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Birding with City Ornithologist Dea Armstrong

Birding in Gallup Park with 45 of our closest friends

Last Friday night we took a bird walk through Gallup Park and Furstenberg Park with city Ornithologist Dea Armstrong. After a quick lesson on the proper use of binoculars, we spent two hours exploring the diverse bird population in two of our  city parks.  On our adventure we saw  Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Mallard, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk, Mourning Dove, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Warbling Vireo, Blue Jay, American Crow, Barn Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Black-capped Chickadee, American Robin, Gray Catbird, European Starling, Yellow Warbler, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Baltimore Oriole, House Finch, American Goldfinch and House Sparrow for a total of 29 different species. The early and unusual abundance of leaves on the trees made bird watching more challenging and more rewarding.

There are two more bird walks coming up  and we encourage everyone to take advantage of Dea’s 20 plus years of experience and enthusiasm.

Bird Walk
June 2, Saturday
Wheeler Service Center
7:30 am to 9:30 am
Free and fun for all ages. Join City Ornithologist Dea Armstrong as she leads a walk to look for early summer birds at the old landfill site – a great birdwatching spot! Please come prepared to walk in fields with tall grasses.  Bring binoculars if you have them, but they are not necessary. Meet in the small parking lot on the right off the main entrance to the Material Recovery Facility off of Platt Rd. just south of Ellsworth.

Bird Walk
June 9, Saturday
Gallup Park
7:30 am to 9:30 am
Free for all ages and family-friendly! Join City Ornithologist Dea Armstrong as she leads a walk to look for birds in the morning in Gallup Park and Furstenberg Nature Area. Bring binoculars if you have them, but they are not necessary. Meet at the paddleboat dock in Gallup near the canoe livery.

Meet the Photographers Wednesday May 2 at 5 p.m.

Sweetwaters Coffee and Tea located at the corner of Washington & Ashley in  Ann Arbor

Please join us as we officially open the photo exhibit  featuring the work of community calendar photographers Marc Akeman, Ted Nelson and Keith Matz. Don’t miss this opportunity to meet the photographers at the opening reception courtesy of our host Lisa Bee, proprietor of Sweetwaters.  The exhibit is an opportunity to view the photography in a gallery like setting and see the work that was not included in the calendar. Over thirty photos that highlight the beauty and wonder of the Huron River and the surrounding watershed will  be on exhibit  until May 31.

Photographers Ted, Keith and Marc hanging their show.

Huron River Runs

Most of us know a river runs through our backyards, but not everybody. We thought an art exhibit would raise everyone’s awareness that the Huron River runs through their town and that we all live in a watershed. To that end the Huron River Watershed Council (HRWC) announces the opening of a photo art exhibit “HURON RIVER RUNS” on Wednesday, May 2 at 5pm. The exhibit features the work of HRWC watershed community calendar photographers, Ted Nelson, Keith Matz and Marc Akemann. Over thirty photos that highlight the beauty and wonder of the Huron River will  be displayed at Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea until May 31.            The popularity of HRWC’s watershed community calendar and Ann Arbor resident’s affection for the work of these photographers cannot be denied. This exhibit is an opportunity to view their photography in a gallery like setting and see the work that was not included in the calendar.

There will be an opening reception on Weds May 2 starting at 5pm with the photographers and HRWC staff. The public is invited to come see the work and have a glass of ice tea on Sweetwaters Coffe & Tea. (photo by Keith Matz)

Pick your best fly and use it till you lose it.

HURON RIVER Single Fly Tournament

Sign up today for the 2nd Annual Single Fly Tournament! Everyone has a chance to win prizes.   It’s easy. The angler with the most fish caught on ONE FLY wins! Prizes include fly rods, reels, gear. gift certificates and more. All skill levels are welcome. Come join other water conservationists who love fly fishing and protecting the Huron River, the cleanest river in Southeast Michigan.

All proceeds benefit the Huron River Watershed Council’s River Up! project.

Friday June 15, 2012 at 5:30pm

Pre-Party and Silent Auction at Jolly Pumpkin – 311 S Main St Ann Arbor

Saturday June16, 2012 at 10am

Single Fly Tournament

Registration is limited and ends on June 13, 2012

Register Online for Pre-Party and or Tournament opens at 12 noon on April 18, 2012

Sponsored by: Schultz Outfitters, Ann Arbor Trout Unlimited and Jolly Pumpkin

Great First Field Trip for a New Birder!

Meet Dea Armstrong at the far end of the Park-n-Ride lot at Plymouth Road and US 23 at 9:00 AM on  Sunday March 11, for this tour of local waterfowl hotspots.

This field trip begins at 9 AM and  ends around 1 PM. Please dress for the weather, assuming that it will feel much colder by the rivers and lakes that we will be visiting. Bring a drink and snack if you think you might need one.

