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PHOTO GALLERY*
Friends of the Betsie Valley Trail and Trail Activities
2009-2010 FBVT Directors and Trail Care Coordinator (from the left): Nancy Call (President),
John Ester (VP), Chris Kitzman, Bill Olsen (Trail Care Coordinator), Tom Davy, Ed Butt (Secretary),
Sharon McKinley, Bill Parris (Treasurer) and Bob Appleford.. Not pictured: Bryce Dreeszen.
Jim Ryan talks about the Trail with visitors at the Friends' booth at the Frankfort Art Fair.
Mary Osborn answers questions about the Elberta extension to the Trail.
Tom Marshall, Bob King and Tom Davy prepare for visitors to the Art Fair booth.
Nancy Call presents retiring Board member Larry Burks with a rusty spike honoring
his years of service on the Board. Karyn Thorr was similarly honored for her service.
The Tuesday hiking group at the Mollineaux crossing.
The June newsletter labeling party (from the left): Eliza Straus (granddaughter visiting
Pat Jehle), Pat Jehle, Elaine Vanderberg, Kathy Blake and Nancy Wallace.
The hiking group busy at the Friends of the Betsie Valley Trail newsletter mailing party
In July Nancy Call welcomes guests to Business After Hours at the Cabbage Shed in
Elberta, a Frankfort-Elberta Chamber of Commerce event co-sponsored by the Friends.
Bill Olsen explains how the Friends continue to support the Trail's construction, including the
long-time plan of having a beach-to-beach trail from the Frankfort beach to the Elberta beach.
Doug Cook leads a Benzie Audubon field trip along the Trail. Among the participants were
members of Boy Scout Troop #10 seeking a bird study merit badge under Doug's guidance.
Earlier in the week on the Trail the Scouts installed bluebird houses that they had built. Step
one: driving in the post, as done here by Corey Larson on the shoulders of his father, Jay.
Scouts Corey Larson (bottom), Eryk Feala (middle) and Josh Dean (top) observe
while Keith Westphal (with cap) and Bill Olsen demonstrate how to hang a box.
On hand: Lin Dean, Corey and Jay Larson, Bill Olsen,Josh Dean, Keith Westphal, Mike Kaskinen,
Eryk Feala (green shirt), Adam Kaskinen (red shirt), Gordon Dean and Scoutmaster Pete Nugent.
Frankfort Elementary School Girls on the Run and Girls on Track
teams enjoy a day of training on the Betsie Valley Trail.
With the support of the Benzie Audubon Club and under the guidance of Scoutmaster Pete Nugent,
Boy Scout Troop #10 has built six new bluebird boxes for installation along the Trail.
To view older photos of Friends' and Trail Activities, go to Archive.
Wildlife Along the Trail
In June both Black-billed and Yellow-billed Cuckoos were found along the Trail between
Adams Road and the Betsie River. This is the Yellow-billed Cuckoo. (Photo by John Ester)
Bottle Gentian, a relatively rare Michigan wildflower, near Railroad Point. (Liz Calhoun photo)
May brought out Marsh Marigolds (Caltha palustris) in profusion along
the Trail between River Road and M-115. (Photo by Bill Olsen)
At the same timeTrillium were in full bloom in the same area. (Photo by Bill Olsen)
While many of the bluebird boxes along the Trail are used successfully, some nests fail. This was
one such nest, containing five Eastern Bluebird eggs that never hatched. (Photo by John Ester)
Tree Swallows also use bluebird boxes to build their feathery nests. Unfortunately
this one failed, as reflected by the four unhatched eggs. (Photo by John Ester)
Showy Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium reginae) in June (Photo by Bill Olsen)
Ox-eye Daisy (Chrysanthemum leucanthemum) (Photo by Bill Olsen)
Columbine (Aquilegia canadesis) (Photo by Bill Olsen)
Larger Blue Flag (Iris versicolor) (Photo by Bill Olsen)
Wood Anemone (Anemone quinquefolia) (Photo by Bill Olsen)
Day Lily (Hemerocallis fulva) (Photo by Bill Olsen)
Female Snapping Turtle laying eggs next to the Trail (Photo by Bill Olsen)
Juvenile Osprey in late summer over the mouth of Betsie Bay (Photo by John Ester)
This Green Frog joined in the chorus at the "Birding by Ear" field
trip of the Benzie Audubon Club. (Photo by Carl Freeman)
Love was afoot (shall we say) for these Little Wood-Satyr butterflies
mating on the Benzie Audubon field trip. (Photo by Carl Freeman)
Look carefully; mosquitoes are gorging themselves on this female snapping turtle
laying eggs by the wetland along the Trail near River Road. (Photo by Carl Freeman)
There is great butterfly habitat where the Trail runs along a wetland near Thompsonville.
On this Benzie Audubon Club field trip Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) has
attracted a Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele). (Photo by John Ester)
The trail is enjoyed by users of all ages, as shown by this young man on the
Audubon butterfly trip. (Photo by John Ester)
*If you have a digital Trail photo to share, email it to the Web Editor!
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