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Would you like to become a Friend of Cullen Nature Preserve?
Connect with us to learn more about volunteer opportunities. |
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The Best Laid (Master) Plan ...
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I hope you’re enjoying the start of summer.
The Preserve is lush and vibrant, showcasing incredible plant diversity after recent rains. While the vegetation makes our current surveys a challenge, it’s a wonderful reminder of why we are working so hard to see the Master Plan fully realized. Regarding the Master Plan funding: at the recent Minnetonka City Council Study Session, staff presented a five-year funding plan. While we are disappointed by this extended timeline, we recognize the City's current budget constraints. Our board remains fully committed to opening the Preserve to the public, but we are firm in our position that this should not happen prematurely. Cullen Nature Preserve is a unique ecological gem—a restored oak savanna, an ecosystem that is functionally extinct in much of our state. Unlike typical city parks, this Preserve requires thoughtful preparation before it can safely welcome the public. To ensure the long-term health of this sensitive habitat and to manage visitor impact effectively, we believe it is essential that key features—such as entry points, interpretive elements, and educational spaces—are in place before opening. We want to set the right tone from day one, fostering respect and understanding for this unique space to prevent issues like unauthorized trail use and habitat disturbance. 
Our next steps involve working closely with the City to align development with an optimal opening strategy. While we cannot provide a firm date yet, please know that we are actively advocating for a path forward that honors the Preserve's significance. The Friends and the City continue to work on the Preserve's restoration and are pursuing additional grants.
If you haven’t seen the Master Plan for the Preserve you can find it here. We are excited about the vision of the Master Plan. In the meantime, the best way to experience the Preserve is by joining us for our volunteer events or scheduled tours. Keep an eye on our website for updates. Thank you for your ongoing support and belief in this special place. Jerrold Gershone President, Board of Directors |
Bird Surveys
We completed our volunteer Bird Surveys for 2026. Another successful year!
All the restoration work is paying off, yielding an increase in the number of bird species seen this year. This year, new sightings include: Blue-headed Vireo, Common Grackle, Solitary Sandpiper, and Common Nighthawk. In addition, since 2023, we have observed a Red-headed Woodpecker during our spring surveys. The Red-headed Woodpecker is an oak savanna-dependent species and is in steep decline. Our long-term goal is to get a nesting pair to the Preserve.
Speaking of nesting pairs, we’ve documented active nests of several species including Northern Flickers, Eastern Bluebirds, Great Horned Owls, White-breasted Nuthatches, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, and Indigo Buntings.
All the restoration work is paying off, yielding an increase in the number of bird species seen this year. This year, new sightings include: Blue-headed Vireo, Common Grackle, Solitary Sandpiper, and Common Nighthawk. In addition, since 2023, we have observed a Red-headed Woodpecker during our spring surveys. The Red-headed Woodpecker is an oak savanna-dependent species and is in steep decline. Our long-term goal is to get a nesting pair to the Preserve.
Speaking of nesting pairs, we’ve documented active nests of several species including Northern Flickers, Eastern Bluebirds, Great Horned Owls, White-breasted Nuthatches, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, and Indigo Buntings.
Eastern Bluebird © Russ Sandstom
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Indigo Bunting © Russ Sandstrom
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Thanks to Russ Sandstrom for the beautiful photos of the Bluebird and Indigo Bunting taken at our last Bird Survey. Also, a big shout out to Russ and Rita Sandstrom who lead our Bird Surveys. Their expertise and enthusiasm is invaluable! |
Here is a Summary of Our Bird Survey Data:
Plant Surveys
For the last five years, the Friends of Cullen Nature Preserve has been conducting annual plant surveys. A few times each spring, a small corps of volunteers trek into the Preserve to identify and quantify each and every plant species present within a series of 3 meter square plots. It's a plant nerd's dream!
There are 17 carefully chosen plots within the Preserve and they vary by slope, restoration phase, and habitat type (wetland edge, hardwood swamp, oak woodland, oak savanna, and prairie). Surveys started in 2022 as restoration was still underway, with the first surveys conducted just after the initial buckthorn and woody plant removal had taken place in the winter of 2022. Through the years, our team has documented legacy plants thriving, invasives decreasing, and plants from seeding efforts establishing and maturing.
There are 17 carefully chosen plots within the Preserve and they vary by slope, restoration phase, and habitat type (wetland edge, hardwood swamp, oak woodland, oak savanna, and prairie). Surveys started in 2022 as restoration was still underway, with the first surveys conducted just after the initial buckthorn and woody plant removal had taken place in the winter of 2022. Through the years, our team has documented legacy plants thriving, invasives decreasing, and plants from seeding efforts establishing and maturing.
Vegetation Survey Plot 1 in 2023
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Vegetation Survey Plot 1 in 2026
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Here are a few plants we're excited to see rebounding and thriving (because of habitat loss, they're just not very common in our area any more): American gromwell (Lithospermum latifolium), poke milkweed (Asclepias exaltata), and broad-leaved panic grass (Dichanthelium latifolium). But to be fair, our plant nerd hearts just love getting out and seeing the plots visibly and quantifiably diversifying, knowing that this plant diversity will begin to rebuild a thriving ecosystem at the Preserve!
Thanks to Angela, Brent, Cindy, Heather, Jerrold, Katie, Nate, Sally, and Tom for volunteering their time to help with the annual plant surveys.
Thanks to Angela, Brent, Cindy, Heather, Jerrold, Katie, Nate, Sally, and Tom for volunteering their time to help with the annual plant surveys.