Usual and unusual birds found on winter bird census
(Sunday, December 26, 2004)

A "birder" out in the cold and windy weather of winter need not be experienced at correct identification of the birds that would be seen to have an enjoyable time. A love of the out-of-doors and a desire to have a "meaningful exercise" time of it is all that is necessary.

Joining a seasoned birder, to learn identification by sight and sound, adds to the outdoor enjoyment. One learns quickly that the habits and habitats of birds are just as important "field marks" as are color and song - especially in winter when the usually brightly colored plumages have little reason. Song as well as feather color are used to attract a mate for breeding and nesting in spring and early summer.

An example of habitat identification would be that the ducks seen in Lake Michigan in winter would not be expected to be seen inland, in a thick spruce or pine forest. Blue jays are "generalists" and are found in almost every type of wooded land, whereas, crossbills are "specialists" and are found in spruce and pine forests - because they eat the seeds of the cones of these trees.

Learning habitats and bird identification is much easier in winter because of the fewer species present. During spring and fall migration there is the added challenge of migrant birds not being confined to a specific habitat. Northwoods warblers can be seen, in migration, in the cactus and palms of the south!

Learning the habits of birds would also aide in the identification of our feathered friends. Woodpeckers move up the trunks of trees and nuthatches move, headfirst, down the trunks. In our area there are two nuthatches, the white-breasted and the red-breasted. White breasted nuthatches usually move down the trunks and red-breasteds are usually found among the large branches and limbs.

So if you are watching a bird in, silhouette, and it is moving up a trunk, in a jerky, hitching, motion - it is a woodpecker. If it is coming down you know it is a _____.(w.b.nuthatch). Think what you have already learned - just by reading these few paragraphs!

Large hawks which are usually seen in open areas, soar - usually in large circles. By comparison, the Cooper's and sharp-shinned hawks zip and maneuver through trees and shrubbery in pursuit of birds.

The first two winter bird counts in the county are finished but there are still two "sessions" available for anyone to participate. You could learn things like why are there so few birds at feeders in November and the first part of December. Why are there so many more cardinals? Why are they called tree sparrows when they are usually found in open areas - away from trees?

Call us at 793-4007 for details. We will supply the binoculars. You may even learn to be a birder! Or a better birder!

Roadside Birding Is Unpredictable
(Sunday, December 19th, 2004)

A drive through the countryside this time of the year, can be exciting. The sandhill cranes and Canada geese will not be leaving for their southern destination until water areas freeze over. Even then many may linger for awhile.

There are other things to look for. The European starlings are gathering on roadsides and powerline wires. This species was originally brought to America in 1890 by Shakespeare fans who wanted all bird species he wrote about "to come to America."

The name starling means little star because of their five points - two wing tips, two outer tail ends and their beak - a pentagon or five point star. The starling is a beloved bird in it's homeland, but not here.

This species is noted for using natural and man-made cavities that other birds would use and therefore limiting nesting spaces for many species. These would include hairy woodpecker, northern flicker, great crested flycatcher, purple martin, bluebird species, tree swallows, chickadees and more.

When constructing a bird house for a bluebird, tree swallow, house wren or chickadee, a 1 1/2 " diameter entrance would eliminate usage by starlings.

So what is interesting about seeing a flock of starlings on a powerline? Did you ever notice the even spacing between the birds? There are theories.

The "comfort zone" so well known by humans may apply to birds and other animals as well. When talking to another person there is a certain tolerance of space between the individuals. When talking to someone, try to slowly move towards them - they will step back!

Starlings may be the same. However, another theory (and mine), is that when a flock of starlings flies to the wire - they cannot land closer together then the length of their wings allow. As they settle on the wire they fold their wings but do not shuffle close together. This space may also help when they take flight.

Rock doves(pigeons), mourning doves and other species such as swallows during migration, will also be seen "spaced out."

As you see this starling phenomenon and you guess why they are doing what they are doing - you get five points!

Beautiful Sow Flakes Are Complicated Structures
(Sunday, December 12, 2004)

Whether it is wafted gently to feather each twig with crystal, or is whipped into swirling drifts - whether it means work or pleasure - snow is a substance of phenomenal construction and immeasurably beneficial.

Snow crystals are frozen directly from visible molecules of water vapor around a microscopic nucleus in air which is supersaturated and below the freezing point. Being the product of joining two parts of hydrogen and one part of oxygen, water crystalizes into geometric forms with triangular or hexagonal patterns.

Dry, powdery, snow fall from very high, cold clouds. The crystals are small, needle-like columns or three sided plates. Warmer, low clouds, especially when there is no wind, produce spectacular flakes. Floating free and un- supported, there is no limit to the embellishments that can be acquired as more and more molecules are added to the lacy structure.

Snow flakes are generally transparent, but the many glistening facets reflect light, making them appear white.

Because of its myriads of air spaces, a snowfall provides a downy comforter for the earth, protecting roots and bulbs during severe weather. A blanket of snow, melting slowly from top and bottom, where there is little frost penetration, provides soils with needed moisture is an ideal way.

A rapidly melting snow, on the deeply frozen soil or icy layers found in open areas, may result in hazardous floods and erosion, allowing only minimal percolation of water into the soil. The type of vegetative cover and use determines these conditions.

Coniferous forests retain most of the falling snow on their branches, much of which eventually evaporates, but the heavy growth and ground cover tend to keep soil under the trees from freezing deeply, so any snow that does reach the ground is absorbed when it melts. Hardwood forests do not intercept much snow, but it accumulates to greater depths, often preventing the soil from being frozen.

One more reason for preserving wooded areas such as Woodland Dunes.

In areas such as snowmobile trails, where snow is tightly compacted to ice, underlying vegetation is quickly, and permanently destroyed. A continually used ski trail could have the same effect, suggesting that areas for heavy recreational use should be carefully considered for any adverse impacts and restricted to suitable locations.

Whether you are "hung up" on camera, ski poles, gas can - or shovel and plow, snow has many values - as well as being beautiful.

Help Count The Winter Birds
(Sunday, December 5th, 2004)

Anyone interested in participating with the annual winter Bird Count will enjoy the great outdoors and will add exhilarating exercise to this new experience.

Woodland Dunes Nature Center conducts four bird counts in Manitowoc County each year at this time. The first count is in the southwest quarter of the county on Saturday, December 18th. The second count is on Sunday, December 19th and covers the southeast quarter. The third count is on Saturday, January 1st in the northwest area and the final count is on Sunday, January 2 and covers the northeast area.

The accompanying map shows the approximate areas to be counted. People not joining in a "new experience" hike are encouraged to count their feeders and submit their lists to Woodland Dunes Nature Center at P.O. Box 2108, Manitowoc, WI 54221-2108.

What have we learned from the last 50 years of the winter bird census in our county? Mourning doves increased during the first forty years but seem to be levelling off, or even declining in numbers. There are more cardinals than ever. We now see flocks of 35 or more of this colorful bird in the white landscape than ever before.

The large numbers of winter time Evening Grosbeaks present in the 50's and 60's have decreased to the point that they are now seldom seen.

More cardinals and less evening grosbeaks means that the "reported" warm-ing trend is real! Cardinals like warm and the grosbeaks like cold. As "cold" moves north so do the grosbeaks - replaced by cardinals.

The many recent mild winters also have produced few "winter finches" in our area. Pine grosbeaks and crossbills are not nearly as common in winter as they have been in the past. These species are erratic in their ventures south but have been noticeably absent on our winter charts. Good conifer cone crops in this area combined with cone crop failure in northern Wisconsin could certainly lure them here.

Other species such as house finches and black-capped chickadees seem to be increasing in numbers - especially at feeders. Even crows seem to be visiting feeders more frequently.

Away from our yards and feeders, other changes are also occurring. There are fewer gray partridges, ring-necked pheasants and long-tailed ducks than in previous years.

Woodland Dunes is not doing research projects regarding population trends of winter birds, etc., but other people and institutions are. The data we collect here at the nature center is forwarded to those who develop it further into meaningful documentation.

Sometimes, management plans for birds can be implemented based on research. We must stress that winter bird counts are important so year-to-year

comparisons can be made. Records kept/submitted over a long period of time are helpful to researchers doing winter population studies.

By being involved with the winter bird counts, you can help both those doing studies - and the birds.

Choosing The "Right Bird Seed" Will Attract The "Right Birds"
(Sunday, November 28th, 2004)

All birds need to eat. Food will be sought and found in natural areas or in town, perhaps in your yards - at your feeders.

Feeding the many colorful birds has become a very popular hobby. People feeding birds are, many times, told that when they feed the birds, they must continue to feed. There cannot be any gaps with no food. If you go on vacation, have your neighbor keep your feeders filled!

This is a myth! If birds come to your yard and find no feed, they will not fall over dead. They will find food elsewhere. Upon your return - and filled feeders - it may take a little longer for the birds to return to your yard. This is a fact.

There are many types of good quality seeds available to feed our feathered friends. Most are equally priced. There are also many great feeders on the market. By carefully selecting certain seeds and by placing "the right feeders" in the "right spots" you can develop your yard into an exciting bird-viewing area.

On Saturday, Woodland Dunes Nature Center has scheduled an event called "Christmas For The Birds". This "workshop" is a come and go, idea-oriented, three hour (from 9 am to noon) morning full of good ideas.

Youngsters can make their own feeders while adults can chat with staff naturalists regarding how and what to feed our feathered visitors. You can learn all about what seeds attract certain birds and why some feeders are better than others.

There will also be a discussion about the difference between yards and how landscaping affects the birds. Feeding areas, feeders and your yard can determine which species of winter birds will be attracted.

Dynamics of winter flocks of resident and visiting birds will also discussed as will water in winter. There are so many aspects of this great hobby and so many things to be learned.

Visit Woodland Dunes to hike trails anytime but be sure to stop in on Saturday morning to learn all about the art of attracting and feeding birds. The Nature Shoppe will be open for Christmas shopping and the special mix bird seed will be on sale.

There is more to soil than dirt
(Sunday Nov. 21, 2004)

Soil is in this writer’s opinion a most unappreciated natural resource. Soil scientists are quick to point out that dirt is what is found on your kitchen floor, while soil makes life as we know it possible! In other words, soil is much more than dirt.

In a geological sense, soil is the loose or unconsolidated material that is on top of bedrock. There are many different types of soil, which is in fact a composite of minerals, organic matter, air, water, and living or formerly living organisms. As a result, soil is an infinitely variable and complex medium. There is a rather complicated system for classifying soils scientifically, which results in nearly unpronounceable terms for the different soil types. Another system uses associations between different soils, with the most specific unit being the soil series, named after the town near which the particular soil type was first identified (for example, the Kewaunee series of clayey soils is prevalent in much of our area).

