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Upcoming EventsMar 23 ALAS field trip Spring Migrants at ShioctonApr 17 ALAS program So What’s the Trouble With Worms

Newsletter of the Aldo Leopold Audubon Society, Inc. March 2013

www.aldoleopoldaudubon.org

Aldo Leopold Audubon Societypresents

Wednesday, March 20

7 p.m.

Wisconsin Cranes

Lincoln Center1519 Water Street, Stevens Point

Jeb Barzen,speaker

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ALAS Field Trip   Early Spring Migrants at Shiocton

Saturday, March 23 6:45 AM

It’s time to celebrate the arrival of spring with a trip to the Shiocton Wetlands. The end of March usually means the arrival of Tundra Swans, Canada and Snow geese, as well as a wide variety of other waterfowl and migratory birds to the Shiocton and Wolf River bottomlands. We’ll meet at 6:45 am in the old Walmart parking lot south of Applebee’s to get organized and car pool. Dress for the weather and the probability of walking

on some wet and muddy roads. We’ll leave at 7:00 am and should return around 1:00 pm. For more information call Gerry Janz @715-340-3834.

Upcoming Events

Birding and SightSeeing in CoSta riCa

January 8-16, 2014

UWSP Adventure Tours and ALAS will be co-sponsoring a trip, January 8-16, 2014 to study the culture and tropical ecology of Costa Rica. This has been a very popular trip for many ALAS members. During the 2013 trip, 170 bird species were recorded along with other amazing plant and animal species. Dr. Dennis Yockers is coordinating the 2014 excursion. There are 18 spots available and participants need to submit a deposit of $300 to hold a spot. Registration is due October 1, 2013. Don’t miss out on this phenomenal tropical experience.

Visit www.uwsp.edu/hphd/adventuretours for registration details and the complete Costa Rica trip itinerary. For further information contact Dennis at 715-345-0555 or 252-0640 or via email at dennis.yockers@gmail.com

Aldo Leopold Audubon Societypresents

Saturday, March 236:45 a.m.

Early Spring MigrantSShiocton

For more information: call Gerry Janz (715) 340-3834

Meet: Old Walmart parking lot (south of Applebee’s)Hwy 10 East, Stevens PointPhoto by Gerry Janz

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Wisconsin CranesExplore the secret world of Sandhill and

Whooping Cranes as Jeb Barzen, Director of Field Ecology at the International Crane Foundation, presents Wisconsin Cranes at the Aldo Leopold Audubon Society program on Wednesday, March 20th, at the Lincoln Center, 1519 Water Street in Stevens Point. Two populations of color-marked birds, studied for decades, will help answer the following questions: Do Sandhill Cranes cause all the damage they are blamed for? How do organizations like the International

Crane Foundation (ICF) work to promote a positive co-existence between farmer and crane? Do cranes mate for life? Are you prepared for the truths that these marked birds have taught us? Should we allow hunting of Sandhill Cranes? What about the Whooping Cranes that we have been reintroducing to Wisconsin for 13 years? Why aren’t they breeding as well as they should be? What can we do about it? Are reintroductions an appropriate conservation tool for Whooping Cranes? Please come and learn how ICF and its partners address these questions and more.

Jeb Barzen has directed the Field Ecology Department at the International Crane Foundation (ICF) for 25 years.  His responsibilities include research and restoration work that ICF conducts in Wisconsin, Southeast Asia and China. Jeb also directs long-term research in central Wisconsin on both Sandhill and Whooping Cranes. 

Through its varied and diverse projects, the ICF Field Ecology Department develops research and conservation programs that improve outcomes on public and private lands here and abroad.  Two examples include development of the Healthy Grown Potato, which changes farming practices to protect wetlands, prairies and savannas that cranes actively use, and development of crop damage solutions that not only help Sandhill Cranes in the Midwest, but many crane species worldwide. These sustainable farming and crop damage tools are now being exported to other areas, like South Africa, where cranes live and where these issues need to be addressed. Long-term research projects with Sandhill and Whooping Cranes help maintain ICF’s expertise in all things crane worldwide.

