NaturE-mail from Ottawa County Parks

Ottawa County, Michigan sent this bulletin at 05/03/2018 12:35 PM EDT

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Connor Bayou

Visit the Ottawa County Parks - Program and Events Calendar for event details and registration.

Call the Nature Education Center for more information: 616-786-4847.

Announcements

Kids to Parks Day

May 19th is National Park Trust #KidsToParks Day! Get out with your family and enjoy a park near you. 

For more information go to: kidstoparks.org

Fundraiser T-shirts

The EcoLeaders, a student organization through the Natural Resources and Conservation program at the Careerline Tech Center, is selling t-shirts to help raise funds for a Book Nook at Hemlock Crossing! 

Whale you help them out?! 🐳♻️ A variety of sizes and colors are available.

Seagull shirt: https://goodink.com/seagull 

Whale shirt: https://goodink.com/whale

This Week's Programs & Events

Bloodroot

Wildflower Walk  

May 4, 9:30 AM- 11:00 AM at Grand River Park  

May 11, 9:30 AM- 11:00 AM at Rosy Mound

Woodland flowers, called spring ephemerals, bloom before the trees leaf out. Join a parks naturalist to look for these spring beauties in bloom. 

No registration required.
Golden Crowned Kinglet

Beginner Bird Walk 

May 5, 10:00 AM- 12:00 PM at Hemlock Crossing

Are you new to birding? Would you like to gain some basic skills to help you enjoy this wonderful pastime? 

This bird walk will introduce you to binocular use, bird identification and field guides and, of course, to the common birds in our parks! 

Binoculars and field guides provided. Recommended for adults and kids ages 10 and up. 

No registration required.
Kayakers

Pigeon River Kayak Trip 

May 5, 10:00 AM- 2:00 PM at Hemlock Crossing

Enjoy the sights and sounds of spring along the Pigeon River by kayak as you paddle the 3.5 mile stretch to Sheldon Landing. 

Return transportation is via carpool. Each trip includes a basic kayaking lesson. No experience is needed. 

Registration required.
Turkeys

Turkey Hunting in Ottawa County 

May 5, 3:00 PM- 4:30 PM at Hemlock Crossing

Learn about the conservation of the wild turkey and how it relates to Michigan's hunting heritage. Plus, more information about where to hunt in our parks and why it's crucial for our local ecosystems (we hope to debunk some myths as well!).

Presenter: Steve Sharp, NWTF (National Wildlife Turkey Federation). 

No registration required.
Wood Frog

Frog Call Chorus 

May 5, 8:30 PM- 9:30 PM at Hemlock Crossing 

May 11, 8:30 PM- 9:30 PM at Grand River Park

As night falls on wetlands in spring, experience the overwhelming sounds of the frog call chorus! We'll see how many different kinds we can find and try to watch them sing! 

This program is recommended for adults and children 8 and up. 

Registration required.
Grand Ravines Lodge

Open House at Grand Ravines Lodge 

May 6, 1:00 PM- 5:00 PM at Grand Ravines - North 

The Grand Ravines Lodge will be open to the public every Sunday in April and May. 

A nature walk will be offered most Sundays from 3:00 PM- 4:00 PM. Please check our online calendar for more details about those walks. 

No registration required.  
Bluebird

Birding Walk   

May 9, 8:00 AM- 10:00 AM at North Beach Park 

May 16, 8:00 AM- 10:00 AM at Grand Ravines - South

Whether you are an avid birder or are just desiring to experience birds beyond your backyard, join us and immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of spring bird migration. 

No registration required.
Native Plant Sale

Conservation District Native Plant Sale 

May 9, 2:00 PM- 6:00 PM at Hemlock Crossing

The Ottawa Conservation District is hosting our Annual Native Plant Sale at Ottawa County's Hemlock Crossing Nature Education Center.

Browse our 2018 Native Plant Catalog online to get an idea of the available species.

Fill out and submit an Order Form by Monday, April 30th, 2018 if you would like your order assembled and ready for pick up. 

Otherwise, extra plants will be available on the day of the sale while supplies last.

Upcoming Programs/Workshops

YWAR

Greenway Birding Blitz 

May 12, 7:00 AM- 4:00 PM at various locations 

Help celebrate International Migratory Bird Day and document birds along the Macatawa River Greenway. Join us at one or more of these locations!

7:00 - 9:00 am - Historic Ottawa Beach (West) & Holland State Park

10:00 - 11:30 am - Paw Paw (West)

12:00 - 1:30 pm - Paw Paw (East)

2:00 pm - 4:00 pm - Upper Macatawa Natural Area (84th Street) 

No registration required.
Garlic mustard

Volunteer Workday - Garlic Mustard Pull 

May 12, 10:00 AM- 12:00 PM at Historic Ottawa Beach - Black Lake Boardwalk - East 

May 12, 2:00 PM- 4:00 PM at Hemlock Crossing

Never volunteered for a stewardship workday before? No problem!

Here's what you should know:

Bring work gloves (preferably leather), insect repellent and appropriate outdoor gear.

All necessary tools, drinking water and snacks will be provided.

No preregistration is required.

All ages are welcome, however we do ask that those under 16 are supervised by an adult.

Work days are cancelled if raining (or snowing).

Check the workday schedule online.

No registration required, volunteers will be meeting at the picnic building

Do you have more questions? Contact Gray at parkvolunteers@miottawa.org or call (616) 738-4810.

Pesto

Pest to Pesto 

May 12, 4:00 PM- 5:00 PM at Hemlock Crossing 

Join us at the Nature Education Center and learn how to turn garlic mustard into a tasty pesto! 

No registration required.
Astronomy

Astronomy at the Nature Center - The Summer Sky

May 12, 8:00 PM- 9:30 PM at Hemlock Crossing

Summer is here and our view of the night sky has change. Tonight you will learn how to find the summer constellations and some of the tales behind them.

After the presentation, the Shoreline Amateur Astronomical Association will have telescopes available for observing the winter skies (weather permitting). 

No registration required.
Bald Eagle

Eagles of Grand Ravines Walk 

May 13, 1:00 PM- 5:00 PM at Grand Ravines - North 

Bald Eagles frequent areas along the Grand River and have nested at Grand Ravines for a number of years. Join us on this hike to learn the story of the park's resident eagles and view their nest.

In order to serve as many participants as possible, please sign up for only one of the dates this program is offered. Thank you!

Registration required.

*Walk includes steep terrain and possible muddy and wet conditions.