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Updated September 25, 2020
9:30 AM |
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Fall is upon us and although the seasons continue to change we still work under a cloud of COVID-19. Most of our staff are working from the office, but some continue to work remotely. LWCD is open during normal courthouse business hours. Please feel free to call us at 715-369-7835. Thank you for your continued patience, cooperation, and understanding!
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GOT BUCKTHORN?
Get rid of it!
Click the button below to find out how.
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What's Buzzing?
From Survivor To Mama:
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A resilient, record-setting whooping crane and her chick at Horicon National Wildlife Refuge. / Photo Credit: Doug Pellerin
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HORICON NATIONAL WILDIFE REFUGE, Wis. – A female whooping crane that made history as the first of its kind known to survive a Wisconsin winter has once again flown into the record books.
Crane #38-17 has successfully paired up and become a mother, producing the first wild whooping crane chick to hatch and fledge from Horicon Marsh. The history-making offspring arrived three years after its mother, hatched and captive-reared in Maryland before being transferred to Wisconsin, became the first known whooping crane to overwinter in Wisconsin instead of migrating south. She survived one of the state’s coldest and longest winters and became a Facebook favorite as anxious fans tuned in to track her survival.
“The survival and successful migration of every chick hatched is important, so #38-17’s survival and maternal status is great news,” said Davin Lopez, a DNR conservation biologist who is part of the whooping crane team. “This wild chick represents several milestones toward the ultimate goal of establishing a self-sustaining migratory flock.”
#38-17 was hatched at Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Maryland and raised there by parent cranes. She was transported to Wisconsin on Oct. 3, 2017 and released at Horicon National Wildlife Refuge in Dodge County in the hopes she would follow an adult crane and migrate. #38-17 never migrated and she evaded efforts to capture her and fly her south in an airplane. "She has been very vigilant when we've seen her, and she stays hidden pretty well in the marsh, especially when it's cold," said Hillary Thompson of the International Crane Foundation. The crane survived, and in fall 2018, #38-17 headed south for the first time with #63-15 to winter in Illinois. The whooping crane has returned every summer since with #63-15, and the two had a successful nest this year at Horicon National Wildlife Refuge in Dodge County. Their offspring, #W13-20 hatched in mid-May.
Mother, father and their young crane were sighted and photographed by pilot Bev Paulan on Aug. 18, 2020 in Horicon Marsh as part of partner efforts to monitor whooping cranes and their young hatched in the wild. Partners are hopeful the young family flies south soon and adds to the eastern migratory population of whooping cranes. “The reintroduction team and refuge staff hope to learn more from #38-17 about habitat choices and factors that contribute to successful reproduction in whooping cranes in Wisconsin and on the Horicon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge,” said Sadie O’Dell, a wildlife biologist with Horicon National Wildlife Refuge.
Partners including the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, International Crane Foundation, Wisconsin DNR and, formerly, Operation Migration have worked for nearly 20 years to establish an eastern migratory flock of whooping cranes that nests primarily in Wisconsin and winters in the southern United States.
Whooping cranes are one of 15 crane species worldwide. This particular species is found only in North America and is the tallest bird in the continent, standing five feet tall. Whooping cranes are endangered; there are only 849 whooping cranes in the world, both wild and captive, although that number is increasing thanks to efforts by the reintroduction team.
Keep Up With The Whoopers And Safe Viewing Tips
Keep up with these and other Wisconsin whoopers on the International Crane Foundation’s (ICF) website and Facebook account. Partners establishing the whooping crane population in eastern North America ask anyone who encounters a whooping crane in the wild to please give them the respect and distance they need.
Crane #38-17 has successfully paired up and become a mother, producing the first wild whooping crane chick to hatch and fledge from Horicon Marsh. The history-making offspring arrived three years after its mother, hatched and captive-reared in Maryland before being transferred to Wisconsin, became the first known whooping crane to overwinter in Wisconsin instead of migrating south. She survived one of the state’s coldest and longest winters and became a Facebook favorite as anxious fans tuned in to track her survival.
