The Thumb Land Conservancy is working to preserve natural areas in the Thumb of Michigan, a postglacial
landscape where northern forest blends with central hardwoods, bordered by Lake Huron, the
Saginaw Bay, the Saint Clair River, and Lake Saint Clair. The mission territory of the TLC is Saint
Clair, Sanilac, Huron, Tuscola, Lapeer, and Macomb Counties, but we can also work in adjacent
areas as opportunities arise.
Prior News
April 28, 2024
(click HERE to download PDF)
Dead End Woods Sanctuary Spring Stewardship
Saturday - May 18
Noon to 3:00 PM
Fort Gratiot Township, Saint Clair County
We are conducting our annual spring stewardship in the Dead End Woods Sanctuary on Saturday,
May 18 from noon to 3:00 pm. TLC Program Assistant Blake Short will lead the work.
The Dead End Woods is one of the most floristically diverse forests in Saint Clair County. This is a
great opportunity to learn spring wildflowers and other plants in this unique woodland preserve. Our
focus for 14 years has been removal of invasive Garlic Mustard, but we are now removing minor
occurrences of Multiflora Rose, Japanese Barberry, and other invasive plants.
Meet us at the end of Wilson Drive at 3685 Wilson Drive in Fort Gratiot, next to the Dead End Woods
Sanctuary. You should bring drinking water. Be prepared for rain and mosquitoes. Garlic Mustard is
hand-pulled. Gloves are not necessary. We'll provide tools to remove other plants.
Garlic Mustard is very tasty and nutritious, originally brought to North America from Europe as a
culinary herb. You are welcome to take as much home as you like, but dont spread it in your yard.
For more information, contact us at 810-346-2584 or mail@ThumbLand.org.
Following is a Bing Maps link showing the Dead End Woods Sanctuary entrance:
Map og Dead End Woods Entrance
Thumb Heritage Festival
A Celebration of Regional History and Regional Nature
June 1, Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm
Bill Bearss Memorial Park, Clyde Township
The TLC and Clyde Historical Society are holding our first Thumb Heritage Festival on June 1 from 10
am to 4 pm at the historic Clyde Township Hall located at Bill Bearss Memorial Park across from the
Dorsey House at M-136 and Wildcat Road in Clyde Township. There is no charge to participate.
The festival will feature exhibitions of our regional history and regional natural history, or in other
words, our heritage. Exhibitors will share what makes our region unique, interesting, and important
from both a historical and natural perspective. We have a lot going for us here in the Thumb and Blue
Water Area with some impressive natural features and fascinating stories.
Exhibitors from our Thumb region will include:
- Clyde Historical Society
- Thumb Land Conservancy
- Streamline Historic Services, Port Huron
- Marlette Historical Society
- Huron Genealogy Services, Yale
- Amy's Relation to Creation & Botanicals, Marine City
- Four County Community Foundation based in Almont
- Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Port Huron State Game Area
- USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
- Blue Water Conservation District
- Lake St. Clair Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area
- Coleeta Vesper, author of "Memory Trail, An Early History of Kenockee"
- Tepkeah Jacobs, native indigenous history
- St. Clair County Genealogy & History Society
- St. Clair County Pheasants Forever
- The Science Jar, freshwater microorganism project
- Ourselves, Irish and Americana music band, Port Sanilac
- Trae McMaken, fiddler and tradition bearer
Join us to learn about Thumb natural features, native species, indigenous culture, forest, logging
history, farming history, railroad history, native plantings, pollinators, composting, edible and
medicinal herbs, maple syrup, crafts, conservation, invasive weed control, habitat restoration,
genealogy, community foundation opportunities, traditional music, and more.
The Thumb Heritage Festival is sponsored by Tri-County Bank, Meijer, C. Roy & Sons of Yale,
Knights Insurance of Cass City, Amy's Relation to Creation & Botanicals, Thumbwind Publications,
and other donors.
The Thumb and vicinity. Google Earth 2022 image.
New TLC Helpers
The TLC recently recruited two new workers to help us with our growing need for preserve
stewardship, program, and fundraising.
