CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Catch and Tag a Migrating Monarch
Saturday, September 4, 2010
(Rain Date: Sunday, September 5)
1:00 pm
Carl Traeger School, 3000 W. 20th Ave., Oshkosh
East side parking lot.
Families, friends, young and old alike, can participate in the autumn migration of monarch butterflies on Saturday, September 5 from 1:00 - 3:00 pm. We will meet at Carl Traeger School in the east side parking lot for a short orientation and a demonstration of the tagging process. Then participants will drive to a local field to net monarchs and attach numbered tags to their wings, record data, and release them as part of a nationwide research project by the University of Kansas called MonarchWatch (www.monarchwatch.org).
These amazing fliers will migrate 1800 miles to spend the winter in the mountains of central Mexico.
This event is suitable for children four years and up. We recommend that children wear long pants, shoes and socks. It is free to Winnebago Audubon members. The non-member fee is $5.00 per adult and $3.00 per child 17 years and under. Pre-registration is not required. Non-members may join at the event for only $20.00 for a one year family membership. A limited number of butterfly nets will be available, so please bring your own if you have one.
Teachers or families who are raising monarchs and are interested in tagging their butterflies may contact Janet for tags and forms.
For more information contact Janet Wissink at 920-589-2602 or wiss@centurytel.net.
WE NEED YOUR HELP LOCATING A BLOOMING ALFALFA FIELD FOR THIS EVENT! We need a large alfalfa field that will be in bloom on Sept.4. It should not be located on a busy road and the shoulder of the road should be wide enough for parking. If you know of a possible field, please contact Dave Moon at 235-4429 or djmoon@northnet.net.
Thanks for your help!
Prairie Walk on the Wiouwash
Sunday, September 12, 2010
1:30 pm - Meet in parking area on County Road GG
A walk down the Wiouwash Trail has been scheduled for 1:30 pm Sunday afternoon, September 12th. Anita Carpenter and Tom Underwood will escort us through one of the prairie remnants that still retains some of its character of pre-settlement times. With Anita's acute observational skills when it comes to insects, and Tom's knowledge of the prairie plants, you can count on this to be an interesting afternoon of exploration for the whole family. The outing will begin on County Road GG, where the county maintains a small parking lot, and move north along the converted railroad grade. Dress for a mile and a half of easy walking and the prevailing weather. If we want to walk a little further, we can visit the site north of Maxwell Road where Boy Scout Troop 618 worked in spring. Even though the trail is quite open, mosquitos may be present. Call Tom with your questions at (920) 410-9703.
Whooping Crane/Wolf Howl Bus Trip to Necedah
Saturday, October 23, 2010
11:45 am to 10:30 pm
Pickup location: Menard's, 2351 Westowne Ave., Oshkosh
in the northeast corner of the parking lot near the ATM
Please arrive early so the bus can leave promptly at 11:45.
Northeast Wisconsin Alliance has invited us to join them on this exciting field trip to Necedah National Wildlife Refuge. The bus will leave Oshkosh at 11:45 am and return at approximately 10:30 pm. The day's events will include a whooping crane program at 2:00 pm, followed by a bus tour of the Refuge to look for whoopers and other migratory birds and wildlife. A dinner of sub sandwiches, cole slaw, chips, fruit, and beverage will be held on the grounds enabling participants can socialize or spend additional time hiking and getting pictures of migratory birds coming to the marsh for their evening rest. At 6:30 pm a wolf ecology program will be held followed by an actual wolf howl outing.
Cost will be dependent upon number of participants. For example, if 30 people attend the cost will be $22.00 per person. Full capacity of 44 will reduce the cost to $17.00 per person. The meal is included in the price.
To sign up or for further information contact Cheryl Root at Cheryl.Root@gmail.com or call 920-731-1035. Please tell her that you heard about it from Winnebago Audubon.
Now is the time to make your reservation for this excellent opportunity to see whoopers and hear wolves!!!
Work Day on the Prairie
Saturday, October 30, 2010
The date has been set for another brush-cutting work party on the prairies of the Wiouwash Trail. On Saturday, Oct. 30, gather up your tools and join other volunteers as they do their best to hold back the ever encroaching shrubs on these ecological gems. Watch for more details, including the worksite, to come.
Manage Your Land to Help Birds
Thursday, November 18 , 2010
7:00 pm - Evergreen Retirement Community
1130 N. Westfield St., Oshkosh
Joint meeting with Fox Valley Area Chapter Wild Ones.
