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March-April 2016 All programs and activities are open to the public Vol. 37, No. 5
P.O. Box 184, Oshkosh, WI 54903 � Published eight times a year Editor: Janet Wissink, 7035 Mountain Rd., Pickett, WI 54964 � 920-589-2602 � [email protected]
Check our website for up-to-date information: www.winaudubon.org
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Primo Restaurant - 2605 Jackson St., Oshkosh
5:30 pm . . . Social 6:30 pm . . . Dinner
A brief business meeting
will be followed by our program:
“Only One Everglades”
$25.00 per person - RSVP by April 1 Make your reservations early, seating is limited.
DINNER RESERVATION FORM
Name(s) of those attending: _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ Address ______________________________________________ City/State/Zip _________________________________________ Phone__________________E-mail ________________________ Total Enclosed for Dinner: $25.00 x ______ = $ ___________
You’re Invited to our . . .
Spring Banquet Saturday, April 9
To make your reservation
please complete the form below, enclose your check made payable to
Winnebago Audubon and mail to:
Winnebago Audubon, PO Box 184, Oshkosh, WI 54903
Your dinner order will be taken when we are seated at 6:30 pm.
You will have a choice of several entrees from a special menu.
Only One Everglades
There is only one Everglades, an ecosystem so unique that it is designated a World Biosphere Preserve. The Florida Everglades, also known as “The River of Grass”, is more than just never-ending miles of sawgrass. It is a landscape mosaic of tropical hardwood hammocks, coastal prairies, mangrove coastlines, sloughs, cypress domes and rocky pinelands. Anita Carpenter, Winnebago Audubon board member, has led several college spring break biology trips to this fascinating place. With her slides and quilts, she’ll introduce us to many organisms that call this paradise home.
“Everglades Tree Island Paradise”, original quilt by Anita Carpenter.
Quiz Answer: Quiz Answer: Quiz Answer: Quiz Answer: Northern Shoveler, Anas clypeata
Page 2
Calendar of Events
Visit our website or look for updates in future newsletters.
Apr 5 Dine Out for Oshkosh Bird Fest at Benvenuto’s (See page 4)
Apr 9 Spring Banquet (See page 1)
Apr 16 Annual Midwest Crane Count (See page 3)
Apr 16 Sullivan’s Woods Work Day (See page 3)
May Birdathon Month (See page 3)
May 7 Oshkosh Bird Fest www.oshkoshbirdfest.com
A full day of activities to celebrate birds! (See p. 4)
May 7- John James Audubon: Birds of America Oct. 16 at the The Paine Art Center and Gardens (p. 4)
June2-4 John James Audubon visits The Paine Art Center and Gardens Sponsored in part by Winnebago Audubon Society. (See page 4)
Summer: Birds & Beer Series
Swift Nights Out Monarch Tagging
Sep 23 Sullivan’s Woods Tour
Nov 17 Native Plants & Birds: Stopover Initiative
Doug Tallamy to Speak at Baird Creek Preservation Foundation
Dr. Doug Tallamy will be the guest speaker at the Baird Creek Preservation Foundation Spring Banquet on Wednesday, March 30 in Green Bay. If you have read his book, “Bringing Nature Home“ or heard him speak before, you know what an excellent program this will be. This presentation is titled, “Stitching the World Together for Migrating Birds”. For more information visit: http://bairdcreek.org/2016/02/join-us-for-our-annual-banquet-silent-auction/
The Winnebago Audubon Society will hold its annual meeting for the election of officers and board members and to approve the proposed budget for 2016-17 on April 9 at the Spring Banquet.
The board presents the following slate of officers for 2016-17:
President: OPEN
Vice President: OPEN
Secretary: Zaiga Freivalds
Treasurer: Mike Brandel Board of Directors: Daniel Fiser Dave Moon
Anita Carpenter, Evelyn Meuret, and Pat Nichols have another year to serve of their two year term as Directors. If you would like to nominate someone, or know of someone who might be interested in serving on the board, please contact Janet at [email protected] or 920-589-
2602. We would very much like to have more members take an active role in our chapter. The following budget has been approved by the WAS Board. Please take this opportunity to review it. If you have questions, contact Mike (233-5914 or [email protected]) PRIOR to the April 9 annual meeting. The membership will be asked to approve this budget at the Spring Banquet on April 9.
