Calendar
- Winter Survival in Small Non-migratory Songbirds will be presented at the Audubon and Wild Ones joint program November 20, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. at Evergreen Retirement
Center, 1130 N. Westfield St.
Sheldon Cooper, Assistant Professor at UWO, Dept of Biology and
Microbiology, is an animal ecological physiologist with research
interests in animal thermoregulation and energenetics. He has worked
on projects involving songbirds, kestrels and American martens. He is
particularly interested in thermoregulation in songbirds. Most of his
research deals with how small, non-migratory songbirds can survive
winter in cold temperature regions.
- Work Day on the Wiouwash Trail November 15, 2008 at 10:00 a.m.
Come help us begin a long term effort to rejuvenate several sites along
the Wiouwash Trail which have become overgrown with shrubs at the
expense of prairie plants. We'd like to start cutting back as much
woody vegetation as we can. Appropriate tools to bring would include
loppers, pruning shears and bow saws, don't forget gloves. Meet us
where the trail crosses County Road GG. We will be working the area
north of this point. For questions call Tom Underwood at (920) 410-
9703.
- Remnant Prairies along Wiouwash Trail September 27, 2008 at 9:00 a.m.
Have you walked or biked the Wiouwash Trail north of Oshkosh recently? Did you notice the spikes of purple blazing stars? Or maybe the tall yellow flowers of the prairie dock and compass plant? Or perhaps the subtle beauty of little bluestem and Indian grass waving in the breeze? These native prairie plants can be found growing along a four mile segment of the Wiouwash Trail near Allenville in three State Natural Areas.
Winnebago Audubon invites you to take a walk with them to one of these sites on Saturday, September 27. Meet at the trail parking lot on County Road G in Allenville at 9:00 am to visit a remnant prairie about ½ mile north of G. Enjoy a fall morning while learning about these prairies and the beautiful native plants that grow there. Also, see how non-native, woody plants are crowding out these lovely prairie remnants and hear what has been done, and still needs to be done, to maintain them.
For more information contact Janet Wissink, (920) 589-2602 or wiss@centurytel.net.
- June 28, 2008 Bluebird Trail Know-how
Learn about bluebirds, see their nests and observe their young getting ready to fledge on Saturday, June 28, 9:00 am at Ceresco Prairie Conservancy in Ripon.
Ever wondered what a professional bluebird trail looks like? Join Dr. Kent Hall of the Bluebird Restoration Association of Wisconsin (BRAW) on June 28 to view nest boxes on the bluebird trail of Dr. Memuna Kahn, Asst. Prof. of Biology at Ripon College (Behavioral Ecologist). Dr. Kahn will speak about her research with assisted feeding behavior of juvenile bluebirds and Dr. Hall will point out the qualities required to establish a high quality bluebird trail. You will be able to see nests of both bluebirds and tree swallows on this tour.
Dr. Hall directs a 960 nest box trail in central Wisconsin (expected to produce nearly 5,000 bluebirds this season) and coordinates data collection and analysis for BRAW. Last season, he processed reports from 7,800 nest boxes submitted by 410 persons in the state. BRAW members and associates fledged 28,244 bluebirds last season, breaking the all-time national record. Dr. Hall is quite interested in talking to anyone interested in developing their own trails in the Oshkosh and Winnebago County area.
Winnebago Audubon invites you to this morning walk through the prairie to see and learn about bluebirds from two people who are passionate about their survival. We will meet in Ripon at the entrance to the Ceresco Prairie Conservancy adjacent to Ripon College at 9:00 am. The field trip is open to the public and there is no charge. (Same place we met for the Frog Night Hike.) Take State Rd. 44 from Oshkosh to Ripon. Go straight through Ripon on Oshkosh Ave. Go straight at the intersection with Hwy. 23 (Pizza Hut on the left, US Bank on the right). The street will now be named Union St. Four blocks down, turn right onto Congress St. and follow to parking area behind the Rodman Center for the Arts and Storzer Athletic Center.
For more information contact Janet at 920-589-2602 or wiss@centurytel.net.
Winnebago Audubon Society
Contact info: Janet Wissink
Evenings: 920-589-2602/wiss@centurytel.net
Days: 920-231-8788/janet@maillistprocessing.com
- Calling all Frogs!
Saturday, May 24, 2008
7:30 pm
Winnebago Audubon is hosting a night hike, led by Randy Korb, on Saturday evening May 24 from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm. We will meet in Ripon at the C J Rodman Center for the Arts on the Ripon College Campus adjacent to the Ceresco Prairie Conservancy.
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. The eastern gray tree frog is in peak breeding in late May and we expect a lusty chorus. Other local callers at this time are American toads and green frogs.
This event is free for Winnebago Audubon members and no pre-registration is required. The fee for non-members is $5 adults and $3 per child under 17. Non-members may join Audubon at the door. Participants should bring flashlights and old tennis shoes or boots because of muddy conditions; or hip boots for possible wading into shallow water.