Jeb received Wildlife Biology degrees from the University of North Dakota (M.S.-1989) and from the University of Minnesota (B.S.-1982). 

ALAS programs are free and open to the public and families are encouraged to attend.

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delightful BirdS i have Known

Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)

Alan Haney

I know it is my imagination, but it seems that my resident pair of red-tails recognize and greet me when I am about. For the past five years, the pair has nested in the neighbor’s woods north of my house, and regularly hunt over all of my property. On a sunny morning, especially in

the winter, one will likely be sitting along the east edge of the South Woods where the rising sun catches them, or on the south side of the neighbor’s woods near the river. Popular perches are used regularly... high limbs with easy access and good visibility to the field below. Their “greeting” to me, usually given in flight, is their rasping scream falling in pitch and intensity. Nearly every movie in which a sound effect to suggest wildness is used inserts the red-tail’s scream, regardless of the species of bird that may or may not be shown. Consequently, the red-tail’s call is familiar to most people. Once the air begins to warm, the red-tails begin kiting over the fields, either alone or together, making slow, lazy circles, 50 to 500 feet above the ground, rarely higher.

Red-Tails in Love (1998) is a wonderful book by Marie Winn that documents the life of Red-tailed Hawks living in Central Park, and perhaps equally interesting, the bird-watchers who faithfully observed them. The book illustrates the adaptability of this human-tolerating raptor, and the special interest raptors elicit from most people who enjoy birds. Raptors are the charismatic members of Aves (class of animals that are birds), and the Red-tailed Hawk is one of the more charismatic species.

Red-tails can be found throughout North and Central America, south of the true tundra, in nearly every habitat, including large cities. Red-tails are the most common of the very diverse Buteo genus. In the Old World, Buteos are commonly called buzzards. Buteos are medium to large hawks with

Red-tailed Hawk

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broad wings and a sturdy build. Buteos feed primarily on small mammals, and the red-tail is no exception. Its diet is over 85% small mammals, with the remainder being opportunistic, consisting of reptiles, amphibians, and even fish or carrion. Last spring I watched one of my red-tails carry a large, live snake toward the neighboring woods where its nest was located. I couldn’t tell the species of snake, but it was fully four feet long.

Red-tails are monogamous. They typically build nests high up in the crouch of deciduous trees from which they have good visibility, although they may nest on ledges of buildings or cliffs. The bulky nest is made of coarse sticks, sometimes with evergreen branches, lined with bark, evergreen sprigs, and leaves. The nest is often built on a foundation of an old nest, and may be reused over several years. Red-tails commonly have several nests in the same vicinity which they alternately use from year to year. Migrating red-tails commonly return to the same territory each year.

In Wisconsin, red-tails are the most common raptor, and can be seen year around roughly south of State Highway 29, but only in summer in the northern part of the state. Breeding can begin in our area in late March, and peaks in late April through May, depending on weather. One to four eggs (averaging two) are laid. Incubation, shared by both parents, is 35 days. The female spends much of her time brooding the young for another 30-35 days after they hatch, while the male provides most of the food. By the time young red-tails are five to six weeks old, both parents are kept busy providing food. Young usually fledge by seven weeks.

This common, easily observed raptor is still recovering from years of being shot and harassed, after receiving full protection in 1946. The population in Wisconsin has been increasing more slowly for a couple of decades. Red-tails likely will continue to delight us for years to come, a welcome trend in contrast to the lament of Fran Hamerstrom (1971) who penned: “Upon the grass we used lie, and watch the redtails in the sky; we’d idly watch the redtails soar..., those days are gone for evermore.”

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2012 ChriStmaS Bird Count reSultS

In spite of a cold, soaking rain, the Audubon Christmas Bird Count (CBC) held on Saturday, December 15 tallied a record-breaking 54 species, topping the previous high of 53 recorded in 2005 and 2007. Two species, red-breasted merganser and hoary redpoll, never before seen on a CBC swelled the cumulative total of species recorded since 1960 to 121. The total number of birds, however, was only 6230 individuals, far below the record 8106 tallied in 2011, and less than the 10-year average of 6423.