Vicki Piaskowski has been the International Coordinator of Birds Without Borders-Aves Sin Fronteras (BWB-ASF) since it began in 1996, managing the research and field work and conducting staff training. One of the goals of this organization is to do research on migratory and resident bird species in Wisconsin and Belize. The results of this project are summarized in a book that Vicki co-authored, "How to Manage Your Land to Help Birds" which she will speak about at our meeting.
PAST PROGRAMS
Canoe/Kayak Rush Lake with Tom Ziebell
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Start: 7:30am (Plan to be on the lake for 2 to 3 hours)
No charge, but PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED! Limit 12 boats.
(You must provide your own canoe/kayak.)
Make your reservation with Janet at
wiss@centurytel.net or 920-589-2602.
Winnebago Audubon invites you to explore Rush Lake with us. Our guide will be Tom Ziebell, who knows Rush Lake and its birds very well. Learn about the restoration of this important remnant prairie pothole lake from the vantage point of a canoe or kayak. Enjoy a morning on the water, in the reeds and cattails, observing the birds and wildlife of the lake. Some of the birds we might see are black terns, yellowheaded blackbirds, redhead ducks, bitterns, pied-billed grebes, herons and egrets.
What to bring: Canoe or kayak, life jackets, binoculars, camera, sunscreen, insect repellent, drinking water, snack.
Where to meet: Rush Lake East Boat Landing on County Road M between State Road 44 and State Road 91. Please arrive early so that we are ready to launch at 7:30 am.
May Birdathon: Help Audubon Continue To Sponsor Programs and Activities in our Schools and Community! May is the perfect time for bird watching during the spring migration. And, so it is a great time for our Birdathon. You are invited to help us count! Give us a call to join one of our bird watching teams. We have a wonderful time visiting our favorite bird haunts to see, hear, count and record as many birds as we can in a 24 hour period. Spend an hour with us or the whole day. The Birdathon would not be a success without the generous contributions of our members and friends. Please sponsor our birders by pledging a per bird amount or fixed dollar amount. Your support allows us to continue providing quality events and programs in our community.
Calling All Frogs! A Night Hike
Saturday, May 22, 2010
7:30 - 9:30 pm
This is a hit with the kids and adults alike!
Winnebago Audubon will hold the popular frog night hike led by Randy Korb on Saturday evening May 22. An indoor orientation to Wisconsin frogs will begin at 7:30 pm. Participants will get to know the calls of our 12 species. Children may hold and feed frogs, toads, and salamanders during the orientation. Once we're familiar with frogs we'll venture out at dusk to hear them. We will be driving to a nearby location on Rush Lake. The eastern gray tree frog is in peak breeding season in late May and we expect to hear a lusty chorus. Other local callers at this time are American toads, spring peepers, and green frogs.
This event is free for Winnebago Audubon members and no pre-registration is required. The fee for non-members is $5.00 per adult and $3.00 per child under 17. Non-members may join Audubon at the door if they like. Participants should bring flashlights and old tennis shoes, boots or hip boots for possible wading into shallow water.
We will meet at the Pickett Community Center, 6687 State Road 44, Pickett. For more information contact Janet at 920-589-2602 or wiss@centurytel.net.
Family Outdoor Fun at Waukau Creek
Saturday, May 15, 2010
8:00 am - Noon
***RAIN OR SHINE***
Tent, Tables and Chairs provided by Modern Rentals of Ripon
Winnebago Audubon is hosting a half-day community event for families and others on Saturday, May 15, 2010 at Waukau Creek Nature Preserve from 8:00 am to noon. New this year is a special presentation by Andy Krueger, bee expert and master gardener. At 10:00 am she will present “Bee’s in your Backyard” providing information about honey bees and mason bees. Her presentation will be suitable for all age groups so entire families are encouraged to attend this portion of the morning. Winnebago Audubon will have mason bee houses available for sale.
Adults are invited to join Anita Carpent for “bird & wildflower” walks at 8:00 am and again at 11:15 am. Then at 8:45 am and 11:15 am, families are encouraged to come along for an exploration of the natural world at the preserve with Carol Thomas, naturalist from Schlitz Audubon Nature Center. (Schlitz Audubon Nature Center is a 185-acre stretch of untouched land along the shore of Lake Michigan just 15 minutes north of downtown Milwaukee.)
Throughout the morning, except during the bee presentation, we will have activities for children that include creating a bird feeder to take home to your backyard; making a pair of “binoculars”; and folding your very own flying origami crane.
