Restoration Workday at Searles Nature Preserve

Did you know Washtenaw Bird & Nature Alliance owns a nature preserve? We do! Searles Nature Preserve is a 48 acre natural area that hosts the headwaters of Stony Creek. Did you also know that ninety-seven percent of North American land birds require animal, primarily insect, protein to raise their young? Most insects require specific, native, host plants for successful reproduction and this is why supporting a biodiverse ecosystem of native plants is so important. More on this here: https://tinyl.io/93Ka

Now that invasive woody shrubs are slowing the upward flow of nutrients and storing energy in their roots it is the ideal time to start cutting them and treating the cut stumps with herbicide pre-mixed in our handheld Buckthorn Blasters. We’ll use hand saws and loppers to cut invasive woody shrubs and small trees (Common and Glossy Buckthorn, Privet, and Honeysuckle), and use our Buckthorn Blasters, similar to bingo sheet daubers, to apply dyed herbicide to the outer layer of the cut stumps. You can cut, treat, do both, or just join us to hang out. We’ll provide tools, gloves, and instructions but feel free to bring your own hand saws, loppers, or chainsaws. We recommend bringing a water bottle, and wearing long pants and closed toe shoes.

Directions: Meet at the entrance to the preserve on Bolla Road between Crane and Stony Creek Roads. (map here)