Wild Cats of Wisconsin
Speaker: John Olson, DNR Ecologist
Wild animals in Wisconsin? Discover the history and status of lynx, bobcat, and puma in our state.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012 7 pm
Moraine Park Technical College, Room O-104
Prairies of Wisconsin
Speaker: Rich Henderson, ecologist for WDNR Bureau of Science Services in Madison
Thursday, January 19 at UW Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac at 7 pm in Room UC114 University Center
Rich will introduce us to the origins of the Midwest prairie and the plants and animals that constitute the prairie ecosystem and how those species interact. He will also cover the rise and fall of prairie and what the future holds for its recovery and conservation.
more info
Wisconsin Before Settlement
Speaker: Herman Bender, Researcher and Historian
Find out about the plants and animals that populated
Fond du Lac County before settlement,
as well as the people who used the resources.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
7 pm, Moraine Park Technical College, Room O-104
*Audubon evening programs take place at Moraine Park Technical College. From National
Avenue, turn into parking lot O. Enter the door labeled O-1. Classrooms are on your left.
Audubon programs are open to the public with no admission charge. Adults, families, and
young people with an interest in environmental issues are encouraged to attend.
AUDUBON FIELD TRIPS
Yaktrax, Hike, or Snowshoe, on the East Branch of the Fond du Lac River
Thursday, February 2, 1 pm
Don your winter foot gear, and once again meet Diana Beck at the East Greenway on the west side of the Pick N’ Save parking lot on Pioneer Road, and explore the river as it meanders south. You will see what Fond du Lac looks like from the river in wintertime and watch for signs of wildlife. If the river isn’t safe for walking, Diana will lead a hike along the East Greenway trail.
Snowshoe or Cross-country Ski
at Kiekhaefer Park
Saturday, February 11, 1 pm
Join Earl and Carol Jewett for a guided winter exploration of the hilly trails at unique Kiekhaefer Park.
Snowshoes may be reserved for the event courtesy of Attitude Sports.
Attitude Sports will be hosting snowshoe demos at Kiekhaefer Park starting at 11 am. Park visitors will be able to try various snowshoes at no charge.
Directions: From Fond du Lac, take Highway 151 north to Kiekhaefer Parkway. Turn right on Kiekhaefer Parkway and go to the parking lot on the north side of the road, 4235 Kiekhaefer Parkway.
Notification of Neighborhood Pesticides
Pesticide application on land nearby can drift onto your property. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection offers a Landscape Pesticide Advance Notice Registry. Professional lawn and landscape businesses will inform you at least 12 hours prior to application as to what property is being treated and what chemicals will be applied.
This advance warning can be helpful in minimizing exposure by keeping windows closed and not hanging
out clothes. To sign up, go to http://datcp.wi.gov, click on Environment and search on Landscape Registry. After logging in, enter the addresses of the immediate neighboring properties for which you would like notification. The deadline to join the
registry is February 1, 2012.
Join the Great Backyard Bird Count
February 17–20, 2012
By participating in this effort to track bird populations, the birds in our area will be included in the count and data. Anyone, from beginner to expert and with access to the internet, can help with the tally. The minimum requirement for counting is 15 minutes on one day, and can be done from the inside of your house. Those who want to contribute more can count for as long as they like on each day of the event.
Check out the web site at www.birdsource.org/gbbc/. There is information on how to participate, help for beginners with regional bird lists and identification tips, and the data forms for entering your count results. Be part of the citizen science effort that may help our bird populations.
Winter Reading: John Muir Biographies
On April 28, Fond du Lac County Audubon is
sponsoring a field trip to Marquette County’s Muir Park and the boyhood haunts of John Muir, often considered the father of our national parks. Leading us on the trip will be Joel Burbach, the same person who led the producers of Yosemite National Park’s video on Muir. This will be a rare opportunity to hear about John Muir’s Wisconsin life from a well-informed source. To make the most of this field trip and to more fully understand the forces that shaped John Muir’s advocacy for wild places, read his autobiography,
The Story of My Boyhood and Youth. In addition, John Muir’s nature descriptions have stood the test of time, and you can select from any of his essays about wild places you have visited or plan to visit. For instance, those who went on the Grand Canyon raft trip might enjoy his essay on the Grand Canyon. There are a host of Muir biographies that explain his life and contributions,
and any of these will entertain and enlighten you. When the cold winds of winter are blowing outside, you might enjoy one of my favorites of Muir’s writings, Stickeen.—
Kathleen Stetter
Support the Fond du Lac County Audubon Society by renewing through our local chapter. Click here.
Go Green – Sign up for e-NewsBe the first to get your Audubon newsletter and save trees. Sign up for the Audubon newsletter via email. Contact webmaster@fdlaudubon.org.
Ken Fisher Retires as Audubon Treasurer
A Note from Ken Fisher
After thirteen years as Fond du Lac County
Audubon’s Treasurer, it is time for me to pass this
office along. Our Audubon Society is lucky to have
a fine person, Mike Sweney, take the job. Because of
his efforts, the change has been made very easy and
he will be great in this position. I will miss the
camaraderie of all the members – that’s how it started
– as members, then we became friends. Thank you
for all your cooperation. I’m resigning as Treasurer
but NOT as a member of Audubon. Thank you all.
Outgoing Treasurer Ken Fisher with his wife Bev
after a canoe outing.
A Final Note from the Audubon Chapter
A special thanks to Ken Fisher for his 15 years
of service as Treasurer. Everyone would agree that
he did an outstanding job and also ran
a great bird seed sale.
Report on Saw-Whet Owl Festival
Audubon members who went to the Saw-Whet Owl
festival at Woodland Dunes, Two Rivers, did not see
any saw-whets because of strong winds the night
before when owls are mist netted. However, they
listened to a wildlife rehabilitator from WOW
(Wildlife of Wisconsin). The reluctant horned
owl was part of that demonstration. (Photo by Amy
Sheldon). Those who would like to see a saw-whet
banding and release can arrive at Woodland Dunes
from daybreak to 8 am during the migration season
(October through November 19) on mornings after
a calm and rain-free night.