Saturday, September 21, 9:00 AM, Fall Migrants at Kleinstuck Preserve, Leader: Jan Shillito (269-720-8063)
Meet at the Chevy Chase entrance to the preserve. Chevy Chase crosses Oakland Drive about 1⁄4 mile north of Parkview Avenue. Go east on Chevy Chase down the hill and around the curve. The preserve entrance is at the guardrail.
While walking this easy, relatively flat 3⁄4-mile trail, we’ll be looking for migrant warblers, vireos, thrushes, and others, along with resident birds, possibly Cooper’s Hawks and Barred Owls. The walk should be about two hours. Be sure to bring your binoculars and a field guide if you have it.
Notice time change for September only: Social time will take place from 7:00-7:15 PM, students will present from 7:15-7:30, and Nate’s program will begin as scheduled at 7:30.
Join Nate Fuller for a program highlighting the wonderful wildlife diversity of Sarett Nature Center. The center owns over 1,000 acres along the Paw Paw River between Benton Harbor and Coloma, Michigan. Over a dozen different natural communities support a rich diversity of flora and fauna. Since its beginning 55 years ago, Sarett naturalists have documented nearly 250 bird species on the property. From Prothonotary Warblers and Common Moorhens along the river, to Henslow’s Sparrows and Bobolinks in the grasslands, and a variety of songbirds and raptors in the forests between, Sarett is one of the most bird-rich sites in Southwest Michigan. The nature center’s diversity isn’t just limited to birds as the rich habitats also make it an important site for rare turtles, snakes, and other animals including the federally endangered Mitchell’s satyr.
Nate moved to Michigan to work for Sarett as an interpretive naturalist in 1995 shortly after earning his degree in biology from Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin. This is where he met fellow naturalist Erin Jones (now Erin Fuller, former ASK President), and they moved to Kalamazoo in 2001 where Nate began work for Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy (SWMLC). Since arriving in Kalamazoo, Nate earned his graduate degree in geography and has occasionally taught for Western Michigan University. For 18 years he worked to protect, manage, and restore natural communities with landowners, volunteers, and many conservation partners through his work at SWMLC. He returned to Sarett to become its Executive Director in June of 2019. Nate and Erin continue to live in Kalamazoo with their son, Theo, and can be found regularly exploring nearby natural areas.
You are invited to join us to meet and hear Nate on September 23, 2019, at People’s Church, 1758 North 10th Street, Kalamazoo. Our program will start early this month so that we can get an update from Mattawan students and their teacher about their use of ASK education grants supporting their work at Portman Preserve. For the September meeting only, social time will take place from 7:00-7:15 PM, students will present from 7:15-7:30, and Nate’s program will begin as scheduled at 7:30. Guests and the public are encouraged to attend. Handicap parking and access is at either the front or rear en- trance of the building. Please remember to bring your own mug to reduce dishwashing.
Weekly Kal-Haven Trail Walks
Our weekly Kal-Haven Trail walks will be on Tuesdays at 9:00 AM in September, starting at the Trailhead on North 10th Street between G and H Avenues. We walk about five miles roundtrip in 2-4 hours depending on the weather and the sights and sounds along the way. Anyone with a time crunch can turn around and walk back on their own.
Weekly Kal-Haven Trail Walks
Our weekly Kal-Haven Trail walks will be on Tuesdays at 9:00 AM in September, starting at the Trailhead on North 10th Street between G and H Avenues. We walk about five miles roundtrip in 2-4 hours depending on the weather and the sights and sounds along the way. Anyone with a time crunch can turn around and walk back on their own.
Saturday, October 5, 8:00 AM, Fall Birding at Sarett Nature Center, Berrien County, Leader: Jan Shillito (269-720-8063) Meet at the I-94/Oakland Drive commuter lot at 8:00 AM to form groups to ride and choose drivers for carpooling. We should arrive at Sarett by 9:00 or before. If you want to meet us at Sarett, please plan to be there by 9:00 or before and let the leader know that you’ll meet us in the parking lot.
We’ll explore some of the trails around the center for fall migrants such as warblers, vireos, thrushes, etc., and also resident birds. We may also encounter other wildlife, such as turtles, snakes, or butterflies. After the center (including restrooms) opens at 10:00, we can also explore the building if the group would like to. We will depart Sarett sometime between 11:00 and 12:00, dependent on the group’s choice. Be sure to bring your binoculars, field guide, and bug repellant. Dress for the weather.
