Located near Port Austin at the tip of Michigan’s Thumb, Huron County Nature Center is really a blast from the previous as a result of it has by no means been touched or tainted by the countless wheels of progress.
Entailing 280 acres, the nature middle options forested sandy ridges that are interspersed with swales and marshes, with a main purpose to shield all issues, each dwelling and lifeless, for the enjoyment and scientific schooling of the public.
The nature middle facility itself options superb displays together with an out of doors pavilion close by with seating supplied for various nature packages. Benches are additionally strategically situated alongside the mountain climbing path for taking a breather or just sitting down to soak up and take pleasure in nature at its best. A brand new and thrilling discovery is that a pair of beavers has moved into the marsh to add a little additional taste to the ambiance.
This is all situated on the north facet of Loosemore Road, however extra is provided to outside lovers on the south facet of the street, the place there is a newly developed four-mile mountain climbing and biking path. Motorized autos and horses should not allowed, and it is actually a mountain biking paradise and is distinctive in the indisputable fact that it is the solely such biking path formally accessible in the Thumb.
When issues get moist and muddy, it may be fairly a difficult and enjoyable journey (and not a place for a normal bicycle). Hikers and bikers are required to comply with the path solely in a counterclockwise route for security causes.
An superb truth is that the nature middle is managed and maintained solely by very devoted volunteers, and there are not any employed employees. It has a board of administrators to deal with all the pieces, and I had a probability to discuss not too long ago to its president, Caitlin Stone-Weber, who is additionally the naturalist for the middle. She knowledgeable me of the many nature displays held each Saturday throughout the summer time.
The purpose for my go to to the middle final Saturday was to observe the “Birds of Prey” program introduced by Joe and Barb Rogers of Oil City, who belong to the Wildlife Recovery Association (wildliferecovery.org).
This husband and spouse are busy presenting their program round the state, which incorporates many colleges. The birds, which embody a number of owls, hawks and falcons, had been injured and rehabilitated however unable to return to the wild. This is after I had a chance to meet “Zorro” firsthand, a male peregrine falcon who had injured his left wing and would by no means have the ability to fly once more. It was the first time I’ve ever placed on a heavy leather-based glove and had a raptor perched on it, which is a very distinctive expertise.
Zorro was a strikingly stunning chicken with a blue coloration on his head and again, highlighted by fierce eyes and a hooked invoice. In truth, the complete time Zorro was perched on my gloved hand, he made direct eye contact with me, which I appreciated. According to my spouse, Ginny, she stated it was an apparent second of an apex predator assembly one other apex predator, and that my large-framed taking pictures glasses, which she claims makes me appear to be Batman, didn’t assist issues.
Well, people, I like these glasses, as a result of they’re very snug, powerful and dependable for my line of labor, and I believe Batman is a cool character. For that matter, so is Zorro!
Joe and Barb Rogers work effectively collectively as a staff and have a very neat approach of presenting their program and interacting with the crowd by strolling round and letting people see issues actual shut up, and at instances permitting the birds to even be touched. They had clearly attracted a lot of oldsters to their in style program, as a result of all the spacious benches had been stuffed, plus a bunch of folding chairs had to be added to assist accommodate everybody. I may simply see that everybody, together with many youngsters, was utterly enthralled by the complete program. So was I.
Two of my favourite native owls, which had been current throughout the program, are the barred owl and smaller screech owl. The barred owl is a well-camouflaged chicken per its feathers so as to mix in with its most popular woodsy habitat and higher have the ability to ambush its prey. The barred owl’s distinctive name is the one which turkey hunters strive to duplicate so as to shock and find springtime gobblers, and it is the solely owl in North America to have brownish-black eyes, whereas the remainder of the owls have yellow eyes. According to Joe Rogers, the stable darkish eyes accent this owl’s capacity to have the ability to mix in.
Screech owls are fairly prevalent round my farm. I’ll always remember after I was going to clear and put together a wooden duck home on my pond throughout early spring, and I opened the entry door and was shocked to have a little screech owl staring again at me. Well, people, I merely closed the door and allowed the little owl to declare its new residence! Finders – keepers, as they are saying.
Ginny and I are planning on returning quickly with our grandchildren to ensure that them to take pleasure in all the pure wonders provided by the Huron County Nature Center. I additionally let Caitlin Stone-Weber know that I would love a guided tour in the hunt for totally different species of salamanders that are readily discovered at the middle.
For extra data, go to www.huroncountynaturecenter.org.
Email freelance outside author Tom Lounsbury at tlounsburyoutdoors@gmail.com
