Michigan Nature Association Fall 2013 Volume 62 Issue 2
magazine
michigan nature
Sanctuary Photo Contest Winners
Estivant Pines’ 40th Anniversary
Protecting Brockway Mountain
Your gift makes a difference. By protecting Michigan’s natural heritage, together we build a brighter future. How you can help: • Join or renew your membership • Become a monthly supporter • Give a gift of $500 or more and help us meet the Estivant Pines Challenge • Honor a loved one with a memorial gift • Remember MNA in your will or estate plan Use the enclosed envelope, call (866) 223-2231 or visit www.michigannature.org to contribute.
Michigan Nature Association www.michigannature.org
Kernan Memorial Nature Sanctuary Photo Š Jason Steel
Contents
18 Features Sanctuary Photo Contest Winners 14 A visual journey through some of Michigan’s most interesting places
Saving Estivant Pines 18 Forty years ago, MNA answered the call to save Estivant Pines
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“
The Michigan Nature Association’s effort to protect the old growth forest at Estivant Pines is one of the storied chapters in our state’s environmental history.
”
- Gov. Rick Snyder
Departments
Fall 2013
MNA 360 8 Roach Point BioBlitz 2013 Volunteer and Donor Recognition Dinner “In Retrospect” Celebrates 25 Years Our Commitment to Excellence A Special Opportunity in Honor of Estivant Pines
MNA Online 10 For the Birds Protecting Michigan’s Rarest Wildflower Volunteers Help Complete Rare Orchid Survey From the Archives: Wilcox-Warnes Nature Sanctuary
Sanctuaries 12
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Protecting Brockway Mountain Donations Protect High-Quality Forest
Stewardship 24 Protecting Southern Michigan’s Prairies Volunteer Opportunities
Membership Matters 26 2013 Volunteer and Donor Recognition Dinner Fall Hikes, Tours and Excursions Youth Tree Planting Day
Booknotes 28
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Recommended Reading from MNA
Voices 29 MNA sat down with Charlie Eshbach, who was awarded the Mason and Melvin Schafer Distinguished Service Award this year
Legacies 30 Jerry Phillips Leaves a Lasting Legacy Memorials and Honoraria
On the Cover: “Michigan Lily” by Joshua Chrisman, an honorable mention in the 2013 Sanctuary Photo Contest. Photo captured at George and Jessie Krum Memorial Plant Preserve in Montcalm County.
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Celebrate MNA’s Dedicated Volunteers!
Michigan Nature Association MNA’s 2013
326 E. Grand River Williamston, MI 48895 (866) 223-2231 www.michigannature.org
Volunteer & Donor Recognition Dinner
Our Mission The purpose of the MNA is to acquire, protect and maintain natural areas that contain examples of Michigan’s endangered and threatened flora, fauna and other components of the natural environment, including habitat for fish, wildlife and plants of the state of Michigan and to carry on a program of natural history study and conservation education.
Join MNA as we honor the people who make our success possible.
Friday, October 18 - 6:30 p.m. Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center Michigan State University - East Lansing
Board of Trustees
Staff
Margaret Welsch President
Garret Johnson Executive Director
Aubrey Golden Vice President
Paul Steiner Operations Director
Steve Kelley Secretary
Andrew Bacon Stewardship Coordinator
Jerry Gray Treasurer
Silent Auction to benefit MNA’s land protection initiatives.
Stan Kuchta Trustee at Large Lisa Appel Mary Ann Czechowski Stanley Dole Debby Igleheart Gisela Lendle King William D. McNaughton Paul Messing Don Reed David Sharpe
David Pizzuti Land Protection Specialist Adrienne Bozic Regional Stewardship Organizer, U.P. Katherine Hollins Regional Stewardship Organizer, E.L.P. Matt Schultz Regional Stewardship Organizer, W.L.P. Allison Barszcz Outreach & Development Specialist Danielle Cooke Outreach & Development Specialist Natalie Kent-Norkowski Land Protection Technician Joelle Humes Accreditation Technician Cassie Stepanski Administrative Assistant
Please direct questions about this magazine to Outreach & Development Specialist Allison Barszcz by emailing abarszcz@michigannature.org or calling (866) 223-2231. Garret Johnson’s photo on page 7 copyright Marianne Glosenger.
For more information, see page 26
© 2013. Except where used with permission, entire contents copyright 2013 Michigan Nature Association.
From the Executive Director
You may get this magazine twice. Let me explain. If you are a regular reader of the Sunday edition of The New York Times, you may soon be receiving a special edition of Michigan Nature magazine as in insert in your Sunday paper. Why? Because despite more than 60 years of remarkable success, MNA remains one of Michigan’s best kept secrets. That needs to change. Not because MNA wants more attention for attention’s sake, but because the success of our mission demands it. Celebrating a Remarkable Accomplishment This year is the 40th anniversary of the successful effort to protect the towering, 500-year-old trees at MNA’s Estivant Pines Nature Sanctuary. As Governor Rick Snyder said (see page 18), the fight to protect Estivant Pines is one of the most storied chapters in Michigan’s environmental history. No single project has introduced more people across Michigan to the work of MNA than the successful statewide effort 40 years ago to protect the old growth white pine forest at Estivant Pines. We couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Estivant Pines than to honor the sanctuary and the remarkable people that helped protect it with a special edition of Michigan Nature magazine, and to give it as wide a circulation as possible. New Challenge Grant in Honor of Estivant Pines This opportunity to reintroduce MNA is especially exciting thanks to a new challenge grant in honor of Estivant Pines from remarkably generous donors. They themselves were first introduced to MNA 40 years ago by a story in the newspaper about the fight to save Estivant Pines. Four decades later, they are helping us celebrate by matching, dollar-for-dollar, membership dues from all new members and all gifts of $500 or more, up to $40,000. This is a great opportunity for MNA. If you receive an extra copy of Michigan Nature in your newspaper, be sure to pass it along to a friend and encourage them to join us! And we hope the remarkable story of the protection of Estivant Pines will inspire you to make your own matching gift of $500 or more. Thank you for all you do for conservation in Michigan, and for MNA.
