Gary Schultheiss and Barbara Richman

Protecting the North Unit

Looking back over the years since Saving Birds Thru Habitat was founded, it is clear that chance encounters have sometimes played an important role in the organization’s growth. In early 2019, a connection formed when Barb Richman prepared a tax return for SBTH Executive Director Kay Charter. Barb and her husband Gary had been aware of the organization, but were not yet members. The meeting led not only to their joining SBTH, but Barb later became a Board Member and Database Administrator.

Gary and Barb have lived for many years on a forty-acre forested property a few miles from the Habitat Discovery Center and Charter Sanctuary. Their land is protected under a conservation easement with the Leelanau Conservancy.

In June of 2021 Gary noticed a “for sale” sign on 37 acres of undeveloped land adjacent to their property. Concerned about how the land might be used if it were sold for development or agriculture, he contacted the realtor the next day. Within three days Gary and Barb submitted an offer, and three weeks later the purchase was complete. They call the new property “The North Unit.”

Their first concern was protecting the headwaters of a wetland located on their property. They worried that if the land were converted to a fruit farm, chemical applications could eventually affect the wetland and its ephemeral pond. By purchasing the land themselves, they were able to ensure the protection of that sensitive ecosystem.

The property also contains forested areas and a large open meadow, providing additional opportunities for habitat restoration.

One of their first tasks after taking ownership was tackling a large population of invasive autumn olive. To date they have removed more than 1,500 of these aggressive shrubs. They also began exploring ways to restore the meadow. The advice they received was simple: scatter native grass and forb seed across the field just before the first snow. Over time, the fallow field will gradually give way to a prairie of native plants.

Through their stewardship, Gary and Barb are helping ensure that this landscape will continue to support wildlife—especially the insects and birds that depend on native plants.