Sum-Sum-Summertime!
'Tis the Season
The fecundity, or reproductive success, of our neighborhood wildlife is evidenced by the abundance of baby animals born at this time of year, some popping up in unexpected places, like these American Robins (left).
Daryl Beck of Pleasant Hill, Missouri, made some accommodations. “Their nest was on a farm tractor next to the gearshift, so I had to wait until they fledged to use the tractor.”

Life can be tough for baby animals, and it is difficult to accept that not every young animal will survive to see its first birthday, or even the first month. Often, we humans think we can help by entering into the situation, but just as often we don’t really understand what is going on and we can cause more harm than good. For example, the process of baby birds fledging from their nests.

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology advises, “The first thing to do is to figure out if the baby bird is a nestling or a fledgling.”  Fledglings are feathered and capable of hopping or flitting, with toes that can tightly grip your finger or a twig. These youngsters are generally adorable and fluffy, with a tiny stub of a tail. 
If the baby bird is sparsely feathered [like this sparrow] and not capable of hopping, walking, flitting, or gripping tightly to your finger, it’s a nestling. If so, the nest is almost certainly nearby. If you can find the nest (it may be well hidden), put the bird back as quickly as possible. If you cannot locate the nest, leave the nestling where you found it or move it to a shaded area. (Photo by Christen Goguen)
Unlike many mammals, most birds have little or no sense of smell, so your scent will not cause them reject the nestling. However, too much human interference at the nest site may make the parent birds uncomfortable, so try to keep your distance from the situation. Keep an eye on them through binoculars, if possible. (Eastern Bluebird Photos by Jonathon Morgan)
The National Audubon Society recommends, “If you’ve found a healthy fledgling: “Walk away from the bird. Rescuing healthy fledglings is not only unnecessary, but it can be detrimental to their development. When raised by hand, babies might confuse humans as their parents (not unlike the geese in the movie Fly Away Home). If that happens, they don’t know how to be a bird.” 
Naturalist Julie Zickefoose suggests, “ Don’t immediately assume it’s not being cared for, even if an hour passes without seeing a parent arrive. 
Continuous contact calls given by fledglings serve to keep their parents apprised of their whereabouts. If you see an adult of its species nearby, especially one carrying food, you may assume that a fledgling will be fed and cared for.”
If you have followed the recommendations of these bird conservation organizations, and there is no resolution within an hour or so, you may want to contact a bird rehabilitator. Most states require permits or licenses, training and approved facilities to rehabilitate wildlife and some species, including most birds, require federal permits as well. The Environmental Interpretive Center does not provide rehabilitation services.
For the safety of the animal, yourself and your family, please contact a local licensed rehabilitator. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has published a list of certified rehabilitators by county. 

Enjoy getting to know your local feathered and furry wildlife, but please do it from a distance.  
Join the EIC’s Story Walk Kick-off This
Saturday Morning, Featuring "Duck on a Bike"!
StoryWalks® are a creative way for children and adults to enjoy reading while spending time outdoors. Using laminated pages from a children's book attached to wooden stakes, they are typically installed along trails and sidewalks to create an interactive storytelling experience.

Duck on a Bike? That’s right! In this children’s book by David Shannon, Duck thinks it would be a great adventure to ride a bike all around his home on the farm. He visits his friends, Cow, Pig, Goat, Dog, and Cat, among others, all of whom have an opinion about Duck riding a bike.

Beaumont-Healthy Dearborn is sponsoring four local Story Walks this year. The EIC Story Walk kick-off celebration begins at 10:00 AM with a ribbon cutting, free giveaways, and an appearance by Puddles the Goose, the mascot of the USFWS Refuge System!!!!

On your next bike ride along the Gateway Trail, which takes you past the EIC at UM-Dearborn, pull over for a quick visit through our outdoor Story Walk. It’s a fun story and there are “extra activities” included for participants! 

"I Wonder Walks" are a great way to spend your lunch hour! During the pandemic, the EIC offered these hour-long walks to our campus community. Now that we are re-opened to our public community, we can extend the invitation to everyone!

