Schaefer's Prairie site: The Nature Conservancy

Birds and Blooms  --

Please join David Astin for a morning in Schaefer's Prairie one of The Nature Conservancy gems near us in the Minneapolis/Saint Paul Area.

On May 26, 2012 there will be an open house at Schaefer's Prairie, created by The Nature Conservancy.  The small white orchids started blooming last Tuesday and David Astin has seen the Bobolinks, they are back and fighting for territories. (They arrived back last week May 14-16th)

There are wonderful photography and birding opportunities. Check it out just west of the Twin Cities near Glencoe, MN

http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/minnesota/events/birds-and-blooms.xml

Directions

From the town of Glencoe drive west on U.S. 212 for seven miles, turn south on a gravel road, Nature Avenue, opposite County Road 4. Drive 0.5 mile to the first intersection. The preserve lies to the southwest of that intersection. Proceed on the gravel road to the southeast corner of the prairie. Nearest services are in Glencoe and Brownton.

schaefer-prairie-1.jpg
Schaefer Prairie Preserve is a wonderful remnant of the once-vast northern tallgrass prairie that dominated the area for thousands of years. Both wet and dry prairie exist at Schaefer Prairie, and both ecosystems serve as instructional sites for students; from grade school to graduate school. The prairie also serves as a Nature Conservancy success story, replete with a highly regarded burn regimen, to ensure soil health and control invasive species too.

Conservancy volunteer David Astin will guide you through the landscape, exploring some of the more than 275 different native species of plants found on the property including Sullivant's milkweeds, Hill's Thistle, or perhaps even a small white lady's slipper in the understory too.  Native grasses also dominate the area, with big and little bluestem, and Indian grass swaying gently in the breeze, providing habitat to a wonderful array of birds. Look for upland sandpiper, bobolink, and American bittern. You can check the weather here, the event will happen rain or shine.

RSVP and Contact:  David Astin can be reached by phone at 763-529-4342 or via email.

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