Panorama | Summer 2016

panorama

Summer 2016

Raptors at State Fair Page 4

Backyard Beekeeper Page 7

Emerald Ash Borer Page 10

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Summertime in Milwaukee NATHAN J. SMALLWOOD Executive Director

Summer has arrived in Milwaukee! It is the time when prairie plants, barely visible a few months ago, grow to eye-level and provide the backdrop for countless pollinators buzzing from flower to flower. It is also the time when you can enjoy warm summer evenings on the trails or bring a blanket to experience our outdoor music. We are open until 8:00pm Monday through Thursday through August 25.

This edition of Panorama is equally brimming with the celebration of wildlife throughout the Center. You’ll read about different bees in Wisconsin, the important work these precious pollinators engage in, and challenges they face. Learn how you can create habitat for our native species and help them flourish.

Citizen Scientists, trained volunteers who participate in research, have always been important to both the Center and the scientific community. Read on to discover why and how we are growing our Citizen Science programs to offer new opportunities for engagement. Children can be Citizen Scientists too – we invite families to participate in monitoring our butterfly and moth populations.

This is also a season to celebrate vital partnerships. Through Northwestern Mutual Foundation’s Prominent Destinations Grant we will bring nature to more Milwaukeeans this summer than in years past. Look forward to seeing raptor, reptile, and amphibian outreach at a wider range of neighborhood schools, libraries, and community events. This year also marks 10 years of our Raptor Program performing during Wisconsin State Fair thanks to We Energies. You can visit us daily at We Energies Energy Park August 4 – 14.

Speaking of offering nature to a greater number of people, the Mystery Lake Boardwalk is on track to be complete mid-summer. This elegant boardwalk which follows the curve of Mystery, will increase our ADA trail network while also returning what had been trail to habitat. Additionally, you may have seen Sky Walker, our Red-tailed Hawk, perched in the outdoor raptor exhibit. This is another way we’re welcoming the extraordinary into anyone’s visit to the Center.

As you may already be aware, Emerald Ash Borer was confirmed on the property in spring. Because 35% of our canopy is Ash, this will create deficits in our landscape. Fortunately, we have an innovative land management plan that you can read about in the following pages. This plan is taking a vast challenge and turning it into an opportunity for generations to come. We ask for your support to restore habitats unique to our region, and reclaim our bountiful natural history.

Welcome to our newest Board Members

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Officers John Grunau President Tim Gerend Past President Sanderson S. ‘Andy’ Read Treasurer Meg Kinney Secretary Jane B. Bell VP-Development John E. ‘Jack’ Gebhardt VP-Governance Board Aliah M. Berman Jonathan T. Bloom Shane Delsman Margarete R. Harvey Kevin J. Kane Eva Osborne Justin K. Patrick Arthur T. Phillips Benjamin F. Rikkers Carol Wolcott Mai Der Yang 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 Honorary Directors Edwin P. Wiley Director Emeritus Dorothy K. Vallier (1910-2013)

Aliah M. Berman Aurora Health Care Jonathon T. Bloom Fiduciary Management, Inc. Eva Osborne Microsoft Corporation Mai Der Yang S3 International, LLC 2

Summer 2016 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

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

SEASONAL SIGHTINGS Visit the Center and discover nature’s summer blockbuster!

TOM FINLEY Director of Education

Milwaukee is the City of Festivals, but for those of the nature mindset the can’t-miss event of the season is at Schlitz Audubon.

Looking for a summer blockbuster, then may I suggest taking in a marvelous matinee called Nature in Bloom? Summertime sights and sounds hold beauty, passion, and intrigue.

these tiny beautiful creatures, who weigh less than a penny, will travel more than 2,000 miles to their winter home in the Michoacán mountains. How daring!

On one stage we feature the glorious mid-summer meadow.

Schlitz Audubon has a number of trails that take you through fields of prairie plantings where the flowers, insects, and birds are too numerous to count. The gorgeous American Goldfinch can be seen visiting wild varieties of sunflower such as Compass Plant, Prairie Dock, Cup Plant, and Saw-tooth Sunflower. The striking orange of Butterfly Milkweed beckons Monarchs, swallowtails, and fritillaries galore.

The grand panorama of Lake Michigan is breathtaking and majestic. All the way from the bluffs you can hear the sound of waves crashing along the shore. Herring Gulls fight the wind as they search for near-shore edibles. Eager children comb the warm sand for beach glass. Rafts of diving ducks, swimming just out of reach, abruptly submerge and reemerge again.

As September arrives Monarchs congregate in the field to prepare for an amazing migratory journey. It’s incredible to think that

Let’s not forget the early evening show. Walking the ADA accessible trail toward Mystery Lake reveals the sonorous chirp of crickets, which indicate the temperature by the speed of their chirp.

The more rapid the chirp, the higher the temperature. With the Center open until 8:00pm Monday-Thursday through August 25, you can experience this feature show for yourself. And it’s one you see again and again…where the ending always changes and the sequels are as good as the original.

