Welcome Azael Meza, New Assistant Director

Azael Meza Joined the Discovery Center team as The Assistant Director in December 2013. 

Originally from Guadalajara, México, Azael and his wife Lisa have enjoyed the adventure of living, playing and raising their two daughters in the Northwoods since 2001.  The family has resided within the Chequamegon National Forest since 2003. Azael is passionate about conservation photography, and also loves skiing, snowshoeing, paddling and other silent sports. 

Azael has prior work experience with developing and managing grant programs in environmental education, leadership development, environmental protection and juvenile justice for the Lac du Flambeau Nation. Other experience includes challenge course management at Camp Manito-Wish YMCA, and running a professional photography business.  

Some of Azael’s images have been featured in Milwaukee Magazine, and exhibits at The State Capitol, The Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center, New Visions Gallery and The Discovery Center.

Azael has a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Science from the Western Institute of Technology in Guadalajara Mexico, and he is thrilled to bring together his experience as a grant writer, program manager, facilitator and visual communicator to further the mission of The Discovery Center.

Please contact Azael for questions on volunteer and partner connections, grant development and public relations.

azael@discoverycenter.net

(715) 543-2085

2013 Minocqua Christmas Bird Count

Most abundant bird of the CBC - Black Capped Chickadee
photo by Azael Meza

The Minocqua Christmas Bird Count (CBC) was conducted on Saturday, December 14, 2013. The following table is a summary of the results of this year’s Minocqua CBC.  Column one depicts the species of birds recorded.  Column 2 depicts how many years each species was recorded out of 16 years of records.  Column 3 shows which year each species of bird was recorded.  Column 4 shows the number of birds that were recorded for each species.  Note that in column 4 (CW) indicates species that were not recorded on the count day but were observed and recorded within the count week, which includes 3 days before or after the count day.  Under CBC rules (CW) species are recorded.

Species	# Yrs. Of Occurance	1st Count Year	2013 Count
Canada Goose	3	2007	1
Ruffed Grouse	11	1962	4
Bald Eagle	14	1962	3
Sharp-shinned Hawk	1	2013	1 (cw)
Rock Pigeon	7	1997	5
Mourning Dove	9	1998	39
Red-bellied Woodpecker	8	2006	7
Downy Woodpecker	14	1962	26
Hairy Woodpecker	15	1962	23
Pileated Woodpecker	11	1963	14
Blue Jay	16	1962	81
American Crow	13	1964	51
Common Raven	15	1962	15
Black-capped Chickadee	16	1962	220
Red-breasted Nuthatch	15	1963	53
White-breasted Nuthatch	16	1962	41
Brown Creeper	9	1982	1
Dark-eyed Junco	5	1962	1
White-winged Crossbill	4	1964	4 (cw)
Northern Cardinal	2	2011	5
House Finch	4	2008	6
Common Redpoll	6	1997	4
American Goldfinch	11	1962	110
Total Bird Count			710
Total Species			21

The Minocqua CBC was first conducted in 1962 by 3 observers in one party that spent about 8 hours in the field looking for birds.  The count has been intermittently conducted since then until the Discovery Center Bird Club took over sponsorship in 2006.  The club has been conducting the count annually since 2006, so this was the eighth consecutive year for the club’s involvement. The 2013 Minocqua CBC was conducted by 11 people who participated in 4 field parties with each party being assigned approximately one-fourth of the count territory.  In addition there were 9 people who reported count results from 7 yards with bird feeders.  This level of participation was similar to other recent years. 

The results of the 2013 Minocqua CBC were above average when compared to the 16 year history of the count.  The 16 year average for total birds counted each year is 596 birds per year and 19 species per year.  However, when comparing the 2013 data to the average for the 8 years that the bird club has been involved, 2013 was a below average year.  The average for total birds and species counted over the past 8 years is 847 birds and 23 species.  The higher results over the past 8 years probably should be attributed to differences in effort compared to earlier years rather than likely relative abundance of birds.