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Inside | MNA
MNA 360 People
•
Land
•
Legacy
Roach Point BioBlitz In June, MNA hosted the first BioBlitz at the Schafer Family Nature Sanctuary at Roach Point in Chippewa County. This 800-acre sanctuary is one of MNA’s largest, and prior to the BioBlitz, a comprehensive inventory of the sanctuary’s species had not been performed. A team of 15 naturalists, scientists, and volunteers spent 24 hours in the sanctuary to document as many different species of organisms as possible. The BioBlitz yielded valuable information about the ecology and natural beauty of the sanctuary. Over 24 hours, the group recorded 149 species of native plants and 58 species of native birds.
Volunteer & Donor Recognition Dinner Friday, October 18 - 6:30 p.m. Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center Michigan State University - East Lansing Silent Auction to benefit MNA’s conservation initiatives. Join MNA as we honor the people who make our success possible. For more information, see page 26.
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Inside | MNA
Our Commitment to
Excellence MNA is committed to continuous improvement and reaching the highest national standards for land conservation organizations.
“In Retrospect” Celebrates 25 Years In 1988, MNA published In Retrospect, a 100-page hardcover book that covers the early history of the organization from 1960 to 1988. Filled with beautiful color photographs and historical information, readers can page through In Retrospect and explore Michigan’s beauty.
In 2012, MNA registered to apply for accreditation with the Land Trust Alliance Accreditation Commission. The commission is an independent program created by the Land Trust Alliance, a national land conservation organization that works with land trusts across the nation. MNA has advanced to the next stage of the accreditation process and the Land Trust Accreditation Commission has been conducting an extensive review of MNA’s policies and programs. Achieving accreditation is just one of the many ways MNA is committed to conservation excellence.
© Charlie Eshbach
Order your copy by visiting www.michigannature.org.
New $40,000 Challenge Grant in Honor of Estivant Pines MNA is delighted to announce a new matching challenge grant in honor of the 40th anniversary of Estivant Pines. Anonymous donors have provided MNA with a challenge grant that will match, dollar-for-dollar, gifts to MNA from all new members, up to $40,000. Eligible gifts include: • Special introductory $10 memberships • All gifts of $500 or more Forty years ago, the fight to save Estivant Pines rallied people across the state and introduced many to MNA for the first time, including the donors now providing this exciting new challenge grant. You can use the enclosed envelope, make a secure donation at www.michigannature.org or call (866) 223-2231 to contribute. michigan nature | fall 2013
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Online | MNA
michigannature.org For the Birds
Rare Birds At MNA Sanctuaries
A cerulean warbler
The final count for the day was 204 adult plants, down from last year’s high of 400. The orchid’s population is still at impressive numbers, and tends to fluctuate from year to year. Last year’s drought and this spring’s heavy rains may have contributed to the lower number of flowering orchids this year.
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Protecting Michigan’s Rarest Wildflower This spring, MNA continued efforts to establish a reserve population of the lakeside daisy in the eastern Upper Peninsula. An MNA sanctuary protects the only known population of the lakeside daisy in Michigan. In 2010, MNA planted additional plants within the sanctuary to establish a reserve population as a safeguard. Portions of the reserve population have developed flowering stems branching off the root system and have shown some initial recruitment from seed production, which is an early indicator that the reserve population has the potential to be self-sustaining. MNA will continue to carefully monitor the lakeside daisy population at the sanctuary.
© Adrienne Bozic
On July 11, dedicated volunteers joined MNA for the annual white prairie fringed orchid count. Volunteers surveyed the top-ranked wet prairie at an MNA sanctuary for the federally threatened and state endangered prairie fringed orchid.
© Dan Kennedy
Volunteers Help Complete Rare Orchid Survey
Noteworthy reports from MNA sanctuaries related to birds listed as rare, threatened or endangered include: • A peregrine falcon nest in the Upper Peninsula fledged chicks again in 2013, the third successful nesting season for this pair. • Two black-crowned night heron colonies were confirmed to still be active. • Two sanctuaries had cerulean warbler sightings confirmed in June, and nesting activity was documented at one sanctuary. • A new nesting grasshopper sparrow was recorded in one of MNA’s prairie sanctuaries. • Two black tern colonies were found to still be active, which is especially exciting, as black tern colonies have been faring poorly across Michigan over the past decade. • Multiple sanctuaries had nesting season records for other listed species, including the American bittern, marsh wren, and the black-backed woodpecker.
Online | MNA
From the Archives: Every Sanctuary Has a Story: Macomb County’s Wilcox-Warnes Nature Sanctuary The Anna Wilcox and Harold Warnes Memorial Nature Sanctuary is a wooded oasis amidst the suburban jungle and open agriculture in Macomb County. In addition to providing important habitat for various flora and fauna, the sanctuary serves as a wonderful spot for people to take their families out for a hike or for nature enthusiasts to study species amidst the hustle and bustle of Shelby Township. The sanctuary was originally part of an 1833 land grant from President Andrew Jackson. It never left the possession of the Wilcox and Warnes families before being donated to MNA in 1975 by Harold Warnes. Historically, the southern two-thirds of this 44.8-acre sanctuary were never grazed and only faced selective logging. The northern portion was last farmed in 1957, and now serves as an example of a successional forest. As you walk the trails, you will notice the young forest, thick with undergrowth, gives way to a more open, mature forest to the south. Learn more about this sanctuary, located in Shelby Township, by visiting www.michigannature.org/blog.
