January 21, 10 a.m.-noon, Winter Ecology Snowshoe Hike and Lunch, Frog Lake and Pines State Natural Area, Manitowish. Frog Lake and Pines SNA encompasses 1,176 acres within the Manitowish Wilderness Area and features an undisturbed wilderness lake surrounded by old-growth northern pine forest in a large lowland bordering the Manitowish River. Frog Lake and Pines is owned by the state of Wisconsin and was designated a State Natural Area in 1983. We will hike both on and off trail. We go slow, take exploratory meanders, and stop frequently to talk. This is an easygoing, short outing, but you should have moderate hiking stamina. Once the hike is over, we'll enjoy homemade soup and bread at the B and B (Bates and Burns house), which is just 1/2 mile down the road.

February 4, 10 a.m-12:30 p.m., Winter Ecology Snowshoe Hike, Catherine Wolter Wilderness Area, Presque Isle. The Catherine Wolter Wilderness Area, also known as the Border Lakes State Natural Area, comprises 2,383 acres and features a natural mosaic of forest habitats interspersed with 15 undeveloped lakes and large ponds. Of significance are the lakes, both named and unnamed, which all have unaltered shorelines that represent unparalleled aquatic ecosystems with no non-native plant or animal species. We'll hike a loop that is approximately 2.5 miles within the site. The trail follows an old single-track dirt road, and the topography is gently rolling. We'll take our time and stop frequently to talk. Nevertheless, you should be in good physical condition to hike in snowshoes for several miles at a comfortable pace. Border Lakes State Natural Area is owned by the Wisconsin Chapter of The Nature Conservancy and was designated a State Natural Area in 2004.

March 9-10, Canoecopia, Madison, WI. (times to be determined) We'll give talks on: Phenological events along rivers and lakes, and on Old-growth forests

March 28 - April 1, 2012, Southeastern Arizona Birding
Southeastern Arizona lies at the crossroads of five major biogeographic regions which provide remarkably diverse wildlife communities, spectacular scenery, and a world famous destination for birders. The combination of mild climate, proximity to the Mexican border, and 9000-foot mountains and the last free-flowing river in the Southwest, make southeastern Arizona possibly the premier hotspot for rare and unusual birds, animals, and plants in the U.S. Lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, Arizona Game and Fish Department, and The Nature Conservancy offer an amazing variety of wildlife viewing opportunities. We'll bird on many of these lands, and even in private backyards known for attracting up to 10 species of hummingbirds. The plants and animals of its mountains, deserts, grasslands and streamside forests include species typical of the Sierra Madre of Mexico and the Chihuahuan, Sonoran and Mojave deserts, as well as species found nowhere else on earth. However, the area may be best known for having the greatest diversity of hummingbird species in the U.S. At least thirteen species can be found in the southeastern corner of Arizona each year, and almost half of the hummingbird species found there are rare to unheard of elsewhere in the U.S.
This trip is limited to 10 people to maintain the quality of the experience. Registration closes February 21, 2012. Cost includes comfortable hotel accommodations, all transportation, as well as experienced guides. The trip begins and ends in Tucson, Arizona, and includes five nights of lodging. We meet on the early afternoon of March 28 and fly out on the morning of April 2. Cost does not include transportation to and from Tucson and meals. A full itinerary can be provided upon request.
Organizers: John Bates and Mary Burns. Arizona birding guide: Henry Detweiler (see www.southwestbirders.com) span>

May 12 - 8-10:30 a.m., Spring Birding on the Bearskin Trail
Mid-May marks the return of nearly all of our neotropical songbirds from their wintering grounds in Central and South America. They come back in full voice and brilliant color ready to establish new territories and successfully breed. We'll hike a short segment of the Bearskin Trail that offers a variety of habitats for nesting birds and those still migrating through. This class is for beginning birders to moderately experienced birders. We'll take time to learn how to identify birds by sight, by ear, by habitat, and by behavior.

May 12 - 12:30 ’Äì 3:30 p.m., Spring Wildflower Hike on the Ice Age Trail in the Harrison Hills
A bevy of spring ephemerals on a segment of Wisconsin's Ice Age Trail within the Harrison Hills--what could be better than spending a mid-May afternoon among bloodroots, spring beauties, and trilliums? We will hike and explore a short segment of the Ice Age Trail at a very moderate pace, stopping frequently to enjoy what nature is willing to provide that day. Come join us.

May 13 - 7 ’Äì 11 a.m., Birding the Little Turtle Flowage by Boat and on Foot
One of the stops on the Great Wisconsin Birding and Nature Trail, the Little Turtle Flowage near Mercer encompasses nearly 640 acres of wetlands and supports a remarkable array of nesting bird species including trumpeter swans, sandhill cranes, ospreys, eagles, black terns, sora rails, marsh wrens, and, on occasion, yellow-headed blackbirds. The uplands surrounding the Flowage also offer both forests and grasslands to provide additional varied habitat. The Flowage is an exceptional place to listen to a marsh chorus of birds coming alive at sunrise. However, in deference to later risers, we'll start after the sun is well-up, paddle slowly, and stop frequently to search and listen. We'll then beach the kayaks and canoes to hike some of the uplands in search of early waves of warblers returning from the Tropics.

