My response completed, and soon will to develop a deeper was, “Not the Conservancy; it’s what WE have complete, with your ongoing appreciation for both the accomplished together by being bold and not support. One important places we protect and our settling for the status quo.” dimension of this campaign work to protect them. And that I am particularly while words and pictures Be sure to take a close look at our Campaign proud of is how we have can convey a lot, nothing for Generations update (page XX) to see where so successfully ratcheted beats a boots-on-the- we stand with this monumental effort. While we up our engagement efforts ground experience, out in continue to make great progress, the hardest with thousands of people nature, that provides an dollars to raise are the last dollars, and we’ll in deeper and more meaningful ways out on our enduring and personalized connection. need all hands on deck to finish strong. growing portfolio of protected lands. That’s why we continue to push ahead with In the meantime, thank you again for all that you What does this effort look like? For starters, universal access projects that enable people of do to support our work. As always, none of this more people are utilizing our growing number of all ages and abilities to access nature, people would be possible without YOU. trail systems across the region than ever before, who, in many cases, simply wouldn’t have this and more people are volunteering, so much so opportunity if projects like these didn’t exist. Sincerely, that total accumulated hours are staggering. The heartfelt testimonies we receive about what We are conducting more educational field these new universally accessible features mean trips, many of them led by talented volunteers, to individuals with mobility issues is an aspect of including our butterfly ID classes (page XX) and our campaign that I am most proud of. forest bathing experiences (page XX). And then Glen Chown, GTRLC Executive Director GTRLC.ORG 3 PHOTO BY ANGIE LUCAS PHOTO BY ART BUKOWSKI “I’m mostly interested in simply spreading general public knowledge about how butterflies and other insects interact with everything else in nature.” Duke Elsner inspects a caterpillar near the beach. On the Fly What’s more, some are so similar that it’s “Sometimes we do inspire people to become regular BUTTERFLY IDENTIFICATION AND OTHER EVENTS functionally impossible to differentiate them out in observers of butterflies, and they report to us KEEP PEOPLE ENGAGED WITH PROTECTED LANDS the field, Elsner said. Some are indeed so incredibly information on range, seasons and other factors,” he similar that it’s even hard to confirm the identities said. “But I’m mostly interested in simply spreading of pinned, displayed specimens – something that general public knowledge about how butterflies “I found a butterfly! Right here!” and was followed by quality time out in the field was comforting to casual naturalist Erika Schick, and other insects interact with everything else in looking for live specimens to examine. Ehtan Miseta’s exclamation, brimming with who came to the event with her daughter Elise, 11. nature. Every little piece counts when you educate excitement, temporarily ended the calm of an “We always want people to be deeply engaged with someone in that direction, especially in matters of “It really helps to hear from an entomologist that unspeakably beautiful June day along the beach our protected areas, and events such as these give pesticide reduction, natural plant maintenance and even he has trouble identifying them sometimes,” at the Maple Bay Natural Area. About a dozen people another great reason to take interest in land invasive plant control. I’d love to have an attitude she said with a laugh. people attending Erwin “Duke” Elsner’s butterfly protection,” said Jon Throop, GTRLC’s volunteer shift in the general population.” hike gathered around for the first sighting on what and event coordinator. “The Conservancy is very But that shouldn’t take away from the fun. He’s also glad to help out the Conservancy in had been (up to that point) a relatively butterfly- lucky to have a volunteer of Duke’s caliber willing Elsner implored those gathered to not take it too particular, in part because he strongly believes in free day. to share his knowledge.” seriously. Sometimes it’s just a matter of heading its mission. Protected land is not only important out and seeing what you can find, even if you can’t Elsner, still 10 or so paces out, studied the small Elsner put in nearly 30 years with the Michigan for wildlife habitat, he said, but for its role in tell the difference between a Northern Spring orange butterfly as it flitted about along the sand. State University extension teaching horticulture inspiring people to care about conservation. Azure and a Cherry Gall Azure. It was, he declared, a Northern Crescent – not and entomology before retiring this year. “It goes way beyond the acreage the Conservancy particularly rare in our region, but still a delight Butterflies are a personal passion, something that “Basically, just keep your eyes open and look for actually owns or manages,” he said. “People learn to see. was evident during his presentation in the historic activity,” Elsner said as the group ventured into from that acreage. They come away from the land Maple Bay farmhouse. the lush green forest between the parking lot and As one of the most respected butterfly authorities and the programs and spread the knowledge, the water. “This is a fabulous habitat, and lots of in the region, Elsner was the perfect person to “Identifiying butterflies can be very tough. There spread the interest. That’s fabulous.” interesting things live here.” host two butterfly identification sessions at Maple are no handy vocalizations as there are with birds. Check out GTRLC’s events calendar Bay this year. Each session began with a detailed You are dealing with silent creatures that like to Elsner is glad to take the time for such (events are held all year long) at PowerPoint presentation of dozens of local species hide when they are resting,” he said. identification sessions. www.gtrlc.org/recreation-events/events. 4 SUMMER ‘19 | VOL 71 GTRLC.ORG 5 PHOTO BY ART BUKOWSKI In addition to several other tasks tied to public Mitchell Creek Meadow Preserve access, including sign production and installation The latest in many years of tremendous support and development of a volunteer group, we are from Don and Jerry Oleson came in the form also in the midst of discovering more about the of a $1.1 million gift to purchase the former property via a series of biological surveys. A Mitchell Creek Golf Course along Three Mile herpetological survey was underway and a mussel Road in East Bay Township. Now, GTRLC is in survey was scheduled to begin as of this writing. the early stages of transforming the old course For more on the herpetological survey, see the full into the Mitchell Creek Meadow Preserve. story on page XX. This 166-acre property presents an exceptional GTRLC also will have many exciting volunteer opportunity to protect vanishing wildlife habitat, opportunities at this proposed preserve in the near provide valuable recreational opportunities and future. For more information, contact Jon Throop preserve open space in an area that has long at [email protected] or (231) 922-1259. faced substantial development pressure. Above all else it is a top priority parcel in terms of Campaign Roundup Maplehurst water quality protection, as it includes not only This natural area has been buzzing with activity 6,000 feet of frontage on tributaries to Mitchell since it officially opened to the public earlier Creek but also substantial acreage of high quality The proposed Upper Manistee Headwaters Preserve. this year. More than a mile of trail has been wetlands that serve to filter surface runoff. hand-built by volunteers during trail building days As the Campaign for Generations continues, GTRLC is busy protecting critical new parcels and tending to those The Olesons, who have been instrumental throughout the summer, and nearly two additional we’ve recently acquired or protected.
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