40 birders in 8 field parties, including two students from SPASH and five from UWSP Wildlife Society, covered 445 miles by car and on foot to record every bird seen or heard in one 24-hour period. Eight volunteers added 50 miles listening for owls before daybreak, and four birders counted at backyard feeder stations.

The Stevens Point count area is a 15-mile diameter circle centered at Old Main, UWSP campus.

Count day began with low dark clouds, a raw east wind and intermittent showers which became a steady rain. The three-inch snow cover quickly turned to slush as temperatures waivered between 33 and 38 degrees.

Following a mild start to the month and no prolonged cold, the Wisconsin River and its major tributaries remained open except for a skim of shoreline ice; backwaters and wetlands were only partly frozen. The wild food crop of weed seeds, fruits and berries was fair but easily accessible. Crabapple trees in boulevard plantings, parks and yards, however, bore abundant fruit, a magnet for waxwings and grosbeaks.

Although the weather was the worst in memory for a count day, this was the year for northern finches and other irregular species. 335 pine siskins was the highest number ever recorded, common redpolls were scattered throughout the area, and both crossbill species were found. Small flocks of evening grosbeaks, reported in October and November, were no

Pine Grosbeak

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longer present, but pine grosbeaks were seen in three separate locations. One group of birders was treated to a tree full of Bohemian waxwings, a nomadic species noted only five times since local counts began; a plowed field yielded a record 99 ring-billed gulls; and early-morning birders in the pre-dawn darkness located a remarkable, and record-breaking, five species of owls.

Count totals are: (*indicates new record) Canada goose, 954; trumpeter swan, 2; American black duck, 10; mallard, 747; common goldeneye, 69; red-breasted merganser, 3; wild turkey, 421; bald eagle, 6; red-tailed hawk, 8; rough-legged hawk, 3; merlin, 1; ring-billed gull, 99*; herring gull,2; rock pigeon, 398; mourning dove, 280; eastern screech owl, 1; great horned owl, 1; barred owl 6; long-eared owl, 1; northern saw-whet owl, 1; red-headed woodpecker, 2; red-bellied woodpecker, 18; downy woodpecker, 41; hairy woodpecker, 18; pileated woodpecker, 3; blue jay, 88; American crow, 406; common raven, 3; black-capped chickadee, 619; tufted titmouse, 2; red-breasted nuthatch, 28; white-breasted nuthatch, 45; brown creeper, 1; eastern bluebird, 1; American robin 2; European starling, 218; cedar waxwing, 12; Bohemian waxwing, 20; American tree sparrow, 116; swamp sparrow, 1; dark-eyed junco, 294; snow bunting, 130; northern cardinal, 87; rusty blackbird, 1; pine grosbeak, 33; purple finch, 6; house finch, 54; red crossbill, 6; white-winged crossbill, 4; common redpoll, 85; hoary redpoll, 1; pine siskin, 355*; American goldfinch, 195; house sparrow, 322.

Sighted during the week-long count period but not on count day were ring-necked pheasant, ruffed grouse, pied-billed grebe, northern harrier, sharp-shinned hawk, American kestrel, belted kingfisher, northern flicker, and Lapland longspur.

Volunteers included Maureen Brocken, Amy Burris, John Burris, Barb De Weerd, Lauren Ebbecke, Janet Eschenbauch, Bob Freakmann, Sally Freckmann, Kent Hall, Sue Hall, Alan Haney, Daniel Harrington, Gene Jacobs, Loraine Jacobs, Gerry Janz, Ted Keyel, Katie Kozak, Linda Leindecker, Debbie Manthey, Judith Marion, Donna Martens, John McDonald, Liz McDonald, Jeanna Mielcarek. Elise Olk, Randy Olson, Sally Olson, Rob Pendergast, Jackie Ramsey, Amanda Reinenger, Jennifer Rothe, Rick Rothman, Joe Schultz, Jan Seiler, Dan Sivek, Stan Skutek, Nancy Stevenson, Jacob Tobin, Cameron Whitmire, Nancy Whitmire, Rob Whitmire, Herb Wievel, Dennis Younkers, and Brad Zinda. Nancy Stevenson served as coordinator and compiler.

