Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge's Nurturing Nature Wednesday Series kicked off its fifth year on January 7, 2009. Fifty-five people attended a program entitled "How Birds Survive Winter." - USFWS photo by Becky Goche

The fifth year of the Nurturing Nature Wednesday Series kicked off on Jan. 7, 2009 with a program entitled "How Birds Survive the Winter."  Fifty-five people attended the program at Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge's Green Point Environmental Learning Center in Saginaw.  Janea Little, senior naturalist at Chippewa Nature Center in Midland was the featured presenter.  She enthralled the audience with pictures and little known facts about how birds have more than just their warm feathers in their arsenal against the cold temperatures and long winter nights.

This year's slate of Nurturing Nature Wednesday Series programs is exciting.  Programs are held on Wednesdays of each month, with the exception of July and August when no programs are scheduled.  Upcoming topics include: freshwater mussels of the refuge, backpacking in Michigan, canoeing in Michigan, butterfly gardening, fox snakes on the refuge, green living, Michigan's Junior Duck Stamp program, and fish of Michigan.  At the "Fish of Michigan" program in December, participants will have an opportunity to taste native fish at a reservation only fish dinner prior to the program.

   Information about each month's program can be found on the refuge's website.  The 2009 Nurturing Nature Wednesday Series is sponsored by the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge, Friends of Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge and the Martineau Family Foundation.