Maintaining BRV’s biodiversity calls for a number of habitat enhancement initiatives. Among these is the restoration of prairies, which were once widespread in southern Michigan until the 1800s when European settlers converted this ecosystem to agricultural land.

Experimental patches of prairie grasses were started at BRV in 1994, and today the foundation has about 200 acres of prairie land, with about 100 different species of grasses and flowering plants.

“Prairie grass provides important food and cover for wildlife, including many grassland birds,” points out Jay Suseland, manager of grounds maintenance. “The wildflowers that flourish in prairies also serve as a food source for insects, which provide food for other species using the habitat.

Strips of prairie grass have also been planted on the perimeter of crop fields at BRV, creating corridors that connect multiple habitats and enable wildlife to more easily emigrate from one area to another