2012 marks the 53rd year of participation in the National Audubon Society CBC by Portage County Birders (1960-1979) and Aldo Leopold Audubon (1980-2012).

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Still ramBlin’Larry Graham

Last month I shared some random thoughts on water and promised to continue this month sharing what was going through my mind when there was no water flowing in our house.

I spent my five undergraduate years within a couple of city block of Lake Michigan and thoroughly enjoyed the lake except for cold, damp, winter winds off the lake. The walk from one end of campus to the other when the full moon cast a silver streak across the dark water is one of my memory treasures. An early May dip in the lake on a dare was exhilarating but nowhere near the bone-chilling experience of jumping off a dock into Lake Superior.

A couple of summers ago, Anne and I took a road trip around Lake Superior. We enjoyed camping along the way in city, state, and provincial parks. There were great scenery and opportunities for short hikes and even an overnight Grand Portage backpack. One cannot help but realize when driving around it, that this is indeed a large lake, but some of its statistics are impressive. Its surface area is 31,700 mi2, roughly the size of Maine. It contains approximately 3 quadrillion gallons of water, enough to cover both North and South America to a depth of one foot.

I have always enjoyed watching boats pass through locks so we spent much of July 5th doing just that at Sault Ste. Marie. There is a great little museum at the locks with interesting exhibits on the history of their construction, Great Lakes shipping, and the Great Lakes themselves. One exhibit showing a large three-dimensional model of the bottoms of the Great Lakes struck me in particular. It showed some very deep pockets in the bottom of Lake Superior. This lake has an average depth of 483 feet with a maximum depth of 1332 feet. Another display showed that Lake Superior holds enough water to fill the other Great Lakes plus three more Lake Eries.

The average residence time for a drop of water in Lake Superior is 191 years. The average water temperature is 40oF; some claim it is swimmable near the shore; however, I question this. The water is quite clear but the lake is relatively unproductive due to lack of nutrients. This lake is a remarkable reservoir of fresh water; it holds ten percent of the earth’s surface water not frozen in glaciers or the polar ice caps. This resource is worth protecting.

A recent story on the PBS News Hour dealt with the current water level drop in the Great Lakes. Approximately 54% of the water input to Lake Superior is from “over the lake” precipitation with 42% supplied by rivers

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and streams. Evaporation accounts for 40% of the water leaving the lake, with 60% flowing out through St. Mary’s River. I suspect that any pollution entering the lake will accumulate because of the long residence time and global climate change will result in more evaporation and less precipitation. This precious water reservoir is vulnerable.

And now for the “Little Squir” report. I slept in this morning and was a couple of hours late getting out to the feeders. After servicing them, I decided to walk over to Little Squir’s territory to see if I could roust her. No response. Coming back to the house Anne called out that our friend was on the feeder near the kitchen window (not her usual hangout). Anne gave me a container with sunflower seeds, a couple of acorns and a pecan to offer. The squirrel sat on my arm and looked over the offerings, grabbed the pecan and jumped back to the feeder to eat it. A little later Anne went out and stroked her tail and back while she sat on Anne’s hand. Little Squir is doing great!

