Research

The Kalamazoo Nature Center works with local, national, and international partners to conduct scientific research that supports the restoration and conservation of native habitats and species. Our projects range from short-term actions that address critical conservation needs to multi-decade population studies. The Kalamazoo Nature Center’s research program aims to deepen our collective understanding of Michigan’s natural communities and to provide information that can guide the activities of land managers, policy makers, and others who care for nature.

Conducting Research at the Kalamazoo Nature Center

Researchers who are interested in conducting research at the Kalamazoo Nature Center should contact Holly Hooper at hhooper@naturecenter.org for information about the application procedure. Researchers who are interested in collaborating with Kalamazoo Valley Bird Observatory should contact Rich Keith at rkeith@naturecenter.org.

Contact Us

Holly Hooper
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Biological Research Director
hhooper@naturecenter.org

Rich Keith
Pronouns: he/him/his
KVBO Director
rkeith@naturecenter.org

Current Initiatives

Mitchell’s Satyr Butterfly Propagation

Captive rearing is a critical conservation measure that can supplement and support declining populations of animals, such as the federally endangered Mitchell’s satyr butterfly (Neonympha mitchellii mitchellii). Only 10 Mitchell’s satyr butterfly populations remain of the 30 that previously existed across the northeastern United States, 9 of which are located in Michigan. The Kalamazoo Nature Center is home to one of just two Mitchell’s satyr propagation facilities in the country that is permitted to rear Mitchell’s satyr. Wild-caught butterflies are briefly held in our propagation facility to lay eggs, which metamorphose in captivity before augmenting dwindling populations. Additionally, the Kalamazoo Nature Center began a long-term study in 2020 that monitors temperature and humidity at multiple strata within occupied Mitchell’s satyr habitat. Data from this study will help to synchronize captive Mitchell’s satyr development with that of wild populations within our propagation facility, and has potential long-term applications considering that their globally rare, prairie fen habitat is highly vulnerable to human and environmental pressures.

Population and Habitat Monitoring

The Kalamazoo Nature Center monitors populations of imperiled plant and animal species and their associated habitats across our 1,500 acres. A focal species of our monitoring efforts is the federally threatened eastern massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus). These snakes have been observed on our property’s wetlands and upland areas adjacent to our wetlands. Massasaugas use both of these areas for different parts of their life history. Wetland habitats offer perfect sites for massasauga hibernacula, or hibernation areas. As massasaugas emerge from their hibernacula in the spring, they will search for a mate and eventually make their way to nearby upland areas to give birth to their young. Finding massasaugas in our wetlands implies that a massasauga population lives and reproduces on site opposed to them visiting from other locations. Regular monitoring of this population tracks the species’ health, growth, and distribution, which allows the Kalamazoo Nature Center to prioritize restoration activities in vital patches of suitable habitat and increase connectivity between populated patches of suitable habitat. If you are lucky enough to spot a massasuaga while out on our trails, please contact Holly Hooper at hhooper@naturecenter.org with the date, time, and location of your observation!

Kalamazoo Valley Bird Observatory

The Kalamazoo Valley Bird Observatory (KVBO) is a program of the Kalamazoo Nature Center that is over 30 years old! Collaborative research between KVBO and government agencies, universities, and non-governmental organizations allows individual birds to be tracked as they move throughout North America. Surveys, banding, and parasite sampling allows researchers at KVBO to examine how environmental changes, pests, and diseases impact the distribution and demography of bird species.

Fall Migratory Bird Banding

Banding birds allows researchers to track and monitor migration patterns and population fluctuations. Additionally, birds make ideal research subjects for looking at changes in the environment, such as climate change, because their biology and life history has been extensively studied. The banding process involves recording physical data about the bird, such as weight, wing length, age, and sex, and placing a small, light-weight band with a 9-digit code on the bird’s leg. If a banded bird is recaptured, researchers gain valuable knowledge about where the bird has traveled. Furthermore, KVBO shares this data with a multitude of different banding programs and institutions, which allows individual birds to be tracked across state and international borders.

The Kalamazoo Nature Center’s bird banding efforts are part of the national Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship (MAPS) program coordinated by the Institute for Bird Populations. Learn more.

Motus Wildlife Tracking System

The Kalamazoo Valley Bird Observatory works with bird observatories around the globe to gather data on bird migration routes using the Motus Wildlife Tracking System. Led by Bird Studies Canada, this system uses networked receiving "towers" to detect specialized radio tracking devices on wildlife from up to 15km away and shares these reports with researchers worldwide. A new 2021 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service grant will fund the installation of 59 new Motus receivers across 8 Midwestern states, Columbia, Costa Rica, and Mexico. KVBO staff will lead Michigan’s efforts in this partnership, coordinating the installation of up to six grant-funded receivers. Additionally, the KVBO team is also installing 4 privately-funded receivers on partner properties and 7 receivers on state lands this year. This expansion of the Michigan Motus network will dramatically increase researchers' abilities to track bird migration across the state. See the power of the Motus system in action and find reports from KNC's own receiver at: https://motus.org/education/.