PHOTO GALLERY*

Friends of the Betsie Valley Trail and Trail Activities


2011-2012 FBVT Directors and Trail Care Coordinator: Bryce Dreeszen (Treasurer),
Ed Butt (Secretary), Pat Laarman, Bill Olsen (Trail Care Coordinator), Sharon McKinley,
Bill Parris (President), Terri Jones and John Ester (VP). Not pictured:  Tom Davy

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Part of the team gathered at Michigan Shores to work on the November newsletter (clockwise
from the left): Charlie Kinzel, Jackie Jackson, Martha Garber, Bev Leitz and Lucie Kinzel.

The rest of the Terri Jones team working on the newsletter (clockwise from
the left): Sally Jo Messersmith, Sherry Davy, John Hays and Etta Mae Pierce

On an Audubon field trip Bryce Dreeszen removes a nest from one of the Trail's bluebird
boxes while Paula Dreeszen checks her records and Bill Gittlen and Nancy Baglan look on.

Bryce Dreeszen goes over a Trail map with a visitor at our Frankfort Art Fair booth.

Tom Davy chats up a Trail user at the CSA Arts and Crafts Show.

Despite her retirement from the Board Nancy Call also worked the booth at CSA.

At our Annual Meeting retiring Board member Chris Kitzman received a Rusty
Spike award from Nancy Call for her three years of service on the Board.

 
Bill Olsen then presented a Rusty Spike to outgoing President Nancy for her five years
of dedicated service as President, which was followed by a hearty round of applause.

The Benzie Sunrise Rotary Club used the Trailhead at Beulah for its 10th
Annual Cookout in the Park in conjunction with the Beulah Art Fair

Sharon McKinley staffing the Friends' booth at the Beulah Art Fair.

Chris Kitzman pointed out spots along the Trail to interested passersby.

Boy Scouts from Troop #10 install bluebird boxes along the Betsie Valley Trail:  (From the left)
 Joel Kaskinen, William Richardson, Corey Larson (black shirt), Adam Kaskinen, Eryk Feala
(blue shirt), Scoutmaster Pete Nugent, Josh Dean and Assistant Scoutmaster Mike Kaskinen

Doug Cook points out a warbler on Benzie Audubon's Beginning Birding field trip along the Trail.
A complete report on the trip can be found on the Field Trips page of the Benzie Audubon website.

With the support of the Benzie Audubon Club and under the guidance of Scoutmaster Pete Nugent,
Boy Scout Troop #10 this year has built thirty new bluebird boxes for installation along the Trail.

 L-R: Darryll Kinnan, Dick Munt, Shirley Kinnan and Dianne Munt weathered the aftermath of the big
December 12th blizzard to come out and help FBVT by getting out the President's appeal letter.

To view older photos of Friends' and Trail Activities, go to Archive.

Wildlife Along the Trail

In June both Black-billed and Yellow-billed Cuckoos were found along the Trail between 
Adams Road and the Betsie River. This is the Yellow-billed Cuckoo. (Photo by John Ester)

 Bottle Gentian, a relatively rare Michigan wildflower, near Railroad Point. (Liz Calhoun photo)

May brought out Marsh Marigolds (Caltha palustris) in profusion along
the Trail between River Road and M-115. (Photo by Bill Olsen)

At the same timeTrillium were in full bloom in the same area. (Photo by Bill Olsen)

While many of the bluebird boxes along the Trail are used successfully, some nests fail. This was 
one such nest, containing five Eastern Bluebird eggs that never hatched. (Photo by John Ester)

Tree Swallows also use bluebird boxes to build their feathery nests. Unfortunately
this one failed, as reflected by the four unhatched eggs. (Photo by John Ester)

Showy Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium reginae) in June (Photo by Bill Olsen)

Ox-eye Daisy (Chrysanthemum leucanthemum) (Photo by Bill Olsen)

Columbine (Aquilegia canadesis) (Photo by Bill Olsen)

 Larger Blue Flag (Iris versicolor) (Photo by Bill Olsen)

  Wood Anemone (Anemone quinquefolia) (Photo by Bill Olsen)

Day Lily (Hemerocallis fulva) (Photo by Bill Olsen)

Female Snapping Turtle laying eggs next to the Trail (Photo by Bill Olsen)

Juvenile Osprey in late summer over the mouth of Betsie Bay (Photo by John Ester)


This Green Frog joined in the chorus at the "Birding by Ear" field
trip of the Benzie Audubon Club. (Photo by Carl Freeman)


Love was afoot (shall we say) for these Little Wood-Satyr butterflies
mating on the Benzie Audubon field trip. (Photo by Carl Freeman)


Look carefully; mosquitoes are gorging themselves on this female snapping turtle
laying eggs by the wetland along the Trail near River Road. (Photo by Carl Freeman)


There is great butterfly habitat where the Trail runs along a wetland near Thompsonville.
On this Benzie Audubon Club field trip Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) has
attracted a Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele). (Photo by John Ester)

The trail is enjoyed by users of all ages, as shown by this young man on the
Audubon butterfly trip. (Photo by John Ester)

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