www.sycamorelandtrust.org

Winter 2014

Sycamore Land Trustpreserving our disappearing landscape

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Bats at BBBpage 6

Get close and personal: sign up for a Sycamore outing

pages 11–13

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Get your FREE Preserve Guide

on the coverThis prothonotary warbler has found its perfect and preferred natural habitat at Eagle Slough, a wooded wetland near Evansville. Its perch is a bald cypress, part of the remnant stand that makes Eagle Slough unique. The prothonotary is identified by its brilliant golden-yellow color and white undertail. The name refers to the bright yellow robes once worn by clerks to the pope. Photo by Steve Gifford2 3

W ood warblers are some of nature’s most colorful birds, and Eagle Slough Natural Area on Evansville’s south

side is one of the best places in southeast Indiana to find them in large numbers. With mature trees, abundant moisture, and proximity to the Ohio River flight path, Eagle Slough attracts over 30 species of colorful warblers during their spring and

fall migrations. During this time, the black-throated green warbler, Tennessee warbler, American redstart, magnolia

warbler, blackburnian warbler, chestnut-sided warbler, yellow-rumped warbler, and palm warbler are all common. Even in winter, you can usually find the yellow-rumped warbler—commonly referred to as the “butter-butt” because of the bright yellow patch of feathers at the base of its tail—at Eagle Slough. Since the opening of Eagle Slough about six years ago, hundreds of birding lists have

been posted on eBird, an online database of bird observations. By using these lists, we are able to pinpoint the prime times for viewing wood warblers as the last two weeks of April and the third week of September. Avid birders wait for powerful warm fronts to push birds up from the Gulf Coast states in the spring, knowing that the following day large numbers of warbler species will show up. In the fall, we wait for the opposite weather conditions. A strong cold front coming down from the north the third week in September will push hundreds of birds into Eagle Slough. So, where do you look? During migration, warblers can be found all along the main trail. Look for movement high in the tree canopy or among wild grape vines. These active little birds are foraging for insects among the leaves, so don’t expect long, easy views. Most of the time all you will get is a quick glance of color before they hop out of sight. Wood warblers are insect eaters so their prime feeding time is the first two hours after sunup. The best spot for viewing warblers at Eagle Slough is far and away the observation deck at the end of the main trail, which overlooks prime warbler habitat. Look for movement in the button bushes and the undergrowth.

Eagle Slough attracts warblers like a magnet

Eagle Slough boasts a very good breeding population of at least six warbler species. It’s almost a guarantee that during nesting season in the summer, you’ll find the yellow-throated warbler and the prothonotary warbler any time you visit the observation deck. Visit Eagle Slough during prime migration season and you’ll be rewarded with views of some of the most beautiful birds in North America. You’re also likely to meet the dedicated birders who visit Eagle Slough almost every day during this time. Perhaps the best way to experience these beautiful birds is to join one of the weekly bird hikes held at Eagle Slough during April, May, and September. The schedule is updated monthly at www.wbu.com/evansville. Whether you join a group outing or bird by yourself, you will experience one of the best hidden treasures of southern Indiana.

Eagle Slough is a warbler magnet and they are there in large numbers for everyone’s enjoyment. For more information about and directions to Eagle Slough Natural Area, go to sycamorelandtrust.org and click on “Land.”

Tim Griffith of Evansville is an avid birder who visits Eagle Slough regularly. He and his wife Margi own the Wild Birds Unlimited store in Evansville. 

Steve Gifford is a nature photographer based in Haubstadt, IN. He gave an inspiring photographic presentation at the 2012 Annual Celebration, and in 2013, was presented Sycamore’s Lifetime Conservation Award.

Black-throated green warbler

Black-and-white warbler

Although not a warbler, this blue-gray gnatcatcher is also a welcome spring migrant.

By Tim Griffith Photos by Steve Gifford

Yellow warbler

Northern parula warbler

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From the Director From the Communications Director

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Friends,

How many Sycamore Land Trust preserves have you visited? I’ve been fortunate to visit (I think) every one of our preserves and even the conservation easements. In the process, I’ve seen many beautiful places and parts of southern Indiana. I have a few favorites, of course. I can’t deny the special place Brown County has in my heart. I’ve been going there since I was a baby.

Now it feels like home. And Sycamore Land Trust has protected more than a thousand acres there. I can close my eyes and see the vista and smell the hemlocks at Trevlac Bluffs Nature Preserve. I can see the young cedar waxwing, once injured but then rehabilitated, flying out of a laundry basket to join a flock at Touch the Earth II. And I can hear the cacophony of insects on the tickseed sunflowers at Beanblossom Bottoms in Monroe County in September. I can hear the owls calling at dawn at Columbia Mine, and the deafening spring peepers at Eagle Slough near Evansville. I can see the carving —“D. Boone”—on one of the biggest, oldest beech trees I’ve ever seen. We never could determine if it was inscribed by anyone famous. I can see waves of northern pintail ducks, tens of thousands of them, south of Vincennes in December, flying the west fork of the White River. I can hear the braying kids at Capriole Goat Farm near New Albany, and feel their toothless gumming on my fingers. I can see the smiles of our donors, who almost all talk about “peace of mind” when asked about their motivation for giving. I can remember a man telling me that when he dies and goes to heaven, and his grandfather asks him how the farm is doing, he can tell him it’s doing fine because of his conservation easement. I can see the hard work our board and staff put into this work, and what it means to them. That is a joy. And the joy grows this month as Sheryl Woodhouse Keese, our new Development Director, joins our team. Previously, Sheryl owned and ran Twisted Limb Paperworks for 15 years, making recycled and sustainable paper products, and she’s been a ranger and naturalist at national and state parks. More recently, she hiked the 500-mile Way of St. James trail in Spain with her husband Brian. We’re very happy to have Sheryl join our staff. As I have said before, we have just scratched the surface of what we can all do together. Thanks for being part of this dream, all of you.

