Ripples 6/27/19

Posted on by June 28, 2019
 
Written by Kelly Herfendal, Woodland Dunes summer education intern
photo of monarch butterfly

Monarch butterfly

The summer solstice marks the beginning of summer and here at Woodland Dunes there is new life making its way forth now that spring is over. The House Finch and Barn Swallow chicks living in the pavilion are loud and proud as they wait for mom and dad to come back with food. The purple milkweed in our Butterfly Garden has fully bloomed and awaits the arrival of Monarch butterflies.

With spring gone and summer in full swing, the native plants of Woodland Dunes are able to make their appearance. Native plants have great importance not only to the land but also to animals and insects. For pollinators, native plants are the key to survival. Native plants, such as the purple milkweed located in the Butterfly Garden, give adult butterflies a place to sip nectar as well as a place to lay their eggs on the leaves where then the caterpillars will have food and shelter in order to grow. Bees rely on native plants for food and we as humans rely on bees to pollinate these native plants. Dames Rocket is an invasive species with bright, purple flowers. It attracts bees early in the summer because of its vibrancy and early blooms. This aggressive species of wildflower uses its color to trick bees into pollinating it. This then increases the Dames Rocket population and further depletes the native plant population.

Mortality rates of butterflies and bees are increasing. Many people are unaware of this or may be unaware of the cause of this. How can we raise awareness for these essential species? As the environmental education intern, this is a question I frequently ask myself. To start, promoting awareness of how relevant and crucial native plants are to an ecosystem should be the first step. Clearing invasive species will lessen competition for native plants and will help them to fill in the vacant spaces. Planting native species that provide food and shelter for all types of wildlife will not only enhance the look of one’s garden but also the health of it.

Native plants are critical for the land and animals as well as pollinators. They provide habitat for many species of birds, shelter for many species of mammals, and nuts, seeds, and fruit for many species of wildlife. Since native plants are adapted to their local environmental conditions, they assist in the conservation of water because they require less irrigation for development and can hold more water in their roots. Because they assist in all of these wonderful things, native plants are detrimental to our ecosystems and to our climate.

Native plants have a plethora of benefits. They contribute considerable amounts of food and varying types of habitats for many species. These species of animals and insects depend on native plants for their way of life. Without these native species, ecosystems may crumble and species may become extinct. This is why awareness and appreciation for these native plants are vital to an ecosystem and deserve our full attention.

photo- monarch butterfly by Nancy Nabak

Ripples 6/20/19

Posted on by June 25, 2019

Written by Ebyn Shambeau and Isabella Scheibl, Woodland Dunes summer interns

photo of giant hogweed

giant hogweed

Summer is right around the corner which means we are starting to see some familiar plants!  You may notice some new large plants on the edge of your property, along waterways, or on the tree line of your local woodland. Although new plants are exciting to find, there is a dangerous invasive species close to our area.  Heracleum Mantegazzianum is a plant that you have probably heard about in the recent past. Known more commonly as Giant Hogweed, this is a harmful nonnative that grows in moist soil anywhere it can. Due to this year’s immensely wet spring/early summer, Giant Hogweed will most likely continue to thrive in the six Wisconsin counties where its presence has already been confirmed.

Giant Hogweed is a very robust, stalky plant. The plant can grow an average of eight to twenty feet which easily crowds out all surrounding native plant species. The flowers of this plant are mainly white with large umbels. Hogweed is commonly misidentified as American Cow Parsnip, but unlike Giant Hogweed which is native to Asia, American Cow Parsnip is native to Wisconsin.

You may be wondering “How do I tell the two plants apart if they look so similar?” Luckily, we have two easy ways to tell the difference. First, Giant Hogweed is the larger of the two growing up to twenty feet tall. American Cow Parsnip only grows three to seven feet tall. Secondly, upon closer observation, Giant Hogweed has a single leaf structure with lobes that look like a hand with finger, while American Cow Parsnip has leaves similar to the shape of Maple tree leaves.

Not only is Giant Hogweed harmful to native plants, but it’s also hazardous for humans as well. When getting rid of Hogweed it is highly suggested that clothing cover all skin and protective wear for your eyes and face is utilized. Giant Hogweed possesses sap that is released when the plant is cut or damaged. If this sap gets on your skin, it will undergo a process called phytophotodermatitis. If the affected skin comes into contact with sunlight it can cause burns, rashes, blisters, and discoloration that can last several years. To combat the damage that the sap can cause, quickly wash the affected area with cold water and keep the area cool, dry, and out of sunlight. To combat the spread of the plant itself, there are two options. The first of which would be manual removal using a shovel to dig one to two inches below the plant to remove it from the ground. The entire plant can then be burned or bagged for landfill disposal. The second way is the chemical route which involves the use of a foliar spray or cut-stump method followed by treatment of herbicide.