2016-17 PROPOSED BUDGET
INCOME:
Banquet .............................................................. 1,000.00
Birdathon .......................................................... 1,000.00
Chapter Memberships .......................................... 500.00
Donations .......................................................... 2000.00
Grants ............................................................... 1,000.00
Interest .................................................................... 2.00
Merchandise ........................................................... 50.00
National Dues Share ........................................... 771.00
National New Memberships ................................ 300.00
Program Admissions ............................................. 312.00
TOTAL INCOME ............................................ $ 6,935.00
EXPENSE:
Activities .......................................................... $ 2,350.00
Annual Report ........................................................ 10.00
Banquet .............................................................. 1,100.00
Donations ............................................................. 600.00
Dues and Memberships ....................................... 150.00
Fundraisers-Annual Appeal .................................. 150.00
Liability Insurance ................................................ 270.00
Merchandise ............................................................ 50.00
Newsletter ............................................................ 450.00
Printing ................................................................ 150.00
Postage ............................................................... 300.00
P.O. Box Rental ................................................... 130.00
Program Expense ................................................ 800.00
Rent ..................................................................... 150.00
Supplies/Mileage ................................................... 100.00
Website ................................................................ 175.00
TOTAL EXPENSE ........................................ $ 6,935.00
2016-17 SLATE OF OFFICERS
AND PROPOSED BUDGET
Share your talent . . .
on our Board of Directors, such as coordinating programs, working on our newsletter or website, handling membership . . . There are a variety opportunities. We’re friendly, down-to-earth folks who share a passion for nature and our environment. Questions? Send me an e-
mail at [email protected] or give me a call at 920-589-
2602. - Janet
Winnebago Audubon Society extends a sincere thank you for your support
which allows us to continue to provide positive experiences in nature for our community.
Anonymous
Anonymous Anonymous
Grant Beckfield
Kim Bednarowski
Steve Easterly Jean Kellerman
Denise Lanthier
Ken Lohry
Don & Carole Meton Emmy Reichenberger
Terry Rill Kennedy
Mary Troudt
In Memory of Thomas Williams
Valerie Williams
Annual Midwest Crane Count
Saturday April 16, 2016
5:30-7:30 am
The Annual Midwest Crane Count is a citizen science tradition created by the International Crane Foundation (ICF) of Baraboo, WI, to monitor the general population trend of sandhill cranes in the Upper Midwest, as well as to promote awareness of cranes and wetland conservation throughout the count area. We invite you to help gather this valuable data to further ICF research. Volunteer counters of all ages can enjoy this early morning activity. Winnebago Audubon coordinates the count in Winnebago County which has 46 designated sites to be surveyed.
Secure Your Site Early!
IMPORTANT NOTE to PAST COUNTERS: Please confirm your site as soon as possible by contacting Evelyn Meuret, Winnebago Co. Coordinator: [email protected] or 920-573-7828
If you provided your email address in the past, you should receive an email reminder, but do not hesitate to contact Evelyn.
SITES AVAILABLE FOR NEW COUNTERS You will need to be assigned a Winnebago County site prior to the count date. New counters should contact Evelyn Meuret, Winnebago Co. Coordinator, to be assigned a site: [email protected] or 920-573-7828.
To learn more about the Midwest Crane Count visit: www.savingcranes.org/annual-midwest-crane-count.html Here you will find useful Counter Information, which includes Data Sheets; Date Entry Instructions using eBird; maps; Crane Identification and Calls. We look forward to having you participate in the crane count this year.
Sullivan’s Woods Work Day “Supervisors” Needed
Saturday, April 16 9:00 am—Noon
Hands on Oshkosh provides 30 UW-O student volunteers to cut buckthorn and willow at Sullivan's Woods We need adults to lead small groups of 5 or 6 students to help identify buckthorn and willow. The students will be at work from 9:00 am until noon. The students will be doing all of the hard work of bending and cutting brush with their strong young backs. We adults only need to be guides, supervisors and motivators for our groups. It's a fun day to get out to Sullivan's Woods and get to know some positive and helpful young people. If you can help, please e-mail Dave Moon at [email protected] or call him at 920-235-4429.
Jan Moldenhauer May Birdathon
Help Audubon Continue To Sponsor Programs and Activities in our Schools and Community!