Allons-y,

Go forthand explore! Sign up for your free copy of the new Sycamore Preserve Guide

Have you seen our new Preserve Guide? Chances are good that you have, since we’ve been mailing copies to all our members—including new and renewing members—since November. It’s our first booklet guide with trail maps and directions. The pages are made

more trail-worthy with a glossy coating courtesy of World Arts Printing. The way we see it, as a member, you helped protect the preserves featured in the guide, so it’s only fitting that you should have a useful tool to help you go enjoy these places!We’re also eager to bring new people into the fold, showing them all the opportunities that exist right in their backyard for hiking, bird watching, and enjoying family time outdoors. To that end, we’re now offering the remaining copies of the Preserve Guide—a $5 value— free to newcomers who want to discover what Sycamore has to offer. Of course, even established supporters may experience places they haven’t yet been, as we learned in an uplifting email from a long-time member: “We visited The Cedars for the first time yesterday and loved having the route map, good directions, and the trail map in one handy booklet. We are looking forward to doing every hike in the Guide.” So, if you’re not a Sycamore member yet,

what are you waiting for? Oh, right, what you really want to know is how to get your free copy! Simply sign up on our website—www.sycamorelandtrust.org—or call 812-336-5382 x100 and we’ll send you one while supplies last. New properties come under Sycamore’s protection regularly, so be sure to check our website for updates to the printed guide. Happy exploring!

Sycamore Land TrustProtecting Southern Indiana’s natural areas and family farms since 1990

Preserve Guide

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Seeing is believing

Development Director Sheryl Woodhouse Keese

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T here are about a dozen species of bats known from Indiana, including two federally endangered species: the

gray bat (Myotis grisescens) and the Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis). One of Sycamore’s properties, the Beanblossom Bottoms Nature Preserve, is confirmed habitat for the Indiana bat. Unfortunately, white-nose syndrome (WNS), a fungal disease that affects bats, was found in the state a few years ago and poses a real danger to the lives of our endangered bats. Some of our bats migrate out of the state, while others stay and hibernate in caves and other sheltered locations. The Indiana bat resembles the common little brown bat (Myotis lucifugis), but tends to concentrate in a few caves, or hibernacula, in the winter. They require low, stable temperatures to survive the winter. In these hibernacula, they are vulnerable to natural disasters, such as flooding, and to vandals who have shot, clubbed, or otherwise disturbed them while they are depending on their limited supply of stored fat. Known hibernacula are protected by gates and alarms and are entered only by biologists every other year for census purposes. Although the Indiana bat has declined throughout its range, Indiana populations have remained stable. In the spring, the bats emerge from their caves to search for food and summer roosting sites. Females leave the caves

before males to look for suitable maternity colony sites. They need several large dead or dying trees with loose bark, which may be in riparian areas or upland sites. Because these trees continue to lose bark, the bats must find new trees each year. As many as 130 females may choose to roost in a few neighboring trees. A single pup is born to each female in early June. All of Indiana’s bats are insectivorous, consuming vast quantities of insects, including the corn borer moth and many beetles. The Indiana bat forages in open areas and along woodland edges and forested streams, so these natural areas

are very important to their survival. Believing that Beanblossom Bottoms offered the summering habitat that bats need, Sycamore had biologists conduct a survey. The researchers captured and released 41 bats, including three Indiana bats. Sycamore is now working

to protect a 600-acre property along the I-69 corridor, the only one found by INDOT to have an Indiana bat maternity colony. As with the Columbia Mine Preserve, the potential new property borders the Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge. Its addition would further enhance the size and incredible diversity of the Refuge, and ensure the protection of the bats that live there.

On an unseasonably warm day in November, several dozen people attended the Grand Opening Ceremony for the Columbia Mine Preserve near Oakland City, IN. The visitors were eager to check out this large new preserve, which is a

keystone piece of the Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). “There are very few places that are publicly accessible that have such a diverse range of habitats that draw such an equally diverse range of birds and wildlife,” stated nature photographer Steve Gifford. “Any time you have eagles, owls, kites, shrikes, woodcocks, otters, and bobcats all actively utilizing the same property, you know you are at someplace special.” After remarks by Sycamore Executive Director Christian Freitag and Patoka River NWR Manager Bill McCoy about how they worked together to save this land, two groups headed off for inaugural hikes. As local resident Amber Ball recounted on her blog, “The trail went through some of the grasslands that were pretty impressive; some of the grasses are 6 or 7 feet tall and it makes one wonder just how the Indians and settlers found their way through miles and miles of that.”

Maps and directions are available at www.sycamorelandtrust.org/columbia-mine.

Endangered Indiana bat found at Sycamore’s Beanblossom BottomsBy Cathy Meyer, NaturalistMonroe County Parks & Recreation Dept.

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Heading out on an inaugural hike after the Grand Opening Ceremony for the Columbia Mine Preserve

near Oakland City, IN. Sycamore Assistant Director John Lawrence (r) leads the group through a prairie

planted with native grasses.

Columbia Mine Preserve now open to the public

Bats often roost under the characteristic shaggy bark of the shagbark hickory (Carya ovata), like this one at the Columbia Mine Preserve.

This female Indiana bat was captured and released at Beanblossom Bottoms Nature Preserve.