Harold Warnes
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michigan nature | fall 2013
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Sanctuaries | MNA © Jeremy Emmi
Protecting Brockway Mountain Earlier this year, MNA finalized an option to purchase an additional 77 acres of land adjacent to the 160-acre James H. Klipfel Memorial Nature Sanctuary along the Keweenaw Peninsula’s famed Brockway Mountain Drive. This latest opportunity to protect Brockway Mountain, one of MNA’s highest conservation priorities, comes on the heels of Eagle Harbor Township’s recent acquisition of 320 acres next to MNA’s Klipfel Memorial Nature Sanctuary. Adding the additional 77 acres under option would bring the combined total protected area around Brockway Mountain’s summit to 557 acres. In order to successfully exercise its purchase option, MNA will need to raise more than $150,000 by December 24, 2014 to purchase and protect the land forever. Exposed to the harsh winter winds off the lake, Brockway Mountain provides semi-alpine habitat for various grasses, sedges and wildflowers. Here you can find purple cliff-brake fern, little grape fern, moonwort fern, small-flowered blue-eyed Mary, and the green adder’s mouth orchid. Brockway Mountain also provides one of the finest opportunities in Michigan to observe raptors during their spring migration to their breeding grounds in Canada. Gliding along the thermal updrafts, the birds can be observed flying along the cliffs closer than usually observed. Access to the area is made easy by Brockway Mountain Drive, which has been described as one of the most scenic coastal drives in the 12
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United States. With an elevation of 1,320 feet, Brockway Mountain Drive offers stunning views of Lake Superior and the surrounding Keweenaw Peninsula, including views of Copper Harbor, Eagle Harbor and the peninsula’s vast forests and sparkling inland lakes. On clear days, Isle Royale National Park can be seen nearly 50 miles away. In 2012, Travel and Leisure magazine raved, “This short and sweet scenic drive atop the spine of Brockway Mountain (the highest road in the Midwest) offers sweeping views of Lake Superior and the jagged cliffs along the Upper Michigan coastline. With more than 700 types of wildflowers—not to mention patches of wild strawberries—Brockway is the region’s prime springtime floral spot.” Brockway Mountain Drive itself has a rich history. It was designed in 1932 and construction began in 1933 with funding from the federal government’s Works Progress Administration (WPA). The WPA was designed to provide meaningful work for the unemployed during the Great Depression, and many of Keweenaw County’s unemployed miners and loggers worked on the project. Brockway Mountain Drive opened on October 14, 1933 and quickly became a popular destination for motorists. In December 1938, the Ironwood Daily Globe declared that “at least one million persons” had traveled on the road the first five years it was open, sparking a tourism boom in the area.
Sanctuaries | MNA As the highest scenic road between the Alleghenies and the Rockies, Brockway Mountain Drive was included as a portion of the Copper Country Trail, designated as a National Scenic Byway by the Federal Highway Administration. It plays a vital role in the tourist economy of Keweenaw County, and protecting its scenic quality benefits both wildlife and the local community. MNA was pleased to donate funds to support Eagle Harbor Township’s exciting effort to conserve more land on Brockway Mountain. The township’s project was primarily funded through a grant from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund, but private funds were needed as match in order for the township to qualify for the grant. A local coalition of conservation groups spearheaded the fundraising drive. If you would like to help protect the critical habitat and scenic vistas of Brockway Mountain by donating funds toward MNA’s purchase of the additional 77 acres now under option, please contact MNA’s Executive Director Garret Johnson at (866) 223-2231, or gjohnson@michigannature.org.
Our View: Concerns Regarding Proposed Cell Tower In addition to its conservation work over the decades, MNA proposed and secured enactment of Public Act 150 of 1970, the Natural Beauty Roads Act of Michigan, one of the first state programs in the country recognizing scenic roads of outstanding natural beauty. The proposed construction of a 199-foot cellphone tower on Brockway Mountain on property adjacent to an MNA nature sanctuary, in the heart of an internationally important flyway for migratory birds, and less than 300 feet from scenic Brockway Mountain Drive, is a matter of serious concern. MNA supports better cellphone coverage in Keweenaw County, including for the safety and convenience of local residents and visitors. We will continue to encourage decision makers to seek an alternative solution to improving cell coverage in Keweenaw County.
Donations Protect High-Quality Forest in Kalamazoo County Located in Kalamazoo County, MNA’s Brewer Woods Nature Sanctuary consists of 40 acres of high-quality southern mesic forest. The sanctuary is an excellent example of mature beech maple forest, contains a remarkable display of spring ephemeral wildflowers, and protects the eastern box turtle, a species of special concern in the state of Michigan. Dr. Richard Brewer, a distinguished ornithologist and editor of The Atlas of Breeding Birds of Michigan, hand-picked the property 41 years ago, purchasing it specifically for protection and study. He and his wife, Kay T. Takahashi, have ensured that Brewer Woods will be protected in perpetuity by donating both the land and the funds necessary for its stewardship to MNA.
Dr. Brewer made the choice to entrust MNA with the protection of Brewer Woods because of the organization’s long history of protecting land, and MNA’s dedication to the defense of its nature sanctuaries against encroachments. Dr. Brewer plans to remain involved with the sanctuary, providing stewardship suggestions and assisting with field trips. MNA plans to carefully monitor the sanctuary, remove invasive species, and establish trails and a parking area.
Prior to Dr. Brewer’s ownership, Brewer Woods was logged in the 1960s by a previous landowner who harvested all interior trees greater than 12 inches in diameter. Despite the logging, the important ecosystem functions of the sanctuary were not disrupted. No additional logging has occurred since Dr. Brewer acquired the property and the smaller sugar maple and beech trees that were not harvested in the 1960s now dominate the canopy of the woodlot. Dr. Brewer has been a leader in the land conservation movement for many years. He was a founding member of the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy in the early 1990s, and in 2003 published Conservancy: The Land Trust Movement in America. michigan nature | fall 2013
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2013 Sanctuary Photo Contest
Grand Prize Winner
“Snack Time�by David Cuthrell Big Valley Nature Sanctuary
MNA is pleased to announce the winners of the 2013 Nature Sanctuary Photo Contest. With more than 200 photos submitted from all over Michigan, the judges had a difficult time selecting just three winning photos for each of three categories: Landscapes, Flora/Fauna, and People in Nature. The grand prize winner was selected from all 200 entries as the best photograph and is showcased above. To see larger versions of the winning photographs, and to view additional honorable mentions, visit www.michigannature.org/photocontest.
