Experiencing Morning Marshland Music

By Heather Lumpkin, Research and Monitoring Coordinator

In an essay in A Sand County Almanac, Aldo Leopold wrote of a still morning on a marsh which quickly became a cacophony of sounds:

“A pandemonium of trumpets, rattles, croaks, and cries almost shakes the bog with its nearness, but without yet disclosing whence it comes. At last a glint of sun reveals the approach of a great echelon of birds. On motionless wing they emerge from the lifting mists, sweep a final arc of sky, and settle in clangorous descending spirals to their feeding grounds. A new day has begun on the crane marsh.” 

In the 1930’s when Leopold was penning “Marshland Elegy”, there was an estimated 25 nesting pairs of Sandhill Cranes in Wisconsin.  Their numbers had been reduced greatly during the 1800’s and early 1900’s by hunting pressures and wetland drainage.  Today an estimated 72,000 Sandhill Cranes live along the migratory path that runs from Wisconsin to the Southeast, making the Sandhill Crane one of our most numerous crane species and an outstanding example of species recovery.

“Map of Sandhill Crane range and migration routes.  Courtesy of the International Crane Foundation”

On Saturday, April 18 thousands of citizen scientists awoke during the early hours of the morning to travel in the dark to wetland sites across Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, and Indiana.  They waited patiently as the sun came up to hear the trumpets, rattles, croaks, and cries of Sandhill Cranes as they greeted the morning.  These volunteers for the Annual Midwest Crane Count (https://www.savingcranes.org/annual-midwest-crane-count.html) play an indispensable role in helping to estimate the Sandhill Crane population and documenting their recovery.  Now they also count Whooping Cranes, a federally endangered crane species that is slowly recovering thanks to hand rearing and habitat protection.

For the last several years the North Lakeland Discovery Center has assisted with these efforts by coordinating Crane Count volunteers in Vilas County. 

This year in Vilas County…..

-          29 citizen scientists participated

-          20 sites across Vilas County were surveyed

-          67 Sandhill Cranes were counted!

Crane counters also observed 47 other bird species during the count including American Woodcocks doing their twittering, courtship flight and Wison’s Snipe making their haunting, winnowing calls.  But the experience goes far beyond the numbers and species lists.  As one volunteer stated, “There's nothing quite like hearing cranes communicating in a marsh at sunrise - beautiful and so peaceful. Also, being surrounded by all of the other awakening animal's sights and sounds is an incredible experience.”  Participating in the Annual Midwest Crane Count is certainly an unforgettable and rewarding experience.  

Watching the landscape transition from night to day is exhilerating. Once you witness it from nature's perspective, you'll want to experience it more often.

– Jeff Waite

Experience Genesis… try 5:30 a.m. - live the experience.

– Wil Conway

At 5:30 am, I may be cranky, but the cranes are dancing!

– Anonymous Vilas County Crane Counter

Thank you to all of the citizen scientists who made this day such a success!

“Sandhill Crane in Powell Marsh.  Photo by Azael Meza.”

Far From Home….

by, Licia Johnson.

The Discovery Center was recently visited by a group of students very far from home.  On Sunday, February 8th, 30 middle and high school students from China, part of the Wisconsin Education and Winter Exploration Program, spent most of the day exploring the Discovery Center by snowshoe and learning all about bats.  We started inside with a short program on bats, where the students were able to meet our live education bat, Leon, up close and personal.  I was really surprised by their knowledge of the English language, and even learned a few new words in Chinese, including nocturnal and echolocation.  They had great questions and were really engaged throughout the program.

 Students explore bat artifacts after meeting a live education bat up close

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Before heading offsite to the Pea Patch Saloon for lunch, the students visited all the exhibits and animals that live in our Nature Nook.  They loved all the taxidermy critters and especially liked the opportunity to touch and look at Maize, our education corn snake.

 Students taking a closer look at Maize, our education corn snake.  

When they returned from lunch, it was time to do a bit of snowshoeing.  For some of them this trip to the US was their first time playing in snow, and for many, their first time on snowshoes.  Mark, one of the leaders, gave a great introduction to snowshoeing and we were soon off on the trail.  Being an adventurous crew, they wanted to snowshoe across the deep snow on the bog- they really had a good workout!  We finished the trek by running across the lake- laughing and falling the entire time.  

One of the leaders, Mark, instructs students on how to use the snowshoes.

Students try out their snowshoes before heading out on the Discovery Center trails.

Students try out their snowshoes in the deep bog snow.

Crossing the bog boardwalk.

Students finished the snowshoe trek by running across Statehouse Lake.

It was really a neat experience for me to be a part of a group like this one.  I haven’t had the pleasure to instruct many foreign students, and it turned out to be a really fun time for all of us.  We look forward to possibly working with the group next year!

