2023 Fall Bridges

natural resources foundation of wisconsin

Kathleen Wolleat

Explore. Love. Protect.

FALL 2023

A Note from the Director

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Early European settlers used to call the Rock River, which flows out of Horicon Marsh, the “Sterling River.”

Why? Because the sun would shine like sterling silver off the rock at the bottom of the river. But the river I grew up with was an opaque, silt-laded river with only 6 inches of visibility. Putting my hand in the water, I could barely see my fingertips.

Without the conservation work that you’re supporting, the biodiversity in Wisconsin’s waters, prairies, savannas, wetlands, and forested ecosystems could continue to erode, unnoticed, due to this type of “collective amnesia.” But thanks to you, we’re reimagining landscapes that protect the full beauty, diversity, and richness of all of Wisconsin’s ecosystems.

Over the years, our natural landscapes have silently transformed, with a gradual decline in ecosystem richness and health, but each generation assumes that what they’ve inherited is “normal” and biologically rich. This concept of “shifting baselines,” coined by biologist Daniel Pauly in 1995, has profound significance for conservation in Wisconsin.

Together, we can set a new standard, ensuring a more vibrant and resilient natural world for generations to come. Thanks and best wishes.

David Clutter, Executive Director

Tom Dott, Board Chair Dave Adam, Vice Chair Kris Euclide, Secretary Marty Henert, Treasurer Amy Alstad James Bennett Linda Bochert Bruce Braun Rebecca Haefner Jim Hubing Kristine Krause Mark LaBarbera William Lunney Tom Olson Halie Tenor Michael Williamson

FOUNDATION STAFF David Clutter, Executive Director Michaela Daly, Executive Assistant Soumika Gaddameedi, Event and Donor Relations Coordinator Shari Henning, Operations Director Brenna Holzhauer, Grant Writer Alex Kaspar, Gifts and Grants Administrator Kim Kreitinger, Field Trip Coordinator Emma Schatz, Digital Communications Coordinator Christine Tanzer, Field Trip Director Lindsey Taylor, Conservation Programs Coordinator Shelly Torkelson, Communications Director Marta Weldon, Director of Philanthropy Caitlin Williamson, Director of Conservation Programs

OUR MISSION Protecting Wisconsin’s lands, waters, and wildlife by providing funding, leading partnerships, and connecting all people to nature.

wisconservation.org

Joseph Janssen

Explore.

Love.

Protect.

Kestrel banding Field Trip at Buena Vista Grasslands in Portage County, WI.

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EXPLORE WISCONSIN

Connecting all people with nature The Story of Corn Nature play and traditional Menominee storytelling Thanks to a Go Outside Fund grant, a group of first graders from Bonduel Elementary were able to go on a field trip to experience Indigenous storytelling, learn about the local Menominee community, and explore their phenology trail and outdoor classroom, “Woodhenge.” The students learned firsthand how traditional corn and wild rice are a staple of Menominee culture

by sampling Hull Corn Soup and Wild Rice Soup made by Lela Schwitzer (their teacher and an enrolled Menominee).

After lunch, students settled down for an oral tradition story. Community Elder Dolly Potts shared the Green Man story about how the Menominee people first received corn, and then gave each student a gift of corn jewelry.

Healthy watersheds (and flipped canoes)

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The first graders were highly engaged with the activities and respectful of tribal traditions. My Menominee heart was full of pride for both sides of my people: my students, and my Tribe.

-Lela Schwitzer, First grade teacher and Menominee tribal member

You’re sending 8th grade students out to the river for hands-on learning about water quality

The students were exploring the question: what makes a healthy watershed? They had researched factors that impact water quality (such as temperature, pH, biotic index) and practiced using water quality test kits in the classroom. Then they headed out to the Namekagon and piled into canoes to collect their own water quality data.