The 2008 Minocqua CBC still is the record holder for this annual effort when 1,418 birds and 27 species were recorded!  The 2013 CBC resulted in about one-half the number of birds in 2008 even though the effort and weather conditions for both years was similar.  The difference was that in 2008 the observers recorded good numbers for bird species that were absent in 2013.  Among those species are Wild Turkey, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, Red Crossbill, Snow Bunting, Common Redpoll, and Pine Siskin.  There also were over 300 American Goldfinch reported in 2008 compared to 110 for 2013.

Second most abundant species - American Goldfinch
photo by Azael Meza

Comparing data for 2013 to the 2012 Minocqua CBC shows that fewer birds and species were observed in 2013.  The 2012 CBC resulted in 27 species which tied the high count in 2008 but 2013 yielded 21 species.  Both 2008 and 2012 were exceptional winter finch years.  Significant numbers of Pine Siskin (22), and Pine Grosbeak (26) were recorded in 2012 but none were reported for 2013.  In addition, comparing two years (2012/2013) show that in 2012 there were higher counts for Canada Goose (22/1), Mallard (17/0), Wild Turkey (45/0), American Crow (114/51), Mourning Dove (53/39), and Common Redpoll (137/4).

So, if we don’t get incredible results every year, why do we do this?  Well, most of all, it is FUN!  Also, doing the CBC is a wonderful way to contribute, via citizen science, to the National effort lead by the National Audubon Society and the statewide effort lead by the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology. This is very consistent with the mission of the North Lakeland Discovery Center and the Discovery Center Bird Club. 

I also think it is locally interesting to know about our local bird populations.  For example:  Minocqua CBC participants have recorded a total of 51 species of birds over 16 years but never more than 27 species during any single CBC.  Seven (7) species have been recorded only once in 16 years (Boreal Chickadee, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, American Tree Sparrow, Red Crossbill, Common Grackle, Hoary Redpoll).  Three (3) species have been recorded every year (Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch). Three (3) species have been recorded 15 out of 16 years (Hairy Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Common Raven).   Winter birds are more abundant during some winters compared to others.  There is a natural fluctuation.  Local bird population trends perhaps can be detected and can raise questions.  For example, Wild Turkey was first recorded in good numbers in 2008 and every year since but none were recorded in 2013. Certain species of birds are recorded nearly every year while some are rarely recorded (see table herein). Some species are only recorded when certain conditions exist, e.g. open water. Most species of birds that have been recorded in Wisconsin (about 433) have never been recorded in the area during CBCs. Any given year, something new could show up and thus become a “first”.  This happened for the 2013 count when a Sharp-shinned Hawk was reported during the count week but not on the count day (CW). In 2012 a Hoary Redpoll was recorded for the first time ever and in 2011 a Northern Cardinal was recorded for the first time (5 recorded in 2013 by 2 different field parties).

I want to express my appreciation to all 20 people who helped with the 2013 Minocqua CBC.  Feeder counters who have kept their bird feeders filled and spent time detecting and recording birds visiting their feeders are critical to the success of this annual effort.  Counted among these are Jean Wiggins, Elaine Kotlarek, Milly Reinemann, John and Susan Brant, George Zickert, Kathy and Rick Jolin, and Sarah Kemp. 

A good number of species of winter birds aren’t necessarily found around bird feeders, so the field counters make it possible to find and record those species so their effort is especially appreciated.  The 2013 field counters included:

·         Northwest Quadrant - Guy David (Count Coordinator and Leader), Ed Marshall

·         Southwest Quadrant - Peter Rasmussen (Leader), Heather Lumpkin, Leanna Jackan

·         Northeast Quadrant - John Bates (Leader) and Mary Burns

·         Southeast Quadrant - Donna Roche (Leader), Kay Hoff, Jean Hanson, and Carnie Andrews.  

Report submitted by Discovery Center Bird Club Member, Guy David.