American Goldfinch camoflauged in Sawtooth Sunflower.

Summer 2016 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

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RAPTOR EDUCATION

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS AT

WISCONSIN STATE FAIR DIANE VISTY Raptor Program Manager

Wisconsin State Fair is the annual celebration of the plants, animals, and people of Wisconsin. Amidst the livestock blue ribbons and agricultural achievements, Schlitz Audubon brings a few of our own champions to the fair, thanks to We Energies.

Attendees come face to face with owls and are able to discover the astonishing strength of an egg or compare their grip strength to that of an eagle. This year, for the first time, we’ll have children building a model Bald Eagle’s nest!

This is our landmark 10th year of partnering with We Energies in wowing 10,000 visitors per day at We Energies Energy Park.

Our participation began thanks to Noel Cutright, then senior terrestrial ecologist with We Energies, and a big supporter of our Raptor Program. Cutright suggested our participation, since both organizations are leaders in raptor conservation in the Great Lakes region.

Additional meet & greet opportunities run throughout the day, with smaller birds such as Malary, our female American Kestrel, out in our display area. Inquisitive visitors of all ages are able to stand close and see their colors more clearly, observe the shape of their feet and talons, and if lucky, get to hear birds chirp or trill.

In 2006 we only performed two presentations a day at state fair.

We now have four daily presentations, plus three additional meet & greet sessions. This expanded schedule is a tribute to the curiosity these awesome birds inspire and the wildness they represent. All told six or seven birds visit Wisconsin State Fair each day. We’re able to offer so much programming during the fair because of the commitment our volunteers have to the individual birds and the Raptor Program as a whole.

Fairgoers are awestruck when Cysco, our Harris’s Hawk, shows off his maneuverability by flying vertically to catch a lure. Turkey Vultures are often glimpsed when high in the clouds, but seeing Tullulah’s six-foot wingspan when she soars overhead puts these birds’ size and majesty into perspective. The crowd’s excitement can be felt throughout Energy Park.

Our fast paced, interactive, and entertaining programs share how the Peregrine Falcon and Bald Eagle species have been brought back from the brink, voice concern for recent changes birds face in the environment, and highlight what individuals can do in their own backyards to help big and small birds alike.

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As I write this, staff are working on their presentations and our birds are doing jump-ups to strengthen their flight muscles.

We’ll also practice at Energy Park to familiarize the birds with the presentation space and to prepare them for the non-stop excitement and hubbub that they will experience during the 11 days of Wisconsin State Fair. We are delighted to continue our historic partnership with We Energies at Energy Park, and hope to see you there from August 4 - 14!

State Fair Schedule 9:00am | 10:30am* | 12:00pm | 1:30pm* Three additional meet & greets with the raptors are held throughout the day. *Main stage programs always feature one of our magnificent Bald Eagles, Cutright, our Peregrine Falcon, and a beautiful owl.

Summer 2016 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

RAPTOR EDUCATION

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CITIZEN SCIENCE

Left: A female Eastern Bluebird occupies a nest box at Schlitz Audubon.

Top: A male Eastern Bluebird stands guard in a tree near the nest box.

Bottom: Four Eastern Bluebird eggs discovered in the nest box.

Growing Citizen Science CORINNE PALMER Environmental Educator

Schlitz Audubon began through a grass-roots movement to preserve the former Uihlein property as a nature center. This was made possible due to the hard work and dedication of local volunteers and advocates like Dorothy K. Vallier. For more than 40 years, volunteers have played an integral role at the Center, including through Citizen Science. Citizen Scientists observe and catalog data about the land and the diversity of its flora and fauna.

They have contributed by tracking Blanding’s Turtles, snakes, and flower bloom dates, and most continuously through recording bird observations.

Senior Ecologist Don Quintenz regards Citizen Science volunteers as a vital facet in assisting research. “Citizen Scientists support professional researchers in many ways: by collecting and submitting data, distributing valuable information, and assisting scientists directly with their work.”

Schlitz Audubon is growing our Citizen Science programs by offering new opportunities for participation. We recently held training sessions for studying aquatic macroinvertebrates and plants, monitoring our Eastern Bluebird nest boxes, documenting when flowers first bloom, and counting and identifying butterflies.

Please see our Calendar of Events for new Citizen Science programs related to moths and Monarchs.

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Our Conservation team will use the information collected on our property to make decisions regarding land management. This vital data allows us to understand the complexities of ecosystems, and how habitat change impacts all species.

The Center will send data collected to scientific organizations throughout the region, including Wisconsin DNR and eBird, a website used world-wide for submitting bird observations. When scientists compare our data to that of the state and region, it contributes to a nuanced understanding of how species adapt to habitat loss, human disturbance, and climate change.

The value of volunteer contributions reach well beyond the Center. As Quintenz says, “Scientists benefit from having more data to analyze. In today’s world this is an absolutely essential element in the battle against environmental degradation.”

