Panorama | Fall 2021

panorama

Fall 2021

Volunteers at the Center Page 4

Endangered Species Page 5

Dark-eyed Juncos Page 10

WELCOME HELEN BOOMSMA Executive Director

Welcome to the glories of fall! The prairie is bursting with the final seasonal show of its splendid wildflowers, trees are brilliantly changing color, and migratory birds are flying south.

In this issue of Panorama, learn about endangered species, the comprehensive law that protects them, as well as the work the Center is doing to support them. Read about the bird that signals the coming change of the season, the Dark-eyed Junco. We also honor the many contributions of our vital volunteers, both past and present. Discover the history of our Raptor Program and see how Schlitz Audubon has shared the story of raptor species with the public.

Our 50th Anniversary year is coming to a close. We hope you enjoyed celebrating with us as we recalled how Schlitz Audubon was created and grew as a place for conservation, environmental education, and enjoyment of nature for all.

If you haven’t yet had the opportunity, be sure to check out the Center’s timeline on our website.

To start a new chapter in our story, we welcome Shane Delsman as our recently elected Board President. Shane was first drawn to the Center by our approach to education for young children. He and his wife Keri were excited to have their three kids learn in nature’s classroom, revel in the wonder of nature by climbing trees and getting muddy, and engage with birds and other animals in our Nature Preschool – experiences his children fondly remember. He and his family continued coming back to the Center because of our unique offerings, such as guided hikes, maple sugaring, and family adventures. Prior to becoming president in July, Shane served on the board for seven years – lending his expertise in law and community building. As a partner at Godfrey & Kahn, Shane has coordinated volunteer activities for his colleagues, most recently building a foot bridge in our West Meadows.

As the days cool and the leaves change this fall, come hike and see the transforming beauty found throughout our diverse habitats. Our educational programs offer many opportunities for deeper engagement in the season, including fall color hikes, a spider web walk, and a hawk watch! Our family Halloween celebration – Species Spooktacular – returns on Sunday, October 24 and our 14th Annual Xtreme Raptor Day, a festival celebrating our birds of prey, takes place on Saturday, November 6. Visit our online calendar to learn more and register.

We are looking forward to a bright future on these 185 acres. We will continue to offer the best in nature experiences for adults and children, and preserve habitat and wildlife for years to come.

FREE admission to Members Adults: $8 | Youth: $5 (ages 3—17)

Benjamin T. Pavlik Treasurer Aliah Berman Secretary Jane B. Bell VP-Development John Schaub VP-Governance Board Barbie Brennan Nelson Heidi Dondlinger John E. ‘Jack’ Gebhardt Amy Giuffre Sanderson S. ‘Andy’ Read Benjamin F. Rikkers Jeff Rusinow Carol Wolcott Past Presidents John H. Kopmeier, Jr. Philip R. Smith Dennis L. Fisher Terrence K. Knudsen Thomas J. McCutcheon Thomas B. Fitzgerald Randolph H. Dean Stephen F. Geimer Thomas J. Drought David K. Hoover John S. McGregor Margarete R. Harvey Timothy J. Gerend John Grunau Aliah Berman Director Emeritus Dorothy K. Vallier (1910-2013)

CREDITS FOR PANORAMA Director of Marketing & Communications Nancy Quinn Creative Lead | Design & Photography Zoe Finney

Hours

No registration required Monday-Sunday | 9:00am-5:00pm

1111 East Brown Deer Road | Milwaukee, WI

Schlitz Audubon is an independent, locally supported partner of the National Audubon Society.

414-352-2880 | www.schlitzaudubon.org 2

Officers Shane Delsman President

Editing | Select Writing Craig Mattson

COVER PHOTO Fall foliage at Mystery Lake

Admission

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Fall 2021 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

SEASONAL SIGHTINGS

Dragonfly Pond in late autumn.

Visit the Center and observe all that autumn has to offer!

SHELLY ROLLINS Summer Camp Director

Every season has its own unique highlights. Fall is often a favorite for people who enjoy the late-arriving beauty, the season’s spectacular show of color, and flurry of activity before things cool down and winter arrives.

Throughout the Center, nature is in a constant state of change.

During fall everything is preparing for the winter months. The deciduous trees slow their growth and put on a bright colorful display throughout the forest as the leaves stop producing food, lose chlorophyll, and give way to other colors. Squirrels and chipmunks are busy scurrying through the forest collecting food to store while migrating birds are overhead.

This fall is the first time you will be able to experience these seasonal changes at Dragonfly Pond. As you walk over the boardwalk you will see that the pond is lined with wool grass (scripus cyperinus), bristly sedge (carex comosa), and pickerelweed (pontederia cordata). In early fall the beautiful blue and purple pickerelweed flowers are abuzz with activity as insects are busy feeding off the blooms.