Amazing River Otters

Did you know that a group of river otters is known as a “romp?”  If you head outdoors this time of year, near open water, you have a good chance of seeing some of these playful creatures. On a recent walk on the Discovery Center Big River Trail, Assistant Director Azael Meza came across one playing on the ice and water of the Manitowish River.  The temperature was 0 F. As humans we would not dare go outside without our full winter gear on, let alone swim and play on the ice! So how do these animals manage to stay warm and survive these frigid lakes and rivers?  River otters are well prepared to live in the northern Wisconsin climate, and to be active year round. They have incredibly dense fur containing nearly 160,000 hairs per square inch. This creates a waterproof barrier that keeps them warm in the coldest water.  Like beavers (although unrelated, as beavers are rodents and otters are in the weasel family), they have been known to swim beneath ice and use trapped air bubbles to breath, if that’s not an option, they can hold their breath for up to 8 minutes! These amazing animals are fully adapted to their riparian environment. River otters have webbed back feet that help to propel them up to 12 mph in the water and their body shape is long and thin, which makes them extremely hydrodynamic.  Their close relatives, sea otters, have the densest hair of any animal, with some of them having over 1,000,000 hairs per square inch!  Visit the Big River Trail at the Discovery Center all winter to see what you can discover!

by Licia Johnson, Discovery Center Naturalist 

River Otter  Lutra canadensis
Photo by Azael Meza

Students take their bat knowledge out into the community

This past June the Discovery Center hosted The Center for Conservation Leadership  for a week of education and exploring.  During that time, we presented a bat education program where we introduced the students to our education bat Penelope, along with our acoustic monitoring efforts.  They learned the importance of bats to our natural world and about the threat of White Nose Syndrome, which was just found in their home state of IL last winter.  When we conduct programs to groups here at the Center, it is our hope and goal to impact the lives of folks by making them think about the topic and their place in nature, it goes beyond our hopes and dreams when students take it a step further.  Two students from that program, Jonny and Paula, decided to take the information they learned here to the next level- they created their own bat education program and are now delivering it in their community.  Pictured here, Jonny and Paula, aka The Bat Team, gave a presentation about the importance of bats to a group of families from Barbara Waller's Cool Learning Experience. They are looking forward to taking their show on the road to Neal School and the Waukegan Public Library later this week. Great work, Bat Team!  We are so proud of them and my naturalist heart can’t stop smiling J 

Jonny and Paula, aka "The Bat Team"
Photo courtesy of The Center for Conservation Leadership

Accoustic Bat Monitoring Program and An Introduction to Our Live Education Bat

Thank you 2013 Acoustic Bat Monitoring Volunteers

The bat survey season has ended for this year and I want to say THANK YOU to those who took the time to become involved in bat conservation efforts.  We completed 41 surveys throughout the season, with over 110 hours invested.  These efforts have added to more information and greater knowledge about Wisconsin’s bat population.  

Next year’s acoustic monitoring training sessions will be held in April and May 2014. Check out our website for more information and contact me if you have any questions.
 
Have you met Penelope?

This past April we were became home to an education bat – a big brown bat named Penelope.  She was rescued and rehabilitated out of Madison, was unable to be released into the wild, and is now with us for educational programming.  

More Bat Information:
 
http://www.futurity.org/male-bats-croon-love-songs-to-get-the-girl/  - interesting article on bat vocalizations used for mating
 
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/volunteer/julaug11/white_nose.html - Minnesota Conservation Volunteer Magazine article on threat of WNS to MN bats
 
http://www.whitenosesyndrome.org/ - great resources on up-to-date info on WNS and latest spread maps
 
http://wiatri.net/inventory/bats/News/2012DecNewsletter.pdf - December 2012 Wisconsin Bat Program newsletter
 
http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/WildlifeHabitat/bats.html - WI bat information and links
 
http://wiatri.net/inventory/bats/Media/ - links to interviews/audio with WI bat ecologists
 

Late Fall Trip to View Migrating Raptors along Lake Superior a Success

On Saturday, October 26, the Discovery Center Bird Club went on their 35^th outing for 2013.  We joined in for the North Lakeland Discovery Center’s trip to Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve in Duluth, MN. While the bird club has visited Hawk Ridge in recent years, joining the Discovery Center’s program enabled a new dimension when we were treated to a behind the scenes tour of the Hawk Ridge Raptor Banding Station.  

