Ripples 4/16/20

Posted on by April 16, 2020

by Jessica Johnsrud, Woodland Dunes Education Coordinator

This time of year, I look forward to a special performance that, for me, signifies spring has arrived. The show starts most evenings around twilight. The feathered performer sings and shows off his acrobatic skills for all to see. I am talking about the amazing sky dance presented by the American Woodcock.

Woodcocks are chunky shorebirds with short legs and an overall mottled brown body. Their bellies are colored cinnamon and they have thick, horizontal black bars on the top and back of the head. Their eyes are located on the sides of the skull and their beak is long and straight. Woodcocks live in young, dense forests and are seen on the ground, probing the soil for invertebrates such as worms, snails and beetles. Their mottled coloring allows them to blend in with the leaves and other debris on the forest floor. Woodcocks have many amusing nicknames including: timberdoodle, bogsucker, night partridge and mudbat. 

I recently watched the timberdoodle’s sky dance on a calm evening in early April. The males perform an elaborate display in the spring in an effort to attract as many females as possible. He finds a clearing, like an old field or edge of the forest, and claims this as his singing ground. Males defend their singing ground and will drive off other males that get too close. The territories are small, about a quarter acre in size, so you can observe more than one male woodcock in an area. 

Once the stage has been selected, he will begin his courtship display around twilight. He starts on the ground, repeatedly making a loud, nasal buzzy sound known as a peent. After a minute or so of peenting, he suddenly launches himself into the air, flying high into the sky. Here, he takes a short pause (perhaps for dramatic effect) and then spirals and zigzags back down to his singing ground while making “kissing” sounds. He will continue this display until it’s dark and begin again in the dawn twilight.

Interested females enter the clearing and males bob, bow and strut to really show their stuff. The females are choosy, and will observe several males before selecting one to mate with. The females nest within 150 yards of the breeding ground and the male plays no role in caring for the young. She lays four eggs in a small depression on the ground and incubation takes about 20 days. When the chicks hatch, they are precocial, meaning their eyes are open and they have downy feathers. They leave the nest together within a few hours of hatching and the young will be completely independent in about one month. 

You can observe woodcocks displaying as early as mid-March and typically into May, though some hopeful males will continue into early June. If you decide to catch a show, be sure to be quiet and give the male plenty of space, so you don’t interfere with his performance.

Ripples 4/ 9/20

Posted on by April 9, 2020

Ripples from the Dunes, by Jennifer Klein, Woodland Dunes Land Management Coordinator
photo of Mourning dove nest
Mourning doves may not seem like very interesting birds. They are pretty common and drab in color. However, I’ve liked them since childhood.  I think it started because I found it easy to mimic their call.  In researching their calls, I learned that the unpaired males make the “coo-oo” followed by two or three louder coos.  Males building nests make more of a “coo-OO-oo” with the middle note the highest, and females on a nest make an ohr ohr call.
Many people associate the first robin they see after winter with the beginning of spring.  Some people track it by the first male red-winged black bird they see.  I typically get a little more excited about spring and the warm weather and sunshine it brings when I hear Mourning doves calling in the mornings.

Recently, I discovered a Mourning dove nesting in a brush pile in my yard.  She already has a full nest and two eggs.  I am excited to watch her little family grow.  With the recent transition to working out of my house, I am able to spend more time observing the nature in my own backyard.  Having a couple of acres out in the country makes this easier but isn’t necessary.  I know many people with homes on city lots who find great joy in feeding and observing song birds and even watching them raise young.

With new social distancing requirements and people perhaps having more free time, I would encourage everyone to find a way to connect with nature.  If one is able to get outside, even if it is just in a backyard, try to pay attention to the sights, sounds and smells.  Anyone can be a citizen scientist and even just paying attention to what one can see and hear can help track changes in our world.

Sharing our observations can foster a feeling of connection to one another.  Here at Woodland Dunes, our staff is working to share our observations with the public via our Facebook page.  We are also hosting a virtual run/walk, encouraging people to safely exercise while practicing social distancing. By joining an organized event, our community can still feel connected to one another through a common activity.  This virtual run takes place between April 18 and May 18.  There is no entry fee; however, donations are always welcomed.  We are calling this run Phantom 5K, and it takes the place of our Dash at the Dunes run/walk.  This year would have been the 10th Annual event.  Please join us in practicing social distancing while remaining united by committing to complete a 5K walk or run wherever you safely can do so.  For more information on the Phantom 5K, visit our website at www.woodlanddunes.org <http://www.woodlanddunes.org> or check out our Facebook page.

