Why is the eastern monarch butterfly disappearing? Michigan State University ecologists led an international research partnership of professional and volunteer scientists to reveal new insights into what’s driving the already-dwindling population of eastern monarch butterflies even lower. Understanding the monarch decline and doing what we can to reverse it is important not just for preserving biodiversity, but also because insects are prolific pollinators. Read more in MSU Today.

MSU Extension Conservation Connections August 2021

Conservation Stewards help protect and restore Michigan’s natural areas and ecosystems. They teach others about ecosystems and natural communities, help remove invasive species, build trails, collect data used in making management decisions, and work with naturalists, biologists, and land managers to preserve public land. The Conservation Stewards Program will help you gain the skills to lead or contribute to land stewardship efforts in your local area. The Conservation Stewards Program is a 10-week course consisting of virtual classes on Wednesday evenings. Participants will be offered self-guided field sessions with direction from local partners.

PROGRAM TOPICS

° Foundations of Conservation: Heritage, Ecology & Society and Conservation

° Terrestrial, Wetland, and Aquatic Ecosystems

° Natural Communities of Michigan

COURSE FEE

Early Bird Registration: $75 (deadline August 18)

Regular Registration: $95 (Aug. 19 — Sept 1)

Additional coursework is completed online.

For specific dates, times, and contact information, visit: canr.msu.edu/csp

#RecreateResponsibly to Protect Yourself, Others, and the Outdoors

Spending time in outdoor spaces has become more important than ever. And in uncer-tain times all of us, from seasoned outdoor enthusiasts, to families heading out to their local park for the first time, could use a little guidance about how to stay safe. The Rec-reate Responsibly guidelines offer a starting point for getting outside to keep yourself healthy and to maintain access to our beloved natural spaces. For more information, visit: https://www.recreateresponsibly.org/

Join Six Rivers and the Detroit Zoological Society

for a free evening bat hike this summer!

Don’t miss several free evening bat hikes this summer taking

place at several Six Rivers-affiliated properties. Participants will

use the Echo Meters with phones and iPads to monitor for bats.

Along the way, keep an eye and an ear out for owls, frogs, moths

and stars as hike leaders discuss how scientists monitor various

creatures of the night.

If the skies are clear, we will do some stargazing as well.

Parking is limited, so please call our office at 248-601-2816 or

email info@sixriversrlc.org to register. We will try to minimize

the use of flashlights to maintain our night vision, but you are

welcome to bring your own flashlight.

Nicholson Nature Center in Clinton Township

Friday, August 13, 2021

8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Anchor Bay Woods Preserve in New Baltimore

Friday, September 10, 2021

7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Note: If you would like the opportunity to try out one of the

Echo Meters with your own phone, download the Echo Meter

Touch Bat Detector, Recorder & Analyzer App before the event.

Arctic Grayling eggs have arrived in Michigan The Michigan Arctic Grayling Initiative is made up of more than 50 partners who are on a mission to restore self-sustaining populations of Arctic grayling within its historical range in Michigan. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources recently announced that the second-year class of eggs has arrived from Alaska. Find out more about their journey from Alaska to Michigan.

The full story of their journey is in this week's DNR News Digest - https://bit.ly/3wRvb46

(photos — Michigan Department of Natural Resources)

Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy Board of Directors

Full Moon Campfire LaFurge Woods Nature Preserve

Prospect Road, Superior Township Saturday, August 21, 8:30 pm – 11:00 pm

All are welcome to Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy’s first Full Moon Campfire of 2021 after hours at LeFurge Woods Nature Preserve for a relaxing family-friendly event.

The campfire will be lit at dusk. Participants are encouraged to arrive early to walk the trails, and are asked to bring friends, blankets, chairs, and campfire refreshments.

This is a no pet event. Donations to support the Conservancy are accepted and welcome.

For more information contact jmclaughlin@smlcland.org or call 734-484-6565.

Field Identification & Reporting of Invasive Species Workshop Field Botany 2021 Online August 4 - September 8

6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Get keyed into the life of plants and become familiarized with plant taxonomy and ecology. We will learn how to use a plant identification key (i.e., dichotomous key) to set you up for identifying the many plants that call Michigan home. The focus is to introduce folks to the plants that make up southwest Michigan forests, wetlands, prairies and lakes.

Topics covered include:

• Basic Botanical Terminology • Trees of Michigan's Forest • The History and Distribution of Michigan's Native Plant Communities • Wetland Plants of the Midwest • Prairies and Savannas of Michigan • Aquatic plants

Register online.

Cost:

$75.00 Non-member

$65.00 Member

Photo: W.K. Kellogg Biological Station

Learn how to identify and report invasive species with the Lake St. Clair CISMA, and the Clinton River Watershed Council. Discover how to use the free Midwest Invasive Species Information Network (MISIN) app to report invasive species. Follow up with a chat about southeast Michigan’s common native and invasive species, how to identify them, and how they affect our local waterways. Then join in a guided walk through the beautiful trails, while putting your ID skills to the test and using the MISIN app to report any invasive species encounters. Please note, wifi will not be available, so you may want to download the app prior to the workshop. It is a free application available on the Apple App Store and Android Google Play. Current CDC guidelines for COVID-19 will be followed, please prepare accordingly. We will also provide extra masks and hand sanitizer. To Register: Visit CRWC.ORG/events or click: http://bit.ly/Invasive_Registration The Lake St. Clair CISMA is funded by the Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program

Edited and compiled by: Bindu Bhakta, Extension Educator, Michigan State University Extension - Community, Food and Environment Institute - Bldg 26E, 1200 N Telegraph Rd, Pontiac, MI 48341 Tel: 248.858.5198 FAX: 248.858.1477 / Cathy Morris, Account Clerk, Clerical Support 248.858.1639 MSU is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, or veteran status.

August 19, 2021 10:00am-12:30pm Nicholson Nature Center Pavilion 21777 Dunham Road Clinton Township, MI 48036 Entrance is at the rear of the County Public Works building, northwest corner of the parking lot.