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


December 21, 2025 - A clear sky and dry conditions make a perfect day to explore the trails here at the nature center! But don't be fooled by the sunshine: brisk winter winds will make the 'feels like' temperature colder than it seems, so dress appropriately! And while the trails are lightly snow covered in some areas, watch for slick patches of ice, especially around the ponds trails and Earl's Prairie!


November 29, 2025 - The winter cold has finally arrived, and soon the nature center trails will be covered with snow. Today would be a great time to bring friends and family to Seven Ponds for a brisk hike as we bid farewell to fall and welcome winter!


October 31, 2025 - With the passing of the peak fall color change comes the big leaf drop, and what a drop it's been! All of the trails are covered with fallen leaves, revealing the interior landscape off the trails. This is a rare treat only available in the fall through the spring seasons, at which time the new summer growth fills in, offering excellent coverage for bedded deer, nesting/foraging birds, and other animals. Be sure to take advantage of the North-80, our most rustic trail comprising of two miles of interconnected trails and paths. To prepare for new spring growth, our maintenance team has begun mowing/brushing the interior fields of these trails, opening up areas usually too dense for visitors to see.


October 18, 2025 - While the dry conditions and warmer temperatures have not been ideal for fall color change, the trails are still inviting for a brisk hike and the crunch of leaves underfoot.


October 5, 2025 - A clear, sunny day and an unusually warm weekend makes today the perfect time to come out to the nature center and explore our trails!


RECENT OBSERVATIONS

  • In spite of the freezing rain making this year's Audubon Christmas Bird Count a challenge at the nature center, our naturalists were fortunate enough to photograph a group of Evening Grosbeaks who visited the feeders off the library. Evening Grosbeak sightings are unusual in the area at this time of year, but not unheard of, so it was a special treat to see these large and beautiful finches up close! (12/27/2025)
  • UPDATE! It appears that as of Dec. 18th, the red morph Eastern Screech-Owl is still nestled in the nest box outside our library feeders, and graced us with a fine portrait! (12/20/2025)
  • On Dec. 7th, our naturalists spotted an Eastern Screech-Owl poking it's head out of a wood duck box mounted near our bird feeders off the library. What makes this one special is that it is of the red morph variety, and not very common to this area! Eastern Screech-Owls readily accept nest boxes, though the last owl to occupy this same box last year (a more common grey morph), only occupied the box for about a week before moving on. Perhaps we'll see it again; and we've got our scope positioned in a good spot just in case! (12/13/2025)
  • Bald Eagles have been spotted over the ponds today. As the open waters of Northern Michigan begin to freeze over, eagles will expand their range, seeking other open waterways to hunt. (11/29/2025)

Seven Ponds Nature Photo Gallery

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