Students measured dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature, and nutrient levels in the river from the canoes. “As expected, most of the canoes paddled by middle school boys flipped, and mostly on purpose. It was 80 degrees and the deepest parts of the river were only about waist deep on the stretch we were on, with a sandy bottom.”

keith kemp

Keith Kemp, 8th grade life science teacher, just returned from a September trip leading 46 kids in 16 canoes down the Namekagon River in northern Wisconsin. “For many students, it was their first time on the river, or even in a canoe” said Kemp. “The kids had an amazing time, and many said it was their best day of school ever.”

Piloting canoes was a first time experience for many of the students.

Back in the classroom, they analyzed their findings, wrote lab reports, and also wrote creatively about their own personal experience on the river.

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Normally the river is very peaceful and quiet, but when you take a group of middle school kids there, things definitely change!

-Keith Kemp, 8th grade science teacher Bridges 2023 I FALL2023 Bridges | Spring

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“

-Sarah Besadny, captain of team Up North Hammerheads

More teams, more birds, and more funds raised for bird conservation

The Birdathon has shattered records once again, thanks to the support of our birders, donors, and sponsors. We soared past our $100,000 goal and raised $122,162 for the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin’s Bird Protection Fund! Thank you to everyone who joined us to bird for a cause.

Birdathon participants raise funds for NRF’s Bird Protection Fund, which supports Wisconsin’s highest priority bird conservation needs. These projects were selected by the advisory committee to receive this year’s funds:

Birdathon by the numbers

72

teams

274

species spotted

500+

birders from across Wisconsin

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dvancing Bird • AConservation within Wisconsin’s Important Bird Area (IBA) System — Wisconsin Bird Conservation Partnership

• ARanching udubon Conservation — Audubon Great Lakes

Conservation for All • B— irdBIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin

A RARE FIND Joy Schuller holds a Connecticut warbler, the 2023 Birdathon’s Bird of the Year, at a BIPOC Birding Club event.

Making Bird-friendly Actions Easy in Lakeside • CCommunities hange is Hard:— Lake Michigan Bird Observatory

Expansion at Mounds View Grassland Preserve — The • GPrairie rassland Enthusiasts

$26,219

• LNature incoln Creek Habitat Research and Restoration — Nearby

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• Neotropical Flyways Project — SELVA • PResources iping Plover Conservation — Wisconsin Department of Natural

top amount raised by Cutright’s Old Coots Most Species Seen

by WARBling Vireos

Bird Monitoring at Restoration Sites on the Oneida • LNation ong-term Reservation — Northeast Wisconsin Audubon

• T aking Action to Save Birds — SOS Save Our Songbirds • WFoundation hooping Crane Reintroduction — International Crane

Chamong Xiong

This was our 8th year participating in the Great Wisconsin Birdathon. Many of us haven’t missed a year since we first formed a team in 2016 — it’s a favorite event for us!

LOVE WISCONSIN

How do birds respond to land restoration?

MIKE MOSSMAN

You’re supporting research that helps protect bird habitat The former Badger Army Ammunition Plant has a diverse community of grassland birds, including most of Wisconsin’s species that are in need of conservation. But what makes this place so special to them?

Four years of research have gone into answering this question, conducted by ornithologist Mike Mossman along with Angus Mossman, Jeb Barzen, Lisa Hartman, and the Ho-Chunk Nation’s Sacred Earth reservation (Maa Wákącąk) manager Randy Poelma. They’ve discovered that: he variety of both native and • tnonnative grasslands makes this bird diversity possible

A prairie in the second year of its restoration at Maa Wákącąk, the Ho-Chunk Nation’s Sacred Earth reservation.

he site’s large size and connectedness • tfosters large populations and helps birds move readily from one area to another as conditions change Mike Mossman gives more details about this NRF-funded research, and how it will help land managers better protect bird species, at wisconservation.org/ birds-respond-to-restoration

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May this former ammunition plant forever remain a hardy and beautiful land full of bird song!

-Mike Mossman, ornithologist and NRF Field Trip leader

Do a thing for birds It’s fall migration! You can take action at home to help birds during this important time.

Deal with those windows Research has shown that nearly half a billion birds die every year in the U.S. after colliding with home windows.

