stewardship talk

Stewardship Talk TONIGHT: The Poweshiek Skipperling Butterfly

/ Ben VanderWeide / 6 Comments

For our first Stewardship Talk of 2020 we are excited to host Dr. Pete Blank from The Nature Conservancy for his talk, “The Poweshiek Skipperling Butterfly: The Life and Times of Michigan’s Most Endangered Species.” The talk is free and will be TONIGHT, January 30, 2020 at 6:30 pm at the Paint Creek Cider Mill, 4480 Orion Road, Rochester, MI 48306.

The Poweshiek Skipperling butterfly was once common in the Upper Midwest in tallgrass prairies and prairie wetlands. Over the last 20 years its population has crashed and the species is now endangered in North America and critically imperiled in Michigan. One of its last strongholds is Oakland County, Michigan. Dr. Blank will discuss the current population status of the Poweshiek Skipperling, its life history, and efforts to bring it back from the brink of extinction.

Poweshiek Skipperling butterfly on black-eyed susan

PoweshiekSkipperling_Presentation2020_Flyer

Hope to see you there!

Stewardship Talk this Thursday: Monarch Butterfly Ecology and Conservation

/ Ben VanderWeide / Leave a comment

For our second Stewardship Talk of 2019 we are excited to host Dr. Nate Haan from Michigan State University for his talk, “Monarch Butterfly Ecology and Conservation.” The talk is free and will be this Thursday, February 7, 2019 at 6:30 pm at the Paint Creek Cider Mill, 4480 Orion Road, Rochester, MI 48306. Dr. Haan will share about monarch butterfly natural history and ecology, as well as some of the current research on their decline and what we can do to save them.

Monarch butterfly resting on a black-eyed susan.

Monarch butterflies are one of the most interesting and recognizable insects in the world. Every year they migrate thousands of miles, from our backyards in Michigan to mountains in central Mexico. They also have fascinating interactions with their toxic milkweed host plants. Unfortunately, monarchs have declined in recent decades and the overwintering population in Mexico is only around 20% of its former size.

The head of this monarch caterpillar is at the bottom as it nibbles buds of butterfly milkweed.

Hope to see you there!

Don’t miss it tonight! Botanist’s Perspective on Public Lands in Southern Michigan

/ Ben VanderWeide / Leave a comment

TONIGHT, February 9  at 6:30 pm we are excited to host botanist and ecologist Jesse Lincoln for our next Stewardship Talk. While documenting natural communities for Michigan Natural Features Inventory, Jesse has walked rarely seen corners of public land in southern Michigan. Join us to learn about his discoveries, and threats to public land. Don’t miss this great opportunity to learn about our Michigan natural heritage!

Presentations starts at 6:30 pm at the Paint Creek Cider Mill, 4480 Orion Rd, Rochester, MI 48306. Hope to see you there!protectpublicland_presentation2017_flyer