Giant Hogweed is an invasive which is harmful to everything that it comes in contact with, whether it be humans, animals, or native plant species. Even though Giant Hogweed was originally brought to America as an ornamental plant, there’s nothing pretty about it.

photo- Giant Hogweed by Fritz Geller-Grimm

Ripples 6/13/19

Posted on by June 12, 2019
photo of a Swainson's thrush

Swainson’s thrush

With the onset of summer and all that goes with it, it’s good to remind ourselves of the life around us and be grateful for it. Even if it includes mosquitoes.  Here are my top 10 reasons that summer on the Lakeshore is wonderful, in no particular order:

1) Cooler by the Lake.  When the really hot days happen this summer, I will be grateful to live in Manitowoc and work in Two Rivers. The cooling effect of the Lake makes possible the presence of wonderful northern plants that need the cool, moist air that is moderated by the giant sink of cold water next to us. Those plants make northern species of wildlife feel at home – warblers and thrushes and a hundred other species of birds along with other animals of all kinds. If you want to be warm, you can always drive a half-hour inland, but our cool maritime climate makes us special.

2) Migratory highways- along the Lakeshore all sorts of animals migrate: birds and butterflies, even mammals.  We are poised right in their path and if we provide a little habitat for them some will stay all summer.

3) A string of pearls- decades ago people around here set aside areas along the Lake where people could go to experience wildlife, not knowing about the importance of migratory stopover sites and such. Now we are able to enjoy the wildlife of such places as the Rahr School Forest, Point Beach, Woodland Dunes, the Mariner’s Trail shoreline, Little Manitowoc, the Manitowoc Harbor area, Silver Creek park, Point Creek preserve, and Fischer Creek park. These places also provide important rest stops for migratory wildlife.

4)  The growing forest- there is actually more forested land in Manitowoc County than there was years ago.  When I look at old photographs of my grandfather’s land and the area around it, I am amazed at how desolate the area appeared. A lot of the forest here was harvested and converted to farmland years ago and  has been growing back, although probably with different tree species than were found originally.  As my brother and I try to restore the land my grandfather acquired almost 75 years ago, we take out a lot of non-native species and plant native trees and shrubs.  This time of year it’s gratifying to see the new growth on those trees- and challenging to keep  ahead of the deer that try to snack on them.  We do the same at Woodland Dunes, and some of the trees planted just a few years ago are now 20 feet tall thanks to the cool, wet weather we’ve had.

5) Ever-changing wildflowers- starting with the unearthly blooms of skunk cabbage in late winter and early spring, there is a constant progression of wild blooms first in the forest and then out to the grasslands.  A lot of the woodland species are at the end of their blooming, but soon coreopsis, mints, and goldenrods will burst into flower.  As summer wanes there will be orchids, gentians, and asters to feed the ever-growing seasonal insect population.

6) Fireflies- if anything is magical about summer I think fireflies take the cake. Their larvae need wet areas, so lowlands are a great place to see them.  This year they will probably be late because it’s so cool- maybe around the 4th of July?

7) Bumblebees- there are only about 20 species of bumblebees here so it’s not too hard to learn them. Unlike yellowjacket wasps that hang around garbage cans in late summer and fall, bumblebees are mostly gentle and not interested in stinging unless threatened, so you can get close to them.  Some of the other types of native bees don’t even have stingers, because they don’t nest in hives which they would have to defend.  Honeybees are European, not from North America.

8) Dragonflies- there are so many different kinds of dragonflies and their kin. They are a challenge to identify but not to appreciate- they eat many mosquitoes and provide a lot of interest to the waters above which they cruise in flight. There are some good field guides to help people get started in learning them.

9) Butterflies- like dragonflies there are so many different species which emerge at different times of the summer that there are always new ones to see. Monarch butterflies have been returning to this area in good numbers and are busy laying eggs, and there are already caterpillars out there on the milkweeds, the first of a couple of generations they will produce here between now and Labor Day.

10) Birds nesting- all over our preserve and throughout the area birds are already busy producing their next generations.  Large birds like eagles, falcons, and sandhill cranes are already caring for young. The warblers and small songbirds that traveled so far to reach us and our nesting habitat have built nests and are incubating eggs, and in a week or two young birds will already be seen. This is especially gratifying for us- it’s the main reason Woodland Dunes was founded.

I read an account of a celebrity who said she starts each day thinking of what she is grateful for.  I think that’s a very healthy attitude, and one which applies to the wildlife of our Lakeshore and how we interact with it.

photo- a Swainson’s thrush, a migratory songbird.  Taken at Woodland Dunes by Nancy Nabak

Ripples 6/6/19

Posted on by June 7, 2019
photo of jack-in-the-pulpit

jack-in-the-pulpit

As the Education Coordinator, I often ask younger children to use their “tools” when we are exploring the trails in the preserve.  As adults, we take these tools for granted, but our eyes, ears, nose and hands can help us notice what is around us. It is easy to walk through the forest and only watch our footing, so we do not trip on a root. However, if we slow down, we can take the time to use our senses and enjoy nature’s wonders. 

