TRAIL REPORT & RECENT OBSERVATIONS
Seven Ponds Nature Center encompasses nearly 500 acres of woodlands, wetlands, lakes, ponds, prairies, and fields. There are over six miles of trails for you to explore and enjoy. Please check-in at the nature center prior to venturing out on the trails. Our trails are open to guests Tuesday through Sunday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and open to Seven Ponds members dawn to dusk, every day of the year.
CURRENT TRAIL CONDITIONS
June 21, 2025 - This morning's heavy rains left their mark! Some parts of the trails will have mud and standing water, so bring your muck boots and bug repellent if you decide to trek the trails today!
June 17, 2025 - The Miller Pond Boardwalk is now open for foot traffic! Although the reconstruction project will not be complete for another week or so, the boardwalk is once again ready for you to enjoy. Check out this new upgade at Seven Ponds!
June 08, 2025 - The trail in Paul's Woods and many of the trails in the North-80 have recently received a fresh clean up to start the summer season!
May 29, 2025 - Everything is turning GREEN! Spring is nearly over, and summer will soon be upon us. Come out and enjoy the gradual changing of the season on the trails at Seven Ponds.
RECENT OBSERVATIONS
- The heavy rains, warm temperatures and high humidity proved to be the right combination to bring out painted turtles for a sunning session! These four were spotted having a lovely time at Treetop Pond. (06/21/25)
- A muskrat has been sighted recently feeding on plants along the channel connecting Treetop and Little Pond by the A-Frame Bridge! Muskrats are often seen as an indicator of a healthy ecosystem, particularly in wetlands, because they play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of aquatic vegetation and providing habitat for other species. Their activities as "ecosystem engineers" help create diverse and productive habitats. (06/08/25)
- Our naturalists reported seeing sticklebacks - small fish (generally 1"-2" in length) - traversing flooded areas in the North-80. A very interesting sight! Mudminnows have been found recently in our small prairie pond. (5/17/25)
- The woodland wildflower garden is beginning to peak, with many spring ephemerals like trillium starting to bloom. Nest-making activity is evident in our nest boxes, and our naturalists have reported the return of Yellow Warblers and Common Yellowthroats down by the A-frame Bridge! Now that the temperature is becoming more temperate, watch for turtle activity around the ponds! (5/3/2025)
- We're seeing a lot of activity in Earl's Priarie after our seasonal burn! Some recent sightings include: wild turkey dust bathing; the arrival of Killdeer who are calling and displaying; Redwing Blackbirds and Robins foraging for a tasty meal, and several Tree Swallows and Eastern Bluebirds inspecting the prairie nest boxes! (4/26/25)
- A Trumpeter Swan was seen on Big Pond by one of our neighbors. Be on the lookout for this large majestic bird from the tower overlooking Big Pond. (4/8/25)
- The first warbler! A Louisiana Waterthrush was seen at our Jonathan Woods satellite property. (4/6/25)

Painted turtles enjoying the summer weather at Treetop Pond

Prairie Trillium in our Woodland Wildflower Garden

Flowering Dogwood outside the Schemm-Naish Interpretive Building

A muskrat on it's way to a delicious meal by the A-Frame bridge

Bloodroot in the Woodland Wildflower Garden

Another successful seasonal burn of Earl's Prairie!
Seven Ponds Nature Photo Gallery

Northern Watersnake found by Treetop Pond dock

Raccoon enjoying a winter slumber in a Wood Duck nest box.

Juvenile Bald Eagles on a deer carcass on Treetop Pond

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - a special winter visitor at Seven Ponds

Aurora Borealis at Seven Ponds!

Monarch caterpillar in the Seven Ponds Butterfly Garden

Wood Duck drake on the boathouse roof

Nature provided another stunning sunset at the ponds

Female Common Merganser laying low and hoping to go unnoticed

ANOTHER spectacular sunrise over Earl's Prairie

Good morning, Woodchuck! Nice to see you again.

Sunset at Big Pond

Misty morning fog over Treetop Pond

Northern Shrike, aka The Butcher Bird, hunting over Big Pond

Water droplets on a fallen leaf - science in nature!

Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus sulphureus) in Paul's Woods

Great Egret spotted at the Crawford Rd/Lake George Rd swamp at Seven Ponds

Arctic Skipper at Seven Ponds - first record for Lapeer County

Monarch caterpillar on milkweed in the North-80

Sandhill Crane pair - and baby makes three!

Eastern Screech-Owl roosting in Wood Duck nest box

Baltimore Checkerspot in the North-80 fields


One last(?) snow of the season!

Adult Bald Eagle on the deer carcass

Gray phase Eastern Screech-Owl at Seven Ponds

Moonlight through the clouds just before dawn

Monarch on butterfly bush in the Seven Ponds Butterfly Garden

Colors are popping at Seven Ponds!

Muskrat in Waterfowl Pond

First of the spring Eastern Chipmunk at Seven Ponds

Mourning Cloak resting on a utility pole at Seven Ponds

Virginia Opossum at our feeders

Red Squirrel overcoming our "squirrel proof" feeder

Woodchuck chilling out on the rock bath

"Our" Sandhill Cranes, pictured on November 8 watching over our welcome sign.

Evening Grosbeaks on a feeder at Seven Ponds

Shaggy Mane (Coprinus comatus)

Violet Dancer (Argia fumipennis violacea) at the A-frame Bridge

Fall fungi abounds!

Red-spotted Purple on our sidewalk

Red-headed Woodpecker at Seven Ponds

Snow Bunting in the Seven Ponds parking lot!

Smooth Blue Aster in Earl's Prairie

A sleepy-eyed red-form Eastern Screech-Owl utilizing one of our nest boxes.

American Crows: a murder scene!

A young Virginia Opossum at our feeders

Wild Turkey tracks at Seven Ponds

Paul's Woods ablaze in gold

Red-headed Woodpecker at Seven Ponds!

Groundhog at home at Seven Ponds

Sunset over Seven Ponds

The first skunk cabbage we saw this year

Trumpeter Swans on Treetop Pond

Our healthy Raccoon visitor

Young turkeys on the move

Slugging along on a window

Northern Waterthrush at Jonathan Woods

Louisiana Waterthrush at Jonathan Woods

Fox Squirrel in front with Gray Squirrels (gray and black form)

Bowl and doily web near the A-Frame Bridge

Closed Bottle Gentian in Earl's Prairie

Snowberry Clearwing moth, with wings so fast they are just a blur!

Blanding's Turtle at Seven Ponds

Dryad's Saddle in the North-80

Pixie Cup Lichen

Mayapple in Paul's Woods
206 bird species have been observed at Seven Ponds! The most recent addition to our property list was Common Goldeneye, seen on March 12, 2023. For more recent sightings posted to eBird, click the eBird logo to the right.
Our satellite properties are visited less frequently, but offer different habitat for birds. Check out the eBird reports for these two areas below:
Jonathan Woods Nature Preserve eBird reports
106 bird species observed
Richie Pond Nature Preserve eBird reports
75 bird species observed