Darrin Koester
Darrin Koester is assisting the TLC with preserve stewardship, starting with the Bidwell Sanctuary in Burtchville Township. He will be working with TLC Board Member Dan Rhein who has also taken the lead on stewardship of our Loznak Sanctuary in Marysville. Darrin is also interested in helping with TLC program and fundraising. In 2020, Darrin and his wife, Kim, worked with the TLC to establish a 79.4-acre conservation easement on their property in Fort Gratiot, one of the larger forest tracts remaining in the township.![Darrin Koester](images/DarrinKoester.jpg)
Darrin Koester
Darrin is the owner of Koester Maintenance and Building Repairs, a Christian business that provides comprehensive maintenance and repair services for both residential and commercial properties. He also works as a Weatherization Inspector at Blue Water Community Action and Estimator Project Manager at Cyrus Masonry and Restoration. For more information, see his Facebook page at:
Darrin's Facebook Page Link
RoseAnn Shetler
RoseAnn Shetler joined the TLC in April and is currently helping us prepare for our June 1 Thumb Heritage Festival. She is committed to the mission of the TLC and we hope to introduce her to more program-related work in the near future.![RoseAnn Shetler](images/RoseShetler.jpg)
RoseAnn Shetler
RoseAnn lives with her family in rural Lapeer County. She grew up on a small self-sufficient
homestead in the Thumb where she enjoyed gardening, preserving food, and caring for animals. Her
childhood instilled in her a deep appreciation for nature, animals, and holistic and natural health
practices. She has plans to own her own self-sufficient homestead one day, and she hopes to inspire
others to reconnect with nature and themselves. In her spare time, RoseAnn embraces an active
lifestyle, often found camping, hiking, beach-combing, sewing, drawing, and spending time with her
beloved cats.
Land Trust Alliance Membership
The TLC is in the process of joining the Land Trust Alliance (LTA), a national support group for land conservancies or trusts. As the TLC grows, we are finding that we require more guidance on administrative, liability, legal, and other land protection issues.As part of our LTA initiation process, the TLC Board met with Sarah Naperala, a representative of the LTA, at the Yale Public Library on April 9. This was a nice opportunity for us to get acquainted and for Sarah to learn about the TLC. Sarah lives in Traverse City but grew up in Marysville and graduated from Croswell-Lexington High School, so is originally a local who understands our challenges here. Over the course of the summer, we will participate in three additional web meetings, all geared toward risk management. Topics will include organizational governance, financial management, land transactions, land stewardship, and programming.
Conservation Easements
In addition to the satisfaction of protecting natural areas, there are potential tax benefits to placing a conservation easement on your land that you may want to consider:1) According to Michigan Public Act 446 of 2006, the property tax on land under a conservation easement does not come uncapped or "pop up" upon sale or transfer to a new owner. This is not only good for the new owner, but may benefit the current owner by making their property more attractive to potential buyers.
2) The local tax assessor may decrease the property tax on land under a conservation easement. There is no guarantee and this is highly variable from one municipality to another.
3) An owner who places a conservation easement on their land may claim a charitable donation for the value of the easement on their federal income tax statement. The potential benefit depends on the appraised value of the easement and whether the owner takes an itemized deduction. If so, a non-farm landowner can deduct up to 50% of their adjusted gross income for up to 15 years, or until the value of the conservation easement has been fully deducted. Farmers can deduct 100% of the adjusted gross income for up to 15 years, or until the value of the conservation easement has been fully deducted.
As usual, we need to make clear that the TLC is not qualified to offer expert tax advice. Before making any conclusions, landowners are highly encouraged to consult with their own legal, financial, and tax advisors.
To answer some common questions about conservation easements:
1) Conservation easements do not give public access to private land, even though the legal agreement is called an "easement"
2) Conservation easements do not give a conservancy ownership of the property
3) Conservation easements do not restrict sale or other transfer of the land, but all future landowners must abide by the terms of the original easement
4) Conservation easements do not need to cover an entire property
5) Conservation easements are intended to protect land in perpetuity and can be removed only by a court order
6) Conservation easements can be written to allow specific land uses and reasonable development of structures that are of minor impact that are compatible with the terms of the easement
7) Land conservancies are required to inspect the conservation easement premises at least once per year
8) Land conservancies are required to notify the landowner of violations of the terms of the conservation easement, require remediation of violations, and legally defend the easement in court if necessary
9) The TLC requires some level of endowment funding to cover our annual inspection and reporting, and to potentially defend the easement in the future; and 10) Conservation easements can be placed on land under mortgage or other loan only if the lender agrees to subordinate their interest in the property to the conservation easement.
For more information about conservation easements, property donations, and other ways to protect land, contact the TLC.
Chickweed
By Amy Martinez, RN, BSN
Amy's Relation To Creation and Botanicals, Marine City
You have likely stepped on it, mowed it down, maybe even rolled in it as a child (or adult, no
judgement here!) all without realizing the highly purposeful plant that it is, even with its seemingly frail
stem. Chickweed Stellaria media has many diverse uses that we will be exploring here. My hope is
that before you routinely mow down or step on this amazing plant, you may just look at it in a different
light and even save a little for future use.