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Patoka River NWR Refuge Manager Bill McCoy (l) and Sycamore Land Trust Executive Director Christian Freitag cut the ribbon to open the recently acquired Columbia Mine Preserve to the public. Ph

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Environmental Education Update

Within Sycamore Land Trust’s coverage area, there are many properties that

offer exceptional educational opportunities. While the primary objective is to protect the land, we find that the land gives back to us as well. Whether as natural habitat, a place for solitude and inspiration, or a great location for education, our properties fulfill multiple purposes. Paramount and most often used is the large Beanblossom Bottoms Preserve (BBB). Thanks to the efforts of Sycamore past president John Gallman, along with many volunteers and corporate sponsors, the construction of the boardwalk and four observation decks

has provided a nature education venue for more than 1,000 students and adults. Activities provided for schools include forestry measurements and calculations, bird identification and habitat assessment, soils analysis, native and invasive plant identification, and pond studies. Students from Monroe, Owen,

and Lawrence counties use the area every year. When we have large school groups, our Sycamore educators enlist volunteers and naturalists from Monroe County Parks & Recreation, Bloomington Parks & Recreation, and the Monroe County Soil & Water Conservation District. BBB is also used for family hikes throughout the year and is home to our annual “Frogs and Rails” hike and the intriguing nighttime spider hike. Other locations that have been used for education include Tangeman Woods and Touch the Earth in Bartholomew County, Trevlac Bluffs and the Yellowwood Farm conservation easement property in Brown County, the Culver property in Greene County, and the Jeremy K. Oakley Preserve in Lawrence County. In Monroe County, preserves utilized include Campbell, The Cedars, Heritage Woods, Lake Lemon, Powell, Ralston, Scarlet Oak Woods, the Tarzian conservation easement, and Wayne Woods. Owen County offers the Fish Creek conservation easement; Orange County, the Dishman Quarry; and Vanderburgh County, the newly acquired Eagle Slough Natural Area. These locations provide a variety of opportunities for studying cliffs, waterfalls, reclamation sites, succession, tree identification, migratory birds, general geology, fossils, tidal records, and a cypress slough.

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Sycamore’s properties prove naturally perfect for educationBy Carroll RitterEnvironmental Education Coordinator

Eagle Slough provides exceptional educational outreach to Evansville area schools and has splendid opportunity to see cypress trees in a large wetland habitat. Our Li’l Hikers program often uses our preserves, and the annual “Just for Kids” photo workshop focuses on the natural diversity at Yellowwood Farm. You may have had a child on one of our school trips or may plan to join us soon on one of our family outings. While some properties have trails, others do not, so check our website or our free Preserve Guide to help plan your trip. (Page 5 tells you how to get one.) We encourage visiting and hope it will enhance your appreciation for the special places we have saved. Bring yourself, your family, and especially those very young budding naturalists who will be our new generation members!

On a Beanblossom Bottoms observation deck, John Gallman talks to BHS-North students about birds.

Indiana District Forester Ralph Unversaw teaching tree ID at The Cedars.

Snow enhanced the field trip to the Tarzian Preserve for this Harmony School group.

Pinnacle School pupils help with trail work at Lake Lemon Woods.

Eastern Greene 5th graders assess plants at the Culver property.

Yellowwood Farm in Brown County hosts the “Just for Kids” photo workshop each spring.

This small group got a close look at the beauty of Heritage Woods on our fall hike.

Photos by Carroll Ritter

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On November 1, 2013, more than 300 of Sycamore’s supporters came together for our Annual Celebration, a wonderful evening of good conversation, an interesting presentation about juncos by Ellen Ketterson and Jonathan Atwell, and the surprise debut of Sycamore’s heartwarming new video, now featured on our website. Music was provided by Craig Brenner. A few weeks after the dinner, someone approached Ellen Ket-terson at church to say, “I just saw some ordinary extraordinary juncos in my back yard!” Ellen’s reaction to seeing her life’s work reach new and appreciative audiences: “What could be nicer!”

Board member Patricia Pizzo and her daughter Fiora also enjoy the festivities. Ph

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Live fern arrangements were prepared by volunteer Andrea Lutz. Ph

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Nature photographer Steve Gifford was honored with Sycamore’s Lifetime Conservation Award. Ph

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Ellen Ketterson presented excerpts from the documentary Ordinary Extraordinary Junco. Ph

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Annual Celebration snapshots

In MEMOrIAM Two people for whom Sycamore had great admira-tion and apprecia-tion have recently passed away. Sarah Elizabeth (Libby) Frey died on November 7, 2013, at age

94. Libby, a well-known environmental advocate and winner of Sycamore’s Life-time Conservation Award, donated one of Sycamore’s very first conservation ease-ments. She exhibited a remarkable breadth

and depth of interests, including a passion for growing and shar-ing daffodils, many of which blanket the beau-tiful hillside she had Sycamore protect. Gary Ryser, 71, died on October 24, 2013. Gary was a kind, helpful man who volunteered as a property steward for many years and lent his handy-man skills to various Sycamore projects. In recognition, he was named the Stewardship Volunteer of the Year in 2011. They will be missed!

Libby Frey receiving the Restle Award in 2006.

Gary Ryser

Upcoming Activities & Volunteer OpportunitiesFor more information, visit www.sycamorelandtrust.org and click on “Events” or call 812-336-5382, x100. Please include your phone number, email, and mailing address when you respond.

li’l Hikers adventure at tHe park Mccormick’s creek state park Sunday, February 23, 1 – 4 p.m. Join the Li’l Hikers winter adventure to McCormick’s Creek State Park, where we will hike the Wolf Cave loop. Back at the Nature Center, we will have hot chocolate and watch the animals being fed by naturalist Sam Arthur. If it has snowed, all the better. The hike will be conducted as long as the roads are in good shape. Meet at the Nature Center. No entrance fee is charged at this time of year. Li’l Hikers outings welcome children age 12 and under. Free for Sycamore members. For non-members, the suggested donation is $10 per family. Open to the first 28 people who respond. RSVP by February 20. Email info@sycamorelandtrust.org or call 812-336-5382 x100.

porter West preserve Historic ceMetery clean-up vernal pike in western Monroe county, just north of state road 48 Saturday, March 22, 1 – 4 p.m. Help clean up the Preserve’s pioneer-era cemetery, which has a hand-carved headstone from 1818. We will also pick up some roadside trash, and cut down invasive bushes if time permits. Bring work gloves and dress for the outdoors. Meet at the Preserve at 1 p.m. Directions provided when you RSVP or at www.sycamorelandtrust.org/porter-west-preserve. VOLUNTEER by March 20. Email john@sycamorelandtrust.org or call 812-336-5382 x105.

