A Dream Bird Sanctuary is Taking Flight!
Overview
The Mulberry Ravine in Stillwater, extending from Laurel Street to Mulberry Street, is an undulating ribbon of green and brown (and mostly invasive plants!), winding its way through Stillwater's North Hill. We envision it teeming with native plants and wild birds in the next few years and the new Mulberry Ravine Bird Station, which is under construction now, is hoped to be a way to get this started.
A little history...
This deep, narrow depression, with a walking path and a little stream at its bottom, was originally carved out by a cataclysm in 1852. A dam holding back the water of Lake McKusick burst after heavy rainfall, sending torrents of mud, trees, and buildings nearly a mile down to Stillwater's Main Street. Much of Main Street we know today was built over the debris field. https://www.presspubs.com/st_croix/opinion/columns/flood-of-1852/article_9fc7fc1a-d23d-11e3-a22f-001a4bcf887a.html
Although the ravine has received little attention over the years (including being used as a dump for 150 years), we seek to restore native plants and trees there to create an ecosystem that supports a variety of urban wildlife, especially birds.
What’s the Bird Station?
Mulberry Ravine Bird Station is a 5,000-sq. ft. lot on the rim of the ravine’s west end. Once completed, this will be a bird sanctuary with food, shelter, and water they need to thrive. The project will demonstrate habitat ideas that residents can use in their gardens. With a neighborhood tapestry of small bird and pollinator-friendly gardens around the ravine and throughout the city, we all can help birds and beneficial insects, whose numbers are dwindling.
Washington County Conservation District, Sustainable Stillwater MN, and St. Paul Bird Alliance are helping fund Bird City Gardens’s Mulberry Ravine Bird Station project.
Who is Bird City Gardens?
Bird City Gardens is a new 501c3 nonprofit listed with the Secretary of State in Minnesota and recognized by the IRS. Its board of directors are:
Board Chair Allison McGinnis is a passionate environmental advocate who has been a Trumpeter Swan Reintroduction Program biologist, conducted bald eagle telemetry studies, and led raptor education and training initiatives. She founded the St. Croix Valley Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Organization and currently heads up the Bird City team of Sustainable Stillwater, MN.
Wendy Gorski, an environmental activist, five-year board member at Sustainable Stillwater MN, and creator of the Green Business Directory, is the board vice chair and managing director.
Julie Balfanz, Stillwater Middle School's technology and innovation coach, is a board member designing bird research and technology projects for students that can take place at the sanctuary.
Board member John Wheatley is a retired 3M scientist whose generous donation of Haikubox bird listening devices to this and other Stillwater area locations reflects his dedication to birds and research.
The site designer is landscape architect Brett Stolpestad of Washington Conservation District, whose enthusiasm for native plants will be brought to life. Landscape installer Jen Merth of Wild Revival has been contracted to install Brett’s design.
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