Ripples 12/28/23

Posted on by December 29, 2023
As the mild December rolls along, the time comes for the annual Christmas Bird Counts.  Originally begun in the eastern US 124 years ago, they have been conducted in Manitowoc County since 1974, when Bernie Brouchoud first rounded up volunteers to count birds here on behalf of Woodland Dunes.  That makes 50 years of winter bird counting, centered in four 15-mile diameter circles in our county, with many thousands of observations of our local birds found here during the winter season.  This is one of the first citizen-science projects as they are known, where knowledgeable volunteers collect data which is later used for scientific research.  It’s quite a success story, with many thousands of people participating. Last year, more than seventy-nine thousand counters participated in 2,625 counts in the US, Canada, the Caribbean, South America, and on Pacific islands.
 
The Manitowoc count took place yesterday, December 28, a cold and rainy day.  Well, not cold compared to normal, but the rain made it feel cold. Not a good day for either birds or the counters, but count we did it. We don’t pretend to be able to count every single bird, but we try to survey parks, natural areas, and places birds might hang out in winter. I visited places like Evergreen Cemetery, Manitou and Schuette parks and other spots near the Manitowoc River, and some retention ponds.  Between those locations, I kept an eye out for birds along the streets- mourning doves, house sparrows and the like.  With abundant fruit on crabapple and hawthorn trees I hoped to find a robin or two, as more and more seem to stay for our mild winters now, but I didn’t find any.  Nor could I find the Carolina wren heard on Christmas Eve day- he seemed to have lost his voice in the rain.  There were hundreds of ducks and geese on unfrozen ponds, something that was never seen in the colder years early in the Manitowoc count.  Still, it was an interesting day, and some uncommon birds were found, like a black duck hanging around with his mallard cousins.
 
For someone close to nature, the changes in our environment seem gradual, but noticeable.  Climate change is one subject which is being studied using data from Christmas bird counts, and personally, I feel the change seems significant.  Perhaps my sample size of 30 years isn’t large enough, but I remember some very cold and snowy counts in my early days.  And birds that are no longer seen, like evening grosbeaks which now stay to the north.  Others have disappeared due to changes in agriculture, like the little gray partridge found in winter farm fields.  Habitat change in addition to climate change.  And they interact- warm climate favors things like the emerald ash borer (an invasive species brought in through ignorance), which in turn impacts our habitat.  And ticks, which are increasing no doubt aided by warmer winters.
 
I’ve seen a number of changes over the years.  As I finish my career in conservation, I’ve been  asked what advice I would pass along based on my experience.  It would be this: be careful with nature.  I think that there is a lot of evidence that we have often jumped in and changed things without knowing what we are doing.  We need to be more thoughtful and think about the end result of our actions.  We are truly blessed with amazing natural resources surrounding our cities- forests, wetlands, Lake Michigan- and the wildlife here is amazing and resilient if we give it a decent chance.  Because this is a special place, and others are now aware of that, we must protect nature, and restore it where it is damaged.  Our moderate climate and natural resources will make this a very desirable place to live, something we often take for granted.  There will be increasing pressure to reap a harvest of dollars from the land and waters.  We need to do that in a way that doesn’t diminish nature.  That is the definition of sustainability in an environmental sense.  To not do so will make us or our offspring miserable eventually.
 
I know that my successors at Woodland Dunes will manage this place sustainably- they believe in that.  I hope that enough of the rest of us will do the same, by not destroying native natural areas, by planting native trees and shrubs, and treating waterways with respect.  And helping each other, with kindness.
 
The annual Christmas Bird Counts are an annual marker which helps us see the changes to birds, and nature, over time.  I hope we care enough to use the information we’ve gathered to help keep our home the special place it is.
 
Jim Knickelbine

Ripples 12/21/23

Posted on by December 21, 2023
Once again, we stand at the winter solstice, one of my favorite times of the year. Thanks to living on a tilted planet orbiting a warm sun, the amount of light and heat we receive varies throughout the year, and at this point in the annual trip we get the short end of the stick. The fact that we measure the length of time in that cycle and that it repeats over and over, perhaps first gave us a sense of the flowing nature of time. It seems like common sense, but physicists debate whether time exists at all, or whether it’s change that is in fact real, and time is something we’ve made up to mark that change. Rather than cause headaches among those reading this, I’ll give up on that topic right now.  The solstice is still one of my favorite times of the year.
 