“The survival and successful migration of every chick hatched is important, so #38-17’s survival and maternal status is great news,” said Davin Lopez, a DNR conservation biologist who is part of the whooping crane team. “This wild chick represents several milestones toward the ultimate goal of establishing a self-sustaining migratory flock.”
#38-17 was hatched at Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Maryland and raised there by parent cranes. She was transported to Wisconsin on Oct. 3, 2017 and released at Horicon National Wildlife Refuge in Dodge County in the hopes she would follow an adult crane and migrate. #38-17 never migrated and she evaded efforts to capture her and fly her south in an airplane. "She has been very vigilant when we've seen her, and she stays hidden pretty well in the marsh, especially when it's cold," said Hillary Thompson of the International Crane Foundation. The crane survived, and in fall 2018, #38-17 headed south for the first time with #63-15 to winter in Illinois. The whooping crane has returned every summer since with #63-15, and the two had a successful nest this year at Horicon National Wildlife Refuge in Dodge County. Their offspring, #W13-20 hatched in mid-May.
Mother, father and their young crane were sighted and photographed by pilot Bev Paulan on Aug. 18, 2020 in Horicon Marsh as part of partner efforts to monitor whooping cranes and their young hatched in the wild. Partners are hopeful the young family flies south soon and adds to the eastern migratory population of whooping cranes. “The reintroduction team and refuge staff hope to learn more from #38-17 about habitat choices and factors that contribute to successful reproduction in whooping cranes in Wisconsin and on the Horicon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge,” said Sadie O’Dell, a wildlife biologist with Horicon National Wildlife Refuge.
Partners including the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, International Crane Foundation, Wisconsin DNR and, formerly, Operation Migration have worked for nearly 20 years to establish an eastern migratory flock of whooping cranes that nests primarily in Wisconsin and winters in the southern United States.
Whooping cranes are one of 15 crane species worldwide. This particular species is found only in North America and is the tallest bird in the continent, standing five feet tall. Whooping cranes are endangered; there are only 849 whooping cranes in the world, both wild and captive, although that number is increasing thanks to efforts by the reintroduction team.
Keep Up With The Whoopers And Safe Viewing Tips
Keep up with these and other Wisconsin whoopers on the International Crane Foundation’s (ICF) website and Facebook account. Partners establishing the whooping crane population in eastern North America ask anyone who encounters a whooping crane in the wild to please give them the respect and distance they need.
- Do not approach birds on foot within 200 yards. Please remain concealed and do not speak loudly enough that the birds can hear you;
- Remain in your vehicle and do not approach in a vehicle any closer than 100 yards; and
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7 Ways to Use Fall Leaves
The close of the gardening season is always bittersweet. Though there are few more beautiful places on earth than Wisconsin in the autumn, it’s hard saying goodbye to the lush, green world for one that's cold and white. Now it's time to reap the season's most abundant crop: leaves.
One of the very best sources of organic matter is autumn leaves. Leaves are packed with trace minerals that trees draw up from deep in the soil. When added to your garden, leaves feed earthworms and beneficial microbes. They lighten heavy soils and help sandy soils retain moisture. Leaves make an attractive mulch in the flower garden. They're a fabulous source of carbon to balance the nitrogen in your compost pile. And they insulate tender plants from cold.
Read about how to use fall leaves as:
One of the very best sources of organic matter is autumn leaves. Leaves are packed with trace minerals that trees draw up from deep in the soil. When added to your garden, leaves feed earthworms and beneficial microbes. They lighten heavy soils and help sandy soils retain moisture. Leaves make an attractive mulch in the flower garden. They're a fabulous source of carbon to balance the nitrogen in your compost pile. And they insulate tender plants from cold.
Read about how to use fall leaves as:
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Monarch Butterfly Fall Migration
Fall Migration Has Begun
People across the state of Wisconsin are seeing an increase in monarch butterflies, and the distinctive orange and black winged insect isn't here by chance. Wisconsin and other Midwest states are right in the middle of the monarch migration trail or flyway. During spring and summer, the butterflies travel north toward Canada to repopulate. Now they are preparing to migrate south for the winter.
