![]() ![]() Thanks to Laurie for allowing me to tag along, and to the Kent Land Trust interns Aiden, Ashley, and Brennan for sharing their expertise! Laurie is on the board of the Purple Martin Conservation Association, which has been an integral part of protecting these birds, by creating communal nesting sites, tracking the birds, and identifying the environmental toxins that are endangering them. I started my day Wednesday at the Marvelwood School, banding purple martins under the direction of Laurie Doss, the Marvelwood Science Department Chair and director of the Kent Land Trust. Click here.įor graphs and tables containing COVID data, including a list of cases in every municipality, visit ct.gov/coronavirus and click the link that is labeled, “Data Tracker.” Purple Martin Conservation Association.It’s hard to create good conflict on social media, but it’s easy to find in our small towns, where we take care of our neighbors regardless of whether how they worship, who they love, or who they voted for. Good, healthy conflict is about listening, having conversations that might be uncomfortable, and seeing our shared humanity with people who might have wildly different political or religious opinions. It tells some great stories from religion, politics, family dynamics, and gang violence, and lays out how to spot high conflict in the world and in ourselves. It distinguishes “good conflict,” which emphasizes curiosity, complexity and humility, from “high conflict,” which is characterized by certainty, righteousness, and simplicity. If you’re weathering the storm indoors and looking for a good (slightly wonky) book, I recommend High Conflict, by Amanda Ripley, which I just finished. For the moment, the weekend weather looks okay, but there’s a thunderstorm watch on tonight, and we’ve had plenty of rain causing flooding and downed trees, so please take care. Continue south into the University Pollinatarium, which can even be better for birding! Throughout the area, one can find a wide variety of trees and shrubs, which can support a wide variety of bird life, especially migrants! There are also a few rows of evergreens (especially arborvitae) in which roosting hawks and owls can be found––be sure to look hard for Long-eared Owls from January through March!Īccessibility note: The trails around the Japan House are paved.Looking beyond the current stormy weather, there are a number of events coming up over the next week that show off great traditions in our towns, including cars, motorcycles, crafts and a car wash in Falls Village, and pancakes and live music in Sharon. Areas around the ponds just to the east of the Japan House can be full of migrating birds at the right time of year. Japan House/Arboretum/Pollinatarium: Park in the parking lot (free on weekends) just southwest of the Japan House. For more info, see this map of Moorman Swine Ponds (April 2015). One can see many species of ducks (particularly in April) and some shorebirds if the water is low enough! Also, sparrows are usually in good numbers around the ponds, in the brushy area south of the east pond, or in the shrubs and evergreens just east of the east ponds across the street! Blue Grosbeaks and Willow Flycatchers also nest here in the summer. Park on the north side of the East pond (just off of Hazelwood drive) in a small gravel pull-in area. The Swine Research ponds can provide good birding year round, but are particularly exciting in the spring and fall. This map shows an array of birding locations throughout the region with great information on what you may find there. To learn about great spots for birding by car in our area, check out this Google map compiled by our members. Below is our list of top local spots to go birding, including accessible areas that are mobility-friendly.įor further information about the accessibility of these sites, please contact them directly. Although Champaign County and its surroundings are typified by agricultural fields of corn and soybean, there are many local parks and preserves where you can find birds in a range of habitats. Although best known for a rich prairie ecosystem, our area is also home to scattered forests and wetlands, and this range of habitats has helped a wide diversity of flora and fauna to flourish. When glaciers swept over what is now Champaign County tens of thousands of years ago, they left behind the flat and gently rolling landscape we see today. ![]()
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