Chickweed. Photo credit: Hugo.arg.
Chickweed has been used in traditional medicine and cuisine for thousands of years. The Greek
physician/pharmacologist/botanist/author Dioscorides wrote, circa AD 90, that chickweed ... may be
applied with cornmeal for inflammation of the eyes. The juice may also be introduced into the ear in
earache. It was also used by 17th century herbalist, John Gerard, to treat mange.
Belonging to the Caryophyllaceae family, otherwise known as the Pink or Carnation family,
Chickweed is native to Europe and Asia but is now naturalized to North America and most of the
world. It is very hardy and can be found popping up in waste places with full sun to part shade.
Chickweed prefers cool, damp locations with moist fertile soil but it is not a necessity. The plant
intertwines and covers large areas and can reach heights of about 20 inches. Small, star-like shaped
white flowers with 5 split petals, 5 green sepals (which are longer than the petals) and stamens that
have reddish-violet anthers, appear at the tips of the stems from March through September. Leaves
are opposite and oval with smooth and slightly feathered edges. Chickweed stems are weak and
willowy with a single line of hair which changes sides at each leaf junction. Inside the stems, there is
an elastic core which gives a distinct snap when it breaks. The Chickweed root is a slender taproot.
Fruits develop in the autumn and have about 2,500 reddish-brown seeds that can be viable for up to
40 years!
The aerial parts of the plant have many uses, from culinary and medicinal to hygiene, household
cleaning, and animal feed. To me, the taste is very similar to spinach though some say it closely
resembles alfalfa sprouts. Chickweed can be used in the kitchen for salads, pesto, dips, condiments,
pastas, soups and casseroles. It can also be used to make eye and wound washes, teas, poultices,
infused oils, salves, balms, creams, extracts and tinctures, shampoos, soaps, household cleaners
and animal feed (especially loved by chickens!).
Chickweed should be harvested in the morning or late evening, avoiding the heat of the day, by
snipping off the upper branches of the plants. The harvest can be used fresh, dried, or frozen for
future use. If drying, store in an airtight container in a cool space out of the sun.
After reviewing much literature, I found that Chickweed contains the following constituents:
Vitamins
A, B1, B2, B3, C, E
Minerals
calcium
iron
nitrate salt
potassium
phosphorus
nickel
zinc
copper
sodium
cobalt
magnesium
lead
manganese
cadmium
mercury
Fatty acids
methyl stearate
hexacosanyl
palmitate
melissic acid
gamma linolenic acid
Metabolites
stellarmedin a
cyclic peptides
arginine
glycine
alanine
lysine
thymine
uracil
aspartic acid
glutamic acid
serine
proline
thymidine
tyrosine
2-histidine
g-aminobutyric acid
threonine
stellariose
polysaccharides
ceryl alcohol
melissyl alcohol
pentacosanol
hentriacontane
alkaloids
4-hydroxybenzoic
acid
vanillic acid
caffeic acid
chlorogenic acid
ferulic acid
coumarin
hydroxycoumarin
parietin
questin
emodin
tannins
luteolin
apigenin
vicenin-2
isoquercetin
rutin
kaempferitrin
genistein
aglycones
c glycosides
cardiac glycosides
eucalyptol
linalool
menthol
6, 7-dimethyl
heptacosane
gypsogenin
oleanolic acid
beta carotene
daucosterol
beta sitosterol
3-methyl-6-hydroxy
-heneicos-3-enyl
acetate
2, 4, 5, 7
tetramethyloctane
2, 2, 4-trimethyloctan
-3-one
6-methyl heptyl-3
-hydroxy-2
methylpropanoate
What does all the above translate as? Simply put, a world of goodness for our bodies! All those
constituents take action inside of us making the properties of Chickweed extremely useful when
facing a number of ailments. Because of those constituents, the medicinal properties of cooling
Chickweed are:
antitussive
expectorant
demulcent
antipyretic
anti-inflammatory
antiviral
antibacterial
antifungal
antileishmanial
anxiolytic
antioxidant
anti-cancer
antiproliferative
astringent
detoxifier
blood purifier
counterirritant
analgesic
antidiabetic
anti-obesity.