It was a real treat to be able to see how researchers entice raptors, capture them, handle them, and band them before releasing them back into the wild. Due to the size of our group we had to be split up, so one-half of us did the morning banding tour and the other half did it in the afternoon.  The afternoon group was treated to having a researcher show us a captured juvenile Red-tailed Hawk, allowing the group to learn details about that bird.  Later, that bird was ‘adopted’ by bird club member Peter Rasmussen, who got to hold the bird and then release it, a truly unique and special experience! 

In the past, bird club field trips to Hawk Ridge have occurred in late September when we would typically be able to observe hundreds of Sharp-shinned Hawks and Broad-winged Hawks.  We decided to join the Discovery Center’s late October program because a different mix of raptors typically migrate later during the migration season.  As it turned out, shortly after we first arrived the group encountered cold winds and a rain/snow squall.  However, bad weather only lasted for about one-half hour, the sky became partly cloudy, the winds moderated, and the raptors put on a great show.  In terms of numbers, by far the most frequent flyers of the day were Red-tailed Hawks.  Most of us are happy to see an occasional Red-tailed Hawk here and there over the course of a year but on Saturday we were able to observe 20 or more at one time!  At the end of the day the official raptor counters recorded 251 Red-tailed Hawks.  

For that day, the official counters recorded 10 species of raptors and a total count of 381 individual raptors, a very good day!  The bird club was hoping to observe some new species for the year and we were rewarded for our effort. Late season specialties for Hawk Ridge include Rough-legged Hawk, Northern Goshawk, and Golden Eagle and all three made appearances for us.  The latter two species were new to the club for 2013, so 2 species were added to the club’s annual list, raising our total species count for the year to 184 species of birds observed during club outings.  In addition to observing raptors, other species of late season migrating birds also were observed at Hawk Ridge including Snow Buntings, American Tree Sparrows, and a Rusty Blackbird.  

Group Photo and Blog submitted by Discovery Center Bird Club Member, Guy David.

An Exciting River Find...

 

On a September 28^th Manitowish River canoe trip, Discovery Center staff and participants came across an interesting & elusive critter infrequently found in Vilas County.  We were putting in at the Hwy 51 bridge-landing area, when Maria saw a small round critter swim over her foot. Upon further inspection, it was identified as an Eastern spiny softshelled turtle hatchling!  The state DNR set their status in WI as common but declining, and only existing in a small portion of Vilas. Spiny softshells are found in larger rivers and lakes that tend to have muddy or sandy bottoms. The young turtles bury themselves in this substrate to blend in and remain concealed when they are not moving about the water. They eat many different things, including fish, invertebrates, mollusks, and carrion.

After showing the young critter to trip participants, Maria released the turtle back into the river.  About four years ago, another Discovery Center staff member was canoeing past that same point and came across an adult spiny softshell laying eggs in the gravel at the landing. What an exciting Northwoods find!

Interview Leads to a Naturalist’s Reflection

As part of a school project, I was recently interviewed by fifth grade SOAR charter school students.  SOAR (School of Options & Applied Research) is a first year fifth thru seventh grade charter school in nearby Land O’ Lakes.  Their recent curricula finds students researching a famous environmentalist, creating a timeline of their achievements, and dressing up as that person at a Living Natural History Museum program.  Another assignment was to interview a local environmentalist; and my niece Sofia, a fifth grader, chose to interview me as a naturalist. 

She had 31 questions that ranged from my background to why I chose to go into this profession. It was fun for me, as I have not reflected on some of these topics for a long time. One of her questions really made me think about why I do what I do…  She asked: “When was the first time you volunteered for the environment?”  It took me a minute, and soon I realized I hadn’t done anything until almost out of college! Growing up, I wasn’t exposed to such opportunities and didn’t realize my interest in the natural world until, ironically, I left the Northwoods and my passion really came to life.  Now I'm back in the Northwoods and upon further reflecting on Sofia's interview questions, I came to understand on a different level why I love doing what I do... going into schools, working with young students, exposing them to the natural world and getting them involved in projects that get them out there, learning and respecting our area…  I wish I had had those experiences and opportunities as a young person.  And, now I am ever-so-thankful to be able to provide these opportunities to young people today. 
 