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Sponsored By: Detroit Princess Riverboat Essence Restaurant Group Grand Tavern - Rochester Hills Interlochen Center for the Arts Purple Rose Theater REI San Chez: A Tapas Bistro Ruth Vail
Category: Landscapes First Place
“Eye Hole” by Paul Mrozek Twin Waterfalls Memorial Plant Preserve
Second Place
“Niagara Escarpment” by Marilyn Keigley Hiawatha Plant Preserve
Third Place
“Stoney Creek” by John Behnke Lakeville Swamp Nature Sanctuary michigan nature | fall 2013
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Category: Flora/Fauna First Place
“Prairie Smoke” by Martha Hitchiner Karner Blue Nature Sanctuary
Third Place
“Monarch” by Patricia Pennell Five Lakes Muskegon Nature Sanctuary
Second Place
“Cedar Waxwing Pauses on Bog Birch” by Paul Messing Bullard Lake Fen Plant Preserve 16
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Category: People in Nature First Place
“Burning the Newaygo Prairie” by Patricia Pennell Newaygo Prairie Nature Sanctuary
Third Place Second Place
“What a Long Trip It’s Been” by Paul Messing Lost Lake Nature Sanctuary
“Breaking for Lunch” by David DeGraaf Hamilton Township Coastal Plain Marsh Nature Sanctuary michigan nature | fall 2013
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© Charlie Eshbach
Saving Estivant Pines Forty years ago, MNA answered the call to save Michigan’s largest remaining old-growth white pine forest. Today people from around the country travel to the Keweenaw Peninsula to see these majestic 500-year-old trees.
Walking along the trail at MNA’s Estivant Pines Nature Sanctuary, visitors are sure to notice one thing in particular: tall trees. The sanctuary’s giant white pines stand up to 125 feet tall, towering above those below. Some of these colossal white pines are a full five feet in diameter, typically requiring three people to stretch their arms around a single trunk. Some of these trees have survived in Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula for 300 to 500 years, slowly growing taller and wider amongst an ever-altering landscape. Continued on page 20
Š Charlie Eshbach michigan nature | fall 2013 15
Save the Pines Above: (Left) The first published photo of the cutting of the Estivants. On March 6, 1971, it appeared in the Milwaukee Journal. (Upper right) James Rooks measuring a massive pine stump. (Lower right) At the mill, Rooks looks down a deck of pine cut from the Estivant tract. Photos by Charlie Eshbach. Opposite page: Looking up into the 125-foot-tall pines. Photo by Kyle Rokos.
Though they have remained rooted in the rugged landscape of the Keweenaw for centuries, these ancient trees have a rich past. Each towering tree is, in a sense, a living artifact, leading many visitors to refer to MNA’s Estivant Pines Nature Sanctuary as a “living museum.” Located near Copper Harbor in Keweenaw County, the land that later became known as Estivant Pines was originally purchased in the 1870s by Edward A. J. Estivant, a merchant in Paris, France, as part of a 2,400-acre tract of land. Estivant’s purchase included a nearby copper mine, which later went bankrupt. After the boom days of copper mining and logging, only 750 acres of virgin Estivant forest remained. The land later passed to the Calumet and Hecla Mining Company in 1947, which eventually merged with Universal Oil Products 21 years later. As owners changed, so did the fate of the pines. After Universal Oil Products had cut down about half of the old forest, the first public outcry against the logging of the Estivant Pines came in April of 1970 from Lauri Leskinen, a Copper Country native and regular white pine visitor. Leskinen composed an article for the open forum column of Houghton’s Daily Mining Gazette, informing the public of the logging issue and inspiring people across the state to take action. Universal Oil cut down 350 acres of the old growth white pines and developed future logging plans, threatening the historic trees as well as the numerous species that relied on their shade and protection. Sensing that something had to be done to protect the area’s natural history and prevent these trees from irreversible destruction, local citizens and the Michigan Nature Association banded together to save the pines. A “Save the Estivant Pines Committee” was formed, co-chaired by Charlie Eschbach (see interview on page 29) and Jim Rooks, a local naturalist. MNA’s leaders at the time, Bertha Daubendiek and Richard Holzman, later visited the threatened land, guided by Rooks. They were quickly convinced of the need to take immediate action.
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In 1970, MNA led a three-year fundraising campaign across the state in hopes of purchasing 200 acres of Estivant Pines from Universal Oil. Concerned citizens in the Keweenaw area who knew the historic and ecologic value helped MNA to generate funds to acquire the land. The effort to save Estivant Pines inspired people from all across Michigan, including sportsmen’s clubs, elementary school children and Detroit high school classes. Negotiations with Universal Oil proved difficult. At one point, in a scene reminiscent of the forest conservation battles fought out west, the company parked heavy equipment near the pines and supporters began planning to step in front of the bulldozers if necessary. Thankfully, the company backed down and dramatic confrontation was avoided.
In the 40 years that followed this initial acquisition, MNA has continued to protect the historic Estivant Pines. Between 1989 and 2005, MNA expanded the sanctuary to 510 total acres through three additional acquisitions.
“Because of MNA, future generations will be able to stand among these ancient white pines and experience Pure Michigan at its finest.”
In the spring of 1987, when trespass logging took place along the sanctuary’s northwest boundary, the Estivant Pines Committee looked to purchase land that would form a buffer zone around the valuable trees. Fundraising from across the Midwest quickly made this purchase a success.
Today, it is clear that the tremendous effort to save these trees was an incredible accomplishment. Many species that prefer a mature forest habitat utilize these unique - Gov. Rick Snyder woods, including the pine marten, which was nearly eliminated from Michigan’s northern On August 17, 1973, after many negotiation attempts with Universal forests in the early 20th century. Oil, MNA received a copy of the deed to the land at a cost of $56,000, marking the founding of Estivant Pines Nature Sanctuary. Because of its unique habitat, Estivant Pines is home to an amazing number of bird species. Within the single preserve, 82 species of The battle was won, and the trees were saved. birds were found nesting, an exceptional number for land this size.
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Pines are not the only giant trees found at the sanctuary. This massive yellow birch calls the sanctuary home. Photo by Marilyn Keigley.