These properties will help support your body when you are dealing with:
sore throat
coughs
bronchitis
asthma
cold
flu
tuberculosis
peptic ulcer
gerd
dyspepsia
ulcerative colitis
intestinal pain
constipation/diarrhea
boils
abscesses
burns
rashes
psoriasis
eczema
pruritus (itchiness)
dermatitis
insect bites
hives
mange
shingles
varicose veins
wounds
measles
jaundice
fractures
cancer (liver)
hepatitis b virus
dependent edema
heart infections
thyrotoxicosis
menstrual pain
osteoarthritis
rheumatoid arthritis
gout
surface nerve pain
blood poisoning
tetanus
boils
herpes sores
venereal diseases
diabetes
obesity
anxiety
Promising research is also being done on the effectiveness of Chickweed against leukemia and colon
cancer.
I know so many people think that because something is found in nature, you can use as much of it as
you please. I would like to state that this is not a good way to utilize nature as many things can indeed
cause harm when over indulged. Such is the case for Chickweed as reports have been made of
nitrate toxicity and paralysis when very large amounts have been used. Chickweed may also cause
contact dermatitis in some, if this is you, I would not eat it due to a potential allergic reaction. Also, be
aware that Chickweed contains good amounts of potassium and phosphorus, so if you are taking
these as individual supplements, your primary care provider may need to adjust your dose and
increased frequency of testing may be necessary.
I can imagine after learning all the wonderful benefits of Chickweed, you are excited to forage some
for personal use. As I am writing this, we are in the midst of a snowstorm so we may need to wait a
few weeks! Once you spot a patch of Chickweed and correctly identify it, harvest, and then take it into
the kitchen and have fun with it! It is so good as part of a salad! Feel like you can wait to try using
Chickweed; come to Amys Relation to Creation & Botanicals , LLC in Marine City where you can
purchase it!
To make a decoction or strong tea, use fresh Chickweed, if possible, otherwise, dried or frozen will
suffice. Use 1 cup of leaves and 1 pint of water. Bring the water to a boil in a pot then add the leaves.
Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Allow it to cool so you do not burn yourself. Strain out plant
material. Drink 1 to 2 ounces of the brew 2 to 3 times a day or use as a wash for small wounds,
rashes, or insect bites. Store in the refrigerator and discard after 2 to 3 days. The ratio for a general
tea is a half to 1 teaspoon per 1 cup of boiling water.
To make a poultice, blend fresh Chickweed (or dried with a small amount of water added) into a
smooth paste and apply directly to your target area and slightly beyond. Cover the paste with a
bandage or cloth. Replace every 6 hours as needed. Equal parts of ginger root and raw honey may
also be added for additional benefits in wound healing.
As always, if using Chickweed as a supplement to your health, you should consult with your primary
care provider because nothing in this article has been approved by the FDA. The above information is
not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any diseases, it is for informational purposes only.
This article is not meant to diagnose, treat, or cure any diseases. Nothing in this article has been
approved by the FDA. Information is for educational purposes only. To see an extensive bibliography
of references for Chickweed, see Amy's blog at:
Chickweed Article Link
Amy's Relation To Creation and Botanicals is a family-owned and operated botanical store located at
256 South Water Street in Marine City. A variety of natural products are available including teas,
coffees, utensils, dried herbs, live plants, herbal tinctures, essential oils, salves, and other medicinal,
wellness, personal care, and cleaning products. Owner, Amy Martinez, is focused on offering locallysourced,
natural, unprocessed, and eco-friendly products. The store is open from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
Tuesday through Saturday, but open until 8 pm on Thursdays from April 4 through December. In
addition to the store, Amy offers a meeting room available for rent for small groups, for health
presentations, wellness consultations, tutoring for nursing students, and Bible studies. For more
information or to reserve the meeting room, see: Amy's Relation Creation Website or call 810-335-4622.
Amy's Relation To Creation and Botanicals store front in Marine City. Photo by Amy Martinez.
For a schedule of events see: Upcoming events.
Upcoming events
include:
- Every Sunday, 9 am - Bible Study
- April 4 through December 31 - Open Late on Thursdays until 8 pm
- April 27, 12 to 5 pm - Marine City Art Drift
- May 2, 6 to 7pm - National Day of Prayer
- May 8, 3 to 4 pm - Tea Time, $10
- May 15, 7 pm - Chickweed, Dandelions, and Violets! $15
- May 16, all day - Sidewalk Sale!
- May 22, 7 pm - Family Game Night, $5, 12 and under free
How To Attract A Teapot Of Towhees
By Tom Dennis
Eastern Towhee, Pipilo erythrophthalmus
![Eastern Towhee](images/EasternTowhee.jpg)
Photo credit: Bill Thompson, US Fish & Wildlife Service.