About the 2015 Wisconsin Education & Winter Exploration Program

The Wisconsin Education & Winter Exploration Program is in its second year and is a collaborative effort between UWSP’s School of Natural Resources, Central Wisconsin Environmental Station, and International Students Office, as well as the Stevens Point Area School District & the Stevens Point Area Catholic Schools.

Each Chinese student is matched with an American student during the school day, who serves as their “buddy,” helping to acclimatize them to American culture and language, as well as to the school system.  This is taking place at Pacelli High School, PJ Jacobs Jr. High School and St. Peter Middle School.  The Chinese students follow the daily class schedule of their buddies, and when feasible, take part in extracurricular activities along with them. Undoubtedly, the highlight of the trip for most of these youngsters from China is their home-stay for a long weekend with a local family. From Wednesday evening, February 18th through Sunday afternoon, February 22nd, each Chinese student will stay in the home of a family and get a glimpse into how a typical Midwestern American family lives. Families will include the students in all their normal meals and activities, as much as possible. This is something the Chinese students are all very excited about!

This year there are 30 middle & high school aged participants from China, up from 16 students last year. These students have expressed an interest in Natural Resources and the possibility of future study in the US. The students will attend classes in the public & Catholic Schools most weekdays and take part in programming related to Natural Resources throughout the three weeks they are here. The Chinese students will be accompanied by an adult chaperon from China.  While they are in Stevens Point, a UWSP Program Coordinator with a background in Natural Resources will lead them on all outings and excursions, with the assistance of three UWSP student counselors.  During their stay, the group will visit the Mead Wildlife Area, the Midwest Renewable Energy Association, and Trees for Tomorrow in Eagle River, the North Lakeland Discovery Center in Manitowish Waters, and Treehaven in Tomahawk.  They will also go snowshoeing, sledding & tobogganing, and spend a day at a waterpark in Wisconsin Dells.

2015 WAEE Winter Workshop was a Success!

by: Licia Johnson, Naturalist and WAEE Treasurer

As a member of the Wisconsin Association for Environmental Education Board of Directors, I took on the task of chairing our annual Winter Workshop.  The theme this year was “Sensing the Season” – ways to get out and explore the natural world using your senses.  We had over 90 people join in on a weekend filled with great presentations, engaging workshops, a fabulous featured speaker, laughter, music, and more! 

The workshop was held at the beautiful Treehaven campus in Tomahawk, WI and brought folks from all across the state, and even over state lines.  The trails were groomed to perfection and participants were able to take advantage of them in between programs. 

Program topics ranged from discussion on how to get educators to love the outdoors, to life beyond grants and even cross-country ski lessons.  Fun and engaging workshops had folks creating nature journals and learning how to connect digital natives to nature. 

Our featured speaker, John Bates, naturalist and author gave a very inspiring talk on teaching others to develop a sixth sense, creating compassion and reference for the natural world.  Learn more about John and some of his work at www.Manitowish.com. 

Featured speaker John Bates presents to workshop participants.  Photo by Carly Swatek 

Once again the workshop was blessed with the presence of the Brutal Gourmet, and the enticing aroma of raccoon could be smelled throughout the campus during this fun lunch activity.  A big thanks needs to go out to the fun and entertaining band, 50% folk, who joined in on the fun Saturday night and folks danced up a storm.  Also sponsoring entertainment that night was the Minocqua Brewing Company and Three Lakes Winery. 

 Participants enjoy cooking lunch with the Brutal Gourmet. Photo by Carly Swatek

100% of the energy used for the program was purchased through WPS's NatureWise Renewable Energy Program-energy purchased through this program comes from clean, safe, locally sourced wind and biogas. 

A big thanks goes out to all the folks who traveled out for the weekend to participate in the workshop- presenters, educators, students, and many other organizations.  Without an engaged audience, these workshops wouldn’t be as successful.

A silent auction helped raise money for future workshops and scholarships.   Photo by Carly Swatek

This was my first time at this workshop and I have to admit it was really a lot of fun!  Meeting up with other naturalist friends from around the state, meeting new folks and networking, and getting the Discovery Center on the map and in folk’s radar were some of the highlights for me.  I look forward to planning the 2016 Winter Workshop!

Former Discovery Center intern, Angie Ziobro, presents the closing at the workshop.  To the left is a wood cookie tree that was created throughout the weekend- each wood cookie has one way you can use your senses to explore the natural world.  Photo by Carly Swatek

                      

Wisconsin Bat Festival 2014 in Milwaukee Was a Success!

By Licia Johnson, NLDC Staff Naturalist

“Every year, the Wisconsin Bat Program hosts a Wisconsin Bat Festival in conjunction with partners. The Festival is a globally relevant, engaging and important event to promote conservation of bats and ultimately, our environment. Bats are critical to ecosystems around the world and locally. Because these animals are often misunderstood and because multiple species are now threatened with extinction people should be encouraged to protect them. Through this message, citizens learn about the importance of being good stewards of the earth while inspiring children to become the next generation of researchers and biologists necessary to preserve the balance of our environment.”  ~ 

Wisconsin Bat Program

Photo 1-  Over 800 people came to the Urban Ecology Center on October 3^rd for the annual Wisconsin Bat Festival.

Photo 2- One of my jobs at the festival was educating folks in the live bat room.  Here I am with Leon, one of the Discovery Center’s education bats- he was echo-locating, and we were able to hear it with the Anabat detector. 

The 2014 WI Bat Festival reached over 1300 attendees over three days.  It was hosted by the Urban Ecology Center in Milwaukee Wisconsin starting on October 3, 2014.  This year, the Festival included not only the same great educational programs and activities as last year, but also a bat science symposium and a screening and discussion panel of the video Battle for Bats- Surviving white-nose syndrome.

Leon, Fritz (our two new male educational Big Brown Bats) and I attended and worked in the live education bat area-educating folks on big browns, fruit bats, and Jamaican leaf nosed bats.  Over 100 individuals make this Festival happen each year.   Presenters shared their stories and expertise, research and monitoring results with others.  Science presentations this year covered a wide range of topics including rabies, white nose syndrome, acoustic monitoring, bats of Cuba and caves.  We had great attendance in the Science Symposium!  There were also activities including guano dissection, “what does a bat eat” activity, craft cave, and more.  Attendees also had a chance to explore the blow up cave and learn to be a bat biologist with other fun activities.  I was fortunate enough to take a turn being the mascot- “Stella Luna” (of the kids bat book) and met the first girl in the world to survive full-on rabies, Jeanna along with attending her interview with WPR’s Judith Siers-Poisson- discussing her journey with the disease.  It was a great weekend filled with bat education and celebration! 

Photo 3- Me as Stella Luna and Jeanna.

Photo 4- I had a little fun with the “green screen” activity at the Festival- here I am as a hibernating Eastern Pipistrelle. J 

Photo 5- One of the bats in the live bat display, the Jamaican Leaf Nosed Bat.

Celebrate bats during National Bat Week October 26-November 1!

Photo 6- Celebrate bats!

500 Hours

by: Leah Dittberner

Upon graduating the University of Wisconsin this spring, I was filled with a variety of emotions. Of course there was the excitement, pride, and relief that I had made it out alive. However, closing out my time studying natural resources and ecology also left me with a sense of sadness, anxiety, and even despair upon learning how much humans have devastated our environment. We have lost so many species of flora and fauna, and will continue to endure such losses. A nature lover who grew up watching The Lion King, this concept is painful to ponder. However, my time at the Discovery Center has helped to restore a sense of hope by serving as a shining example of how humans can come together to heal the wounds we have inflicted on this planet we call home. The center’s committed individuals treat not only the people, but also the plants and animals that reside in the Northwoods as family, as integral parts of a complex and interconnected community. This, to me, is stewardship.

One idea that is discussed profusely in the classrooms of universities around the country (including my alma mater) is that of a sense of place. After sitting for 500 hours at boat landings this summer conducting Clean Boats, Clean Waters surveys, I understand exactly why this topic is so prevalent in the curricula of environmental educators, scientists, historians, and ethnographers alike. I have learned to love these boat landings, these seemingly insignificant places, by simply observing the wildlife, the silent magic in the transitions from irises to asters, gaywings to goldenrod, throughout the course of the growing season. I have heard the wind in the pines, the call of the loon, and the sound of the waves washing the shore. I have felt the joy of watching warblers forage in their treetop kingdom. I have witnessed a dragonfly emerge from its nymph form, sun itself, and take flight for the first time. I have seen the excitement on the faces of adults and children alike as they describe their catch out on one of the many beautiful lakes in Vilas County. I have learned about the edible and non-edible plants, lichen, mushrooms, and mosses. I have had the privilege to help protect these waters for future generations to enjoy, and I couldn’t be more grateful for this summer’s 500 hours of “weed patrol.”

I strongly believe that a highly internalized sense of place, of knowing not only the people and economics of an area, but familiarizing oneself with the complex ecology as well, is essential for the health of the planet as a whole. Sitting at boat landings for 500 hours has taught me patience, has revealed nature’s many avenues for exploration, and has instilled in me a deep sense of respect, not only for the land, but for the people who love this place and call it home. It has even helped to cure my wanderlust. Of course I would love to take off and hike mountains, learn to surf, or soak in a hot spring in some far-off land. However, the enchanting beauty, biodiversity, and serenity of the Northwoods have assured me that learning about the wonders of my homeland is something that must be shared in order to help individuals, families, and communities grow sustainably.