If you're near campus on Wednesdays and Thursdays, join us for a noontime walk on the trails to feed your curiosity and reset your frame of mind for the afternoon!
Public Nights at the UM-Dearborn Observatory are back on campus!
Do you enjoy looking up at the sky at night? Do you love stars, the constellations and the moon as well as other beautiful things you can only enjoy at night? Join the UM-Dearborn Public Nights at the Observatory outdoor events on select Friday nights.
Contact Carrie Swift for more info: cmswift@umich.edu
Did You Know?
Pollinator Week: Wings of Life!
Pollinator Week is an annual celebration in support of pollinator health that was initiated and is managed by Pollinator Partnership. It is a time to raise awareness for pollinators and spread the word about what we can do to protect them. The great thing about Pollinator Week is that you can celebrate and get involved any way you like! Popular events include planting for pollinators, hosting garden tours, participating in online bee and butterfly ID workshops, and so much more. Don't miss the Pollinator Party

According to the National Wildlife Federation, "June 20-26 is Pollinator Week, but we are celebrating pollinators all month long. Now is a great time to create a pollinator-friendly yard or garden by planting with purpose." Read about their five ways to celebrate pollinator month.

The Xerces Society has world’s largest team of conservationists dedicated to protecting pollinators. Their pollinator conservation work also spans a wide array of landscapes, including communities that have achieved Bee City USA and Bee Campus USA affiliate status, like UM-Dearborn
MSU Extension Tollgate Farm and Education Center in Novi is hosting the Pollineighbor Celebration on Saturday, June 18, from 11:00-4:00, and the EIC staff will be there! MSU Extension is partnering with the Southeastern Michigan Beekeepers Association (SEMBA) for this one-day event centered on pollinators. Explore the MSU Bughouse, beekeeping 101 and the observation hive with SEMBA, Storytime, Tollgate Garden tours, games, and more! 
Children's Gardening Program
Children who like to dig in the dirt and plant things have a special place reserved for them to grow at the Children's Garden on our campus. 

This program is for children 6-8 years of age and meets on Tuesday evenings from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm on the following dates: June 7, 14, 21; July 5, 26; August 9, 23, 30. It is intended for each child and at least one adult guardian to attend together.

We are happy to have Dale Browne return as our Children's Garden Coordinator. 

Registration is required and payment can be made online.
Tales from the Trails
A Rare Summer Brood
A female Hooded Merganser with four ducklings is being seen at Fair Lane Lake in the Environmental Study Area (ESA).
(Photo by Mary Kay Ruby)
This is only the 2nd time in the past 15 years or so that the species is known to have successfully produced young within or very near to the ESA. 

Although the breeding range of the Hooded Merganser includes our region, they are not common here. Most often they are seen stopping over in very small numbers at the lake or the Rouge River during their spring migrations. This spring, a pair of male and female "hooded’s" turned up on March 20. At first, it was assumed that they would be on their way north within a day or two. As they continued to stick around, I began to wonder if they might attempt to nest near the lake. There soon came a time when the male merganser seemed to have disappeared, and a lone female, probably the same bird, would be seen occasionally flying low over the lake. And then, on June 2, there she was again, not with the male but with the four ducklings in tow! 
In our region, Hooded Mergansers nest in tree cavities or special nest boxes, much like the Wood Duck. When the ducklings hatch, usually all within a 24 hour period, the female calls to them from the ground nearby. Out they jump, and with a well-cushioned bounce after hitting the ground, off they go with the female to the nearest body of water. They will stay with the female until they are fully fledged. Come fall, they will most likely head further south from our region, although a few might stick around in open water areas in the Great Lakes region. (Photo by Nancy Tully)

We’re hoping that the female merganser and her “hoodlings” stick around in the ESA for a little while before moving on. To try your hand at catching the merganser crew in action, try a slow, quiet walk along the Lakeside Trail in the ESA. Keep an eye on how the adult female dives down into the lake, where she chases and catches fish. For their part, the young will feed mostly on aquatic insects until they learn from their mother how to catch fish. Enjoy!
-Rick Simek
Resources
Venturing outdoors and encountering nature is good for your physical and mental health. The trails in the Environmental Study Area are open daily from sunset to sundown. We would like to remind visitors that fishing on site is prohibited and to leave bikes and dogs at home because they cause disruption and stress to the EIC wildlife.

Check out our Remote Learning Activities & Resources page for how to create a "Neighborhood Nature Journal", "Family Nature Walk Activities" and more.

Support the educational and outreach efforts of the EIC by making a donation.