Little Traverse Conservancy

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Little Traverse Conservancy The mission of the Little Traverse Conservancy is to protect the natural diversity and beauty of northern Michigan
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Birdsong Passage Nature PreserveCarolyn Workman and Kurt Wacker recently protected a 13-acre wetland along the Inland Wa...
10/14/2026

Birdsong Passage Nature Preserve

Carolyn Workman and Kurt Wacker recently protected a 13-acre wetland along the Inland Waterway, near the Crooked River Locks. They had the opportunity to kayak through the preserve this past spring, when waters and reeds were high. They had not expected so many birds, and in spite of the many names for this preserve they had tried on, they both immediately loved the lightness and joy of Birdsong Passage. They also created the Workman Wacker Endowment to provide ongoing support to the Conservancy. We are so grateful to them for sharing their story of how they learned about LTC and how their adventures through our preserves led them to make these generous gifts.

“We are delighted and proud to offer LTC Birdsong Passage Nature Preserve for all our neighbors to pause and appreciate all the natural wildness that the Conservancy protects.” - Carolyn Workman and Kurt Wacker

Enjoy fall in northern Michigan with LTC! To learn more or register for events, visit landtrust.org/events or click the ...
10/09/2026

Enjoy fall in northern Michigan with LTC!

To learn more or register for events, visit landtrust.org/events or click the link in our bio.

A new 1,175-foot boardwalk (the length of four football fields!) was installed in July over the course of four days at t...
10/08/2026

A new 1,175-foot boardwalk (the length of four football fields!) was installed in July over the course of four days at this preserve. Eleven volunteers assisted seven staff members in building this boardwalk where the trail has been seasonally waterlogged for years. Volunteers and staff worked 140 hours, avoided one pop-up lightning storm, and hauled 18,000 pounds of lumber in 92-degree heat. The youngest volunteer was 20, and the oldest was 81. These are the details you won't think about when walking this trail. Instead, you might enjoy seeing the frogs in the water below you or watching a deer feeding in the wetland grass. Thank you to volunteers Pat Alguire, John Baker, Jeff Harmon, Terry Jackson, Walker and Zeke Martin, Peri McGuiness, Ted Newcomb, Marty Richardson, Stan Royalty, and Dan Wassmann.

These secretive hawks are easiest to spot in the fall during their migration. The rest of the year, the Sharp-shinned Ha...
10/06/2026

These secretive hawks are easiest to spot in the fall during their migration. The rest of the year, the Sharp-shinned Hawk is incredibly elusive. These hawks primarily reside in dense forest canopies where songbirds and mice are plentiful. The Sharp-shinned Hawk is the smallest hawk found in Canada and the United States, but when found, these birds put on an acrobatic show. The females grow to be about a third bigger than the males, which is typical for owls and hawks, but not common among other bird species.

These fast-flying predators will frequent bird feeders in search of songbirds. Sharp-shinned hawks get most of their food from the woods, but sometimes the allure of a bird feeder is too great. If that ever seems to be the case, it is best to take down the bird feeder for a couple of days. The hawk will eventually move on and find a new hunting ground.

Preserve Spotlight: Chaboiganing Preserve/ Indian Point Memorial Forest
The Chaboiganing Preserve / Indian Point Memorial Forest is a mixture of both open fields and woodlands making it a great habitat for mice, songbirds, and the Sharp-shinned Hawk. These contiguous preserves in Brutus, Michigan encompass over 480 acres. The preserves boast some of the largest old-growth red oaks in the northern Lower Peninsula with trees up to 150 years old.

Dan has been an LTC volunteer since 2010 helping as a land steward and helping with countless trail maintenance projects...
10/01/2026

Dan has been an LTC volunteer since 2010 helping as a land steward and helping with countless trail maintenance projects. Dan is also an experienced sawyer and saw trainer from his time with the Forest Service.

“Being a year-round trail adopter, I see the LTC preserves in all four seasons. Each one brings a different experience, like the squeak of snowshoes on a sub-zero winter day, the many, many bird calls in the spring, and the warm late evening sun on a summer saunter when time slows to the pace of your unhurried walk. But it’s hard to beat that moment in the fall when the trees are ablaze with their autumn colors and the entire canopy is cloaked in yellow, gold, and red. If you catch the sun just right, its filtered light bathes the whole forest floor with a surreal brightness that reflects off pure white birch bark and flickers with the slightest breeze. In those moments I’m brought to a standstill, as it’s more beauty than my eyes can take in and my senses can absorb. Pure northern Michigan.” - Dan Dueweke

The Serenity Acres Rentschler Family Nature PreserveEmery Rentschler sold his 90 acres of land in Mullett Township at a ...
09/28/2026

The Serenity Acres Rentschler Family Nature Preserve

Emery Rentschler sold his 90 acres of land in Mullett Township at a deeply discounted value so that it could become the Serenity Acres Rentschler Family Nature Preserve. “My great-grandfather loved his land for what it gave back to him,” Emery said. “I believe that’s why it now is where it was destined, and I couldn’t be happier.”

While there are no official trails, the new nature preserve provides forested habitat and a small creek. Intact tracts of land of this size near an inland lake are uncommon and will provide significant protection to nearby Mullet Lake and its watershed.

OUR COMMUNITY DID IT! The Hundred Acre Wood is Protected Forever.Less than three weeks ago, we reported that we were sti...
09/25/2026

OUR COMMUNITY DID IT! The Hundred Acre Wood is Protected Forever.

Less than three weeks ago, we reported that we were still fundraising for The Hundred Acre Wood: Ford Family and Friends Reserve just outside of Harbor Springs. LTC has now officially acquired these beloved 180 acres.

Thanks to an incredible outpouring of generosity, a $3 million fundraising campaign has been completed to make this protection possible.

This was truly a community effort. From Jeff and Karen Ford’s protection of the land for decades and generosity in donating 20 acres, to Stuart and Patty Bishop for making the lead gift, to every person who gave, shared the story, and believed in protecting this special place: Thank you. You made this happen.

Protecting farmland through conservation easements can be easy. In this case, it can also be newsworthy! IPR joined us e...
09/23/2026

Protecting farmland through conservation easements can be easy. In this case, it can also be newsworthy! IPR joined us earlier this month to celebrate the Boyer Family and their combined protection of 330 acres of family farmland. You can listen to the story, and John (pictured here), at this link: https://www.interlochenpublicradio.org/podcast/up-north-lowdown/2026-08-26/land-for-food-land-for-energy-land-for-data

Thank you for helping to protect the scenic and working landscape of northern Michigan!

Register for our events at landtrust.org/events or at the link in our bio. We hope to see you there!
09/22/2026

Register for our events at landtrust.org/events or at the link in our bio. We hope to see you there!

Address

3264 Powell Road
Harbor Springs, MI
49740

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4pm
Tuesday 8am - 4pm
Wednesday 8am - 4pm
Thursday 8am - 4pm
Friday 8am - 4pm

Telephone

+12313470991

Website

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