Renowned naturalist and author Kay Charter shared expertise and love of birds with local residents Saturday as the North Oakland Headwaters Land Conservancy celebrated its 35th birthday.
The NOHLC is a non-profit organization that works to encourage good land stewardship and ensure scenic areas, wetlands and wildlife habitats in North Oakland County are protected into the future.
‘It was the best spring meeting we’ve had in years,? said Katie Armstrong, NOHLC executive director. ‘Kay Charter’s message was not only well-delivered, but it was a nice balance of birds and habitat combined, which paints a larger view of how it all relates to life on the planet. It fit right in with the conservancy’s message.?
Founded in 1972, the organization was originally called the Independence Land Conservancy. As efforts of its members increased and awareness grew, the geographic focus of the group increased.
In 1998, the organization formally changed its name to The North Oakland Headwaters Land Conservancy, as properties contiguous to the Clinton, Shiawassee, Huron and Flint rivers became areas of interest.
‘People who moved out here 15 or 20 years ago from more urban areas came for the natural open spaces,? said Armstrong. ‘They came out here for that lack of urban closeness.?
Many area residents, she said, are interested and invested in protecting the local ecology.
In addition to Kay Charter’s talk on attracting migrating birds, a number of related local organizations were on hand to hand out literature and speak with attendees.
‘I heard about this from a friend,? said City of the Village of Clarkston resident Kim Harrison. ‘We’re making some changes in our yard, and the way we do things. We really learned a lot here today.?
Harrison attended with daughter Madison, 5, who took home one of the many free, small trees to plant in her yard.
‘If you get people excited about growing native plants,? said Trish Hennig of American Roots, who set up a display at Saturday’s event, ‘and they see the reasons for growing them, then the next question is ‘OK, where can I get them???
Until recently, she said, local growers and propagators were almost nonexistent.
Recently certified by MNPPA ? Michigan Native Plant Producer’s Association, Hennig sells native plants grown on the 10-acre Brandon Township plot she and her husband John purchased when they moved from Clarkston in 1994.
It was a project, she said, that grew from her own experiences as a gardener.
‘I wanted to have all the lovely cottage gardens around the house,? said Hennig, who also belongs to the Clarkston Watershed Group and holds the title of advanced master gardener. ‘But as I got farther out, I didn’t want to do anything to harm the natural environment because I knew the wildlife was dependent on the roots, berries, seeds, nectar and such for food.?
In addition to American Roots, native plants can also be purchased from Oakland Wildflower Farm in Ortonville.
For more information, call American roots at 248-627-8525 or Email Americanrootsnat@aol.com.
Call Oakland Wildflower Farm at 248-969-6904 or Email oaklandwildflowerfarm@gmail.com
Upcoming NOHLC events include ‘Looking for Early Birds? with leader Fred Townsend April 28,?8 a.m. at the Parks at Stonewood.
And, ‘Mother’s Day with Mother Nature’s Migrating Birds? with, leader Jeff Kingery, May 13, 4 p.m. Springfield Township Civic Center.
For more information on either walk, call NOHLC at 248-846-6547.