sycaMore land trust/sassafras audubon society birding tourcolumbia Mine preserve, oakland citySaturday, March 29, 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. ESTIf you haven’t yet seen Sycamore’s 1,043-acre Columbia Mine Preserve, now’s your chance! On this tour offered by Sycamore and the Sassafras Audubon Society, we’ll explore several prairies and marshes looking for a variety of raptors and waterfowl. Columbia Mine Pre-serve is a 1.5-hour drive from Bloomington. Meet at Sam’s Club off Hwy. 37 in Blooming-ton; be ready to leave at 7 a.m. EST. If you’re coming from elsewhere, meet at the Preserve at 7:30 a.m. CST. Bring binoculars, lunch, and water. Boots and sunscreen recommended.RSVP by March 27. Email info@sycamorelandtrust.org or call 812-336-5382 x100.

board of directors Meet-and-greetbiaggi’s in evansville, 6401 e. lloyd expressway, suite #3 Monday, April 7, 5 - 7 p.m. CST Join the Sycamore staff and board for a social hour, followed by an informal board meeting. Get a peek into the workings of your local land trust! Just drop in; no RSVP necessary.

WHite river rc&d/sycaMore land trust WildfloWer Hikebeck’s Mill Historic site, near salemSaturday, April 12. First hike: 10:30 a.m.; second hike: 1:30 p.m.Enjoy a spring hike led by the delightful Kay Yatskievych, author of Field Guide to Indiana Wildflowers, and Sycamore’s Environmental Education Coordinator Carroll Ritter. Each session is open to 20 people. The cost is $10, which includes admittance to Beck’s Mill. To register, email forestryRCD@gmail.com or call 812-276-4757.

Vi Simpson (center), Sycamore board member and former state senator, enjoying the Celebration with her daughter, Kristina Simpson Simmonds (right), and Sue West, Bloomington City Controller (left).

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A staunch supporter since Sycamore’s founding, former board member Henry Gray receives the Lifetime Conservation Award from Executive Director Christian Freitag. Ph

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Upcoming Activities & Volunteer OpportunitiesFor more information, visit www.sycamorelandtrust.org and click on “Events” or call 812-336-5382, x100. Please include your phone number, email, and mailing address when you respond.

dilcHer-turner canyon forest invasives control and Hike Meet at bloomington sam’s club to carpool; preserve is on greene co. line road Saturday, April 19, 1 – 5 p.m. We will cut and treat autumn olive and other invasive bushes and clean up some roadside trash at one of Sycamore’s newest nature preserves. Before leaving we will take a short hike to see some of the spectacular rock outcrops in this preserve’s deep ravines. Bring work gloves and dress for the outdoors. Meet at the Sam’s Club parking lot at 1 p.m. to carpool; there is very limited parking at the preserve. Open to the first 8 volunteers. VOLUNTEER by April 17. Email john@sycamorelandtrust.org or call 812-336-5382 x105.

arbor day tree giveaWaybloomingfoods east and WestFriday, April 25, 4 – 7 p.m.Stop by Bloomingfoods East (3220 E. 3rd St.) or West (316 W. 6th St.) and pick up a free seedling from Sycamore volunteers!VOLUNTEER to be a seedling wrapper on April 24 at 6 p.m. or a seedling distributor on April 25. Please respond by April 17 if you’d like to volunteer. Email hayes.laurene@gmail.com or call 812-336-5382 x102.

frogs, rails, and eagles Hike 1beanblossom bottoms nature preserveSaturday, April 26, 7 – 9 p.m.Stroll on the boardwalk across this fascinating wetland ecosys-tem, as Prof. Vicky Meretsky of IU-SPEA helps us listen for frog songs. Assistant Director John Lawrence will also guide us in listening for rails, secretive marsh birds that are rarely seen and likely to be migrating through the bottoms at this time. We’ll also observe the eagle’s nest, in hopes that they’ll make an ap-pearance. Free for Sycamore members. For non-members, the suggested donation is $5 per person or $10 per family. REGISTER by April 24. Email info@sycamorelandtrust.org or call 812-336-5382 x100. Open to the first 25 people who respond. Carpool leaves at 6:30 p.m. from the Kinser Pike Marsh

parking lot. Parking at Beanblossom Bottoms is limited so carpooling is encouraged.

“Just for kids” pHotograpHy WorksHop yellowwood farm, Monroe/brown county lineSunday, April 27, 1 – 3:30 p.m. Open to children of all ages. Instructors Martha Fox and Carroll Ritter share techniques for creative expressions of nature through photography. The Workshop is part of the Wildflow-er Foray and takes place at Yellowwood Farm, a privately owned property that is protected by Sycamore Land Trust. REGISTER AT: adetarnowsky@indianamuseum.org. Directions will be provided.

frogs, rails, and eagles Hike 2beanblossom bottoms nature preserveFriday, May 2, 7 – 9 p.m.See “Hike 1” on page 12 for complete information. REGISTER by April 30.

volunteer appreciation cookout and MeMbersHip Meetingcedar crest, 4898 e. Heritage Woods rd., bloomingtonSaturday, May 3, 12 – 2 p.m.Sycamore members and volunteers for 2013 and 2014 are invited to come to our headquarters for a cookout on the patio! Volunteers make our work possible, and we’d like to pay tribute. Food and beverages will be provided. We’ll also take a quick vote on changes to Sycamore’s Articles of Incorporation; no need for special knowledge, just help us meet this requirement! RSVP by April 30. Email hayes.laurene@gmail.com or call 812-336-5382 x102.

toucH tHe eartH garlic Mustard pull country club road in bartholomew county, near columbus Sunday, May 4, 2014, 1 – 4 p.m. Help remove the invasive garlic mustard that threatens this scenic preserve with over two miles of trails just west of Columbus. Bring work gloves and dress for the outdoors. Meet at the preserve parking lot; directions available at sycamorelandtrust.org/touch-the-earth or when you RSVP. VOLUNTEER by May 2. Email info@sycamorelandtrust.org or call 812-336-5382 x100.

