Here's a fungus photographed on the last day of 2021 at the Laura Hare Preserve at Turtle Bend. Thanks to our site steward Paul for these shots! Paul notes, "A member of the IN-Nature Facebook Group identified them as Trametes gibbosa and said that they often have algae growing on them, making the green color." #whoknew #fungifriday #scienceinnature #lookdown #fungifridays #fungi #fungusamongus #fungiofinstagram #mushroomsofinstagram #trametes #mushroom #shroom #turtlebend #lauraharepreserveatturtlebend #parkecountyIN #protectedforest #protectedwoods #fruitingbody #naturephotography #nature #winternature #winterhike #winterhikes #hikingindiana #exploremore #indianasveryown #indiananature #centralindianalandtrust #cilti January 21, 2022 Continuing our Walk your Dog Month theme for #ThrowbackThursday, here's @brookekilley with her sweet dogs during a late summer hike through Fred and Dorothy Meyer Nature Preserve. Thanks for keeping them leashed in natural areas like these! #ThrowbackThurs #TBT #NationalWalkYourDogMonth #WalkYourDogMonth #NationalWalkYourDogMonth2022 #WalkYourDogMonth2022 #nodogleftinside #happytrails #meyerpreserve #hikemore #fredanddorothymeyernaturepreserve #naturepreserve #nature #meyernaturepreserve #forestedland #protectedwoods #protectedforest #exploremore #seeyouonthetrail #getoutthere #hikingindiana #naturemoment #lovedogs #dogslovenature #dogslovehiking #doglove #dogsandnature #centralindianalandtrust #cilti January 20, 2022 Jan. 21 (Friday) is Squirrel Appreciation Day, so here's a blissful squirrel moment in celebration. Enjoy this footage from our trail cam, taken last spring at Meltzer Woods. @indiana_wildlife_fed #SquirrelAppreciationDay #SquirrelAppreciationDay2022 #wildlifewednesday #wildlifewednesdays #MeltzerWoods #MeltzerWoodsNaturePreserve #squirrel #wildlife #trailcam #wildlifecam #trailcamera #squirrels #indianawildlife #crittercam #squirrelsofinstagram #IndianaWildlifeFederation #IndianaNature #IWF #protectedland #conservation #centralindiana #landtrust #myindiana #protectedwoods #oldgrowthforest #nationalnaturallandmark #centralindianalandtrust #cilti January 19, 2022 Let's keep it going with "salamander month" (why not?)! This southern two-lined salamander was found in the creekbed at the Laura Hare Preserve at Blossom Hollow last April. According to Indiana Herp Atlas, these little salamanders require rocky streams that hold some water throughout the entire year. In larval form they feed on aquatic invertebrates. The adults' diet consists of terrestrial invertebrates found while foraging around their streams. @indiana_wildlife_fed #amphibians #salamandersofindiana #salamandersofinstagram #habitat #protectedhabitat #landprotection #amphibiansofinstagram #amphibiansofindiana #landtrust #crittertuesday #crittertues #BlossomHollow #salamander #southerntwolinedsalamander #critter #critters #salamanders #lauraharepreserveatblossomhollow #naturepreserve #nature #forestedland #protectedwoods #protectedforest #exploremore #hikingindiana #naturemoment #lookdown #centralindianalandtrust #cilti January 18, 2022 On this day, we honor the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., and consider the work that needs to be done to make outdoor spaces accessible and safe for everyone, as we work to protect nature. "Join with the Earth and each other, to bring new life to the land, to restore the waters, to refresh the air, to renew the forests, to care for the plants, to protect the creatures, to celebrate the seas, to rejoice in the sunlight, to sing the song of the stars, to recall our destiny, to renew our spirits, to reinvigorate our bodies, to recreate the human community, to promote justice and peace, to love our children and love one another, to join together as many and diverse expressions of one loving mystery, for the healing of the Earth and the renewal of all life." (Quote attributed to Martin Luther King, Jr.) #natureforall #landforall #martinlutherkingjrday #martinlutherkingjrday2022 #land4all #nature4all January 17, 2022 For folks in Marion and Hamilton Counties... check out the River Assessment Field Team volunteer opportunity offered by our partner organizations! Training is available to learn how to help sample water quality of the White River and its tributaries. #whiteriverIN #repost @connerprairie Media Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/CYW6ca_OPdi/ Join us for the next White River Alliance and Festival RAFT Sampling Event on January 23 from 10A - 4P at Conner Prairie! Link in bio. The River Assessment Field Teams (RAFTs) are individuals, family members, or small groups of friends, colleagues, or neighbors that are willing to donate time to help strategically assess local water quality. RAFT sampling events occur at least once a month. Each event targets one of three areas along the White River or its tributaries in Marion or Hamilton Counties. Citizen science is a powerful tool to understand environmental conditions and help make positive change! Become a RAFT volunteer through the link in