What people are seeing when they are looking into their backyards and along the shores of Lake Michigan, they are seeing a
part of a huge wave of monarchs that are moving south right now.
Read More
People across the state of Wisconsin are seeing an increase in monarch butterflies, and the distinctive orange and black winged insect isn't here by chance. Wisconsin and other Midwest states are right in the middle of the monarch migration trail or flyway. During spring and summer, the butterflies travel north toward Canada to repopulate. Now they are preparing to migrate south for the winter.
What people are seeing when they are looking into their backyards and along the shores of Lake Michigan, they are seeing a
part of a huge wave of monarchs that are moving south right now.
Read More
Why Do Leaves Change Color in the Fall?
Why do leaves change color in the fall? When leaves appear green, it is because they contain an abundance of chlorophyll. There is so much chlorophyll in an active leaf that the green masks other pigment colors. Light regulates chlorophyll production, so as autumn days grow shorter, less chlorophyll is produced. The decomposition rate of chlorophyll remains constant, so the green color starts to fade from leaves.
At the same time, surging sugar concentrations cause increased production of anthocyanin pigments. Leaves containing primarily anthocyanins will appear red. Carotenoids are another class of pigments found in some leaves. Carotenoid production is not dependent on light, so levels aren't diminished by shortened days. Carotenoids can be orange, yellow, or red, but most of these pigments found in leaves are yellow. Leaves with good amounts of both anthocyanins and carotenoids will appear orange.
Temperature affects the rate of chemical reactions, including those in leaves, so it plays a part in leaf color.However, it's mainly light levels that are responsible for fall foliage colors.
Sunny autumn days are needed for the brightest color displays, since anthocyanins require light. Overcast days will lead to more yellows and browns.
At the same time, surging sugar concentrations cause increased production of anthocyanin pigments. Leaves containing primarily anthocyanins will appear red. Carotenoids are another class of pigments found in some leaves. Carotenoid production is not dependent on light, so levels aren't diminished by shortened days. Carotenoids can be orange, yellow, or red, but most of these pigments found in leaves are yellow. Leaves with good amounts of both anthocyanins and carotenoids will appear orange.
Temperature affects the rate of chemical reactions, including those in leaves, so it plays a part in leaf color.However, it's mainly light levels that are responsible for fall foliage colors.
Sunny autumn days are needed for the brightest color displays, since anthocyanins require light. Overcast days will lead to more yellows and browns.
Neonictonoids: Toxic Effects On Pollinators
In 1962, Rachel Carson published The Silent Spring which was a warning of the dangers of a revolutionary new pesticide DDT. She had noticed that in the 1950's and 1960's it was responsible for, among other things, the crashing of bird populations. DDT was banned in the United States in 1972 but it appears that history is repeating itself and we are fast approaching a time when it might be said, "The summer afternoons are strangely silent when they were once filled with the gentle buzzing of bees." A film documentary called 'Rachel Carson' produced by American Experience may be seen on Amazon Prime.
The culprit this time is another revolutionary group of pesticides called neonicotinoids ('neonics' for short). They were first introduced in the 1990's and are currently the world's most widely used insecticide. Over 140 different crops including soy, corn wheat, cotton, legumes, potatoes, sugar beets, sunflowers, rapeseed and flax are treated with neonics.
A Potent Neurotoxin
Neonics are neurotoxins designed to attack an insect's central nervous system causing paralysis and eventually death. There were designed specifically to target agricultural pests such as vine weevils, aphids, whiteflies, Colorado potato beetles and termites. The damage they have caused over the last two decades to other insects, including bees, has been devastating.
Chronic Effects On Bees
Scientific evidence collected over the last decade or so proves that neonics produce numerous chronic symptoms in bees such as:
☆ Interfering with their navigation systems
☆ Disrupting their foraging behavior
☆ Disrupting their ability to communicate
☆ Impairing their immune systems
☆ Reducing reproductive success
☆ Residues in nests of solitary bees may be linked to fewer egg cells.