A walk on Cattail Trail is always refreshing in winter, and once again this year there have been many pleasant days on which to do so.  Starting near the observation tower, we notice the pond is iced over rather thinly.  The stalks of wild rice are still erect above the ice, but this year’s seeds lie on the bottom of the pond, experiencing the necessary cold, wet winter, allowing them to germinate in spring.  They know not to germinate now, even though the weather is spring-like.  With more cold coming, which would be fatal to premature germinators, they wait several months until it’s really spring and continue their life cycle.  Rather than fight the cold as we do, they take a break, and conserve their resources.  So do the ground squirrels and woodchucks which burrow around the pond. And much of the other vegetation of the surrounding wetlands.  
 
Unlike summer, when the world around the trail is overwhelmingly green, now the world around the trail appears to be a pallete of red stems of the dogwood (red willow to natives), gray of the leafless alders, various browns and tans of sedges and grasses, green pines and spruces, and if one is lucky blue sky- the landscape is actually more diverse in color than in summer.  We’ve had many mild days this winter so far, affording the opportunity to enjoy the visual treats of the wetlands in comfort.  When the wind is down, one is aware of many birds sneaking about the dry stalks- goldfinches flying over uttering their 3 fold chips, chickadees inspecting every stem for a morsel, geese honking in the distance at some spot of open water, pairs of crows heading to some apparent rendezvous to the west, and a few American tree sparrows out in the alder thicket, visiting for the winter.  Alders grow in the high Arctic where these birds spend their summers, along with shrubby willows similar to our sandbar variety, so although the little birds have migrated thousands of miles to reach us for winter, they must feel that they are in familiar surroundings.  They flit among the shrubs and cattails which stick up like fuzzy corn-dogs of the marsh.
 
The eagles seen here a couple of days ago are elsewhere today.  At the end of the trail, the water level is now very low- a couple of feet lower than earlier in the year.  Perhaps its just been such a dry year- the level of the river and adjacent Lake Michigan seem hard to predict.  Their variation causes change in the composition and growth of plants along the shores, benefitting different plants each year.  This change promotes overall stability in nature because it causes greater diversity in the plants that grow in the wetland.  More diverse ecosystems, with more species tend to function better than those which are less diverse, something we see over and over in nature. I wonder if that applies to people as well.
 
Back at the observation tower, the familiar yard birds are about- house sparrows, blue jays, nuthatches, cardinals, and more chickadees greet me as I leave the trail.  At least that’s the way I think of it- I doubt that they care if I am outside at all, other than curiosity.  If I were filling the bird feeders, then I would be relevant to their world. But I’ve been the one who has benefitted. Time in the wetland has left me more relaxed, focused, and thoughtful, and I feel a better person for it.  I hope to put the feeling to good use the rest of the day. 
 
photo- Cattail Trail from the viewing tower at Woodland Dunes by Nancy Nabak
 

Ripples 12/7/23

Posted on by December 8, 2023
The world seems to have gone dormant now.  Leaves are off the trees, wildflowers have withered, frost or snow covers the ground most mornings, and many birds are gone south.  Even though it seems nature has taken a step back, this is still a very important time of year for native plants and an excellent time for them to be established.
 
If you think about it, late summer and fall are a time of abundant blooms.  Hundreds of species of plants which began the summer as sprouts or seedlings mature just as the population of pollinating insects is at its peak.  Unbridled fertilization takes place on an enormous scale, resulting in the production of millions of seeds to being the next generation of annuals and those who will colonize areas of available space.  It takes a while for seeds to develop, but when they do, they are released to drop to the soil or float on the breeze to land in a new location.  A couple of weeks ago, there was such a day when one could see thousands of seeds drifting like snowflakes all around- probably the seeds of goldenrods seeking new homes.  Only a small fraction find a friendly place to land and grow, potentially.  They settle down and wait.
 