Unfortunately, recent data has shown that using a single silhouette of a raptor or a few decals on the inside of a window don’t prevent bird deaths well. But you can help prevent window collisions by adding window screens, closely-spaced dot decals, a curtain of paracord, or using tempera/washable paint to make a design on your windows to break up reflections.

Turn off the lights Lights from our homes can pose a problem for migrating birds at night. Shield lights, direct the light down, and turn off lights from midnight until it’s light in the morning during spring and fall migration to help birds survive and reach nesting sites.

Grow more native plants 96% of North America’s land-based birds feed insects to their young. Yet many nonnative trees, shrubs and flowers common in our yards are toxic to native insects, so they provide little food for birds. Native plants evolved with native insects in Wisconsin over thousands of years. Native plants feed native insects, which feed native birds. Fall is a great time to add more native plants to your yard by scattering some native seeds or establishing a pollinator patch.

More bird conservation action tips at SOSSaveOurSongbirds.org Watch our Communications Director, Shelly Torkelson, follow 5 Steps to Planting a Pollinator Garden in Wisconsin at wisconservation.org/wi-pollinator-garden

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Special 10th anniversary prizes this year include Swarovski binoculars, Chinook 2-person kayak, Camera Company gift cards and more!

Submit your photo at wisconservation.org/photocontest

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JUDY REiD

NRF’s Photo Contest is now open

LOVE WISCONSIN

New conservation experiences “I did things such as waterfowl banding, elk calf searches, and even got to go in a fixed-winged aircraft to do bear telemetry.

My time with Snapshot has made me more confident and certain of what I want to do once I graduate. Considering everything I have learned in my role, I feel as though a position that is founded in educational outreach with some field work is the right fit for me.”

Weekly group field trips and SEMINARS “As much as I wanted to pursue a career in conservation, I thought it wasn’t somewhere where I belonged...finding this internship seemed like the perfect opportunity and introduction to this field and I knew I wanted to apply.”

-Nick Saunders

Building skills and Camaraderie “One of the most exciting aspects of my internship was native plant identification and birding. It’s crazy the amount of knowledge I have gained on Wisconsin’s native plants and ecosystems in just two months.

These newfound passions broadened my horizons and expanded my understanding of the natural world.”

-Eliana Cook

Shelly Torkelson

Caitlin Williamson

DRAKE STALLWORTH

CAITLIN WILLIAMSON

The Diversity in Conservation Internship program

Support and mentoring “I grew up in the City of Milwaukee, there were not a lot of opportunities to experience natural areas.

I want to thank Cait and Lindsey for making this internship as unique as it is.

They, and many of the people I met throughout this summer, have made me feel more welcome and comfortable in the environmental field and the beautiful ecosystems they work to take care of.”

-Jaeden Carrasquillo

-Drake Stallworth

SHELLY TORKELSON

SUE HOLOWAY

EMMA SCHATZ

CHRISTINE TANZER

Field Trip Season Highlights

Paddling the sea caves at the Apostle

Fishing for beginners from all backgrounds

Holding a blue-spotted salamander while

Leader Jessica Ross shows participants a

Islands.

in Dodge County.

learning about the amphibians of the

mushroom at Ridgeway Pine Relict State

Northwoods at Kemp Station.

Natural Area.

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Dave Hoefler

LOVE WISCONSIN

The sun rises over the rocky shores of Lake Michigan.

PROTECTING THE THIRD COAST

By Caitlin Williamson, Director of Conservation Programs You’re protecting water quality and wildlife habitat at seven top priority sites along the coast.

Have you gazed across the ocean-like blue vastness of our country’s “third coast”? Gone barefoot on the beach and touched the cool, clear water?

Lake Michigan, the largest freshwater lake in the U.S., is a big part of Wisconsin’s identity. Its beautiful shoreline — from Racine’s sandy beaches to Door County’s rocky shores — is home to Milwaukee and many other communities. It’s also home to unique coastal ecosystems that provide habitat for countless wildlife and plant species.

have reduced water quality and decreased habitat for fish and wildlife. Climate change is intensifying the impacts of these threats.