Read More
The culprit this time is another revolutionary group of pesticides called neonicotinoids ('neonics' for short). They were first introduced in the 1990's and are currently the world's most widely used insecticide. Over 140 different crops including soy, corn wheat, cotton, legumes, potatoes, sugar beets, sunflowers, rapeseed and flax are treated with neonics.
A Potent Neurotoxin
Neonics are neurotoxins designed to attack an insect's central nervous system causing paralysis and eventually death. There were designed specifically to target agricultural pests such as vine weevils, aphids, whiteflies, Colorado potato beetles and termites. The damage they have caused over the last two decades to other insects, including bees, has been devastating.
Chronic Effects On Bees
Scientific evidence collected over the last decade or so proves that neonics produce numerous chronic symptoms in bees such as:
☆ Interfering with their navigation systems
☆ Disrupting their foraging behavior
☆ Disrupting their ability to communicate
☆ Impairing their immune systems
☆ Reducing reproductive success
☆ Residues in nests of solitary bees may be linked to fewer egg cells.
Read More
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What's New in the Courthouse Garden?
There's something new in the Courthouse Garden! We have added some garden stakes with small Flower ID cards throughout the garden so you can easily identify the different types of flowers that are currently blooming. Each ID card has a QR code on it so you can quickly go to the on-line Wildflowers Field Guide to learn more about each species. Enjoy your walk through the beautiful Courthouse Garden and take a moment to watch these beautiful bees in slow motion.
Take a Walk Through the Courthouse Garden
A virtual walk is good but an on-site walk is even better. Take a stroll, watch the bees and butterflies, or maybe see a hummingbird. It's a beautiful day in the Courthouse Garden on Baird Avenue in Rhinelander.
Poster Contest Winners Announced!
GOT SWIFTS?
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 23, 2020
Contact: Rich Staffen, DNR conservation biologist Richard.Staffen@wisconsin.gov or 608-266-4340 Sandy Schwab, Wisconsin Chimney Swift Working Group chair helpchimneyswifts@gmail.com or 608-658-4139 |
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Got Swifts? Survey Seeks To Identify Chimneys Providing Bird HabitatPilot Project Aims To Help Owners Pay For Repairs To Preserve Habitat
MADISON, Wis. – Brick chimneys may be a key component to conserving acrobatic, fast-flying chimney swifts, so Wisconsin residential and commercial property owners are being asked to report if their chimneys are currently being used by swifts through a survey which can be found here.
Answers to the online survey conducted by the Wisconsin Chimney Swift Working Group will help shape a pilot project aimed at helping owners pay for chimney repairs, so they are more likely to keep the structures. DNR Natural Heritage Conservation Program biologists are part of the working group. “Chimneys are crucial habitat for swifts that depend upon man-made structures for nesting and roosting before fall migration,” said Sandy Schwab, chair of the working group.
“We’d like to know if you have a chimney that is being used by swifts for nesting or resting, and if you do, if it’s in need of repairs. This information will help us develop our project to help preserve habitat for chimney swifts.” A member of the Chimney Swift Working Group may contact respondents in the future to discuss their answers.
Chimney swifts nest in eastern North America (east of the Rockies) in the summer and migrate to South America in the fall. Historically, the birds congregated in large standing hollow trees in old-growth forests before they began their migration. However, as old-growth forests disappeared from North America, chimney swifts discovered that brick chimneys served as an easy and abundant replacement.
The birds can cling to the rough, vertical surface like the inside of a hollow tree. Hundreds of native chimney swifts may congregate in communal roosts, gathering strength before flying to South America and creating a spectacle that looks like “smoke” pouring into brick chimneys in the fall.
“Sadly, chimney swifts, like many other aerial insectivores including whip-poor-wills, nighthawks and swallows, are declining,” said Rich Staffen, a DNR Natural Heritage Conservation biologist and working group member.