Ripples 4/2/20

Posted on by April 3, 2020
Finally, a sunny morning.  The cool, cloudy, rainy March we just experienced only seemed to add to people’s concerns and worries.  About the only thing we can do for ourselves is go for a walk, and even my dog doesn’t appreciate that as much when it’s cloudy and gray.
 
But last night the sky cleared off and in the dusk there were birds calling all around.  A bald eagle, mallards, gulls flying back to the Lake, robins, and the insect-like buzzing of the American woodcock.  Woodcocks are migratory shorebirds that like grassy openings in brushy areas where they perform a complicated display on the ground and in the air to attract mates.
photo of golden-crowned kinglet
The night was clear and quiet- a good one for migrating songbirds.  The still night air makes it easier for them to fly, often at heights of several thousand feet.  They land at dawn so often the mornings following such nights are filled with the songs of birds which weren’t there the night before.  This morning a fox sparrow was singing, and at the feeders were an early white-crowned sparrow and female red-winged blackbird, along with many cardinals, tree sparrows, juncose, house finches, chickadees, and out in the marsh a bald eagle, sandhill cranes, Canada geese, and wood ducks.  The morning, in addition to the lovely warm sunshine, brought an auditory feast.  On Cattail Trail, a golden-crowned kinglet, even though they are not a rare species, was the prize, inspecting the alders for tasty insects.
 
Now that the snow and ice are gone, the tannin-stained, clear water of the streams and marsh are warming and coming to life. Beneath the surface are the nymphs of dragonflies, darners, damselflies, and many others.  Tadpoles of green frogs, the result of last year’s mating, are large, fat, and ready for summer to continue their lives on the surface.  They have to watch out for northern pike, which move into the grassy shallows to spawn, as does a leopard frog which is making its way to the edge of the pond where it will begin courting in a couple of weeks.
 
Even a short walk can be as interesting as a nature documentary because one is completely immersed in the experience – feeling the warm sun, seeing the interesting plants and animals, hearing the birds.  One does not need to know the name or classification of every organism to appreciate them, or enjoy the experience.  Nature gives itself freely to anyone with an interest.
 
In a few minutes on such a morning, one quickly forgets that the human world has been turned upside down.  In this case, I think a few minutes to forget problems we can’t control is good for us, and as spring progresses, I look forward to many more.
 
photo: Golden-crowned kinglet by Nancy Nabak
 

Ripples 3/26/20

Posted on by March 25, 2020

Written by Jessica Johnsrud, Education Coordinator

We’ve all heard of taking a bath, but what about forest bathing? This form of nature therapy, originally from Japan and known as shinrin yoku, involves immersing yourself in a forest by engaging your senses. 
photo of forest
Why is forest bathing beneficial? Simple: nature is medicine. Researchers have been studying the effects of nature on human health for decades. Its been found that spending time in nature can reduce inflammation, depression, and anger. It can improve cardiovascular health, cognitive function, creativity and concentration. Time in nature instills a sense of awe, which helps us feel more open and connected to something bigger than us. This releases dopamine, improves the immune system, reduces the body’s stress response and increases our sense of empathy toward others. There are even immediate effects from just 15 minutes of forest bathing, including a decrease in blood pressure and improvement in mental clarity. 

Forest bathing is fairly simple. First, tuck away distractions such as your cell phone and camera. Also, leave your goals behind. There is no destination during this practice, because it’s about discovery and awareness. You will be walking slowly and pausing along the way. Finally, if you go with others, agree to be silent until after. 

Start by finding a quiet spot to stand or sit. Take in a few deep, slow breaths. Now it’s time to ignite your senses. Notice the sounds and the aromas around you. Feel the wind as it moves across your body. Look around and observe the colors and textures of the forest. Let these sights, sounds, aromas and sensations wash over you and heighten your sensory awareness for the duration of your forest bath.  