Some which ripen early enough will germinate in mild weather and establish themselves before winter comes. When the snow melts they are ready to soak up spring sunshine and grow quickly, getting a head start.  Many of the aggressive and invasive plants do this, and their green rosettes of leaves stand out among the brown and white of the season.  Some, like the white oaks, germinate and slowly grow roots during the winter, while red oaks wait until spring to sprout, needing to sleep before they grow.
 
Some plants need to go through a cold period before they can germinate, a time referred to as cold stratification. Many wildflowers have this strategy, perhaps ensuring that they won’t germinate too early, say during a mild spell in fall when they might lose their resistance to the cold winter weather to come. They require months of cold and moisture, which somehow stimulates them to grow when warmth finally comes. For this reason, late fall is a very good time to sow the seeds of many native plants. That is what our staff did today at Zander Park in Two Rivers.
 
The old playground area at Zander Park is being re-done. It was always very wet, having been constructed on an old Lake Michigan shoreline swale- a wet depression between old beach ridges.  Water stands in areas of the park for long periods in fall, spring, and summer.  The old play area had been filled, and the Lester Library and Two Rivers Parks and Recreation Dept. had an idea to construct a story trail with nature-based play features.  They asked our Woodland Dunes team to help with the establishment of native wildflowers to cover the area around the trail.  A wildflower meadow, with the butterflies, dragonflies, and other wildlife it attracts, is a great surrounding for a family oriented walk, and another acre of lawn converted to native wildflowers and other plants can be important to the survival of a number of wildlife species. In addition, a number of native trees were also planted to replace ash that were taken down.  
 
The site was prepared by doing some treatment to eliminate some of the lawn grasses, and it was immediately apparent that all was not lawn- there were already some sedges and rushes, lovers of wet soil, growing on the site and were allowed to remain.  We waited until most of the mild weather had past and the early snow had melted.  Then, in a line, several of us walked over the site scattering the seed by hand.  Rain forecast in the next day or two will help incorporate the seed into the mud, and the snow after will protect it during the coldest months.  Under the snow, the soil will freeze, then thaw, helping to mix the seed just below the ground surface, and when warm spring rains come the seeds will know to germinate.
 
Then, over the next several years, the plants, dozens of different species, will slowly grow and develop.  Many are perennials, taking a while to establish themselves, so each year the park will take on a different personality as different plants grow and bloom.  We can try to predict what the site will look like, but nature makes the final call, and we look forward to watching the park develop over time.  
 
Native wildflower mixes can even be sown over the snow, the seeds gradually working their way down over winter to contact the soil, again repeating a natural process millions of years in the making.  Some of our most successful plantings at Woodland Dunes were snow-seeded.  The key is to pay attention to nature, and treat the seeds as they want to be treated as though they are falling from their parent plants in the wild.  It’s very different than the way we are used to planting, but is a very effective means of establishing new native plantings.
 
Dr. Doug Tallamy of the University of Delaware promotes the concept of a “Homegrown National Park,” comprised of many individual yards planted with at least some native trees and wildflowers.  If enough landowners added native plants to their land that large collective area would benefit wildlife as much or more than a new national park. It’s not that hard to do, and now is a good time to start.
 

Photo- Max and Kennedy from the staff at Woodland Dunes spread wildflower seed at Zander Park in Two Rivers.  

 

11/30/23

Posted on by December 1, 2023
A number of years ago, when I was the assistant director here, I ran into a remarkable gal during the course of my work. She worked for the DNR as our county forester and helped Woodland Dunes with several projects, including the measurement of our big cottonwood tree, trying to determine its age, and general forestry advice. She had a great education background at UW- Madison and the University of Michigan. It was apparent that she really knew what she was talking about and that she had great experience – including having done research at the Sylvania Wilderness in the UP and  working on the Menominee Reservation, helping to manage their famous forest.  She had a great attitude and was always willing to help.
 
Not long after, I asked her if she would join our property committee, which met monthly to discuss management of our precious preserve. Again, she cheerfully stepped in to help, providing valued advice to us non-foresters on the committee.  Her knowledge, combined with that of the others in the group, provided a very solid foundation for decision-making about managing our land and the countless creatures which live there. In areas which were planted solely and unnaturally with pines, she marked trees so that they could be gradually thinned and a natural forest restored. 
 
