Instagram Photos
Maher Sanctuary News
Maher Work Days
Check back for future Maher work days.
Maher Audubon Sanctuary Update and Other Nature News
by Chris Baer
This Maher Audubon Sanctuary steward was nosing around in the archives
and decided to put some interesting things found in the Caller.
Pre-Maher, around 1840, more than 100 Native
American families camped along the Coldwater River. Arrowheads have been
found west of Maher before the land there was ripped for crops in the
1900s. In 1846 108th St. was opened as a stage route from Battle Creek
to Grand Rapids.
In recent history, before Maher was gifted to
the club in 1978, the site was visited by members who noted the bog,
marshy area, cattails and saw grass (still there) and dense woods to the
west (not there). Many dead elms were found (now there are many dead ash
trees), the ridge was found to be very birdy and “wild, unspoiled and
natural beauty” evident everywhere.
In 1979 an inventory of
plants was made by Susan Crispin, a MSU graduate of Environmental
Science, with collections made deposited in the Beale Darling Herbarium
at MSU. This predates Dr. David Warners list made in 2002. Our Floristic
Quality Index from this list is 61.92 which is very high. Our native
plant numbers are much higher than the invasive/non-native ones. Dr.
Warners noted that this property was a truly remarkable place of
“botanical quality and diversity.”
As the club became landowners
the Sanctuary needed a steward/chairperson to manage the work that was
to come. In 1983 Al Huisjen asked Bill Sweetman to fill this position,
becoming the first steward. Goals for that time included a path to the
artesian well, signage for trails, path to the marl pond (the marl pond
was formed by farmers removing lime for crop land). Neighbors were
“welcomed for quiet observations on the trails, but deer, rabbit and
bird hunting were to be discontinued.” Pallets as a temporary bridge
crossed the creek in 1981. Then in the late 1980s and early 1990s,
railroad ties were brought in from CSX transportation with the help of
Steve Minard. By 1990 the boardwalk was mostly complete thanks to work
crews provided by Ray Gates, KISD Michigan Youth Corps, Helen Spore as
supervisor (I can just imagine Helen Spore out there directing traffic
on the boardwalk!), the Caledonia sophomore class led by John Van Orman
and a work crew from the DNR.
Bobwhite quail and Pheasant were
common birds in 1983. Ruffed grouse were first recorded in 1981. Next
month I will follow the birds from the late eighties to the present.
From 1991-1997 work bees were yearly occurrences, although glitches
became a common problem. A portable toilet in 1993 was destroyed by
vandals, then discontinued. The bridge and bluebird boxes were regularly
vandalized, and logs were put across the boardwalk and trail to
discourage dirt bikes. (Vandals recently pushed over bird houses, threw
a bench into the creek and removed planks from the boardwalk.) The
sheriff said they would stop by Maher and the parking lot regularly to
deter mischief. Signage was erected in the 1990s: “Visit the Sanctuary
and leave it as you found it.” Edith Jarvi started the idea of benches
along the paths and since then Doug Klein and Jim McMaster have built
and put up more. The large sign (Maher Audubon Sanctuary) was erected on
the slope southwest of where the sign is now, in the marsh. Ed Bolt, Jim
McMaster and I moved the sign because the trees up on the slope were
blocking it. Now the cattails in wet years have to be trimmed to see the
sign clearly. Never a dull moment.
Stewards for Maher after Bill
Sweetman include Helen Spore, Steve Smith, Mary Jane Dockeray, Jim
McMaster, Melanie Good, Doug Klein and Madeline Heibel. All have been
stewards for a number of years clearing ash trees off the trails and
boardwalk and repairing the boardwalk, sometimes with the help of the
membership.
Invasive plants/shrubs have been a problem ever since
the DNR encouraged landowners to plant them. Autumn olive, barberry,
multiflora rose and honeysuckle continually challenge us. The boardwalk
also needs repairs frequently and is being overrun by bluegrass (lawn
exotic) and other invasive grasses.
What is fun to do is to go to
Maher regularly and see the seasonal changes of the birds and the native
plants. Fall this year was stupendous. Asters, Bidens, wild Coreopsis,
native thistle loved by Monarchs, blue lobelia, Joe-pye-weed and others
graced the edge of the boardwalk and other places. You don’t need to
leave the trail or boardwalk to see the show. Recently Jim and Susan
McMaster were at Maher cutting two trees (ashes) off the boardwalk and
spiffing up the entire path of limbs /branches. Please thank them next
time you see them at the meeting.
The Maher bridge has finally been fixed!
See photos by clicking images below:
