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