The first component, the mineral portion, is determined by the parent material from which the soil is formed. Parent materials are derived from a number of sources, including weathered bedrock or residuum, glacial till (mixed soil and rocks carried and deposited by glaciers), glacial outwash (sand and gravel left behind when glaciers melt), wind blown silt, alluvial deposits carried by river currents, or sediments deposited at the bottoms of lakes. Also, soil eroded from existing landscapes and re-deposited somewhere else can become parent material for another soil series.

The mineral part of soil is made of particles of different sizes, which determine the texture of the soil. The largest particles are sand, smaller particles are silt, and very small particles are clay. There is a wide distribution of sizes within each of those particle types, and also mixtures of different sized particles. While it is possible to find soils composed of almost completely one size, moist soils are formed from a mixture, and the texture names reflect that (sandy loam, silty clay loam, etc.). Loam is a mixture of soil particle sizes, and a true loam is an even distribution of the three. Even in a raw state, the parent material, in addition to mineral particles, also contains varying proportions of air and water between the minerals. The smaller the particles, the more space available for air or water.

When the parent material has been laid down, it might be fairly uniform in color and chemistry from top to bottom. Over time, however, soil develops, influenced by temperature and rainfall, position on the landscape (top of a hill versus the bottom), and the type of vegetation that takes hold on top and within. Plant roots change the parent material significantly, adding organic matter and increasing the acidity of the soil. With the added organic matter comes organisms that feed on it- including bacteria and fungi, and countless types of animals both invertebrate (such as nematodes, worms, insects, and crustaceans) and vertebrates (mammals, reptiles, amphibians, even birds). Each living creature changes the soil. In fact, there are so many living things in soil, they may outnumber and outweigh those above ground.

All these factors change the parent material, and layers or horizons develop, each with differing characteristics. Everyone is familiar with the topsoil layer, which is usually the darkest in color and has the most organic matter. Below that is the subsoil, which often has more iron and clay and is brownish in color. Below that are transitional layers, and beyond a depth of 3-5 feet the parent material is largely unchanged. Almost all of the life within the soil is in the upper three feet of depth.

So, soil is really a community supported by the structure of the mineral parent material. Soil supports and nourishes the plants that grow on it, including the plants that feed us. When living things die, the soil community recycles them, and makes their nutrients available to other living things. Recycle is a key word- it is something of a myth that topsoil always builds up over time. In fact, in our original forested landscape, the topsoil was only about 4 inches deep. Organic matter was recycled very efficiently rather than accumulating indefinitely. Unfortunately, the upper part of the soil is the portion which erodes if it is laid bare, making it so important to take care of this precious resource. In addition to lost productivity for agriculture, soil erosion degrades lakes and rivers with excessive sediments and nutrients. We are fortunate in Manitowoc County to have excellent personnel in our county Soil and Water Conservation Department to assist landowners seeking information about soil related issues. Soil also makes an excellent filter, and properly sited and maintained septic systems can be very effective at removing contaminants from wastewater, thus recycling it back into the ground. More information on this benefit can be obtained from the county’s Planning and Parks Department.

Like so many facets of nature, we need to better understand the soil and its importance, so that we can better protect this precious resource.

November 18th is Woodland Dunes' 30th Anniversary
(Sunday, November 14, 2004)

November 18th is Woodland Dunes' 30th Anniversary

November 18th, 1974 is the date of the first land purchase at the nature center. We were all excited! Then we had to raise the money to pay back to the"lending agent". For the last 30 years we have operated this way until we now own and preserve nearly 1,200 acres.

This unique natural area between Two Rivers and Manitowoc, Wisconsin, touches both city limits. Why it is called unique has been explained many times and will, most certainly, be discussed in this column again. This time, however, we will talk about people.

Many people working together have made this dream a reality. They saw and understood the importance of "green-space preservation" - especially between two urban areas.

Gordon Bubolz, of Appleton, can almost be called our "godfather". He stepped forward with his experience as an attorney, realtor and insurance man and really rolled up his sleeves. He helped with almost all phases during the first critical years. As President of Home Mutual Insurance Co. (now-Secura Ins. Co.), he was responsible for the salary of Woodland Dunes Executive Director's for 18 1/8 years!

Henry Schuette, Chairman of the Board and President of the Manitowoc Savings Bank, now Associated Bank, was the honorary Chairman of the first fund-drive to purchase the land now called Woodland Dunes.

Others involved during the "first years" included: Fred Dicke, who did the legal work on the first land purchases; Helen Dicke, the first member of the first Board of Directors; Bob Niquette, the first Board Chairman; Joe Schmitt, helpful in many ways; Winnie Smith, helpful in many more ways; Dr. Reginald Hammond, the very first donor, and many more - too numerous to mention.

What was a dream of one person (Bernie Brouchoud) turned into a dream of many. Hard work and long hours has turned Woodland Dunes into a State Natural Area; a place where many thousands of school children have visited;

a place with many hiking trails that are open to the public and a place with many events such as Owl Fest, folk concerts, canoe trips, wild flower hikes and many other natural and non-natural happenings.

This needs to be celebrated! A committee is already hard at work planning such an event for mid March of next year. Save room on your calendar. If you have any ideas or want to help, please call the center at 793-4007.

When is a species "invasive?"
(Sunday, November 7, 2004)

Invasive is a word we hear when natural areas are discussed. An invasive species is a plant (or other organisms such as zebra mussels) that is growing in a place where it should not be - and is certainly not wanted!

Our lakeshore area abounds with great natural areas. Within Point Beach State Forest, there are two State Natural Areas. Some of the other State Natural Areas in Manitowoc County are at Woodland Dunes Nature Center, Cherney-Maribel Caves County Park, Vanderbloemen Bog and Fischer Creek.

We're not sure about the other areas but we can discuss Woodland Dunes. Years ago, before we knew purple loosetrife was a problem, we actually planted six plants on the south side of Todd's Pond. It was marketed as a good wildlife food. Shortly later, we pulled it all out! The following year it was back. We pulled it out again. Then it was absent for about three years - and came back again!

Every couple years it pops up again - always in a different place. We have not seen it for about six years now - we hope it is gone. Purple loosestrife is an invasive plant. If left uncontrolled, it spreads fast, crowding out the wildlife-loving cattails. It grows in wet areas along rivers and in marshes and can be seen in several areas around our county. We have been told that there is a very small patch in the marsh across the West Twin River from the large Woodland Dunes marsh. We will check it out next summer.

Honeysuckle is also a problem at Woodland Dunes. Our native wild flowers must bloom and set seed before the large overhead trees get their leaves and shade the flowers under them. The leaves on honeysuckles emerge very early in spring and shade the ground - guess what! The wild flowers slowly disappear!

Japanese Barberry is another plant that is found in areas of Woodland Dunes. Like the honeysuckle, its seeds are spread in bird droppings. This plant is also spreading. It is shorter than honeysuckle and is easier to remove.

Reed Canary Grass has taken over much of the open areas of the nature center. It is found on edges of marshes and wet areas and in fields.

Non-native Buckthorn has recently been located in several areas of the center. This pesky, picky small tree is easy to identify. When very small it is easy to pull out. Nearly 1,000 3 to 12 inch plants have been removed. Now is the time for people to be aggressive in the removal of this unwanted species.

Control of these plants has not been discussed in this small space. However, persons wanting to be involved with invasive species removal at Woodland Dunes may call us at 793-4007. Previous knowledge of these plants is not necessary - we will train you.

We need to be more aggressive than the plants. It can be done! Squirrels planting oak trees by burying acorns is a good thing - birds planting seeds of invasive species is not!

Cottonwood Trail for First Graders Only
(Sunday, October 24, 2004)

The Cottonwood Trail Program is sensory awareness at its best and just for first graders. The center has just completed the 2004 experience with 1,433 youngsters registered. They came to us from 6 counties!

Through the past 30 years this program has changed little. Over 36,000 first graders and many teachers and chaperones have enjoyed this autumn walk in the woods - to have fun learning.

The Woodland Dunes staff and all of these eager-to-learn first graders thank all of the many volunteers that acted as "guides." They are called "TN's" (teacher - naturalists). This educational, outdoor experience would not be possible without the help of the many hours these wonderful people give up to be here - with the children.

We must also be generous with our thanks to our great sponsors. The three programs that take place at Woodland Dunes are sponsored by: the Bleser Family Foundation, the Kallies Charitable Trust, the Kohler Foundation, the Jane and Arthur Stangel Foundation and the Weyerhaeuser Foundation.

At the end of each program, the TN's gather for an evaluation session. Very good ideas come from these important meetings. The many pictures sent back from the students are passed around for all to enjoy. The evaluations from the teachers are also read.

Words and phrases from the teachers are well received. We read: "awesome,"

"you talked at their level.", "the guides know their material very well", "this is the best field trip we have ever been on", "we have been coming here for 20 years and each year is better", "the program is well organized". "the children were 'engaged' and enjoyed it" and "thanks for offering this great hands-on experience".

We here at Woodland Dunes Nature Center look forward to when our programs can go from three to "more-than-three." Before this can happen, we need more volunteer TN's. Persons interested in this type of volunteerism do not have to be "woods-wise." We will train you!

Anyone who enjoys the great outdoors and likes being with and working with children can do this "work". Our next program is in winter and you can observe what we do if you would like. Perhaps this would help convince you that: Yes, you can do this!

Art Linkletter once wrote a book titled "Kids Say The Darndest Things". At this years evaluation meeting, one of the TN's told us of the little boy that, after rubbing a "wood slice" and smelling it, said: "This smells just like Menards"!

Give us a call. Join us! Enjoy being a first grader again!

Winner Of The "Ugly Contest"!
(Sunday, October 17, 2004)

Grizzled-gray and unhealthy-looking, with its white face, long pointed snout

(and 50 teeth), paper-thin black ears and rat-like tail, the opposum is without a doubt the homeliest animal that one might meet as it shambles down a Woodland Dunes trail at night.

Opposums are not very bright, either. How can such slow, cat-sized, animals that have been intensively hunted for food and fur, manage to prosper and increasingly extend their range northward? Because they eat anything, plant or animal, alive or dead; because they bear large numbers of young; and because they can take a lot of punishment. By playing "possum," lying limp, eyes shut and tongue rolling, they can be shaken and malled by an enemy and yet amble off when the bored tormentor leaves.

Supposedly the animal does not "play dead" but goes into a trance from shock, an automatic protective device.

Fossils of animals, very similar to the opposum that roam the countryside today, date to the time of the dinosaurs. Many animals of that period have become extinct, but the durable "possum" continues to thrive.

Opposums are the only animals in North America that are marsupials. After the honey-bee-sized young are born, they clamber into their mother's pouch where they stay for a month or more. Then they climb onto her back, cling to her shaggy fur and are carried about until large enough to fend for themselves.

These nocturnal animals are excellent climbers and are at home in trees as well as on the ground. They often spend the daylight hours sleeping inside a hollow log.

