Tasha studied the population dynamics and habitat use of small mammals, specifically northern short-tailed shrews, mice and meadow voles. Because very little research has been done on northern short-tailed shrews, Tasha focused primarily on this species to better understand their preferred habitats.
Blanding’s turtles are Indiana state endangered semi-aquatic turtles that rely on multiple habitats for foraging, laying eggs and breeding. Liam and Tyler trapped and attached radio tags to four female and two male Blanding’s turtles to better understand their habitat usage and behavior in hopes of better protecting them.
Both Mira and Ruby worked with Merry Lea staff and volunteers to band songbirds and near passerines (a group of birds that includes woodpeckers) to contribute to the continent-wide project, Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship (MAPS). This project collects and analyzes data from bird banding stations across North America to understand how habitat, weather, and climate change impact bird populations and to assess patterns in birds’ ranges and survivorship.
In 1964, the same year the Beatles played at the Indiana State Fair on their first America tour, Lee and Mary Jane Rieth acquired the first piece of land that would become the pioneering plot of Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center of Goshen College.
The newest issue of The Merry Leaflet gives an inside look into the fun-filled Nature Fest, a spring celebration where multiple Merry Lea program areas came together to pull off. We honor the master's in environmental education cohort that graduated in May and pay tribute to one of Merry Lea's founders, Mary Jane Rieth.
Learn more about the bird banding research conducted at Merry Lea: we will introduce you to two young birds banded at Merry Lea in past years in July.
When Andy Rieth was a young boy growing up, he would often spend a week at his aunt’s and uncle’s house on the lake with his close cousins. They would wake when the sun came up, swim and fish all day long, and run through acres and acres of the wooded land.
Bird banding research has been a highlight during the summers at Merry Lea since 2001. Staff and volunteers wake up very early in the morning to learn more about the flying inhabitants of Merry Lea. However, due to safety restrictions related to COVID-19, we are not banding this summer in order to protect both the human team and the birds.
This newsletter features our very own Kerry Goodrich, who celebrated 40 years of service as Merry Lea's property supervisor this past year. Hear about the many ways our volunteers contribute to Merry Lea, including the experiences of Julie Davidson, who has been with us for 20 years. If you've ever had food from Merry Lea Sustainable Farm, you know how tasty it is - we share a couple recipes that you can make while you learn about the many ways our farm's food enriches our programs and people.
You don’t need to travel for this year’s New York Fashion Week in the middle of a winter storm – not to mention during a global pandemic – to catch the latest fashion. See what styles and trends our Nature Preschoolers have to offer for winter 2021.
