Lions and tigers and bears? Who needs 'em? The Belle Isle nature center has bees and blackbirds and butterflies. And these little thrills are bringing people from across metro Detroit to Detroit's island.
Excerpt from the
Detroit News:
New signage reminds visitors the park is free; new paint and flooring inside the 25,000-square-foot nature center give the facility a more earthy feel; new outdoor classrooms have been designed and created, and new wicker furniture has been placed around the nature center building, allowing visitors young and old to sit and listen to the birds, bees and other wildlife.
Bernidetta Mixon gazed in wonder during a recent visit to the zoo's Bird Habitat garden, where dozens of small birds of numerous species snacked on birdseed. A small microphone outside in the garden filled the hall with songs and calls, delighting her.
"What is that black bird with the red on its wings," Mixon asked zoo manager Michael Reed, who identified the bird as a red-winged blackbird. "I love it here. It's beautiful."
The zoo, which covers 4 acres, also includes reptiles, snakes and spiders.
It has welcomed visitors since 2005, yet is an often forgotten feature of the island, which has seen sister institutions like the Belle Isle aquarium close, also in 2005.
Read the entire article
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