Tuesday, June 6th, was an amazing day. We spent the day working on one of my favorite parts of the preserve (though it is quite difficult to truly pick a favorite). Before work even began, I did a quick 10-minute bird survey and documented 19 different bird species! A sign of a wonderful day to come. The weather was perfect, staying in the 60s with a breeze perfect for keeping mosquitoes away.
This past month has been very busy, our land interns, staff, and volunteers have already planted hundreds of trees out in the state natural area. Woo! Hundreds more await planting, certainly enough to keep us busy for the rest of the summer. Tuesday was spent planting, but not trees.
Instead, we planted native woodland flowers along the forest’s edge, right along some of our prairies where the endangered rusty patched bumble bee has been documented for the past few years. The prairies are full of beautiful native wildflowers like blazing star, milkweed, bergamot, coneflowers, and culver’s root to name a few. If there are already awesome plants blooming out there, why plant more?
Well, most prairie plants around here bloom mid-late summer. Some pollinators, including the rusty patched bumble bee, emerge from their winter sleep in spring. Many woodland flowers bloom late spring-early summer, perfect for filling in that gap of when the bees wake up to when the prairie flowers bloom!
We planted a variety of species, bluebells, mayapples, asters, and jacob’s ladder, to name a few. With armfuls of plants, off we went! We worked under the shade of sugar maples, beech, and hemlock trees while birds called from the treetops above. A glance out towards the prairies offered a view of countless dragonflies zipping on by with a few monarchs floating from one milkweed plant to the next.
After the last flowers were planted, as we gathered up our shovels and plant pots, a single bumble bee buzzed on by us. It went from one newly planted flower to the next, as if it was curious as to what we had been working on for the past few hours. I couldn’t help but think of how excited that bumble must have been to discover this area full of new resources that it and countless other pollinators can come and enjoy. It was a really nice feeling to see that pollinators were already appreciating our hard work, merely minutes after we had finished.
Our work here at Woodland Dunes is truly fulfilling. We get to teach the importance of nature and why we protect it while sharing how special this preserve is for children and adults alike. We also get to help protect and restore that land, improving habitats for numerous species of wildlife to enjoy for generations to come. How amazing is that? And, let’s be honest, who wouldn’t want to spend their day planting flowers under the shade of beautiful trees, while birds sing all around you, as if cheering you on as you improve their habitat one scoop of a shovel at a time.
photo- a two-spotted bumblebee on creeping charlie at UW-Madison Arboretum, from their webpage
Ripples by Nancy Nabak, Communications Coordinator
Last night I dreamt my birding friend said he’d found a “Level-headed-arrow-back” duck. What in the world? Truly, such a duck does not exist. I’m pretty sure it came from the fact that I had just completed a 24-hour birdathon a couple of days prior and birds were still flying around in my head as I went to sleep.
On Friday and Saturday, I participated in a friendly competition to raise money for bird conservation and awareness. We had 24 hours to find as many species as possible. I belonged to the team “No Egrets” and we tied for 4th place with 152 bird species identified. This brilliant Pine warbler (photo) was one of them. Teams could bird anywhere in the state of Wisconsin, but I ran into many who were here, scouring for birds at Woodland Dunes.
Now that spring migration is in full swing, our singing warblers, thrushes, and vireos are back. Unfortunately, many will only be here for a short while before moving further north to their nesting grounds. So, while they’re here, let’s get out and enjoy them! You can count them, listen to them sing, watch them in flight, or just admire the fact that they’re back again and winter has finally lost its grip.
The bright lemon yellow, orange and black, and blue and gold neotropical migrants are fascinating to the eye. This is the time to witness the artist’s paintbrush on these birds. Take a hike on Willow Trail and see what brilliant-colored treasures you might find. Take your time and move slowly. These little guys like to hop and bounce around in the treetops, so be prepared to watch for movement first, then look for their bright colors and markings.
This Saturday, Woodland Dunes will be celebrating World Migratory Bird Day and our 81st Bird Breakfast tradition. Celebrating birds? You bet. They give us song. They give us entertainment, and they give us hope. The world could use a little more of these three things.
And no, we don’t eat birds for breakfast, not even eggs come to think of it. Initially, Bird Breakfast began by a local birder and librarian, Merle Picket. After a friendly Saturday morning bird challenge was complete, she offered a pancake breakfast in her home. Eventually it grew so large that people were grilling their breakfasts in public parks. Then, the event came to Woodland Dunes.
Over 100 people will celebrate this Saturday morning by eating a ham and pancake breakfast not in the parks, but in the comforts of our Nature Center. Free guided bird hikes and children’s activities will also be offered. This tradition has lasted for 81 years, that tells us something. Birds are a reason to celebrate!
photo: Pine warbler by Nancy Nabak