Audubon offers programs, field trips, activities, and workshops related to the environment.
Join us on Summer Evening Tuesday Walks. Explore trails and yards in Fond du Lac County and City with members of Audubon. All walks begin at 6:30 pm. Wear good walking shoes, bring insect repellent, and binoculars if available. The walks will last an hour to an hour and a half. For more information about the summer walks, contact dianahbeck@gmail.com or 920-922-7931.
June 4 Eldorado Marsh
Hike along the dike through Eldorado Marsh and enjoy a birding opportunity. Meet in the parking lot at the end of Dike Road on the east side of the marsh. Leader – Lori Amend
June 11 Fond du Lac Chimney Survey
Participate in an effort to locate chimneys that might be roosting and/or nesting sites for chimney swifts. Meet at Taylor Park on Hickory Street by the picnic shelter at 6:30 pm. After the survey, the group will report results and socialize at Top Shelf (90 S. Main). Rain date June 18.
June 18 Rain date for Chimney Survey or Powell Lake Conservancy, Ripon
If the survey was completed, then a road trip to Powell Lake Conservancy – W598 Cty Road K, Ripon. Meet in the southwest corner of Menards at 5:45 pm for carpooling. Leader – Diana Beck 920-922-7931 or email dianahbeck@gmail.com
June 25 Farm Walk
W6744 Rogersville Road. Explore a farm with original farm buildings from the 1890s, draft horses, beehives, fields/gardens, and river shoreline along the west branch of the Fond du Lac River. Leaders – Members of Furrows to Fences
July 2 Lakeside Park West
Explore the new trail and boardwalk with views of Lake Winnebago and Supple’s Marsh. Walk over the new bridge connecting east and west park land. Meet by the dog park. Leader – Lori Amend
July 9 Kiekhaefer Park
W4235 Kiekhaefer Parkway. This park of 120 acres has wonderful trails through hilly, wooded terrain and is part of the Niagara Escarpment. Leader – Diana Beck
July 16 Greenway Arboretum
Discover over two miles of beautiful nature trails along the Fond du Lac River on 24.5 acres in town. Meet at the west side of the parking lot at the south Pick ’n Save store at 55 West Pioneer Road. Leader – Evelyn McLean-Cowan
July 23 Oakfield Ledge State Natural Area
Breakneck Road. This property features a substantial exposure of the Niagara Escarpment as well as a unique ecosystem.(Travel south on Cty Road Y from Oakfield. Turn right on Breakneck Road and watch for the parking lot on the right after about two miles.) Carpooling will be available from the southeast corner of the Fleet Farm parking lot at 5:50 pm. Leaders – Dave Langholff and Liz Roy
July 30 Mascoutin Valley State Trail
Walk part or all of the two-mile trail section between Eldorado and Rosendale. Hear about the two Lions Clubs that saved this section of trail. Watch for animal dens as the abandoned railroad bed passes through embankments and search for green heron nests along a small tributary of the Fond du Lac River. (West on Hwy 23 and north on C about ¼ mile on left.) Leader – Kathleen Stetter
August 6 Gottfried Prairie and Arboretum
Walk on a guided tour through some of the 37.5 acres at the UW campus. Meet in the east parking lot at the UW campus, 400 University Drive. Leader – Margie Winter
August 13 Elderberry Farm
Countryside Elderberries, W8622 Smith Road. Stroll among two acres of elderberry plants and learn about the culture of this native species. Take Hwy 23 west. Turn left on Smith Road; first driveway on left. Leaders – Owners Mary Beth Beekman and Jeff Margie
August 20 Chimney Swift Sunset Count
Meet at Taylor Park on Hickory Street by the picnic shelter at 7:15 pm. People will go with a partner to observe a chimney before, during, and slightly after sunset (7:48 pm) to count any chimney swifts dropping into the chimney to roost for the night. After the count, the group will report results and socialize at Top Shelf (90 S. Main). Canceled if raining. (Rain date Aug.21)
For additional Chimney Swift action attend Fond du Lac’s Bird City Swift Night Out events at dusk/sunset on these dates in August: Saturday, the 17th; Sunday the 18th; Saturday the 24th; and Sunday the 25th at Metal-Link (196 Western Avenue, Fond du Lac). View the chimney from the parking lot near the intersection of Brooke Street and Military Road.
For more information on these events, call 920-922-7931 or email dianahbeck@gmail.com.
Explore Local Trails with Your Family
We encourage you and your families to explore some of the beautiful trails in our area on your own and with your families.
• Kiekhaefer Park
• Gottfried Prairie & Arboretum
• Peebles Trail
• Greenway Arboretum
• Hobbs Woods
• Shaginappi Park
• Eisenbahn State Trail
• Archer Thomas Olsen Trail at Lakeside Park West
• Mascoutin Valley State Trail (Rosendale)
• Northwoods (Rosendale)
• Riggs Park (Ripon)