Exploring the Nature Near You

Are you interested in learning more about various conservation and nature topics? We’ve put together some great educational videos and suggestions for enjoying the Nature Near You, starring our Stewardship Manager Ian Ableson. We hope you enjoy the following videos!

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Six Rivers Land Conservancy Stewardship Manager Ian Ableson talks about bat house design and placement, as well as addressing why one would want to put a bat house up in the first place.

For our second StewTalk video, we are going to dive into astronomy! Join Six Rivers Stewardship Manager Ian Ableson in discussing the North Star. Why does it work for navigation? Can you see it from anywhere on Earth? How do you find it in Michigan? All these questions and more will be answered! To follow along with the link described in the video, click here:

https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/night/usa/troy

Owls! Without a doubt one of the most popular nocturnal animals in existence, owls have fascinated humans for centuries. They feature extensively in our mythologies and the stories we tell to this day. In this video, we'll talk about methods for finding one of these elusive birds in the wild places of Michigan.

Sure, you're probably familiar with the chipmunks, squirrels, and rabbits that populate our suburbs in Southeast Michigan. But how about venomous shrews? Or jumping mice that leap like kangaroos? This StewTalk will give a quick overview of four small Michigan mammals that you may not be quite so familiar with!

Did you know that Southeast Michigan is an especially important migration spot for a wide variety of birds? Check out this video to learn why!

How does a land conservancy actually go about conserving land? The answers aren't always obvious, but there are many ways that we can go about ensuring the continued protection of natural areas.

Bats are exceptionally difficult to study! They fly, they're nocturnal, and their echolocation gives them huge advantages in their natural habitats. In this week's StewTalk Six Rivers Stewardship Manager Ian Ableson will discuss the various methods that we can use to study these fantastic creatures.

Constellations! We can all probably name a handful, but why were constellations so important for so many different cultures? Where did our current list of constellations come from? Learn about the big picture of constellations in this video!

Native plant gardens are becoming a popular topic in conservation recently, and for good reason! They're an excellent way for the average homeowner to make a significant impact on the health of their local ecosystem. Check out this video for a crash course on native plant gardens, why they're important, and what to consider when starting one!

Poison ivy, poison sumac, ticks, and snakes! For the StewTalk today we will discuss how to identify and avoid all of these hazards while exploring or working off the beaten path.