NATURAL AREA PRESERVATION Protecting and restoring Ann Arbor’s natural areas Volume 18, Number 4 and fostering an environmental ethic among its citizens Winter 2013-2014

The Complex Story of Greenview Nature Area; Past, Present, and Future

Dana Wloch A path through Greenview Nature Area.

I stood in Greenview Nature Area, photo: Jim Rogers enjoying one of the last nice days of autumn. Park Steward Jim Rogers handed me an apple from one of of Greenview. Most of the labor and larger property, which stretches the old trees in the park. He told improvements to Greenview are from Main Street to Greenview me this was a bad year for coordinated and executed by Friends Drive, an area which was once a worms—surely a good sign. The of Greenview, and general nine-hole golf course. This piece of apple was full of flavor, and to my management is directed through land includes Greenview Nature gratification, free of worms. Where collaboration between the city and Area, Pioneer Woods, Pioneer we stood was once a thicket of Ann Arbor Public Schools. Prairie, as well as Pioneer High buckthorn surrounding the old School. SEE “RESTORING” PAGE 6 apple tree, indicated only by the Owned by Ann Arbor Public dozens of cut stumps nearby. For Schools, Greenview includes several years, Rogers has been meadows, woodlands, a pond, and a IN THIS ISSUE: working ceaselessly with a group of community garden, and has a complicated history. It is part of a Greenview devotees called Friends Greenview Nature Area Page 1 Coordinator’s Corner NAP PROGRAMS Page 2 Along with the Park Volunteers of the Score Steward program and Page 3 public workdays, NAP offers Stewardship Calendar many options for you to Pages 4-5 volunteer for nature! NAPpenings and Staff Updates On pages 4-5, find out about Pages 6-7 trainings and kickoffs for NAP’s special programs, such as the Epic Workdays A Salamander Survey volunteer Volunteer Burn Crew, and the Page 8 holding a funnel trap. Frog and Toad Survey. COORDINATOR’S CORNER A unit of the City of Ann Arbor Community Services Area, Parks and Recreation Services. Happy Birthday to NAP!

The mission of Natural Area You may have noticed from the past few issues of the NAP Preservation is to protect and newsletter, that NAP just celebrated its 20-year anniversary, or was restore Ann Arbor’s natural areas it a 20-year birthday? As I pondered this question during the 2013 and to foster an environmental festivities, I realized that it’s an important issue to resolve. ethic among its citizens.

In my experience, and without any additional research into the 1831 Traver Road matter whatsoever, it seems that anniversaries are often Ann Arbor, MI 48105 accompanied by sentiments such as, “Congratulations.” “You’ve Phone: (734) 794-6627 made it!” and “Wow, has it really been that long …” The focus seems Fax: (734) 997-1072 to be on the past, looking back on where you’ve come from, Email: [email protected] Website: a2gov.org/NAP celebrating past accomplishments. facebook.com/ann.arbor.NAP twitter.com/a2NAP Birthdays, on the other hand, have none of that, especially not at NAP’s exciting age of 20 years old! These are the years of new opportunities. We earn the right to start driving around the age of Manager: 16. At 18 we’re considered legal adults and enjoy many of the rights, David Borneman and responsibilities of that new age, although we don’t earn the Stewardship Specialist: privilege of drinking alcohol until we turn 21. Birthdays are forward Becky Gajewski -looking. They mark the arrival of a new era. We expect our lives to Inventory Staff: change as we hit those Anat Belasen milestone ages. And people Dea Armstrong, Ornithologist expect more of us from that It is the start of a new era here at David Mifsud, Herpetologist point onward. Patrick Terry, Intern NAP, with new rights and Volunteer and Outreach In that sense, I hope that responsibilities to accompany our Coordinator: what we’ve just celebrated Tina Roselle entry into this third decade of is NAP’s 20th birthday, Outreach Assistants: rather than its work...We’re a much broader and Dana Novak anniversary. It is the start Laura Mueller more complex organization than we of a new era here at NAP, Molly Notarianni with new rights and were ten years ago, or even five. Penelope Richardson-Bristol responsibilities to Quentin Turner accompany our entry into Renée Hytinen this third decade of work. Toyoko Kamada, Intern People expect more of us now, and they should. We’re “grown up” Yousef Rabhi now. We’re a much broader and more complex organization than we Conservation Workers: were ten years ago, or even five. And we’re running more programs Josh Goldman and workdays, working with many more volunteers, and reaching Kegan Schildberg out into more sectors of the community than we ever did before. Rachel Maranto