At the pond, frogs take in the heat of the sun before the weather turns cold and they settle into a state of deep sleep called brumation (think hibernating, but for amphibians and reptiles). The tad-

poles in the pond are on the bottom swimming and feeding and will continue to do that throughout the fall and winter. The pond’s namesake, the dragonfly, is often seen flying above the pond and skimming the surface as it hunts for its next meal. Meanwhile, underwater, at the bottom of the pond, dragonfly nymphs (the larval stage of a dragonfly) are actively hunting for food and will remain active throughout the winter.

Glancing over Dragonfly Pond toward the prairie, some wildflowers are still blooming and will produce seed heads. These provide a vital food source for the birds that make the Center their home year-round. Look for goldenrod, New England asters, and big bluestem grass towering over the landscape.

A visit to the Center in the fall isn’t complete without gazing from our 60-foot tower. Look across our acres at the oak trees, sugar maples, and more. You might also see migrating birds using the Mississippi Flyway along Lake Michigan on their way back to their southern wintering grounds.

Fall is a time to take in the beauty of nature and enjoy the dramatic changes that are taking place. Whether viewed from one spot or by strolling through the trail system, one thing is for sure, fall at Schlitz Audubon is something to be enjoyed by all.

Fall 2021 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

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DEVELOPMENT

Our Vital Volunteeers

Volunteers participating in butterfly monitoring at Schlitz Audubon.

CRAIG MATTSON Communications Specialist

Volunteers have been an integral part of Schlitz Audubon since we opened in 1971. Their work helps us realize the three pillars of our mission: conservation, visitor experience, and education. In 2019 alone, 1,064 volunteers donated an amazing 21,740 hours to the Center!

During the early years, volunteers played a significant role in land conservation. One staff member guided a small group who improved our land by planting native plants and removing invasive species when the Center was closed on Mondays. They came for reasons beyond restoration, including enhancing their knowledge and finding a community. This group developed a tremendous camaraderie, and became known as the Monday Marauders, starting the tradition of sharing Monday meals.

experience at the Center is made possible by the work of the Ray Team. This close-knit group began in the 1980s and is named after beloved volunteer Ray Jensen. Talented volunteers assist our staff in a wide range of projects to maintain our building and grounds, including painting, fixing equipment, and constructing boardwalks.

More than 40 volunteers see to the essential daily needs of the birds in our Raptor Program and assist staff in presenting hundreds of educational programs in the community each year. Others lovingly care for our reptile and amphibian ambassadors, ensuring that these animals live healthy and enriching lives.

Visitors often experience the Center through our environmental education, which volunteers have increasingly helped staff proCurrently, land stewards serve four days a week, with more than vide to people of all ages and abilities.

225 individuals volunteering annually, and a core group of about 30. Veterans can now see the results of their decade’s long labor. Volunteers assist our Nature Preschool teachers in instilling a “Today, we’re not just fighting to stay one step ahead of invasive love of nature from a very young age, while Summer Camp and plants. We share the staff’s larger vision of oak savanna and long- Homeschool volunteers engage participants in these special ofterm plans to support wildlife like the Blanding’s turtle,” says Ju- ferings. Since the beginning of the SPARK! Program five years dith Huf, who has volunteered for close to 20 years. ago, volunteers have brought the joy of nature to people experiencing cognitive changes such as Alzheimer’s Disease and deCitizen science began when birders began keeping records of mentia. Nature Ambassadors provide education through guided sightings in 1974. Today, volunteers gather vital data on a large hikes, introducing visitors to resident reptiles and amphibians, variety of animals and plants on our land, informing conservation and by sharing their knowledge of our ecosystems. decisions made by the Center and other scientific organizations.

It is hard to capture the depth of volunteer contributions to the Volunteer contributions extend far beyond conservation. Front Center over the last half century, and we know they will continue desk volunteers are crucial in helping people enjoy their visit by to be an important part of our future. We give a heartfelt thank sharing key information about our programs, building, and trails, you to our indispensable volunteers for the donation of their talwhile providing other visitor services. Much of what people ents and time!

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Fall 2021 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

FEATURE

Protecting Endangered Species

FEATURE

CRAIG MATTSON | Communications Specialist With Contributions from: Aubrey Ellickson Fulsaas & Drew Shuster

T

he recognition that populations of plants and animals can decline to the point of extinction began early in US history. Though numerous pieces of legislation were drafted to remedy this problem and had impact, they weren’t comprehensive. The current and most effective law is the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA), originally passed in 1973. It offered a stronger set of solutions that have proven to save species from extinction.

