Ripples 6/2/22

Posted on by June 3, 2022

photo of Brewster's warbler perched in tree

Written by Nancy Nabak, Communication Coordinator

With a few strokes of a master’s paintbrush, a Brewster’s warbler was decorated. It’s a beautiful thing, this little four inch songbird adorned with a golden crown, whitish- yellow throat, and a steely blue-gray back. To compliment these colors, this avian-art is accented with a splash of two yellow stripes on its wings and a black stroke across the eyeline.

I affectionately call this artwork warbler, “Frankenbird.” Why? Because this beautiful bird is a hybrid species of a Blue-winged warbler and a Golden-winged warbler. This past Sunday, this avian hybrid entered my little world.

Woodland Dunes is one of my favorite places to get my birding groove on; however, there are times when one must explore new territories. Heeding this tenet, I migrated a bit south with some of my other birding friends to the northern Kettle Moraine unit. This is a lovely day trip for anyone who seeks birding excitement or solace of the woods.

Fate was with us, and we were lucky enough to find the beautifully painted Brewster’s warbler, a rarity. To be honest, the discovery was pure luck, but not one without work. When birding, your hearing skills become quite important – at least as important as your visual sense, some argue even more so. When you first hear a bird, it puts you in the direction of what you’re looking for. In the case of the Brewster’s warbler, I was hearing a buzzy song but just couldn’t see it nor identify it. I’m pretty familiar with many bird vocalizations, but I also accept the fact that I still have a lot to learn and there are many songs, variations and accents that I don’t know or throw me off.

In reality, none of us could identify the bird, but one guess was a variation of a Blue-winged warbler. Blue-winged and Golden-wingeds have a very buzzy vocalization, very different from the clear, trilly songs of other birds. Once our mystery bird was out in the open, a highly skilled friend in the group identified it as a Brewster’s warbler, very rare, and somebody should get a picture of it. Luckily, I had my camera and snapped a few photos for verification. No wonder we couldn’t figure out its song. It had a mixed vocalization of the two parent species.

After finding the Brewster’s, I did a little more research and discovered that its parents, genetically speaking, Golden-winged and Blue-winged warblers are 99.97 percent alike. That’s darn close in my book.  Some people have worried that the hybridization of the two may be a reason for the decline in the Golden-winged warbler species – caused by man’s activities and habitat changes. However, Cornell researchers conducted DNA genome tests and discovered this is probably not the case. It turns out that these two species have likely been intermixing, at least intermittently, for thousands of years – well before Europeans colonized North America. As a human, that news feels like a bit of relief. Nature happens.

Sophacles said, “Who seeks shall find.” Finding the Brewster’s warbler was an unexpected surprise, but if I wasn’t out there on Sunday, it’s guaranteed I wouldn’t have found it. And the fun part for us locals? The Brewster’s warbler has been seen more than once at Woodland Dunes over the years. 

See you out there!

photo of Brewster’s warbler by Nancy Nabak

Ripples 5/26/22

Posted on by May 27, 2022
I remember 50 years ago being part of a Boy Scout campout at Maribel Caves.  There were a number of activities involved, including planting spruce trees in the field along the road west of the forest, hiking on the trails, and exploring old abandoned cottages down by the river.  Now the cottages are gone, and the spruce trees are tall and full of wildlife. We looked at thousands of wildflowers blooming in the woods, not knowing the names of any of them except for trilliums. Somewhere along the way someone pointed out wild leeks, or ramps, or onions, which we sampled. They had a wonderful onion/garlic odor and flavor, and we enjoyed them to the point that one of the scouts became ill. We felt that now that we knew that one edible plant, we were true outdoorsmen and could survive in the woods forever. On a return visit just a few weeks later, we found that all the leeks were apparently gone, and our survivalist dreams faded as well.
 
photo of rampsRamps, wild leeks, spring onions- they are all names for Allium tricoccum.  Onions, both edible and ornamental, garlic, and chives – all are members of the genus Allium.  They all have a distinct flavor, which works well in cooking, as we all know.  Right now, ramps are much desired by foodies, and are a very trendy food item.  They are a native plant to Wisconsin, and grow naturally in forest with rich soils and along streams.  People native to this region have enjoyed them for thousands of years. They are also found in forests to the south of us, especially in the Appalachians. The city of Chicago was named for this plant- shikaakwa, chikaga-wuni shicako,  or chicagou in the language of the Miami-Illinois native people.  In the Ojibwe language they are zhigaagawanzh. In Appalachia, people celebrate the return of ramps in spring- at one time an important vegetable for people who ate few greens during the winter.  It was thought of as a spring tonic to ward off winter ailments.  It is still celebrated in the Smoky Mountains today.
 