Rob Schubert Yes, we have accomplished much together over the past 20 years. Robb Johnston There is much to celebrate. But our focus has to be on where we’re headed the next 20 years – that’s where the real excitement lies! Natural Area Preservation is funded by the voter-approved So wish us a Happy Birthday next time you see us. Then come join 2013-2018 Park Maintenance & us as we create the next two decades together! Capital Improvements Millage. -David Borneman, NAP Manager 2 NATURAL AREA PRESERVATION NEWS Winter 2013 Although thousands of people have volunteered with NAP in the VOLUNTEERSVOLUNTEERS past 20 years (a “score”), these volunteers and groups deserve of the SCORESCORE some special recognition! (20 YEARS)

JUST A  Volunteered an outstanding number of hours in the field, or in the NAP office  Recruited volunteers who worked an extraordinary number of combined hours FEW WAYS  Lead volunteers who worked a monumental number of combined hours VOLUNTEERS OF  Monitored a significant number of hours for salamanders, frogs, turtles, or birds THE SCORE HAVE  Effected a remarkable impact on NAP’s restoration and education efforts CONTRIBUTED TO NAP {  Mentored, advised, or inspired NAP’s volunteers and staff

VOLUNTEERS Peter Allen Phil Furspan Michael Landis Judy Schmidt Dan Anderson Jacco Gelderloos Drew Lathin Manfred Schmidt David Baker Shannan Gibb-Randall John Lawter Ken Shaw James Bardwell Paul Girard Sam Levine Scott Spooner Steve Bean Brian Glass Carl Loomis Ann Sprunger Brenda Bently-Goenka Mary Glass Barbara Lucas David (Drano) Steiner Jane Bishop Bently Goenka Mary Mathais Greg Stevens Jan Bower Maxime Goovaerts Mary Matossian Nancy Stoll Bruce Bowman Bob Gould Isabel Mckay AC Tanner Dave Brooks George Gray Tim Mckay Colleen Vance Verena Brunner Jacob Gray Cathy Mcnair Deb Vandenbroek Brian Bruns Jerry Gray Don Mcnair Kurt Vincze Andrew Brush Benjamin Hack Drake Meadow Jeff Vornhagen Dawn Chalker Matt Hack Victory Mike Bob Walters Mark Charles George Hammond Sue Miller Alice Ward Dick Chase John Heider Bill Minard Wes Weaver Drew Clark Bob Heinold Rita Mitchell Will Weber Dan Comella Ted Hejka Karin Monnett Bo Wei Peng Alex Copp Mary Hill Joanna Myers Kay Werthan Andrew Copp Jim Hope Paul Newhouse Nancy Witter William Cron Ann Hubbard Sarah Newman Jan Wolter Jim Crosby Ray Hunter Gwen Nystuen Doug Wood Brooks Curtis Stephanie Hunter John Nystuen Roger Wykes Cheryl Darnton Richard Isackson Ross Orr Katherine Yates Swartz Dawn Robert Isenberg Cindy Overmyer Anita Yu Phil Dinehart Maggie Jewett Jeannine Palms Ronald Zavislak Heidi Dodson Jacob Job Janice Pappas Steve Zekany Mary Duff-Silverman Judy Judge Nathan Patel Ron Emaus Toyoko Kamada Barbara Powell Aunita Erskine Harvey Kaplan William Price VOLUNTEER GROUPS Allen Eyler Nancy Kaplan Stacie Printon Three Fires Trail Harold Eyster Tim Kenny Peggy Rabhi CHS Group Susan Falcone Diana Kern Greg Richardson Community High School Ted Fasing Bill Kidd Catherine Riseng Concordia University Norman Fell Tim Kieras Becca Ritter-Charles Friends Of Dicken Woods Jerome Fletcher Jean Kluge Jim Rogers Friends of Greenview Laurent Fournier Tom Kraft Elliot Rose YMCA Youth Volunteer Rob French Howard Krausse Joan Rose Corps Jason Frenzel Roger Kuhlman Scott Rosencrans Pat Frey Tom Kussurelis Pat Ryan

Winter 2013 NATURAL AREA PRESERVATION NEWS 3 VOLUNTEER STEWARDSHIP WINTER CALENDAR 2013-2014 Volunteers assist NAP in all aspects of our work. Community involvement is vital to the success of NAP’s conservation and education efforts. Please join us for one of these events!

