|
The
Wild Wonders Project
Click to enlarge
Since the
days of our humble beginnings, the Howell Nature
Center's Wildlife Rehabilitation program has had a
mission: to help the injured and orphaned creatures
with which we share our planet, and to educate people
to become better stewards of our natural world.
Though the Nature Center itself has changed
dramatically, this mission has not. There is only one
way to increase both awareness and caring in the next
generations. It is through education.
Our
permanent wildlife have become living
ambassadors to educate and inspire that spirit to
care. It is time to improve not only the living
conditions of our wild friends here at the Nature
Center, but to do so in a manner that will teach as
well. Our dream has come true as we have built a new wildlife facility that
blends natural habitat exhibits into the beauty of
our fields and forest. We believe that the birds and
animals will feel free to be wild and in doing so, educate our
visitors. We call it Wild Wonders. As dedicated
supporters and friends of wildlife, we invite you to
share in this dream come true.
Wild
Wonders is filled with beautiful habitat structures.
Many have murals, waterfalls, ponds and live trees.
The Bobcat has a large enclosure with lots of trees,
a rock den, and even a high platform so he can feel
on top of the world and keep a good look out. The
Turkey Vulture/Red Tail Hawk habitat has a most
beautiful mural that blends the interior into a far
away horizon. The Arctic Aviary also has a beautiful
tundra mural, glistening ponds and low perches as in
the Arctic, there are no trees. The Fox Habitat is
amazing. This spacious enclosure allows the frisky
fellows to race around and entertain visitors. Lots
of live trees,
a waterfall and an underground den
complete this habitat. These are just a few highlights
of what is a truly wonderful Wildlife Park. Come by
and see for yourself and don't forget to bring your
camera.
We are excited to
introduce to you, the "Wild Wonders Wildlife Park"!The new
Wild Wonders Trail has several habitat structures
grouped into pods, with each species being situated
into their natural habitat. Now in the final phases
of construction, only two habitats, the
White-tailed Deer and Sandhill Crane, are
left to be sponsored. As each habitat is sponsored, it
is added to the schedule.
Memorial Garden
and Brick Wall
Soon we will begin building a memorial garden and
walkway that will start taking shape near the Barn
Owls habitat, continuing toward and connecting to
the main trail near the Eagle statue. Our plans for
this area include various gardens, benches and
gathering areas, designed with lovely annuals and
perennials, intertwined throughout by a wandering
wood-chipped path. Within the memorial garden, we
will build a water garden where aquatic plants,
frogs and other animals can hang out. Behind this
garden will be a semi-circle brick wall. Bricks can
be purchased in memory or in honor of a loved one.
A 4x8 brick will cost $125 and a 8X8 brick will
cost $250. Please call the Nature Center office to
request a form.
The
Woodlands
Eastern Screech Owl Habitat:
COMPLETED
The habitat of the screech owls includes natural
deciduous trees, dead trees with woodpecker holes
containing nest boxes and a small woodland pond for
bathing and drinking. (20"W X 12"L)
Sponsored by Fowlerville Lumber, Chem-Trend, Barbera
Dillups, William Bradfield,
and Schafer Construction.
Virginia Opossum Habitat:
COMPLETED
This two-sided exhibit includes a rough bark hardwood
tree for climbing, hollow log nest boxes, and a hanging
tire hammock for summer. (24"W X 10"L)
Short-Eared Owl
Habitat:
COMPLETED
This multi-species exhibit presents an excellent
example of species' niche within an ecosystem. It
includes pine trees on one side only, low
shrubs on the other side and a small woodland pond.
(32'W X 12'L)
Sponsored by Dr. Fred Bonine and Central Michigan
Lumber.
Bobcat Habitat:
COMPLETED
This exhibit includes natural boulders with rock
ledges, a den site in a rock shelter, a natural log
climbing structure, low shrubs, a small woodland pond
and a high resting platform.
(30'W X 40'L)
Sponsored by Bob Fitzgerald.
Great Horned Owl Habitat:
COMPLETED
The largest of the Michigan owls, our Great Horned
Habitat includes large deciduous trees, natural branch
perches, forest shrubs and a small woodland pond.
(32'W X 16'L)
Sponsored by Central Michigan Lumber and
Nastassia A. Benjamin.
White-tailed Deer Habitat:
PARTIALLY SPONSORED YET TO BE CONSTRUCTED
This graceful mammal will be viewed as it browses and
wanders between two habitats:
forest and field. This
forest edge habitat will be a large pen enclosure
encompassing 1/4 acre of our own Michigan woods and
open field for grazing. It will include a small
shelter building and woodland pool with aquatic plants
for a cool drink. Estimated cost: $20,000. More funds
are needed to complete this habitat.
