Naturalist Section


CNC gets LONG distance visitor!

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CNC gets LONG distance visitor!
We had a LONG distance visitor this week at the Wildlife Viewing Area―a Varied Thrush! (Thanks to the Quinn family for first reporting the “mystery bird.”) Varied Thrushes live in the western U.S. and Canada, generally spending the winter in Oregon, Washington State and the Vancouver area.

They are well-known winter vagrants, though, and Michigan has had several reports of this species this winter. Two households along Ashby Road near the Wetlands Area have reported a Varied Thrush over the past two months―this is almost certainly the same bird, very gradually working his way west. At this rate, he should get back home in just a few years. Once they pick a safe feeding spot, Varied Thrushes often linger for a matter of days or weeks. Still, the sooner the better for a visit if you hope to catch a glimpse of this bird!

Another great sighting occurred right alongside the Varied Thrush―a Fox Sparrow was also enjoying the cover provided by the piles of old Christmas trees. We usually see these birds when they migrate in April and October―March 4 is quite early!
Venture Out! productions presents:


Trail Overview


Living off the Land
Connecting to Nature through Farming


19th Century Naturalist
  Bela Hubbard
Portrayed by Kyle Bagnall, 
CNC Manager of Historical Programs


  A Spring Tradition
  Looking Back at the
2007 Maple Syrup Season


Watch the rivers break 
winter's icy grip!
Spring 2007

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Venturing Out?
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Outreach Programs 

Interested in having one of our naturalists speak to your group? A wide variety of topics are available. Please call 989.631.0830 for full descriptions.

Bela Hubbard Programs:

Recommended Reading

Rites of Conquest – For those who seek a better understanding of the history of Michigan’s Native Americans, this book provides an excellent overview of Native American history through European contact, the fur trade, treaty making, reservation establishment and into modern times.

Where Two Worlds Meet – This book uses images of Great Lakes fur trade era artifacts and period illustrations to investigate the importance of the fur trade and how people from two different worlds exchanged goods and ideas, changing both cultures forever.

Winter World, by Bernd Heinrich – How animals, particularly the golden-crowned kinglet, survive the winter. A fabulous read!

Caterpillars of Eastern North America – At last, a full-sized field guide to caterpillars! Use it for more than a field guide, though, because it is chock-full of natural history and behavioral information.

Forest and Thicket, Swamp and Bog and any other book by the late John Eastman – These books are not field guides, but are loaded with information on ecological interactions, folklore and other facets not easily found in other sources.

Songs of Insects, by Lang Elliott and Wil Hershberger.  Includes a wonderful CD of the songs of katydids, grasshoppers, crickets and tree crickets from (mostly) eastern North America .  Has wonderful natural history information and practical tips such as which species will continue to sing when under the glare of a flashlight.

Field Guide to Insects of North America , by Kenn Kaufman.  Practical, easy-to-use guide, albeit focusing on the more common species. Wonderful photographs Kaufman-style (altered to highlight the key ID features).

Spiders of the North Woods, by Larry Weber.  The “North Woods” series doesn’t technically include southern Michigan , but still, a beautiful guide to most of the spiders of this area.  Packed full of interesting information on spiders, from web-building to mating behaviors.

Articles by Janea Little, Chippewa Nature Center Senior Naturalist:

Newsletters

Installations

Day by day, month by month, nature is always changing.  Take a moment to learn about the flora, fauna and historical happenings of the region.


Looking for how-to information, suggested paddling routes, and links to special interest web sites?

Be sure to check out the Resources page.