“There are no definitive reasons identified yet for why this is, but the ongoing decline in insect populations is a major concern, and bird experts also know the removal of old chimneys or capping of them, is removing suitable nesting and roosting locations for these birds.”
The survey will help working group members understand which chimneys are being used for roosting and nesting by these birds and if those chimneys require any repair to keep them as a viable option for the birds into the future.
Chimney swifts have slender bodies, very long, narrow, curved wings and short, tapered tails. They fly rapidly, with nearly constant wing beats, often twisting from side to side and banking erratically. They often give a distinctive, high-pitched twittering call while flying.
MADISON, Wis. – Brick chimneys may be a key component to conserving acrobatic, fast-flying chimney swifts, so Wisconsin residential and commercial property owners are being asked to report if their chimneys are currently being used by swifts through a survey which can be found here.
Answers to the online survey conducted by the Wisconsin Chimney Swift Working Group will help shape a pilot project aimed at helping owners pay for chimney repairs, so they are more likely to keep the structures. DNR Natural Heritage Conservation Program biologists are part of the working group. “Chimneys are crucial habitat for swifts that depend upon man-made structures for nesting and roosting before fall migration,” said Sandy Schwab, chair of the working group.
“We’d like to know if you have a chimney that is being used by swifts for nesting or resting, and if you do, if it’s in need of repairs. This information will help us develop our project to help preserve habitat for chimney swifts.” A member of the Chimney Swift Working Group may contact respondents in the future to discuss their answers.
Chimney swifts nest in eastern North America (east of the Rockies) in the summer and migrate to South America in the fall. Historically, the birds congregated in large standing hollow trees in old-growth forests before they began their migration. However, as old-growth forests disappeared from North America, chimney swifts discovered that brick chimneys served as an easy and abundant replacement.
The birds can cling to the rough, vertical surface like the inside of a hollow tree. Hundreds of native chimney swifts may congregate in communal roosts, gathering strength before flying to South America and creating a spectacle that looks like “smoke” pouring into brick chimneys in the fall.
“Sadly, chimney swifts, like many other aerial insectivores including whip-poor-wills, nighthawks and swallows, are declining,” said Rich Staffen, a DNR Natural Heritage Conservation biologist and working group member.
“There are no definitive reasons identified yet for why this is, but the ongoing decline in insect populations is a major concern, and bird experts also know the removal of old chimneys or capping of them, is removing suitable nesting and roosting locations for these birds.”
The survey will help working group members understand which chimneys are being used for roosting and nesting by these birds and if those chimneys require any repair to keep them as a viable option for the birds into the future.
Chimney swifts have slender bodies, very long, narrow, curved wings and short, tapered tails. They fly rapidly, with nearly constant wing beats, often twisting from side to side and banking erratically. They often give a distinctive, high-pitched twittering call while flying.
DID YOU MISS THE WORKSHOP?
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New Grants Received!
The Oneida County Land and Water Conservation Department has been approved for three new grants.
Lake Classification Grant
Our Department has received the Lake Classification grant for which we applied! This means we will be devoting lots of time to promoting lake shore restoration in your neighborhood! Our goal is to work closely with each of our lake groups to promote lake shore restoration, identify homeowners that are interested in restoring their shorelines, and implement the projects onto the landscape.
We would like to complement the work you already do, and ultimately protect water quality, create wildlife habitat, and reduce shoreline erosion. To make this happen, our Department has cost share monies available for projects and we’ll be tapping into monies that the Healthy Lakes Initiative offers.
Click on the LAKE CLASSIFICATION GRANT button above to read the project narrative and become a little familiar with what we hope to accomplish over the next 2 years.
Feel free to call, email, or drop in if you wish to discuss. Here’s to a great 2020 Summer season!!
Our Department has received the Lake Classification grant for which we applied! This means we will be devoting lots of time to promoting lake shore restoration in your neighborhood! Our goal is to work closely with each of our lake groups to promote lake shore restoration, identify homeowners that are interested in restoring their shorelines, and implement the projects onto the landscape.