Thanks to your support and a grant from the Fund for Lake Michigan, NRF is working with the DNR and other partners to restore habitat along Lake Michigan’s shoreline. You’re helping us increase water quality, enhance wildlife habitat, and improve accessibility in key places along the coast. Recently, we’ve improved water quality by reducing stormwater runoff, built cordwalk trails to increase public access and minimize erosion, and more.

Sandy beaches, majestic dunes, coastal forests, marshes, ridge and swale complexes, and alvars. Many of these natural communities are so unique, they’re found nowhere else on Earth!

This work will soon encompass seven State Parks and State Natural Areas along the coast. We plan to enhance nearly 100 acres of rain gardens, prairies, wetlands, oak savanna, and woodlands in Havenwoods State Forest, Lakeshore State Park, Kohler-Andrae State Park, Point Beach State Forest, and Red Banks Alvar State Natural Area.

However, human activities have severely impacted Lake Michigan. Invasive species, habitat destruction, and pollution

Thank you for making this possible! More info at wisconservation.org/protecting-the-third-coast.

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PROTECT WISCONSIN

What’s the deal with alvars?

By Mira Johnson, Communications Assistant

Picture a flat expanse, sparsely populated with shallowrooted grassland, carpeting a limestone plain. This landscape is dotted with exposed bedrock and thin patches of soil. You might not think a place like this could be full of life. But these rare places, known as alvars, are some of the most biodiverse habitats on the planet!

Alvars are unique geological habitats found only in a handful of places across the world. And we have one right here in Wisconsin, just up the freeway from Green Bay. It is an exemplary model of an alvar community and the diverse array of organisms they support.

Shelly Torkelson

You’re protecting Wisconsin’s biodiversity

Annual black-eyed susan at Red Banks Alvar State Natural Area.

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The only alvar in Wisconsin is on the edge of a growing Red Banks Alvar has been one of NRF’s priority sites for many metropolitan area. It’s worth years because of its biodiversity. Upcoming projects aim to control invasive species, implement prescribed burns, and trying to preserve as much of reintroduce native forest understory species. These activities it as we can, or it will be gone. will specifically benefit native pollinators, Wisconsin’s most diverse land snail communities (found only at Red Banks Alvar), - Julie Hawkins-Tyriver, and grassland and forest-edge nesting birds.

More about Red Banks Alvar at wisconservation.org/ red-banks-alvar

Northeast Wisconsin Land Trust and NRF Field Trip Leader

Is Spread Eagle Barrens barren? Not at all.

By Emma Schatz, Digital Communications Coordinator

Carly Lapin, WDNR

You’re helping restore 8,000 acres of globally rare pine barrens When people think of Wisconsin’s Northwoods, they often picture dense forests of pine, aspen, oak, and maple trees. In fact, that’s a pretty clear sign that you’ve entered the Northwoods when making the drive up the state. But Spread Eagle Barrens in Florence County features over 8,400 acres of wide-open landscape.

Here you’ll find scattered jack and red pine, scrub oak, quaking aspen, clear lakes, and globally imperiled pine barrens. Once one of the most common habitats in Wisconsin, only 1% of barrens remain in the state.

Thanks to the variety of habitats here, at least 28 Species of Greatest Conservation Need currently call Spread Eagle Barrens home. Frost pockets (treeless depressions where frost can occur at any time of the year) are found throughout the site. The Pine River, a federally designated Wild River, bisects the property.

Lichen, which dominate the low-lying areas, are a main food source for the northern flying squirrel, a species of special concern in Wisconsin.

Barrens habitat after a prescribed burn.

Kay Kavanagh, who’s birded in all of Wisconsin’s 72 counties, began visiting Spread Eagle Barrens in the early 2000’s. She’s spotted rare birds such as the Connecticut warbler and the prairie warbler there. “The variety of habitat there means more species of birds,” she notes.

Thank you to NRF members and the We Energies Foundation for helping support this restoration, which utilizes prescribed burning.