Though a layer of fat is stored up under the skin, enabling the animals to pass the winter with little or no food, they are not thorough hibernators and can occasionally be found roaming around during the winter.

Since the first toe on each hind foot has no claw and looks much like a human thumb, the tracks are very distinctive. This unusual "big toe" is slanted inward and even backward. The "little toe" sprawls out on the other side of the foot and the three middle toes remain in a close group. The long tail may often leave a drag mark.

Mammals are not often seen by groups hiking the Woodland Dunes trails, but the signs are there for those who learn to read them.

The Owls Are On The Way!
(Sunday, October 10, 2004)

The night is brisk and clear and the Big Dipper is sitting very low on the horizon. Walking down the lane in the darkness, we hear the busy rustlings of the night creatures - skunks, mice, deer and weasels - as they continue on their rounds, oblivious to our presence.

A quick flick of the flashlight reveals a row of the special nets used to capture owls, standing like shadowy ghosts among the trees. Another look and we see two bundles of soft feathers lying quietly in the pockets of one of the nets.

As we approach, they struggle a bit. Turning their heads to face us, they stare with huge round eyes, snapping their beaks in defense. They are owls, silent hunters of the night.

The smaller of the two is a saw-whet owl. These tiny owls are always popular "people-pleasers" at the Woodland Dunes annual Owl Fest. They are only eight inches tall when full grown and have adorable faces. But any deer mouse will tell you that their needle-sharp talons are anything but adorable!

The other owl looks, at first glance, like a half-sized great horned owl. It is called a long-eared owl and one look at its large ear tufts will tell you why. It is a fairly common owl in our area, especially during fall migration, though many people have never seen one.

This is because, like most owls, they spend their days tucked away in the thick stands of evergreens or brush, only venturing forth at night.

The long-eared and saw-whet are the only two owls that could be captured, banded and released during October at Woodland Dunes. Other possibilities include the screech, barred, great horned and short-eared owls, although these are not as commonly caught.

All of these birds are lavishly endowed with special adaptations that allow them to cope with their night-time world. Their large, softly feathered wings not only keep their prey from hearing them, but allow them to hear their prey. Their heads are filled to the brim with eyes and ears that the Bionic Man would envy.

If you are interested in finding more about owls and maybe seeing some live and in the hand, come to the annual Owl Fest at Woodland Dunes on Saturday, October 16, from 8am to noon.

You could also call the center at 793-4007 and ask about possibly visiting during the migration and participate in the banding and release of these wee "flying tigers."

Changing Times
(Sunday Oct. 3, 2004)

Fall is here- some trees are giving up their leaves freely now. Songbirds are migrating in great numbers on days with north winds- the first juncos and pine siskins were seen at the nature center this week. The autumn sky is dominated by the stars of the great square of Pegasus in the southeast after dark, followed by the shimmering Pleiades in the hump of Taurus, the Bull. The growing season at the nature center ended with frosts on Wednesday and Thursday, but the beautiful New England and calico asters seem not to notice.

Some songbirds, such as song sparrows, common yellowthroat warblers, and redwinged blackbirds were singing this week after weeks of silence- presumably because light levels and day length are similar to spring. In some respects I wish it were, but then, we have to earn our springs by surviving the winter!

Unlike the spring-singing birds, insect musicians really come into their own in late summer and fall. Although called singing insects, they are really masters of the string section, their instruments being their own legs.

On warm days, grasshoppers make a raspy sound in grassy fields and along roads. One of the larger species is the Carolina grasshopper, a common insect found nearly throughout the United States. They are gray-brown in color, a couple of inches long, and they become very active in the afternoon. They are sometimes referred to as locusts because they are such good flyers (and might be mistaken for butterflies when in flight). When they take to the air, they display their distinctive wings- black with yellow or tan edging. Because they are large, the are sometimes assumed to be pests, but in fact their eating habits are described as “thrifty” and they seldom to significant damage to crops. They do, however like to eat the non-native and invasive smooth brome grass, which we applaud!

Also on warm days, cicadas still sing from the trees with a loud, electric buzz. These bug-eyed, harmless creatures spend nearly all their lives (2-5 years) in the soil, emerging for a short time to reproduce and then perish. Although they are sometimes called annual cicadas because they are present each year, their long life cycles overlap so some indeed emerge every summer. Although their adult lives are short, they live them in a noisy flourish.

After nightfall, a remarkable chorus of orthopterans (the order that includes grasshoppers and crickets) takes place. The more we pay attention, the more we become aware of the diversity of sounds and the creatures that produce them. Many of us are aware of the fall field cricket- the common black crickets seen on our lawns and fields. And many are aware that temperature can be estimated by the frequency of cricket “chirping”. In this case, though, the two are not related. Field crickets have high pitched and distinct chirps, but are apparently not reliable as weather reporters. The temperature experts are another group, the tree crickets. The snowy tree cricket is one found in this area. Snowy tree crickets have a more mellow, lower pitched song than the field cricket. If you listen carefully, the snowy tree crickets coordinate the rhythm of their songs, and sing in a hypnotic, unison fashion.

In addition to the field and tree crickets, one can also hear the house cricket, an exotic species whose call is similar to the field cricket but slightly lower in pitch. Also found in our area are one or more species of ground crickets, which look like smaller versions of the fall field cricket. Their song is a constant trill, reminding me of the song of American toads which sing in the spring.

Last but not least are the katydids, whose songs are raspy like grasshoppers of the day, and with an almost pulsating quality.

Nature provides endless opportunities to explore and learn. Take some time to appreciate our interesting singing insects before the coming cold silences their songs until next year.

October 16th is OWLFEST at Woodland Dunes Nature Center
(Sunday, September 26th, 2004)

The naturalists and volunteers at Woodland Dunes Nature Center are getting ready for the saw-whet owl fall migration. Nets are being prepared, bands are being counted and meetings are being planned.

And guess what! These very small owls are also preparing for their annual fall migration. Wee nocturnal critters such as mice, voles, crickets, etc. should be cautious about venturing to far from cover - hungry owls will be watching.

Many visitors to Woodland Dunes, during the third Saturday in October, have been treated to an up close look at saw-whets. They have even been given the opportunity to hold one. Some visitors even get the chance to release a banded owl back into the wild.

Banding allows researchers to follow the migrational route of birds. We also learn how long birds live; do they return to the same area each year, and more.

Saw-whets banded at Woodland Dunes are captured at other owl banding stations in Wisconsin such as those at Cedar Grove, Little Suamico,and at Stevens Point. We also catch "their birds." The farthest "recovery" of an owl banded at Woodland Dunes was Asheville, North Carolina.

Volunteers are taught how to carefully remove owls from the nets. Since this is a time-consuming activity - we need many volunteers. There is a training meeting on Thursday night, September 30th, at 6:30 pm at the Woodland Dunes headquarters on state highway, just west of Two Rivers.

If you are interested in becoming a part of this excitement, please give us a call at 793-4007.

Visit us on October 16th, 8 am to 11 am, to learn all about bird-banding and to especially to see a saw-whet up close - "eye to eye." Better yet - call to volunteer!

A full-grown saw-whet owl, looking cute, at Woodland Dunes Nature Center. Visit the center on October 16.

An Unexpected Jewel
(Sept. 19, 2004)

Last Monday, a good friend phoned and asked if I would go with him to see something of interest he had found at a local park. Gentians, he mentioned- some of the most interesting of the fall wildflowers. We met at his home on the west side of Manitowoc, and a group of us drove to Schuette Park, and parked in the lower parking lot near the river off Broadway St. From there we walked east on the exercise trail, up the hill for a few hundred yards. The area was familiar, although certainly changed from the days of my youth when my friends and I sometimes roamed the “Clay Pits” as the area was called. As we crested a hill on our walk, I was treated to an unexpected spectacle of color thanks to a great variety of fall wildflowers which covered the landscape- closed and fringed gentians, common sunflowers, showy coneflowers, small white and New England asters, and ladies tresses orchids, to name a few. The barren, dusty Clay Pits of my youth was alive with color!

The Clay Pits was a place where great quantities of clay soil were removed for use in either making cement or in processing aluminum, I’m told (if anyone has more information on the history of this place, please contact Woodland Dunes- we would be interested to learn more). There must have been quite a large hill there once, before my dad’s time (he too went to the Clay Pits as a boy), and many tons of soil were removed. The unaltered clayey glacial till (material carried and deposited by the continental glaciers which shaped our landscape thousands of years ago) which remained was an inhospitable medium for many plants - probably much more alkaline than preferred by most (plants and animals, climate, and time greatly alter the upper few feet of this material, producing the fertile soils of this region). And yet, over the course of decades, these wildflowers prevailed- not just the common, often invasive European species, but a rich mix of those found on our native prairies. How did this happen?

After the last glacier melted, the soil here was covered with plants of the tundra, who could survive the cold climate of the time. As Wisconsin warmed, our area was probably vegetated by a pine forest, and as time goes on by more and more hardwoods (deciduous trees). The southwestern part of Wisconsin, however, was dominated by prairies- mostly open lands kept that way by wildfires, and populated with native grasses and wildflowers. Of course, the forests in the rest of the region were also subject to disturbance such as fire, and where open land was found so too were the prairie plants. When European settlers came, open lands were used for agriculture, and the prairie plants survived only in certain areas, such as cemeteries and along railroads. Of the estimated 11 million acres of Wisconsin prairie that once existed, about 11 thousand acres now remain , less than 1%.

As it so happens, a railroad runs along the Clay Pits, and adjacent to the area now ablaze with floral color. We wonder if the prairie wildflowers originated along the tracks and were able to take advantage of the botanical vacuum that all the excavation produced. Or did someone have the foresight to encourage the native flowers to grow? Whatever the process, the result is much more pronounced that I ever expected. I have seen patches of the deep blue fringed gentians in the past, but not acres! It is well worth the time spent to go and view this area, and learn about its wildlife. We at the nature center will certainly be featuring this place in field trips to come. How fortunate that Mr. Schuette donated the land to the city, land which nature has transformed into something truly remarkable!

You Don't Have To Look Far To See Fall Wild Flowers
(Sunday, September 5, 2004)

Many of Autumn's roadside flowers, vying with colorful foliage, are members of the composite family - asters, goldenrod, tansy and wild sunflowers. All are related to the ubiquitous dandelion.

Though they have numerous seeds and are common to the point of being weeds, their loveliness should not be overlooked.

Many have interesting seed forms, and the dried heads are frequently found in lasting flower arrangements. If one wishes to cope with hidden spiders and insects, the flowers may be gathered, from the roadsides, for bouquets.

Other autumn flowers - the lobelias and gentians must be sought for in hidden wetlands, where their scarlets and blue accent lush greens. These should be left where they are for the next intrepid naturalist to enjoy.

We are treated this year by many fringed gentians along Horsetail Trail.

This species is not present at Woodland Dunes every year, so you don't want to miss seeing this deep blue beauty.