We invite you to actively become involved in monitoring and improving the health of our land. Dorothy K. Vallier led a group of concerned citizens in protecting the land that is now Schlitz Audubon. Becoming a Citizen Science volunteer continues her legacy, to maintain this vital community resource.

Summer 2016 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

FEATURE

Backyard Beekeeper JILL SCHANON MACEK Executive Manager & Backyard Beekeeper

Summer 2016 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

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FEATURE

People have long had an attraction to the charismatic honeybee.

After all, they introduced us to sweetness and light in the form of honey and beeswax. They have also been a dependable partner in agriculture and medicine for thousands of years. Europeans brought honeybees to the Americas in 1622 and both Europeans and bees quickly colonized the continent.

I decided to become a beekeeper twelve years ago and ordered the necessary equipment including an unassembled hive, bee bonnet, smoker, a hive tool, and a three-pound package of honeybees. The majority of honeybees are dependent on humans to survive. Beekeepers put them in wooden boxes with removable frames, containing hanging file folder-like structures where the bees build hexagon-shaped wax cells. Within these tiny cells, the nectar is reduced to honey, pollen is stored, as well as eggs and larvae. The hive houses an average of 60,000 female workers, who will have several jobs in her lifetime, and a few thousand male drones, whose only job is to inseminate a newly-hatched queen. The queen is busy, laying up to 1,500 eggs a day.

Honeybees have been in decline since the mid 1940’s. Following WWII, we industrialized agriculture to increase yield and eliminate pests. As commercial beekeeping emerged, honeybees suffered. Bee hives are crammed onto semis and trucked around the country to pollinate industrial crops such as almonds. Not able to forage for nectar and pollen, they survive on an unnatural diet of high fructose corn syrup. The combination of bad food and close quarters make them vulnerable to disease and parasites.

Each February, 1.6 million honeybee hives arrive to California’s al-

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mond groves. Industrialized crops rely on pesticides and pollinating these crops is dangerous work. If the bees come into direct contact with pesticides, they will most likely die in the field. But if they survive, they can still bring the residue back in the form of nectar and pollen, contaminating the hive. The California almond groves have been called the honeybee bordello and when they move on to the next crop they bring disease and pesticide residue with them.

Although the decline in honeybees is tragic, it has also done something very important. It has created a widespread awareness of the plight of all bees. In response to this reality, many people I encounter want to help by starting their own backyard honeybee hive. But there is an easier solution. We can all become backyard beekeepers by enticing native bees to our yards. All bees are losing habitat.

You can easily provide food and shelter for them in your backyard by creating an attractive landscape of native flowering plants. Not only will this help bees, but also keep your garden blooming from spring into fall.

In Wisconsin we have 500 identified species of native bees. Most native bees are difficult to see and often go unnoticed. All native bees are considered keystone members of our ecosystem, meaning they significantly alter the habitat around them and affect other organisms. Bees support native plant communities that provide food and shelter for wildlife. When plants are pollinated, they produce seeds, nuts, and berries that feed birds and help plants propagate.

Native bees not only support native habitats, but they also play an important role in pollinating food crops like apples, blueberries, cranberries, squash, and many more. It is time we start noticing and appreciating these important insects.

The primary native bee families identified in the 2015 BioBlitz at Schlitz Audubon include Sweat Bees (Halictidae), Mining Bees (Andrenidae), Mason Bees (Megachilidae), and Bumble Bees (Bombus). These native bees co-evolved with native plants to ensure pollination. Typically, each flowering plant has a small team of bees who specialize in pollinating them.

Summer 2016 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

FEATURE

You might not know by the name, but the Green Sweat Bee (Agapostemon) is a beauty to behold. These little bees are generally metallic greenish bluish and are fast fliers who specialize in pollinating native blooms. Like Bumble Bees and Mining Bees, Sweat Bees are buzz pollinators. Using their jaws, they grasp the flower’s anther and flex their wing muscles to vibrate the pollen off the flower.

Bumble Bees are our most recognized and beloved native species. With their large fuzzy bodies, they are sturdy enough to fly in the rain. There are thirteen Bumble Bee species in Wisconsin, and the Yellow Banded Bumble Bee (Bombus terricola) is listed in critical decline. This is a classic looking black and yellow bumble bee, and is more effective in pollinating cranberries, blueberries, and apples than honeybees. This species uses abandoned rodent tunnels to create an underground nest.

Mason Bees are wood tunneling bees, using twigs and plant stems, wood, or tree stumps, to accommodate their nests. Mason Bees (Osimia) species include the Orchard Mason Bee (Osmia lignaria), which have a metallic-blue rounded body with fuzzy undersides. They are wellliked for their pollinating services and many gardeners attract

them by setting up nests. Schlitz Audubon has examples of these nests, find them just north of the building and on the prairie path.

It is a block of wood mounted on a metal pole. There are dozens of holes the diameter of a pencil drilled into the wood. You can also make nest boxes using bamboo or cardboard tubes tied in small bundles.

There are 500 species of Mining Bees in North America.