Source: Image Source
One of my favorite spring arrival birds, an Eastern Towhee, showed up in the back yard last week
(late April). I’m especially fond of this member of the sparrow family as its cheery song that sounds
like “drink your teeee”, is a favorite of my oldest granddaughter Kyla. It’s a bird song that once heard,
you will never forget. This colorful bird can be difficult to see since it prefers to forage and hang out in
thick undergrowth but once you learn to recognize the song, a little patience often pays off with a
sighting. Let’s take a close look at the only Junco found in Michigan.
This species was known for many years as the Rufous-sided Towhee which is quite descriptive as
both sexes have rufous flanks offset by white undersides. The male’s upperparts and hood are black
and the female’s upperparts and hood are dark brown. Both have white wing bars, red eyes and a
short conical beak that is black. These rather large “sparrows” weigh in at 1.5 ounces with a wingspan
of 8 to 12 inches. In addition to the song mentioned above they have several call note variations that
are basically a “chewink” sound and a contact call that’s a high-pitched “seee”. The name “Towhee”
was given by Mark Catesby, a naturalist and bird artist who encountered the bird in the Carolinas in
1731. He heard a variation of the “chewink” call that he described as “towhee”.
Our area is just slightly north of the year-round range and the summer range extends from Minnesota
to southern Maine and includes southern Ontario and Manitoba, and southeastern Saskatchewan.
They are short-distance migrators with some individuals wintering in eastern Texas and Oklahoma,
this being the western edge of their range. There are five additional species of Towhee in the United
States, all found in western states. The preferred habitat is thick undergrowth and brushy edges of
open woods.
Most foraging is on or near the ground. During fall and winter seeds comprise up to 85% of their diet
and they are attracted to feeders during this period. In spring and summer plant-based foods drop to
50% or less of the diet with the balance being insects and other small invertebrates that are found on
the ground or gleaned from plants. Like the White-crowned Sparrows and Juncos, they use the
unique “double scratch” hopping behavior as they forage on the ground and it’s quite a successful
technique for finding buried seeds and insects. Nesting is usually also done on or close to the ground,
under bushes or in brush piles. The parent birds raise two broods in our area and southern couples
often raise three broods of up to six eggs per brood.
To attract a “tangle” or “teapot” of towhees to your yard you will need to plant a fairly dense stand of
thick shrubs and it helps if you have a tolerance for a certain level of untidiness. A seed feeder
located over or on the edge of shrubs like Arborvitae makes a near-perfect foraging habitat. Proximity
to small wood lots is also beneficial in attracting this species. Something to keep in mind if you need
to buy a new home to facilitate your sighting needs. Of course, you can also hear and see them by
scouting out appropriate natural sites.
You can learn more about birds and nature by attending Blue
Water Audubon meetings. You are also encouraged to visit the
Blue Water Audubon Society Facebook page for local bird
sightings, discussions, and events. Be sure to friend us!
Tom Dennis is a resident of Fort Gratiot where he and Laurie
Melms Dennis, his wife of 45 years, tend to their bird and
butterfly friendly gardens. He is a speaker and free-lance writer,
passionate birder, advanced master gardener, creation
scientist, and naturalist, with degrees from Michigan State
University in Zoology and Biology. Tom is an active member of
Blue Water Audubon Society, Master Gardeners of St. Clair
County, Port Huron Civic Theater, Ross Bible Church, Tapestry
Garden Club, Blueways of St. Clair, and is a steward of the Blue
Water Riverwalk with Friends of the St. Clair River. Dont forget
to Like us on Facebook!
You Got The Power
Save Nature Any Place! Sustain Native Animals & Plants!
In 2023, we highlighted restoration of natural habitat on private land, neighborhood efforts, and
programs like Homegrown National Park, National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat, and
the TLC Naturehood registry. The TLC will continue promoting these efforts in 2024.
Restoration doesn't need to be complicated. In one way, it represents the truest expression of private
land ownership and democratic ideals. As a landowner, you are vested with a great deal of power and
responsibility. While the world is distracted by monetary value and appearance, there can be a
benevolent and unpretentious aspect to owning land. You have the power to help restore nature, to
support native species, to improve our air, water, soil, and climate, and to benefit all of humankind
now and for generations to come, all right where you live. Every little piece of land matters now,
whether it serves as habitat for native species year-round or is just a stop-over for transients. If you
have a lot of land, you can have even more impact. Even if you don't own land but have a few flower
pots or a small patch of dirt at your disposal, you will surely benefit a few of our beleaguered
pollinators. Regardless, there is a lot to be said for adding a little beauty to our world.