Weekly Kal-Haven Trail Walks
Our weekly Kal-Haven Trail walks will be on Tuesdays at 9:00 AM in September, starting at the Trailhead on North 10th Street between G and H Avenues. We walk about five miles roundtrip in 2-4 hours depending on the weather and the sights and sounds along the way. Anyone with a time crunch can turn around and walk back on their own.
The Kalamazoo County Parks Department is once again partnering with the Audubon Society of Kalamazoo in October when ASK will lead four educational programs on the Kalamazoo River Valley Trail.
Senior citizens and those with walking difficulties are invited to join us for a golf cart tour along the Kalamazoo River Valley Trail. This leisurely journey will allow you the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful fall colors and also perhaps some native fall wildflowers that grow along the trail. You will also learn about the threats to the survival of this wonderful fall flora. No prior knowledge is required – only an interest in the natural world and the environment. Feel free to bring binoculars to see what might be a bit off the trail. We’ll go about two miles round trip, and take about 1.5 hours.
When: Wednesday, October 9, at 10:00 AM
Where: Meet by the campground at Markin Glen County Park at 5300 North Westnedge (park fee waived for participants).
Who: Seniors, age 55+ or those with walking difficulties
Sign-Up: Golf cart space is limited, so pre-registration is required. People able to walk the distance are welcome to accompany us on foot. For registration or questions, please call 269-383-8778.
Fee: Free
The Kalamazoo County Parks Department is once again partnering with the Audubon Society of Kalamazoo in October when ASK will lead four educational programs on the Kalamazoo River Valley Trail.
Senior citizens and those with walking difficulties are invited to join us for a golf cart tour along the Kalamazoo River Valley Trail. This leisurely journey will allow you the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful fall colors and also perhaps some native fall wildflowers that grow along the trail. You will also learn about the threats to the survival of this wonderful fall flora. No prior knowledge is required – only an interest in the natural world and the environment. Feel free to bring binoculars to see what might be a bit off the trail. We’ll go about two miles round trip, and take about 1.5 hours.
When: Wednesday, October 9, at 12:00 PM
Where: Meet by the campground at Markin Glen County Park at 5300 North Westnedge (park fee waived for participants).
Who: Seniors, age 55+ or those with walking difficulties
Sign-Up: Golf cart space is limited, so pre-registration is required. People able to walk the distance are welcome to accompany us on foot. For registration or questions, please call 269-383-8778.
Fee: Free
The Kalamazoo County Parks Department is once again partnering with the Audubon Society of Kalamazoo in October when ASK will lead four educational programs on the Kalamazoo River Valley Trail.
Senior citizens and those with walking difficulties are invited to join us for a golf cart tour along the Kalamazoo River Valley Trail. This leisurely journey will allow you the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful fall colors and also perhaps some native fall wildflowers that grow along the trail. You will also learn about the threats to the survival of this wonderful fall flora. No prior knowledge is required – only an interest in the natural world and the environment. Feel free to bring binoculars to see what might be a bit off the trail. We’ll go about two miles round trip, and take about 1.5 hours.
When: Friday, October 11, at 10:00 AM
Where: Meet at the Kal-Haven Trail parking lot on North 10th Street near the Caboose (2 miles North of W. Main).
Who: Seniors, age 55+ or those with walking difficulties
Sign-Up: Golf cart space is limited, so pre-registration is required. People able to walk the distance are welcome to accompany us on foot. For registration or questions, please call 269-383-8778.
Fee: Free
The Kalamazoo County Parks Department is once again partnering with the Audubon Society of Kalamazoo in October when ASK will lead four educational programs on the Kalamazoo River Valley Trail.
Senior citizens and those with walking difficulties are invited to join us for a golf cart tour along the Kalamazoo River Valley Trail. This leisurely journey will allow you the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful fall colors and also perhaps some native fall wildflowers that grow along the trail. You will also learn about the threats to the survival of this wonderful fall flora. No prior knowledge is required – only an interest in the natural world and the environment. Feel free to bring binoculars to see what might be a bit off the trail. We’ll go about two miles round trip, and take about 1.5 hours.
When: Friday, October 11, at 12:00 PM
Where: Meet at the Kal-Haven Trail parking lot on North 10th Street near the Caboose (2 miles North of W. Main).
Who: Seniors, age 55+ or those with walking difficulties
Sign-Up: Golf cart space is limited, so pre-registration is required. People able to walk the distance are welcome to accompany us on foot. For registration or questions, please call 269-383-8778.
Fee: Free