We would like to complement the work you already do, and ultimately protect water quality, create wildlife habitat, and reduce shoreline erosion. To make this happen, our Department has cost share monies available for projects and we’ll be tapping into monies that the Healthy Lakes Initiative offers.
Click on the LAKE CLASSIFICATION GRANT button above to read the project narrative and become a little familiar with what we hope to accomplish over the next 2 years.
Feel free to call, email, or drop in if you wish to discuss. Here’s to a great 2020 Summer season!!
River Planning Grant
In late October of 2019, our office reached out to the Towns of Lynne, Minocqua, Woodruff, Lake Tomahawk, Hazelhurst, and to the Oneida County HWY Department about a River Planning Grant for which the Oneida County Land & Water Conservation Department was applying. The proposal involved inventorying and prioritizing stream crossings in those townships. Just last week we learned that our Department was awarded the grant.
The ultimate goal of the project is to help Oneida County and Towns tap into available funding for culvert projects and for our Department to provide technical assistance to help reduce future flooding events, erosion, and environmental issues.
Click on the RIVER PLANNING GRANT button above and read the project proposal which outlines the objectives, activities, and timeline. Please note there will be a fall workshop that will announce project results, but we are more than happy to coordinate a pre-project meeting between all parties if there is interest.
In late October of 2019, our office reached out to the Towns of Lynne, Minocqua, Woodruff, Lake Tomahawk, Hazelhurst, and to the Oneida County HWY Department about a River Planning Grant for which the Oneida County Land & Water Conservation Department was applying. The proposal involved inventorying and prioritizing stream crossings in those townships. Just last week we learned that our Department was awarded the grant.
The ultimate goal of the project is to help Oneida County and Towns tap into available funding for culvert projects and for our Department to provide technical assistance to help reduce future flooding events, erosion, and environmental issues.
Click on the RIVER PLANNING GRANT button above and read the project proposal which outlines the objectives, activities, and timeline. Please note there will be a fall workshop that will announce project results, but we are more than happy to coordinate a pre-project meeting between all parties if there is interest.
DNR AIS Education, Prevention & Planning Grant
We have received our "official" letter for the 2020-2021 grant.
Project Description:
Two LTE's will assist with this grant called “Oneida County AIS Prevention and Control Project 2020-2021,” which provides AIS education, prevention and planning measures to prevent the introduction and spread of AIS regulated by NR40. They will conduct watercraft inspections at priority (high risk) boat landings, AIS early detection and water quality monitoring on 15 waterbodies, AIS early detection monitoring at boat landings, and assist with AIS rapid response, control, management, and restoration after AIS are removed. They will also assist with education, workshops, trainings, outreach, and statewide campaigns and provide technical assistance to citizens, lake groups and partners.
The Project began in February, 2020 and will wrap up on June 30, 2021.
We have received our "official" letter for the 2020-2021 grant.
Project Description:
Two LTE's will assist with this grant called “Oneida County AIS Prevention and Control Project 2020-2021,” which provides AIS education, prevention and planning measures to prevent the introduction and spread of AIS regulated by NR40. They will conduct watercraft inspections at priority (high risk) boat landings, AIS early detection and water quality monitoring on 15 waterbodies, AIS early detection monitoring at boat landings, and assist with AIS rapid response, control, management, and restoration after AIS are removed. They will also assist with education, workshops, trainings, outreach, and statewide campaigns and provide technical assistance to citizens, lake groups and partners.
The Project began in February, 2020 and will wrap up on June 30, 2021.
An impressive number of Oneida County residents, LWCD Committee members and Department Staff gave testimony on water quality at the July 23, 2019 Water Quality Task Force meeting. Click on the "Task Force Recommendations" button to read more.
January 8, 2020
Good News For Rare Species. . . The first statewide native mussel survey in 40 years;
Rare piping plover chicks fledging in record numbers; The first bats vaccinated against white-nose syndrome; Increased invasive species control work on state natural areas. |
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These are just a few of the gains for Wisconsin’s rare species and State Natural Areas we share in our 2019 Natural Heritage Conservation Program Field Notes.