Upon a Harvest Moon

Shine On Harvest Moon
By Nora Bayes and Jack Norworth (1903)

Shine on, shine on harvest moon
Up in the sky,
I ain’t had no lovin’
Since January, February, June or July
Snow time ain’t no time to stay
Outdoors and spoon,
So shine on, shine on harvest moon,
For me and my gal.

------------------------

 



The Harvest Moon, the full moon nearest to the autumnal equinox, came upon us September 18-19. So, what is it that makes the harvest moon unique among full moons?

You might have noticed the Harvest Moon rising around sunset a few days in a row. On average, the moon rises about 50 minutes later each day. However, when a full moon happens close to the autumnal equinox, the moon rises 30-35 minutes later daily for several days before and after the full Harvest Moon. This is due to the moon’s orbital path making a narrower angle with the evening horizon which results in shorter than usual moon rising times.

The mystique surrounding the Harvest Moon leads to thoughts of bigger, brighter & more colorful/orange moons. This illusion (the "Moon Illusion") is due to the location of the moon near the horizon. When you look at the horizon, you are looking through a greater thickness of the Earth’s atmosphere than when looking overhead. All atmosphere scatters blue light (causing the sky to look blue to us). Also, the greater the thickness of atmosphere at the horizon, the greater the amount of red light passing through which thus gives the moon an orange color as it rises. 

The Harvest Moon was likely named by farmers, who could harvest their crops long into the night with the help of the lengthier moonlight.


What's That Smell??

Recently, while leading a hike down the Discovery Center's Interpretive Trail, we came upon a fungus I had never seen.  At first glance, I thought it was a discarded cigarette. When I went to pick it up, I realized that was quite the wrong first impression.  It was, indeed, a fungus! 

I held it up for the group, and that is when we noticed it….the smell of rotting meat (and dare I say, poop!).  I quickly looked it up in my guide and we identified it as Stinkhorn fungus.  It had a skinny, spongy body & a slimy brown tip.  Come to find, the tip is the foul smelling part (at least to us); however it proves quite attractive to insects.  These insects visit the smelly tip, and then carry off the fungi's reproductive spores. 

Stinkhorn fungi are found on the ground or on rotten wood (we found this one on a rotting Aspen tree), and grow August-October. Look closely at this photograph and you will notice an American carrion beetle near the tip -- we ID'ed at least four others around the fungus.  What a cool find and fun to learn together about an organism new to us all!

Photo by Licia Johnson - Discovery Center Staff. 

You Otter Check This Out!

“What’s that in the water over by that log?” said a woman squinting out the side of the pontoon boat at a small brownish shape protruding from the choppy waters of Rest Lake. 

“I think it’s just a stump sticking out of the water,” said her husband, quickly dismissing the brown object. 

The woman produced a pair of binoculars to study the supposed stump more carefully. “Look, it’s moving! It’s a muskrat.  No look.  You really ought to check this out.” she said, beckoning with a free hand while keeping eyes glued to the binoculars and the scene in the water below. “It keeps diving down under the water and then coming back up again, and its body is really long.  I think it’s an otter!”

At idle speed we carefully navigated the pontoon boat a little closer to the sleek, mocha brown colored animal.  It was indeed an otter, and not just one.  There were three otters playfully arching out of the water and diving below to find food. 

One of the otters came up from the water below with a fish in its mouth and swam toward a log sticking out into the water from the shore.  There on the log, it began to tear the fish into bite sized pieces. 

River otters consume 2.5lbs of fish, crayfish, amphibians, mussels, snails, and aquatic insects each day.  These members of the order Carnivora belong in the Mustelidae family along with weasels and badgers.  Unregulated trapping and habitat degradation in the late 19^th/early 20^th century nearly eradicated river otters from large portions of their historic range in North America.  In 1915 the seasonal harvest was discontinued in Wisconsin for a few years and the river otter population began to make a comeback.  Now these playful animals, nicknamed waterdogs, are found in many rivers and lakes in our backyard.  They are a welcomed sight on our Rest Lake pontoon tours and Manitowish River paddles. 