sHoW-n-tell: student sHoWcase of beanblossoM bottoMsbeanblossom bottoms nature preserveSaturday, May 10, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.Come and be inspired by excited presenters at our beautiful Beanblossom Bottoms Nature Preserve. Bloomington High School South students will share their knowledge about birds, trees, wetlands, and pond life at four stations. You are invited to come and go at any time. What a special way to celebrate Mother’s Day weekend! Free.

li’l Hikers fossil Hunting and creek WadingHemlock bluff nature preserveSunday, May 25, 1 – 4 p.m.We will crack geodes and look for fossils in lovely Guthrie Creek in Lawrence County. Wa-ter levels permitting, we will also be hiking in the creek below stunning shale bluffs. In the upland forest, we will follow a trail through mixed hardwoods and hemlocks, all making for a fun Memorial Day weekend outing. Li’l Hikers outings welcome children age 12 and under. Free for Sycamore members. For non-members, the suggested donation is $10 per family. Open to the first 28 people who respond. RSVP by May 22. Email info@sycamorelandtrust.org or call 812-336-5382 x100. Call for directions or visit www.sycamorelandtrust.org/events.

birding Hikes at eagle slougH natural area Weekly during April and May Birder Tim Griffith hosts weekly bird hikes at Eagle Slough during spring migration. Check www.wbu.com/evansville for dates and come see the colorful warblers!

Heading out on the Frogs and Rails Hike.

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14 15than

ksAppreciation

WELCOME 81 NEW MEMBERS!Brian and Kate AbrellKathy and Charles AikenJonathan Atwell and Mandy BrothersJoseph BaileyStephen and Candace BaileyLydia Barbash-RileyKristine and Larry BarnhillErin BasigerKatie BirgeWilliam and Linda BohlenJudy BorronJack and Sue BowmanJim and Maria BrownAnn Burke and Dale EnochsEric CampbellJamie ClarkJessie CookRalph CooleyChristina CourtrightCindy CreekJohn and Susan CronkhitePatricia CurtisPhilip DiLavoreCathy DonahueMark Fischer and Shelley Kirk FischerShar Fish Kipfer and Jacob KipferSharon Frank and Gene EliasAmy and Rod GoforthKaisa Goodman and Dakota WalkerMarnell Gorman and Kris KimmellKeir GraffMary HallinanPeter HamlinMike and Susan HarrisonStephen HarterWalter HoffmanEmily JacksonMarvin KeenanMarsha Keith and Gene SnipesSarah Knott and Konstantin DierksDonald KnottsDiana Lambdin and Frank LesterElizabeth and Jerry MandellNick MarshLester MasonKevin and Andi MillerDon and Regina MooreDavid Morgan and Jenifer Van Winkle Craig E. NelsonChristopher and Stephanie NorrickCatherine O’BryanMary PerezDave and Beth PerneyAlison PittTed PolleyJay and Joni PowellJames RobinsonThom and Pat RobinsonNora Roggeveen-SamsMary Beth RoskaDavid and Beth RuppPete SanchezDeborah and James SchadeDrew and Margie SchraderWilliam ShawGreg Simon

Gordon and Judy SmithMarietta SmithDiane SpoffordAllison Stites and Rich HamMitzi StreepeyR. Stephen StroupMarcia WalkerDottie WarmbierMaryann WatsonWeaver Fine Furniture and Cabinets, Inc.Paul WeilandVicky and Douglas WhitakerLinda WillisAlexis Wreden and Robert FakelmannLori Young

THANK YOU, DONORS!68 ACRES IN GREENE COUNTYDavid and Kathy DilcherF. Rudolf Turner

$1,000 – $5,000Matt and Eva AllenAnonymous Mark and Rebecca EwingFowler Tree Services, Inc.Barbara Hanawalt and Ronald GiereRich and Christina HummelStephen IrishRick MaladTim and Ann NiednagelBill and Kathleen OliverPatti and Tony PizzoScott and Ruth SandersSarkes Tarzian, Inc.Judith and Maynard ThompsonRobert and Judy WargelBill and Mary WeeksLarry and Carol WeingartnerRichard and Laura Weinland Young

$500 – $999Jonathan Adams and Bonnie Hoffman-AdamsBob Agranoff and Susan KleinJan ArmstrongBluespring Caverns ParkJim and Brenda DeCourseyMark and Rebecca EwingCarmen and Linda FelicettiDoug and Blue GeigerBarbara Hanawalt and Ronald GiereThomas Hutton and Betsy HardingEllen KettersonRobert and Donna OrmistonBarbara RestleRita and Raymond Rust Jr.Melinda Swenson and Carol McCordAndrew and Martha ThienemanSusan and Mack ThomasUpland Brewing Co.

$250 – $499Paul and Linda AndersonMarian ArmstrongA. James BarnesBloomingfoods Market & DeliOzma BondMalcolm Brown and John Clower

Allen and Marian EnglandEvansville Audubon SocietyGM PowertrainJim and Angela HauckWalter HoffmanBill and LuAnne HolladayRuth JohnsonMatt and Julie KirrThe Mountain Folk Adventure SeriesJudge Edward W. Najam Jr.Kathy OakleyAngela ParkerLinda Raymond and Michael CainEdward and Claire RobertsonJack SchererLouise SchlesingerRichard SchutteUnitarian Universalist Congregation of ColumbusMarcia Veldman and Steve CotterJeff and Legene WhiteHelen WieslerJack Wittman and Rita Paschke

$100 – $249Geoffrey AdamsKathy and Charles AikenJan ArmstrongKathy Avers and Dan DeBardJoseph BaileyJacqui Bauer and Tom EvansDavid and Ingrid BeeryTim Boeglin and Cynthia ReichardDarrell and Kathleen BoggessMary BookwalterDouglass and Ruth BoshkoffPeter Burkholder and Doug McKinneyAnne ButschCairril.com Design & MarketingDaniel and Patricia CallisonChris and Teresa CraftCindy CreekRay CrittendenMichael and Marylin DayBill DeVilleBob and Joann DoddEleanore DodgeKevin DoganDavid Duffee and Donna EderTim and MaryAnn DunfeeKeith DunlapMichael and Sally DunnFrank and Barbara DyeJohn and Sybil EakinRobert and Candice EnoJames FergusonDavid and Tyler FergusonFlower Lane Garden ClubMargaret FooteTerrence and Pat FootePaul and Susan FratianniGabriel and Sara FrommerEd Furia and Kathryn PropstMatthew and Julia GadlageNancy and Terry GehlhausenGlass Planet GiftsJames Glen and Constance Cook GlenWendell and Helen Gooch

This list includes donations received from 8/16/2013 through 12/31/2013. Donations made near the end of this date range may appear in the next issue of The Twig. If you believe we have omitted your name in error, please contact us at 812-336-5382.

