Phenology July 25th

Phenology

7/19- Pickerel in bloom
 

-    Baby toad out (fingernail toads)
-    Leeks flowering

7/20- White water lily in bloom 

7/21- Cup plant blooming
7/23 Monarch Caterpillar out


Photos by Peter Rebholz

Tickets for Inaugural Lakeside Dinner Series Available

Chapel Rock: Twenty-One Poetic Places On and Off the Globe

Manitowish Waters, WI – On Wednesday July 31 at 5:30pm, the North Lakeland Discovery Center will host the first in a series of three Lakeside Dinner programs.  The July evening features locally catered dinner, complimentary wine and beverages, and artwork for display and sale.  The evening will culminate with a “Chapel Rock” performance – an interpretive art program performed on the beautiful outdoor amphitheater overlooking Statehouse Lake.

“Chapel Rock: Twenty-One Poetic Places On and Off the Globe” is the brainchild of poet-author Mara MacKay.  MacKay will lead the program by providing readings that tie the nature-art components together, and that are accompanied by interpretive dance from members of the Ironwood Dance Company.  A selection of wildlife and nature-oriented artwork will also be presented in concert with Old Wood Press and Z Gallery. 

MacKay approached the Discovery Center this winter with the idea of collaboration among nature-art organizations. At the same time, her “Chapel Rock” e-book was going live on ITunes.  “Chapel Rock” arose as the natural story for linking the Discovery Center and MacKay’s missions, and led to plans for an evening celebration for those interested in a fun social gathering that highlights the intermingling of art, nature and sense of place.  The book offers a collection of poems photo-illustrated by Midwest artists and photographers, and features handmade and Americana pieces that reflect the heritage of the Great Lakes natural resource-rich region.

July’s program is additionally supported by an anonymous donor, and provides complimentary wine and beer. Individuals that support a nature or art center receive $5 off the $29 admission ticket.  Tickets for the 3-part series, hosted on July 31, August 28, and September 25, are available for $75 or $65 for nature-art supporters.  For more information or to reserve your ticket(s), visit www.DiscoveryCenter.net and click on “Event Calendar” or call the Center at (877) 543-2085.  The Discovery Center is located on County Highway W just 1.2 miles north of US Highway 51 in Manitowish Waters, WI. 

Caption:  The above art graces the cover of the “Chapel Rock” e-book. Mixed media artists that collaborated on Chapel Rock will be present at the Wednesday, July 31 Lakeside Dinner Program.  Artwork will be available for both sale and viewing.

About the North Lakeland Discovery Center

The North Lakeland Discovery Center (www.DiscoveryCenter.net) is a not-for-profit environmental education center located in Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin.  Our mission is to enrich live and inspire an ethic of care for Wisconsin’s Northwoods through the facilitation of connections among nature, people and community.  We offer a variety of community programs throughout the year for all ages, as well as drop-in activities including 12 miles of classic ski and snowshoe trails, warming hut, snowshoe rentals, and nature center activities. 

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Contact: 

Sarah Johnson

Executive Director

715-543-2085

Sarah@DiscoveryCenter.net

Phenology July 9-13

7/9-Hairbell in bloom

7/10- sundew in bloom

7/12 – shinleaf in bloom

-Birdsfoot trefoil in bloom: (Non-native species now considered an invasive species in some parts of the Midwest, originally used as erosion control along roadsides and some livestock forage.)

-Black-eyed Susans in bloom

7/13- Saint John’s wort in bloom

-Mullen in Bloom

-Upright Bindweed in bloom

-Gaillardia (Blanket Flower) in bloom

All photos by peter rebholz

Phenology July 16-18

Phenology

7/16- Gold smith Beetle (scarab)

                  -Ebony Jewel Wing (Dragon fly)

7/18- Evening Primrose in bloom

                  -Wild rose in bloom

                

                  -marsh cinquefoil  in bloom

               

photos by peter rebholz

Paddling the Manitowish River

by Maria Kopecky, Outdoor Recreation and Events Specialist

This week, I kayaked one of the most popular sections of the Manitowish River - from the Rest Lake Dam to Highway 47 in the town of Manitowish. This section of the river is easily navigable and offers both a variety and abundance of scenery. Once you enter the river just below the dam, the current takes you directly into Vance Lake, and then Sturgeon Lake.