Bring along a pair of binoculars and a sense of adventure. Be prepared for the possibility of wet or muddy trails. We will have several pairs of binoculars available for use for beginning birders from our “birding kit”.
This event is free to Audubon members. The cost for non-members is $5.00/family, $2.00/adult, $1.00/child. Memberships can be purchased that day.
Waukau Creek Nature Preserve is located at 2987 Delhi Rd., north of Waukau just off of County Road K, 10 miles west of Oshkosh.
For additional information contact Evelyn Meuret at 920-426-1656 or meuret@uwosh.edu.
Work Day on the Wiouwash Trail Prairie
Saturday, April 17, 8:00 am
If you have an interest in the remnant prairie pieces that exist along the Wiouwash trail north of Oshkosh, you might be interested in this work day. Eagle Scout D.T. McDonald, with the support of the DNR and the Winnebago County Parks Department, has chosen a project to assist with the maintenance of the prairie. The most degraded of the four sections of the trail comprising the Oshkosh-Larsen Trail Prairies State Natural Area is immediately north of Maxwell Road. This is the section we will be working on.
D.T. has recruited several of his friends but this stretch of trail would benefit from all the help it can get. If you have the time, please come help. As has been done in the past, any woody vegetation in evidence will be cut low to the ground and left for fuel for the next prescribed burn. This will, hopefully, occur later this spring. Tools to bring might include gloves, pruners, loppers, or small bow saws. Park along Maxwell Road.
If you have any questions contact Tom Underwood at thomasj335@sbcglobal.net or (920) 410-9703.
Annual Midwest Crane Count
Count Day: Saturday, April 17, 2010
5:30-7:30 am
The Annual Midwest Crane Count is a citizen science tradition created by the International Crane Foundation (ICF) of Baraboo, WI, to monitor the general population trend of sandhill cranes in the Upper Midwest, as well as to promote awareness of cranes and wetland conservation throughout the count area. We invite you to help gather this valuable data to further ICF research. Volunteer counters of all ages can enjoy this early morning activity. Winnebago Audubon coordinates the count in Winnebago County which has 45 designated sites to be surveyed. After the count, join us for breakfast (Dutch Treat) at the Fin 'n Feather in Winneconne.
In 2009, volunteer counters tallied 1214 Sandhill Cranes in the early morning hours in Winnebago County. There were also two Whooping Cranes tallied. The total tally for Wisconsin and portions of Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, and Minnesota was over 11,500 cranes. If you are interested in taking part, please contact the Winnebago County Coordinator, Evelyn Meuret, Winnebago Audubon Society, at (920) 426-1656, or email meuret@uwosh.edu.
Potential volunteers are encouraged to attend an organizational meeting on Wednesday, April 7 at 6:30 pm. The meeting will be held at the Oshkosh Public Library, Meeting Room B. At the meeting, participants will select survey sites, receive observation forms and instructions. If you would like to participate but are unable to attend the meeting, contact the Winnebago County Coordinator.
Based in Baraboo, Wisconsin, the nonprofit International Crane Foundation sponsors the Crane Count as a part of its efforts to preserve and study the world's 15 species of cranes and the natural communities on which they depend. Sandhill Cranes once experienced severe population declines in the late 1800s to early 1900s in the Upper Midwest, but have recovered successfully. The Crane Count has documented the growth of the sandhill population, and allows ICF to monitor crane abundance and distribution. Observations of the abundant Sandhill Cranes can often lend insight into the endangered crane species of the world. One local example is the flock of Whooping Cranes being released in Central Wisconsin, and led on migration to the Gulf Coast of Florida by ultralight aircraft. Participants may have a chance of sighting a Whooping Crane during the Crane Count.
To find out more about the Crane Count, visit the International Crane Foundation's website at www.cranecount.org or contact Joan Garland, ICF’s Crane Count Coordinator at (608) 356-9462 extension 142, or by email at jgarland@savingcranes.org.
Spring Banquet Make your reservations soon, space is limited
"20 Years of Great Photos from Birder's World"
Saturday, April 17 at Robbins Restaurant, 1810 Omro Rd., Oshkosh
5:30 pm: Social, Silent Auction, and
Photo Display by local photographer Boyd Gibbs
6:30 pm: Dinner
Dinner will be followed by a brief meeting and the presentation of the Katherine D. Rill Environmental Award. The highlight of the evening will be the program "20 Years of Great Photos from Birder's World" presented by Chuck Hagner, editor of Birder's World magazine. Chuck is a long-time avid birdwatcher, nature writer, and author of "Guide to Ducks and Geese" and "Wings of Spring" which won a 2006 National Outdoor Award. You will find his essay Practice Seeing in the book "Good Birders Don't Wear White: 50 Tips from North America's Top Birders". He has birded in Alaska and almost every part of the lower 48, plus Uganda, Cuba, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, and other countries. In 2001, Chuck became editor of Birder's World after a successful 17-year career in publishing.
