Archived News Release: January 6, 2021 - City of Ann Arbor Natural Area Preservation (NAP) works to protect and restore Ann Arbor's natural areas and to foster an environmental ethic among its citizens. This involves conducting plant and animal inventories, ecological monitoring, and stewardship projects in Ann Arbor's parks. These tasks are performed by both staff and volunteers. For more information about NAP, visit www.a2gov.org/NAP.
Below are events planned for February 2021. Natural Area Preservation is continuing to closely monitor recommendations from city and other health officials. As a result, the events listed are subject to change in order keep volunteers and the public safe. Should it be prudent to make changes to the event schedule, updates will be made to the NAP website and anyone who had registered for events will be notified. Please visit www.a2gov.org/NAPevents for the most up-to-date information.
Volunteer Stewardship Workdays at NAP have changed in response to COVID-19. To attend a workday, participants must preregister using Rec-1 at https://tinyurl.com/NAPWorkdays, and wear a mask over their mouth and nose while maintaining a 6-foot distance from others at all times during the event. Workday participants are also asked to please wear long pants, closed-toed shoes, and leather work gloves. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. Tools and know-how provided. Please register for each event by noon on the Friday prior to the weekend which it occurs. Direct links to each event in Rec-1 are provided below.
Saturday, Feb. 6, 1–3 p.m.
Furstenberg Nature Area
Sedge meadows are a unique type of wetland, accurately described, for the larger percentage of sedges present when compared to a wet meadow. Although similar in appearance to grasses, sedges have distinct differences — find out what they are as NAP works with volunteers to remove invasive plants from the sedge meadow at Furstenberg Nature Area! Preregistration through Rec1 at https://tinyurl.com/Furste020621 is required as space is limited. Meeting location will be provided after registration.
Tuesday, Feb. 9, 7:30-8:30 a.m.
Zoom Meeting
Are you interested in learning more about how to care for our natural areas? Then join the Stewardship Network's Huron Arbor Cluster for an informal discussion on a monthly topic with volunteer and professional land stewards, plus others interested in nature. Free! For more information, visit www.stewardshipnetwork.org. Join the virtual discussion via Zoom: https://tinyurl.com/SCZoom2021 or dial in at 888,788.0099 (toll free) or 877.853.5247 (toll free). Meeting ID: 921 6530 3767
This month's topic: Southeast Michigan Land Conservancy's Native Plant and Insect Garden.
Monday, Feb. 15, 1–3 p.m.
Leslie Park
Wetland habitats not only provide a home and food source to many plants and animals that live on land and in water, but they also improve water quality, control erosion and mitigate flooding. Join NAP to restore this valuable habitat by removing invasive shrubs at Leslie Park. Preregistration through Rec1 at https://tinyurl.com/Leslie021521 is required as space is limited. Meeting location will be provided after registration.
Wednesday, Feb. 17, 7:30-8:30 p.m.
Zoom Meeting
Fire is used as a restoration tool in many of Ann Arbor's natural areas. This meeting will be a discussion about the NAP Controlled Ecological Burn Program (http://www.a2gov.org/departments/Parks-Recreation/NAP/Pages/PrescribedEcologicalBurns.aspx). Ask questions and learn more about the benefits of effectively and safely using fire as a restoration tool. Join the Zoom meeting via: https://tinyurl.com/BurnMeeting021721. To join via telephone: +1.206.337.9723 or +1.213.338.8477 or 877.853.5247 (toll free) or 888 788 0099 (toll free). Webinar ID: 969 4023 8212
This meeting is being held electronically to protect public health and safety due to the COVID‐19 virus and to comply with orders issued by the governor, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, and/or the Washtenaw County Health Department. All persons are encouraged to participate in public meetings. Accommodations, including sign language interpreters, may be arranged by contacting the Ann Arbor City Clerk's office at 734.794.6140; via email to: [email protected]; or by written request addressed and mailed or delivered to: City Clerk's Office, 301 E. Huron St., Ann Arbor, MI 48104. Requests made with less than two business days' notice may not be able to be accommodated.
Thursday, Feb. 18, Noon–5 p.m.
Become a part of NAP's Volunteer Burn Crew (http://www.a2gov.org/departments/Parks-Recreation/NAP/volunteering/Pages/PrescribedBurnCrew.aspx)! This is the required training session for anyone interested in assisting with NAP's controlled burns (http://www.a2gov.org/departments/Parks-Recreation/NAP/Pages/PrescribedEcologicalBurns.aspx). Burns typically take place Monday through Friday between noon and 7 p.m. Registration is required by Feb. 17, as enrollment is limited. Call 734.794.6627 or email [email protected] to register or for more information. Some portion of training may be outdoors.
Sunday, Feb. 21, 1–3 p.m.
Foxfire South Nature Area
Foxfire South Nature Area is home to an uncommon butterfly called the Acadian hairstreak. This butterfly is light gray and dotted with orange spots on the hindwing. In warmer months, you might be able to spot this butterfly in the wetland near the stream in Foxfire South. Help NAP protect this butterfly habitat by removing invasive shrubs! Preregistration through Rec1 at https://tinyurl.com/Foxfir022121 is required as space is limited. Meeting location will be provided after registration.
Saturday, Feb. 27, 1–3 p.m.
Mary Beth Doyle Park
Help to honor the late environmental activist, Mary Beth Doyle, by removing invasive shrubs from prairie edges inside Mary Beth Doyle Park. One of the ways prairie ecosystems are lost is due to invasive shrubs establishing in a disturbed open area and spreading without natural predators and ecological controls. NAP needs help in removing these aggressive shrubs from the park to keep this prairie a prairie! Preregistration through Rec1 at https://tinyurl.com/MaryBe022721 is required as space is limited. Meeting location will be provided after registration.
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