our bio! ( #📷 @connerprairie ) January 14, 2022 January is Walk Your Dog Month! So it's a good time to feature some #ThrowbackThursday shots of dogs enjoying our nature preserves. Here's @lanaloveco with her cute westie, Charlie, getting ready to hit the trail last fall at Fred and Dorothy Meyer Nature Preserve. Dogs are welcome at our public preserves. Keep them leashed and clean up after them, that's all we ask! #ThrowbackThurs #TBT #NationalWalkYourDogMonth #WalkYourDogMonth #NationalWalkYourDogMonth2022 #WalkYourDogMonth2022 #nodogleftinside #happytrails #meyerpreserve #hikemore #fredanddorothymeyernaturepreserve #naturepreserve #nature #meyernaturepreserve #forestedland #protectedwoods #protectedforest #exploremore #winterhikes #seeyouonthetrail #getoutthere #winterhike #January #hikingindiana #naturemoment #lovedogs #centralindianalandtrust #cilti January 13, 2022 Raccoons and their social lives! (The second clip has a total "I meant to do that" moment.) @Indiana_wildlife_fed @ourwaterways #wildlifewednesday #wildlifewednesdays #oliverswoods #urbanpreserve #urbannature #riverinenaturepreserve #riverpreserve #wildlife #trailcam #wildlifecam #trailcamera #wildlifecamera #indianawildlife #urbanwildlife #ourwaterways #IndianaNature #PartnersfortheWhiteRiver #FriendsoftheWhiteRiver #IndianaWildlifeFederation #IWF #WhiteRiverIN #MyWhiteRiver #ReconnectingToOurWaterways #WhiteRiverAlliance #PulliamTrust #raccoonsofinstagram #NinaMasonPulliamCharitableTrust #raccoons #CentralIndianaLandTrust #CILTI January 12, 2022 Let's keep the salamanders coming on Critter Tuesday. This Eastern red-backed salamander was found under cardboard last January during a cleanup at White River Bluffs. According to Indiana Herp Atlas, this is the most widespread and abundant salamander in Indiana. Eastern red-backed salamanders are found in woodlands with moist soil and cover. Very secretive critters, they hide under logs, bark, rocks, leaves, and the aforementioned cardboard. They feed on terrestrial invertebrates, and have been known to cannibalize their own eggs and juveniles. @indiana_wildlife_fed #amphibians #salamandersofindiana #salamandersofinstagram #habitat #protectedhabitat #landprotection #amphibiansofinstagram #amphibiansofindiana #landtrust #crittertuesday #crittertues #meyerpreserve #salamander #slimysalamander #critter #critters #salamanders #whiteriverbluffs #naturepreserve #nature #whiteriverIN #forestedland #protectedwoods #protectedforest #exploremore #hikingindiana #naturemoment #lookdown #centralindianalandtrust #cilti January 11, 2022 Good advice from our sister land trust, Red-tail Conservancy. #winterhiking Repost @fortheland Media Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/CYZw7xpP7Oz/ We saw some sunshine peeking through the clouds today! When hiking in frigid weather, consider these tips for a safe and enjoyable experience: wear layers, a hat, and gloves to keep warm; remember not all pets have thick fur for a below freezing walk; pick trails out of treecover on very windy days. #HappyTrails January 11, 2022 Though our national bird was once a federal- and state-endangered species, it has staged a marvelous comeback. According to the DNR, the 20th century didn't see a successful bald eagle nest in Indiana until 1991. But now their status is secure. Bald eagles have been sighted at many of our preserves, including Mossy Point, Burnett Woods, Browning Marsh, Blue Bluff and Oliver's Woods. Note: Please give them space if you do see them. This photo was taken with a telephoto lens. Fun fact from @cornellbirds: these birds often go after other hunters' catches. A bald eagle will harass an osprey until until drops its prey in midair, so the eagle can grab it. A bald eagle might even snatch a fish directly out of an osprey’s talons. Mammals (including people) can also lose prey to this kind of piracy as they fish! @indiana_wildlife_fed #whoknew #funfact #savetheeaglesday #savetheeaglesday2022 #baldeagle #successstory #protectedland #baldeagles #eaglesofinstagram #eaglesofindiana #thebaldeagle #nationalbird #protected #wildlifeprotection #endangeredspecies #wildlife #mywhiteriver #whiteriverIN #indianawildlifefederation #iwf #IndianaNature #eagle #conservation #environment #centralindiana #landtrust #myindiana #centralindianalandtrust #cilti January 10, 2022 The Trek our Trails challenge is complete, but the preserves are still there for the visiting! So glad that folks enjoyed getting out and exploring last year. #TrekOurTrails2021 Repost @lanaloveco Perhaps the truth depends on a walk around the lake. - Wallace Stevens Thank you @centralindianalandtrust for the Trek our Trails 2021 Challenge! It was so much fun to grab my pup @wellnesswestie , my friends, or my partner, and set out on adventures in Indiana’s most beautiful protected lands. Time in nature is one of the most restorative things for the soul. May you always find time for it. ( #📷 @lanaloveco ) January 7, 2022 Why not make it your New Year's Resolution to spend more time in nature this winter? Find