Category Archives: Birds

A Conservation Plan for the Colony Farm Orchard (=Enchanted Forest)

By rbrewer | Published: November 11, 2009

As we all know,  HB 5207  put forth by Representative Bob Jones (D–Kalamazoo) is designed to strip the conservation/public use restrictions from the Colony Farm Orchard as a first step in turning the 54 acres into an Annex to Western Michigan University’s BTR Park.  Here are the stated restrictions: “The conveyance shall provide that Western [...]

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Labor Day, West Lake Bog

By rbrewer | Published: September 7, 2009

Mid-morning I looked out the window and saw a small bird in the shrubs, moving about pretty actively.  It was an American Redstart, not in the black and orange adult male plumage, but rather the olive-backed, gray-headed plumage with yellow wing and tail patches that at this time of year could be a female or [...]

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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 [...]

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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 [...]

Also posted in 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 [...]

Also posted in Conservation, Michigan (including Kalamazoo) | 2 Comments