We usually think of champions as winners of athletic contests but another definition kicks off this blog. Champion can also mean a person who is a determined, dedicated, competent, and untiring advocate and protector of a cause or people or, in the case at hand, of birds, bugs, and their homes. We have some such champions in our midst and they deserve our thanks.
Let's start with profound thanks to two wonderful Bird Alliance members of many years and many accomplishments. Check out the recent Goose Pond Sanctuary update to learn more about Dorothy Haines and Jim Otto.
Dorothy Haines sits on a bench in Browne Prairie at our Goose Pond Sanctuary in 2020. Photo by Matt Reetz / SoWBA
Dorothy died on Earth Day of this year at the age of 102. Dorothy always had a wonderful sense of timing and style; both, I think, are reflected in the day of her death. She was a champion of the Earth, birds, and the Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance. I don't think SoWBA would exist without Dorothy. For decades, she fulfilled just about every function a volunteer conservation organization needs and was an incredibly generous benefactor. Goose Pond always held a special place in her heart. She delighted in being there and she worked tirelessly and generously to make it a secure haven for birds. And anyone lucky enough to know Dorothy was delighted to spend time with her. She enjoyed life, people, and Nature and her enthusiasm and energy were contagious.
Her celebration of life will be held on May 15, 11:30am CT — you can watch it from home through this Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84766903803?pwd=NCtCUUFBaGZhN3Jtd0EyK2dUS1ZHUT09
Jim Otto, super volunteer at Goose Pond Sanctuary, participates in a Red-shouldered Hawk research project in 2021. Photo by Arlene Koziol
Keep reading that report and find Jim Otto. Jim is another indefatigable volunteer at Goose Pond. He is an incredibly astute observer of wildlife, especially the birds and bugs many of us miss. Without Jim, we simply would not know the variety of insects we have in Goose Pond, in particular the pollinators (see his iNaturalist list of observations here!). Some of these bugs have to be caught to be properly recorded and studied. Jim Otto is to a butterfly net what Caitlin Clark is to a 3 point shot. He is also remarkably kind and thoughtful. He's helped lots of folks discover the joys of catching, tagging and releasing monarch butterflies
The Wisconsin Society of Ornithology (WSO) has announced its Bird Champions—its Award Winners for 2024 and SoWBA is proud to claim Brand Smith as one of our own. Brand was named one of the winners of the Noel J. Cutright Award for outstanding work in preserving a rare or endangered species. As we would expect, Brand is honored for his years of work to protect and increase the numbers of American Kestrels. He oversees the Kestrel Nest Box Monitoring and banding program over a wide swath of this area. This year (perhaps by the time you read this) Brand's nest boxes and his team of volunteers will have produced over 2,000 kestrel chicks. And, like Jim and Dorothy, Brand is unfailingly gracious.
Brand Smith stands with one of the kestrel nest boxes in the Kestrel Nest Box Monitoring Program. Photo by Brenna Marsicek / SoWBA
Finally, I'd like to recognize another bird champion, one a bit newer to the effort than Dorothy, Brand or Jim. Jennifer Lazewski is the Executive Director of WSO. In addition to field studies and the preservation and restoration of habitat, birds need folks who defend them in the worlds of bureaucracies, agencies, development, those daunting and sometimes dreary human activities that impact our birds drastically. Jennifer is that defender. Hers is not the world of binoculars and tromping through wetlands and prairies. Nope, it's meetings, reading, and responding to drafts of regulations, permit applications, and development proposals. Then Jennifer or any champion in this arena has to contact like minded folks and organizations to respond to threats to or opportunities for birds. Jennifer handles such duties with great competence, dedication, and diligence. I've now read several of her reports, analyses, and recommendations on a variety of issues that affect a variety of birds. The birds and we are lucky to have her on our side.
Thanks to Jim, Brand and Jennifer. Dorothy, you have left the world better for us and your beloved birds.
Topf Wells, Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance advocacy committee
