Our summer-long Resources for Landowner Series continues on June 27 at 5:30 pm with a program presented by Lara Fondrow, Private Land Biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Then, starting on July 1, Crossroads at Big Creek will begin offering Summer Nature Programs on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays at 10:00 throughout the summer.
Our Summer Naturalist, Joan Wilkie, will offer interactive programs for all ages, and her first program will be “Gifts of the Glaciers.” In a very real way, the family program about glaciers and the lecture: “Introduction to US Fish and Wildlife Program” are related.
The most recent advance of the Ice Age glaciers did indeed give us the most valuable gift in the universe—an abundant supply of liquid fresh water. It also gave us gorgeous scenery, a moderated climate, and our precious peninsula.
But the way this is presented in most textbooks and on many sites on the Internet gives the impression that a glacier came and then melted, and consequently, we now have five beautiful lakes. Our glacial history is far more complicated than that, reaching back 200 million years.
Geologists know for sure that there were four major glacial advances, but based on sediment cores from ocean floors, they speculate that there were many glacial and interglacial periods in the past, and these all helped create the topography that determined the most recent glacial advance.
When and how the "the Great Thaw" began is not settled science (nor do geologists agree on how Lake Superior was formed), but we do know that the weight of the glacial ice was so great that the Earth’s crust was deformed.
We have evidence in post-glacial lake terraces that for the past ten thousand years or so, the land has been rising—rebounding. The ancient shorelines also indicate that Lake Michigan's shape, water volume, and depth have changed significantly several times. Although advancing ice may have carved out the lake basins or at least enlarged pre-existing valleys, the melting ice deposited sediment ranging from tiny grains of sand to boulders on the Door Peninsula.
So although the last glacial advance gave us the gifts of freshwater lakes and spectacular scenery, the retreating ice sheets left us with very little soil. Instead, they gave us wetlands, sand dunes, areas with heavy clay, and, in some places, odd hills called drumlins, which are unsorted piles of rocks of varying sizes. The Door Peninsula has acid and basic soils…. sometimes mere inches apart. And every property is different.
This means that restoration in Door County is not a “one-size-fits-all” endeavor for landowners.
And this is one of the reasons Crossroads is sponsoring the lecture series, which is free and open to the public. Our June 27 speaker has worked with numerous nonprofits, private landowners, and other organizations to help implement conservation goals. The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program provides free technical and financial assistance to qualifying landowners, managers, tribes, corporations, schools and nonprofits interested improving wildlife habitat.
Speaking of wildlife habitat, Crossroads has been conducting surveys of the bats on our preserves to help us evaluate our habitat quality. Last week’s Nighttime Bat Hike at the Ida Bay preserve was fun, educational, and successful, as participants observed bats in the open areas near the edge of the forests on the Woodlot and Orchard Loop Trails.
On Friday, June 28, at 8:30 pm, we again invite the community to Nighttime Bat Hike at the Crossroads Big Creek Preserve. The group will survey Creek Trail and The Cove Estuary. This program is free and open to the public, but space is limited. To reserve a spot, please visit the Crossroads at Big Creek website.
June 27
5:30 pm: Introduction to US Fish and Wildlife Partners Program and the Resources They Offer
Lara Fondow, of the US Fish and Wildlife Service has worked with numerous nonprofits, private landowners, and other organizations to help implement conservation goals. The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program provides free technical and financial assistance to qualifying landowners, managers, tribes, corporations, schools and nonprofits interested in improving wildlife habitat on their lands. This program is free and open to the public. Meet in the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads at Big Creek, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay. Reservations are not needed.
Friday, June 28
8:30 pm Nighttime Bat Hike
Grab your headlamps and walking sticks for a fun, casual, and educational guided hike through one of our trails. Explore Crossroads after dark while listening and looking for the bats that live on the property. The Hikes will last roughly 45 minutes to 1 hour and take place on the Creek Trail and the Cove Estuary. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan Sturgeon Bay. Space is limited so please visit the Crossroads website to reserve a spot.
Monday, July 1
10:00 Summer Nature Program: Glaciers
Ice Age glaciers provided Wisconsin with an amazing gift-our Great Lakes. We will explore how glacial ice has transformed our landscapes. This free program is for all ages! No pre-registration needed. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads at Big Creek, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay
Tuesday, July 2
10:00 Summer Nature Program: Insect Safari
Learn the secrets of insects as they transform from egg to adult. Hand lenses and collecting nets were provided. This free program is for all ages! No pre-registration needed. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads at Big Creek, 2041 Michigan. Sturgeon Bay
Wednesday, July 3
Summer Nature Program: Great Lakes Fisheries
Discover the wonders of our Lake Michigan fisheries. This free program is for all ages! No pre-registration needed. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads at Big Creek, 2041 Michigan. Sturgeon Bay
