Looking west across Eagle Lake at the Peter and Gwyneth Schroeder Tract.

Through your bountiful donations, growth at our Phyllis Haehnle Memorial Sanctuary was made possible this year with the acquisition of a 25-acre parcel of land. The area which consists of former cropland, wetlands, and lake bottom, will further expand the reach we have in protecting birds and the habitats they depend on.

Friends and family gather for a private dedication ceremony on Oct. 16.

Although this acquisition was possible through gifts made by many individuals and organizations, John and Cyndi Woollam were exceptionally generous. John and Cyndi requested the parcel be named the Peter and Gwyneth Schroeder Tract in honor of John’s university physics teacher and life-long mentor, Dr. Peter Schroeder.

“Only long after graduating and well into a career, did I learn of Peter and Gwyneth’s deep love of nature and their desires for preservation of the environment,” John wrote. “This Peter and Gwyneth Schroeder Tract is dedicated to their life-time interest in nature and its conservation, including their love of birds and flowers and the habitats where they live.”

John Woollam shares stories about Dr. Peter Schroeder at the dedication ceremony.

Thank you to the Haehnle Sanctuary Land Acquisition Subcommittee who played a pivotal role in coordinating the purchase of this property and thank you to everyone who made gifts toward this campaign. Michigan Audubon and Jackson Audubon Society will continue to work to grow this beautiful sanctuary for the benefit of birds and people.

For more information about the Peter and Gwyneth Schroeder Tract, please visit www.haehnlesanctuary.org.