After a while, she transferred to other parts of the State while moving up the forestry ladder in the DNR. She took on broader responsibilities for forestry programs and regions, including supervision of other foresters. We didn’t communicate much at that time, but one day not too long ago we ran into each other at a local pub. It was a very happy reunion, and being the shameless opportunist that I am, I of course asked if she would be willing to help us at the nature center again. She cheerfully volunteered. I don’t recall if she again joined the property committee at that time, but not too long after I asked if she would join our Board of Directors, and again, she volunteered. She talked about retiring one day, and I asked if she would ever be interested in helping as a staff member with land management. That led to her joining us as Land Management Coordinator, a job at which she has excelled.
 
Upon joining us she immediately jumped in, organizing and reorganizing our land program and equipment. She took to managing our land staff, volunteers, and interns, successfully wrote grants, and in general has done an excellent job helping care for the preserve.
 
I was very happy when Sue applied for the Executive Director position when I announced my upcoming retirement. Sue has experience and integrity, and the ability to interact both with nature and the people of our organization, staff and supporters. She is comfortable in the outdoors and all conditions it brings, and sets an example as a hard worker. She is a direct, straight-talker. Although there were a number of qualified applicants, Sue’s combination of talents made her the choice of our Board of Directors.
 
As I transition to a less formal role in the organization, I’m very glad I will be succeeded by a person of Sue’s character. All of us in the organization care very much about the life in our preserve, and educating the public about that life. We’re happy to have a leader capable of guiding us as we continue with that mission.
 
Photo- Sue Crowley in the Woodland Dunes preserve, taken by Kennedy Zittel.
 

Ripples 11/ 23/23

Posted on by November 27, 2023

By Jessica Johnsrud, Education Coordinator and Assistant Director

As the busy fall season winds down, I am able to take time to review the bat survey data that Woodland Dunes helped collect for the DNR this summer. Woodland Dunes has a device that can detect and record the echolocation calls of bats and mark the GPS coordinate where each sound was intercepted. This information is uploaded to the computer and transferred to the DNR who then interpret the data. A trained biologist is able to identify the bat species recorded by reading the visual representation of each sound, known as a spectrogram. Just like each bird species has its own set of calls and sounds, so does each bat species.

After the spectrograms are identified, a map is created which includes the survey route and the points where bats were recorded. We have collected data on as many as seven routes in some summers, when the weather cooperates and schedules allow. At a minimum, we do three routes, once of which is on the lower section of the West Twin River.

This survey is always the most enjoyable and relaxing of the season. It’s a “posh” experience because a very generous couple donates their pontoon boat and even drives us. This survey is also the most fruitful, detecting more bat species and individuals than the routes we walk in the preserve or nearby green spaces. This is likely because after sleeping all day, bats fly out of their roosts and are hungry and thirsty. Foraging for insects near the river or other body of water will meet both of these needs. The results of this summer’s survey on the river recorded five bat species: big brown, little brown, silver-haired, hoary and red.

Woodland Dunes has been conducting bat surveys since 2013 and people may wonder why this important. Many bats are insect eaters making them major predators of agricultural pests and biting insects that transmit disease like West Nile. One bat can eat up to 1,000 mosquitos in an hour and about half its body weight each night! It is estimated that bats save United States farmers approximately $22 billion each year in reduced crop damage and limiting the need for pesticide use. These are amazing ecosystem services!  

Unfortunately, bats that hibernate in caves, mines or buildings, have been severely impacted by an invasive fungus that grow on bats’ wings and face during hibernation. The disease is aptly named white-nose syndrome and causes bats to wake up more than usual during the 6-8 month hibernation period, using up precious fat reserves and eventually causing death. The little brown, big brown, Northern long-eared and tricolored (formerly known as Eastern pipistrelle) bats are the cave bats in Wisconsin. I am always extra excited when we received bat survey results and see any of these species.

The data we and other organizations and individuals collect helps provide scientists with more information about bat populations and can help inform management decisions for these amazing mammals. Some bat populations may be starting to slowly bounce back from white-nose syndrome and forms of treatment are being explored, especially for the most vulnerable of the hibernating bat species.  

Bats are wonderful, essential parts of our natural world.  Learning about them, and helping them as a result, will be good for nature, and ultimately ourselves as well.