For all of our Stewardship Workdays, please wear long pants and closed-toe shoes. Workdays are free and suitable for all ages. Minors must be accompanied by a guardian or have a signed release form. Contact NAP for release forms. Tools, snacks, and know-how provided.

JANUARY FEBRUARY

January 20, Monday February 25, Tuesday Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service Public Meeting Furstenberg Nature Area Controlled Ecological Burn Program 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Traverwood Branch of Ann Arbor District Library Service is an opportunity to make 3333 Traverwood Drive 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm your day “off” a day “on” for com- munity service. Help remove in- Fire is used as a restoration tool in many vasive shrubs! Meet in parking of Ann Arbor’s natural areas. This lot on Fuller Rd., across from meeting will be a discussion about the Huron High School. Controlled Ecological Burn Program. Ask questions, learn more about benefits of January 25, Saturday burning, and hear about the specifics of Citizen Pruner Training effectively and safely using fire as a Wheeler Service Center restoration tool. 4251 Stone School Road 9:00 am to 3:00 pm February 27, Thursday Love trees? Want to learn a new Volunteer Crew Training skill? Looking for a new and unique way to volunteer in the Controlled Ecological Burn Program community? Consider becoming a Leslie Science and Nature Center Citizen Pruner! Citizen Pruners 1531 Traver Road volunteer during city-sponsored 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm work days to care for newly planted city trees by pruning, Become a part of NAP’s Volunteer Burn monitoring, and providing gen- Crew! This is the required training eral tree care. Don’t worry if you session for anyone interested in don’t know much about tree care, assisting with NAP’s controlled burns. we will teach you everything you Burns typically take place Monday need to know and provide the through Friday between 12:00 pm and tools! Training includes both in- 5:00 pm. Registration is required by door and outdoor time, so come February 25, as enrollment is limited. prepared to be comfortable in Call (734) 794-6627 or email both settings. Please register by [email protected] to register or for more January 24, [email protected] information. or (734) 794-6627.

4 NATURAL AREA PRESERVATION NEWS Winter 2013 STEWARDSHIP NETWORK December 10: New Invasive Plants STEWARDS’ CIRCLE Do you know which plants are poised to be our next invaders? Join us for a 7:30 am to 8:30 am chat about the latest invasive species and resources to stay up to date. Second Tuesday of every month Bruegger’s Bagels January 14: Management Plans and Resources 709 N University Ave Creating a comprehensive management plan is an important first step in any restoration project. How do you go about creating a management Are you interested in learning more plan? What are some resources that are available? about how to care for natural areas? Then join the Stewardship February 11: Prescribed Fire Network's Huron Arbor cluster for Prescribed fire is our most historically accurate restoration tool. How and an informal discussion on a monthly when do we use prescribed fire? Is it right for your location? What results topic with volunteer and have you had from prescribed fire? professional land stewards, plus others interested in nature. Free March 11: Propagating Native Plants and open to anyone interested. Plants are one of the powerhouses of ecosystems. How do we introduce www.stewardshipnetwork.org. native plants? How are they propagated?

MARCH KICK-OFFS AND TRAININGS

Kick-offs and trainings are held Please register for all Kick-offs and Trainings by contacting NAP at the Leslie Science and Nature at (734) 794-6627 or [email protected]. Trainings may have indoor Center, 1831 Traver Road. and outdoor portions, so please dress for the weather.

