- Trails are open 24/7 at no charge. Enjoy a Winnie-the-Pooh themed TRAIL TALES Storybook Walk.
What’s Happening: Spring Migration
Spring migration is underway at Crossroads, and we are excited to share this seasonal marvel with the community. Migrating birds are beginning—albeit slowly—to filter into the preserve, and fish have already returned to Big Creek. But spring migration isn’t just about birds and fish!
Frogs migrate. So do bats, butterflies, dragonflies, and even soil organisms. Despite their differences, they all travel for the same essential reason: to reach an optimal breeding area. Some species migrate across continents, while others move mere inches to find the right conditions for reproduction.
For example, pike and suckers are now swimming upstream in search of warm water and food-rich environments where their offspring can hatch and thrive.
Birds, on the other hand, may nest here or continue farther north. Their journeys—often long and risky—are worthwhile because our spring and summer provide longer daylight hours to find food. During this time, birds require enormous amounts of nourishment as they establish territories, build nests, lay eggs, and feed their young.
Many migrating birds travel to northern regions where the days are even longer, predators are fewer, and insect populations surge, providing an abundant food supply.
Most people know that monarch butterflies migrate, but did you know that several species of dragonflies do as well? More valuable to the environment than monarchs, dragonflies play a vital role in maintaining ecological balance.
And any day now—if it hasn’t happened already—frogs will begin their annual migration from forested areas to their breeding habitats. Wood frogs, recognizable by their duck-like quacks, are the first to emerge, heading to ponds and wetlands as soon as the snow melts. A few weeks later, we’ll hear the high-pitched calls of spring peepers. By May, additional frog and toad species will join in, creating a vibrant symphony of spring.
Migration will be the focus of this month’s Current Ecological Events Club at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, April 8. Prior to the discussion, a packet of articles are available at the entrance desk of the Collins Learning Center. anyone is welcome to pick up a packet whether they plan to attend the discussion or not. Reading the materials is encouraged but not required to participate.
Celebrating the awakening of spring should be a tradition for every family. To help our community take part in the season’s wonders, we will be sharing updates on the sucker run, frog choruses, and the arrival of spring wildflowers on the Crossroads at Big Creek Facebook page and website.
– by Coggin Heeringa, Interpretive Naturalist
For more information, please check out our Crossroads calendar or stop by the Collins Learning Center and pick up a printed calendar. Our trails are open all day every day, free of charge, thanks to donors like you!
Crossroads at Big Creek Learning Center and Nature Preserve is located at 2041 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay. Crossroads is a 501(c)3 organization committed to inspiring stewardship of the environment through education, research, and outdoor experiences. We welcome your support.
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