These species include flycatchers, hawks, warblers, indigo bunting, jays, woodcock, nuthatches, red crossbill, owls, thrushes, sparrows and woodpeckers. Needless to say, the area provides visitors with exceptional birding opportunities. The sanctuary is also home to many interesting plant species, some of which thrive in the unique conditions found at Estivant Pines. The white pines thrive in the sanctuary’s cool yet humid climate, providing both ecological and symbolic significance as Michigan’s state tree. Below their towering trunks live an astonishing array of wildflowers, such as asters, baneberry, violets and blue-bead lily. Ferns, including spleenwort, maidenhair and holly fern are also scattered across the forest floor. Estivant Pines Nature Sanctuary celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, marking four decades of protection for its beautiful trees and threatened species. For visitors, there is much to explore at the sanctuary. The land is one of MNA’s most popular sanctuaries, drawing thousands of visitors each year. The sanctuary includes two walking trails, the Cathedral Loop Trail and the Bertha Daubendiek Memorial Grove Trail. Not far from the one-mile Cathedral Loop Trail, visitors can see several aboriginal copper mine pits, dating back 3,000-4,000 years. Children play in the pines. Photo by Calamity_Hane. 22
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Boardwalk Improvements Protect the Pines At MNA, sound stewardship is one of our most important tasks. Longtime MNA members Ted and Alice Soldan have been dedicated to Estivant Pines for more than 25 years. As co-stewards at the sanctuary, Ted and Alice commit many hours each year to keeping the trails in good condition. In 2011, Ted and dozens of dedicated volunteers rerouted part of the trail and replaced more than 200 feet of boardwalk. These trail improvements help keep visitors on the trail and protect the area around the sanctuary’s 300-year-old trees from erosion and the roots from trampling.
Burma Rd.
P
Trail Head
Manganese Rd. Bertha Daubendiek Memorial Grove Trail
Cathedral Loop Trail
A sunny day at Estivant Pines. Photo by Charlie Eshbach. Beaver Marsh
The 1.2-mile Bertha Daubendiek Memorial Grove Trail, named after MNA’s co-founder and longtime leader, weaves through one of the thickest groves of old growth pine and also provides an excellent view of the Montreal River valley on the south side of the sanctuary.
Montreal River
If the trees of Estivant Pines Nature Sanctuary could talk, they would probably have a lot to say. They would tell us about all the species that rely on their existence; the critters that find refuge in the shade below and the birds that nest in the branches above. They would tell us about all the people who come from miles away to visit them, taking pictures and reveling in their natural beauty. They would tell us about the days when they watched other forests fall, and when they came so close to falling themselves. And after all the Estivant Pines have been through, they would probably thank the far-sighted people of the Keweenaw and the Michigan Nature Association for giving them a voice. Governor Rick Snyder, who visited the Keweenaw Peninsula earlier this year with his family, said, “The Michigan Nature Association’s effort to protect the old growth forest at Estivant Pines is one of the storied chapters in our state’s environmental history. Because of MNA, future generations will be able to stand among these ancient white pines and experience Pure Michigan at its finest.” michigan nature | fall 2013
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Stewardship | MNA
Protecting Southern Michigan’s Vulnerable Prairies MNA has recently conducted a wide array of stewardship projects and volunteer days at nature sanctuaries across southern Michigan to help protect vulnerable species of flora and fauna. One such species is the Poweshiek skipperling, a very rare skipper butterfly that is currently undergoing review by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to determine if it will be listed under the federal Endangered Species Act.
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Currently, this butterfly occurs in only seven places in Michigan, three of which are MNA sanctuaries featuring prairie fens and oak opening uplands. The health of Michigan’s Poweshiek populations is especially important, because due to dramatic population declines elsewhere, Michigan is now the stronghold for the Poweshiek across its remaining range.
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Hotspots of Biodiversity The Poweshiek and a number of other species need prairie fens, which are a declining natural community in southern Michigan. This critical habitat type hosts a broad array of rare, threatened and endangered species. For example, several listed wildflower species found in prairie fens which are directly benefitting from our stewardship work include the purple milkweed, white lady’s slipper, Jacob’s ladder, and edible valerian. Populations of the eastern
massasauga rattlesnake, spotted turtle, and eastern box turtle have also benefited from this year’s prairie fen stewardship projects, as have populations of the rare tamarack tree cricket, and red-legged spittlebug. Prairie fens and adjoining oak openings are biologically rich, disturbance-dependent ecosystems where factors such as periodic fire, hydrology and beavers have played historic roles in maintaining
Shortcuts Stewardship Staff Sharpen Their Skills We’re still making discoveries on MNA sanctuaries and being able to identify many of the vulnerable species found there is incredibly important. This summer, MNA’s regional stewardship organizers Katherine Hollins and Matt Schultz attended an advanced field botany workshop. Conducted by the Institute of Botanical Training, the weeklong workshop focused on identifying a variety of plant groups, including seedlings and less-than-perfect specimens. Katherine and Matt came away from the course ready to use their new knowledge to better identify plants at MNA sanctuaries! 24
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Creating plant identification journals. Photo: Michele Warner.
Stewardship | MNA Join Us in the Field for a Volunteer Workday © Marianne Glosenger
semi-open canopies to provide sunlight to the understory. To keep these ecosystems healthy, MNA staff and volunteers have conducted controlled burns at four MNA sanctuaries. The burns were followed up with invasive species control work to address problematic plants, including glossy buckthorn, phragmites, reed canary grass, and black swallow-wort. Without MNA’s active management of these important areas, critical habitat for many of these vulnerable species would continue to decline.
Students Help Out With Stewardship Work Just north of Grand Rapids, MNA’s Newaygo Prairie and Karner Blue nature sanctuaries have also received a flurry of activity of late. These two sanctuaries feature native prairie and oak-pine barrens ecosystems. Volunteer John Bagley helped MNA connect with a group called Summer Journeys, which provides place-based environmental education opportunities for interested students. As a result, an energetic group of students participated in an eight-month program, which included hands-on learning and field experience at Newaygo Prairie, Karner Blue, and Butternut Creek nature sanctuaries. Another important partner in our stewardship successes has been the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, which provided Landowner Incentive Program (LIP) grant funds for some of our prairie fen projects. LIP funds are an enormous help in allowing MNA to advance stewardship work across Michigan.