Keir GraffJess Gwinn and Maureen ForrestElizabeth Gwynn and Leroy MysliwiecStephen and Jo Ellen HamJohn Hamilton and Dawn JohnsenSusan HathawayCharles and Doris HazelJulia Heiman and Johan VerhulstSusan and Jim HengeveldDiane HenkeDon HenryDr. Steven and Kristen HerbstDavid Hillman, O.D.Catharine Hoff and Richard HvaleJanet Hollis and Ron SelbyKatherine HopkinsHurlow Wealth Management Group, John HurlowJackson Hewitt Tax ServiceMartha JacobsLaura and Jerry JessephSarah Jones and Frank YoungEdwin and Rebecca KashaSamuel and Phyllis KazdanMike KelleyJohn and Leah KetchamKarisha Kirk, Jack Urrutia, and Keith WegnerDiana Lambdin and Frank LesterMarc LameTed and Diann LockDan and Beth Lodge-RigalGuy and Connie LoftmanBill Lozowski and Sarah BaumgartDr. Mary Mahern and Dr. Clark BrittainJim and Edrie MartinLester MasonKathy McManusTony MooreThomas and Rosalie MosleyPatrick and Glenda MurrayMary Lu OrrDiane ParsonsJoe and Joyce PedenMary PerezJames and Janice PetersonRudolf and Elizabeth RaffJames and Barbara RandallEric ReekBonnie RigginsCarroll and Martha RitterBrett SatkampHal SchimmelpfennigJana and Roger SchneiderNicole SchonemannCynthia Schultz and Benjamin Peter Schwandt and Dixie WelchDon and Melinda SeaderKevin and Barbara SheehanGreg SimonGordon and Judy SmithGary and Anne SteigerwaldKonrad StraussPaula SundermanTabor Law FirmJo Throckmorton and Jillian KinzieKyle Uebelhor and Laura YockeyMartha WailesWeaver Fine Furniture and Cabinets, Inc.Paul WeilandKurt and Lisa WeisnerPatty Werner and Don BakerMary Beth WertJohn and Sue West

Don and Betsy WhiteheadAndrew and Andrea WilliamsRichard and Pamela WinegardenLarry and Mary WiseSharon Woodhouse and Kamal GuptaSheryl Woodhouse Keese and Brian KeeseAlexis Wreden and Robert FakelmannMandy and Jonathan YatesTom ZellerPaul and Charlotte Zietlow

UP TO $99Brian and Kate AbrellBen and Jamie AckermanJim and Julie AkardHarold AllisonBill and Kathy ArmstrongRon and Karen ArnoldJonathan Atwell and Mandy BrothersStephen and Candace BaileyJon and Brooke BaradaLydia Barbash-RileyKeith and Ruth BarnhardtKristine and Larry BarnhillErin BasigerJohn Bassett and Susan Hollis BassettSandy and Jeff BelthRichard and Joyce BenderMegan BickelKent and Leanna BieryKatie BirgeWilliam and Linda BohlenJudy BorronElizabeth Blauvelt and Stephan BorszczJack and Sue BowmanJames BrooksDana and Craig BumbaloughAnn Burke and Dale EnochsMartin and Barbara BurkheadEdwin and Pauline CaldwellKen and Jennifer CampanellaEric CampbellBarbara CarlsonLee and Pat CasebereGeorge CesnikPaul Chase and Terry BrinerJamie ClarkJoe CollinsJessie CookRalph CooleyChristina CourtrightJames CrittendenJohn and Susan CronkhiteKate Crouch and Jason GoodwinKate CruikshankPatricia CurtisDoug and Susan DavisJoe DearminMarc and Liesel DemeyenburgCharles and Judy DeweyPhilip DiLavoreBob and Joann DoddCathy DonahueAndrew DurkinMark Fischer and Shelley Kirk FischerLissa and Greg FischerShar Fish Kipfer and Jacob KipferGinny Flanagan and Reid MorrisSuzanne and Tom FoleyPatricia FosterAnne FrakerSharon Frank and Gene EliasClint and Laura GarrettBert Gilbert and Amy Dyken

Amy and Rod GoforthKaisa Goodman and Dakota WalkerGreg and Susie GordonMarnell Gorman and Kris KimmellCheryl Gregg DuckworthStephen and Vera GrubbsGary Hafner and Jane ClayDave and Mary HallMary HallinanLawrie HamiltonPeter HamlinRussell and Constance HansonMike and Susan HarrisonStephen HarterAnne and Christopher HaynesStephen and Dolores HeegerDavid Heise and Elsa Lewis HeisePhil and Jane HensonJan Hillier and Craig HamiltonLuella HolcombJames HollandDave and Mary HudakSteve Ingle and Rebecca WannEmily JacksonSteve JasperJenny JohnsonDouglas and Kimberly JohnsonRobert and Mechthild JordanCynthia Kallet and Grey LarsenMarvin KeenanMarsha Keith and Gene SnipesIris KieslingThe Irish LionNorma KingJohn and Julianne KingCarrie Kitchen-Santiago and Robert SantiagoSarah Knott and Konstantin DierksDonald KnottsDiana Lambdin and Frank LesterJaydene and Mike LarosBarry and Denise LessowAmy LiftonNancy LightfootJames and Marybeth LodatoTerry LoucksPatrick and Valeri LuzadderSkip and Sherry MakelyElizabeth and Jerry MandellTerry and Connie MarbachMorton MarcusNick MarshPatrick and Sarah McAleerKathleen McClainPatrick MedlandAmy MetzgerCathy MeyerJennifer MiersKevin and Andi MillerMarsha MintonTracy and Charlie MiragliaCharles Mitch and Jean Marie TerpstraDon and Regina MooreDavid Morgan and Jenifer Van WinkleJames and Rowena MountCraig E. NelsonMr. and Mrs. Paul NoltingChristopher and Stephanie NorrickCatherine O’BryanBeverly Ohneck-HollyAlexander and Shiv O’NeillSusan OstbyDave and Beth PerneyRachel Perry

