March 2023

Help! We have already hired our summer intern! Can you help us find her a place to stay for the summer (the 1st week of June through mid-August)? Please contact Nate at stuartbheron1@hotmail.com or 260-316-2498. Thanks!

View from the Crew by Matt Neff

Jared works to free his brush cutter, while Mike kindly holds it, preventing the blade from bending. How many guys does it take to free a brush cutter?

After planting a small prairie on my family’s property, I took a walk through their woods to find a small sedge patch, which I had yet to take note of, until this month.

One of the many beautiful scenes that come out of a prescribed burn. What a great way to end the work day.

Large smoke clouds created on this burn drew the attention of many of those traveling by.

Jared apparently still thinks he lives in Wyoming. On this day, Jared was preparing basal oil to be sprayed at Cedar Swamp.

This is Gracie and a shed I found at one of our controlled burns. While she was interested in it, she never gave it more than a quick sniff before laying back down.

With permission from Tina Flanigan (in green), Division of Nature Preserves, the Blue Crew was felling a few undesirable trees to create a path through the woods, to one of our current work sites at DNP’s Pisgah Marsh Nature Preserve. We wouldn’t want to make another dent in our work trucks!

Jared sharpening his chainsaw before tackling the large tree on the ground, where our fire lane needed to be.

Nate leading us in a presentation about the history of the Northeastern Indiana landscape. Oh, and this was also the start of a new tradition at Blue Heron…. “Fun Friday”!

Upcoming Events

Wildflower Hike at La TierraSunday, April 23rd at 1PMApril is the beginning of new spring growth and early spring flowers.  If you would like a guided spring wildflower hike, come join Blue Heron Ministries for an early spring walk in the woods. We will meet at the Presbyterian Chapel of the Lakes, 2955 W. Orland Rd., Angola IN, at 1 PM and carpool over to our La Tierra Nature Preserve near Clear Lake, Indiana.  On the hike, we will point out and identify as many of our areas spring ephemeral wildflowers as are evident.  If you have any questions about the event, please contact John Brittenham at johnbrittenham@gmail.com.If you prefer to meet us at La Tierra at 1:45 PM, the directions are as follows: From Fremont, travel east on SR 120. Turn right on Cope Rd/1000 E, (depending on your navigator) which is also the IN/MI state line. La Tierra is approximately 1/2 mile south on the west side of the road. A map is available here.

Butterfly Monitor Training Thursday, April 27th 6-9pm and Saturday, June 3rd 1-4 pm

Do you enjoy butterflies?  Are you interested in being part of efforts to assess the current state of butterfly populations in your area?  Then we would love your help! A team from Blue Heron Ministries, in partnership with LaGrange County Parks and Recreation and the Michigan Butterfly Network, will be kicking off our ninth annual butterfly monitoring program at Maple Wood Nature Center, on Thursday, April 27th from 6-9pm.  Come learn how to identify butterflies in our area and learn how this information is being used as part of a nationwide citizen science butterfly monitoring program. Participants will be taught how to conduct butterfly surveys according to a national protocol and how to contribute this data to a national database.  Snacks will be provided for the event.  A second field training day will be held on Saturday, June 3rd from 1-4 pm at Pine Knob Park.  A $5 registration fee is required. Send registration fee and contact information to Blue Heron Ministries, Attn: John, 2955 W. Orland Rd., Angola, IN 46703.  For more information, contact John Brittenham at johnbrittenham@gmail.com.Mark your calendars now and join us for this great opportunity!