DIRECTIONS from Oshkosh: Take Hwy. 44 to Ripon. At the 4-way stop intersection with Eureka St. continue straight on Oshkosh St. At the stoplights continue straight and you will be on Union St. C J Rodman Center for the Arts is four blocks from the stoplights just past Congress St. on the right.
For more information contact Janet Wissink at 920-589-2602 or wiss@centurytel.net. Our website is www.winaudubon.org.
- Sat. Sept. 8, 2007: Tagging Monarch Butterflies
Join us with Randy Korb to learn about monarch butterflies, their
migration and complex lifecycle. Capturing and tagging monarchs
helps to unlock the secrets of these creatures. After an orientation
you will travel to fields to participate in the capture and tagging of these beauties. Appropriate for all ages. The time to meet is 1:00 pm at Pickett Community Center, Pickett, WI.
- Sat. Oct. 13, 2007: Falconry
Randy Stoeger from Appleton will give an orientation and then a
demonstration of the hunting ability of his birds of prey. These are live birds of prey to see up close. This will also be a real hunt for rabbits so be forewarned. Appropriate for children from a hunting
background or 10 yrs and older. Time to meet is 1:00 pm at
Springroad School which located at the intersection of Hwy 41 and
County Rd II or Winchester Rd. The school is a large dark brick
building on the west side of the highway.
- Thurs. Nov. 15, 2007: Joint Meeting With Wild Ones
Bird rehabilitator, Ann Rosenberg, will explain her work with injured
birds. She will bring owls with her to demonstrate what needs to be
done to save these raptors that are brought in for help. We'll meet
in the basement meeting room at Evergreen Retirement Home.
Time TBA
- Sat. Jan. 26, 2008: Wild Ones Conference 7:30am to 4:00pm at Hilton Garden Inn in Oshkosh
- Sat. Feb. 9: Birdwatching Workshop and Great Backyard Bird Count
10:00am to Noon.
Located at the Oshkosh Public Library meeting room
downstairs. Learn to identify common birds and how information can
included in the GBBC on your computer. Practice using computers to
gather information and include your bird counts in this important
national survey.
- Sun. Mar 2, 2008: Ice Cream Social and Members Show & Tell
From 1:00 pm to 3:00pm join us for ice cream and all the trimmings
along with a show of some of our members photos of travels and
adventures. We will be meeting at the Oshkosh Senior Center.
- Here is a list of activities we are planning.
Watch for details in our newsletter, The Lake Flyer or check out our website for information as it becomes available: www.winaudubon.org, or contact Janet at 920-589-2602 or wiss@centurytel.net.
Wednesday, April 9: Crane Count Orientation, 6:00 pm, Oshkosh Public Library. The Annual Midwest Crane Count is a citizen science tradition created by the International Crane Foundation of Baraboo, WI and will be held Saturday, April 19 from 5:30 am – 7:30 am. Volunteer counters of all ages are needed to gather valuable data to further ICF research. There are 45 sites to be surveyed in Winnebago County. If you would like to participate, please attend this meeting where we will show an informational video, assign sites, and hand out the survey materials. If you are unable to attend, but want to count, contact Janet at wiss@centurytel.net or 920-589-2602.
Sunday, April 13: “What’s all the Woof About Wolves” Program and Annual Meeting, 2:00 pm, Oshkosh Seniors Center, 200 N. Campbell Rd. This program is open to the public and free to Audubon members. Non-members: $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for children under 17.
Most people will never see a wolf in the wild in their lifetime. But what happens when a wolf becomes an unlikely visitor to your back forty or your backyard? The recent occurrences of wolf sightings in the Fox Valley have some residents concerned.
Join naturalist, Cindy Mueller, aka Lake Timber Wolf Tracker, to learn about wolves, their history on the landscapes, what makes them tick and what motivates them to travel outside of places we think they should be. Discover how to correctly identify a wolf by sight and by the tracks and traces they leave behind.
Cindy has been involved with Wisconsin’s Timber Wolf Recovery Program as a volunteer since the late 1980’s. Her interest was firmly planted after participating in a successful “howling demonstration” led by a wolf biologist in 1987. Hearing an entire wolf pack sing got her “hooked on wolves!”There will be a very brief business meeting prior to the program. Dessert will be served.
Saturday, April 19: Annual Midwest Crane Count (see April 9 above for details)
Saturday, May 3: Join Tom Underwood for an evening at the White River Marsh near Berlin. Look and listen for the sounds of spring in the marsh. Details to come.
Saturday, May 10: Enjoy a morning of bird and wildflower walks at Waukau Creek Nature Preserve. More details to come.
Saturday, May 24: “Calling All Frogs!” We will repeat last year’s popular night hike led by Randy Korb. An indoor orientation to Wisconsin frogs will begin at 7:30 pm. The meeting place will be at Ceresco Prairie Conservancy adjacent to Ripon College and South Woods. We will meet in one of the buildings by the