In the spring, they are the first native bees on the landscape, pollinating woodland wildflowers, Pussy Willows, Viburnum, and Dogwood. In the summer, they are an important Blueberry pollinator, and by fall they forage on late bloomers like Aster and Goldenrod. There are different species for different blooms. You can easily see how such a plant specific pollinator could decline once losing habitat.

Gardeners often unintentionally destroy nesting bee sites when digging in the soil, mulching a flower bed, using pesticides, and by keeping a garden too tidy. To support safe habitat, leave large sunny spots on the ground free of mulch and untouched by shovels.

Leaving standing dead trees is always great for wildlife habitat, but logs (without bark) and branches are hospitable as well. After pruning shrubs, assume there are bee larvae inside them and don’t be self-conscious about keeping debris piles and other messy spots in your garden. Educate your skeptical neighbors of your goals and many bees will thank you.

I suggest we all become backyard native beekeepers, and support this mutually beneficial relationship. It is a simple and easy step towards saving the bees and building a better landscape. Plus, solitary bees rarely sting unless provoked!

Summer 2016 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

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CONSERVATION

Emerald Ash Borer at Schlitz Audubon

Left: Woodpecker flecking is created by woodpeckers searching for EAB larvae. It is the first indicator that EAB is present in a tree.

Right: Larval galleries. EAB larvae feed on vascular tissue and create this S-shaped pattern under the bark.

MARC WHITE Director of Conservation

We confirmed Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) on the Center’s property on March 1, 2016. EAB is a small invasive beetle that kills ash trees. Its arrival has been imminent for some time, and we’ve spent the last several years planning and launching a comprehensive EAB response plan.

35% of Schlitz Audubon’s tree canopy is comprised of ash, the majority being Green Ash, followed by White Ash, Black Ash, and a few Blue Ash. Ash took root about 50 years ago, when the land was retired from agriculture. This provided the ideal conditions for ash trees to establish and spread, and is when much of the Center’s existing ash canopy began to form.

As Milwaukee’s only nature center located on Lake Michigan, Schlitz Audubon is home to an amazing range of wildlife and ecosystems. This land is special. EAB presents a vast challenge that we are turning into an opportunity.

OUR RESPONSE PLAN INCLUDES FIVE FOCUS AREAS:

Native Forest Restoration Last year, Schlitz Audubon planted 2,000 native trees and shrubs, and plans to do so annually for the next 10 years. These trees and shrubs, such as maple, poplar, dogwood, and viburnum, will grow to restore our native forests for centuries to come.

Ash Conservation The Center has a few rare ash trees on the property, specifically Black Ash, which is uncommon at the Center, and Blue Ash, which is a threatened species in Wisconsin. These uncommon trees will be treated individually to conserve them.

Hazard Tree Removal Trees that may one day pose a hazard will be proactively cut down.

Trails will be routed away from locations with high ash density.

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Slope Stabilization Trees play a large role in maintaining the integrity of our slopes, ravines, and bluffs, which are home to our most sensitive and diverse forest habitat. Large ash­­—critical to stabilizing our bluffs and ravines­­—will be treated to protect them from EAB. These locations will also be planted with a variety of trees that will flourish in these areas, helping to stabilize the soil.

Savanna Conversion Prior to European settlement, nearly one-third of Wisconsin was comprised of savanna. Oak Savannas are a lightly forested grassland, where Bur Oaks are the dominant species. Oak Savanna is one of the two most critically endangered habitats in Wisconsin. Converting areas to oak savanna will help us conserve our region’s unique ecological heritage.

The Center needs you to make this plan a success. Our 185 acres is the foundation for everything we do at Schlitz Audubon. Your gifts of time and money will both heal this land and impact our community. Emerald Ash Borer, although a tragedy, accelerates our efforts to create a more biologically diverse landscape. In order for this plan to succeed, an additional $1.7 million of funding and tripling our volunteer hours will be necessary.

You are a vital member of Schlitz Audubon’s ecosystem. Together we can plant the seeds that will flourish for generations.

Want to help?

Volunteer Coordinator Stevie Otap | sotap@schlitzaudubon.org Development Coordinator Lisa Greco | lgreco@schltizaudubon.org

Summer 2016 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

DEVELOPMENT MEZZANINE ART GALLERY

Andrea Avery

Bringing Nature to the Community

June 10 - Sunday, July 24

Andrea Avery is an artist from Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Her paintings on display are of native or migratory Wisconsin wildlife. Avery turns to the outdoors and traveling for inspiration, and paints every day. Some of the pieces on display are collaborations with rosemaling artist Patsy Vork. Andrea is the Community Arts Coordinator the John Michael Kohler Art Center. She has degrees in painting, drawing, and art history, and has taught elementary through college-age students.

Brooklyn Henke August 5 – September 24

For many years Northwestern Mutual Foundation has been a cornerstone of the Milwaukee community. At Schlitz Audubon, their philanthropy has created countless opportunities for people of all ages to forge connections with nature. The Foundation’s most recent gift to the Center ensures that more members of the Milwaukee community have access to nature programming both in individual neighborhoods and at the Center.

