Communitiy Action at the McKusick Ravine

What an incredible day we had on May 31! Our community came together to tackle an important task at the McKusick Ravine, right next to the Mulberry Creek Bird Station. Armed with digging tools, gloves, and plenty of enthusiasm, neighbors joined forces to remove invasive plants like buckthorn and burdock root. These plants were threatening to spread their seeds into our newly planted bird sanctuary, so it was crucial to take action. Under the guidance of Andrew Coyne (yellow safety vest), Stillwater’s dedicated city forester, we learned the essential difference between a weed and a beneficial plant, making the work both educational and rewarding! Andrew even brought new trees to plant: hazelnut, serviceberry, oak, and basswood. Also there was Brett Stolpestad (far right), the brilliant landscape architect from Washington Conservation District who designed the bird habitat we are creating.

The spirit of teamwork was evident as everyone dug in with gusto, making a significant impact on our local ecosystem. We are so grateful to everyone who volunteered their time and energy to help protect our habitat. To sweeten the hard work, we enjoyed some delicious homemade cookies and lemonade together. Plus we gave away free serviceberry trees, cranberry and elderberry bushes as a thank you gift! It’s amazing what we can accomplish as a community, and we look forward to more days like this to enhance our environment and support our feathered friends! Thank you all!