your next adventure at the link on our bio. (Photo shows a snowy January day at one of our preserves, 19 years ago.) #TBT #ThrowbackThursday #ThrowbackThurs #wintryscene #NewYearsResolution #nature #resolution #findyouradventure #NewYearsResolutionWeek #NewYear #winterscene #snowyscene #climatechange #winter #snowscene #snow #signsofcilti #signofcilti #protectedwoods #trees #hikeIndiana #winterhike #naturewalk #getoutthere #winterhiking #hikeinallseasons #seeyouonthetrail #centralindianalandtrust #cilti January 6, 2022 This Wildlife Wednesday happens to fall on National Bird Day! So we're featuring a trail cam compilation showing some of our preserves' avian residents. In order of appearance: Turkey at Glacier's End (September) Crow at Glacier's End (June) Great Blue Heron at Meltzer Woods (June) Brown Thrasher at Oliver's Woods (June) According to @cornellbirds, brown thrashers are a bit elusive. To see one, look in the underbrush of tangled thickets, hedgerows or forest edges. Listen for them rummaging through the leaf litter in dense vegetation. Come spring, the males will climb higher to sing from exposed perches. They are quintessential mimics, with more than 1,100 song types! "The male sings a loud, long series of doubled phrases with no definite beginning or end, described by some people as 'plant a seed, plant a seed, bury it, bury it, cover it up, cover it up, let it grow, let it grow, pull it up, pull it up, eat it, eat it.'" @Indiana_wildlife_fed @ourwaterways #whoknew #nationalbirdday #nationalbirdday2022 #birdsong #wildlifewednesday #wildlifewednesdays #birds #birdwatching #birdsofinstagram #trailcam #riverinenaturepreserve #riverpreserve #wildlife #wildlifecam #trailcamera #wildlifecamera #indianawildlife #brownthrasher #turkey #IndianaNature #PartnersfortheWhiteRiver #FriendsoftheWhiteRiver #WhiteRiverIN #MyWhiteRiver #crow #avianlife #heron #crittercam #CentralIndianaLandTrust #CILTI January 5, 2022 We are back with Critter Tuesday. Here's a Northern slimy salamander from Fred and Dorothy Meyer Nature Preserve, photographed late November. According to Indiana Herp Atlas, Northern slimy salamanders typically inhabit rocky woodlands and are found along small rocky streams. They shelter under bark, logs, and rocks and are rarely found in the open during the day. They dine on a variety of terrestrial invertebrates, with particular fondness for ants and beetles. #amphibians #salamandersofindiana #salamandersofinstagram #habitat #protectedhabitat #landprotection #amphibiansofinstagram #amphibiansofindiana #landtrust #crittertuesday #crittertues #meyerpreserve #salamander #slimysalamander #critter #critters #salamanders #fredanddorothymeyernaturepreserve #naturepreserve #nature #meyernaturepreserve #forestedland #protectedwoods #protectedforest #exploremore #hikingindiana #naturemoment #lookdown #centralindianalandtrust #cilti January 4, 2022 It's the first business day of 2022, so we wish you (again) Happy New Year! We are looking forward to another good year in conservation. Stay tuned for announcements of some recent land protection wins. In the meantime, we hope you are walking into 2022 with your wonder intact. Nature is here for you in every season. (Photo by Karen Seiler.) #happynewyear #newyear #2022 #wonder #natureswonders #winterwalks #winterwalk #wintryscene #winternature #savingland #habitatprotection #protectinghabitat #protectingland #land4all #nature4all #landforall #natureforall #wintersbeauty #winter #wintrynature #nature #naturesbeauty #naturemoments #happy2022 #landprotection #conservation #centralindiana #landtrust #centralindianalandtrust #cilti January 3, 2022 Our version of Baby New Year: "baby" with baby tree. OK she's really 4 years old, not a baby any longer. She trekked out with her dad (our executive director) to check on trees planted at Wallace F. Holladay Preserve at Ameriplex. The little red oak sapling next to her is doing just fine. Wishing everyone a flourishing New Year, with many nature moments! #happynewyear #newyearseve #babynewyear #babytree #naturemoments #happy2022 #redoak #nativetrees #sapling #treeplanting #carbonmitigation #plantmoretrees #trees #amilliontrees #treesforthewin #plantamilliontrees #climatechangemitigation #naturepreserve #forest #protectedforest #forests #woods #landprotection #conservation #centralindiana #landtrust #centralindianalandtrust #cilti December 31, 2021 A photo from last February, taken at Meltzer Woods. Will the winter of 2022 bring snow? Here's hoping... #TBT #ThrowbackThursday #ThrowbackThurs #MeltzerWoods #oldgrowthforest #nationalnaturallandmark #protectedforest #protectedland #habitatprotection #MeltzerWoodsNaturePreserve #winterscene #snowyscene #climatechange #winter #missingwinter #wintryscene #snowscene #snow #missingsnow #protectedwoods #trees #hikeIndiana #winterhike #naturewalk #getoutthere #winterhiking #hikeinallseasons #seeyouonthetrail #centralindianalandtrust #cilti December 30, 2021 Here's a mashup of daytime mink activity at Oliver's Woods, thanks to our trail