August 2024

Blue Wonder Amidst Blue Heron Work By Fred Wooley This year, 2024, I am conducting a bird survey at Pine Knob County Park just east of Howe, Indiana. LaGrange County Parks has several nice properties with well-maintained facilities and outstanding natural areas.Pine Knob is the most northern park and truly a gem. Its origin is that of a conservation club by the same name. It was the melding of two conservation clubs in the 1940s, the first with roots back to the 1930s. Membership in the Pine Knob Conservation club waned in the early 2000s and in 2004 there was a vote of the remaining 77 members to gift the property including woodlands, marsh, and the glacial kettle hole Meteer Lake to LaGrange County Parks.The property now totals 254 acres. Post conservation club, county parks acquisitions in recent years added 229 acres including Duff Lake, surrounding wetlands, and agricultural fields used primarily for grazing livestock. Once acquired, a massive restoration effort began, work spearheaded by Blue Heron Ministries.

Duff Lake in the distance of Mike Metz Fen. July 2024

Drainage ditches were removed, restructured and rerouted, resulting in the re-establishment of over 200 acres of wetland fen. The Duff Lake Fen has become a model of wetland restoration returning much of the land to a very high-quality fen. Fen components, flora and fauna, were already present in small, protected areas. With several years of restoration those remnant areas and populations have expanded to create over 200 acres of this habitat type that was once more common in the “lakes region” of northeast Indiana. The fen is now named the Mike Metz Fen honoring the stellar career of the recently retired LaGrange County Parks Director. Metz led the multiyear effort to acquire fen and field parcels from willing and very supportive neighbors and landowners and then shepherded the extensive efforts of restoration.

Boardwalk through Mike Metz Fen at Pine Knob County Park in mid-July 2024.

Following restoration came low impact recreation and accessibility for park visitors to discover, explore, study, and appreciate this unique environment. A state-of-the-art boardwalk, replete with observation decks, benches, wheelchair pull-offs, and a mid-trail comfort station allow full participation and exploration.I have both worked at the site and been a visitor and I am pleased that I’ve never been alone. I’ve always encountered other hikers, birders, and plant enthusiasts. It is truly a destination for those who share this love and enjoyment of nature.The survey we are doing is to determine the presence of birdlife. The area always presented habitat for some common species and the expectation now is that with much expanded and improved environments, avian species might also respond favorably.During restoration work, we were often treated to species special to quiet lakes and wetlands – waterfowl and shorebirds on spring and fall migrations. Perched bald eagles and hovering ospreys looking down for a fish meal. Harriers, sometimes called marsh hawks, swooping over wet meadows searching for food on which to drop. Sedge wrens and dickcissels perched on plant stalks, singing with great enthusiasm.The survey consists of regular visits twice a month from March to November. We will capture both migration periods and the breeding season in between. Each visit we do the nearly two-mile board walk and record about 20-25 species. Some are present every visit; some have only been recorded once or twice. Most have not been surprises. The eagle and osprey are just one-timers so far.

Male Blue grosbeak, on prairie dock stalk in yellow coneflowers at Duff Lake Fen –  July 16, 2024

On a late July visit, the walk nearly completed, a bold, deep blue bird swaying on a tall prairie dock caught my eye. My first instinct was indigo bunting – same deep, royal blue. But the size! No way. It was so much bigger. It was a blue grosbeak.I have only seen this species in southern Indiana. Occurrences up north are rare. The 2005-2011 Breeding Bird Atlas Survey conducted by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources shows the distribution of the species. There were no confirmed nesting blue grosbeaks in northeast Indiana.

Blue grosbeak, nesting in priority blocks, distribution from Indiana breeding bird surveys, 1985-1990 and 2005-2011. IDNR. John Castrale. 2023

There may be now. I observed this brilliant blue adult male and a first-year male. They seemed quite at home at the Mike Metz Fen. I enjoyed them for some time that late July morning and Joshua Hall, another Blue Heron Ministries employee, reached out to me that same week, having just observed the bird while there working.This wonder of a unique habitat will provide homes for many wonders of the plant and animal world. Welcome blue grosbeak.