Ice Cream Social and Members Show & Tell
Sunday, February 21, 2010
1:00 pm
Oshkosh Seniors Center - Oasis Room
200 N. Campbell Rd. , Oshkosh
This annual event is always fun, free and open to the public! The Audubon board will treat you to ice cream and a variety of toppings. We invite you to share your photos, slides, videos, DVD slide shows, and stories of your outdoor adventures, flowers, birds, nature, etc. To allow everyone an opportunity to share, please keep your presentation to around 10-15 minutes. A slide projector, VCR, and LCD projector with a laptop/dvd drive will be provided. Please join us for an enjoyable "sundae" afternoon with friends and family - old and new!
Bird Watching & Great Backyard Bird Count Workshop
Saturday, February 6, 2010
9:45 am - 11:30 am
Oshkosh Public Library (lower level meeting room)
106 Washington Ave. , Oshkosh
Learn about common birds in our area, bird feeding tips, some great birding areas, optics and how to participate in the citizen science program called the Great Backyard Bird Count. All ages and skill levels are welcome to attend.
Steve Easterly, DNR Wildlife Technician, will give a presentation on eagles and ospreys in our area. Steve is involved with the annual aerial survey of active nests.
The workshop is free and open to the public. Pre-registration is not necessary, but would be helpful in planning handouts. To register contact Janet Wissink at 920-589-2602 or wiss@centurytel.net
Take a Mid-Winter Nature Break With the Great Backyard Bird Count
February 12-15, 2010
Bird watchers coast to coast are invited to take part in the 13th annual Great Backyard Bird Count, Friday, February 12, through Monday, February 15, 2010. Participants in the free event will join tens of thousands of volunteers of all levels of birding experience to count birds in their own backyards, local parks or wildlife refuges.
Each checklist submitted by these "citizen scientists" helps researchers at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society learn more about how the birds are doing—and how to protect them. Last year, participants turned in more than 93,600 checklists online, creating the continent's largest instantaneous snapshot of bird populations ever recorded.
“Taking part in the Great Backyard Bird Count is a great way to get outside with family and friends, have fun, and help birds—all at the same time. Anyone who can identify even a few species can provide important information that enables scientists to learn more about how the environment is changing and how that affects our conservation priorities,” said Audubon Education Vice President, Judy Braus. “Everyone who participates in the GBBC—families, teachers, and young people—will get a chance to hone their observation skills, learn more about birds, and make a great contribution to the future!”
Anyone can take part in the Great Backyard Bird Count, from novice bird watchers to experts. Participants count birds for as little as 15 minutes (or as long as they wish) on one or more days of the event and report their sightings online at www.birdcount.org. One 2009 participant said, “Thank you for the opportunity to participate in citizen science. I have had my eyes opened to a whole new interest and I love it!”
“The GBBC is a perfect first step towards the sort of intensive monitoring needed to discover how birds are responding to environmental change,” said Janis Dickinson, the director of Citizen Science at the Cornell Lab. “Winter is such a vulnerable period for birds, so winter bird distributions are likely to be very sensitive to change. There is only one way—citizen science—to gather data on private lands where people live and doing this across the continent over many years. GBBC has enormous potential both as an early warning system and in capturing and engaging people in more intensive sampling of birds across the landscape.”
Bird populations are always shifting and changing. For example, 2009 GBBC data highlighted a huge southern invasion of Pine Siskins across much of the eastern United States. Participants counted 279,469 Pine Siskins on 18,528 checklists, as compared to the previous high of 38,977 birds on 4,069 checklists in 2005. Failure of seed crops farther north caused the siskins to move south to find their favorite food.
On the www.birdcount.org website, participants can explore real-time maps and charts that show what others are reporting during the count. The site has tips to help identify birds and special materials for educators. Participants may also enter the GBBC photo contest by uploading images taken during the count. Many images will be featured in the GBBC website’s photo gallery. All participants are entered in a drawing for prizes that include bird feeders, binoculars, books, CDs, and many other great birding products.
May 2, 2009 Spring Banquet featured Anita Carpenter speaking about her original nature quilts and a treasure hunt for items found in the quilts.
Anita's Amanita quilt