cam. If you'd rather not see a mink defecating, just watch the first ten seconds. We catch a fair amount of mink poopage on video. It's nature, folks! @Indiana_wildlife_fed @ourwaterways #minkmashup #lifeontheriver #mink #minkvideo #wildlifewednesday #wildlifewednesdays #minkpooping #minky #minkofinstagram #trailcam #riverinenaturepreserve #riverpreserve #wildlife #wildlifecam #trailcamera #wildlifecamera #indianawildlife #protectedwaterway #ourwaterways #IndianaNature #PartnersfortheWhiteRiver #FriendsoftheWhiteRiver #WhiteRiverIN #MyWhiteRiver #NinaMasonPulliamCharitableTrust #minksofinstagram #minks #crittercam #CentralIndianaLandTrust #CILTI December 29, 2021 Do you love snails as much as we do? This Eastern whitelip (we think?) was just moseying along the forest floor at Meltzer Woods one summer day. According to iNaturalist, Neohelix albolabris was the first land snail to be named by an American-born naturalist, Thomas Say, in 1817. It is one of the largest native land snails in North America. In the northern part of its range, it can grow to have shells 30mm in diameter (well over an inch). Also, this species of snail is featured in Elisabeth Tova Bailey's beautifully written memoir, The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating. #welovesnails #crittertuesday #crittertues #thesoundofawildsnaileating #naturememoir #naturememoirs #lookdown #critter #critters #snail #snails #easternwhitelipsnail #mollusk #snailsofindiana #snailsofinstagram #meltzerwoods #meltzerwoodsnaturepreserve #naturepreserve #oldgrowthforest #nationalnaturallandmark #forestedland #protectedwoods #protectedforest #habitat #protectedhabitat #landprotection #cutesnail #landtrust #centralindianalandtrust #cilti December 28, 2021 Where does your money really go when you use our carbon calculator to offset your travel miles? It stays right here in Indiana, to be used for tree plantings like the one shown here in 2020. Our stew crew uses the tree planter they call "Aldo" to get trees in the ground efficiently. This reforestation work is strategic. The goal is to expand and buffer Central Indiana's natural areas--which is good for both climate and habitat. This is what our Million Tree Initiative is all about. Want to be a part of it? Offset the carbon from your holiday travel miles at our website. Plug your mileage in at conservingindiana.org/carbon-calculator to see how many trees would offset your airline or car travel. Then make your contribution. We'll take it from there. #stewcrew #notesfromthefield #climatemitigation #carboncalculator #treeplanting #carbonmitigation #mitigatingclimatechange #climatechange #plantmoretrees #offsetyourcarbon #offsetyourtravel #offsettingcarbon #trees #treesforclimatemitigation #amilliontrees #treesforthewin #plantamilliontrees #mitigateclimatechange #climatechangemitigation #naturepreserve #forest #protectedforest #forests #woods #landprotection #conservation #centralindiana #landtrust #centralindianalandtrust #cilti December 27, 2021 Indiana's beautiful nature preserves and state parks represent a legacy of nature protected. It's a legacy that will outlive us all. Richard Lieber (1869-1944), father of Indiana State Parks, said: “Our parks and preserves are not mere picnicking places. They are rich storehouses of memories and reveries. They are guides and counsels to the weary and faltering in spirit. They are bearers of wonderful tales to him who will listen; a solace to the aged and an inspiration to the young.” We are proud to be protect the natural world in this tradition, and grateful for the support of people like you! Wishing you and yours a lovely holiday season. #holidaygiving #naturepreserves #naturalworld #naturesbeauty #richardlieber #indianastateparks #stateparks #naturepreserve #conservation #environment #nature #grateful #gratitude #holidays #protectinghabitat #centralindiana #protectingland #landtrust #sustainability #landprotection #centralindianalandtrust #cilti December 24, 2021 Often in the past, December has been the month for a member open house celebrating the "conservation wins" of the year. Shown here: In 2018 we marked the expansion of Mossy Point in Parke County. Its sandstone canyon, rocky creek bed and unspoiled wooded areas make it one of the most beautiful places we've ever protected. #TBT #ThrowbackThursday #ThrowbackThurs #mossypoint #mossypointnaturepreserve #conservation #landprotection #naturepreserve #naturalbeauty #nature #protectedwoods #parkecountyIndiana #celebrating #partiesthatwere #celebration #habitatprotection #protectingland #protectedforest #protectedland #landtrust #centralindiana #centralindianalandtrust #cilti December 23, 2021 For Wildlife Wednesday today, we bring you a very brief glimpse of a river otter at Oliver's Woods. Our trail cam caught these images last month. According to the Indiana DNR, these amazing animals can hold their breath for 8 minutes. They eat fish, crayfish, mussels, frogs, salamanders, turtles, and even ducks and other birds. Though once state-endangered, river otters