Monthly Archives: August 2009

What Is The Colony Farm Orchard Good For?

By rbrewer | Published: August 24, 2009

From statements by Western Michigan University’s PR guy, we know what WMU thinks the Colony Farm Orchard is good for–expansion of the University’s business park. The motivation for such an action is unclear, as are the need for it and what the expansion would involve. But none of these needs to concern us here.  We [...]

Posted in Birds, Conservation, Michigan (including Kalamazoo), Plants and Plant Communities | 3 Comments

Woodcock at Colony Farm Orchard

By rbrewer | Published: August 13, 2009

I saw an American woodcock at the Colony Farm Orchard Monday afternoon.  It flew up from a little patch of woods as I approached.  I only got a quick look, but woodcock are easy to identify, with the big head and the large dark eye nearly centered as you see it from the side.  The [...]

Posted in Birds, Conservation, Michigan (including Kalamazoo) | 1 Comment

Larry Walkinshaw and Michigan’s Golden Age of Ornithology

By rbrewer | Published: August 1, 2009

When I arrived at Western Michigan University in 1959, Michigan was in the midst of an ornithological Golden Age.  Dozens of ornithologists were practicing their science in the state or had recent (or soon-to-come) connections.  Nearly every college and university had one to several faculty members with a special interest in birds. My first exposure [...]

Posted in Birds, Conservation, Michigan (including Kalamazoo) | 2 Comments