Third Annual Northwoods LIGHTS OUT! Event
Dates have been chosen for Northwoods Lights Out! Mark your calendars for
June 27-29 and August 22-24
Check back often for newly added,
special events coming up.
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Join us for a "Star Party"! In conjunction with the Northwoods Lights Out! events - watch this spot for the Star Party details coming up the week of August 18-24, 2025. We will pick a definite date when it gets closer so we can have the best weather possible!!
Our tentative location is NICOLET COLLEGE. Time is 8:00 to 10:30 p.m. Arrival time is 7:30 - 8 p.m. |
HIGHLIGHTS of the evening include information on preserving the dark sky, what you can do to protect it, and access to telescopes by the Northwoods Explorers of Space and Astronomy for viewing nebulae, star clusters, and double stars.
REGISTRATION IS PREFERRED but not required;
However, Registrants will have FIRST access to available telescopes.
Bring blankets/chairs to get comfortable under the stars; refreshments will be served.
REGISTRATION IS PREFERRED but not required;
However, Registrants will have FIRST access to available telescopes.
Bring blankets/chairs to get comfortable under the stars; refreshments will be served.
Bat Monitoring Training You can learn how to monitor bats using an acoustic sensor at a Bat Monitoring Training scheduled for May 30, 2025 from 10 a.m. to noon in Committee Room 2 at the Oneida County Courthouse in Rhinelander.
Bat monitoring using acoustic sensors involves deploying ultrasonic microphones to record bat echolocation calls, which are then analyzed to identify species and understand their activity patterns, aiding in conservation efforts. This training is taught by Certified Wisconsin Bat Ambassador, Marcia Obukowicz
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Join us to learn just how important these creatures are!
BE A VOLUNTEER BAT MONITOR! |
Did you know. . .
that 80% of Americans cannot see the Milky Way; 35% of outdoor light is wasted, costing about 3 billion dollars to literally be lost to space; and fireflies, hummingbirds, monarch butterflies, and owls are some of the animals most affected by light pollution?
that 80% of Americans cannot see the Milky Way; 35% of outdoor light is wasted, costing about 3 billion dollars to literally be lost to space; and fireflies, hummingbirds, monarch butterflies, and owls are some of the animals most affected by light pollution?
Late night photo of the Perseid Meteor event August 12-13, 2023. Photo by Michele Sadauskas
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During the 2023 Perseid Meteor Event, August 12-13 with Jupiter's reflection on the water. Photo by Michele Sadauskas
Artificial light can interrupt natural body rhythms in both humans and animals. An increased amount of light at night can lower melatonin production resulting in sleep deprivation, fatigue, headaches, stress, anxiety and other problems.
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Studies also show that light pollution can influence animal behaviors like migration patterns, wake-sleep habits, and habitat formation. Because of light pollution, sea turtles and birds guided by moonlight can become confused, lose their way, and die.
You Can Preserve the Northwoods Night Sky
What do you see
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Light pollution is just one of the many reasons our insects are on the decline. You can read more about it at this link:
https://www.oclw.org/insect-decline.html. 
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Willow Flowage shortly after moonset
Unless otherwise stated, all photos displayed on this page were taken by Michele Sadauskas, County Conservationist.
Second Annual Northwoods Lights Out
Watch the Fireflies
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Firefly Conservation
https://www.xerces.org/node/819 When was the last time you
went out to enjoy the fireflies? |
Don't Dim the Light of the Stars
On Friday, June 3, 2022, "Don't Dim the Light of the Stars: The Negative Effects of Light Pollution, was presented by Mary Beth Kiczenski, Noted Nighttime Photographer.
Link to the International Dark Sky Association website below for tips and hints to reduce light pollution in your neighborhood.
A PDF of the presentation only is just below on the green button "PRESENTATION".
Link to the International Dark Sky Association website below for tips and hints to reduce light pollution in your neighborhood.
A PDF of the presentation only is just below on the green button "PRESENTATION".
In addition to the presentation, Mary Beth presented at the North Central Land and Water Conservation Association Spring Meeting. The entire meeting is on YouTube at the following location. (https://youtu.be/NncUwvxDVnE) If you just want to watch and listen to Mary Beth's presentation, start the video at the 2:40:00 mark with an introduction from Michele Sadauskas, Oneida County Conservationist and Baerbel Ehrig, Oneida County Lakeshore Restoration Specialist & Pollinator Coordinator.
Bats and Lighting
Light pollution has been a pretty hot topic for bat research in Europe for some time. Some of the effects appear to be from intensity of light rather than color. Read about light intensity by clicking on the "Intensity of Light" button below.
A study used a before-and-after design where they set up acoustic detectors on the lamp posts for a week prior to replacement and then a week after replacement of the bulbs. Check it out and click on the "Study" button below.
In addition, below is a "Paper" on the effects of light color on bat activity. It mentions how they also measured insect activity, which is a great idea. There are some species like big brown and eastern red bats that will regularly feed on insects (particularly Lepidopteran) near certain streetlights while there are other species like little brown bats who steer clear of these lit-up environments.
A study used a before-and-after design where they set up acoustic detectors on the lamp posts for a week prior to replacement and then a week after replacement of the bulbs. Check it out and click on the "Study" button below.
In addition, below is a "Paper" on the effects of light color on bat activity. It mentions how they also measured insect activity, which is a great idea. There are some species like big brown and eastern red bats that will regularly feed on insects (particularly Lepidopteran) near certain streetlights while there are other species like little brown bats who steer clear of these lit-up environments.
Be Aware of Your Outdoor Lighting
Insect populations, a primary source of food for birds and other animals are drawn to artificial lights and instantly killed upon contact.
Safety-related dangers that come with poor visibility at night are caused by glaring lights or bad lighting design, which allows artificial light to shine outward and upward into the sky, where it is wasted instead of focusing light downward, where it does the most good. There are simple measures we can take to make our use of nighttime lighting most effective.
Safety-related dangers that come with poor visibility at night are caused by glaring lights or bad lighting design, which allows artificial light to shine outward and upward into the sky, where it is wasted instead of focusing light downward, where it does the most good. There are simple measures we can take to make our use of nighttime lighting most effective.
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For a larger view,
click on the picture above. |
Resources:
Read more about our dark skies or follow the blog from local author, stargazer and dark sky advocate, Ted Rulseh, the Lake Guy at the following link: https://www.thelakeguy.net/darkness-at-night-what-a-concept-the-case-against-dusk-to-dawn-outdoor-lighting/