May is the perfect time for bird watching during the spring migration. And, so it is a great time for our Birdathon. You are invited to help us count! Give us a call to join one of our bird watching teams. We have a wonderful time visiting our favorite bird haunts to see, hear, count and record as many birds as we can in a 24 hour period. Spend an hour with us or the whole day. The Birdathon would not be a success without the generous contributions of our members and friends. Please sponsor our birders by pledging a per bird amount (a nickel, a dime, a quarter, a dollar) or pledge a flat dollar amount. Your support allows us to continue providing quality events and programs in our community. Contact Carla Hansen for more information, to make a pledge, create a team or join a team at: 920-233-1129 or [email protected] Our birdathon is dedicated to Jan Moldenhauer. Jan was a member of our birding team from the beginning. Her enthusiasm, her drive, her remarkable ability to gather pledges made our efforts a success year after year. Jan passed away in 2013. Her strong opinions, her sense of humor, her willingness to keep on going kept us going.
My Pledge amount: $__________ per bird OR
$__________ flat amount
Make checks payable to Winnebago Audubon Society.
� Check is enclosed � Bill me
Name _________________________________________
Address _______________________________________
Email _________________________________________
� Send me a list of the birds you see.
� Call me, I’d like to join a team. Phone _____________
Send to: Carla Hansen, 4556 Island View Drive, Oshkosh, WI 54901
Page 3
From the From the From the From the Quiz Quiz Quiz Quiz Master:Master:Master:Master: I’m a 19-inch duck with a green head but I’m not a mallard. I have a white breast and prominent rufous sides visible from a distance. I have a large, unusual-looking spatulate bill that is longer than my head. My speculum is dark green topped with a blue forewing patch. Whooo am I?
(Look closely to find the answer in this newsletter.)
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Dine Out for Oshkosh Bird Fest
Tues., April 5
Benvenuto’s Italian Grill 300 S. Koeller St., Oshkosh
Benvenuto’s Italian Grill invites you to dine out and support Oshkosh Bird Fest. On Tuesday, April 5, 20% of all participant sales from 11:00 am—10:00 pm will be donated to Oshkosh Bird Fest. To participate, bring in this article and tell your server you’re part of “Dine Out for Oshkosh Bird Fest!” Benvenuto’s is a locally owned and operated business and believes in neighbors helping neighbors! Thank you to the folks at Benvenuto’s for their support and to all of you for dining out with us. See you there!
Saturday, May 7
MENOMINEE PARK, 6am-2pm Big Sit, 6am-12pm
Bird Banding, 7am-10:30pm
Bird Walks, beginning at 8am
Our Costa Rican Birds, Joe Henry, DNR, 9:15am
Children’s Ac'vi'es, 10am-2pm
Live Birds of Prey, 10am-2pm
with presenta�ons at 10:15 & 12:45
Educa'onal Exhibits, 8am-2pm
Na've Plant Sale, 8am-2pm
Concessions, 8am-2pm
OSHKOSH GALLERY WALK, 6pm-9pm
Bird Fest HQ at Oshkosh Masonic Center
Student Bird Art Exhibit, Live Birds of Prey,
Educa'onal Exhibits, and more!
Browse par�cipa�ng downtown shops.
www.oshkoshbirdfest.com for up-to-date informa�on
Like us on Facebook and par�cipate in our bird quiz beginning in early April
You can help us make Oshkosh Bird Fest
a huge success!
Put an Oshkosh Bird Fest yard sign in your front yard.
Donate bird seed, bird feeders, bird houses, or any
other items for our fundraiser.
Volunteer an hour or two —
since you will be there anyway.
Purchase a beau�ful Bird City
Wisconsin mini-poster . . . $20
Oshkosh Bird Fest is a city event organized by volunteers
from Oshkosh Bird Club, Oshkosh Sustainability Advisory
Board, Oshkosh Zoological Society, Wild Ones Fox Valley Area
Chapter, Winnebago Audubon, and Wisconsin DNR. It is en�rely
funded by dona�ons. Oshkosh was awarded recogni�on as a
Bird City Wisconsin in 2010, and recer�fied in 2016 as a “high
flyer”, because Oshkosh is a bird friendly community and is
commi?ed to implemen�ng sound conserva�on prac�ces and
educa�ng its residents to play an increased role in making our
community healthy for birds … and people.