The yellow goat's beard, one of the roadside composites, is not as well-known in the area since it seldom becomes a troublesome weed in fields. Its globular head of fluffy seeds can be used for delicate bouquets when sprayed with a whisk of hair spray or colored lacquers.

From personal experience, it's not easy getting the plant established in a wild field by simulating the natural process of scattering its seeds to the wind.

Yellow goat's beard is a biennial with deep tap roots, and is related to the oyster plant. The roots are supposedly delectable, eaten raw or cooked like parsnips.

The plant can be identified by its dandelion-like flower and clasping leaves resembling broad grass blades. It is sometimes called the "noon flower" since blossoms close at mid-day. The milky juice from the stems has been used as medicine among primitive people.

Finding a clump of closed gentians is the reward for wet feet and clothing snagged with sticktights. The tightly-closed, bottle-shaped blossoms (which never open) range from violet-blue to deep ultramarine blue(as they begin to fade they turn white). The blossoms are pulled together at the top by white striped plaits.

Bumblebees force their way through the gentians small opening to insure fertilization.

The plant is a sturdy perennial with lance shaped opposite leaves which become increasing bronzy as autumn wanes.

The plants are not listed as being valuable as a food, dye or for decorative seed pods. However, they are worthy of finding just to view their colorful and distintive blossoms.

Just love them - and leave them!

Ants Everywhere
(August 29, 2004)

Sometimes it takes a dramatic event to make one aware of what's underfoot every day. Last Wednesday I noticed flocks of ring-billed gulls wheeling in the air, over grassy fields far from the shore. In their unusual flight they swooped back and forth, whirling and diving as if chasing ghosts. In truth, they were taking advantage of a suddenly abundant food source- flying ants. Upon reaching home, I could see the large queens and kings were seen emerging from the lawn or under rocks, and climbing to the highest available perch before launching into the only flight of their lives.

Late each summer, after a rain, ants swarm, sending their new queens and kings into the air to mate and establish new colonies. These swarms emerge throughout our area on the same days, usually in late afternoon. After mating, which is sometimes done in flight, the kings and queens drop to the earth. The king, his duties finished, will die within several days. The new queen, after mating only once during her life, will excavate a new nest, and begin egg laying. She may live for as many as 15 years, but may never leave the nest again.

These may have been cornfield ants, one of about 12,000 species of ants on earth. Ants are truly a success story, having been found on this planet for an estimated 100 million years. If you are a fan of 'extreme math', one source reports that scientists estimate that there are at any given moment 1,000,000,000,000,000 ants on the earth.

Ants belong to the order Hymenoptera, which also includes bees and wasps, many of whom seem to exhibit a similar social life. They belong to the family Formicidae, which has several subfamilies.

To what do they owe their success? Many species are predators, and a variety of insects, including other ants, are fair game. One species feeds exclusively on spider eggs. Others are sweet lovers, and utilize sweet fruit juices, plant nectars, and 'honeydew', the sweet liquid secreted by some aphids. In our area field ants can be seen guarding their herds of nectar producing aphids as the insects feed on plant juices. Some collect plant material upon which they cultivate gardens of mold which provides them sustenance.

Clearly they are creatures which have adapted to a variety of habitats over time. Ants are found on every continent except Antarctica. The organization of their colonies is fascinating: nearly all the ants we see (the workers) are females. Although the same species and gender, the workers can assume different sizes, and over time different roles within the colony. For example, older workers do the foraging, while younger members tend to the nest. All the workers and queens are the product of fertilized eggs- unfertilized eggs develop into males. All ants undergo complete metamorphosis- egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Some larva receive special chemical stimulants and then develop into queens. A colony often has one queen, but some may have multiple queens. It can take years for a colony to develop and mature to the point where new queens are produced. In addition to the traditional method of forming new colonies, some undergo what is known as "budding", where a queen, along with some workers, leaves for a new location. In some cases workers themselves leave the colony to establish a new home, taking with them larvae which are stimulated to develop into queens. Even their genetic makeup is interesting- one species of ant has only one set of chromosomes, while another has 59.

Sometimes ants can be an annoyance in the home, as they seek food, water, and shelter as we do. Usually the situation is temporary and can be controlled through sanitation and selective use of pesticides and baits- there is excellent available on ants problems from sources such as the UW Extension.

The following are some ants common to Wisconsin. The larger yellow ant, is about 3/16" long and smells of citrus as a result of nectar and honeydew consumption. The pharoh ant is about 1/16" and red to yellow in color. Thief or grease ants- the smallest at 1/20", are indeed fond of fatty foods and our kitchens. Pavement ants are 1/8" long and reddish-brown to black, and are often found around paved areas. Cornfield ants are very common, are about 1/10" long, and build the typical small mounds of soil around our yards. Like larger yellow ants they are fond of nectar and honeydew. Field ants build the large anthills in grassy areas. Carpenter ants are black, and queens can be up to an inch long. They excavate their nests in rotting wood- not sound wood. They are often blamed for damaging trees and structures, but the truth is the wood was already rotted when they found it.

As for being “ansty”, they are anything but. Ants tend to work in shifts, putting in a couple of hours at a time at a task, but spending 2/3 of their time resting!

Recently I've seen ads for pesticides meant to be applied to lawns to kill all the "disgusting bugs" that live there. To me that is a frightening notion, when we barely understand the marvels of nature that take place right at our feet!

This is the season for the "seed-shooting" plant
(Sunday, August 15, 2004)

Jewelweed is best designed for pollination by hummingbirds. However, butterflies and bees also visit this very colorful, wetland plant.

The stamens are short and hide deep within the flower. Pollen dusts the beaks of the visiting hummingbirds.

Pistils and stamens of jewelweed mature at different times to prevent self-pollination.

Jewelweed is a tender, succulent, plant growing to five feet in height. Leaves are bluntly toothed and placed alternately on the reddish stem. This plant develops extensive patches in damp wooded areas.

Early morning dew or gentile rain turns the beaded water on its leaves to a beautiful silvery sheen.

The flowers are orange with reddish-brown spots and are present all summer and into the fall. The orange sack is formed from united sepals. The petals are within this sack and are not easy to distinguish.

The other common name, spotted "touch-me-not" refers to the seed pods. When the fruit matures, a gentile touch will split the pod into five curling parts which shoot the seeds as far as four feet away.

Sometimes found in places where its not wanted, jewelweed has a redeeming quality for a "weed." It is a cure for poison ivy itch. All you have to do is rub the leaves and stems on the contact area and soon as possible and, if you are in luck, no symptoms will appear.

For a plant so well adapted to a specific pollinator, jewelweed has a strange habit of developing special flowers for self-pollination. They never open but mature into the same bursting seed capsules. In its native Europe it reproduces by self-pollination alone. This seems to be a special adaptation to make up for the absence of hummingbirds.

Jewelweed is related to two common garden plants - bush balsam and impatiens. Also found wild in Wisconsin is a touch-me-not with pale yellow flowers.

Spotted touch-me-not can be found in wet areas throughout Woodland Dunes. Easy places to look are on Black Cherry Trail near Wood Duck Swale and along

Cattail Trail. Please keep in mind that you may not find the "shooting seed pods". Why? Because as we keep showing and telling visitors about these unique plants - they (and us) keep "popping" the seed pods to make them "shoot!"

Late summer in full bloom.
(Sunday August 8 2004)

The seasons of nature flow stream-like, gently carrying us along. At first, the changes are nearly imperceptible, but they accumulate until we take notice. We usually consider August the height of summer, but the trappings of fall are already beginning.

After three months or more of energetic song, many birds have been quieting down. Robins, who in June herald each morning around 4 am, are noticeably quieter and later in their singing. Who can blame them- after raising two or three families their rest is well deserved! Judging by the number of young robins around our yards now, the parent's efforts appear to have paid off, despite the cold spring. The same might be said for eastern bluebirds, judging by the number of calls to the nature center this year about sightings and nesting successes. Parental chores don't end for either of these birds when the young leave the nest, though- both continue to look after and feed their young for a while. They young of these and other insect eating birds are treated to easy pickings this time of year, when insect populations are high. They will need to build up their energy reserves before cold weather, and migration, comes. In fact, some shorebirds (sandpipers) are already migrating south, and others (such as swallows) are gathering and preparing to do so.

While robins and other thrushes may be winding up the nesting season, several bird species are still very active in that regard. These late nesters include the American goldfinch, whose cozy nests are lined with soft plant down, house wrens, indigo buntings, and cedar waxwings. Their nesting is also timed to take advantage of factors in their habitat which will give young birds the best chance for survival, such as the coming abundance of seeds and fruit on both wild and domestic plants. In the forests, red-eyed vireos can still be heard calling from high in the trees.

A number of plants abound with berries now- at the nature center two of the most noticeable are the red mulberry tree in our yard, and red-osier dogwoods which are so numerous around wetlands. The mulberry is a large specimen, planted long ago in the front yard of our old farmhouse headquarters and no doubt the source of many tasty pies. Now, it is the focus of bird activity in our yard, its branches alive with robins, cedar waxwings, catbirds, red-winged blackbirds, song sparrows, and even crows. Also present are purple stains on the deck- the birds' calling cards after their mulberry feast!

The red-osier dogwoods now sport clusters of white berries on which the waxwings and other birds feed (although not the least bit tasty to my palate!). The dogwoods can be a nuisance to people due to their thick invasive growth on open, moist soils, but the thick cover and edible bark, leaves, and fruit of these plants is advantageous to many species of wildlife.

Many wonderful wildflowers are also present now, especially in meadows and prairies. Landscaping with prairie wildflowers is increasingly popular, and those who enjoy growing them are enjoying many wonderful blooms. Several coneflowers, liatris or blazing star, bergamot, and butterfly weed are in their splendor now, doing their best to attract hungry insects. Other interesting plants, such as ladies' tresses orchids, are also in bloom now, although they are not as showy as some of the larger flowers.

As always, we can see the connection between different species- flowers, insects, birds- all peaking in population at the same time. Here's hoping we can all find our own connections to our fascinating natural world.

Ripples from the Dunes
(August 1, 2004)

We often hear the same story- "I bought this hummingbird feeder but the birds never come!" The reasons could be many, but here are some tips on how to get hummingbirds to your feeder. So pay attention, then get that feeder back out of your garage.

First of all it is important to know a couple of things about the bird itself. Hummingbirds have a long slender tongue that can be extended far beyond the tip of their bill. This allows them to reach far inside flowers to reach the nectar. When feeding the hummingbird laps up nectar, taking several licks every second. Capillary action, a physical force that causes fluids to rise in small-diameter tubes, carries the nectar up tiny grooves that run the length of the tongue to the mouth.