This sampling of great photos and short stories is one way we thank people like you for helping conserve the rare plants, animals and State Natural Areas that make Wisconsin so special.
Whether you're a partner, volunteer or donor, we want you to know that your contributions are very important and we're grateful you're part of the team.
Thank you! We look forward to doing even more great work together in 2019!
This sampling of great photos and short stories is one way we thank people like you for helping conserve the rare plants, animals and State Natural Areas that make Wisconsin so special.
Whether you're a partner, volunteer or donor, we want you to know that your contributions are very important and we're grateful you're part of the team.
Thank you! We look forward to doing even more great work together in 2019!
Drew Feldkirchner, DNR Natural Heritage Conservation Director
Click on the
GREENSPACE WORKSHOP BUTTON for some resources that were used. |
The Greenspace Workshop is now a memory, but you can find out what everyone is buzzing about. |
Top Twelve Great State Natural Areas for...Click on the picture
for more information. |
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Bird Survey Ends With a Photo Finish
Click on the image for a larger view.
Volunteers and organizers wrapped up Wisconsin’s 5-year statewide breeding bird survey with an exciting photo finish: volunteer Aaron Haycraft sighted a glossy ibis pair and their young at Horicon Marsh, the first time this Atlantic Coast bird has been documented nesting in Wisconsin. Twelve other new bird species were documented breeding in Wisconsin that were not documented during a similar survey in 2000.
Minimize Yard Clean Up
To Protect Pollinators!
Are you getting ready to fill leaf bags and trim trees? You might want to wait. That impulse to clean up gardens and lawns for the fall may have serious impacts on pollinators and beneficial insects. If you cut down stalks and stems that bees are settling into for the winter, it’s “lights out” for those pollinator friends. Applying wood mulch or tilling your garden this fall could wipe out any chance for native bees to emerge early in the spring to pollinate your front yard apple tree. And the eastern black swallowtail, who spends the winter camouflaged as a dried leaf or a broken twig, could easily end up in the recycle bag or burn barrel.
Bumblebee queens emerge from their childhood homes in the fall and search for overwintering sites, burrowing into leaf litter and loose soil. Leaf litter contains a mix of bacteria, fungi and invertebrates and is an ecosystem unto itself. It provides habitat for beneficial insects who, in turn, break the organic matter down into a “treasure” of nutrients for the soil. All those leaves collecting under trees or near fences provide a wealth of overwintering habitat for creatures such as worms, millipedes, lightening bugs, spiders, beetles, slugs and snails. But one weekend and some garden tools could destroy entire populations of insects. Those insects could have provided the first spring meal for baby bluebirds or be the reason that chickadees, warblers and other songbirds won’t visit your yard.
So relax, put your garden gloves away, and store the tools and tiller. Leave your leaves alone whenever possible. If you must rake them from your lawn, put them to work in another part of your yard – behind your garage or under the tree line between you and your neighbor. By setting aside undisturbed patches of habitat allowing leaf litter, dead twigs and stems to remain, you are providing a safe haven for wildlife and attracting birds. So, when you are watching the snow get deeper this winter, and your yard looks cold and lifeless, remember just below that white landscape, the habitat you saved is teeming with life.
If you still have questions, contact the Oneida County Land and Water Conservation Department at 715-369-7835 or click on the Bee the Change button below.
Bumblebee queens emerge from their childhood homes in the fall and search for overwintering sites, burrowing into leaf litter and loose soil. Leaf litter contains a mix of bacteria, fungi and invertebrates and is an ecosystem unto itself. It provides habitat for beneficial insects who, in turn, break the organic matter down into a “treasure” of nutrients for the soil. All those leaves collecting under trees or near fences provide a wealth of overwintering habitat for creatures such as worms, millipedes, lightening bugs, spiders, beetles, slugs and snails. But one weekend and some garden tools could destroy entire populations of insects. Those insects could have provided the first spring meal for baby bluebirds or be the reason that chickadees, warblers and other songbirds won’t visit your yard.