Contact: Janet at [email protected] or 920-589-2602
Major Sponsors:
John James Audubon: Birds of America
May 7—October 16, 2016
Paine Art Center and Gardens
Oshkosh
This exhibition features a selection of extraordinary, hand-colored original engravings created by renowned American artist and naturalist John James Audubon (1785-
1851) for his series The Birds of America. Dating from 1827 to 1838, these impressive, large-format masterworks (known as the “Double Elephant Folio”) are the most celebrated work of American ornithology and are among the most beloved wildlife imagery in the world today. Featuring loans from Midwest institutions and Audubon’s homestead at Mill Grove, Pennsylvania, the exhibition is organized by the Paine Art Center and Gardens and curated by David J. Wagner, a distinguished scholar and leading expert in American wildlife art. The lead sponsor of the exhibition is Horicon Bank. In conjunction with this exhibit, there will be a special event weekend, June 2-4, sponsored in part by Winnebago Audubon Society. We have invited Brian “Fox” Ellis to portray John James Audubon. He will give gallery walks and a family program at the Paine Art Center and Gardens. We will let you know specific dates and times when they become available. While in Oshkosh, we have arranged for Mr. Ellis to give some of his ecological programs at two public schools. In addition, we are planning to go bird watching with John James Audubon. Watch for more information to come.
Badger Tracks Badger Tracks Badger Tracks Badger Tracks by Anita Carpenter
With each passing day, the warmth-giving March sun climbs higher in the sky. Daylight lengthens. Temperatures moderate. Snowbanks recede as winter loses its grip. Spring is arriving even if it does so in spurts and with setbacks. In spite of its uncertainty, red-winged blackbirds and robins return. Mammals emerge from underground burrows. Nutrient-rich sap rises from roots to swelling tree buds. I’m always on the lookout for early signs of spring including dripping sap from broken maple twigs that leaves dark, wet circles on the pavement. Then I know that within days, depending on the weather and if the bird gods are on my side, yellow-
bellied sapsuckers will arrive and may stay for a brief visit before continuing their journey north. Yellow-bellied sapsuckers, Sphyrapicus varius, are quiet, retiring woodpeckers. If discovered, they quickly slip to the other side of the tree trunk. The 8-1/2 inch bird has a black and white head, red fore-crown, blackish back, white rump, and black bib. Each bird displays straw-yellow underparts which gives the bird its name. A large, white vertical wing patch is the bird’s most characteristic field mark which is very conspicuous when the bird rests on a tree trunk. Both sexes look alike except that the male sports a red throat whereas the female has a white throat.
The return of yellow-bellied sapsuckers to Wisconsin roughly correlates with the timing of flowing tree sap because, as their name implies, they are sapsuckers. To obtain the sap, yellow-bellied sapsuckers drill holes in tree trunks but they are not just randomly placed holes. These diligent tree-tappers drill quarter-inch holes in neat horizontal and, sometimes, vertical rows. An industrious sapsucker may bore thirty holes in one day. On succeeding days, the woodpecker returns to the drilled holes, called sap wells, to feed on the oozing sap and on any insects attracted to the sticky moisture. Sapsuckers are not fussy in their choice of which trees to drill but from March into April, they often select pines and deciduous trees that flower early, especially maples and aspens. After a few day stopover, the urge to continue north sends them on their way but the tree-tappers have left their calling card. Their neat rows of drilled holes are an obvious landscape clue that alerts nature-
detectives that yellow-bellied sapsuckers were around even if you didn’t observe them. Although it may seem like a lot of work and time invested in drilling holes for such a short stay, the sap-oozing holes are a benefit to other organisms. Insects, including butterflies, and even hummingbirds are attracted to this nutrient-rich moisture source. Although the sapsuckers have departed, keep checking these holes to see what else utilizes the sap. During migration, yellow-bellied sapsuckers are quiet but once they reach their north woods destination,
they become vocal, communicating with each other with a variety of one or two syllable calls. Like many woodpeckers do, yellow-bellied sapsuckers drum on dead wood to establish territories and attract mates. Their drum is not a rapid uniform rhythm like that of a downy woodpecker. It begins with a roll of several evenly-spaced taps followed by 5 or 6 disconnected taps. This very loud and distinctive drum resonates through the dense forest confirming that yellow-bellied sapsuckers are in residence. Spring entices us to venture outdoors and enjoy the warmth. Look for damp sap circles on the pavement. Look around for the presence of freshly-drilled holes. Perhaps you’ll discover last year’s holes which will forever remain etched on the tree trunk as dry holes. Then search carefully for the “let’s-
hide-on-the-other-side-of-the-tree” yellow-bellied sapsuckers. Males arrive about a week before females. Are you witnessing males or females? Although their time spent with us is short, their return is a welcome sign that spring is about to explode in all its glory on a reawakening landscape.