Throughout this year, Schlitz Audubon will bring animal ambassadors into neighborhood preschools, libraries, and community gatherings through outreach events. But we’ll also bring nature experiences to specific areas throughout the city, including the Amani, Muskego Way, and Metcalfe Park neighborhoods. Northwestern Mutual Foundation’s goal is to support initiatives that help build safe neighborhoods, healthy and thriving youth, strong families, and quality education. As a leader in experiential environmental education for more than 45 years, Schlitz Audubon is a natural fit.

We are providing outreach at three locations: preschools, libraries, and community events.

Preschoolers will get to observe one of the Center’s resident Screech Owls, learn about owls through stories, and hold owl feathers and artifacts. During Myth and Magic of Amphibians and Reptiles, which take place at public libraries, children can encounter turtles, frogs, snakes, and salamanders. At community events such as COA’s Family Fun Nights, families can become acquainted with one of our animals while chatting with Center Naturalists. At each event we explain the ecosystem services that animals such as snakes and owls provide in backyards and gardens.

Brooklyn Henke lives in Milwaukee and her show will focus on pollinators native to Wisconsin. She is fond of walking through nature, photographing, and drawing the natural world. Brooklyn earned her undergraduate degree in painting from Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design (MIAD), and her Masters of Fine Arts from UW- Milwaukee.

Brooklyn teaches at MIAD, educating students how to see, observe, draw and paint the world around them.

Personal experience is the most powerful teacher, and watching an owl perch and survey the room, or holding a turtle or a frog in their hands can be transformative for children. For some, our outreach events are their first introduction to the Earth’s interdependent ecosystems.

At these outreach programs, children and families can learn about the wildlife living in the city and what they might see in their own backyards. Through engaging with Center staff humans and animals alike - children can begin to develop a connection to the natural world.

Northwestern Mutual Foundation also provides participants with a Family Guest Pass to the Center, inviting the whole family to explore Schlitz Audubon free of charge. Families can continue to cultivate their interest in the natural world while exploring our trails. Through this partnership, Northwestern Mutual Foundation is increasing the number of people who have access to learning about nature.

Summer 2016 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

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CALENDAR Adult Program Family Program Preschool Program Handicap Accessible Member Price Non-Member Price Pre-Registration

Pre-registration helps us prepare for our programs. There will be an additional $2.00 charge for walk-in participants attending a program that requires pre-registration.

Bird Club*

Youth price is for those ages 3–17.

18 and up are charged the adult price.

Co-presented with Milwaukee Audubon Society. Please check our online calendar for specific topics for each month. Young adults and birders of all interest levels are welcome to join this drop-in program.

Refunds will only be given to those who cancel 14 or more days before a program. If Schlitz Audubon cancels a program, refunds will be given.

Call 414-352-2880 x0 to register.

Raptor Saturday

Saturday, July 2 | 1:00pm – 2:00pm Saturday, September 3 | 1:00pm - 2:00pm

July We will celebrate the bald eagle as well as other raptors that have been recognized as symbols of strength & beauty around the world.

August No Raptor Saturday—Visit us at Wisconsin State Fair!

September Vultures traditionally represent death and decay in human stories, but these birds play a critical role in the well-being of the environment. Come learn about nature’s cleanup crew with Tallulah, our resident Turkey Vulture.

Free with membership or admission

Sponsored by:

Spiritual World of Nature: Night Hike* Tuesday, July 5 | 8:30pm – 10:00pm

Sir Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin both set in motion their world-changing notions in July. Join Joel Berenbaum for a hike under the stars. We will indulge our senses ,using Newton and Darwin’s theories as our guide.

M: $10 NM: $15

Summer Canoe Trip* Wednesday, July 6 | 10:00am – 12:00pm

Canoe on the Milwaukee River with Naturalist Cassie Rincon. She’ll bring nets and strainers to discover what’s swimming around.

The trip begins in Mequon and finishes in Thiensville. All canoeing and safety equipment is provided. Children 13 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

M: Youth $10 | Adult $15 NM: Youth $15 | Adult $20

Beginning Tai Chi*

Wednesdays, July 6 to August 24 4:00pm - 5:00pm

This new 8-week class is led by Alice Kuramoto, who has over 30 years of experience with Tai Chi. Tai Chi is a Chinese exercise based on slow, gentle movements, meditation, and breathing. Health benefits include: improving balance, posture, and muscle strength. Wear comfortable shoes and clothing.

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Summer Hand in Hand*

Frogs-a-Hopping | July 11, 12, 13, 14 Butterflies-a-Fluttering July 25, 26, 27, 28 Secretive Salamanders August 1, 2, 3, 4 Turtles-a-Swimming August 8, 9, 10, 11 9:30am – 11:00am

Explore the natural world with your young one during these special one-day programs.

Participate in free play, art, a story, and a nature hike. Four dates are offered for each program topic. Select the morning that works best for you. This program is for 2-4 year olds and their adult.