Just past the Highway 51 bridge are the only rapids you will encounter, about 70 yards of a Class 1 pick-me-up. Easily traversable, especially in high water, these small rapids provide a little rush of excitement to the trip. After the rapids comes Benson Lake, where I saw eagles nesting overhead and witnessed a huge sturgeon jumping out of the water not far from my kayak.

Between Benson Lake and the Highway 51 wayside are two DNR campsites. Both these sites are ideal areas to take a relaxing break from paddling, with picnic tables shaded by towering red pines. Past the wayside, the Manitowish changes character, leaving the trees behind and meandering through marshy terrain until take-out at Highway 47.

This enjoyable trip is 10 miles in length and takes about 3 hours to complete. 
 All Photos by Maria Kopecky

It Came From Above!

by Licia Johnson

While attempting to photograph a Red Admiral butterfly, an unidentified dragonfly flew in and pinned the butterfly to the ground.  Peter was lucky enough to witness this and catch a shot with his camera.  Although most of the adult dragonfly’s diet consists of members of the Diptera order, the true flies, juvenile dragonflies will sometimes eat butterflies and moths.  They strip off and discard the wings before they eat them headfirst.  Dragonflies are amazing aerial hunters.  This strategy for catching insects in midair is known as “hawking.”  They can also hover briefly above vegetation to grab small insects on plant leaves and stems, known as “gleaning.”  

Photo by Peter Rebholz

Summer of the Lonely Milkweed

By Licia Johnson, Naturalist

We saw our first Monarch butterfly here at the Discovery Center on May 31^st.  Almost every day since then, we have been checking the milkweed (the only host plant of the Monarch larva) in search of eggs and caterpillars.  The flowers on the plants are starting to bloom and we have yet to find a single egg or caterpillar.  In summers past, at this point we usually have no fewer than 50 Monarchs being reared in our Nature Nook.  This year we have some pretty lonely milkweed.  I’ve talked with other naturalists around the state and they are seeing the same trend. 

So where are all the Monarchs? 

We have seen fewer butterflies this year than any other.  Sadly we are not alone, all states surrounding Wisconsin are also reporting low numbers of butterflies.  As a monarch enthusiast, the lack of all stages of Monarchs has me greatly concerned.  Looking into it a bit more, there are several factors at play in explaining these low numbers:

·      The overwintering population of Monarchs in Mexico in 2012-2013 was at an all-time low- only 1.19 hectares.  This number of butterflies defines the upper-most limit of butterflies that will be returning north to southern US in the spring. 

·      Our hot, dry summers.  Locations in a drought, having hot, dry weather, tend to shorten the lifespan of the adult Monarch butterfly.  In turn, they produce less eggs, and thus, less butterflies. 

·      Deforestation of the Oyamel fir forests-the only forests Monarchs travel to in the winter time down in Mexico.  The loss of over-wintering habitat is a very important factor, including many of our neo-migratory birds.

·      Changing in crops and farm practices.  Many of the milkweed plants that used to grow in fields are being eliminated. 

·      Landscaping that contains nonnative species.

·      Use of pesticides.  This kills larvae and adult caterpillars, along with the intended insect target.

·      Loss of habitat.  As roadsides are mowed down, fields of milkweeds cleared for development, the amount of habitat for these animals is quickly diminishing. 

What Can You Do?

There are some factors at play here that are hard for us to interject and correct, but there are many things you can do to help our Monarch friends (and easy too!):

·       Plant milkweed in gardens and around your house- they have a beautiful flower that smells just like lilacs!

·       Encourage others to plant milkweed.

·       Plant native flowers as food sources for all butterflies.

·       Don’t use pesticides or herbicides in gardens and areas where butterflies are found.

·       Rear monarch larvae into the adult stage and become part of a monitoring effort that tags them in the fall to contribute to important migration and population information.

Please feel free to contact me, Licia Johnson licia@discoverycenter.net if you have any questions about our Monarch population and how you can help them.  Monarch conservation and habitat restoration will be key in the coming years to ensure a healthy population of Monarch butterflies. 

