The Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy (SWMLC) is a tax-exempt organization created by local residents in 1991. Its mission is to permanently protect the natural, historic and scenic landscapes to ensure the health and quality of life for the people of southwest Michigan. They are dedicated to protecting natural areas, historic sites and open spaces through gifts, purchases or conservation easements; encouraging ecologically sound land practices; enabling individuals and organizations to protect land important to wildlife and people; and providing opportunities and sites for education, research, outdoor recreation, and nature study.
This series was created at the request of Nate Fuller from the South West Michigan Land Conservancy. SWMLC manages over 30 preserves in SW Michigan. The public is invited to visit eleven of them. The other preserves owned by SWMLC contain sensitive habitats or have access issues and are not open to the public unless permission is received from SWMLC.
When visiting a preserve, please respect the natural features and keep the following guidelines in mind: · Do not remove or destroy plants or wildlife. · Take all trash with you. · Do not use motorized vehicles or bicycles. · Camping, fires and pets are not allowed (leashed pets permitted only at Chipman Preserve). · No hunting is allowed unless noted.
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Welcome to Topinabee Lake Preserve
Most of Topinabee Lake Preserve is made up of a shallow lake with a border of willows, swamp rose and small trees. This wetland is a popular migration spot for many different species of birds, especially waterfowl. Nearly twenty different types ducks alone have been identified on the preserve. Rare birds for southwest Michigan such as American Bittern, Common Moorhen, and Great Egret are occasionally found hunting the wetlands for food while various warblers, orioles and tanagers explore the brushy edge for insects
A viewing platform offers easy access and an improved view of the wetland. Visitors are serenaded by a variety of frogs and birds throughout the spring and summer. Binoculars or scope are recommended to help spot the diverse wildlife that use this preserve as both a home and migratory rest stop.
This cache is a large Lock & Lock container placed just off of the trail. As with the others in the series this is a Letterbox Hybrid Cache. In it you will find a log book, stamp, inkpad and cards. Please record the imprint of the stamp on the card in the square marked "Topinabee Lake" Take your card to the other caches in the series and record those stamp. When you have the imprint from all 11 preserves take your card to the SWMLC office and get the final. You may also get a small prize.
Please rehide the cache well so that it will still be there for the next cacher to find.
DUE TO PEOPLE STEALING SOME OF THE CACHES IN THIS SERIES AND THE TIME REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN THE CARDS, THE CACHES IN THIS SERIES ARE NOW REGULAR LETTERBOX HYBRIDS. THE CARDS WILL NO LONGER BE USED.
This cache was placed and maintained by a MiGO member.
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