Here we are in late February, feeling more like late April. This is a time when a lot of people start
working in their yards again, or at least start thinking about it, cleaning up the garden, maybe tilling for
the first time, ordering seeds, starting garden plants, a few planting early crops of radishes, peas,
onions, or greens, cleaning up flower beds, buying plants, raking up left-over leaves; and some years
even mowing the lawn for the first time. It's never too early, but now is a very good time to start
planning restoration of native habitat on your property. For a basic guide on restoring or creating
natural habitat on your property, see our 2023 March 19 TLC News:
2023 March 19 TLC News
One of the best and easiest things you can do, or could have done, is simply leave the leaves. Leave
the leaves and easily transform your yard into far more sustainable habitat for wildlife while saving
yourself a lot of work, money, and also contributing less pollution and noise. Here are a few articles
from the National Wildlife Federation on the importance of leaving the leaves, whether fall or spring:
Seven Species That Need You To Leave The Leaves
Seven Species That Need You To Leave The Leaves
Why You Should Leave the Leaves
Why You Should Leave the Leaves
A Helping Hand for Early Bees
A Helping Hand for Early Bees
TLC Winter Stewardship
Details will be sent in future e-mails. If you want to work on your own on any of these, let us know.
Date | Activity | Location |
May - June | park entrance and trail work | Bidwell Sanctuary |
May - June | Black Locust removal | Croissant Sanctuary |
May - June | entrance and trail work, prairie restoration | Loznak Sanctuary |
May - June | invasive weed removal | Dead End Woods Sanctuary |
Clyde Historical Society
The Clyde Historical Society meets on the third Thursday of each month. The next meeting is May
16 at 6:30 pm at the Ruby Lions Club Hall located at 4535 Brott Road in Ruby. Before the meeting,
the public is invited to join them for pulled pork sandwiches at 6:00 pm. The Clyde Historical Society
promotes history education and preservation in Clyde Township. Old maps and other historical items
are always on display at the old hall.
On May 19, the Clyde Historical Society will hold their annual Veterans Picnic from 1 to 3 pm at the
historic Clyde Township Hall.
For more information, see the Clyde Historical Society Facebook page at:
Clyde Historical Society Facebook page
Ecology News
The Ecology News section has been shortened yet again. There is so much news these days and we
plan to link to several news sites through our updated web site in the near future.
Three significant news items appeared in the past few months that are very pertinent to our region,
and all three concern forest. About 95% of the Thumb was originally forested. Today, only about 10%
of that forest remains, mostly as small degraded fragments which are not sustainable over the longterm.
These patches contain the last vestiges of the majority of our native woodland flora, an
irreplaceable natural heritage. Many of us have long known that forests are also important to
migratory birds and to cooling or moderating our climate, among many other ecosystem services. But
until recently, we couldn't claim to quantify how significant these functions are. Thanks to advances in
technology and recent studies, now we have a much better idea. Taken seriously, these three news
items should have broad implications for protecting all forest in our region, and across the world.
Knowable Magazine Article Link
This article features the critical work of Dr. Brian Palik of the United States Forest Service, Northern
Research Station in Minnesota. Among other projects, Brian Palik has worked with the US Forest
Service for several years to research the effectiveness of moving southern tree species north in order
to replace northern trees that are no longer compatible with the warming climate, and also to replace
ash trees decimated by the Emerald Ash Borer. Unlike a few centuries ago, most plant species are no
longer able to move north or south in response to a warming or cooling climate due to human-made
barriers such as farm fields and development. Even if forest vegetation was free to move, it doesn't
happen within a few decades, but over the course of centuries. Brian's work on this issue is critical if
public and private forest managers hope to maintain sustainable timber harvests.
Dr. Brian Palik, US Forest Service, Northern Research Station
Brian is a TLC member, originally from Ithaca, Michigan. He earned his graduate degrees in botany
and forestry from Michigan State University and taught there in the 1980s. Brian was a huge influence
on TLC Executive Director Bill Collins during his time at MSU, introducing him to the latest findings in
forest ecology, and through his research, opening his eyes to the very real devastation of forest
reduction and fragmentation across our landscape. Brian's interest in plants began in his parents'
garden and with his father's love of trees. From there, it grew into a thorough knowledge of forest
ecology and a vision to transform logging practices on both public and private lands to be far more
ecologically sensitive to native forest communities.