were released in Indiana in the late 1990s. Only 303 otters were released. The reintroduction was such a success that the river otter was removed from the state-endangered list in 2005. @Indiana_wildlife_fed @ourwaterways @indianadnr #successstory #lifeontheriver #riverotter #otter #wildlifewednesday #wildlifewednesdays #riverotters #otters #ottersofinstagram #trailcam #riverinenaturepreserve #riverpreserve #wildlife #wildlifecam #trailcamera #wildlifecamera #indianawildlife #protectedwaterway #ourwaterways #IndianaNature #PartnersfortheWhiteRiver #FriendsoftheWhiteRiver #WhiteRiverIN #MyWhiteRiver #NinaMasonPulliamCharitableTrust #ottersofindiana #crittercam #CentralIndianaLandTrust #CILTI December 22, 2021 Marking the shortest day of the year today. Whether you love winter or hate it, there is always beauty to be found in nature. #solstice #wintersolstice #sunrise #nature #winterbeauty #wintersbeauty #happysolstice #shortestday #wintersunrise #protectedland #landprotection #protectedforest #protectedwoods #habitatprotection #land4all #nature4all #landforall #natureforall #naturesbeauty #winterwalk #winter #beautifulwinter #winterscene #centralindianalandtrust #cilti December 21, 2021 Environmental problems such as extreme weather and the decline in wildlife can feel daunting. But according to the @LandTrustAlliance’s most recent Census, land trusts across the country are making a critical difference! #GainingGroundUSA #Climate #landconservation #repost @LTAlliance Media Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/CXOpth3rhUS/ The Land Trust Alliance released a new report today finding that 61 million acres were conserved by land trusts as of year-end 2020—an increase of 6.18 million acres since 2015. This has been a landmark year for visitors to our nation’s land trusts with over more than 16.7 million visitors to land trust properties. During a national pandemic, land trusts provided solace for many Americans. That’s why the Alliance is launching a new tool to make it easy for anyone across the country to locate a land trust near them. Take a look at how the land trust community is gaining ground by checking out our new Find a Land Trust website! ( #📷 @ltalliance ) December 21, 2021 Do you love birds? Want to support land protection in Central Indiana? Then we've got the perfect gift for the coffee drinker on your list. Wood Warbler Coffee is a locally-owned small batch coffee roaster offering ethically sourced coffee... that tastes delicious. It's certified bird-friendly, so you can give it (and drink it) in good conscience! We are a conservation partner of @wood.warbler.coffee, so we receive 10 percent of sales of Central Indiana Land Trust Bird Song Blend. #drinkbirdfriendly #birdfriendlycoffee #holidaygiving #winwin #coffeeforthewin #drinkingoodconscience #smallbatch #freshroasted #tastethegoodness #coffee #goodcoffee #ethicallysourced #birdfriendly #woodwarblercoffee #conservation #environment #shadegrowncoffee #certifiedbirdfriendly #nature #wildlifefriendly #protectinghabitat #centralindiana #protectingland #landtrust #sustainability #landprotection #centralindianalandtrust #cilti Media Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/CWJiBjCLF9P/ @wood.warbler.coffee December 20, 2021 And the winner is... The Trek our Trails Challenge is complete, with Shelly A. receiving the lucky spin of the wheel! Thirty-plus folks completed this year-long challenge, visiting all five of our most-popular nature preserves. And many more visitors hiked at least one of these special places. We've enjoyed seeing your photos, and we hope you had a good time getting off the beaten path with CILTI! Keep exploring, because every season offers something new on the trail. #trekourtrails2021 #trekourtrails #andthewinneris #naturepreserves #protectedwoods #protectedforest #naturepreserve #land4all #nature4all #landforall #natureforall #hikeinallseasons #visitapreserve #winterhike #exploremore #getoutside #getoutthere #hikeindiana #ontherighttrail #exploreindiana #hikingindiana #naturelovers #congratulations #congrats #natureisabalm #naturewalk #seeyouonthetrail #centralindianalandtrust #cilti December 17, 2021 Near record high temps have some of us wishing for a real winter. Here's a look back at a lovely snowy morning along the White River. Here's hoping we see some of this in coming months, in spite of climate change. Want to do something about climate change? You can offset carbon from your holiday travel miles at our website. Plug your mileage in at conservingindiana.org/carbon-calculator to see how many trees we need to plant to offset your travel. #winterscene #snowyscene #climatemitigation #carboncalculator #treeplanting #carbonmitigation #mitigatingclimatechange #climatechange #winter #missingwinter #wintryscene #snowscene #snowyriver #mywhiteriver #whiteriverIN #sunrise #snowysunrise #wintersunrise #snow #missingsnow #plantmoretrees #offsetyourcarbon #offsetyourtravel #offsettingcarbon #protectedwoods #trees #treesforclimatemitigation #centralindianalandtrust #cilti December 16, 2021 Our stew crew teammates have been putting final touches on a trail extension. They've been building new trail at Fred and Dorothy Meyer Nature Preserve, a beautiful Morgan County preserve. Here @whocanvankan paints a directional arrow on a tree alongside the new trail. Thanks to @duke_energy for funding this expansion! #stewcrewrocks #notesfromthefield #trailbuilding #trailblazing #stewcrew #trailexpansion #newtrail #blazingtrail #blazingnewtrail #happytrails #meyerpreserve #hikemore #fredanddorothymeyernaturepreserve #naturepreserve #nature #meyernaturepreserve #forestedland #protectedwoods #protectedforest #exploremore #autumnhikes #seeyouonthetrail #getoutthere #fallhike #hikingindiana #naturemoment #centralindianalandtrust #cilti December 15, 2021 It's National Salamander Day! Not really, but it should be. These fascinating (dare we say cute?) critters need their day! Here is a Northern zigzag salamander found at Fred and Dorothy Meyer Nature Preserve. According to Indiana Herp Atlas, the Northern zigzag prefers hilly, deciduous forest and is often found in shaded ravines and wet, rocky areas. These elusive amphibians are almost always found under rocks, logs, and leaf-litter. They are usually found during the spring and late fall, retreating underground during winter and summer. They dine on insects and other invertebrates, including spiders, beetles, mites, slugs, and earthworms. #crittertuesday #whoknew #lookdown #critter #critters #salamander #salamanders #northernzigzagsalamangder #amphibians #salamandersofindiana #salamandersofinstagram #meyerpreserve #fredanddorothymeyernaturepreserve #naturepreserve #nature #meyernaturepreserve #forestedland #protectedwoods #protectedforest #habitat #protectedhabitat #landprotection #amphibiansofinstagram #amphibiansofindiana #landtrust #centralindianalandtrust #cilti December 14, 2021 Our member newsmagazine takes a deeper dive into the latest land protection efforts, such as our bat protection work at Wabash Reach. It features stories about Fred and Dorothy Meyer Nature Preserve and our partner organization, Friends of the White River. We also include an interview with Janet McCabe, deputy administrator of the EPA. Learn how our local work has national and global implications. The periodical is available at the link in our bio, from the News menu. To get this quarterly newsmagazine delivered to your mailbox, feel free to join: any contribution from $35 up will set you up with a membership! #landprotection #naturepreserve #naturepreserves #landtrust #joinus #Land4All #Nature4All #LandforAll #NatureforAll #wabashreach #wabashriver #behindthescenes #habitatprotection #batprotection #endangeredspecies #protectedhabitat #protectedwaterway #naturelovers #centralindianalandtrust #cilti December 13, 2021 Excited to accept grant funding from @jccfin, Johnson County Community Foundation, to go towards trail building at Glacier's End in 2022! Shown here are our assistant director Stacy Cachules @stacyca with Stephanie Fox, JCCF grants program officer. Thanks so much for the support! #JohnsonCountyCommunityFoundation #JohnsonCounty #JohnsonCountyIN #grantfunding #glaciersend #glaciersendnaturepreserve #trailbuilding #trailblazing #generosity #giving #funding #newtrails #newtrail #blazingnewtrail #blazingtrail #buildingtrail #naturepreserve #nature4all #land4all #natureforall #landforall #trails #happytrails #makingtrail #thankyou #grateful #landtrust #centralindiana #centralindianalandtrust #cilti December 10, 2021 This time of year, our stew crew is wrapping up monitoring on conservation easements. These are legal agreements with landowners to place voluntary land-use restrictions on a property. The terms of the easement remain intact if the property is sold or bequeathed. The land trust's role (when we hold a conservation easement) is to monitor that the conservation values are being upheld. These privately held preserves are not open to the public. Here's a peek at one, from a rainy monitoring day several years back. #TBT #ThrowbackThursday #ThrowbackThurs #notesfromthefield #stewcrew #stewcrewrocks #conservation #conservationeasement #naturepreserve #nature #landprotection #habitatprotection #protectingland #protectedforest #protectedland #landtrust #centralindiana #centralindianalandtrust #cilti December 9, 2021 Congrats to this Franklin College student! Glad we are able to provide "living laboratories" for the next generation of scientists. Blossom Hollow is not just a beautiful place to hike--it is a wonderfully biodiverse environment for these types of studies. #Repost @franklincollegebiology Big shout out to Evan Hosea (‘22), who presents his senior seminar later today! “Population ecology of Conopholis americana at Blossom Hollow Nature Preserve” ( #📷 @franklincollegebiology ) December 8, 2021 This Wildlife Wednesday video clip is just begging for some captions. Anyone care to comment with some raccoon dialog or thought bubbles? Keep it G rated though! @Indiana_wildlife_fed @ourwaterways #wildlifewednesday #urbanpreserve #urbannature #riverinenaturepreserve #riverpreserve #wildlife #trailcam #wildlifecam #trailcamera #wildlifecamera #indianawildlife #urbanwildlife #protectedwaterway #ourwaterways #IndianaNature #PartnersfortheWhiteRiver #FriendsoftheWhiteRiver #IndianaWildlifeFederation #IWF #WhiteRiverIN #MyWhiteRiver #ReconnectingToOurWaterways #WhiteRiverAlliance #PulliamTrust #whiteRiver #NinaMasonPulliamCharitableTrust #raccoon #CentralIndianaLandTrust #CILTI December 8, 2021 Who's ready for a #TreeIDTuesday quiz? These were all native trees that @whocanvankan covered in Saturday's Winter Tree ID hike at Oliver's Woods. In the first frame: Corky bark defines this trunk. Second frame: These common trees have been reported as fossils from the late Cretaceous and early Tertiary of North America. In the third frame: A native fruit tree. (Note the alligator-like blocks.) Do you know what any of these trees are, based on their bark and our little hints? Comment with your answers and we'll let you know tomorrow who's right! #TreeIDTues #treeidentification #protectedwoods #treebark #trees #treesforthewin #nativetreesofIndiana #treesofIndiana #TreeID #forest #forests #woods #protectingland #landprotection #centralindiana #winterinindiana #oliverswoods #oliverswoodsnaturepreserve #urbannaturepreserve #urbannature #mywhiteriver #whiteriverIN #naturepreserve #habitatprotection #conservation #landtrust #centralindianalandtrust #cilti December 7, 2021 Scenes from Saturday's Tree ID Hike at Oliver's Woods. A beautiful day to learn about winter tree identification. Stay tuned for tomorrow's #TreeIDTuesday post--we'll run a tree bark quiz! #TreeIDTues #treeidentification #protectedwoods #treebark #trees #treesforthewin #nativetreesofIndiana #treesofIndiana #TreeID #forest #forests #woods #protectingland #landprotection #centralindiana #winterinindiana #oliverswoods #oliverswoodsnaturepreserve #urbannaturepreserve #urbannature #mywhiteriver #whiteriverIN #naturepreserve #habitatprotection #conservation #landtrust #centralindianalandtrust #cilti December 6, 2021 Did you participate in the Trek our Trails Challenge this year? There's still time to post or send your photos, but don't wait too long--we'll do the drawing soon! Details at the link in our bio. Last call... (Photo of Burnett Woods by Michael Twyman.) #trekourtrails2021 #trekourtrails #lastcall #seeyouonthetrail #avonindiana #nature #burnettwoods #burnettwoodsnaturepreserve #naturepreserve #protectedwoods #protectedforest #hikeindiana #landprotection #habitatprotection #protectedland #autumninindiana #autumnhike #fallhike #forest #hikingindiana #protectedhabitat #conservation #hendrickscounty #beautifulnature #blueskies #nothingbutblueskies #centralindiana #landtrust #centralindianalandtrust #cilti December 3, 2021 Back in 2011, the honeysuckle at Oliver's Woods was engulfing everything. This volunteer crew from Charles Schwab came in and got to work on it! Thank you to the many community partners and individual volunteers who have helped us with invasive control lo these many years. #TBT #ThrowbackThursday #ThrowbackThurs #InternationalDayofVolunteers #Internationalvolunteerday #volunteeroutside #volunteer #volunteers #volunteering #manyhands #gratitude #grateful #invasivespecies #oliverswoods #oliverswoodsnaturepreserve #urbannaturepreserve #urbannature #protectedwoods #mywhiteriver #whiteriverIN #naturepreserve #landprotection #protectedhabitat #habitatprotection #myindiana #conservation #centralindiana #landtrust #centralindianalandtrust #cilti December 2, 2021 An update on the potential impact of rolling back wetland protections. (Note: Our own Cliff Chapman will be on the All IN Indiana radio program at 1pm, talking about climate change.) #Repost @WFYI_Indy Media Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/CW4l0GfsF7Z/ Wetlands are good at trapping a lot of carbon dioxide in a small space. Now that the state is protecting fewer wetlands, it's possible more CO2 will get released into the air as they’re destroyed. There’s very little oxygen at the bottom of a natural wetland, which prevents things like leaf litter from decomposing as quickly and releasing carbon dioxide into the air. That makes them great carbon sinks. Sara McMillan is an associate professor at Purdue University and part of the legislature’s wetlands task force — which will make recommendations on how to regulate wetlands in Indiana. “They are incredibly effective per area. So you get so much more bang for your buck — if you think about it in that context of restoring or maintaining a wetland on a landscape — than you would any other conservation practice," she said. McMillan said the smaller, more disturbed wetlands that are no longer protected under Indiana law still have a lot of value — and they can even become more effective over time. Engineered wetlands — meant to replace the natural ones destroyed to develop land — don’t do as good of a job. Assistant professor Jake Hosen researches wetlands and hydrology at Purdue. He