The flowers that hummingbirds frequent most have evolved tube-shaped flowers like lilies. Since the bird never lands on the flower itself the flower adapted so the pollen would be transferred from the bird having to get close to the flower to get the nectar. The Jewelweed has even evolved to move its pedicels to maximize the amount of pollen dumped on the bird's head while it is eating. Besides nectar hummingbirds also eat ants, bees, beetles, flies, and spiders which help satisfy vitamin, mineral, and protein requirements. So instead of trying to get rid of ants and spiders, keep them around for the birds!

Another interesting thing about hummingbirds is that they tend to make daily rounds when they feed. The birds will visit patches of flowers and artificial feeders in a predictable sequence; this behavior is known as trap-lining. So if you see a hummingbird come to your feeder or flowers you can hope you are on their daily round. Hummingbirds can be very predictable, during migration many bird banders will encounter the same banded bird on the same exact day almost every year.

The only species that commonly occurs east of the Mississippi is the ruby-throated hummingbird. So if you see a hummingbird it will more than likely be the ruby-throated. The ruby-throated's scientific name Archilochus colubris, is after Archilochus, a minor Greek poet who admitted he was a coward and had run away from a battle. This name probably came from the hummingbirds amazing ability to fly in any direction, including backwards, the way Archilochus went, and even upside down. This is due to the hummingbird's flexible shoulder joint that allows the wing to move in almost any direction.

Unlike the scientific name the ruby-throated hummingbird is anything but cowardly. The ruby-throated is one of the only hummingbirds that flys over water for migration crossing the Gulf of Mexico in nonstop flights each spring and fall. This little bird migrates 500 miles over the Gulf from the Yucata'n Peninsula in South America. Studies using Doppler radar show that in spring the birds depart the Yucata'an Peninsula at dusk with huge flocks of passerines and arrive with them the next day along the gulf coast of the United Sates. We usually start seeing them around here in the late spring and summer months. When hummingbirds are passing through our town the males are looking for areas with adequate food and the females for good nesting sites.

Feeders, contrary to popular belief will not keep the birds from their migration. The only concern is the tendency of cats to kill birds when they are at feeders. If there tend to be a lot of feral cats in your neighborhood I would recommend that you place feeders where the hummingbirds are in no danger of ambush. Hummingbirds are most attracted to red feeders, because they are quick to associate the vibrant color with food. The hummingbird feeders should contain a 20% sucrose solution, one part sugar to four parts water. Solutions with higher concentrations do not benefit hummingbirds, because nectar that is too concentrated cannot travel well through the grooves on the bird's tongues. It is not necessary to color the syrup, some commercial hummingbird foods use dyes that are suspected to be carcinogenic, so it is probably safer to make the solution yourself out of plain table sugar.

Once you have your feeder in proper order to make your yard more attractive you can also plant a variety of flowers that attract ruby-throated hummingbirds. Lucky for us hummingbirds have an excellent taste in flowers so they will also be worthy additions to your home garden.

Beebalm (oswego) is in the mint family. The flower is commonly referred to as a "ragged scarlet pompon." This flower is popular with people who are trying to attract butterflies so the benefits from having this flower in your garden are many. The flower grows well in wet areas, so it is important to keep it watered while in your garden.

Columbine is a native, perennial plant in the buttercup family known to grow well in gardens. The flower is a collection of 5 upside-down red orange tubes that form a bell. The flowers are about 1-2" long with yellow tips and hollow nectar filled tubes. The nectar tubes of this flower are what make it a favorite for hummingbirds.

The Cardinal Flower is another attractive plant having a tall open spike with scarlet red flowers. The individual flowers have 5 petals, 2 upper, and 3 lower that unite to form a thin tube at its base. Hummingbirds can only pollinate the cardinal flower, so you can imagine its ability, out of need, to attract them. These flowers can be grown in gardens, but its roots need to be wet and its flowers must have some sunlight. It can be found growing along Wisconsin stream and rivers, but you should purchase them at a garden center. The cardinal flower is native to Wisconsin and a perennial.

Butterfly weed is another beautiful addition to any garden. Besides attracting hummingbirds this plant is a host to monarch butterfly's and the Gray Hairstreak butterfly. This plant blooms with a large, flat top cluster of small individual orange flowers, each with downward curved bells. This plant grows well in gardens and is also native, and perennial.

These are just a few of the flowers that could help you in your attraction of hummingbirds. Feel free to join us at Woodland Dunes on our Wildflower walk August, 14th at 9:00 am to learn more about some of these flowers. With those final thoughts - Good Luck! If you manage to attract just one hummingbird a year the sight of its iridescent color and quick antics should satisfy you until your next sighting!

Packer colors show in lakeshore area before their first game.
(Sunday, July 18, 2004)

Tansy may be considered the "crown jewel" of our lakeshore area. This golden wild flower will soon be blooming and will be especially noticeable in Manitowoc along Maritime Drive from the YMCA to north of the Little Manitowoc River because of the contrasting background of the beautiful blues of Lake Michigan and the sky. It can also be seen in many other areas.

Tansy can grow to over three feet. It has dark green fern-like leaves and gold button-like flowers forming a flat top.

This colorful wild flower is an old-fashioned garden plant from Europe. Many were planted in early American pioneer gardens. The flowers we now enjoy in fields and along roadsides originated in these "settlers" gardens.

They were planted in gardens because they were put to many uses such as tea for sore throats, a wash for swelling, etc. This plant, prepared properly, is antispasmodic and antiseptic. The key to using the plant is, as stated above, "prepared properly.

Dried leaves, used sparingly, can be a substitute for sage. Very little is needed because it is a strong herb.

However, there are also warnings - that go beyond the scope of this article. There are numerous books in our libraries that can help people who desire to go further into the subjects of edible and medicinal plants.

Tansy is in the composite family, as are the daisy, sunflower and dandelion. The leaves of tansy are very strongly scented.

This species usually blooms about the same time goldenrods do. Many people still believe goldenrods are a problem for persons with hayfever and asthma. However, Wisconsin removed this plant from the state list of noxious plants years ago because it is pollinated by insects - not wind, therefore cannot affect people with breathing problems.

An up-close look at blooming goldenrods will verify that they are visited by many insects!

Some people still cut goldenrod - probably because they do not understand. Tansy and some goldenrods look alike, so they also get cut. The real culprit is ragweed which blooms at the same time - but hides its flowers under its leaves - waiting for the right wind!

Pull ragweed but let the goldenrods and tansy alone.

When tansy is at its best - the green foliage and gold flowers resemble a full house at Lambeau Stadium during a Green Bay Packer game!

Swallows Put on a Different Kind of Air Show!
(Sunday July 11, 2004)

On June 28th a small party of four cliff swallows visited the driveway at the nature center- or more correctly a large puddle in the driveway. On the 30th a dozen were frequenting the puddle, and by July 2 there were 40-50 birds on the ground and in the air. Some were at the puddle, others were swooping after flying insects, and still others were feeding their recently fledged young atop the nearby barn. Those with young appeared to be coaxing them into flight by teasing them with insects they had caught, swooping close by but not quite within reach despite the youngster's begging!

Why the attraction to the puddle? Adult swallows were collecting mud for nest building- daintily fluttering their wings while digging holes with their beaks. Like some other swallows, cliff swallows fashion the wet mud pellets into an earthen nest structures anchored often to man made structures such as buildings or bridges, apparently acceptable substitutes for natural cliffs or cave walls. These birds build nests resembling pottery- gourd-shaped structures with a single entrance hole. The nests take a week or two to complete, and old nests are often repaired and re-used. Inside, the nest is lined with grass and feathers. Cliff swallows are colonial nesters, with anywhere from several to hundreds of nests clustered in an area.

That cliff swallows nest in colonies gives rise to an interesting situation- they sometimes parasitize other swallow's nests. For reasons not entirely known, some cliff swallows in the colony prefer to drop an egg in the nest of a neighbor, and have the ability to do so in less than a minute's time. The parasitic birds also build their own nests and raise young, so between their own young and those they 'adopted' to other birds, these swallows were responsible for four or five young birds fledged instead of the normal three chicks. The swallows who were the unintended adopting parents had less success at rearing their own young. One wonders if the most vigorous and hardy birds are able to strengthen the colony as a whole by using others to help raise their young.

Mid summer is an excellent time to watch and appreciate swallows, and other swallow-like birds. All of the six swallow species in Wisconsin can be seen in Manitowoc County, although they each have slightly different habits. Barn swallows, with their distinctive forked tails, build a mud nest like the cliff swallow, only more cup-shaped. They also build on bridges and buildings, especially in barns where livestock help provide a steady supply of insects. The purple martin is the largest in size, and most sought after to nest in one's yard. Like cliff swallows, they are colonial nesters, but prefer to have their nest structure made for them- such as holes in standing dead trees, in cliffs, or man-made houses. The removal of such standing dead trees has been detrimental to purple martins, as are exotic cavity-nesting birds such has house sparrows and starlings which compete for nest sites. Tree swallows also readily nest in man-made houses, and are fond of those put out for bluebirds. Their iridescent blue-green over white color is certainly a wonderful addition to any meadow. Rough-winged swallows are brownish and nest in cliff crevices or sometimes holes in a bank. Bank swallows excavate a burrow in the face of a river bank or sand pit, and can also be found in sizeable colonies.

One other bird, the chimney swift, resembles a dark, tailless swallow. They are common in the skies over city and country, but their flapping is much more energetic than swallows. As their name suggests, they often build a nest attached to the inside surface of a chimney, fashioned of twigs cemented with their saliva.

The cliff swallows we observed with young had already successfully nested, and were beginning a second nesting. Under ideal conditions, cliff swallows can nest up to three times in a season. Most swallows will nest one or two times.

All of the swallows and swifts prefer open areas such as meadows or water over which to pursue their insect prey. Watching their foraging flights is a wonderful summer diversion. Their benefit to people in terms of reducing insect populations is often touted, but their real value may be more in terms of their contribution to the wonderful and incredibly complex natural world of which we are all a part.

Knowing Where The Birds Are Will Help
(Sunday, June 27, 2004)

For five years, people all over Wisconsin gathered data on bird surveys to determine where the best birding areas are. But, even more important, the preferred habitats have been identified - all over the state.

The end result of all of this work will be a substantial book - that will probably be used by developers more than anyone else. At least it should be!

This will be the first time this type of information will be available for planners to identify development sites. This atlas will show where the the threatened, endangered and/or listed birds actually are and should act as an aid to help eliminate the kind of disagreements between developers and those who say "This land must be preserved", that we are now facing in many areas.

There is an organization called Partners In Flight that covers the entire western hemisphere also known as Aves de las Americas. This project covers Canada, the United States, Mexico, Central and South America. The organization has been broken down into country, region and state. For many years the people in this Wisconsin Working Group have been meeting, usually in Stevens Point, Wausau, etc.

The group has taken lists that have been compiled by the National Audubon Society, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Nature Conservancy and others and has matched them to preferred habitats of endangered, threatened and/or listed birds.

Together with the Wisconsin Breeding Bird Atlas, very complete research will result in a very important document.