I will end this reflection on my time at the NLDC with the words of that one wise song from The Lion King:

 “There is far too much to take in here, more to find than can ever be found.”

Abundant thanks to the North Lakeland Discovery Center for reminding me of this and helping restore in me a sense of childlike curiosity about the world around me.

Hear ‘em Sing… Again!

Contributed by: Discovery Center Bird Club

A reported 9000 Americans are turning 60 each and every day. Add to that the 4-6 million combat veterans from a variety of wars fought over the past 5-6 decades and it translates into a few age and noise-related hearing disabilities. More people than ever before are suffering from some form of hearing loss. Along with the day-to-day challenges, are recreational limitations particularly given rapid growth in birding across the country. The high frequency songs produced by many birds cannot be heard by those who face auditory limitations.

Recently, Discovery Center and Bird Club member Duanne Swift, a Viet Nam veteran with a 70% high frequency hearing loss, participated in the Master Naturalist program. The program requires completion of a “Capstone” project whereby participants select a longer term project that will benefit the environmental education needs of the communities they live in. Swift selected a project he called “Hear ‘em Sing” whereby he would raise enough money for the North Lakeland Discovery Center to purchase Song Finder units to be available to loan to birders with high frequency hearing loss.

This electronic high frequency sound reduction unit is the brainchild of Lang Elliot of Cornell NY, an active birder who lost his ability to hear many birds as a child. Song Finder, fits on your shirt pocket and includes a headset. The unit divides high frequency bird songs (above 4000 Hz) into notes that most people with hearing in the 2000 Hz range can hear easily.

The Northwoods is a hotspot for many wood warblers, as well as other species, and when the leaves appear each spring birders rely heavily on being able to identify the songs of birds in order to determine their presence in the area. Swift hopes to raise enough money to purchase several Song Finder (www.hearbirdsagain.com) this fall. The units will then be available for loan at the Discovery Center in Manitowish Waters. Those wishing to contribute should send checks to North Lakeland Discovery Center, PO Box 237, Manitowish Waters, WI 54545 Attention: Hear ‘em Sing project.

Looking for Bats

By: Licia Johnson

The Bat Crew with the WI Department of Natural Resources down in Madison have been working hard this summer trying to locate the Northern Long-Eared Bat (Myotis septentrionalis).  It is one of the four bats listed in WI as threatened, due to the fact that they hibernate in caves and mines and therefore are susceptible to White Nose Syndrome.  For more on WNS please visit www.whitenosesyndrome.org.  This is a bat not very common in Wisconsin, and has been recently looked at to be placed on the federally endangered species list.  Bat biologists have spent most of the summer traveling around the state in search of this elusive bat.  Visiting different sites, they go out at night and attempt to mist net the bats as they fly through the forest.  These are small nets that will catch the bats, allowing the biologists to remove, weigh, measure and examine the bat. The goal is to locate the Northern Long-Eared bat (specifically lactating females), put a small transmitter on their back, and later locate them using radio telemetry equipment at their roosting sites.  These females roost alone or with a few other females under tree bark and in crevices, and rarely in man-made structures.  We were lucky enough here at the Discovery Center to host a group of biologists who were studying these animals at nearby sites in the Northern Highland American Legion State Forest.  I was further lucky enough to join them one evening in June on one of their excursions…

We broke into three teams, each in a different location.  We set up the mist nets and then waited.  Throughout the night we caught many bats, at my station they were all Little Brown Bats.  They were removed from the nets, weighed, measured, checked for signs of wing membrane deterioration and then released.  We had a few males, one lactating female and one very pregnant female, which was interesting this late in the season.  

  

Caption: All captured bats were measured (forewing), weighed in a pill container and checked for wing membrane deterioration.  (photos by Licia Johnson)

 One group did manage to catch a Northern Long-Eared Bat and put a transmitter on her.   

Caption: Each bat gets tagged with a transmitter that is less than 5% its body weight. The tag is attached using non-toxic surgical glue that comes off after a couple weeks.  The transmitter batteries last 5-10 days. (WDNR PHOTO)

  (moth photo by Licia Johnson, squirrel photo WDNR)

There were a few critters that managed to get caught in the nets during the night, including Prometheus Moths and Flying Squirrels- all released without harm!

The Wisconsin Bat Crew finished up their studies earlier this month.  More information to come on what they found.  For more information on the federal listing of the Northern Long-Eared Bat please visit: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered/mammals/nlba/