March 2, Sunday March 15, Saturday Salamander Survey Kick-off Training Photo Monitoring Kick-off 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm 10:00 am to 11:30 am Did you know we have at least five species of Do you like photography and spending time outdoors? Photo salamanders in Ann Arbor? If you have some monitoring may be the perfect volunteer opportunity for you! identification experience and a willingness to get muddy, We need volunteers to take beautiful photos at specific please help us monitor their population and the health of locations each season to record and track the progress of our their habitats. Surveying is done three to six times restoration work. You must have your own digital camera. during early spring at multiple sites, and each round Come join us at this informational meeting for more details takes a few hours. Please register by February 28. about this volunteer opportunity! Please register by March 14.

March 15, Saturday March 2, Sunday Workday Leader Training Frog and Toad Survey Kick-off Meeting 12:00 pm to 5:30 pm 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm For volunteers interested in leading and/or co-leading NAP Please join us to help monitor frog populations in Ann volunteer stewardship workdays. We will focus on Arbor. It’s fun to learn how to identify the frogs of procedures, ecological considerations, tips and tricks to lead by ear and eye. Surveying is done three to six a successful event. An interest and background in ecology times from early spring through June at multiple sites, (and plant ID) is strongly desired, but not required. A strong and each round takes a couple of hours. No previous commitment to preserving the environment, while fostering experience required. Family-friendly. Please register by community and engaging the public are necessary. February 28. Minimum age of 18. Please register by March 14.

Winter 2013 NATURAL AREA PRESERVATION NEWS 5 Restoring Greenview Nature Area CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

In 1953, the land was acquired by the to build Pioneer High School, and soon the question of land management arose. The City became involved when they agreed to mow Greenview biweekly. Today Greenview is mown only once a year in order to promote species diversity. Have you ever wondered what birds you might see in a Friends of Greenview is a 501c3 particular nature area? Now organization that predates NAP, you can find out online, and as fiercely dedicated thanks to NAP Breeding Bird volunteers they are the driving Greenview pond. Depending on the Survey volunteers and force behind countless weather and hydrologic conditions Cornell University’s eBird improvements at Greenview. Once of the pond, egg masses will be website! NAP was established, the two introduced in the spring of 2014. organizations were able to work Since 1995, NAP volunteers together to combat invasives with Greenview is utilized by the classes have surveyed many of our new techniques. For instance, at Pioneer High School as an natural areas. In the spring prescribed fire is now used to outdoor science classroom, all the of 2013, NAP Inventory control invasive shrubs in the oak- while learning the intrinsic and Specialist Chris McCreedy hickory forest of Greenview Nature ecological value in restoration uploaded NAP’s bird data to Area and Pioneer Prairie, and NAP projects. In one simple – yet Cornell’s eBird system. hosts two yearly public workdays edifying – activity, a class (spring and fall) for controlling monitors the ground water levels From the website: “A real- invasives. near the Greenview pond with time, online checklist wells. Students are then able to program, eBird has The biggest challenges facing form connections between weather revolutionized the way that Friends of Greenview are the large and the amount of water available the birding community swaths of buckthorn present. in an ecosystem. Pioneer students reports and accesses Rogers has taken on this challenge, are also given the opportunity to information about birds. evidenced by giant piles of dead use class time to help remove Launched in 2002 by the buckthorn waiting to be chipped. invasive shrubs, fostering the Cornell Lab of Ornithology Taking out large patches of fruit- environmental ethic necessary to and National Audubon bearing shrubs does remove appreciate the natural world. Society….eBird’s goal is to habitat for some migratory birds. maximize the utility and But not to worry, Friends of As NAP volunteers know all-too- accessibility...of bird Greenview has received grants well, buckthorn is not a plant that observations made each year from DTE Energy and the is easily defeated, and the long- by recreational and Michigan Department of Natural term management goals of professional bird watchers.” Resources to remediate those areas Greenview necessitate help from with native plants. Among these, many hands. It requires years of dogwood (Cornus spp.) and dedication to clean out an area. USING eBIRD crabapple (Malus spp.) are the Even then, the birds will always be most ecologically important for there to plant more. “You might Go to ebird.org migratory songbirds. have ambitions to get rid of the Select Explore Data buckthorn,” Rogers points out, “but Select the Hotspot Explorer In addition to controlling invasives what comes after that?” The only Enter a natural area into the and planting natives, Friends of way to ensure the integrity of the Location search bar Greenview has plans to increase ecosystems at Greenview is Click on the location pin the herpetological diversity of the through the continuous help and Select your data! pond, as well. They are working diligence of Ann Arbor’s citizens. with a herpetologist, to reintroduce “People love this place,” says Northern Leopard Frogs into the Rogers. And to that, we add, “protect what you love.” 6 NATURAL AREA PRESERVATION NEWS Winter 2013 NAPpenings STAFF UPDATES Welcome, new Park Stewards! Greg Bowlby WELCOME... Dolph Nature Area BECKY GAJEWSKI Stewardship Specialist Thank you! I am very excited to join the team at NAP as a Stewardship Specialist! I've always had a Many thanks to the groups who strong interest in learning about nature and volunteered with NAP recently. ecological restoration, and that naturally led We could not make such a me to Ann Arbor to pursue my bachelor's and difference without you! master's degrees from U of M's School of Natural Resources and Environment. After Alpha Omega Dental Fraternity graduating, I spent three years completing natural resource management Concordia University and restoration projects for the Huron-Clinton Metroparks. Now I am EMU Cirlce K glad to return to Ann Arbor and give back to the city that has given me EMU VISION so much over the years. FedEx Ann Arbor Girls Group Summer Employment Program QUENTIN TURNER Seventh Graders Adopt-A-Park Coordinator KT’s Trails Running Group My background with community involvement Michigan Community Scholars began by working in the volunteer center of Program Eastern Michigan University, where I Skyline Interact Toyota Boshoku American coordinated environmentally focused service UM American Association of opportunities for students with local non- Pharmaceutical Scientists profits and organizations including NAP. My UM Indian American Student passion for community service, social justice, Association and native ecosystems has taken me across the country and as far away UM Law School as New Zealand. I am greatly anticipating using my knowledge and skills UM Rotaract to work with Ann Arbor’s passionate park adopters. UM Theta Xi YMCA Youth Volunteer Corps ASHLEY CRAIG Field Crew In 2012 I began volunteering with NAP in Thank you! hopes of gaining local ecological knowledge and field experience. I am very grateful to say, Many thanks to the businesses I now have the opportunity to work with the and facilities that generously NAP crew through the 2013 fall and winter donated to the 2013 Volunteer season. Not only have my experiences as an Appreciation Potluck! intern this summer proven invaluable, but working here is a constant reminder of why I have chosen biology as a field of study. Improving the world around us is something everyone should strive for. Lucky for me that's all we do!