Lake Superior Lighthouse photo by Anne Graham

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Spring peeperS

“After many years of studying nature, I am still amazed at how clear particular first experiences remain in the recesses of my mind. Part of this, I am sure, has to do with the many reminders of them I’ve since encountered. Take, for example, spring peepers, a quasi-tree frog about half an inch long that is widely distributed throughout much of eastern North America. The spring peeper (Pseudacris [Hyla] crucifer) is without question one of my favorite frogs….”“…I find great joy in walking the woods in spring, just when life is awakening after the long cold, and often come here again and again. At first there appears to be nothing afoot and stirring. Then suddenly the air is filled with a symphony of peeper song and its hopeful message that life has survived winter. These descendants of past growing seasons sing of life’s renewal, a continuance of the species beyond now. The spring peeper’s music coats the surface of what is happening in these woods; otherwise, except for the patter of rain, the whoosh of a breeze, or the scurrying of a squirrel, all is very silent. If the peeper music ever stops, fades away in spring seasons yet to come, the earth is in big trouble.”“So I take this opportunity to enjoy the sounds of the spring peeper where and when I can, one spring to the next. Sometimes when winter has been slow in coming, fooling the frogs into a false sense of spring so they breed early, I might even hear them in the fall. In summer, when their songs are drowned in the cacophony emerging from many other small creatures, I must simply trust that the peepers will come again with spring. But the seasons are fickle here in the north. Like much of nature, they steadily ask us to bend, to pause, to pay attention to the minutia we’re free to ignore elsewhere. They remind us that we can’t predict the return of the peepers by the calendar or the almanac or any of our other tools; we have to watch the weather and simply come here, again and again, listening until we hear the fleeting melodies of frog song. They, along with the rest of the life sounds in the forests and fields, right now are setting the mood, tone, and tempo of an unfolding acoustical drama. We are called first to attention by the spring peepers, whose impending silence welcomes warmer days; then, as summer arrives, the repertory of returning songbirds and frogs from permanent water will sound. Much later the insect musicians will enter, and although by this time the peepers’ melodies will have faded, nature remembers them and keeps their promise alive: after winter comes the spring.”

Allen M YoungSmall Creatures and Ordinary Places

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Aldo Leopold Audubon Society

OfficersPresident Maureen Brocken 677-6772Vice-President Gerry Janz 340-3834Secretary Chris Schmelling 345-1720Treasurer Larry Graham 344-0968

Committee ChairsBird Seed Sale 344-0968 Anne Graham/John MunsonConservation Kent Hall 344-8081Education Karen Dostal 592-4706Field Trips Stan Skutek 544-0572Membership (Mailing list) Barb Munson 341-1208Membership (Recruitment) Bob Lane 824-3978Newsletter Lora Hagen Programs openWeb Wizard John Zach 252-8532

DirectorsEric Anderson 592-4423Ned Grossnickle 693-6095Sue Hall 344-8081Alan Haney 592-6949Jean Klein 341-5389Carol Kropidlowski 677-4831Debbie Manthey 341-6897Pat Perzynski 252-2100Joe Schultz 341-5521Jeremy Solin 342-4643

Emeritus Directors Bob Freckmann 344-0686Anne Graham 344-0968 Bob Juracka 824-5339 Loretta Klingenberg 824-5475 Donna Martens 457-2276Nancy Stevenson 341-0084Toni WanserskiJen Zach 252-8532

ALAS Audubon Chapter _____Yes, I would like to join the Aldo Leopold Audubon Society of Central Wisconsin I will receive the almanac newsletters describing chapter activities and events. My check for $25 is enclosed. ALAS will notify you when your annual membership is to be renewed. Your dues will be used in their entirety to support the local ALAS chapter. You will not receive Audubon magazine.

_____National Audubon Society Yes, I would like to join the National Audubon Society. Please send the Audubon Magazine and my membership card to the address below. My check for $25 is enclosed. You will also receive membership in the Aldo Leopold Audubon Society of Central Wisconsin, but the majority of your dues will be used to support National Audubon Society events and activities. The National Audubon Society will notify you when your membership is about to expire.

Name:

Address:

City:

State: Zip:

Email:Please send my newsletter via email

Please make all checks payable to: Aldo Leopold Audubon Society, and mail to:

Aldo Leopold Audubon Society Membership Chapter code: Z11 7XCHPO Box 928 Stevens Point WI 54481-0928

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