On all of the bird lists that have surfaced from all of the above named organizations, one bird species always comes up on the top of the list as the most endangered and threatened species, not only in Wisconsin but in the entire midwestern region - the golden-winged warbler.

This small insect-eating warbler is dressed handsomely in gray, black, white with a bright yellow cap. We are fortunate, here in Manitowoc County, because there are places this species can be seen. Since this is a very shy species, you may need an experienced guide to find it for you.

It lives at Woodland Dunes in summer, but not every year. It can be found in at least one county park and elsewhere. The golden-winged warbler (it also has bright yellow on its wings) is closely to the blue-winged warbler and sometimes mates with one. hybrids then could be seen. The recessive hybrid is called the Lawrence's warbler and the dominant hybrid is called the Brewster's warbler. This leads to a much deeper subject - so let's get back to basic!

This species falls into the group where thirty five to fifty five % are showing long-term declines in populations. Management practices appear to be favorable for this species. Here at Woodland Dunes Nature Center, we are working on one site and in the coming years will add management practices to additional sites.

We hope to develop areas where people could be assured to see one of them - without disturbing the bird or the site. This would also allow for anyone that wants to help with this project - to become involved.

This species spends almost nine months each year in the tropical rainforest areas of South America and Central America. There are people and groups working on the preservation of this winter habitat - but we are the ones that must concentrate on the two or three months when the bird is on it's breeding grounds. These areas must be protected. Habitat loss to the breeding ground is the number one threat to the golden-winged warbler.

Golden-winged warblers love mosquitos! That's enough of a reason to care!

Birders Tolerate Mosquitoes In Wet Areas!
(Sunday, June 20, 2004)

The summer bird survey at Woodland Dunes Nature Center is under way - finally! A census of this type must wait for the spring migrants to move through our area before the "summer birds" can be counted.

The Woodland Dunes survey normally runs from June 10 through July 10. However because of the non-stop rain, we did not begin until June 14. So we lost four days. We hope that there are enough breaks in the rain to allow us to finish on time. Even though we give ourselves until July 10, we would prefer to finish by the end of June.

We attempt to count singing males since they usually represent a mated and nesting pair. By early July numerous young birds are out and about and we prefer not to add them to the count. At the end of each summer census the total number of singing individuals can be doubled to account for the females of the mated pairs.

Since Woodland Dunes is a bird sanctuary, many areas at Woodland Dunes do not have public hiking trails. When conducting this summer survey we walk the trails but most of the time is spent in the other areas.

Because of the two to three feet of water present in most of the swales during this time of the year (especially this year!), hip boots are necessary - as we walk "cross-country" through the unique fan-shaped ridge/swale complex that this forest is.

Carrying clipboard, binoculars, pencil, etc. almost becomes a balancing act as one walks in, around and over submerged logs, over mossy islands and more and at the same time the struggle with boot-sucking mud is almost continuous.

And then there are the mosquitoes! Ignoring them is almost necessary if one intends to stay upright. One might answer, when asked: "Do you enjoy this?"

- "It sure beats sitting at a desk all day!" However, in reality, I would say: "After each one of these early morning forays (5 am to 8am), it sure feels great to be back at the desk!"

Repellent-soaked shirt and cap are very helpful but one must also apply the same to all exposed skin areas. During the course of the 3 hour adventure one must reapply repellent, as sweating and wiping away mosquitoes also tends to eliminate previous applications.

There are 12 "routes" used by those doing the surveys. One of the routes is a more pleasant canoe/kayak trip along our marsh on the West Twin River.

These surveys at Woodland Dunes have been conducted for over 30 years. As a result we have great data on the populations of the summer birds. We always have over one hundred species. Through the years over 170 species have been recorded. We have never had less than 10 species of warblers here in the summer.

We are seeing some trends. A good example is what our excessive deer population is doing to the ground-nesting birds. Species such as mourning warblers and white-throated sparrows keep declining in numbers, probably due to the deer trampling and eating the ground cover.

Anyone interested in adding an experience to their list may join in this wilderness experience. There is no charge (to feed the mosquitoes!).

Mosquito season begins in Manitowoc County
(Sunday, June 13 ,2004)

Summer is almost here and things are really beginning to hum, especially the mosquitoes.

It's hard to believe that an insect only a fraction of an inch in size was capable of forestalling the settlement of certain parts of this country due to its irritating behavior.

While the mosquito is truly a pest, not only because of its habit of biting humans, but also because of its potential for transmitting such diseases as malaria and encephalitis - it is also an interesting insect.

There are about 121 species of mosquitoes in North America. There are probably many more - yet to be identified. Not all mosquitoes put the bite on man. Some species prefer birds and other wild animals to humans. There is also a species whose larva form feeds on the larva of other mosquitoes.

Only the female mosquito causes problems because she requires a diet of blood in order for her eggs to develop. She may produce from 50 to 200 eggs during her lifetime of a few weeks.

Different species of mosquitoes are active at different times of the day. Some begin their biting forays at dusk, some at night and others during the day.

The exact attractant that draws the mosquito to us when we enter the woods is not precisely known. It is believed that carbon dioxide is an important factor in luring the insects to us. This is why mosquitoes attack a person around the head more than other areas of the body.

Mosquitoes require a moist environment to lay their eggs. This is where the eggs hatch into the larva (wrigglers), which change into the pupa (tumbler), which changes into the adult mosquito. This changing "life system" is much like the butterfly-egg-larva(caterpillar)-pupa(in the chrysalis or cocoon)-adult.

Most species lay their eggs in temporary or permanent pools of water. Other species will lay their eggs only in water-filled hollows in trees. One unique species lays its eggs only in the water-filled cups of the carnivorous pitcher plant.

Around or near your home, anywhere that water may stand for a while would be likely breeding places for mosquitoes. Discarded containers, old rain barrels, tires, etc. should be removed.

After reading this material, you may be itching to get out in the woods to see how many species of mosquitoes you can identify. Perhaps, when the wet weather goes away, a drier summer will allow us to enjoy our yards.

It is unlikely, however, that we could take a walk in the woods without our can of insect repellent!

Protecting Lake Michigan's Water
(Sunday, June 6, 2004)

This is part 3 of three parts written by Cheryl Mendoza of the Lake Michigan Federation regarding protecting the waters of the Great Lakes.

The governors of the eight Great Lakes States and Canadian premiers recognize the seriousness of this threat and are taking proactive steps to develop world-class protection for the Great Lakes, called the Great Lakes Charter Annex. The Annex has three key principles upon water withdrawels, both inside and those to be sent outside of the Great Lakes Basin, will be regulated:

• Every new project must include all reasonably feasible water conservation measures;
• No new project can cause significant harm-individually, or in combination with other projects-to the Great Lakes, their tributaries, or the people and wildlife they support;
• Every project must be designed to actually improve the Great Lakes and their tributary lakes, streams, and underground aquifers. Avoiding harm is not enough.

These principles go beyond working to ensure Great Lakes water is used sustainably; they are intended to actually improve the Great Lakes. No other water management system in the world manages a watershed in such a proactive manner.

If crafted properly into legally binding standards, the Annex will give this world-class resource, the Great Lakes basin, the world-class protection it needs and deserves.

The challenge now is to develop the details of how the Annex principles will be implemented and for the region's governments to make them legally binding.

The goal of the Council of Great Lakes Governors is to release draft documents for public review on June 18th. If not crafted carefully, there is potential for the Annex to have loopholes that could allow harmful diversion from the Great Lakes Basin and potentially even encourage diversions.

After the draft Annex documents are released, public hearings will be held around the Great Lakes Basin. Your voice is needed to push for strong protections for the Great Lakes.

The Lake Michigan Federation will be taking an active role in helping the public weigh in on the Annex. This is an important time to speak out - the future of our Great Lakes depends on it.

For more information, or to be notified of public hearings and updated contact Cheryl Mendoza at the Lake Michigan Federation at 616-850-0745 or cmendoza@lakemichigan.org.

Protecting The Water of The Great Lakes - part 2
(Sunday, May 30, 2004)

This is part 2 of 3 - from a story by Cheryl Mendoza of the Lake Michigan Federation.

The problem is where to "draw the line." Waukesha is not the only community close to the Great Lakes Basin looking at the Great Lakes for a potential water supply as they outgrow their own.

Additionally, there are places around the U.S. and beyond that have had a longstanding interest in Great Lakes water. For example, in 1959, supporters of the Great Recycling and Northern Development Canal proposed to divert Great Lakes water to Saskatchewan, the Southern U.S., and Mexico.

In 1983 there was a bid to construct a 400-mile concrete canal from Lake Superior to the Missouri River. In 1984 Great Lakes water was wanted in the High Plains and Southwest U.S.

Though such proposals have not been successful to date, needs are becoming more urgent. In the next 25 years, the world will need at least 55% more freshwater than is now available to satisfy the growing global population.

Whether Great Lakes water is diverted 5 miles outside the basin to Waukesha or 5,000 miles to another country, the water is ultimately lost to the Great Lakes.

The challenge is how to meet future water needs around the Great Lakes Basin, the United States, and the world while still protecting the Great Lakes Basin from being depleted and its many streams, rivers and lakes from being harmed.

Restrictions under international trade agreements and the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution make this a significant challenge. According to these agreements, once water is sold we cannot restrict water sales to others around the country or even the world.

Further, we cannot put additional restrictions on people or industries outside of the Great Lakes Basin than the restrictions on those living in the Basin. For example, if we use water wastefully, we may not be able to require others who want to divert Great Lakes water to use that water conservatively.

More needs to be done because our current laws may not be strong enough to protect the Great Lakes from harmful diversion proposals if they are challenged under the terms of our trade agreements. Fortunately, the governors of the eight Great Lakes states and Canadian premiers recognize the seriousness of this threat and are taking proactive steps to develop world-

class protection for the Great Lakes, called the the Great Lakes Charter Annex.

The Annex has three key principles upon which water withdrawals, both inside and those to be sent outside of the Great Lakes basin, will be regulated:

to be continued next Sunday

Is The Water In Lake Michigan "Ours" ?
(Sunday, May 23, 2004)

From time-to-time this Ripples column will report, and even copy, another printed story. We need to give credit for this story to Cheryl Mendoza of the Lake Michigan Federation.

"Armchair scientists" have differing opinions regarding the water of our Great Lakes. It is refreshing to get this information from a person who is knowledgeable about the many aspects of subjects such as water diversion. We have all heard "facts". Now we present hers. This story may take three weeks.

What if the water coming out of your faucet was contaminated with unsafe levels of radium? Radium can, over a long period of time, cause anemia, cataracts, fractured teeth, cancer (especially bone cancer), and death. This is a serious issue that Waukesha, Wisconsin, a community just outside of the Great Lakes Basin, is facing.