As part of his research, Brian has been tracking southern trees planted in the Cutfoot Experimental
Forest in northern Minnesota. Four of the planted species are native to the region but were collected
from several hundred miles south, including Eastern White Pine, Northern Red Oak, Bur Oak, and
Red Maple. Four other species are not common or are native to regions well south, and include White
Oak, Bitternut Hickory, Black Cherry, and Ponderosa Pine. Brian says that two decades ago, these
southern tree seedlings likely would have struggled, but now they are flourishing. The survival rate for
seven species has been 85 to 90%. Brian says that the climate typical of southern Minnesota 20
years ago is now in northern Minnesota, having moved about 200 miles north in just two decades.
Brian's work is backed up by many studies and experts, including Lee E. Frelich, a forest ecologist
with the University of Minnesota Center for Forest Ecology. Frelich says that forests die fast and grow
slowly; and don't we know that's true since the Emerald Ash Borer hit Michigan. As climate change
continues, some forests could vanish, replaced by encroaching grasslands and brushy vegetation. He
says, Your only option in that case is to bring in new species or live with whatever nature does".
The focus of Brian Palik's work with the US Forest Service for about 25 years has been to adapt
forests to an uncertain climate future, and to develop methods of ecological forestry based on natural
disturbance patterns that sustain native habitats, native species diversity, and natural ecological
functions. In 2020, Brian and co-authors Anthony W. D'Amato, Jerry F. Franklin, and K. Norman
Johnson, published Ecological Silviculture: Foundations and Applications, a large and comprehensive
book presenting silvicultural methods that emulate natural processes, sustain biological legacies, and
allow time to take its course in shaping forest stands. These methods, dubbed ecological forestry,
have been successfully implemented by foresters for decades managing a wide variety of forestlands.
In 2023, Brian and co-author Anthony W. D'Amato, published Ecological Silvicultural Systems:
Exemplary Models for Sustainable Forest Management. Unlike most timber models based on
production agricultural methods, ecological silvicultural strategies protect threatened and rare
species, sustain biological diversity, and provide habitat for game and non-game species, all while
providing timber in profitable ways.
Like many others, Brian Palik believes it is imperative that we work to maintain useful woodlands. He
says, The forests at the end of the century are not going to be your grandfathers forests. But theyre
going to be the forest your grandchildren inherit. There is something of both dread and daring
optimism in this statement, characteristic of Brian. For more information about Brian Palik and his
work, see the following link:
Dr. Brian Palik Article Link
Princeton Research Reveals The Secret Sites Where Americas Migrating
Songbirds Stop To Rest And Refuel
Songbirds Article Link
New Map of Stopover Hotspots Provides Insights for Conservation of Eastern
U.S. Migratory Landbirds
Songbird StopOver Hotspot Article Link
One reason protection of small woodland patches has not been taken very seriously is because they lack large areas of interior forest habitat suitable for breeding populations of many forest birds. Small fragments allow intrusions of field and edge species like Brown-headed Cowbirds that parasitize and out-compete forest birds such as the Wood Thrush. However, it seems there has been little accounting for the importance of small woodlands as temporary stop-over sites for birds during both spring and fall migrations. Some of us who have paid attention to birds basically knew this already, except that we couldn't have made definite claims about the scale. Well, now we can. Advances in weather radar technology have made broad-scale studies like this possible. Based on this latest research, the importance of all of our remaining forest patches for migratory birds across eastern North America, and by common sense extrapolation, across the world, has indeed been confirmed.
In summary, broadleaf deciduous forests, and particularly those small fragments surrounded by vast swaths of farm land in the Midwest, are critical to supporting bird migrations. The study showed that at finer scales, there are high concentrations of birds in pockets of broadleaf forests remaining in areas that have been largely deforested to grow crops. That's the Thumb region, southern Michigan in general, and much of the Midwest. Lead researcher and author, Fengyi Guo of the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Princeton University, says, "Small pockets of deciduous forest are often neglected in conservation planning because birds have low breeding success in these spaces. But the entire population moves across the continent twice annually. Many of them depend on food and shelter in these forest pockets to complete their migration.
![Forest Fragments](images/ForestFragmentsImage.jpg)
The Thumb and vicinity. The dark green patches are remaining forest fragments. Not much left.
Google Earth: Earth.Google.com. 2013 imagery.