HISTORY OF ENDANGERED SPECIES IN THE U.S. Since westward expansion, large populations of people moving into new territories have threatened native plants and animals. A stark example involves one of the most common bird species in early U.S. - the Passenger Pigeon, originally numbering in the billions across the country.

This bird was hunted to extremes in the 1800s and began to decline precipitously by 1870. In 1914, the last known Passenger Pigeon, named Martha, died in captivity at the Cincinnati Zoo, and the species became extinct. This was an example of what uncontrolled hunting could do and in part inspired the passing of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.

The predominant reason species become endangered is habitat loss, most often due to poor land management and overuse. The threat is made apparent by looking at indicator species, who are the first ones to succumb to environmental degradation. The same threat can affect other species within the same surroundings.

Overhunting and pollution are other factors in determining a species’ population status. In addition, sensitive species may require precise living conditions, such as a finely tuned pH level, water tables, and a specific habitat. This problem is compounded by climate change, which is altering habitats and the living conditions for many plants and animals on the planet.

THE MODERN ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT AND THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT To highlight these issues, in 1962 Rachel Carson published Silent Spring, which brought environmental concerns into public view. It showed how species were threatened with extinction from pesticide use, including DDT. This book’s critical analysis, based on over a decade of research, inspired the development of the modern environmental movement.

The creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) soon followed, and the Clean Water Act was passed in 1972, enforced by the EPA.

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John James Audubon print of the Bald Eagle

During this time of environmental activism, the Endangered Species Act of 1973 was enacted. It is regarded as the most successful piece of environmental legislation ever passed. In the first 30 years of the act, fewer than one percent of species on the endangered species list became extinct. There has also been a 90 percent recovery rate in more than 100 species throughout the United States.

HOW THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT WORKS Under the ESA, species may be listed as either endangered or threatened. This is important because it allows the designation of critical habitat for these species and prohibits the destruction of their habitat.

Being considered for the federal endangered list brings about a thorough analysis of the species in question, taking years of research. Equally important, the habitat for the species in consideration is studied too. To get on the federal endangered list, a species must be recommended after a population decline has been noted, often including data collected from citizen scientists.

Public comments are taken for 60 days before a decision about the validity of the claim is made. If the species makes it on the list, environmental impact must be determined for any development in its habitat, and permits are needed to build there. The species is then monitored by universities, industry, and the state. There are consequential actions which go into effect when a species is listed as federally endangered. It’s against the law to intentionally harm an endangered species by importing or exporting, possessing, selling, taking, transporting or trading it. The laws are enforced by the federal government and individual states.

SUCCESS STORIES Because the law is so robust, there are many success stories.

In the 1940s, Whooping Cranes had declined to 20 birds.

Fall 2021 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

FEATURE

Thanks to ESA protections and the work of conservation biologists, there are now about 600 birds. A program has also been established by the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership that will help these birds develop a migratory route between their breeding grounds in Wisconsin and wintering grounds in Florida.

In 1967, only 72 Bald Eagle nests were recorded in the entire state of Wisconsin, with only 417 breeding pairs throughout the entire country. The Bald Eagle was prioritized by the ESA, and since then has made a comeback. In 2007, the eagle was taken off the endangered species list. There are currently more than 316,000 Bald Eagles in the lower 48 states, and in 2019 the Department of Natural Resources recorded 1,684 Bald Eagle nests in Wisconsin.

ENDANGERED SPECIES IN WISCONSIN In Wisconsin, a law to protect endangered species was established in 1972. Actions to protect endangered species were being considered by the WiDNR. Ruth Hine, the first woman to work professionally in the Wisconsin conservation field, led the development of the state endangered species program at the DNR. She chaired the committee that created Wisconsin’s first endangered species list, and pioneered the keeping of records documenting sightings, which facilitated the monitoring of species populations.

The current state list includes all endangered wildlife in Wisconsin, though the state also enforces species on the federal list. There are currently 10 species of animals in the state, five of which are freshwater mussels, due to pollution and the altering of waterways. There are also 179 species of endangered plants.

Some state-endangered species reside at the Center. To protect them, we often work with the WiDNR and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The elktoe mussel, a species of special concern, and the ellipse mussel, a state threatened species, are both found in the Milwaukee River adjacent to Schlitz Audubon’s Cleaver property. To assist us in keeping track of these threatened species, we work with the DNR on the Wisconsin Mussel Monitoring Project .

ENDANGERED SPECIES AT SCHLITZ AUDUBON Much of the work of protecting endangered species at Schlitz Audubon is done through our Conservation Plan and the work of staff along with Volunteer Land Stewards.