said, even in ideal conditions, it can take 20 to 100 years for a restored wetland to have the right plants and microbes to function well. Hosen said that’s one of the many reasons why it's important to protect the state’s natural wetlands. “If you want to sequester the most carbon and if you want to keep the carbon that's stored — and that's really what's critical — is the wetlands that we have now are doing their job right now," he said. Rebecca Thiele's story continues in the comment below and at wfyi.org/news or via our link in bio. #IndianaEnvironment #PurdueUniversity #CO2 #Wetlands ( #📷 @wfyi_indy ) December 1, 2021 Wood frog here making an announcement of gratitude! You showed up big for nature on #GivingTuesday. Thank you for spreading the word, sharing your generosity, and loving the natural world as we do! (Handsome wood frog filmed at Glacier's End by @phillipweldy.) #wildlifewednesday #wildlifewed #youmakeithappen #givingtuesday2021 #giving #generosity #grateful #nature #glaciersend #glaciersendnaturepreserve #naturepreserve #protectedwoods #protectedforest #thankyou #gratitude #landprotection #habitatprotection #protectedland #frogsofindiana #frogsofinstagram #woodfrog #forest #froggy #protectedhabitat #conservation #centralindiana #landtrust #centralindianalandtrust #cilti December 1, 2021 In 2020, we acquired the tree planting equipment that allows us to scale up our reforestation efforts. This drone shot shows just one of the forest gaps our stew crew planted in 2021. This was in Parke County, in a large forested block. Years from now, this view will be completely different, with the new forest virtually indistinguishable from the current one. Picture this replicated all over Central Indiana. That's what we're working toward: Expanding habitat for wildlife, while doing our part to mitigate the effects of climate change. Will you help? If you haven't yet, there's still time to be part of the #GivingTuesday movement! Follow the link in our bio to learn more and support this critical work. Thank you! #youmakeithappen #givingtuesday2021 #givingtues #giving #generosity #treeplanting #nature #notesfromthefield #trees #mitigatingclimatechange #protectedwoods #protectedforest #givingtuesday #climatemitigation #amilliontrees #landprotection #habitatprotection #protectedland #naturesbeauty #naturalarea #naturepreserve #forest #treeplantings #protectedhabitat #conservation #centralindiana #landtrust #centralindianalandtrust #cilti December 1, 2021 Kathryn, we agree! Thank you for helping us protect natural areas and keep them resilient and healthy, so this luna moth and many other beautiful creatures can thrive. Every gift goes toward this mission. #GivingTuesday is drawing to a close...and if you haven't yet, you can still join this global movement and show your love of nature! Go to the link in our bio to make your contribution. #youmakeithappen #givingtuesday2021 #givingtues #giving #generosity #lunamoth #nature #luna #beautifulluna #mothsofinstagram #protectedwoods #protectedforest #givingtuesday #naturesgifts #amilliontrees #landprotection #habitatprotection #protectedland #naturesbeauty #naturalarea #naturepreserve #forest #trees #protectedhabitat #conservation #centralindiana #landtrust #centralindianalandtrust #cilti December 1, 2021 The mourning warbler is one of many migratory birds found seasonally in places like Oliver's Woods. We restore habitat to offer a waystation for migrant birds flying from Panama or Columbia to Canada each spring--and the other way in fall. Oliver's Woods is an isolated greenspace in a busy commercial area, providing respite for birds on their long journey. And this land provides them crucial food as well. The birds' sustenance depends on native plants, which host the caterpillars they need to refuel. That’s why we work so hard to control invasive plants, while encouraging and planting native vegetation. If this is something you value, as Paul does, why not take a minute to give in support of this work? Go to the link in our bio to make your #GivingTuesday contribution. #youmakeithappen #givingtuesday2021 #giving #generosity #OliversWoods #OliversWoodsNaturePreserve #mourningwarbler #warblers #warblersofinstagram #migratorywarbler #protectedforest #protectedwoods #nativeplants #mywhiteriver #whiteriverIN #birds #birdsofinstagram #riverpreserve #landstewardship #nature4all #land4all #landprotection #protectedhabitat #conservation #centralindiana #landtrust #centralindianalandtrust #cilti November 30, 2021
Filter CategoriesAllNewsroomSort By DateTitleDate January 20, 2022 A Year in Nature In 2021, we offered a variety of ways to get out in nature throughout the year. From guided hikes... January 10, 2022 Be a Part of the Climate Solution If you traveled this holiday season, there's something you can do to lighten your footprint. Offset your travel miles... December 22, 2021 White River Docent Program Seeks Volunteers Have you ever attended one of CILTI’s guided hikes and thought that you might enjoy leading a hike yourself?...