For complete details, visit www.michigannature.org/events or call (866) 223-2231. Date
Location
County
Contact
Oct 6
Lefglen Nature Sanctuary
Jackson
Matt
Oct 8
Fred Dye Nature Sanctuary
Mackinac
Adrienne
Oct 13
Campbell Memorial Plant Preserve
Calhoun
Matt
Oct 15
Lyle and Mary Rizor Nature Sanctuary
Livingston
Katherine
Oct 16
Twin Waterfalls Plant Preserve
Alger
Adrienne
Oct 16
Sharon Zahrfeld Memorial N.S.
Genesee
Katherine
Oct 19
Myron and Isabel Zucker Memorial N.S.
Lapeer
Katherine
Oct 19
Lefglen Nature Sanctuary
Jackson
Matt
Oct 21
Bullard Lake Fen Plant Preserve
Livingston
Katherine
Oct 23
Dauner Martin Nature Sanctuary
Genesee
Katherine
Oct 24
Saginaw Wetlands Nature Sanctuary
Huron
Katherine
Oct 26
Big Valley Nature Sanctuary
Oakland
Katherine
Oct 26
Lefglen Nature Sanctuary
Jackson
Matt
Oct 30
Riley-Shurte Woods Nature Sanctuary
Cass
Matt
Oct 31
Wilcox-Warnes Nature Sanctuary
Macomb
Katherine
Nov 2
White Pigeon Nature Sanctuary
St. Joseph
Matt
Nov 4
Goose Creek Grasslands N.S.
Lenawee
Matt
Nov 6
Burr Memorial and Lambs-Fairbanks
Oakland
Katherine
Nov 6
Newaygo Prairie Nature Sanctuary
Newaygo
Matt
Nov 6
Twin Waterfalls Plant Preserve
Alger
Adrienne
Nov 9
Dauner Martin Nature Sanctuary
Genesee
Katherine
Nov 12
Hamilton Township Coastal Plain Marsh
Van Buren
Matt
Nov 12
Saginaw Wetlands Nature Sanctuary
Huron
Katherine
Nov 20
Lyle and Mary Rizor Nature Sanctuary
Livingston
Katherine
Dec 7
Hamilton Township Coastal Plain Marsh
Van Buren
Matt
Dec 11
Dauner Martin Nature Sanctuary
Genesee
Katherine
Dec 14
Lefglen Nature Sanctuary
Jackson
Matt
Sign Up for a Volunteer Day Please register for each volunteer day as weather or emergencies may force cancellations. Contact your area’s regional stewardship organizer to learn more: Adrienne Bozic, Upper Peninsula (517) 331-6381 or abozic@michigannature.org Katherine Hollins, Eastern Lower Peninsula (517) 525-2627 or khollins@michigannature.org Matt Schultz, Western Lower Peninsula (517) 643-6864 or mschultz@michigannature.org
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Membership Matters | MNA Š Glenn Kujansuu
2013 Volunteer and Donor Recognition Dinner
Fall Hikes, Tours and Excursions
Friday, October 18, 6:30 p.m. Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center Michigan State University, East Lansing
Tour an MNA sanctuary and discover some of Michigan’s most fascinating places. Guided hikes are lead by MNA staff and stewards, and open to all MNA members.
Join MNA as we recognize the donors and volunteers who make our continued success possible. The 2013 Volunteer and Donor Recognition Dinner will honor those who dedicate countless hours to MNA and reflect on another year of our success. MNA will announce those being honored with the Volunteer of the Year Award, Mason and Melvin Schafer Distinguished Service Award, and Richard W. Holzman Award. The celebration begins at 6:30 p.m. All are welcome. Tickets: $30. Contact Danielle Cooke at (866) 223-2231 or dcooke@michigannature.org to reserve your seats.
Echo Lake Hike: October 5, 9 a.m.
Echo Lake Nature Sanctuary Marquette County, near Marquette Join MNA and The Nature Conservancy for a hike through this beautiful sanctuary featuring scenic rock outcrops and cliffs. Contact: Adrienne Bozic, abozic@michigannature.org
Fall Color Hike: October 5, 1:30 p.m.
Hamilton Township Coastal Plain Marsh Van Buren County, near Decatur Walk the trails and see early fall colors at this beautiful sanctuary. We will also explore the coastal plain marsh community. Contact: Matt Schultz, mschultz@michigannature.org
Fall Tree Hike: October 11, 10 a.m.
Trillium Trail Nature Sanctuary St. Clair County, near Memphis Join steward David Gruenawald to visit this hidden sanctuary, enjoy the fall colors, and learn about the trees there. Contact: Katherine Hollins, khollins@michigannature.org
Stewardship in Action Field Trip: October 12, 10 a.m.
Columbia Nature Sanctuary Jackson County, near Brooklyn Join us to see stewardship in action! This field trip is designed to build from a workshop to improve and restore natural habitats. Contact: Matt Schultz, mschultz@michigannature.org 26
michigan nature | fall 2013
Membership Matters | MNA © Marianne Glosenger
Fall Hikes, Tours and Excursions (continued)
Fire Ecology Tour: October 12, 1 p.m.
Swamp Lakes Moose Refuge Luce County, near Newberry We will survey areas affected by the 2012 Duck Lake Fire, and witness the forest’s recovery one year later. RSVPs required. Contact: Adrienne Bozic, abozic@michigannature.org
Fall Sanctuary Tour: October 19, 2 p.m.
Newaygo Prairie Nature Sanctuary Newaygo County, near Newaygo Steward Chuck Vannette will lead a tour through the prairie. Prairie grasses exhibit a wonderful range of colors during the fall. Contact: Matt Schultz, mschultz@michigannature.org © Nancy Leonard
Lake Superior Shoreline Hike: October 13, 11 a.m.
Lake Superior Nature Sanctuary Chippewa County, near Paradise Join us for a 1-2 mile hike through upland pine forest to unspoiled Lake Superior shoreline. Contact: Adrienne Bozic, abozic@michigannature.org
Fall Flora Hike: October 14, 11 a.m.
Pat Grogan Shelldrake Bog and Vermilion Point Chippewa County, near Paradise Observe the late fall flora in the wetland and see the historic Coast Guard buildings and a remote stretch of Lake Superior shoreline. Contact: Adrienne Bozic, abozic@michigannature.org
Exploration Hike: October 22, 11 a.m.
