Brooks Nature Area

09/02/2026

Celebrate 20 years of nature and community with the sweet taste of autumn - doughnuts and cider! Join us at Brooks Nature Area 20th Anniversary Celebration on Sunday, October 18th from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM for free cider and doughnuts while catching up with neighbors and fellow nature lovers.

08/03/2026

Celebrating 20 years of reestablishing and supporting native prairies and other habitats! What flowers do you see in and around the prairie this time of year?

07/27/2026

One of the most special features of the Brooks Nature Area is the presence of Vernal Pools.

In spring, vernal pools fill up along the south shore of Stuart Lake, tucked in the wooded areas.

Vernal pools are small wetlands that fill with water in the spring and dry up during the summer. Because they dry up, vernal pools cannot support permanent fish populations. This allows for the pools to provide critical habitat for animal species that rely on these areas for their survival and reproduction - free from predatory fish. These species include fairy shrimp, wood frogs, and spotted salamanders.

It is imperative that we protect and preserve these special wetland areas in order to protect and support these special animal species!

07/20/2026

Did you know?

Before 2006, when the Brooks Nature Area was designated for wildlife habitat, 80 of the 189 acres were used for farmland. Records indicate that the acreage of BNA had been farmed since approximately 1832.

Now, the park is home to reestablished native prairie, wetlands, wooded areas, meadows, and hedgerows. All landscapes that support an incredibly biodiverse habitat for many special species of wildlife.

07/16/2026

City of Marshall

NOTICE OF CHANGE IN LOCATION
The Brooks Nature Area Board meeting scheduled for
Thursday July 16, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. in the pavilion at Brooks
Nature Area 11481 Stuart Lake Rd will instead be meeting at:

The City of Marshall Public Services building
900 S Marshall Ave
Marshall, MI 49068

At the same time as previously noticed.

05/22/2026

Have you read Birds with Seth's trip report from our World Migratory Bird Day hike? It is such a beautiful capture of a wonderful day and full of great info about Brooks, warblers, and how to support birds in migration. Check it out, and more photos from the event, here!

We celebrated World Migratory Bird day in Calhoun County, MI! Read all about our adventures!

05/11/2026

What an incredible day at Brooks! Watching tree swallows dart and dive for insects, hearing a cuckoo, and getting a great look at a nesting bird box.

A huge thank you to Birds with Seth and Dale and Doug of Albion for sharing their knowledge and expertise with us on World Migratory Bird Day!

More photos and findings to come.

05/04/2026

The Eastern Bluebird. Just one of many birds that call Brooks Nature Area home.

Join us for World Migratory Bird Day to learn more about this beautiful species and get a glimpse at their nesting boxes along the trails.

Register for the morning Brooks Nature Area: World Migratory Bird Day Hike (Event 1) or come to the Brooks Nature Area: World Migratory Bird Day Presentation (Event 2) in the afternoon! See you there!

04/29/2026

One week ago, April 23, Blue Heron Ministries performed a prescribed burn at Brooks with favorable weather conditions. Prescribed burning is a land restoration practice learned from Indigenous communities across the US. The practice happens in the spring and is a working relationship between humans, land, and fire to increase biodiversity, create better habitat for many species and restore prairies and forests.

04/28/2026

Have you registered yet?

Join us and Birds with Seth for this guided hike and learn about the various ways we can support migratory birds on their journey through Brooks and our backyards!

Join Seth Chapman, local birder and mindfulness leader, for a morning migration hike!