Ann Arbor Times

City of Ann Arbor Natural Area Preservation (NAP) works to protect and restore Ann Arbor's natural areas and to foster an environmental ethic within the community. 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. NAP is sharing events planned for March 2024.

To attend an event, participants are encouraged to preregister using VolunteerHub at https://cityofannarbor.volunteerhub.com/lp/nap; registration links to each event in VolunteerHub are also provided with each description.

Salamander Survey Kickoff and Training

Saturday, March 9

Noon-2 p.m.

Ann Arbor Senior Center

1320 Baldwin Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48104

Learn how to help NAP monitor salamanders in Ann Arbor's parks — there are five species here! Volunteers will select parks to survey and learn how to identify these rarely seen silent amphibians. Participants will try to find them on their annual breeding migration on spring nights, and later will look for them under logs in the woods. This training is indoors, no special materials or gear needed. Preregister through VolunteerHub.

Frog and Toad Survey Kickoff and Training

Saturday, March 9

2:30-4:30 p.m.

Ann Arbor Senior Center

1320 Baldwin Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48104

Everyone is invited to help monitor frog populations in Ann Arbor! No experience required. Participants will learn to identify frogs mainly by ear, optionally by eye. There are about eight local species, each with very distinct calls which NAP will help participants identify. This training is indoors, no special materials or gear needed. Preregister through VolunteerHub.

Stewardship Workday

Huron Hills Golf Course Woods

Sunday, March 10

1-4 p.m.

Framing the western and southern edges of the Huron Hills Golf Course, these woods are home to a diverse group of spring wildflowers such as trillium, May-apple, wild geranium, jewelweed, skunk cabbage and Dutchman's breeches. Volunteer involvement is vital to NAP's conservation efforts in Ann Arbor's natural areas — join other volunteers to pull invasive species in this out-of-the-way spot.

Meet on Hunting Valley off Provincial Drive. Volunteers will use hand tools to cut small-to-medium shrubs. Workday sites have unpaved trails and require going off-trail. Preregister through VolunteerHub so NAP can plan on enough staff and supplies for a safe and successful event. For participants' safety, wear long pants, tall socks and closed-toe shoes. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. More information: How to prepare for a NAP workday (PDF).

Stewardship Workday for UN International Day of Forests

Hansen Nature Area

Saturday, March 16

9 a.m. – noon

Do your part to protect our watershed and natural habitats by celebrating the UN's International Day of Forests with NAP. The United Nation's Department of Economic and Social Affairs reports it is estimated that 75% of the world's accessible freshwater comes from forested watersheds, and 80% of all land-based species depend on forests for their habitat. When forests are healthy, they can act as protective buffers against the impacts of storms and other natural hazards.

Meet in the Grace Bible Church additional parking lot at 1300 South Maple Road, 1/3 mile south of West Liberty. Volunteers will use hand tools to cut small-to-medium shrubs. Workday sites have unpaved trails and require going off-trail. Preregister through VolunteerHub so NAP can plan on enough staff and supplies for a safe and successful event. For participants' safety, wear long pants, tall socks and closed-toe shoes. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. More information: How to prepare for a NAP workday (PDF).

Stewardship Workday for UN International Day of Forests

Bluffs Nature Area

Sunday, March 17

1-4 p.m.

From The United Nation's Department of Economic and Social Affairs: “Forests make our lives better in countless ways. They sustain us — from clean air and water, to food and fuel, to medicines and income. Being near trees helps boost our immune systems, lower blood pressure, reduce stress and improve mood. When forests are healthy and well-managed, they safeguard the health of our planet by mitigating climate change, protecting biodiversity, and building resilience to natural disasters." In honor of the UN's International Day of Forests, help NAP manage Ann Arbor's forests to keep them healthy for generations to come.

Meet at the park entrance on Orkney Drive. Volunteers will use hand tools to cut small-to-medium shrubs. Workday sites have unpaved trails and require going off-trail. Preregister through VolunteerHub so NAP can plan on enough staff and supplies for a safe and successful event. For participats' safety, wear long pants, tall socks and closed-toe shoes. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. More information: How to prepare for a NAP workday (PDF).

Fourth Friday Stewardship Workday for UN World Water Day

Bandemer Nature Area

Friday, March 22

1-4 p.m.

You can make a difference for the global water cycle on World Water Day! Wetlands do so much, like controlling sediment, pollution and erosion. They are also nature's own flood mitigation program. The wet meadow at Bandemer contributes to the health of the Huron River and its watershed, which everyone in Ann Arbor depends on. Our watershed a small but mighty part of the global water cycle, help NAP protect it.

Meet at the parking lot at the end of Lake Shore Drive, off Main Street. Volunteers will use hand tools to cut small-to-medium shrubs. Workday sites have unpaved trails and require going off-trail. Preregister through VolunteerHub so NAP can plan on enough staff and supplies for a safe and successful event. For participants' safety, wear long pants, tall socks and closed-toe shoes. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. More information: How to prepare for a NAP workday (PDF).

Stewardship Workday for UN World Water Day

Furstenberg Nature Area

Saturday, March 23

1-4 p.m.

Furstenberg Nature Area stretches along the Huron River, and the natural communities in the park play essential roles in the health of the river — and in turn, the Huron River watershed. Freshwater ecosystems are facing devastation globally, and communities that depend on fresh water (that's everyone!) are in danger of losing this precious resource. World Water Day calls on us to protect the global water cycle and you can help by joining NAP at Furstenberg.

Meet at the parking lot off Fuller Road. Volunteers will use hand tools to cut small-to-medium shrubs. Workday sites have unpaved trails and require going off trail. Preregister through VolunteerHub so NAP can plan on enough staff and supplies for a safe and successful event. For participants' safety, wear long pants, tall socks and closed-toe shoes. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian. More information: How to prepare for a NAP workday (PDF).

Nest Box Monitor Training

Saturday, March 30

10 a.m.-noon 

Location TBD

This new Community Science program monitors bird nest boxes in Ann Arbor's parks. Volunteers keep track of which species are nesting in park boxes and check on the health of the nest and nestlings. Nest box monitors also help keep invasive house sparrows from breeding in the parks by removing house sparrow nests and possibly their eggs. Training is provided on nest identification, cavity nesting birds like bluebirds, how NAP monitors nest boxes, and how to remove house sparrow nests if necessary. Preregister through VolunteerHub.

Monitoring nest box sites requires walking on unpaved trails, going off trail, and some sites only offer street parking. For more information, contact NAPBirds@a2gov.org.

Original source can be found here.