Braastad Nature Sanctuary Marquette County, near Ishpeming Join us as we explore the historic farmstead, a high-quality dry pine forest, and a portion of Barnhardt Creek. Contact: Adrienne Bozic, abozic@michigannature.org
Twin Waterfalls Hike: October 26, 10 a.m.
Twin Waterfalls Plant Preserve Alger County, near Munising See breathtaking waterfalls and the sandstone cliffs that form them as we tour this popular sanctuary. Contact: Adrienne Bozic, abozic@michigannature.org
Forest Exploration Hike: October 30, noon
Fox River Nature Sanctuary Schoolcraft County, near Seney Explore various forest types at this 200-acre sanctuary, purchased to protect habitat for spruce grouse. Contact: Adrienne Bozic, abozic@michigannature.org
For additional hikes, tours and excursions, visit www.michigannature.org/events
Youth Tree Planting Day Saturday, October 5 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Edna S. Newnan Nature Sanctuary St. Clair County, near Emmett Join MNA for a fun day of learning and service at Edna S. Newnan Nature Sanctuary! We’ll start the day with an ecology hike, enjoy lunch together (provided), and finish up by planting trees to encourage forest succession. This event is geared toward youth, 4th grade through 12th grade. Groups are welcome! Adult volunteers are needed to assist with logistics. Contact Katherine Hollins at (517) 525-2627 or khollins@michigannature.org to sign up or learn more.
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Booknotes | MNA Recommended Reading The GREAT Lake Sturgeon
Nancy Auer, Dave Dempsey Michigan State University Press, Paperback Price: $29.95 The restoration of lake sturgeon populations in the Great Lakes has been receiving some much-needed attention in recent years. Sometimes called the “dinosaur fish” or “a living fossil”, evidence of lake sturgeon has been found that dates back between 100 million and 200 million years ago, when dinosaurs roamed the earth. Remarkably, the lake sturgeon’s biological form and function has changed little since that time. Once destroyed as a nuisance fish, lake sturgeon later became a prized commodity and were over-harvested to the point where populations in the Great Lakes had collapsed. In this recent release from Michigan State University Press, biologist Nancy Auer and noted author and MNA supporter Dave Dempsey have brought together a series of chapters written by fisheries scientists, conservationists and sturgeon enthusiasts. By telling the story of mankind’s impact on one of the oldest fishes on earth, this book provides a fascinating new perspective on the history of the Great Lakes.
The North Country Trail
Ron Strickland University of Michigan Press, Paperback Price: $22.95 Long before Governor Snyder outlined his vision that Michigan should become known as “the trail state”, the U.S. Congress expanded the National Trails System to authorize the establishment of a trail from the Northeast to the Midwest that would rival the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trails in length. Today, the North Country Trail is the longest of the eleven National Scenic Trails, running across seven states and traversing 4,600 miles. The trail, however, is still unfinished, and nearly half of its length is road. This guidebook, published by the University of Michigan in conjunction with the North Country Trail Association, is in part an effort to raise awareness of the need to complete the trail. It includes descriptions of featured hikes across all seven states. Because the longest section of the North Country Trail is in Michigan, running from Ohio to Wisconsin (spanning 1,150 miles), the Michigan section is by far the longest in the book. Thirteen Michigan hikes are introduced, with helpful maps and background information.
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New & Noteworthy Alexander Wilson: The Scot Who Founded American Ornithology Edward H. Burtt, Jr. William E. Davis, Jr. Harvard University Press Hardcover, $35.00 A gorgeously-illustrated biography of the underappreciated man who inspired Audubon.
Letters to a Young Scientist Edward O. Wilson Liverlight Hardcover, $21.95
Advice to the young (and old) on remaining open to the joys of science and the wonders of nature.
Eliot Porter: In the Realm of Nature Paul Martineau J. Paul Getty Museum Hardcover, $39.95 The work of the famed photographer whose photos helped inspire the 1964 Wilderness Act.
Voices | MNA
Q&A
Charlie Eshbach MNA sat down with Charlie Eshbach, who will receive the Mason and Melvin Schafer Distinguished Service Award later this year.
What led you to become a conservationist? I guess I was destined to be some kind of naturalist. I was fortunate enough to grow up living with my grandfather. We shared a bedroom, and he was an old rancher who loved the outdoors. Every morning he and I would get up and head outside. We spent our time fishing, gardening, anything outdoors. When I got in school, my second grade teacher complained, “I can’t get that boy to stop looking outside the window.” I’ve just always had a hunger to learn more about nature. Estivant Pines is a remarkable success story, where a group of committed individuals banded together and overcame long odds. How did it get started?
“I’ve just always had a hunger to learn more about nature.”
years. Soon Bertha Daubendiek, the head of the Michigan Nature Association at the time, contacted us and offered to help. It was her no nonsense, dogged determination that gave us the confidence to stand up against the power and money of a big corporation. Forty years later, what goes through your mind when you think back on the legacy created by you and others who stepped up to protect this amazing forest?
“People care. That gives me hope for the future of the forest.”
It was 40 years ago on August 17, 1973, that I delivered a Michigan Nature Association check to the Calumet offices of Universal Oil Products and took possession of the deed for the Estivant Pines Wilderness Sanctuary. It was a momentous day which brought to a close three years of negotiations, fund raising, and convincing the public that we needed to save this last remnant of old growth eastern white pine in Michigan.
It started with a letter to the editor in the Daily Mining Gazette in early 1971 sounding the alarm that the last old growth pine in the Keweenaw were being cut. Lauri Leskinen asks in that letter, “Do you know what it is like to stand in virgin timber?” Within weeks, a public meeting was called on WMPL radio and from that meeting a “Citizens Committee to Save the Estivant Pines” was born. Thirteen of us stepped into the unknown having no idea of the long list of defeats and setbacks we would face in the next three
Last week, I took a walk in the “Pines” alone, reflecting, recalling all the times Jim Rooks and I (we were co-chairs of the Citizens Committee) stared defeat in the face as the threat of logging loomed. Then all of a sudden, I heard the sound of children’s voices through the woods ahead of me on the trail. Soon the kids came into sight, bouncing down the trail, the 125-foot-tall, four-foot diameter pines dwarfing them. Then came a young mom and dad, enjoying the day hiking through this old forest. Then it hit me. This is why we did it.
