Fossil charcoals tell us that wildfires have been part of life on Earth for as long as there have been plants on land. That’s more than 400 million years of fire. Fire was here long before arriviste plants like grasses; it pre-dated the first flowers. And without wanting to get mystical about it, fire is, in many respects, a kind of animal, albeit an ethereal one. Like any animal, it consumes oxygen. Like a sheep or a slug, it eats plants. But unlike a normal animal, it’s a shape-shifter. Sometimes, it merely nibbles a few leaves; sometimes it kills grown trees. Sometimes it is more deadly and destructive than a swarm of locusts.
Brenda E. Bentley has enhanced walker’s enjoyment of the Huron River through Ann Arbor by writing Riverwalks Ann Arbor: Walking Loops Along the Huron River. The walks are introduced by a geological, historical, cultural, and natural history of the river. The book has interesting reproductions of historical maps; old postcards and photographs; new crisp, clear maps with contour lines, major roads, park areas, and elevations; and current photographs. Each walk is a loop. Sometimes they can connect with other loops. The walks start at Barton Pond and move east along the river to Parker Mill. The descriptions of the walks are enhanced by historical asides, among others, on the Public Land Survey System, the ice trade on Argo Pond, and Superintendent of Parks Eli Gallup.
If you missed us at the Green Fair, don't fret- we can still answer your questions and hook you up with nifty factsheets and brochures. Just give us a call or an email, or drop by sometime!
Between the upcoming bird-watching walk in Gallup and the splendid Huron River Day coming up on July 12th, I thought it would be nice to revisit some information about Gallup Park!
Park Focus: Gallup Park (Wet Prairie Region)
by
Jennifer Maigret
(originally appeared in our Spring
1999 newsletter)This spring [of 1999] NAP will host a special series of workdays in celebration of Earth Day which focus on one of Ann Arbor’s most unique natural areas, the Gallup Park Wet Prairie. These workdays, along with Huron River Day events held in July, will likely attract attention to a wetland that is overlooked by many users of the Gallup Park paved trail who run, bike, skate or walk by it daily. As a precursor to
this newfound “stardom,” herein lie the reasons why the wet prairie has been selected for such special treatment. More importantly, however, these reasons
will illustrate why the area’s health depends upon users’ respect for its fragility. This requires enthusiasts to admire from afar the diversity of plants and animals the wet prairie hosts by remaining on the Gallup paved path to
overlook its natural beauties.
How will I know when I arrive at the wet prairie?
You will see an open area dominated by grasses and sedges. In spring look for the showy, yellow flowers and thick, dark green leaves of the marsh marigold (Caltha
palustris) or the bluish-green tussocks of the sedge Carex stricta. More careful scanning may reveal the flowers of two uncommon plants growing nestled among the sedges. Star grass (Hypoxis hirsuta) produces tiny, yellow flowers and swamp saxifrage (Saxifraga pensylvanica) sends out a single stalk of small, greenish flowers.
Why is this site special?
Wetlands of all types have diminished rapidly due to agricultural and developmental pressures. The first studies of wetland abundance were conducted in the early 1900s as requested by Congress to determine “the amount and location of swamp and overflow lands in the United States that can be reclaimed for agriculture.” Since then, it has been estimated that up to 50% of Michigan’s wetlands have been lost. Because of this, many of the plants and animals adapted to these unique environmental conditions are rare. The ecological significance of the Gallup Wet Prairie in particular was recognized by Paul W. Thompson of the Michigan Natural Areas Council who began lobbying to have it protected in the late 1960s. In the 1970s the Michigan
Chapter of The Nature Conservancy listed this site as one of only 3 good examples of wet prairie in Michigan. However, research published by former NAP Botanist David Warners in his dissertation in 1997 indicates that the site actually fits the classification of sedge meadow better than wet prairie, based mainly on its soil type. The name “Gallup Wet Prairie” has stuck, nonetheless.
How will workdays help?
The rare plants and animals dependent on the Gallup Wet Prairie for survival are currently threatened. Two major threats are invasive plants and excessive nutrient loads in the Huron River. The combination of these two factors has enabled plants such as purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), native and non-native cattails (Typha
latifolia and Typha angustifolia), and black alders (Alnus glutinosa) to gain a foothold and begin to out-compete the rare, native plant species found there. Although solutions to water quality problems will take long term foresight and planning on the part of the entire Huron River Watershed, workdays help by removing targeted invasive plants to relieve competitive pressures on the rare plants. In doing so, we can help preserve the biodiversity of plants and animals in the Gallup Wet Prairie.
How can I help?
We’re glad you asked! Helping NAP restore and preserve the Gallup Wet Prairie starts with checking the volunteer calendar and deciding which workdays you will attend. It is NAP’s hope that each Gallup workday will enable you to see first-hand why the site is so unique and teach you more about how to preserve this special place
both during and after workdays. Hope to see you there!
Photo thanks to crookrw on Flickr!
We did see cool birds, not to mention fine views of Ann Arbor.We had great looks at Eastern Meadowlarks and Bobolinks, both perched and flying. More significantly from my point of view, we got to listen to their songs over and over again. Savannah Sparrows were everywhere on the landfill.
Barn Swallows patrolled the air above the landfill. A few Red-Winged Blackbirds competed with Bobolinks, Meadowlarks, and Savannah Sparrows for perches on the methane pipes. A pair of Brown-Headed Cowbirds sat ominously on one methane pipe, possibly surveying the field for nests to parisitize. We watched a couple of House Finches singing from perches near the parking lot.
Carpooling to the borrow pit, we stopped for a brief look at an Eastern Kingbird and a long look at a cooperative Willow Flycatcher as it broadcast its "fitz-bew". We watched a Blue Jay roust a Red-Tailed Hawk from a power line tower and later saw both an adult and immature Redtail on another tower. Among the American Robins and abundant European Starlings in a mowed area, we watched a pair of Killdeer, but we were unable to locate a nest.
At the wetland in the borrow pit, there was a lot of activity. We saw the young female Surf Scoter that has been reported on this list, and we had multiple views of a diving male Ruddy Duck. He even thoughtfully preened for several minutes before we left to give us a more unhurried view. Six or so female Hooded Mergansers were diving and sunning. After a bit, they were joined by five or six Hooded Merganser chicks that were energetic, to say the least. They seemed to run across the water, as they splashed and dove. A few Mallards, Canada Geese, and Ring-Billed Gulls also were at the pond.
Rough-Winged Swallows and Tree Swallows worked the air above the water. Large numbers of European Starlings and Red-Winged Blackbirds foraged around the margins. A House Sparrow sat on one of the bluebird boxes.
We watched several Spotted Sandpipers along the shore, as well as a pair of Killdeer in the shallows. Perhaps the highlight as the session drew to a close was spotting first one Belted Kingfisher and then its mate. After watching one of them splashing after a fish, the crowd of about two dozen cheered as the pair briefly mated.
Photo courtesy of the Native Plant Information Network
The Stewardship Network proudly presents the Need Water to Grow Campaign to raise $250,000!
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Need Water to Grow CampaignWho: Fellow Stewards working to protect, preserve, and manage natural lands and watersWhat: Raise $250,000When: May 18th, 2009- July 4th, 2009Where: Click right here to make an individual donation or click here to make a business or organizational donation!
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