Sarett Nature Center

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Sarett Nature Center We provide quality environmental education for people of all ages in our community!
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With the onset of the fall color, we are also in the midst of the fall bird migration. One bird that is passing through ...
10/13/2026

With the onset of the fall color, we are also in the midst of the fall bird migration. One bird that is passing through right now is the White-throated Sparrow. Some of White-throated Sparrows will stick around throughout the winter, but most will continue on farther south. The White-throated Sparrow is named for the white feathers on its throat. They also have black and white stripes on the crown with yellow lores. There is a dark morph of the White-throated Sparrow where their crown stripes are black and tan and the yellow lores are very faint. They have a wonderful song that sounds like they are saying "Old Sam Peabody, Peabody" or if you are from Canada you might say it sound like they are saying " Oh Sweat Canada Canada". Be on the lookout for these beautiful sparrows over the next couple of weeks or even this winter.

Top photo by Camerauthor Photos on Unsplash

Bottom photo by Mike Mahler

Summer is fading, but keep those hummingbird feeders out!While our resident Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have headed south...
10/12/2026

Summer is fading, but keep those hummingbird feeders out!

While our resident Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have headed south, a stunning visitor might stop by through November: the Rufous Hummingbird.

Breeding in the Pacific Northwest and overwintering primarily in central and southern Mexico (though a growing number now winter in the Carolinas!), their migration route occasionally crosses right over the Midwest, giving us a rare chance to spot these copper-colored beauties, often described as the color of a "freshly minted penny," here in Southwest Michigan!

A few quick tips for fall hummingbirds:

- Leave feeders up: October and November are prime months for these late travelers and other winter vagrants.

- Nectar helps, it doesn't trap: Leaving food out won't stop their migration instinct; instead, it provides crucial energy for their long journey.

- Beat the frost: Consider using a heated hummingbird feeder to keep nectar flowing after freezing temperatures hit!

Thank you again to all our volunteers who helped out over the summer.This week we would like to give a shout out to all ...
10/04/2026

Thank you again to all our volunteers who helped out over the summer.

This week we would like to give a shout out to all our Butterfly House Volunteers! Attendants join us for a weekly scheduled shift in the butterfly house to greet visitors, answer questions, and help visitors follow our guidelines.

Our butterfly house is extremely popular with hundreds of visitors every summer. The volunteers in the butterfly house are indispensable and we can't thank you enough for all that you do!

Special shout out to our longest running butterfly house attendants: John and Jannine Lee, Kathy Manning, Caroline Duncan, Linda Sarratore, Jennifer Rose, and Pat Adams.

If you would like to become a volunteer at Sarett, contact our volunteer coordinator: [email protected]. Our next major volunteer event will be Sarett's Spooky Halloween on Saturday, October 24th!

Sarett's Voyageur canoe is at Pleasant Lake today to give rides to attendees at the Sauk Trail Festival at the Edwardsbu...
09/26/2026

Sarett's Voyageur canoe is at Pleasant Lake today to give rides to attendees at the Sauk Trail Festival at the Edwardsburg Area Historical Museum on Main Street. The canoe is a 35-foot replica of one used in the 1600s for fur trading.

The festival will be held on museum grounds from 10 am to 3 pm. It will feature several reenactors, speakers, music, an archaeological dig, crafts, and children's activities.

The event is FREE and food trucks will be on site.

A short walk along River Trail at Sarett Nature Center brings the nature enthusiast encounters with some nice wildflower...
09/25/2026

A short walk along River Trail at Sarett Nature Center brings the nature enthusiast encounters with some nice wildflower displays!

The most abundant are the asters, especially the shining aster pictured here. These asters have white petals and a yellow central disk. Honeybees commonly visit these.

Along the way you will see brightly colored golden rod species and turle head. Virgin’s bower is now easily spotted due to its fluffy seedheads. This vine is common in our wetlands. It is also known as wild clematis.

We have some great events coming up!
09/22/2026

We have some great events coming up!

If you haven’t explored our lesser-hiked trails across the street on the east side of Benton Center Road yet, you are tr...
09/20/2026

If you haven’t explored our lesser-hiked trails across the street on the east side of Benton Center Road yet, you are truly missing out on a stunning stretch of property!

Right now, the Pine-Oak Trail is putting on an absolute show. A hike along these sandy forest paths rewards visitors with gorgeous fall blooms, including a half-dozen species of asters mingling with seas of goldenrod. It's a fantastic area to catch pollinators taking advantage of late-season nectar sources.

Come out and enjoy the autumn colors before the autumn colors!

Thank you to all our volunteers who were a part of the Sarett team this Summer!This week we would like to give a special...
09/18/2026

Thank you to all our volunteers who were a part of the Sarett team this Summer!
This week we would like to give a special shout out to our Wednesday Stewards.

The focus this summer for the conservation stewardship work was bumblebee surveys. Participants joined us once a week to document bumble bee species in different habitats at Sarett. Bumble bee surveys are a great way to get a sense of ecosystem biodiversity as they are important pollinators for many different native plants.

Bumble bee species found: Two-spotted, Brown-belted, Common eastern, Lemon cuckoo, Half-black, Yellow, Black-and-gold

Special thanks to Abel Schimdt, Matthew Schulz, Annette Peters, and Sidney Steinberg for all your great work.

If you would like to become a stewardship volunteer, you are welcome to join us this fall! We have weekly and monthly options. Email [email protected] to participate or with any questions.

The Wednesday Stewards meet every week from 2 - 4 PM. Our next monthly meet-up's are Sunday 10/4 from 1-3 PM and Sunday 11/8 from 1-3 PM. Visit our website for more information.

Public disclaimer: No bumble bees were harmed during the surveys. The bumble bees are caught in collection tubes and added to a cooler bag with ice. Once the bumble bees are asleep, their species is assessed. After a brief period the bumble bees wake up and are released to go on their merry way.

Two and a half days left to bid on auction items in our Fall Online Auction! Is w**e your thing? We have a few great opt...
09/17/2026

Two and a half days left to bid on auction items in our Fall Online Auction!

Is w**e your thing? We have a few great options for any w**e lovers out there!

~WINE AND WILDERNESS~
During this unique experience, you and your friends will join Sarett Director, Nate Fuller, for a walk in the wild at the Portman Nature Preserve followed by w**e tasting at nearby Cody Kresta Winery. Nate spent over a decade documenting rare plants and animals on this property in an effort to secure funding to protect the property with Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy. You and your friends will get a private tour of this nature preserve's gravel hills and spring-fed lakes that make it not only an ecological gem but one of the most lovely hiking destinations in southwest Michigan.

~ST. JULIAN GIFT CARDS~
Visit St. Julian, the oldest w**ery in the state to raise a glass and enjoy a memorable w**e experience! This auction package includes two w**e tastings, offering the perfect opportunity to relax, sample a selection of w**es, and discover new favorites.

~TABOR HILL/ROUND BARN GIFT CARD~
Sip, savor, and discover something new with two w**e tastings from Moersch Hospitality Group, owners of Tabor Hill and Round Barn!

Address

2300 N Benton Center Road
Benton Harbor, MI
49022

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 1pm - 5pm

Telephone

+12699274832

Website

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