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IN HONOR OR IN MEMORY FEBRUARY 15,and 2023-AUGUST 2023 Honorary Memorial15, Gifts

The Foundation recognizes gifts made in honor or memory of the following: In memory of James Amundson Association of Retired Conservationists In memory of Norman C. Anderson Peggy Anderson In honor of Janis Annesley Kelley Annesley In memory of Dorothy J. Beck Dorothy Whiting Thomas & Kelli Beck Jennifer Morris Nancy Caldwell Barbara Schneider Ms. Karen Huth Judy Jacoby Dennis Kelley Sara Abendroth Mary Jane Fehr Beverly Shipley Kenneth Goetz Mary Brown Jonathan West Alice & James Hirt William Myers Robert Woodbury In memory of Ed Brick Association of Retired Conservationists In memory of Arthur & Helen Bukin Erwin Bukin In memory of Carol Joan & David Fritzler In memory of Harold Cherney Keri Storako Marylou Kramer Bernadine Williamsen Bernadine Williamsen Holly Jones Bernadine Williamsen In memory of Rev. Michael Anthony Danner Mary Macqueen In honor of Earth Gwyn Goy In memory of Governor Tony Earl Mary Macqueen Mary Wagner Bonnie Cleary Martin & Ellen Henert Michael & JoAnn Youngman Erika Saveraid Allan & Patty Patek Charles Luthin & Nancy Piraino Susan Austin Robert Merideth Linda H. Bochert & David J. Hanson

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Michael Ley Howard & Linda Bellman Scott Stenger Peter Tropman & Virginia Graves Marilyn Pedretti Donald Schneider & Lucinda Ashley In honor of Karen Etter Hale & the Finch Gang Nydia Kien In honor of Kristine Euclide Ron & Paulette Smith In memory of Jesse Faber Sandra Hardie In honor of Fancy Pants Patricia Felker In honor of Ginger Lily Lorel Klocksiem-Nadolny In memory of Richard Glaza Debta & Mark Kaisersatt In honor of God’s Creation Kurtis Geiger In memory of Warren A. Grady Deona Grady In memory of Curt & Ruth Grauer Ann Jackson In memory of Diana Gundlach Erin Arndt In honor of John Hackbart Katie Kieffer In honor of Sherry Hackbart Katie Kieffer In honor of Stephanie Hacker Paul Boening In memory of David Halverson Anne Straube In memory of Mrs. Lee Heimsoth Fred & Joan Lemon In honor of Chuck Henrikson Genevieve Murtaugh In memory of Elizabeth Hochfellner Paul Fohs Carol Burke William Hochfellner In memory of Mary Jane Hogue Janet Neerhof-Luedtke In memory of Doug Hoy Jessi Peterson In memory of Gary Humphrey Joseph Stoll In memory of Andrew Jennings Sheila Jennings George

In honor of Gail Johnson Ann-Marie Schmidt In honor of Mike Johnson Leta L. Johnson In memory of Tony Kemnitz Sr. Nora Adams In honor of our kids and their future Rebecca Thieme-Basesman In honor of Theresa Kondzela Douglas Hosler In honor of Matt Krueger Brian Krueger In memory of Dennis Kulhanik Association of Retired Conservationists In memory of Audrey J. Kunstman Association of Retired Conservationists In memory of Laurine Lancelle Dale Callaham & Susan Lancelle In memory of Ardis Landis Debra Donnenfield In memory of Joe Langan Heidi Langan In memory of Ken Locke Elaine Skowron Susan Meer In memory of Jackie Macaulay Stewart Macaulay In memory of Peg P. Mallery Randall & Catherine Lawton Sandra & John Goggin In memory of William Marxen Duane & Peggy Marxen In memory of Parker Matzinger Alexandra & Brian Kaspar In memory of Margaret E. McEntire Brook Soltvedt In memory of Melanie Greg & Amy Funseth In honor of Sheeny Miller Elizabeth Werner In memory of Quinn Mueller Kim J. Marggraf In honor of Patty & Ed Neumueller Richard & Donna Reinardy In memory of Dean Olson Carol Chapin In memory of Walter J. Olson James Wojciehowski Renee Burcalow Laura Staton

