Lakeshore Nature Preserve

Spring 2009 E-Newsletter

Cathie Bruner, field manager

Dear Lakeshore Nature Preserve community,

What is new?

As we move into 2009 with the first real spring rains thawing the earth we have much to look forward to in the year ahead.

Contributions have made it possible for us to put into the field this year two half time volunteer specialists, a part time field ecologist, and a half time technician in chain saw and chemical weed control services.

We are delighted we will again be the beneficiaries of five Audubon Interns through the sponsorship of the Friends of the Lakeshore Nature Preserve. Thank you! For those of you who like to see what all these young energetic people are accomplishing Thursday will again be Preserve day for the Audubon Interns. Stop by and visit. Join us.

JOIN US FOR GARLIC MUSTARD WORK PARTIES !

AND

OUR FIRST EARTH DAY ACTIVITIES

IN THE LAKESHORE NATURE PRESERVE

Want to learn more about what we are doing?

Overview album of 2008 work by so many and made possible by so many more. Our first commitment is to take care of what we have done.

Project list for 2009

Report to the Preserve committee, field season 2007-2008.

Spring IS here.

Check out the Friends Field Trip schedule for 2009.

Birders like Charlotte Meyer flock to the Preserve.

Redwing Blackbirds defend their territory in University Bay Marsh

Robins seek worms at the top of Picnic Point.

Garlic Mustard emerges barely scathed by the rough winter.

Willow buds swell.

Curt Caslavka looks for evidence of last year`s prairie seeding.

Looking for a walk close by to find SPRING flowers, birds, return of the butterflies close to campus?

Here are examples of flowers you can soon see:

• Muir Woods and Limnology Garden: toothwort, trilliums, wild ginger, meadow rue, baneberry, bloodroot

• Lakeshore Path, Lot 34: Look for carpets of toothwort and meadow rue, remnant colonies of wood anemone below Lot 34

• Bill’s Woods: a great display of many spring bloomers both remnant and planted by the Friends of the Lakeshore Nature Preserve.

• Northwest Bill’s Woods across from Eagle Heights Gardens; SPRING bloodroot and Dutchman’s breeches.

• Frautschi Point: trout lily, meadow rue, Dutchman’s breeches, what else will come up along the opened shoreline? What might show up, BIRDS and INSECTS along the Big Oak Trail to the cedar glade, the gully edge, the field, and the gardens.

• Tent Colony Woods: toothwort, bloodroot, Dutchman’s breeches. Look especially for return of flower colonies down the steep slopes off the Frautschi Point parking lot to the left and right where we removed buckthorn.

Here are examples of things going on for you to see if you take a walk now:

Willow Creek Woods Savanna Project

Unit II summer 2008

March 2009: Grounds staff removed the undesirable understory of Unit 2. The trees will be gradually removed over a three year sequence while we stabilize the soil and establish plants as the light levels increase.

Tent Colony Woods

February and March 2009 Steward Tom Helgeson gathers up the debris from contracted buckthorn removal over the winter in Tent Colony Woods.

After debris removal the coast is clear for wildflowers to emerge.

Contractors chip the hauled debris for stewards to apply to the trail.

March 25 newly chipped bark on the Lakeshore Path in Tent Colony Woods.

ENJOY!!!