Ripples from the Dunes is a weekly nature article series written by staff and guest writers that has been published for over 50 years.
banding bees berries birding birds chickadees Christmas Bird Count climate change cold courtship crepuscular decline fall flowers forest frogs Great Horned Owl Habitat honeysuckle insects invasives kids leaves marsh migration native nature nest nesting osprey owls Plants pollinators restoration seeds singing snow spring Tracks trees warblers water wildlife winter woodcock
Ripples 4/2/26
Written by Kennedy Zittel, Naturalist A walk down Black Cherry Trail, Trillium Trail, and the Dunes Segment of the Ice Age Trail leads you through our State Natural Area. Here you walk through a globally rare and unique habitat, our ridges and swales. Ridges are areas of high, sandy, and more upland habitat while swales…
Ripples 3/26/26
Written by Max Kornetzke, Land Manager The earliest flowering plant I’ve noticed this year lives amongst the canopy of our woodlands. Red maple (Acer rubrum) is a common tree across many forest types. Red maple is true to its name with leaf and flower buds, emerging flowers and leaves, leaf stalks, fresh seeds, and autumn…
Ripples 3/19/26
Written by Jess Johnsrud, Education Coordinator As I write this, Snowstorm Elsa is blowing through most of Wisconsin. I can’t remember the last time we had a snow event last upwards of 48 hours and leave behind so much snow. March weather is often fickle: sometimes mild and tame and other times roaring and extreme.…
Ripples 3/12/26
Written by Jason Prigge, Development Director There is a special kind of quiet that lives inside the observation windows inside Woodland Dunes Nature Center, with the sudden flutter of activity and wings just beyond the glass. In order to not scare the birds away you must practice patience and keep perfectly still. From the warmth…
Ripples 3/5/26
Written by Sue Crowley, Executive Director Image by Jess Johnsrud, Education Coordinator This weekend we experience the yearly Daylight Savings Time adjustment to our daylight hours. We ‘spring ahead’ one hour essentially shortening our weekend time. This topic of daylight hours made me curious about the month of March in general. I found out that…
Ripples 2/26/26
Written by Kennedy Zittel, Naturalist. Image from Woodland Dunes Trail Camera The animal that excites me the most to see on our trail camera is the fisher. Fisher (Pekania pennanti) are members of the weasel family (mustelids). They are dark brown – black in color with thick fur and bushy tails. Adult males weigh around…
Ripples 2/19/26
By Max Kornetzke, Land Manager The end of winter usually brings a few warm days filled with birds chirping. They conjure anticipation for the unfurling of true spring. I can see the ephemeral displays of showy woodland flowers in my mind. I remind myself to be patient and enjoy the transition. It seems once the…
Ripples 2/12/26
Written by Jess Johnsrud, Education Coordinator We are getting to the point in winter when we start to resent the snow and cold. This is especially true when we have several days of mild weather and then experience a snowfall. We’ve had mild weather recently, but we live in Wisconsin and we are due for…
Ripples 2/5/26
Written by Jason Prigge, Development Director At last, the sun’s gentle warmth graced the earth, a balmy 27 degrees, inviting me to wander down the Cattail Trail one tranquil afternoon. The spring and summer months are my sanctuary, where I find solace in painting and sketching amidst the vibrant tapestry of nature. Yet, when the…
Ripples 1/29/26
Written by Kennedy Zittel, Naturalist As I write this, the temperature gauge outside our house shows -14 degrees. I filled the bird feeders, added extra suet, and went back inside to my heated blanket. When the temperature gets this cold, it is hard to not feel bad for every animal outside. How do they stay…
Ripples 1/22/26
Written by Max Kornetzke, Land Manager During much of the growing season I find myself looking down along the ground, trying to see whatever I can see. Maybe I’ll get lucky and spot a diminutive wildflower others have overlooked. Maybe I’ll be blessed with a showy display attractive to winged pollinators and human admirers alike.…
Ripples 1/15/2026
By Jess Johnsrud, photo from Wikipedia I was at the store shortly after the beginning of the new year and was reminded that Valentine’s Day is coming up in a few weeks. The shelves of red and pink packages of candies, cards, and other trinkets were brightly displayed near the entrance. I know flowers and…
Ripples 1/8/26
Written by Sue Crowley, Executive Director For me one of the best parts about winter are the sounds, specifically the sound beneath your feet. As the first couple of snowstorms roll in and you wake to a fresh white blanket, it is always wonderful to make first tracks. I am always excited for first…
Ripples 1/1/26
Written by Kennedy Zittel, Naturalist Photo by Woodland Dunes’ Staff 2015 One of my favorite field trips to teach is Owling 101. Typically taught for early elementary ages in the fall, this field trip teaches kids all about owls of course! From the species that live here and how to identify them, all of their…
Ripples 12/11/25
Written by Jess Johnsrud, Education Coordinator Photo by Gary Eslinger/USFWS Nature is everywhere and it’s amazing how much you can see even when driving from one place to another. I’ve found myself in the car more this holiday season and on my recent travels, I was able to take note of some exciting wildlife. On…
Ripples 12/4/25
By Max Kornetzke, Land Manager My eye is drawn to the rippling patterns the wind creates with snow. Their formsecho lakeshore sand dunes or the rolling terrain of an old growth forest.Sometimes I’ll see repetition of long linear forms that remind me of the ridge andswale topography of Woodland Dunes and Point Beach.Atop these drifts…
Ripples 11/27/25
Written by Kennedy Zittel, Naturalist On Thanksgiving, people often think about what they are thankful for. Friends, family, their pets, etc. I am thankful for those things as well, but today I wanted to share a list of some of the things that I am thankful for from working here at Woodland Dunes. I am…
Ripples 11/20/25
Written by Max Kornetzke, Image from Wikipedia The first snow has fallen (and mostly melted) and almost everything has gone to sleep for the coming winter months. I’ve come to love the neutral tones and subtle shifts of earthy colors present around us in these dormant months. Over the last few years, however, I have…
Ripples 11/13/25
By Jess Johnsrud, education coordinator The other morning when I was setting up for a field trip, I nearly stepped on a dragonfly. It was a cool morning and the dragonfly appeared to be warming itself in the sun on the boardwalk. Concerned for its safety (34 second graders would soon be walking the trail),…
Ripples 10/30/25
Written by Kennedy Zittel, Naturalist To celebrate the week of Halloween, let’s share a spooky story from our preserve: I was walking through the forest doing a bird survey, enjoying the crisp fall air and the changing colors of the trees. The leaves rattled with every chilly gust of wind, as they began to cascade…