Next, slowly wander along the trail, taking the time to really notice. Move almost sloth-like slow. Look at your surroundings as if it were the first time you’ve seen a forest. Touch and smell tree bark, soil and plants. Feel the temperature of the air as it enters your nose and as it exits. Notice the sun as it warms your skin and casts shadows along the forest floor. 

At some point along your lackadaisical walk, find a place to stop and sit. Quiet your mind and be still. Observe how the behavior of the birds changes after they are used to your presence. Note how the wind is moving the branches. Breathe. 

Take as much time as you can to forest bathe. Some people take a couple of hours and walk less than a quarter mile! If time is limited, give yourself at least 20 minutes and you’ll still reap the benefits. 

There are many wonderful places to try this in our area. Conifer Trail at Woodland Dunes is one of my favorites. You can forest bathe any place that has a few trees. Perhaps a city park or even your yard would be a great place to start. 

Give forest bathing a try and experience the calm that nature can provide, if we slow down and soak it in. 


Ripples 3/19/20

Posted on by March 19, 2020

So much can change in a week.  Turns out when biology is involved, it can be difficult to predict even a short period into the future.  I remember a mathematician  in a famous dinosaur movie who said, “Life finds a way.”  Boy, isn’t that the case, even if it consists of little bits of genetic material?  We need to be very careful around nature in many ways.  We often talk about non-native invasive species- well, this virus has gotten the better of us.  I like being a good host, but in this case, not so much.

Nature is not the enemy, or at least not solely an enemy.  I think the notion that our current situation should be looked at as a war is a bad one.  Yes, that fact that a microorganism has found us as a suitable place to live and reproduce can cause us serious problems. I think what is needed is a patient and rational problem-solving attitude.  These kinds of problems surface periodically in our world where there is a constant struggle where one species tries to take advantage of another for the sake of it’s own survival.  I don’t know how many organisms are out there that are just a mutation away from causing serious problems for others- given all the species in the world. The potential is endless and such tension between species endless.  Even so, for the most part, that’s not the end of the story.

Just as our interaction with nature on a microbial scale is part of the problem, nature is also the solution.  We have within us amazing resources and our immune systems are constantly working to maintain our health in the face of probably thousands of species that would like to take advantage of us.  It’s a good thing that we don’t have to think about it – I for sure would have problems keeping track of everything my immune system needs to do.  I’m just amazed that it all works and that over time our bodies learn how to cope with problems.  They may complain a bit with tiredness and aches and fevers, but almost always they pull us through. I’m grateful for that, and for the fine people who taught me a little about biology so I could begin to try to understand.

And beyond that, there is the restorative power of nature, and not just in a physiological sense. There are a multitude of studies now that document the health benefits of being out in a natural place.  Everything from lowering heart rate, lowering activity in the frontal lobe of the brain, blood pressure and increased feelings of well-being.  One of my favorites had people rating how they felt in different situations, and being out in nature was rated similar to the feelings people had at Christmas.  And it did not take long for such feelings to come about- as little as five minutes in nature brought about a positive result, or five hours per month.  In some cultures there is a term called “forest bathing”- interesting because it infers an immersion in and cleansing by nature.

For many of us Wisconsinites, we subtly incorporate our need to be near nature in many ways – walks in the woods, along Mariner’s Trail, trips up north in summer, fishing and hunting, even a backyard campfire. They all bring us into closer contact with something we need.

Now, we need that more than ever – not sitting inside and worrying, but getting outside and enjoying.  Fresh air and sunlight are not conducive to germs.  We hope that people will consider this as they work out ways to cope.  At Woodland Dunes, although we continue to work on our building project, the building itself is closed.  Outside, though, there are 1500 acres and seven miles of trails open for “forest bathing,” and we encourage people to visit and enjoy the preserve.  In many ways there opportunities to be restored physically and emotionally.  For many, this is the best time of year, when one can go out and experience the re-birth of the landscape.  Every day there are new (for this year) birds to be seen and heard, for which the survival of winter and migration is something to be marveled at.  Already the skunk cabbage of the swamp has put forth the first flowers of the spring.  And each day’s weather is a surprise as we alternate between winter and spring.  These are the things that are enduring and important, and we need to appreciate them and share them with our families.

Life can be hard, and any little bird or wildflower or insect can verify that.  But like them, we can keep singing and blooming.

Jim Knickelbine
Executive Director
Woodland Dunes Nature Center and Preserve