 On December 30, 2009, the Southeast Michigan Land Conservancy received the Deed to 26-acres in Van Buren Township, near the intersection of Belleville Road and I-94 in western Wayne County. This is the 5th land protection project that SMLC has completed in Wayne County (click map at right to see larger image).
The property is largely forested wetlands and provides a needed stopover site for the many songbirds that migrate through the area. The good quality native forest consists of a variety of trees including Silver Maple, Swamp White Oak, Northern Red Oak, Sycamore, Basswood and American Elm. These trees support a host of insect species which, in turn, provide critical “fuel” to many Neotropical migrants such as warblers, tanagers, thrushes, grosbeaks, vireos,
cuckoos and orioles. The forest also seems to have good potential habitat for nesting Eastern Screech Owls, Great-horned Owls, Red-tailed Hawks, and Cooper’s Hawks.
A small tributary of the Huron River flows through the site and the Huron River Watershed Council identified the property as a key site to protect through their Bioreserve Project, which identifies and ranks the remaining natural areas within the watershed.
As with all SMLC properties, we will need volunteers to help maintain this preserve. Please notify Stewardship Coordinator Scott Tyrrell at styrrell@SMLCland.org if you would be willing to help watch over and care for this property, and keep an eye open for scheduled events in the coming year.
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