So relax, put your garden gloves away, and store the tools and tiller. Leave your leaves alone whenever possible. If you must rake them from your lawn, put them to work in another part of your yard – behind your garage or under the tree line between you and your neighbor. By setting aside undisturbed patches of habitat allowing leaf litter, dead twigs and stems to remain, you are providing a safe haven for wildlife and attracting birds. So, when you are watching the snow get deeper this winter, and your yard looks cold and lifeless, remember just below that white landscape, the habitat you saved is teeming with life.
If you still have questions, contact the Oneida County Land and Water Conservation Department at 715-369-7835 or click on the Bee the Change button below.
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Check out the video on
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Click on the Hot Topic!
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Restored Habitat Provides Oasis
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Meet Tom and Eva Wedel, owners of Oak Woods Foundation in Argyle, Wisconsin. This awe-inspiring oasis of tranquility is home to 400 acres of rolling prairies and forests, providing habitat for fluttering monarchs and other butterflies feeding on milkweed and various wildflowers.
See the interactive, multimedia story map.
Read the full, printable story.
See the interactive, multimedia story map.
Read the full, printable story.
Dust off your hummingbird feeders and brew up some nectar as Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds customarily return to Wisconsin in the first 2 weeks of May. The 'hummers' are going to be very hungry when they arrive as there are few plants for them to forage following our late-arriving snow storms.
6 Ways To Attract Hummers to Your Yard
Hummingbird Nectar Recipe
1. Combine one part plain white, granulated table sugar and four parts water.
2. Slowly heat the solution for 1-2 minutes to help the sugar dissolve and slow fermentation.
3. Allow the solution to cool completely before filling feeders.
Learn More
6 Ways To Attract Hummers to Your Yard
- More than most birds, hummers need to bathe regularly, due to the sticky nature of nectar.
- They prefer very shallow, moving water, or a spray mist.
- Placing nesting material near a feeder may attract female hummingbirds to nest near you.
- "Hummer Helper®” is a practical nesting material and is available at many bird stores and garden centers.
- Hummer nests are often re-used, wholly or in part. Leave a nest in place.
Hummingbird Nectar Recipe
1. Combine one part plain white, granulated table sugar and four parts water.
2. Slowly heat the solution for 1-2 minutes to help the sugar dissolve and slow fermentation.
3. Allow the solution to cool completely before filling feeders.
Learn More
Engaging Youth:
Oneida County Takes the AIS
Fight to the Next Generation
A Teen Scientist Helped me Discover
Tons of Golf Balls
Polluting the Ocean
Bald Eagle Watching & Nest Counts
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Behind the Scenes at one of the Midwest's
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Check out this great
ENDANGERED SPECIES
resource!
Lumber Company's Gift of Land
Opens More Than 4 Miles of Undeveloped Shoreline on Northwoods Lake to Public
Nearly 4.4 miles of natural shoreline along Katherine Lake in Oneida County was included in the Yawkey Lumber Co.'s donation of 430 acres of forest and wetlands to the Northwoods Land Trust. (Photo: Northwoods Land Trust)
The Sweet and Tart Legacy of Wisconsin's Cranberry Crop
What the World Needs Now. . .
“Drain the swamp” has long meant getting rid of something distasteful. Actually, the world needs more swamps. . .
Click on the button below to get the full story.
Click on the button below to get the full story.
Great Lakes Restoration
A report released Tuesday claims federal dollars invested in Great Lakes restoration efforts are returning far more back to the regional economy. Click on the button below to read the whole story.
Northern Wisconsin Project Seeks To
'Slow The Flow' Of Stormwater
Please click on the button below for the story.
Goats and Humans Fighting Invasive Plants, One Munch at a Time!
Environmental Transformation Spells Brighter Future for Redonda's Fantastic Beasts...
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Check out our Creature Feature page! |
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Here's a step-by-step process
of how we sowed our seed at a seed sowing party. Watch and Learn! |
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