Tree-Tappers of Spring
Page 5
Editor’s Note: Yellow-bellied sapsuckers prefer the Austrian pines on my property. Every year I notice the sap flowing from new drill holes, but I have rarely seen them. This year I will pay more attention and see if I can find one before they move north.
Photo and illustration by
Janet Wissink.
NON-PROFIT ORG
US POSTAGE
PAID
OSHKOSH WI PERMIT NO 90
Winnebago Audubon Society Mission Statement: Advance the mission of the National Audubon Society to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth’s biological diversity through grassroots efforts of community outreach and advocacy.
AUDUBON SOCIETY
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
� Chapter Only Membership: Your $20.00 stays in our chapter and you receive the Winnebago Audubon chapter newsletter and all chapter benefits. Make $20.00 check payable to Winnebago Audubon.
OR
� National Audubon Membership: Your $20.00 includes chapter membership and all chapter benefits, PLUS Audubon magazine and all national benefits. Make $20.00 check payable to National Audubon Society.
� I do not wish to receive solicitations from National Audubon Society.
Name: ____________________________________
Address: __________________________________
City/State/Zip: ______________________________
Chapter Code: C6ZZ12OZ
Mail this form with payment to: Pat Nichols, Membership, PO Box 184, Oshkosh, WI 54903
OFFICERS President (Acting): Janet Wissink 920-589-2602 / [email protected]
Vice President: OPEN
Secretary: Chris Binder [email protected]
Treasurer: Evelyn Meuret 920-573-7828 / [email protected]
DIRECTORS Anita Carpenter, 920-233-6677 Zaiga Freivalds 920-233-5914 / [email protected] Dave Hanke 920-688-2907 Dave Moon 920-235-4429 / [email protected] Pat Nichols 920-426-0261 / [email protected]
Important Note: TEMPORARILY AWAY? Please notify us if you will be temporarily away. The post office will not forward your newsletter. If your newsletter is returned to us, we remove you from our mailing list. Please contact Pat Nichols at [email protected] or 920-426-0261 with any questions.
RENEWALS: Your mailing label includes your membership expiration date above your name. If you are a “Chapter Only” member the word CHAPTER will appear after the expiration date. Please renew your chapter membership by filling out the application form below. Thank you for helping us save on the cost of renewal reminders. If you are a member of National Audubon, NATL will appear after the expiration date. You will receive renewal notices from National or you may renew by using the form below. If you are receiving a complimentary newsletter, COMP will appear with an expiration date. Please consider joining our chapter by using the application below.
GO GREEN by opting to receive your newsletter via e-mail. Contact Pat Nichols at [email protected]
Page 6
Welcome to Winnebago AudubonWelcome to Winnebago AudubonWelcome to Winnebago AudubonWelcome to Winnebago Audubon
A special thank you to all those who are renewing
again this year as well. You are invited to participate in
activities of your local Winnebago Audubon chapter. It's a great way to meet like-minded people and to enjoy
what nature has to offer.
If you are a new member of National or the Chapter and haven’t seen your name here in the last couple of issues, please contact
Pat Nichols, Membership Chair (email me at: [email protected])
Gertrude Berg
Bruce Black
Marilyn Boase
Zachary Cason
Pamela Gau
Donna Holm
Larry Kind
Bernice Labus
Mary Grace Langenfeld
Sandra Lewis
J Platt Laura Ramseier Neal Rasmussen
Kate Schulz
Donald Steiner Terry Thompson
Word of the Day: speculum
Iridescent patch of feathers located on the secondary
feathers of duck’s wing. The speculum is a helpful clue in duck identification.