M: $15 per pair per program NM: $20 per pair per program

Environmental Voices: Protecting Vital Bird Resources in Grant Park* Tuesday, July 12 | 9:00am – 12:00pm

Grant Park’s 381 acres are the largest in a chain of parks that preserve vitally important stopover habitat for birds in Milwaukee County. Don Quintenz and Betsy Abert, a professional landscape designer and member of Friends of Grant Park, will guide us. This decade-old volunteer group received the 2013 award for Volunteer Group of the Year from the Park People organization.

M: $15 NM: $20

Photo Club*

Wednesday, July 13 | 5:00pm - 6:00pm Wednesday, August 10 | 5:00pm - 6:00pm Wednesday, September 14 | 5:00pm-6:00pm

Photographers of all ages and skill levels are invited to participate in monthly hikes. Center Naturalist Cassie Rincon guides participants to locations that offer unique photographic opportunities. Everyone works together to further their art, share photography ideas, and capture memories. Schlitz Audubon does not provide cameras. Participants 16 and under need to be accompanied by an adult

Free with membership or admission

M: $80 NM: $96 Summer 2016 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

Wednesday, July 13 | 6:30pm - 8:00pm Wednesday, August 10 | 6:30pm - 8:00pm Wednesday, September 14 | 6:30pm - 8:00pm

Free to all

Spiritual World of Nature: The Lore, Legends, & Usefulness of Wild Herbs* Thursday, July 14 | 10:00am - 11:00am

Learn about these fascinating plants with Maida Silverman, author of A City Herbal.

Maida will share the delightful folklore and legends associated with wild herbs, sometimes known as weeds. Some make for tasty eating, others are pretty and decorative, and certain herbs can have medicinal properties.

Maida will bring examples of plants found in the book.

M: $10 NM: $15

Froggin’ Fest* Wednesday, July 20 | 6:00pm - 8:00pm

Join Jim Hyatt, as we celebrate all things frog.

We’ll start inside, where Jim will show live frogs, play their calls, and kids will participate in amphibian contests. Then we’ll head to Mystery Lake to see what we can catch. Jim’s got nets, but bring your muddin’ shoes.

M: Youth: $6 | Adult $8 NM: Youth: $11 | Adult $13

Citizen Science: Moth Survey*

Wednesday, July 27 | 8:00pm - 9:30pm

Schlitz Audubon is participating in the National Moth Week Citizen Science survey and you can help! Learn how moths differ from their daytime cousins, butterflies, and why they are so important to have in the world.

We’ll venture outside to visit bait trees and an ultraviolet light station in search of moths.

Youth are free.

Adults M: $7 | NM: $12

Summer Astronomy with Binoculars* Monday, August 1 | 8:30pm - 10:00pm

Discover the wonders that lurk near the center of our home galaxy, the Milky Way, in the constellation Sagittarius. View star clusters, nebulae, and double stars, as well as the planets Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, through binoculars and telescopes. Bring your binoculars, a warm jacket, mosquito repellent, and a reclining lawn chair.

M: Youth $5 | Adult $7 NM: Youth $10 | Adult $12

CALENDAR Environmental Voices: Urban Farms: Walnut Way and Concordia Gardens*

Rock & Roll with Soil and More*

Saturday, August 20 | 12:00pm - 2:00pm

Tuesday, August 2 | 8:30am - 12:15pm

A tour of Walnut Way Conservation Corps and Concordia Gardens in the Lindsay Heights and Harambee neighborhoods will showcase community revitalization through gardening, urban orchards, rainwater harvesting, composting and partnerships with MMSD and UWM. Participants can make purchases from the farm stands, so bring cash if you like.

Transportation provided.

Explore the incredible rocks and soil of the Center’s beach with our Naturalists. We’ll start with a presentation and then break into small groups to gather soil samples and different types of rocks on the beach. From these experiences, participants will learn how the rock cycle works. The glaciers brought gifts thousands of years ago and you get to hold the history in your hands! Youth 16 and under need to be accompanied by an adult.

M: $15 NM: $20

Spiritual World of Nature: An Evening of Spirited Storytelling* Thursday, August 4 | 7:00pm - 8:30pm

This evening, we will explore a number of outdoor spaces throughout the Center, while being regaled with stories of spirituality, nature, and their constant interconnectedness.

Interact with Rabbi Lein while our innate senses guide us in experiencing nature around dusk.

M: $10 NM: $15

Hangin’ with Hyatt: Family Canoe* Saturday, August 6 | 10:00am - 12:00pm

Jim Hyatt has the perfect paddling experience for your whole family! He’ll get everyone set with lifejackets, paddles, and critter catching gear. We’ll venture out onto Mystery Lake, a one-acre pond that is perfect for beginners and little ones. A great morning of discovering turtles, toads, frogs, and water insects.

