Though the Collins Learning Center will be closed on Independence Day, our trails (like always) will be open all day, every day, so on Thursday; holiday hikers may see red, white, and blue birds on each of our three Crossroads preserves.
Then, on July 5 at 5:30 p.m., as is our tradition, Crossroads will sponsor a free First Friday Event. This month, we will have a fire with s'mores at our Council Ring. Reservations are not needed to attend. Attendees can socialize, tell stories, and make s'mores.
On Thursday, July 11, at 5:30 p.m., as part of Crossroadsd's Resources for Landowner Series, Jason Barrack, one of Door County’s NRCS agents, will present "An Introduction to the Natural Resources Conservation Service.” NRCS helps private landowners improve the health of their operations while protecting natural resources for the future.
When Europeans first explored the Door Peninsula, they found a shore-to-shore northern coniferous forest similar to what we might now see in Canada. Early explorers and surveyors wrote about trees and soil in their journals. Still, they rarely, if ever, mentioned birds and wildflowers. So, we can only speculate whether we had red, white, and blue birds here then.
Though much maligned and arguably noisy birds, blue jays may be why we have deciduous trees in Door Coun. Many ecologists credit blue jays (which bury acorns and nuts) for planting our oak and beech trees. And until we had mature oak trees, it was unlikely that scarlet tanagers (my father insisted on calling th"m "black-winged redbi"ds") were nesting in the tree canopies.
Indigo buntings (which, in sunlight, really are as blue as the flag) nest in brushy areas. They apparently moved into this part of Wisconsin only after the forests were logged out and farms and rural development created the edge habitat they prefer.
According to Samuel Robbins' extraordinarily well-researched book Wisconsin Birdlife, northern cardinals did not reach Door County until the 1940s. They nest in low shrubs and trees in or near open areas (but move into residential areas in the winter to take advantage of bird feeding stations).
We've probably always had gulls, but our stunning white pelicans are recent arrivals to Door County, though they have been fairly common for the last decade.
We can't know what birds were here before 1776, but the climate has changed significantly since then. Knowing how to adapt to current and future conditions is an important part of restoration. So, we hope landowners, managers, and anyone interested in restoration will take advantage of the natural resource professionals presenting programs at Crossroads this summer.
Have a safe and happy holiday!
Thursday, July 4
The Collins Learning Center will be closed for the holiday. Trails are open.
Friday, July 5
5:30 pm First Friday smores and campfire.
Join us on the first Fridays of July for a fun, free, family-friendly outdoor event. We are hosting a campfire and smores at the Council Ring this month.
Monday, July 8
10:00 Summer Nature Program: Fantastic Flyers
Experience the mysteries of migration in our fields and woodlan s. Some creatures travel 10,000 miles or more to reach our preser e. This free program is for all ages. No pre-registration is needed. d. Meet at the Collins Learning Center. 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay.
Tuesday, July 9
10:00 Summer Nature Program: Finding Fossils
Discover how animals with shells became the fossils we find at Crossroa s. This free program is for all ages, and no pre-registration is needed. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay.
Wednesday, July 10
10:00 Summer Nature Program: Rocks and Caves
Discover the secrets of Door County geology just below our feet. This free program is for all ages. No pre-registration is needed. Meet at the Collins Learning Center. 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay.