1716

Personal Financial Services, LLCDennis and Claudia PhippsMatt PierceAlison PittFiora PizzoPaul PodlejskiTed PolleyDiane and Robert PortCharles and Sandra PorterEllen PostJay and Joni PowellNancy and Bob PulleyCarol and Jim RiceShellie RichCarroll and Martha RitterThom and Pat RobinsonJames RobinsonNora Roggeveen-SamsMary Beth RoskaMary Kay RothertBertina RudmanJerard and Nancy RuffDavid and Beth RuppPete SanchezDavid and Jane SavageDeborah and James SchadeJill SchafferDrew and Margie SchraderJohn SharpnackWilliam ShawBrent and Linda SieversPatricia and Saturnino SilvaKristina and Jason SimmondsJohn Gibb SimpsonClare Skevington and John NollMarietta SmithAlan SomersDiane SpoffordJanet and Jeff StakeAllison Stites and Rich HamMitzi StreepeyR. Stephen StroupThomas TalbertLinda and Todd ThompsonDon and Virginia TyteTom and Anne VarnsRichard and Sue VernierLoretta VinsonRonald VitelloMarcia WalkerDottie WarmbierMaryann WatsonAnna WeiserVicky and Douglas WhitakerBambi and Dick WighLinda WillisThe Woman’s ClubShari WoodburyLori YoungMarcin and Namrata ZalewskiJudy ZimmermanKatie Zukof and Eric Schedler

SUSTAINING DONORSMark AdamsJim and Maria BrownNatalie and Tim ColvinBob Flynn and Yvonne WittmannShelley HahnDell HarmsenPat HastingsSteve and Cassie HowardWerner Jorck and Barbara Watt JorckWilliam Lonnberg

George MankowskiDan and Linda McNabbJustin NaabSandy PackmanPatrick and Jenny PetroMark and Kathy SheehanMarion SinclairEliot and Pamela SmithBen SwansonMaria and Paul Viterisi

IN HONOR OF MARK ADAMSDavid and Tyler Ferguson

IN HONOR OF DANA AND CRAIG BUMBALOUGHPaul Podlejski

IN HONOR OF RAY CRITTENDENJames Crittenden

IN HONOR OF DAVID AND SALLY CROUCHKate Crouch and Jason Goodwin

IN HONOR OF DOUG AND DEEDEE DAYHOFFJon and Brooke Barada

IN MEMORY OF GREGORY FOOTESuzanne and Tom FoleyMargaret FooteTerrence and Pat FooteDr. Steven and Kristen HerbstCarrie Kitchen-Santiago and Robert SantiagoDiane ParsonsShellie RichHal SchimmelpfennigJana and Roger SchneiderPatricia and Saturnino SilvaClare Skevington and John NollTabor Law Firm

IN MEMORY OF FREDERICK AND MARY JANE LORENZHelen Lorenz Holdeman, Alice Lorenz, and Linda Lorenz Norton

IN MEMORY OF ELLEN MEYERKyle Uebelhor and Laura Yockey

IN HONOR OF LOIS MORRISGinny Flanagan and Reid Morris

IN MEMORY OF GARY RYSERRichard and Joyce BenderTracy and Charlie MiragliaDennis and Claudia PhippsGary and Anne SteigerwaldBill and Mary Weeks

IN MEMORY OF GEORGE AND MARY WEINLANDRichard and Laura Weinland Young

IN HONOR OF SHERYL WOODHOUSE KEESESharon Woodhouse and Kamal Gupta

FOUNDATION SUPPORTERSBrabson Library and Educational FoundationCommunity Foundation of Bloomington & Monroe CountyCulver Foundation

Gregory G. Meyer Charitable Fund in the Vanderburgh Community Foundation, a Member of the Community Foundation AllianceDr. Laura Hare Charitable TrustFlowers Family FoundationHarrison County Community FoundationLorenz Family Charitable TrustLynton K. and Helen W. Caldwell Fund of the Community Foundation of Bloomington & Monroe CountyNamaste FoundationPfizer FoundationRaymond FoundationRopchan FoundationUnited Way of Bartholomew CountyUnited Way of Monroe CountyVectren Foundation, Inc.

LEGACY CIRCLE MEMBERSPatricia Abplanalp†Mark AdamsAnonymous (2)Janet ArmstrongMike and Bev BakerSusan Hollis BassettPhil and Ruthann BerckHelen and Keith Caldwell†Edward Champa†Joseph CollinsJim and Bobbi DiehlBob and Joann DoddGeorge Ewing†Christian and Paige FreitagHenry and Alice† GrayStephen and Vera GrubbsLawrie HamiltonDell Harmsen and William E. DavisWilliam H. Hays, IIISamuel P. and Barbara D. HaysDawn E. HewittRobert and Joan HongenGeorge Huntington, IIIRick and Alice JohnsonMarvin KeenanDonald E. and Linda L. KnottsGeorge and Cathy KorinekBill Lozowski and Sarah BaumgartVicky MeretskyGreg MeyerRobert and Donna OrmistonLois Hutter-Pishgahi and Reza PishgahiPatricia Murphy PizzoDavid Porter†Charlotte Reeves†Barbara RestleMary Kay RothertElizabeth and Chuck RuhJudith A. Stewart and Michael P. FultonMelinda SwensonJoan ten Hoor and James DobsonMaria and Paul ViterisiCarolyn WaldronPatricia Walne†Bill and Mary WeeksMyriam and Jim† WoodTom ZellerDeborah A. Zera†Deceased

THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS8/20/2013-12/31/2013

CEDAR CREST UPKEEPDesignscapeEco LogicNatalie GeorgeHugh Hazelrigg

CLERICALLoretta AlonsoRuth BarnhardtMargaret ChittumRobert and Joan HongenDuane and Pat HornickLeon and Judy McDougalBetty and Paul SchoonmakerMurl and Jean SummervilleOllie Waldon

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION Jim and Julie AkardBruce BehanRobert McGriff

EVENTSPaula AndersonLydia Barbash-RileyJen BarronBridget BaughSandy BelthNick BradfordScott BreenJames BrooksEric Campbell Wes CarlsonGeorge CesnikAmber DayGrace DickeyMike DrescherKathie DurkelPaul FoglemanConney Freese-PosthumaAllen FulmerSteven GilbertKristen HengtgenRoy Hooper

Macy JacksonDeborah JettEmily JohnstoneMarsha Keith and Gene SnipesMatt KnutsonJennifer McCloudMaria McConnellDavid MeadowsJeffrey MeekGreg MeyerCathy MeyerMike NahasCynthia NeidhartMark NorrisDave and Beth PerneySteven PickeringKate SlaboskyRebecca StanzeWolfgang von BuchlerKatie WaltonMary Weeks

OUTDOORSDakota Jack BeckleyLayne ElliottJess Gwinn and Maureen ForrestLucie ParkerMiguel SantosAdrienne SewellMarion Sinclair

PHOTOGRAPHYAmber BallJeff DanielsonSteve GiffordHugh HazelriggJohn D. ShearerMarcin Zalewski

TWIG DISTRIBUTORSGreg MeyerElizabeth RuhJoan ten HoorMaria ViterisiMary WeeksJennifer WenningMyriam Wood

WRITING AND EDITING Tim GriffithCathy MeyerJoan ten Hoor

YEAR-ROUND LAND STEWARDS Eva and Matt AllenBob BarberMarco BartholomewBill BausMark BishtonJoe BengeKeith BobayRussell BouldingAndrea and Jim FergusonRoxanne Flowers and Leigh GrundhoeferJohn GallmanGary Grumbling and Mary Ann MartinJess GwinnJeff HilandMarvin KeenanChris LambdinAndrea LutzKris LindborgTerry MarbachVicky MeretskyCathy MeyerColt MillerCynthia Morgan and FamilyChris Myers and Scott StephensonDennis OrwinMichael Paidle and Liny SmitsNathan PateReza and Lois PishgahiCarroll RitterElizabeth and Chuck RuhDavid ShipleyJerry SteeleMarion SinclairBryan SosbeAmy ThompsonNeill VaughanKurt and Lisa Weisner

Make doing your taxes a little more satisfying by mentioning The Twig at PERSONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES, 500 S. MORTON ST., SUITE 025.

You’ll receive a $20 discount on your personal income tax preparation fees—and they’ll give $10 to Sycamore Land Trust!

For more information, call 812-822-2119 or go to http://www.personalfinancialservices.net.

SYCAMORE LAND TRUST TREE DEDICATION OPPORTUNITIESYou can memorialize or honor a loved one by dedicating a tree at a Sycamore preserve with a gift of $500 or more. When you dedicate a tree, you will receive:• A lovely framed photo of your tree to display in your home or give as a gift,

with a message and the tree’s GPS coordinates• Recognition of your honorary or memorial gift in an issue of The Twig• Pride in the knowledge that your gift will help protect more land in southern Indiana

To learn more about this opportunity, contact Sheryl at 812-336-5382 x104, or sheryl@sycamorelandtrust.org.

An example of the tree dedication plaque.

Staff & Board

Board of DirectorsMark Adams Mike Baker, Vice PresidentDoug Dayhoff Jim DeCoursey George HuntingtonJenny JohnsonGeorge Korinek Terry Marbach, Treasurer Greg Meyer Patricia Pizzo Carroll Ritter Vi SimpsonJoan ten Hoor, Secretary Maria Viterisi, President W. William Weeks

Advisory BoardWilfred C. Bussing III Steve Ferguson Burney FischerKenneth R.R. Gros Louis Baron Hill Steve HowardRick Johnson Mark Kruzan James Madison Vicky MeretskyEdward W. Najam, Jr.Del Newkirk Karen PitkinAnthony PizzoRonald F. Remak Scott Russell SandersRandall T. ShepardJudith Stewart Eric C. StolbergTom TarzianDebbie TurnerMaryrose Wampler Don Whitehead Todd Young

18

Executive Director: Christian FreitagAssistant Director: John LawrenceEnvironmental Education Coordinator: Carroll RitterDevelopment Director: Sheryl Woodhouse Keese Communications Director: Katrina FolsomIU School of Public and Environmental Affairs Fellow: Lauren Hayes

Committee ChairsAcquisitions: W. William WeeksEnvironmental Education: Carroll RitterFinance: Terry Marbach Fund Development: Steve HowardStewardship: John Lawrence

Graphic Designer of The Twig: Jennifer WitzkeEditor of The Twig: Joan ten Hoor

HeadquartersCedar Crest 4898 E. Heritage Woods Rd., Bloomington

Mailing AddressP.O. Box 7801, Bloomington, IN 47407-7801

Visit our website: www.sycamorelandtrust.orgLike us on Facebook: facebook.com/sycamorelandtrustFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/SycLandTrust Email: info@sycamorelandtrust.org

If you would like one of us to speak to your group or organization, please call 812-336-5382 x 100.

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Ron Remak

Karen Pitkin, Broker, RE/MAX Realty Professionals

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