Holland Ponds HIKE reviewed

Just SPECTACULAR! The perfect Spring day, with 70 degree temps. and over 100 hikers showing up for the HIKE. Big Thanks to naturalist Dan Farmer for leading the Hike for us. Dan’s knowledge of the outdoors is surpassed by very few.

Spring wild flowers blooming, we released a Blandings turtle, Egrets hunting, Herons running around, all types of turtle activity, and some HUGE hawks soaring overhead. Cannot say I had a better time on a Hike in a very long time.

Spring Heron Hike 3/20/10

Nothing better on the first day of Spring, then to visit a Great Blue Heron Rookery. And that’s what we have in mind for 3/20/10. At 12PM we are meeting at Holland Ponds Park, in Shelby Twp., Macomb county for a hike to the Heron Rookery there. With last years count of almost 35 nesting pairs, the heronry is hopping.

You can download more details and map to the park here:

http://www.hikingmichigan.com/PDFinfo/HollandPondsHIKE.pdf

You can download a nice Map of the actual park here:

http://www.hikingmichigan.com/PDFinfo/HollandPonds.pdf

The HERONS are back!

Every year around this time, the Great Blue Herons return to Southeastern Michigan to nest and raise their young. Holland Ponds in Shelby Twp., Macomb county, has the largest Heronry in this part of the state. Nests are being rebuilt at this moment, while other Herons return, select their mate and begin the nest building and courtship. It is a sight to behold, to watch these magnificent birds hatch their young and together run a constant feeding rounds for their growing young.

Both male and female remain on the nest and take care of the growing chicks. It takes two adults to feed these veracious eaters. All day, every day, both the male and female search for Frogs Fish and other foods for the tireless youngsters.

Holland Ponds is located on Ryan road, just north of 22 mile road in Macomb county. The Shadbush Nature Center, also located on Ryan road, maintains the park. There is no fee for parking or entering the park. Just follow the signs on the pathway to get to a viewing area of the Rookery. The Herons are skid-dish, so remain on the paths and let them nest and have their young.