Day 5 and 6: Introduction to the Research and and an excursion to Sleeping Bear Dune

When I consider your heavens, 

the work of your fingers,

   

the moon and the stars, 

which you have set in place,

    

4 

what is mankind that you are mindful of them,

    human beings that you care for them? Psalms 8:3-4 

Research Start:
Tuesday morning began with studying about amphibians use of forested pools. The goal for our team was to understand the project we are joining. Hopefully our efforts will result in publication. After an engaging group discussion we had the go ahead to start working with the data. Our first challenge is manipulate three years worth of data into a different format for some rather important statistical studies.  A reminder that data organization is very important and that the little things are really rather important!    

After a day of intense humidity the sun broke through the clouds for the later part of the afternoon providing for a lovely bike ride.   I ventured out on a 13 mile trek around Blue Lake.  While out I saw three cars and four deer!  One of the deer waited until I was about 20 feet away before bounding into the woods.  Unlike NH, there are few hill climbs of significance in this area, resulting in faster riding.  

Wednesday: Sleeping Bear Dune

450" Bluff overlooking Lake Michigan 

Fun Fact: Sleeping Bear Dune is the largest freshwater dune in the world. 

  

This was my second trip to the Dune, the last time being in 2004. We were blessed to see three endangered species: Trumpeter Swan, Pitchers Thistle, and Piping Plover. The sighting of the Trumpeter Sway was out of this world.  As we were walking towards the dune overhead out of the fog flew 4 Trumpeter Swans. We were all so surprised by the sound of the air over their wings that we stood still and in silence as we watched them fly out over the Dune towards the Lake. Truly a special moment.

   

Dune Vegetation - Juniper lower right, Cotton Woods in Distance

I will try to paint a picture with words about my experience at the Otter Creek Sand Dunes.

Lake Michigan - Sleeping Bear Bay

Light rain filtered through the forest trees as I walked along a narrow path.  On either side of the path was a plethora of poison-ivy just waiting to fill in over the path.  The sky was gray and threatening as we emerged out of the woods into the transitional zone to the Sand Dunes.  Here the path turned to fine sand which ran across the dune with a five foot drop down into a pool of water that was about 50 feet from Lake Michigan.  The drop gradually became less and less and we jumped down onto the sand of the beach.

View of Glen Lake 

Here the beach was wet from the waves and recent shower.  We broke into five groups to collect data about the changing vegetation as you walk away from the lake up into the Dune, Shrub area, and eventually forest.  As we stood on the beach receiving directions, there was a flash of lightning and the sound of rumbling thunder.  Inside I wanted to run for the car, however, the group decided to stay and collect data.  The rain started to fall harder as we made our way five meters away from the shore.  In the flat beach zone we had very little vegetation, just a sparse Sea Rocket here and there. Then we reached the start of the dune and had to scrabble up four feet of sand to the top of the first dune.  Here the vegetation changed dramatically with the introduction of greater density of grasses, plants, and bushes.   Beside our transect line there were was the endangered Pitchers Thistle.  Along we walked down into a hollow and then up a more steep section of the dune to the forest edge.  Here we stepped carefully to avoid the poison Ivy and admired the presence of White Ceder.  This walk make it quite evident that these natural areas are a great laboratory for studying succession from sparse vegetation to mature forest. If we were to continue walking into the forest we would have seen a transition to a Northern Hardwood Forest.  However, the thunderstorm was still approaching and with soaked clothes we finally decided to head for the cars.

Looking towards Glen Lake

Add caption

These are the kinds of experiences that help build a connection with Creation and a love and respect for the complexity that the Lord has woven into all his Creation!