Ripples from the Dunes is a weekly nature article series written by staff and guest writers that has been published for over 50 years.
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Ripples 7/3/25
Written by: Cielo Gutierrez Kuhaupt, summer intern Red symbolizes warning, and I wonder if the red-winged blackbirds were a partial reason for this connotation. Being one of the most abundant birds in North America, it is nearly impossible to not encounter their highly protective nature- especially since they spend more than a quarter of daylight…
Ripples 6/26/25
Written by Sydnee Jerome, Summer Intern Growing up, I disliked springs in New York. The unpredictable weather associated with the end of a long, cold winter always bogged down my mood in anticipation of the warm days of late spring. Needless to say, I was not a child who liked getting muddy or being outside…
Ripples 6/19/25
Written by Jordyn Ginestra, summer intern The Great Blue Heron. A species so tied to my childhood I never had to learn how to recognize it, and its name is one I never had to learn. I grew up in the floodplains of the Mississippi river. My grandfather and I would sit in the middle…
Ripples 6/12/25
By Jess Johnsrud, education coordinator I enjoy gentle spring thunderstorms. The sound of distant thunder and the pattering of the rain on the roof feel like an invitation to snuggle up with a good book. I also welcome the earthy, dewy smell that comes with those first few thunderstorms of the year. That wonderful spring…
Ripples 6/5/25
By Sue Crowley, executive director I must admit I do not know much about fish or other cool aquatic organisms living their best life in our local waterways. In the summertime, playing or exploring along or in a stream always seemed like a great activity when I was growing up. I did not care what…
Ripples 5/29/25
By Kennedy Zittel, naturalist If you plan on visiting the nature center anytime soon, right before you walk through the front doors, take a glance up. Nestled atop one of the beams may be a small, tan- colored head with large black eyes staring down at you (or perhaps a white butt and long tail).…
Ripples 5/22/25
By Nancy Nabak, communication coordinator Movement that was not mine nor any other legged creature stilled me in place. It was from a thing that didn’t have wings, nor fins, nor blinking eyes. It approached as I watched the horizon from Black Cherry Trail – the May fog rolling in. There’s a still, Van Morrison-esque…
Ripples 5/15/25
By Max Kornetzke, land manager During the winter months of 2024, I worked on clearing a large thicket of invasive glossy buckthorn along our Willow Trail. The previous summer, I had the help of a few interns, and we mowed back the rapid regrowth with brush cutters. A month later, it had bounced back once…
Ripples 5/8/25
I often feel as though spring completes the ecological circle in terms of habitat restoration. I live on land that was purchased by my grandfather 80 years ago. Grandpa talked a lot about loving nature- he considered the forest his cathedral. Although he appreciated it to some extent, he was a “practical” man and drove…
Ripples 5/1/25
By Kennedy Zittel, naturalistBird eggs come in all sorts of colors and patterns, from brilliant blues to muted browns, from plain to polka dots! We may be familiar with bright blue robin’s eggs – but there are many other species such as Eastern Bluebirds, Gray Catbirds, and even Starlings that also lay blue-green eggs. Red-winged…
Ripples 4/17/25
by Jim Knickelbine, volunteer In the 1970’s, when I was a student at Roncalli, I was formally introduced to bird watching by my wonderful biology teacher, Sister Verna Osterhout. I grew up in the country and was familiar with the birds on the hobby farm where we lived. My mom always had a bird feeder…
Ripples 4/10/25
by Nancy Nabak, communication & development coordinator Inedible but cool, concentric cool. That’s what I discovered on a hike last Saturday morning. The “it thing” was a specimen of Daldinia concentrica, an inedible but purposeful fungus. It was a tiny little thing, like four centimeters tiny, but once in my sights, I needed to create…
Ripples 4/3/25
By Jessica Johnsrud, assistant director and education coordinator I have said this before, but it bears repeating: one of the best parts of my job is spending time with children. I feel so lucky to be able to teach them about nature and introduce them to the beauty that is right here in their backyard.…
Ripples 3/27/25
Ripples by Max Kornetzke, land manager The canopies of American Elms (Ulmus americana) once draped their graceful branches over many of America’s urban streets and boulevards. As I drive between work and home every day, I admire the beauty of the remaining specimens along Memorial Drive, which at one time was covered with at least…
Ripples 3/20/25
Ripples by Nancy Nabak, communication & development coordinator Last night around 5:00 pm, I met a friend out for a quick bite at Kurtz’s Pub & Grill in Two Rivers. As I stepped out of my car, I heard a high-pitched and fast cackle coming from across the street. Knowing this wasn’t a “normal” Main…
Ripples 3/13/24
By Jessica Johnsrud, assistant director and education coordinator Spring sure feels like it’s here or on the horizon. The snow isn’t sticking around much (did it really at all this winter?) and the days are getting longer. Each morning, I hear more birds singing like cardinals, nuthatches and I recently heard a couple of robins…
Ripples 3/6/25
Ripples by Kennedy Zittel, naturalist The Motus Wildlife Tracking System (Motus) is an international collaborative research network that uses radio telemetry to better understand migratory animals. By placing small radio transmitters on migratory animals (such as birds, bats, or even insects) those animals’ movements can be tracked by stations across the world. Stations are scattered…
Ripples 2/27/25
By Max Kornetzke, land manager Ever wonder how spring wildflowers spread across our forests? Many unrelated spring wildflowers have developed a strategy for making sure their offspring have a safe home to grow. Spring Beauties, Bloodroot, Dutchman’s Breeches, Trilliums, and some Violet species have unique fatty deposits on their seedcoats called elaiosomes. These lipid and…
Ripples 2/20/25
By Sue Crowley, executive director I stopped into the Woodland Dunes Photo Hub meeting the other day. The passionate photographers, from novice to experts, were gathering to discuss winter textures. A handful of interesting photographs were displayed on the large monitor in the West Foundation Room. I was immediately drawn to the picture displayed with…
Ripples 2/12/25
by Kennedy Zittel, naturalist Love is in the air! On Valentine’s Day, humans may send each other cards, flowers, or even just show a little extra love to one another. Whether it be a courtship flight, song, or even gift – many local birds have interesting ways that they woo their love interest. Roses are…