They are a rather small plant, which sends leaves about 6 inches in length to the surface in bunches on the forest floor. They are often in association with birch and sugar maple trees, and other spring wildflowers like wild ginger, bloodroot, mayapple, and trillium. They spread out in first an erect, them collapsed little mound, in some places covering a lot of the ground.  The leaves begin to fade to yellowish in just a week or two, then fade away.  In that time, however, before leaves are on the trees, the leeks gather enough solar energy to sustain their little bulbs for the rest of the year- they must be very efficient solar collectors.  They later produce delicate flowers pollinated by native bees and syrphid flies, and produce shiny, tiny black seeds which fall to the ground.  Beneath the leaves, slender bulbs are formed which also divide vegetatively, slowly enlarging the colony.
 
They are a sensitive plant, and can easily be over-harvested.  One sees them in restaurants and farmers markets, and although they can be cultivated (it takes several years to produce sustainably useable plants) they are often over-harvested.  In Canada, they are considered a threatened plant, and can’t be served in restaurants.  Both the leaves and upper whitish stems are edible, but one should take care when harvesting not to damage the root bulb.  For the Ojibwe people of this area, it was considered proper to take only one leaf from each plant, so that the population would be sustained forever. Interestingly enough, invasive garlic mustard (Aillaria petiolata), which has a similar odor, is from a completely different family of plants.
 
In spring, bright-colored wildflowers cry out for our attention, making our walks interesting and inviting. But equally interesting are other plants like ramps, with seldom-noticed flowers and flat, smelly leaves. Like people, their varieties make the world a better place.
 

 

Ripples 5/19/22

Posted on by May 20, 2022
photo of red-shouldered hawk with transmitterAs I write I am looking out a large window at home.  Outside the apple tree is in bloom, the ground is covered with green new growth, including my lawn which will be knee-high if I make it through “No Mow May”!  Trees I’ve planted in the last five years are now 8-10 feet tall and sporting new leaves.  A robin is already feeding nestlings in the juniper tree.  And the black flies have returned.
 
Birds are everywhere.  Each morning is an adventure, with some time spent before work identifying last night migrants, now singing, feeding, and resting before they continue their seasonal journey.  Orioles, grosbeaks, and warblers dance in the trees.  It reminds me of a quote from a Garrison Keillor book “Thank you Lord for this good life, and forgive us if we don’t love it enough.”
 
At Woodland Dunes, a very special visitor returned from winter vacation.  A red-shouldered hawk, a threatened species.  For many years I heard red-shouldereds at the preserve, and suspected they nest there, but I did not know where back in the hundreds of acres of swamp forest.  Last year. while planting trees, our interns found the nest.  We contacted an expert on those hawks, who came up, caught, and banded the female.  He also place a UHF recorder/transmitter in a tiny, solar powered backpack that was placed on the bird.  Then she was release to raise her three youngsters.  She is a strong, aggressive female very capable of defending her nest.
 
The next month the researcher returned and recorded hundreds of points within our preserve that our hawk had visited, probably feeding herself and the young.  Then, in fall, she left and was not heard from.
 
This spring, a pair of hawks came back to the nest, but when we listened we found it was not the same female- she was an untagged youngster.  She used the same nest, and presumably laid eggs, as we saw her sitting quitely, probably incubating them.  A month later, however, the nest was checked again, and the original female was back!  Data was downloaded, and we found that she made her way to Alabama where she spent three months in winter, then journeyed back north, using a route west of her southward trip.  She went to central Wisconsin, over to Green Bay, then back down to Woodland Dunes.  She apparently evicted the young female, and now site on the nest herself.
 
Because a fisher was seen in the area, and they are know to predate hawk nests among other things, we went back and installed a smooth predator guard around the tree, which another hawk expert donated.  We will put up a trail camera to find out what tries to climb the tree.
 

In another few weeks our expert friend will visit again to download more data and check condition of the nest.  Feathers fallen to the ground will be collected, as they were last year, for DNA analysis.  From year to year we should be able track the birds and tell if they are the same or descendents of the original pair.  We hope they are successful, as there are relatively few of these birds in the State.  And managing our preserve to benefit wildlife, and the community, is our mission.  Events like this are especially rewarding for our staff, and underline the importance of our preserve. They are what keep us motivated!

photo- Red-shouldered hawk with backpack transmitter, by Carter Freymiller, Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin

Ripples 5/12/22

Posted on by May 12, 2022
We have always celebrated the return of migratory birds.  We miss them so in the winter, and when they return, just as trees and the first wildflowers start to bloom, it seems the natural world is reborn again. While our winter resident birds are dressed in somber tones- gray, black, white, brown, with the exception of the handsome cardinals, the return of colorful birds which winter in the tropics is a cause of wonder and excitement.
 
Even though there aren’t as many birds as there were in the past, we appreciate them as much as people did long ago.  At newspaper photo of Bird Breakfast celebration in the 1950s Woodland Dunes, we gather for our Migration Celebration and Bird Breakfast each 2nd or 3rd Saturday in May, at the peak of migration.  We didn’t come up with the event on our own, however.  That was done by our birdwatching ancestors.
 