Communities in southeastern Wisconsin are pulling water out of the ground, to supply a growing number of homes and businesses, faster than nature can replenish it. As a result, the source of that water, the groundwater aquifer, has been dropping an average of six feet a year and is an astounding 300 feet lower than it was 50 years ago, according to an inventory of regional groundwater resources.

Radium, which is naturally occuring in the ground, is drawn into groundwater as water levels drop. This problem worsens as the communities continue to grow.

The most attractive solution to those living in the area is to divert water from Lake Michigan to meet their water supply needs, which would then be sent into the Mississippi River basin, forever leaving the Great Lakes.

So what would be the problem with sending Great Lakes water to help Waukesha? there are two sides to every story. Though the Great Lakes con-

tain 20 percent of the world's fresh surface water and 95 percent of the North America's fresh surface water, this seemingly limitless resource is, for the most part, not renewable.

The Great Lakes are glacial deposits and only about one percent of the water in them is renewable through rain, snow and groundwater per year, according to the International Joint Commission. There are limits as to how much water can be taken out of the Great Lakes. Going beyond those limits means depleting the Great Lakes.

To be continued.....

Color Increases at Bird Feeders
(Sunday May 16, 2004)

One can tell the time of year just from the topic of calls to the nature center. In the last two weeks the phone line has been buzzing with reports of returning spring migrants to area bird feeders. Many of the calls pertain to three or four species, which add so much color to our yards and joy to our hearts this time of year.

The first of these is the Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Unlike many birds, their common name is a perfect description of the bird's appearance: males have a large, ivory colored, conical bill and a blood- red 'bib' on their chest. The rest of the underside is white, and the back is mostly black. The females resemble large sparrows, with streaky brown backs, and the same large (gross) beak. These birds' powerful beak is built for heavy-duty seed cracking, and they make short work of sunflower seeds, which they seem to relish. They also dine on insects, fruit, and buds of trees and shrubs.

Rose-breaseted's nest in this region, in deciduous woods about 5 to 15 feet above ground. They have one or two broods in a season. Their song is very robin-like, just a little more slurred, and they have a squeaky call note when not singing their full song. Like cardinals, both the males and females sing, although the female's song is shorter and quieter. They winter in Mexico and south, and are popular as a caged bird in that region.

Shortly after the grosbeaks follow the orioles. There has been some recent change in the naming of a couple species- for a while the Baltimore and Bullock's orioles were combined into one species- northern oriole. Now the two are again considered separate species, but they interbreed where their ranges come together. In spring, young hybrid males are sometimes seen in this region. Mostly we have the bright orange Baltimores which so many people attract with offerings of oranges and grape jelly. It is interesting to note that they belong to the same family as blackbirds, cowbirds, and grackles- species which are often not nearly as welcome at our feeders. Orchard orioles, a chestnut-colored species usually seen south of here, are also occasionally seen in spring. In addition to fruit and nectar orioles supplement their diets with insects, spiders, and snails. Many people are familiar with their sack nests, which hang like pendants from the ends of branches of large trees. Orioles often nest in close proximity to people, with their nests undiscovered until leaves drop in autumn.

Next are true jewels of the bird world, indigo buntings. The iridescent blue males are wonderful to see close up, and sure to catch one's attention at the feeder. They are in the same family as the cardinals, and are called cardinaline finches. Like their relatives the rose-breasted grosbeaks, indigo buntings have stout beaks capable of breaking open seed hulls. Our attention is so drawn to the males that often the plain brown females are a mystery to beginning birders. Their drab garb undoubtedly helps them escape detection while sitting on their eggs. Indigos prefer brushy, somewhat open country, although the males often sing from the top of a tree. Like the preceding birds their diet includes insects and fruit, but they are certainly adept at seed cracking. They have one or two broods each year, and when done with child rearing they spend their winters in south Florida and the Bahamas, Mexico, and Central America. Indigo buntings may not be seen at your feeder all summer- although they nest all around, they usually visit our feeders for just a couple of days during spring migration.

And last, and perhaps least, are ruby-throated hummingbirds. Before returning from their winter homes, also in Central America, they really beef up- putting on fat until they reach the weight of two pennies! Some of them fly straight across the Gulf of Mexico, a perilous journey under the best of conditions. That flight takes about 18 hours, and they and other small birds often land (or fall) exhausted along our southern Gulf coast. After reviving with meals of nectar and small insects they again fly north to arrive in Wisconsin just a few weeks later. Like some of our other songbirds, male and female ruby-throats appear to migrate separately. In addition to nectar and insects, they also feed on tree sap. Their small nests of bits of lichen and bud scales bound together with spider silk and lined with plant down, are sometimes repaired and used for several seasons. The nests are built on a downward sloping limb, often over water, in a woodland or park. They will nest two or three times per summer, laying two eggs the size of peas.

Only the males have a ruby-throat, but females are a brilliant green above and sparkle in the sunshine.

All of these migrants nest in our area, and can be seen for the next several months if you look and listen for them. Welcome them back with a good meal, and enjoy their colors throughout the summer!

Warmer Weather Will Bring Leaves and Warblers
(Sunday, May 9, 2004)

If the weather remains cool, the emergence of leaves will happen very slowly. This is not a bad thing - if you are a birder. "Neo-tropical migrants" are beginning to show up in our area and will be much easier to identify and enjoy - not being hidden by leaves.

What is a neo-tropical migrant? "Our birds" that nest here in summer and spend their Winters in Central and South America are known as neo-tropicals.

This collective term covers most of the warblers, vireos, some wrens, tanagers, indigo bunting, rose-breasted grosbeak, orioles, and even some larger birds such as the broad-winged hawk.

Many are adorned with bright, flashy colors and will be easy to see - if the leaves hold off. Usually by the middle of May, most of these species will be moving through our area.

Also by the middle of May, Woodland Dunes holds their Bird Breakfast, this year on Saturday, May 15th. People wanting to see warblers can take advantage of the Saturday morning bird hikes at Woodland Dunes - especially on the 15th. This is the 57th annual Bird Breakfast and will be happening at the nature center on State Highway 310, just west of Two Rivers.

If you go out birding early on the 15th - bring your bird list to Woodland Dunes by 10 am. You may win a prize. Or you can bring in your early morning list and join a group on a bird hike. All lists must be turned in by 10 am to be eligible to win a prize - such as most birds, largest bird, smallest bird, most unusual, etc. All prizes will be awarded by 10:30.

You can make your own bacon and egg breakfast on the provided hot grills or you can take advantage of the warmer building and have pancakes and ham.

The cost of the breakfast is: adult $4.50, children $3.50 (under 6 free).

May 15th is also International Migratory Bird Day and also is the kick-off of the Woodland Dunes annual Bird-A-Thon. The goal of this 9-day event is to identify 200 species in Manitowoc County.

You can help with this land-preservation fund-raiser by pledging $5, $10, or $25. For more information, please call the center at 793-4007

What bird is this? Bring this picture, correctly identified, and get .50 off of the price of your breakfast at the Woodland Dunes Bird Breakfast on Saturday morning, May 15th.

Maribel Caves Park Under Attack!
(Sunday, May 2 2004)

Cherney Maribel Caves County Park, in northern Manitowoc County, is under attack. More precisely, the community of wildflowers that has thrived there peacefully under the canopy of maples, beeches, and hemlocks is being overtaken by an aggressive weed brought in from Europe by people.

The invader is Garlic Mustard (Allaria petiolata), and if you search the internet you will find hundreds of references to the problems this plant causes to our woodlands. To our knowledge, garlic mustard has not been found in many places in Manitowoc County, but it already has a grip on southern Wisconsin parks, and is also found in parks in Brown and Door Counties, where efforts are underway to control its spread. Unfortunately, it is well established at Maribel Caves, in the area above the bluff and along the lane running south past the restrooms. The origin of this infestation is not known, but its tiny seeds may even have been spread by the shoes of a nature lover who had visited another infested park!

Like our native wildflowers, garlic mustard is well behaved in it's native European forests, where it grows in small patches and is controlled by native insects and animals. It's name is truly fitting- a member of the large mustard family of plants, with a distinct garlic odor when the leaves are rubbed. It was brought over by immigrants to this country as an edible herb, first being recorded in the U.S. in the mid-to-late 1800's.

Unlike many of the more than 500 non-native invasive plants established in Wisconsin, garlic mustard well adapted to shady forests, and is able to proliferate in those habitats in the absence of its natural animal controls. It grows and spreads vigorously here, and easily overwhelms native wildflowers such as trilliums, hepaticas, bellflower, dutchman's breetches, and many others. It blooms in mid-spring, about the time the large-flowered trilliums are in blossom. Using chemical herbicides at that time of year in an area rich in wildflowers is not desirable. The alternative is to remove the plant, and fortunately they are easily pulled, doesn't have spines or produce a rash as do poison ivy or nettles. Garlic mustard is a biennial, and if removed will not grow back. The first year the plants are quite small and low to the ground. The second year they shoot upward, and display clusters of small white flowers. After blooming long seed pods are formed, each plant being capable of producing hundreds or even thousands of seeds. The seeds go through a dormant period before sprouting, and can remain viable in the soil for up to seven years. Thus each plant that is allowed to go to seed results in seven years of follow-up work!

For the past several years we have pulled garlic mustard at Maribel Caves in the spring, and have seen a marked reduction of the plant in some areas. Although this is encouraging, there are still acres of land needing attention. This year we are again planning a garlic mustard work day on Saturday, May 22 at 9 am. To really begin to control this problem, many volunteers are needed. Please consider giving a few hours of time to help reclaim this forest for its 'natives'. The work is not hard, the company is wonderful, and you'll be doing something that will really help our local wildlife. Plus you can learn a lot about our local wildflowers. No special tools are needed, but work gloves are recommended. Any questions can be directed to Woodland Dunes at 793-4007. If we fail to control garlic mustard now, it will be all too common throughout all of our woodlands in the future.

Garlic mustard (from Wisconsin DNR)

Look For Woodland Flowers In May
(Sunday, April 25, 2004)

The month of May is almost upon us and the woodland wild flowers will soon be blooming. Hepaticas ("May flowers"), spring-beautys and others will be seen shortly.

One of the springtime flowers, to be seen soon, is the false rue anemone. This white flowered spring ephemeral can be found in the flower guide by Newcomb but is not found in the Peterson guide. If you are interested in learning about wild flowers, both of these books along with many more are in the Woodland Dunes library.

What is in a name? Isopyrum biternatum - it is a lilting name, much more fitting for a dainty spring flower than its common name. False rue anemone, with its connotation of not being what it seems.

One of the spring ephemerals, plants that bloom before the trees are in full leaf, this lacy-looking plant, sprinkled with five-parted white blossoms, is very abundant in its natural habitat of moist, rich woods. Yet, it has been omitted from some of the newest wild flower guides.

Gray's Manual of Botany lists it only by its scientific name. Identifying the little plant after finding it in a favorite woodlot may be a problem.

