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 Josh Hall

Josh frowns at all the bush honeysuckle he gets to cut and treat (with herbicide) at IDNR’s Pisgah Marsh Nature Preserve. 2/2/23

Breaking in the new crew to prescribed fire.  From left to right is Mike Censke, Jared Nichols, and Matt Neff. 2/13/23

John burning around an elevated board walk at Pisgah Marsh Nature Preserve. 2/20/23

Ice build-up on a tree at the BHM garage. 2/23/23

Ice coats and fog enshrouds a prairie in northwest Steuben County. 2/23/23

Upcoming Events

It’s Burn Season in Lakes Country! Saturday, March 24th 10AM – noonFrequently, in March and April (and almost every other month, but less commonly), you will see the columns of smoke from prescribed fires in our area. But, have you ever wondered what this is all about?  Why is it important to conduct prescribed fires?  What effect does this have on our area’s plants and animals?

If you are curious about learning what prescribed fire is and why we use it, come join Blue Heron Ministries for an informational presentation on prescribed fire.  We’ll meet from 10am to noon at the Presbyterian Chapel of the Lakes on Saturday, March 24th.  After the presentation, if the weather allows, we will travel to a nearby project to watch the Blue Heron Ministries burn crew conduct a prescribed fire. Please RSVP to John Brittenham at johnbrittenham@gmail.com by Friday, March 24th, if you are interested in attending.  Snacks will be provided.

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!