- Heather Lumpkin, Research and Monitoring Coordinator

Connecting with Nature through Silent Sports

This summer, the Discovery Center has been offering free weekly drop-in silent sport activities that not only connect silent sport enthusiasts, but provide opportunities for participants to connect with nature in unique ways.  Each activity this summer has provided us with a special glimpse of the Northwoods.  (Unfortunately, cameras have not always been handy.)

While biking on Papoose Lake Road (7/19), a small red fox trotted across the road just a few feet in front of us and while hiking at the WinManTrails (7/26), we observed a variety of berries, including pin cherries, chokecherries, and bright red elderberries.

Caption: Red elderberry

 

Paddling a section of the Manitowish River (8/2) led to a close encounter with a large, camouflaged snapping turtle basking in the sun and hiking at the Van Vliet Hemlocks (8/9) provided us with an up-close look at numerous species of fungi, including bioluminescent blue stain fungi, shiny varnish fungi, and both orange and white varieties of coral fungi.

Caption: Coral fungi (Photo by Peter Rebholz)

 

Our most unusual find came during a kayak paddle on Tamarack Lake (8/16).  Floating just under the surface were large circular masses of bryozoa, also known as moss animals.  In freshwater environments, these colonial microorganisms often secrete a mass of gelatinous material, which can cause them to be confused with eggs.  More information on bryozoa can be found at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bryozoa.

 

Caption: Bryozoa

 

As we have experienced this summer, every adventure in the Northwoods can lead to an exciting discovery. The Discovery Center’s drop-in silent sport activities will continue into the fall season on Fridays - who knows what else we will find!

Howling at the Wolves!

You cup your hands around your mouth, tilt your head back, and let out a long, low howl echo out into the shadowy forest and clear star-filled sky.  And, you wait for the majestic return howl of a wild wolf...

 

 

A radio collared wolf was located within a mile of the location from where this photo was taken -- just the day before.  We anxiously await and hope this wolf and its pack will respond with a howl. After letting out five loud howls, you strain your ears into the silence that fills the air.  As you listen carefully, you begin to notice the night sounds: the faint rustle of leaves that might indicate the movement of small mammals, insects, or amphibians on the forest floor; in the distance, the rhythmic, unrelenting calling of a Whip-poor-will; overhead, the mechanical squeaking and chirping of bats as they wing their way around your head.  And then...

Your intense focus is interrupted by the howl of a Gray Wolf whose solo howl is soon joined by the howl of other adult wolves and the higher pitched "yipping howls" of pups.  This is the unforgettable experience many wolf howl participants seek when they participate in a wolf howling program at the Discovery Center.  Though wolf howling groups are not assured a response from a wolf, the experience of being out at night in the territory of a wolf pack is, nonetheless, unforgettable. 

This summer Discovery Center wolf howl participants have lifted their voices to howl at three of the known wolf packs in the area around the Discovery Center - and have received a response once thus far.  Wolves are territorial, and use howls to communicate within a pack and with nearby packs.  Wolf howling surveys make use of this form of communication, prompting wolves in the area to respond through a series of human howls scripted by a wolf howl survey protocol.  Data from these wolf howl adventures and other wolf howl surveys around the state are submitted to the Wisconsin DNR and used to monitor the size and reproductive success of wolf packs. 

 

We begin a wolf howl evening with an interactive wolf ecology presentation and opportunities to examine the diet of Wisconsin wolves, explore the status of statewide wolf populations, and feel the sagittal crest on a wolf skull which provides surface area for attachment of powerful jaw muscles. 

 

 Wolf Ecology presentation by Research and Monitoring Coordinator Heather Lumpkin

 

Examining the difference between wolf and coyote pelts and skulls during the wolf ecology presentation.

 

There is still time to participate in a wolf howl this season.  Our wolf howl programs fill quickly, so be sure to Register Soon: Friday, September 13, and Saturdays, September 28 and October 19. 

 

And, for more on wolves, visit the Timber Wolf Alliance via WEB or FACEBOOK or contact me at TWA@DiscoveryCenter.net. The Timber Wolf Alliance is an affiliate organization within the umbrella of the North Lakeland Discovery Center.  Its mission is to use education and science-based information to promote an ecologically-functional wolf population within areas of suitable habitat.

 - Heather Lumpkin, Research and Monitoring Coordinator