This year is the 80th anniversary of the first Bird Breakfast.  That was invented by legendary Manitowoc birdwatcher and librarian, Merle Pickett.  Merle would challenge her birding friends to a friendly competition to see who could find the most species of birds in one morning in May. Dozens of birders would head out and comb the county, looking for common and uncommon species to add to their lists. Afterward, they would convene at Merle’s home and enjoy a pancake breakfast and share their finds. Dave Crehore recounts one such event he and his father participated in during the 1940’s in his book “Sweet and Sour Pie,” an excellent telling of local history in the eyes of a local youngster.
 
After a while the breakfast moved to First Presbyterian Church where it was celebrated for a number of years.  The format remained the same- birdwatching followed by a tasty pancake breakfast. Hundreds if not thousands of people continued to attend over the years.
 
And then, it was our turn.  In the 1970’s, Bird Breakfast became an annual event at Woodland Dunes, where it has remained to the present. At first, when Woodland Dunes consisted of a farmhouse without a kitchen, breakfast was made by participants themselves- pancakes, eggs, bacon, cooked over charcoal grills. In the 1990’s, when facilities were improved to include a small kitchen, the breakfast expanded and became a bit more comfortable. Large charts were hung on the walls to record the birds that were seen that morning, and experienced birders led hikes for the public. Later, children’s activities were added, all centered on migratory birds. Bird Breakfast became a family event, not one just for birders.
 
Of course, Covid cancelled our breakfast a couple of years ago, but last year the event returned as a drive-thru, take- out meal. This year, however, with our new facilities plus expanded indoor and outdoor dining areas, the event will be back to its previous format- guided bird walks, and a sit-down breakfast. The birds are arriving just in time, and we look forward to an active, friendly, joyful morning spent appreciating our traveling feathered friends and their long and difficult journeys.
 
Our Bird Breakfast is perhaps the oldest birdwatching festival in the State.  We are so glad to be able to host it, and to do so as we did for years.  If the weather cooperates, we’ll have a wonderful morning.  If interested in joining us, the breakfast is on May 21 from 8-11 am, the cost is $6, and we ask that people pre-register by contacting the Nature Center, 920-793-4007.  All are welcome to help us keep the tradition alive.
 

Ripples 5/5/22

Posted on by May 5, 2022
At last.  The migratory floodgates have opened, and every morning reveals birds new to our yards this year. For those who love wild birds, this season is a feast.  And, with south winds in the forecast for days to come, it is bound to continue.
 
This has been an unusual spring so far, much of the season temperatures have been below normal. However, at certain times there have been very strong south winds, coinciding with the irresistible urge birds have to migrate north.  The result has been many species of birds arriving here earlier than normal, despite the cold. Warblers, orioles, hummingbirds, tanagers, all showed up in late April, a couple of weeks before we typically expect them, and much prior to the usual peak in mid-May. I’m sure they preceded the typical insect hatches that provide much-needed food for them as they travel, and there must have been some long, cold nights for many migrants. Still, they keep coming, and my first steps outside in the morning are like traveling to a new world with new voices to greet me. White-throated sparrows, house wrens, a towhee, the first swamp sparrow for our yard- all are exciting finds this time of year. In a few weeks their songs will become just a part of the normal background noise.
 
Some are nesting.  Ospreys are on the nest, Canada geese are herding their chicks around, great horned owl chicks are starting to venture out of the nest onto neighboring branches, and bald eagles have been feeding young for some time.  On Cattail Trail at Woodland Dunes, a pair of chickadees is excavating a nest in a broken alder shrub.  Woodcock are energetically courting, and turkeys are tending nests with eggs soon to hatch. Recently, a visitor to our trails observed a fisher carrying a turkey egg, bounding over logs in the swamp.
 
Last year, red-shouldered hawks successfully nested in our State Natural Area.  Researchers were able to catch and band the female, who was also fitted with a location transmitter. That bird made many trips crossing the preserve, hunting and feeding her young. This year, a pair of red-shoulders returned to the same nest, but not the same female. So far, the nesting is successful, and the new, younger female is incubating eggs. With fishers in the area, we installed a smooth metal predator guard on the nest tree. The female sat on her eggs the whole time the guard was installed.
 
The bald eagles on the West Twin used the same nest as before, but have been off the nest the last several times we checked.  Bald eagles are susceptible to avian influenza, which they contract by feeding on infected waterfowl.  We hope that our neighborhood nestlings haven’t suffered such a fate. In that case, we can only watch and hope. To be safe, we are limiting bird feeding right now at the Nature Center, using only tube feeders which can be wiped down with a sanitizing wipe frequently.  However, feeding oranges and jelly to orioles would seem to be reasonable, or putting up hummingbird feeders, as fewer species gather at those. We’re hoping that influenza subsides in the next few weeks- early spring is commonly a time for bird disease concerns.
 
With warmer weather promised, take some time to treat yourself to walks outdoors. Even five minutes can restore your spirit and improve your well-being.  Shin ri roku, the Japanese term for “forest bathing”, can cleanse your mind in ways few other things can, and put you in touch with the many fellow creatures which are so busy bringing life to our long-awaited spring. 
 
photo of Yellow-rumped warbler by Nancy Nabak