May 18 - Keynote Talk for Chequamegon Bay Birdfest in Ashland

May 19 - 5:15 a.m., Bird Hike on Stockton Island

August 4 - 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Tenderfoot Forest Reserve, Paddle and Hike
Half of the nearly 1,000 acres within the Nature Conservancy's Tenderfoot Forest Preserve is comprised of old-growth hemlock, sugar maple, basswood, and yellow birch, with a smattering of super-canopy white pines. The only trick to seeing this magnificent forest is that one must first paddle across Palmer Lake, through a portion of the Ontonagon River, and then across Tenderfoot Lake to get there a relatively easy three-mile paddle. We'll hike at a moderate pace, pausing frequently along a two-mile loop within the preserve to discuss the old-growth, and stopping for lunch at one of the wilderness lakes on the property. This site is arguably one of the three best old-growth stands left in Wisconsin.

August 5 - 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Sylvania Paddle and Old-Growth Hike
Sylvania's 21,000 acres of crystal clear lakes and old-growth forests in the Ottawa National Forest provide perhaps the best exploratory opportunities for paddling and hiking in Michigan. A summer paradise for canoeists and kayakers, Sylvania's extensive virgin hemlock-hardwood forests also offer some of the most beautiful hiking in the Midwest. Silence may be one of Sylvania's most precious commodities. No motorized vehicles are permitted within Sylvania's borders at any time. We'll paddle and portage into a few of Sylvania's lakes, hike some of the shoreline trails, discuss the value of wilderness and old-growth, and perhaps take a swim in the crystal-clear waters.

August 10 - 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Cathedral Pines Archaeological Exploration and Old-growth Hike
Cathedral Pines not only features one of the finest old-growth pine-hemlocks stands left on the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, it also is the location of a Native American village and mound site that was likely occupied between the 11th and 16th centuries A.D. We will spend the day exploring the beauty and ecology of the old-growth as well as delving into the mysteries and revelations found in the archaeological remains. In the morning, Mark Bruhy, retired archaeologist for the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, will guide our walk into the past in this highly sensitive area, then in the afternoon, John Bates and Mary Burns will pilot our thoughts on the ecology of old-growth forests. Cathedral Pines was designated as a state natural area in 2007, and encompasses 1,874 acres near Townsend in Oconto County. Come join us on this unique exploration! Contact Nicolet College for registration, (800)-585-9304.

August 11 - 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Franklin and Butternut Lake - Archaeological Exploration and Old-growth HikeFranklin and Butternut Lakes State Natural Area not only features a number of small undeveloped lakes and several stands of old-growth hemlock-hardwoods, it's also located within the Butternut-Franklin Lakes Archaeological District which contains 20 archaeological sites dating back to as early as 400 BC. Listed on the National Register of Historic places, this area has been significantly excavated and much is known about the people that once lived here. In the morning, Mark Bruhy, retired archaeologist for the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest who led many of the excavations in this area, will guide our walk into the past, then in the afternoon, John Bates and Mary Burns will lead us on a hike within the old-growth forests. The 1,396-acre State Natural Area contains several interconnected stands of hemlock-dominated old growth on the isthmus between Franklin and Butternut Lakes where the Franklin Nature Trail winds through a portion of them. Smaller stands of old growth hemlock are found on the east side of Sunfish Lake, on the landward end of the sand spit on the north side of Franklin Lake, and on a long esker-like ridge in the vicinity of Two Dutchmen Lake.

August 12 - 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Black River Waterfalls Hike
Fifteen miles north of Bessemer in the Ottawa National Forest, the Black River tumbles through a series of gorgeous waterfalls to reach Lake Superior. We'll follow the North Country Trail between the waterfalls as we walk downhill for about 4 miles to the sand beach at the mouth of the Black River. If the weather and the lake are sufficiently warm, we'll then take a swim, or we can opt to just walk the length of the beach and eat our lunch by the largest lake in the world. We'll park a van to take us back up to our cars. Though downhill the whole way, the trail still slips up and down, and is rocky and rooty. Wooden boardwalks lead out to beautiful vantage points at each of the falls. We'll take our time going down the trail, talking about the natural history of the area, and allowing plenty of opportunities for photography.

August 23 - Talk for St. Germain Fish and Wildlife, 6 p.m.

To contact John Bates and Mary Burns:
Call: (715) 476-2828
Fax: (715) 476-2818
Email: manitowish@centurytel.net

Write: Trails North, 4245N Hwy. 47, Mercer, WI 54547