M: Youth $7 | Adult $10 NM: Youth $12 | Adult $15

Spiritual World of Nature: Chez Monet: Spring* Tuesday, August 16 | 2:00pm - 3:00pm

Dottie Diggs returns from her 11th Pilgrimage to Giverny in France, where she photographs the Gardens of Claude Monet, the French impressionist painter. In this, her third show, she will share her brand new assemblage of photographs from her 2015 and 2016 trips, accompanied by French impressionist music.

Dottie is a retired violinist with a passion for photography.

M: Youth $6 | Adult $8 NM: Youth $11 | Adult $13

Kayaking Eco-tour* Wednesday, August 31 | 9:00am - 4:00pm

Are you one of those curious kayakers that wonders about the hole in the bank or the beautiful flowers that line the shores of your outings? Bring your questions and curiosity on this group expedition to one of southeast Wisconsin’s premier wetlands. Don Quintenz will illuminate discoveries in detail. Locations are scouted by Don and the final location is dependent on water level. Participants must bring their own kayaks.

M: $38 NM: $44

All About Monarchs* Saturday, September 10 | 9:30am - 11:00am

Learn about the lifecycle and migration of monarchs in an interactive, child-friendly program, then venture out with nets and tags to participate in an international Monarch study. We will also have time to color a paper Monarch to send to Mexico. Moya Mowabray, Naturalist, will teach how to find it again online in spring, and provides a tagging kit to take home. This program is for families with youth up to age 7. An adult must accompany youth. Adults are free.

M: $5 NM: $10

Raptor Handling Workshop* Saturday, September 10 | 10:00am – 4:00pm

Have you ever wondered what it feels like to find yourself nose-to-beak with a Peregrine Falcon? Or to solve a puzzle with a savvy crow? Spend a day with our Raptor Trainers learning all about raptor management. We discuss basic avian care and give you a truly exhilarating experience to training our magnificent birds. Come prepared to get dirty and be amazed! Please bring a bag lunch; beverages are provided by the Center.

Repamphibiantile Sunday Sunday, September 11 | 12:00pm - 1:00pm

The days are getting shorter and so is your chance to see reptiles and amphibians. Hold a snake and marvel at salamanders. Bring the whole family to gain a deeper understanding of these often misunderstood creatures. This is an interactive and educational program for all ages!

Summer 2016 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

Free with membership or admission

Discovery Nature Hiking* Tuesday, September 13 | 9:00am - 10:00am

Experience the wonders of fall while walking along the meadows, woods, and wetlands of on the upper level of the land. Don Quintenz leads the group to the seasonal events that stir our sense of beauty or imagination, and helps answer the questions that nature evokes in us.

The entire program takes place on the trail.

M: $7 NM: $12

Audubon Babies: Exploring Nature with the Very Young*

Wednesday, September 14 | 10:00am - 11:15am Wednesday, September 28 | 10:00am - 11:15am

Children are never too young to enjoy the wonders of nature. Come enjoy a hike on the trails filled with sensory explorations and meet new friends. We will start inside and venture out when everyone is ready. Dress for the weather—we explore rain or shine.

Waterproof shoes or boots are recommended.

If the weather is not appropriate to go outside we will explore indoors.

M: $10 NM: $15

M: $135 NM: $160

M: $12 per pair per program NM: $17 per pair per program

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CALENDAR Fall Hand in Hand*

Thursday, September 15 | Butterflies Session 1 | 9:00am – 10:15am Session 2 | 10:30am – 11:45am

Explore nature with your little ones! We will hike, play, do art activities, and listen to a story. Dress for the weather; we explore outdoors rain or shine. We recommend waterproof shoes or boots. This program is for 2-4 year olds and their adult.

M: $12 per pair per program NM: $17 per pair per program

Family Owl Prowl*

Friday, September 16 | 6:30pm - 8:00pm Rain date: Sunday, September 18 | 6:30pm8:00pm

Hike with us deep into the forest searching for owls! Sound is the best way to identify our local owls. Put on your owl ears and prepare to hear and see some of our local residents! This program is designed for families. Register early as this program fills up quickly.

M: Youth $8 | Adult $10 NM: Youth $13 | Adult $15

Adult Owl Prowl*

Monday, September 19 | 6:30pm-8:00pm Rain date: Tuesday, September 20 6:30pm-8:00pm

Take a moonlit walk through our forests and prairies in search of owls. Listening for their squeaks, squawks, chirrs, and hoots is the best way to find the three species of owls on our property. Learn about their habitats and special adaptations. This program is designed for adults. Please register early as this program fills up.

M: $12 NM: $17

Environmental Voices: Ravines*

Citizen Science: Monarch Tagging* Saturday, September 24 12:00pm – 2:00pm Rain Date: Sunday, September 18 12:00pm – 2:00pm

Learn about the magic of the Monarch butterfly migration with a short presentation. Then participants will go outside and assist in tagging Monarchs for the conservation research program Monarch Watch. Insect nets and tags will be provided. This program is designed to include youth 8 and above. Youth are free.

Adults M: $7 | NM: $12

Evenings at Schlitz Audubon

Free with membership or admission Visit our website for more details.