Angela Keelan Kenneth Kaiser Jane Holland Constance Miller In honor of Gail Petrowski Lucille Harvey In memory of Reuben Reddeman Tami Strang In memory of David Redell Mary Ann & Jim Baggs In memory of Chuck & Doris Rieck Cheryl Vulstek In memory of Joseph Riske Corey Nelson In memory of Frances Capps Robinson Sarah G. Lister In honor of Curt Rollman Heather Schallock In honor of Dennis & Joanne Roth Kimberly Nettell In memory of George W. Schuster Marvin & Marcy Lehrke In memory of Ann Semmann Ronald Semmann In memory of Maurice & Elda Stillmank Paul Stillmank In memory of Dean Russell Stowell Janice Bennett In honor of Christine Tanzer Martha G. Young In honor of Volunteers at Lapham Peak John Hillmer In honor of Zane & Sarah Wright Voskuil & Aaron Voskuil Bonnie & Neil Voskuil In memory of Darnell Wagner Margaret & John Haider Dawn & Timothy Reinke Lori & Douglas Pedrick Vivian Brault Richard & Linda Feutz In honor of Mary Walstrom Carlie Gray & David Kriofsky In memory of Jerry Wickman Robert & Monica Kaner In honor of Will Justin Richardson In memory of Bonnie L. Zitske Association of Retired Conservationists

Is Spread Eagle Barrens…barren?

PROTECT WISCONSIN Not at all.

Renewing your hunting or fishing license?

STEVEN LEPAK

Consider making a donation to the Cherish Wisconsin Outdoors Fund when renewing through the DNR’s GoWild online license system. Improve habitat at state-owned fisheries, forests, prairies, streams, and lakes across Wisconsin that we all cherish.

Learn more at wisconservation.org/cherish

Welcome, Michaela!

Meet our new Executive Assistant, Michaela Daly “The Midwest has a special place in my heart — I grew up in north central Illinois in a rural community with plenty of open space and cornfields. Small town living for the first 18 years of my life taught me a lot: the importance of sustainable agriculture, how to tend a garden, and the beauty of eating locally and seasonally. I began my career in libraries, spreading my love of reading. Over time, my desire to work in the environmental field grew. I found a job working for the city’s Parks department as a Park Ranger. I learned a lot but found myself more interested in the larger-scale conservation efforts happening and began looking for ways to transfer my skills in writing, service, and organization to a conservation nonprofit. When a coworker mentioned NRF, I knew it was the place for me.”

Michaela will be providing administrative support to NRF’s board of directors, executive director, and staff.

Welcome, Brenna!

Meet our new Grant Writer, Brenna Holzhauer “I had the privilege of growing up hiking, biking, swimming and running wild between Milwaukee, Madison, the Northwoods, and the Driftless areas of Wisconsin, and I’m fueled by sharing these activities with my husband and two young kids. I care deeply about Wisconsin’s wild lands and waters, and I support every person’s right to reap the benefits of exploring, learning from and recreating in these environments. I studied anthropology and education, with additional training in environmental and climate education. After many years directing the daily operations and long-term strategic projects of Aldo Leopold Nature Center, I’m excited to be embarking on a new career path supporting the work of the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin.”

Brenna will be securing and managing grants, corporate sponsorships, and other institutional donor gifts to achieve NRF’s fundraising goals.

Additional photo credits for this issue: Page 2: Shelly Torkelson; Page 3: Keith Kemp; Page 4: Jeff Galligan; Page 9: Shelly Torkelson; Page 11: Michaela Daly, Brenna Holzhauer Bridges 2023 I FALL2023 Bridges | SPRING

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211 S Paterson St, Suite 100, Madison, WI 53703 (608) 409-3122 | wisconservation.org

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Jonathan beers

What do you want your legacy to be?

Your estate gift can address our state’s most critical conservation needs, and offer generations worth of support for our natural wonders.

WisConservation.org/Planned-Giving