A recent walk on Trillium Trail revealed many interesting flowers. Nodding Trillium is currently in bloom, but you have to look closely to see the flower. The white flower hangs below the large leaves, giving it the appearance that it is nodding.  

Another plant with a hidden, nodding flower is the Mayapple. If you are using your “tools,” you’ll notice patches of the large, umbrella-like leaves of this perennial. The plant has a single white flower that grows under the leaves. As their name suggests, Mayapples bear fruit. The fruit is bright yellow when ripe and is eaten by raccoons, opossums, skunks and other mammals.

Jack-in-the-pulpit can also be spotted along the trail. The flowers of this plant are not showy, but more archaic-looking. The “jack” is the flower structure, known as the spadix, located inside the “pulpit,” a modified, curved leaf called a spathe. The spathe is green with purple and greenish white stripes and is rolled into a deep cup with an overhanging roof. This may give the appearance of a preacher giving a sermon in the pulpit. The overhanging roof prevents rain from collecting inside, which would wash away the pollen. The flower emits a slight fungal smell, which attracts gnats and other insects for pollination.

Along Trillium Trail, you may notice the damp, earthy smell of the spring forest. Perhaps you will catch a whiff of the slightly sweet fragrance from the flowers of the Black Cherry trees.

In the late spring, you’re ears will treated to a full symphony in the forest. You may hear the emphatic, “Teacher! Teacher!” call of the Ovenbird, the long, cascading song of the Winter Wren or the slurred, questioning call of the Red-eyed Vireo. Birds aren’t the only animals making their presence known. The Gray Treefrogs loudly trill and the Green Frogs occasionally chime in with a “dunk, dunk.”

Late spring is an exciting time to be immersed in the forest. Even on the coolest and dampest of days, a short stroll can offer many delights – if you just take the time to notice. Next time you are in the forest, use your “tools” and you many be surprised at what you find.


Ripples 5/30/19

Posted on by June 7, 2019

Coastal wetland monitoring


Many people associate Woodland Dunes with it’s birdlife and we encourage that.  Birds are colorful, announce themselves with their songs, and are in general easy to find.  There are more than 100 species that are found here each year, from bald eagles to hummingbirds and they are found in every different habitat in our preserve.  They impress and delight both our staff and visitors and are important aspects of this place.
 
Woodland Dunes is so much more than just birds, however.  It is a rich and complex mosaic of habitats, centered around the ancient ridges and swales which are considered globally important.  Each of those habitats have thousands of components- species- that keep them functioning as they should.  Unlike birds, many of those species are hidden from us, or at least not noticed.
 
Much of Woodland Dunes is wetland.  If it were drier it probably would have been developed for human use long ago.  Wetlands are special places.  They store and clean surface water and provide homes for many species of wildlife, more than upland areas do.  The marshes, streams, and swales are nurseries for many insects, amphibians, turtles, and even fish.
 
We are so fortunate to have at UW-Green Bay, Manitowoc Campus, Dr. Titus Seilheimer, a fisheries specialist who works with the UW Sea Grant program.  He is an excellent resource for people in this region and presents many public programs in the area in addition to his research projects.  In addition to his knowledge of fisheries, he has also researched coastal wetlands and his knowledge is especially helpful to those of us who are interested in the East and West Twin and their estuaries, the Little Manitowoc, and the like.
 
Recently, Dr. Seilheimer presented a program about the importance of coastal wetlands in our area, focusing on those we have within our preserve- ridges and swales, marsh, and associated areas.  With the help of our summer interns, he placed nets in waters near our Cattail Trail boardwalk to determine what fish species are using that habitat.   Now, I have been at Woodland Dunes a long time, and over the years we have caught a number of fish while doing salamander surveys in early spring.  I was not prepared, however, for what we encountered when the first net was lifted- hundreds of central mudminnows, sticklebacks, fathead minnows, a brown bullhead, along with other interesting creatures such as virile crayfish, leeches, and a predaceous diving beetle.  The crayfish were females, and each clutched hundreds of eggs beneath their curved tails.  The net had been set near a stream which flowed from the forested swales in the preserve, providing a path for these animals to move back and forth between the river and marsh and the forest.
 
The second net was set further downstream in the marsh, in what was a sedge meadow before the current high water levels.  That net did not hold as many fish, but those it did were still interesting- a pumpkinseed sunfish, a couple of minnow species, and a dace in addition to bullhead and mudminnows. There were also two painted turtles which made their way into the net, which was decorated with bladderwort, a particularly interesting plant.  Along it’s stem are little pouches (bladders) which are able to suck in and hold tiny insects and other animals, which it then digests.  
 
The opportunity to explore a natural area with an expert always yields new and interesting things.  In this case, Dr. Seilheimer helped uncover some of the many species within our preserve which are usually unseen and unimagined.  He, and UW- Sea Grant are a tremendous asset in understanding the nature of our Lakeshore.
 
Photo: Dr. Seilheimer (center) with interns Kelly Herfendal (top) and Ebyn Shambeau (bottom) sample fish in the Woodland Dunes marsh.