Hatha Yoga Class* Every Monday from 5:30pm - 6:45pm

Enjoy the outdoors with our yoga instructor Claire Stillman. Classes are designed for all levels of students, they are therapeutic in nature, and will be challenging at times. All students are taught to observe their body and breath, and to practice within their capacity.

Class will be held outside, bring a light jacket and mosquito repellant. The first class is always free!

M: $100 for 10 weeks $15 for single class NM: $120 for 10 weeks $20 for single class

Word with a Bird Saturdays and Sundays | 1:00pm - 2:00pm

Each Word with a Bird program focuses on the specific skills, traits, and adaptations that make that bird such a unique creature. Meet a different bird each time! While visiting the Center make sure to spend some time outdoors on the trails. There is no WWB during August 4 - 14, but visit us at Wisconsin State Fair.

Free with membership or admission

Monday, September 19 | 10:00am - 12:00pm

What ‘s larger than a gully, smaller than a canyon, is formed by water, and holds an important niche at the Center? Ravines! Dale Buser, a prominent hydrologist and recipient of the 2013 Conservationist of the Year award

by Gathering Waters Conservancy, will enlighten us on ravine formation, protection, and lifeforms. We will spend time both inside and outdoors, so dress for the weather.

Summer

Summer Evening Concerts Tuesdays through August 16 6:30pm – 7:30pm

June 21 Digbii Duo June 28 David HB Drake July 12 John Stano July 19 Ben Merens July 26 Bruce Dean August 2 The Kitchen Boys August 9 Sean McGibany August 16 Dave Geisthardt

M: $10 NM: $15

Summer Twilight Hikes

Thursdays through August 18 6:30pm – 7:30pm Join us on Thursday evenings for a Naturalist-guided hike. We’ll explore this enchanted time of evening together, looking and listening for who else is stirring in the forest, pond, and prairie.

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Summer 2016 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

THANK YOU THANK YOU Memorials

Honoraria

Raptor Sponsorships

Lilias “Lil” Bruce Suzy and Byron Foster

Carol Grundman Myra Van Uxem

Gary Ehlers Mrs. Elizabeth Ann Ehr

Kay Josten Myra Van Uxem

Barley – Barn Owl Libby Barrow & Family Sue B. Holcomb (In honor of Chelsea Beiler, Debbie Quin, Bruce Resnick)

James Javore Caryl Zaar

Nancy L. Notley Myra Van Uxem

Marion E. Maradik Geri and Marvin Olson

Kathy Schneider Myra Van Uxem

Bonnie Mayer Joseph and Bernadette Rein Kathleen Bink Paul and Shelley Carpenter Terese A. Dineen Karen and Bill Evans Karen Francisco Joanne M. Gardner Cheryl Gertsch Margaret C. Koller Charlotte Pladies Ed Purcell David and Ruth Ann Schneider Marilyn and David Sherman Deborah Thompson Sarah Williamson

Althea Thomas Jack Smallwood

Keith Olson John and Paula Friedman Raymond and Renee Knutilla Geri and Marvin Olson Jim and Carol Ross Austin Pines Caryl Zaar Lilas Roehrborn The Sampson Family Mara Seif Mary Jo and Joiner Conroy

Carla Donahue Jessica Huston

Doors Open Milwaukee Sunday, September 18 | 9:00am - 5:00pm

FREE FOR ALL!

Children & Family Passport Site

DO

HISTORIC MILWAUKEE, INC. PRESENTS

DOORS OPEN MILWAUKEE

Mike Milner Steve Milner

Loki – American Crow Jon Neumann and Laura Shipley (In honor of August Neumann)

Carolyn Wells Myra Van Uxem

DOORS OPEN MILWAUKEE

Mike J. Mikla Geri and Marvin Olson

Barley – Barn Owl Sue B. Holcomb (In honor of Deanie Vallone and Karl Gruehn)

MKE

Doors Open Milwaukee is the annual celebration of Milwaukee’s architectural treasures. Participants have the opportunity to visit locations that are not always open to the public. Schlitz Audubon participates on Sunday from 9:00am – 5:00pm with guided hikes and building tours. The Center is proud to be a Family Passport site during Doors Open Milwaukee.

DOORS OPEN MILWAUKEE

Join us on social media!

Admission

Summer Hours through August 25

Credits for Panorama | Summer 2016

1111 East Brown Deer Road | Milwaukee, WI

Monday - Thursday | 9:00am - 8:00pm Friday - Sunday | 9:00am - 5:00pm

Design | Illustration | Photography Zoe Finney

FREE admission to Members Adults: $8 | Youth $5 (ages 3 — 17) 414-352-2880 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

Summer 2016 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

Marketing Manager Nancy Quinn

Editing | Select Writing Ed Makowski

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

U.S. Postage

PAID

Milwaukee, WI Permit No. 4168

SUMMER PANORAMA

Lake Michigan Wading Area | Guided Hikes Performance by David Stokes | Canoeing and more!