A member of the buttercup family, Isopyrum is the genus for the only species, biternatum, found in North America.

Anemones are also members of the buttercup family, and the early spring flower of this genus is the wood anemone, a tiny white to pinkish flower with a single flower above the whorl of leaves. It is also called wind flower.

The rue anemone, to which the Isopyrum must have originally been compared to is also a small plant with a whorl of leaves, but several blossoms are clustered above the whorl. The Isopyrum does not have a whorl of leaves at the base of the blossoms; the three-parted leaves are scattered along the stem.

Unfortunately, most small spring flowers are clumped into the common term, Mayflowers...and many of them are now reaching their peak of bloom. Knowing the names of these plants may not be important, but those who have visions of planting a "growing wild" corner in their yards or gardens should be aware that the site demands of wild flowers varies greatly.

Only the wood anemone is found on the higher areas of Woodland Dunes and Point Beach State Forest. These areas support "Canadian carpet" plants that will bloom later and are geared to growing under the denser shade of evergreens.

Isopyrum biternatum can be found in abundance at Cherney-Maribel Caves County Park and the Mishicot Community Schools Natural Area and in other moist woodlands.

The blossoming period of our heritage of spring flowers is brief. There are other county parks, such as Walla Hi and Horseshoe Lake where one can enjoy the profuse display of spring bloom of many different species of wild flowers.

These fragile flowers do not make lasting bouquets, and too often handfuls, greedily plucked, end up as a few wilted sprigs in the nearest roadside ditch.

Look and leave cannot be stressed too often, and should be a concept taught from childhood on, so these springtime beauties can be enjoyed for generations to come.

Birdwatching and Hiking Go Together
(Sunday, April 18, 2004)

Most people are familiar with the old adage: "April showers bring May flowers." We know it is more than just the April showers that bring the flowers. It is the warming temperatures and increase in daylight hours combined with the spring rain that brings the blooming of the flowers.

These same factors also bring waves of colorful birds migrating north for another breeding season. By the middle of April, many birds have already returned. However, some of the most colorful species, like orioles, tanagers and indigo buntings, have yet to arrive.

It is often possible to predict just when many of these birds will arrive. Certain spring weather conditions correspond with the peaks in bird migration.

Usually the greatest number of birds are observed just following the passage of a warm front when the barometric pressure is at or near its lowest point and temperatures are rising. The winds will be from the south or southwest.

The weather conditions favorable to spring bird migration are almost totally opposite those which the birds had responded to during the fall migration.

In the fall the peak movements are associated with high pressure systems, falling temperatures and north or northwesterly winds.

The reason why birds favor certain weather conditions for migration isn't known for sure. However, it is believed that birds prefer migrating on days with a tail wind. This type of wind would offer the birds the least resistance, thereby conserving their energy.

The fact that spring bird migration is associated with rising temperatures might be due to the fact that warm temperatures assure greater insect activity and as a result, abundant food.

A major hazard during spring migration is the occurrence of sudden cold snaps. Late season storms of this kind have resulted in the deaths of thousands of birds by covering the birds themselves or their their food supplies with snow and ice.

Keep an eye on the weather forecasters and wait for them to announce the approach of a low pressure system. It will be at these times that you will notice new additions to the bird life flitting through your yard.

Another way to enjoy the return of the migrating spring birds is to join one of the naturalists at Woodland Dunes on one of the Saturday morning bird hikes. The first of the spring hikes will be this Saturday (April 24) at 8 am. We will be going out on Goldenrod and Horsetail Trail. We will visit Todd's Pond, see the county's largest tree and will venture to the West Twin River on the proposed Willow Trail.

There will be a 8 am hike every Saturday in May. We will be going to different parts of Woodland Dunes but will always meet at the headquarters on State Highway 310. You will not need insect repellent yet, but good boots will be a must!

Crane Counters Needed!
(Sunday, April 11, 2004)

Numerous sandhill cranes have already returned to our area - mating and staking out their breeding territories. Their loud, rattling calls can be heard almost any time of the day. Their numbers have increased dramatically in recent years.

This Saturday, at 5:30 am, many people will be out and about, listening and recording calling cranes. This is the day of the annual Crane Count in Wisconsin. There will be a meeting at Woodland Dunes at 7:30 pm this Tuesday to discuss count day details.

Many areas of our county need "crane counters". Join us at the meeting. You can join others with experience or you can assign yourself to one of the open areas. All the information you need will be on hand Tuesday, April 13th.

Most counts are done by 7:30 am. At that time you can return to your warm bed or you can join others at 8 am for a bird hike. Many songbirds are returning from the south - and we will be looking for them. Our bird hikes usually last two or two and one half hours.

All of this happens on Saturday, April 17th. If you need more excitement on that day, Woodland Dunes is hosting a dessert-tasting event.

Another Helping Please Cafe and Catering of Mishicot is preparing a variety of special desserts. This is a new fund-raiser for Woodland Dunes. Tickets are $20 per person and reservations are required (call 793-4007).

The day is still not ended! There will be music with the dessert-tasting. Following the sweet treats and great music there will be a program on the Wisconsin Wolf Recovery Program. The speaker will entertain us with wolf facts and stories and will have hands-on exhibits.

Mark a big x on your calendar - on Saturday, April 17. Help with a sandhill crane research project; help us welcome returning songbirds; help us "clean-up" the many dessert plates and sit back and relax as a fascinating story unfolds in front you.

Waterfowl Migration In Full Swing
(Sunday, March 28, 2004)

During the next few weeks, tundra (whistling) swans will be gracing our skies as they make their way northward. At first they might sound like Canada geese but listen again, their sound is lower pitched - more like hoo, hoo, hoo.

These swans have an unusual migration pattern. They fly northwest through the United States from their wintering grounds on the Atlantic coast to their breeding grounds in northwestern Canada and Alaska.

Look for these large, long-necked, white birds in flooded farm fields, at or near Collin's Marsh and along the Manitowoc River just east of the marsh.

Along with the swans, ducks have begun to show up. Many species are already at Collin's Marsh, along the Lake Michigan shore and almost anywhere there is water. Ducks, especially mallards, are even seen in ditches along roadways.

"Summer ducks" in our area usually are mallard, wood duck and blue-winged teal. Other species are found here during migration.

Ducks are divided into two groups. Those that have their legs set farther back are designed to dive and swim under water - and are called diving ducks. These species usually are found in deeper water, such as along Lake Michigan and include goldeneyes, bufflehead, scaup, long-tailed duck (old squaw), ruddy duck and others.

Ducks in the other group are call puddle or pond ducks - because this is where they are found - in shallow water. These are mallards, blue and green-winged teal, wigeon, pintail, shoveller, wood ducks, gadwalls and others.

Most of the diving ducks are black and white, including the wings. The puddle ducks are colored with various hues of browns and tans and with some species, many colors. Their wings have an area of highly iridescent green, blue or purple and "shine" brightly when the sun is at the right angle.

Most of these species (of both groups) are already in our area. As spring progresses, many more will be arriving. This migration will continue through all of April and into the first week in May.

While hiking Trillium and Black Cherry Trails at Woodland Dunes watch for wood ducks and mallards. These two species could also be found at Todd's Pond and on Horsetail Trail.

A word of caution - when listening for quacking ducks along the trails of Woodland Dunes - you might not find them. Wood frogs also "quack" and keep out of sight.

Nature Tourism In Manitowoc County? Why Not!
(Sunday, March 21, 2004)

In the Herald Times Reporter (Wed. 3/17/04), on the front page, the article headline read: "Nature tourism touted for state." If you did not read it, please do!

The man often quoted in the article was Ted Eubanks. This Texan is also helping to coordinate the Wisconsin Birding Trails. Other states that have their birding trails already in place, with full color, fold-out maps, etc., are experiencing an increase in visitors.

Several of these auto/foot trails are already in place in Wisconsin. There will be one in our area soon. It will lead people to good birding areas such as Woodland Dunes Nature Center, Point Beach State Forest, city and county parks, etc.

Mr. Eubanks discusses the nature tourism opportunities of Wisconsin such as kayaking, jet skiing, wildlife viewing, backpacking, walking, day hiking, canoeing, visiting nature centers, viewing birds, etc. He says: "You have it all in Wisconsin!"

Sound great! Lets add some excitement and say that we have all of that in Manitowoc County! Taking this one step further - lets say this county has much more!

Lake Michigan, with its great beaches is certainly a plus. We, "locals" might not like the temperature of the water but there are certainly others that have never set foot (or a toe) in this water and may find it a fascinating experience to swim in one of the great lakes. People come from many miles away to see and enjoy the sand dunes.

City parks like Silver Creek, in Manitowoc, is on the Lake Michigan shore, it has a stream wandering through it. There is a well layed out disc golf coarse and, because it is along the lakeshore, many migrating birds can be found there.

Lincoln Park, also in Manitowoc, has places to have picnics, has a very nice zoo and petting farm and is on a river.

Picnic Hill park in Two River boasts of a Native American garden and mounds. Also in Two Rivers is Neshotah Park which is a great "people park". It has ball diamonds, horseshoes pits and a lot of open space.

Walla Hi County Park is another great place that should be shared with visitors. There are yellow ladyslipper orchids, rare hybred warblers and trails that go up and down through a typical kettle moraine setting.

Maribel Cherney Caves County Park has many new discoveries and a great walking tail along the West Twin River, along the foot of a limestone bluff.

There are two picnic areas, one in an open area and one amongst the towering white pines.

Visitors may need a guide to visit the Two Creeks buried forest. This is not petrified or fossilized wood. This 10,000 year old wood is well preserved and can actually be carved or burned (but not to be collected)!

This county has many glacial features such as eskers, kames, end moraines, erratics, etc. There are bogs surrounded with boreal forests; American beach, sugar maple, hemlock forests; oak hickory forests, white cedar swamps and so much more.

We have city pools, skateboard parks, tennis courts, volleyball, football and soccer fields. We have bike trails, numerous inland lakes, good fishing and hunting areas, places to fly remote-controlled airplanes, a roller-skating rink - the list goes on and on!

Ted Eubanks believes the economic impact of nature-based tourism goes beyond the direct impact associated with "heads and beds" but quality of life implications. "What we are all really seeking is an experience where we can feel the rapture of being alive," Eubanks said.

Redwings Already At Work
(Sunday, March 14, 2004)

The male red-winged blackbird, with its scarlet and yellow shoulder patchs, or "epaulets," is one of the finest looking early spring arrivals in the lakeshore area.

After spending the cold winter months in warmer southern states, the males return in March to set up nesting territories - several weeks before the smaller, less colorful females arrive to mate.

The preferred nesting grounds of the red-wings are freshwater marshes but they will also nest in upland fields and meadows. The strongest, most fearless males will win the territories which are in the deepest waters of the marsh.

The deep water discourages other animals from attacking their nests and destroying baby birds a