Wednesday Workdays at CCBS

Do you enjoy spending time outdoors in nature? Are you into native plants, birds, butterflies, and other members of the natural community? Join Michigan Audubon at our sanctuary stewardship workdays, weekly on Wednesdays from April through October, at Capital City Bird Sanctuary! We will combine fun facts and learning basic stewardship skills by taking care of our local bird sanctuary. This little-known preserve is a great place to spot breeding Eastern Bluebird, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Warbling Vireo, and Eastern Kingbird in the spring and early summer, as well as Wild Turkey, White- and Red-breasted Nuthatches, and Brown Creeper in the non-breeding season (just to name a few) so you’re sure to see some great birds while you work.

Help us protect this urban nature preserve and encourage native habitats by continually maintaining trails and nest boxes, while focusing on the removal of invasive garlic mustard and dame’s rocket from May through June followed by eradicating woody invasives such as Autumn olive and Japanese barberry from July through October.

Please come prepared for outdoor work; wear long pants, long sleeves, close-toed shoes, and a hat. Bring work gloves, water, snacks, insect repellent, and sunscreen, although we will have extras on hand. 

Contact Linnea Rowse at lrowse@michiganaudubon.org or 517-580-7364 to RSVP. See update below regarding restrictions on workday participation.

This event is weather dependent. If an event is canceled, all those who RSVP will receive an email by 5 p.m. the day before. 

Please meet at the volunteer parking lot at 6001 Delta River Drive, Lansing, MI 48906. 

We hope to see you at the sanctuary!

Important Changes to Sanctuary Workdays in Response to COVID-19

Out of an abundance of caution and to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, we will be limiting workdays to eight volunteers. Now more than ever, it will be important to RSVP to Conservation Program Coordinator Linnea Rowse to ensure that we do not exceed the number of people that can safely work together on a project. We will take volunteers in the order their RSVPs are received. In the event that we have more than eight volunteers show up on a workday, participants who have not RSVPed may be asked to leave. For the safety of all participants, all volunteers must follow the wellness guidelines (provided below) at all times. We hope that these additional steps will not deter potential volunteers from doing their part for birds and the habitat that they depend on.

WELLNESS GUIDELINES

• Please stay home if you are not feeling well.
• Cough or sneeze into your elbow or tissue and wash your hands immediately afterward.
• Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly for a minimum of 20 seconds with soap and water. If no soap is available, use a hand sanitizer of at least 60% alcohol content.
• Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands.
• Practice social distancing, maintaining a distance of at least six feet from your fellow volunteers.

Again, we encourage everyone to keep informed of developments, as this situation is rapidly evolving. 

Michigan Audubon will continue to follow and adhere to recommendations issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Any additional changes to our programs and activities will be posted on our website, www.michiganaudubon.org. General inquiries may be directed to Michigan Audubon at birds@michiganaudubon.org.