PLEASE ALSO NOTE: Sometimes local lakes are still frozen on March 11. If that is the case this year, we’ll put out a notice on birders@umich.edu, on this blog,  and on the Washtenaw Audubon field trip webpage, and we’ll move the trip to the following Sunday. Finally, bring binoculars and a spotting scope if you have them, but these are not required.

http://washtenawaudubon.org/fieldtrips.php for a link to the map of meeting site.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS WILL BE THE FIRST SUNDAY OF DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME, SO DO NOT FORGET TO SET YOUR CLOCKS AHEAD THE NIGHT BEFORE!!

A Room with a View

This was my view of the river this morning. I feel fortunate to have a beautiful view of the Huron every day from my office window. As HRWC staff members meet deadlines to write grant proposals or crunch monitoring results, all we need do is look up from our computer screens and gaze out to be reminded of why we work as hard as we do.  The Huron river is a source of of solace for those who seek it’s beauty and wonder, simply for what it is. I am inspired to ask you in this season of giving to consider making a year end gift to HRWC. Only through your support can we remain the  local environmental leader you depend on for river protection in our watershed.  Donate Now

Who knew the river wrapped up so nicely?

Shop online with HRWC and help save the planet.  Make a difference and surprise your friends with a unique gift that gives back this holiday season. Shop now, without leaving  your house, and we will take care of the rest. Gift memberships must be received by December 22, 2011. By giving the gift of the river you help protect the river today, and preserve it for future generations. You are giving a gift that gives back to your community! Your contribution supports critical program work at HRWC, and it tells your friends that you care about clean water in our watershed. One of the greatest joys of this season is the opportunity to say THANK YOU for supporting the Huron River Watershed Council and to wish you the very best for the New Year.

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$40 Holiday Gift includes:

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· Twelve month HRWC membership

· Arbor Teas Holiday Blend- sustainable organic tea in backyard compostable packaging

· Our beautiful and popular 2012 Community Calendar

· One year subscription to the Huron River Report

Shop here now

What we can’t do alone–we can accomplish when others join with us.

There were many stretches of the river cleaned up on Sunday October 9th including areas around Proud Lake State Park, Mast Road,  Tubbs Road, Hudson Mills to Dexter Huron Metropark,  Barton Dam to Argo Livery, and the lower stretch around Ypsilanti. Items of interest found included 9 bikes, a television, traffic barrels, trash cans, mylar balloons, foam insulation, tarps, bowling ball, basketball, soda and beer cans, plastic containers for fishing worms and a kitchen sink!

Thanks to our River Scouts volunteers who made it all possible! Graham Battersby, Eddie Brennan, Beth Bodiya,  Max Bromley, Chrissy Chesney, Paul Christensen, Margaret Counihar, Jerry Cyr, Jim Den Vyl, Meg Fairchild, Dirk Fischbach, Nick Gezon, Akhil Gutta, Jessica Chovanec, Joan Hellmann, Sean Hickey, Donald Jacobson, Alex Leader, Katherine Marston, Mark McDonald, Ashley Rose McLaury, Nicole Riebe, Kate Rogers, Mike Schultz, Harry Sheehan, Kim and Greg Stevens, Michael Toner, John Weiss, Aaron and Kandy Wiley, Jacob Whiten, Matt Worba, Korinne, Kane, Carson and Joe Wotell, Marianne Vu and Ann Arbor Trout Unlimited, Huron River Fly Fishing Club, Schultz Outfitters, Skip’s Huron River Canoe Livery, Huron Clinton Metroparks and REI for their support and a job well done.

If you wish to join our River Scouts for future river clean-ups send an email to jfrenzel@hrwc.org

Please set aside this day to help the river you love.

Collect trash, meet and greet, trade stories and information, and generally enjoy an early fall day together. HERE’S HOW IT WORKS…

Pick a section of the river you want to work on. Start whenever you like, work in a team or alone, with a canoe/boat or on foot (waders generally preferred) and some heavy duty trash bags and gloves.Bring your collected trash to Dexter Huron Metropark East Pavilion and, we’ve arranged for its disposal.

Huron River Watershed Council will be at the Dexter Huron Metropark East Pavilion, starting at 10 a.m.and will provide heavy duty plastic bags and 15 grabbers that are available on a first come first serve basis. Hot coffee and doughnuts will also be available. Please email  Margaret Smith at HRWC to register for the clean-up at msmith@hrwc.org
(Margaret’s cell phone for use on clean up day is 248-914-1713)

For more information click here

Sponsored by:

Huron River Watershed Council – REI – Ann Arbor Trout Unlimited

Huron River Fly Fishing Club – Schultz Outfitters

Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority

Thank You Whole Foods Shoppers!

Huron River Watershed Council (HRWC) participated in the Whole Foods “One  Dime at a Time” program this past spring and early summer at the Ann Arbor stores, and we are very grateful to all of you who donated.  HRWC in partnership with Whole Foods raised over $3000 — proof that folks in our watershed are mindful about all the many ways they can help protect our environment and our beautiful Huron River.  One dime at a time does add up , so if you gave us your dimes, and wondered if it would help, it really did! Thank you to all the shoppers and to our partners at Whole Foods.