We are monitoring threatened wildlife, including 34 species of plants, and are preserving habitats that are home to these species.

We are also creating and preserving habitat for 20 birds of greatest conservation need, including the Red-headed Woodpecker, the Field Sparrow, and the Willow Flycatcher.

Each of these birds is endangered, threatened, or a species of special concern in Wisconsin. With effective conservation, we will support the possible nestJohn James Audubon print of the ing and reproduction of Red-headed Woodpecker these 20 priority species, and other birds that share this environment will benefit alongside them.

The Stormwater Wetland and Ravine Restoration Project stabilized our land from erosion, provided revitalized habitat, and is host to two new ponds. Restoration benefited several species—including the federally endangered rusty patched bumble bee, and we are working to monitor this species and its habitat with the USFWS through the Bumble Bee Monitoring Project.

Our Southern Hardwood Swamp Restoration is another beneficial project. As a rare habitat type, the southern hardwood swamp is ecologically important, and will be home to many native plants, including two listed as state endangered. The restored understory will also support many pollinator species, and provide food, cover, and breeding habitat for migratory birds, as well as our birds of greatest conservation need.

These are just two examples of projects we are doing that create and protect habitat on our 185 acres. Everything we do on the land is designed to help all species to be healthy.

Ongoing restoration will provide an environment in which native, environmentally sensitive species will thrive, including endangered species.

Through a combination of education and raising awareness about the importance of healthy habitats, and the restoration and preservation of these habitats, Schlitz Audubon is highly engaged in protecting endangered species. Join us by participating in our educational programs and supporting our mission to conserve Wisconsin wildlife.

John James Audubon prints from Wikimedia Commons.

Fall 2021 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

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RAPTOR EDUCATION

Our Raptor Program's Rich History LINDSAY OBERMEIER Raptor Program Director

Our Raptor Program spreads environmental awareness and inspires appreciation for wildlife through our raptor ambassadors. From our humble beginnings, the program has grown into a regionally renowned educational resource about raptors and conservation.

In the 1970s, Wildlife Arc, a wildlife rehabilitation organization, was located on our property. When it was decided that the Arc would move to the Humane Society, the Center applied for state and federal permits to possess native, migratory birds that serve as animal ambassadors. Wildlife Arc donated a Great Horned Owl and two Eastern Screech owls to the Center. With the acquisition of our US Fish and Wildlife Service & Wisconsin DNR permits, and these few birds, the Raptor Program as we know it today began. Every one of our resident birds is not releasable to the wild and is in our permanent care.

ABOVE The expansion of the facility in in the late 1990's.

RIGHT RT, one of our first Red-tailed Hawks.

Both photos provided by Barb and Ken Wardius, long-time Raptor Volunteers.

In 1992, the Center had the opportunity to add a Red-tailed Hawk to our collection. RT, as she came to be known, increased our collection size and the program’s tions at Energy Park, thanks to the generosity of We Energies. ability to provide some the most unique environmental experiences in the Milwaukee area.

While our educational programs offer engaging opportunities for people to meet our birds, we also wanted a way for visitors to By the mid-90’s, our raptor housing was no longer adequate see a raptor more regularly. So in 2016 we added a Raptor Exhibto meet state and federal standards. A new facility, funded by it to the left of the walkway leading to our Visitor Center. Most corporate sponsors as well as Schlitz Audubon volunteers and days, Sky Walker, our Red-tailed Hawk, is there to greet them. members, was built in 1998. The site for our new raptor care fa- A few years later, we added a wingspan display at the exhibit, cility was chosen for its sunlight, air movement, good drainage, allowing people to gauge their arm length against the wingspan and access to water and electricity. This building gives our ed- of four raptors species: a Bald Eagle, a Red-tailed Hawk, a Pereucation birds a safe and secure place to live and relax when not grine Falcon, and a Screech Owl. educating. It also provides space for our staff and volunteers to feed, train, and provide enrichment for the birds.

The Raptor Program has grown in birds, staff, and volunteers over the years. Today, we average 350 educational programs a The new facility was built with intention to add more birds to year. Our birds interact with over 60,000 people not only at the our program, and soon after we welcomed our first Bald Eagle. Center, but also in schools, libraries, museums and outdoor fesQuickly, a Peregrine Falcon, a Barn Owl, another Great Horned tivals, offering many their first close and personal experience Owl, two American Kestrels, a Barred Owl, and another Red- with raptors. Our birds travel to these programs in a customtailed Hawk joined our feathered flock. ized van, complete with photos of our birds on the outside and equipped inside with security features ensuring the birds’ safeThis meant we had a broad-based collection that allowed the ty and welfare. Today, our premier collection of 14 birds emphaCenter to do both on and off-site raptor educational program- sizes raptors: hawks, owls, eagles, and falcons, but also includes ming. Throughout the years, we have developed public pro- other birds of prey such as a Turkey Vulture and an American grams that still take place today. Our annual festival, Xtreme Crow.