Sponsored by HSBC - Beneficial
Coyote Habitat:
YET
TO BE CONSTRUCTED - SPONSORED
One of our most popular mammals, the new Coyote
exhibit will include a forest edge habitat with
deciduous trees blending into meadow. Junipers, a
small pond and den site will complete this two-sided
habitat. Estimated cost: $8,000. More funds are
needed.
Sponsored by HSBC - Beneficial
Fox Habitat;
COMPLETED
The beautiful Red Fox is in this
woodland exhibit, complete with mixed forest habitat,
low shrubs, a waterfall and a small pond.
Sponsored by Bob and Betsy Herbst.
Sandhill Cranes:
NOT YET CONSTRUCTED - PARTIALLY SPONSORED
The Crane Exhibit will demonstrate two natural
habitats of this migrating species. It will include a
sheltered area, staggered cornstalk rows, and a
landscape pond with aquatic plants. Estimated cost:
$5,000. Funds are still needed!
Partially sponsored in memory of Cynthia McCarty and
by Cindy Dillon.
The
Meadows
Red-tailed Hawk/Turkey Vulture
Exhibit:
COMPLETED
One of our most popular multi-species exhibits, this
flight pen includes a beautiful mural, hardwood trees, low edge
shrubs, and a small bathing pond. (28'W X 16'L)
Sponsored in memory of Tom Bouchard.
American Kestrels:
COMPLETED
This Kestrel Habitat demonstrates dimorphism in our
littlest falcons. It contains fence post perches,
pine trees, nest boxes and a small meadow pool in a
natural open field habitat. (20'W X 12'L)
Sponsored in memory of Sue Reiner.
Woodchuck Exhibit:
COMPLETED
This two-sided exhibit houses our own famous "Woody"
and a new friend. Each side includes open field,
modified burrow, and cement digging pit. (24'W X 12'L)
Sponsored in memory of Sue Reiner.
Barn Owl Exhibit:
COMPLETED
The Barn Owl's habitat consists of an old barn with
nesting platforms, straw bales, farm implements and an
exterior flight pen with small pool and corn rows.
Sponsored by Bob and Betsy Herbst.
The
Wetlands
American Beaver Exhibit:
COMPLETED
The Beaver Habitat includes a large pond with flowing
creek, a natural beaver lodge, a renewable forest glen
for gnawing, and several deciduous trees. Our visitors
are able to view the beaver in her own aquatic
environment as she cuts up trees and floats them
through the pond toward her lodge under "constant
construction".
Sponsored by Shirley Amolsch.
The Wetland Habitat:
COMPLETED
This habitat includes Barred Owls, two Black-crowned
Night Heron and a Northern Harrier Hawk. The Heron side of this habitat contains a
wetland pond with aquatic plants for fish, small
shrubs and a pine tree. The Barred Owls and Harrier
Hawks area contains pine, spruce, low shrubs and
wetland ponds.
Sponsored by Crossroads Sierra Club and Grace
Lutheran Church.
The DTE
Raptor Center:
COMPLETED
This unique
log structure is an exciting addition to the Wild
Wonders Trail. Designed to also function as a
classroom, the 20' X 20' center room provides
seating for at least 30 along with interpretive
displays about the fascinating world of Birds of Prey.
Four 16' X 14' raptor habitats extend off each corner
to house some of our most popular educational birds
for viewing.
Sponsored by DTE Energy
The
Visteon Eagles Eyrie:
COMPLETED
The Bald
Eagle, our nation's symbol, is being displayed in all
his splendor in this coastline habitat. It includes a
large landscape pond with aquatic plants, towering
pines, deciduous trees and low shrubs. This exhibit is
exceptionally tall to allow better view of the
majestic eagle in full flight. (60' diameter X30'H)
Sponsored by Visteon.
Snowy Owl/Rough-legged Hawk
Habitat:
COMPLETED
This two-sided exhibit displays birds of the Tundra
region. The habitat includes natural and
simulated rocks and rock ledges, a small drinking pool
and a beautiful arctic tundra mural.
(28'W X 16'L)
Sponsored by 1st National Bank of Howell and in
Memory of Jenny Heiob.
Infrastructure
All of the
following areas need funding:
Electrical: $5,000 - Landscaping: $5,000 - Lighting: $5,000
WILD
WONDERS WISH LIST
Good
running golf carts
paper towels
latex gloves
rabbit pellets
cracked corn
bleach
whole corn
kitten food
ferret food
bird seed
water fowl food
garbage bags
gallon and
quart size zip lock bags
hammers
staple guns and staples
rakes
scrub brooms
shovels
|
