By Evan Kaiafas The sand prairie regions of Northwest Indiana and Northeast Illinois are filled with an incredible diversity of reptiles and amphibians. Many of these species are what I like to call “sand specialists” because, through evolution, they have become perfectly equipped to deal with the unique conditions of a sand prairie ecosystem. These …
By: Audra Ebling For much of my life, my sensory experience of springtime leaned heavily on sight and scent. The lemony yellow of a daffodil glowing against the still-dormant grass. The irresistible perfume of a neighbor’s lilac bushes, which managed to slow down my pace on my otherwise rushed walk to the train. These were …
By: Jim Haniford Well, here we are. It’s the fourth blog already. Hard to believe it’s been over a month since I started sharing these experiences with you. They’re the field notes of our ongoing campaign to monitor the American mink along a tributary of Salt Creek that snakes its way through Meadowbrook Nature Preserve. …
Winter Hiking? Sure! By Evie Kirkwood Many avid warm weather hikers shun the chill of winter, but it’s a great time to be on the trails. If you’ve stayed away from winter hiking, wary of slippery or cold conditions, the right gear can improve the experience.
By: Jim Haniford A few scattered reports have come in from around the preserve about a small, furry creature, glimpsed for just a matter of seconds in each instance. One staff member saw it run out from the tall grass as she approached on a riding mower. Another encountered it running up a trail in …
This story is part of an ongoing wildlife monitoring project along a tributary of Salt Creek, Damon Run, that meanders through Meadowbrook Nature Preserve. Check out Part 1 and Part 2 to catch up! By: Jim Haniford Nothing prepared me for winter through the lens of the trail camera. Once Sarah fine-tuned its sensitivity, …
By: Jim Haniford As I mentioned in my first blog entry, we are in search of the American Mink (Neovison vison). In case you missed it, I wrote about a few random encounters that led to the initiation of a creekside monitoring project, enlisting the use of a trail cam in order to capture this …
By Thomas and Theresa Cera The four-acre Bayless Dune property is located in the Miller section of Gary Indiana and is a major part of the 16 acres that Shirley Heinze Land Trust owns and manages in the area. It is located adjacent to homes and a former elementary school, but it is also near …
By Terry Bonace On a crisp and clear September 19 morning, a group of skilled birders spread out to visit sixteen Shirley Heinze Land Trust nature preserves across northwestern Indiana. From Lake County to St. Joseph County, they were out looking for migratory birds on one of our peak fall migration days. The knowledge of …
First Shirley Heinze Land Trust Bird Count with Indiana Audubon Society Read More »
By Glenn N. Major, Volunteer Preserve Steward at Walnut Woods Nature Preserve Maybe we should rename Walnut Woods to Sleepy Hollow. Long ago, a Red Oak tree at the preserve may have been hit by lightning, resulting in its canopy falling to the forest floor where it sits today, feeding mushrooms and moss. Its branchless, …
Headless Zombie Oak Haunts Walnut Woods Preserve! Read More »