Raptor Day, is in its 14th year. Another mainstay is Word with a Bird, weekend meet and greets with our birds. Raptor Saturday, We are considered a leader in raptor education in the state and an hour-long monthly program, has been supported by the We the Great Lakes region, and we are proud and honored to share Energies Foundation since its beginning. Our Raptor Program these magnificent birds with the public, inspiring appreciation has entertained and educated fairgoers at Wisconsin State Fair for our wild world. Stay tuned to see what – and who - the future since 2006. Here, our birds participate in two daily presenta- brings to our Raptor Program!

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Fall 2021 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

RAPTOR EDUCATION

Fall 2021 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

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NATURE EDUCATION

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Fall 2021 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

NATURE EDUCATION

Season of the Snowbird MICHELLE ALLISON Adult Programs Coordinator

While the American Robin signals the arrival of spring in Wisconsin, there is another bird whose presence indicates winter is on the horizon. The Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) can be found in the midwest and across most of the United States after the breeding season winds down and temperatures begin to cool. Affectionately referred to as “snowbirds,” many Dark-eyed Juncos reside in Wisconsin throughout the winter.

These medium-sized sparrows are considered to be one of the most abundant bird species in North America. They display a wide variation of physical characteristics in different regions across the continent. There are five forms of Dark-eyed Juncos with unique plumage patterns and up until the 1980’s they were known as separate species. The two most widespread forms are the “Oregon” JunA rare "Oregon" Dark-eyed Junco observed at Schitz Audubon. The normal color co, in the western U.S. and the “slate-colored” Junvariation known as the "slate" Dark-eyed Junco is shown on the previous page. co in the eastern U.S. and Canada. All of the forms have dark eyes, a plain patterning with a dark hood, and white outer tail feathers. In Wisconsin, we find the slate-colored form - identified by a gray hood, back, ly May. At their breeding grounds in Canada, their preferred and sides, contrasting white belly, pink bill and legs, and white habitat is coniferous or mixed forest. When they arrive, males outer tail feathers, which are often flashed in flight. The sex- can become territorial, chasing off intruders and vocalizing es look similar, with females generally paler than males and with a series of calls. The male’s song is a simple musical trill, sometimes females have a brownish-gray look. Juveniles are usually sung from a perch in a tree. The female chooses a nest streaked all over but still can be identified by their white outer site on or close to the ground and builds a woven nest with a tail feathers. variety of grasses, pine needles, leaves, moss, and other materials. She will usually lay three to six eggs and can have up to In their overwintering range these birds prefer habitats with three broods in a season. partially open areas, such as suburbs, parks, gardens, fields, and roadsides. Since they often share these spaces with hu- While Dark-eyed Juncos are considered to be of low conservamans, we are able to observe these charismatic birds from a tion concern, a recent study has revealed that their population close distance. Dark-eyed Juncos are familiar backyard visi- has declined by 168 million birds over the last 50 years. A lot tors who can be seen foraging under and around bird feeders. of scientific research is being conducted on juncos and some They are primarily seed eaters but also eat a variety of insects evidence is emerging to show that juncos may be able to adapt during the breeding season. As ground feeders, their foraging to human-altered environments year-round. This could allow techniques involve pecking in the leaf litter, hopping forward, them to expand their breeding range and expend less energy scratching with both feet, and kicking backward. They also flit on long migrations. Studies are also showing that these adapto low branches, gleaning food from leaves and twigs. Some- tations could be causing them to evolve at a much quicker rate times they produce short chip calls as they forage. than previously thought, changing their behavior, plumage, and migration patterns in only a few decades! You can help We typically see them begin to arrive at the Center in large juncos by creating a bird-friendly yard with native plantings. numbers at the end of September to early October. In some ar- Provide shrubs and trees for cover and take care by keeping eas, they form large flocks in winter, consisting of other bird feeders and bird baths clean. You can also report observations species like sparrows and even bluebirds. Juncos will stay in of juncos and other birds to eBird to help scientists track their their winter range until they migrate north in late April or ear- populations.

Fall 2021 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

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Schlitz Audubon Nature Center 1111 East Brown Deer Road Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53217

FALL 2021 PANORAMA

U.S. Postage

PAID

Milwaukee, WI Permit No. 4168