In prioritizing natural area protection, many organizations have routinely dismissed small forest fragments, woodlands, woodlots, woods, tracts, or whatever you want to call them, due to their small size, high degree of fragmentation, high content of edge habitat, low content of interior habitat, higher intrusions of edge species, higher intrusions of invasive species, and other negative characteristics. Yet, at the same time, these small woodlands are that much more important to protect because they remain, with at least some native species content, often in areas where there is little other forest. This research also shows that despite the small size of many woodlands, their location along migratory routes also determines their significance for birds. While it is necessary to target protection efforts, perhaps the value of small forest fragments needs to be reconsidered in light of the latest findings on migratory birds.
With many migratory bird populations in steady decline across North America, and much of the world, we can now confirm that all of the little pieces are important for protecting the whole, especially for birds. As the authors of this study suggest, a network of protected forested land distributed across the eastern US is key to maintaining healthy populations of migratory land birds. They urge the protection of broadleaf forests, especially those remaining in the agriculturally dominated Midwest. They also say that locally based conservation efforts will be key to protecting bird species along their migratory journeys. Sound familiar? Think globally, or at least continentally, and act locally. You can have an impact on your own land by protecting, restoring, and planting forest.
Very Cool: Trees Stalling Effects Of Global Heating In Eastern US, Study Finds
Very Cool Article Link
Deforestation of eastern North America began with early European colonization and peaked through the late 1800s and early 1900s. While excessive logging was one thing, total clearing and cultivation of the ground for agriculture was quite another. Though largely necessary to feed a rapidly growing population, huge areas of forest were cleared from the early to mid 1800s in the northeast for wool production. By 1850, it is estimated that as little as 25% of New England was forested. Looking at aerial photographs of southern Michigan dating even into the late 1930s through the 1950s, all of the blank land gives a very dismal impression. With advancements in agricultural production, marginal farm land was increasingly fallowed by the 1960s. By the early 1990s, new tree cover was wellestablished on many of these fallow areas, but unfortunately, at the same time, development was rapidly expanding outward across the countryside and eliminating much of the gain in forest cover in southern Michigan.
But returning to the early 1900s, this was a time when large-scale reforestation efforts began, most of it supported by federal agencies like the United States Department of Agriculture, US Forest Service, Civilian Conservation Corps, and various state agencies and volunteer organizations. One of the earliest was the Nebraska Board of Agriculture, which, at the urging of Secretary of the Nebraska Territory, Julius Morton, began promoting tree planting in 1872 to counter wind erosion of the prairie, which was increasingly farmed by settlers, leading to the "Dust Bowl" of the 1930s. This was the beginning of American Arbor Day, now celebrated on April 26, which just happens to be when this TLC article is being written. By the way, Julius Morton was a Michigander with an interesting history, and his son, Joy Morton, founded the Morton Salt Company which had a plant in Marysville, Michigan for many years.
Climate scientists have long noticed an anomalous lack of warming in the eastern United States, especially in the southeast. This has raised questions about the potential cooling effect of reforestation, particularly in the southeast where extensive reforestation occurred over the past 50 years. Researchers, led by Indiana University and featured in The Guardian article, have concluded that since the early days of these large-scale tree planting efforts, dating back about a century, reforestation has had a cooling effect on the eastern United States and accounts for a lack of regional warming in the 20th century. This is in contrast to warming trends across the rest of North America during the same period. The study shows that forests across much of the eastern United States substantially reduce surface and near-surface temperatures. Most of the local cooling occurs within about a quarter-mile of the forest, but overall, the researchers found that restored forests cooled the eastern United States by 1.8F to 3.6F per year, with the strongest effects on the hottest summer days when temperatures were lowered from 3.6F to 9F. It should be noted that this cooling occurs primarily in summer and that the data evaluated does not account for the last 14 years. Unfortunately, the Thumb region is just north of the cooling zone, where we have experienced a slight increase in temperatures.
The researchers concluded that reforestation contributed to the historically slow pace of warming in the eastern US, reinforcing what many have reasoned for a long time; that trees and forests cool or moderate temperatures. But like the research about migratory bird stop-over sites featured above, we have been unable to quantify the scale of that cooling until now. Based on this research, reforestation in temperate zones like the eastern US, could provide a complementary set of benefits. Forests mitigate climate warming by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, but they also cool surface and air temperatures over large areas.
For details of this study, see the following link:
A Century of Reforestation Reduced Anthropogenic Warming in the Eastern United States
Reduced Antrhopogenic Warming Article
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search to a charitable cause of your choice. The web site is a little confusing because it is part of
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the following:
- Go to GoodSearch.com
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