Congratulations! The Stewardship Network was awarded the Natural Areas Association’s 2013 Carl N. Becker Stewardship Award! NAP has been actively involved in the Network since 1995, when it was just an idea. Dave Borneman, NAP Manager, has been on the Board since it began, and currently serves as President. Winter 2013 NATURAL AREA PRESERVATION NEWS 7 Natural Area Preservation PRSRT STD City of Ann Arbor U.S. POSTAGE 1831 Traver Rd. PAID Ann Arbor, MI 48105 ANN ARBOR, MI Return Service Requested PERMIT NO. 178

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Winter 2013

Epic Workdays Bring Almost 500 Volunteers to the Parks in 2013

CONCORDIA Each year, NAP works with parks. Many volunteers used hand saws to cut UNIVERSITY hundreds of volunteers in Ann buckthorn and honeysuckle to create space for native 101 VOLUNTEERS Arbor’s natural areas. plants to thrive, and in most cases scattered the MICHIGAN Sometimes, one private brush to allow for nutrients to be added back into the COMMUNITY workday can bring scores of soil as they break down. Other groups trimmed back SCHOLARS 161 VOLUNTEERS volunteers out to work. This overgrowth along trails, and added woodchips to fall, just four workdays totaled make the trails more accessible. Finally, smaller GANDHI DAY OF nearly 500 people! volunteer groups added mulch around trees in the SERVICE 125 VOLUNTEERS open areas of the park to ensure the long-term NAP coordinated several types health of the trees, and hand-weeded play areas to GREENHILLS SCHOOL of work for each group at a remove thistle and other unfriendly weeds. 95 VOLUNTEERS handful of natural areas and