Back in 1972, we had said, “for future generations”. Those parents and their children were not even born when we saved this old forest from the loggers. Then a warm feeling of pride and emotion that old men get when looking back overtook me as I greeted and passed that young family. What do you think the future holds for Estivant Pines? Forty years may be a long time to you and me, but it’s a mere wink in the life of the Estivant Pines. I revel in the fact that MNA’s Estivant Pines Wilderness Sanctuary is the second most visited attraction in Copper Harbor. People care. That gives me hope for the future of the forest.
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Legacies | MNA
A Lasting Legacy For MNA member Jerry Phillips, conservation means protecting the landscapes that enrich people’s quality of life – those special places where you can go to find spiritual renewal. An avid hiker and biker, Jerry enjoys being out along the trail, where at any moment you may catch a glimpse of wildlife. To ensure those special places remain protected for future generations to enjoy, Jerry joined MNA’s Guardians of the Future Society and included a remarkably generous planned gift to MNA as part of his estate planning. Jerry’s gift is part of a lasting legacy of Phillips family leadership and commitment to community that stretches back generations. The Phillips family first moved to Michigan back in 1854 from New York. After settling in Van Buren County, they soon made their mark building several of the county’s first country schoolhouses. Across the generations, members of the Phillips family have contributed to their local communities and state in many ways, including as township supervisors, service in the Michigan House of Representatives, and leadership in the Michigan Farm Bureau. That same commitment to community led Jerry to a career in education. Until his retirement, he was a teacher and coach for more
Memorials and Honoraria
Jerry Phillips. Photo courtesy of Bob Cooley.
than 30 years, and he has remained active as a volunteer for the Van Buren Regional Genealogical Society, the North Country Trail-Chief Noonday Chapter, Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy, Audubon Society Kalamazoo and MNA. MNA thanks Jerry for his generous gift to MNA, and salutes his remarkable commitment to the three things that make conservation so very important. People, land, and legacy.
March 1, 2013 - August 1, 2013
Donations given in honor or memory of MNA members and friends appear here in tribute. To learn how you can honor a loved one, call (866) 223-2231 or visit www.michigannature.org.
In Memory of:
Barbara Backus by David and Jeannette Sharpe Dan Burchett by Jack and Sue Dangremond by Dianne Decker by Jim Drake by Bruce and Mary Elenbaas by Brenda Fargo by Bob and Barb Fuller by Peter and Barbara Jirgens by Paul Kogelschatz by Sandy Morey by Craig and Lorna Sisson by Susan Snyder by John and Laura Suprenant by James and Kathryn Wellever Mrs. Mary Case by James and Barbara Gusfa Robert Cosner by Dr. Joseph James Bertha Daubendiek by Fr. David Neven Jeanine Doremus by Dr. Lewis Rosenbaum
Henry Fulks by Dr. Lewis Rosenbaum Lily Galea by Dr. Lewis Rosenbaum Mrs. Theresa E. Geirermann by James and Barbara Gusfa Daniel J. Giacona by Beverly Baker Jay Hartman by Dr. Lewis Rosenbaum Susan Hayes by John Watkins Doug Hittleman by Dr. Lewis Rosenbaum Jeanine Kairis by Dr. Lewis Rosenbaum Patricia Kerr by Dr. Lewis Rosenbaum Lorraine Keys by Dr. Lewis Rosenbaum Henry Kupfer by Dr. Lewis Rosenbaum Jeanne Lorey by Michael Fitzpatrick and Sue Fortuna
Wanda Mae Meadows by Dr. Joseph James Shirley Obron by Dr. Lewis Rosenbaum Mr. Raamadurai by Dr. Lewis Rosenbaum by Dr. Joseph James Robert Reckinger by James and Barbara Gusfa Donald Sachs by Dr. Lewis Rosenbaum Beverly Segal by Dr. Lewis Rosenbaum Esther Seligson by Dr. Lewis Rosenbaum William Sherr by Dr. Lewis Rosenbaum Josephine Sinelli by Dr. Lewis Rosenbaum Kenneth Sylvester by Dr. Lewis Rosenbaum Curtis Vail by Joe and June Nelson Jill Von Linsowe by Dr. Lewis Rosenbaum
Gerald Wolberg by Dr. Lewis Rosenbaum Mary Jo Wood by An Anonymous Donor
In Honor of:
Barbara and Gwyneth by An Anonymous Donor Rich Baron by William and Simone Vajda Dan Burchett by Robert and Penny Goodacre Jerry Jung by Jack and Susan Couzens by Kurt and Maura Jung Stephen Kelley by Barbara Kelley by Susan Kelley Stuart Lezell by Dr. Lewis Rosenbaum
Celebrating the 40th anniversary of Estivant Pines
Š Marianne Glosenger
Double the impact of your donation In honor of the 40th anniversary of Estivant Pines, anonymous donors have pledged to match all new membership dues and any donation to MNA greater than $500, up to a maximum of $40,000.
Act now. Time is limited. Donations and new memberships must be received by December 31, 2013 to qualify. Use the enclosed envelope, visit www.michigannature.org or call (866) 223-2231 to contribute.
Help MNA take advantage of a very special offer
Michigan Nature Association www.michigannature.org
Michigan Nature Association 326 East Grand River Avenue Williamston, MI 48895 www.michigannature.org
Become a member of the Michigan Nature Association to receive Michigan Nature magazine in the mail! Visit www.michigannature.org to learn more.
Photo Š Marianne Glosenger
Help MNA Meet the Challenge In honor of the 40th anniversary of Estivant Pines Nature Sanctuary, anonymous donors will match all contributions of $500 or more, up to $40,000. Double the impact of your gift today! Use the enclosed envelope, call (866) 223-2231 or visit www.michigannature.org to make your contribution.
Michigan Nature Association www.michigannature.org