 

The milkweed patch at the Discovery Center, minus the monarchs!

Not completely devoid of life, a red milkweed beetle is often found living amongst the flowers of the milkweed plant.

The beautiful and fragrant flower of the milkweed is now in bloom.

Sources:

Photos: Licia J.

Where have the butterflies gone?  Written by Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press, July 6, 2013. 

Monarch Watch Blog.  Monarch Population Status, 29 May 2013 | Author: Chip Taylor  http://monarchwatch.org/blog/ 

Coyotes on Campus!

by Tim Dobbins, Water Education Intern

 Over the past week, the Discovery Center has had a couple of new faces frequently visiting the activity field. Two coyote pups have made the Discovery Center woods their home. Visitors and employees have noticed our furry friends crossing the driveway and learning the skills to hunt in the open field of grasses and wild flowers.

The coyote is known to be one of the most adaptable animals in North America and can be found throughout all of Wisconsin. Though very common here in the rural Northwoods, coyotes can thrive in urban populations as well. One reason these animals are able to adapt so well is because of the diversity of what they eat. Coyotes are known as both predators and scavengers, eating a wide range of things from small rodents and carcasses to berries, fish, and even plants like corn depending on the season.

Coyotes are born in April or May making our pups here around two to two and a half months old. It is at this age that pups are taught the necessary hunting skills needed to survive on their own. By the end of the summer the pups will be old enough and have the skills to move out of the parents territories and find one of their own. On occasion, the adolescent coyotes will remain with their parents to form a hunting pack. 

Northern Wisconsin is home to another member of the dog family, the timber wolf, or gray wolf. To the untrained eye, these cousins can often be mistaken for one another. The biggest difference in appearance between the two is size.  Wolves will grow considerably larger than coyotes, more than double in size. But what about a young wolf that isn’t fully grown yet? There are other traits to look for, such as the tail. Coyotes have bushy tails and often hold them very low to the ground where a wolf tail will be more slender in appearance. Also, the legs of a coyote are much thinner than those of a wolf.

Join us for a wolf howling survey Wednesday, July 17th, at 7:30p - you can stop by the Discovery Center for a chance to see the pups and to learn more about coyotes and wolves!   

Register online through Tuesday.

Sources:

Photos by Peter R.

dnr.wi.gov/eek/critter/mammal/coyote.htm

www.dnr.state.oh.us/Portals/9/pdf/pub376.pdf

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Members Enjoy a Beautiful Evening at the Discovery Center

By Heather Lumpkin, Research and Monitoring Coordinator

Temperature in the low 70’s, cool breeze, and clear skies.  The weather turned out to be beautiful for our annual member appreciation dinner on Monday evening.  Before eating a delicious dinner of pulled pork sandwiches, macaroni salad, coleslaw, and corn casserole, members gathered near the lodge for drinks and conversation with one another and the staff. 

Photo 1: members gather near the lodge for drinks and conversation

There were also a variety of activities available.  Members could relax on a pontoon boat ride, paddle a kayak or canoe around Statehouse Lake, and tour the Director’s House.  

Photo 2: cruising Statehouse Lake on the pontoon boat

  Kids enjoyed checking out the nature nook and making a craft with pinecones. 

Photo 3: Courtney, Environmental Educator, helps kids with a craft

After Dinner members participated in the annual meeting which included in introduction to staff, update on finances, and update on some of the key programs and projects that are taking place around the Discovery Center.  One of these key projects is the construction of outdoor stations called e-pods designed for enrichment, exploration, and education.  E-pods will incorporate play, learning, and opportunities to participate in monitoring projects into an interactive display and accompanying outposts. Each e-pod will focus on the wolves, woods, birds, bogs, lakes, bats, or other key aspect of the northwoods.  We are very excited about this project and our members have been helping provide both ideas and financial support to make it happen.  More information about the e-pod project can be found at http://www.discoverycenter.net/fund-a-wish.html.

Photo 4 Licia, Naturalist, speaks with members about the e-pods that are being developed for the Discovery Center

Each year members are invited to our annual meeting - we hope to you see you next year!