Blue grosbeak, male, at Duff Lake Fen.  July 16, 2024

-*- This article appeared in part in the KPC Newspapers, August 1, 2024.

View from the Crew by Colton White

The crew did some native plug planting on Clear Lake. This photo shows a portion of the landscape prior to laying leaf mulch and planting the plugs – June 14th

Here is what the final product looks like! In about a year or two the plants will fill in many of the gaps between them and provide the owner with some lovely native vegetation. June 14th

The crew put together a new storage rack for the chemical room today. The two units together are 96 inches wide in a room with 98 inches of width to work with. It was a tight squeeze to make it work, but it looks very clean with minimal gaps on either side. July 10th

Part of the crew sprayed for Purple loosestrife on the Pigeon River starting in Mongo and heading toward Ontario. Purple loosestrife was mostly present on the open marshy shorelines and tends to crowd out native species when left uncontrolled. July 11th

We celebrated all of Freya’s hard work with the crew today at Scoops. Everyone on the team is grateful for all she brought to the crew and wish her many blessings as she heads off. Personally, Freya helped me identify nearly every plant that I did not know out in the field, and she helped me understand the purpose behind each project I worked on. Thank you again Freya for all your kindness and knowledge you shared with the crew! July 19th

Here’s an action shot of the crew transecting a site for cattails up in Marshall, Michigan. We were spot spraying for cattails to keep the site ready for a new seed mix in the coming future. July 31st

Matt, Josh, and I cleared up the trails at La Tierra Sanctuary with some chainsaws and a brush mower this morning. August 6th

After we finished trail clearing this morning, we went to a wetland attached to Lake James and backpack sprayed for Purple loosestrife. Bonus points if you can find Matt and Josh in this photo! August 6th

My professor from Taylor University, Prof. Reber, joined us today as we hand wicked cattails at Camp Friedenswald in Michigan. We were able to cover an area in one day that originally took three days upon its first treatment. Managing a site on an annual basis, even after the initial treatment, will prevent invasives from becoming a major hassle. August 9th

Today was Eva’s first day with Blue Heron Ministries and she hit the ground running with some hand wicking of cattails up in Marshall, Michigan! Welcome to the crew Eva! August 12th

Here we are at Scoops for my internship’s final day with the Blue Crew. This was an experience that I am beyond grateful for. Thank you for all the hands on experience with your equipment and for explaining the goals and purpose behind your projects! I love how you start every day centered on Christ and work for His glory! August 16th

Many Blessings, “The Intern”

Upcoming Events

Native Wildflower Plug Weeding Day Thursday, September 12th at 10amIt’s time to weed the wild flower plugs again!  John Brittenham is looking for a few volunteers to weed the native wildflower plugs that will be planted later this year at Gene Stratton Porter State Historic Site.  The current plan is to meet at the Blue Heron Ministries shop on September 12th at 10 am.  If you are interested and able to come, please contact John at johnbrittenham@gmail.com.  Also, if you would like to help out, but can’t make it to the Sept. 12th time slot, let John know and there is a potential to find another day.Meet at the Blue Heron Ministries garage, just across the road (to the west) from the Presbyterian Chapel of the Lakes.  2955 W Orland Rd, Angola, IN 46703

September Seed Collection September 21st from 12-4PM

October Seed Collections October 5th, 12th, 19th, and 26th from 12-4PM It’s time for our fall native prairie seed harvests! You’ll have the opportunity to learn about native plants and the protected spaces they inhabit. Help us further our mission by collecting seeds from our native plants, that will then be used in our future projects. We’ll meet at the Presbyterian Chapel of the Lakes (2955 W. Orland Rd. Angola, IN 46703) at noon and caravan to the site(s). We have all the tools and supplies. Families and children are welcome!