The 55 fourth graders of Madison's Lincoln Elementary School celebrated Earth Day a day early on Friday, April 21. They planted dozens of oak trees along Black Earth Creek and saw some of the storied inhabitants of the creek up close and personal.
The 4th graders' fabulous teachers, Madison Audubon, and the Southern Wisconsin Chapter of Trout Unlimited (SWTU) hosted the field trip. All of us adults lucky enough to help enjoyed it even more than the kids.
The 4th graders from Lincoln Elementary are excited to hear about the plan for the morning! Photo by Brenna Marsicek / Madison Audubon
Climate change threatens many of Wisconsin's cold water streams. Hot days and nights will heat water beyond the temperatures trout need. Shade will mitigate those effects on some streams. Oaks are a fabulous shade tree with those wide branches and lovely large leaves. They help streams, fish, birds, and anglers in other ways. Their shade is dappled which allows a variety of native grasses, sedges and flowers to grow under them. Those roots stabilize stream banks and produce bugs for birds and fish (an amazing amount of terrestrial insects fall into streams; fish love them). The oaks are even more prodigious bug factories. They are home to 100s of species, many of which have caterpillar stages. Many species of birds feeding their babies depend on oak trees. Finally, if an old angler like yours truly needs a break, sitting under an oak is a great spot.
A small group of students and Topf plant a swamp white oak tree near the Black Earth Creek. Photo by Brenna Marsicek / Madison Audubon
Black Earth Creek is one of those streams imperiled by climate change and Dan Oele, the WDNR fish biologist for Dane, Rock and Green Counties, had about 150 oaks (and a few hackberries) ready for planting along a newly restored section of the creek. SWTU volunteered to plant them on Earth Day but we really, really needed help. 4th graders to the rescue. In an hour of work they planted almost 1/3 of those trees. Planting trees is tougher than it might appear. You have to plant the tree to just the right depth and tamp the soil. The kids planted them dang near perfectly.
The second hour was devoted to the stream they were helping to protect. Kimberly Kuber and Camille Bruhn, WDNR water quality biologists, electro-shocked the stream to show the kids who lived there. Please be reassured that the shocking only temporarily stuns the fish and Kim and Camille handle the fish carefully and release them in good shape.
Kim and Camille begin collecting fish to show the students (no fish are harmed in this process). Photo by Brenna Marsicek / Madison Audubon
Kim shows the students the calcified lumps on the white sucker’s fin, indicating the fish is getting ready to lay eggs. Photo by Brenna Marsicek / Madison Audubon
Like many trout streams, BEC produces large numbers of a few species. The kids were thrilled to watch brown trout, mottled sculpins, and white suckers appear. Many oohs and aahs and questions. They now know a lot about the biology of trout streams.
Kim and Camille show the students a few species of fish found in the creek, and explain their biology, habitat preferences, and threats. Photo by Carolyn Byers / Madison Audubon
Madison Audubon’s education director Carolyn Byers has a long, happy relationship working with Josie Guiney, one of the teachers and my nominee for Best Teacher in the Galaxy; both anticipate this field trip as one of the highlights in a school year filled with conservation education and activities. Mickenzee Okon, our great Madison Audubon educator, and Brenna Marsicek, Communications and Outreach Director, joined Josie, Carolyn and other teachers and assistants to have a safe and fun day.
This summary of events and participants really doesn't do justice to the day. The kids make it. They are exuberant, energetic, fun, hard working, curious, and respectful. I leave this field trip every year hopeful about the future. I so wish folks who question what occurs in Madison Public Schools could experience this day. They'd know in their hearts what treasures so many of the kids and teachers are and how much good our schools do.
Students, teachers, and volunteers work together to plant trees near Black Earth Creek. Photo by Carolyn Byers / Madison Audubon
Some birds verified what a great day this was—and why not, this was a Madison Audubon event. The morning started with dozens of Tree and Barn Swallows swooping over the creek in search of insects. Early into the field trip, a spectacular Bald Eagle flew over. A half hour later, an Osprey appeared overhead. I've seen Ospreys on Wisconsin lakes but in 40 years of fishing southwestern Wisconsin trout streams I've never seen an Osprey near one. I'm taking that as a blessing on some wonderful folks and some children who deserve joy and health.
And the rest of the trees? My friends at SWTU rallied on a cold and I can't believe I'm writing this word snowy Earth Day morning to finish the planting. I conclude with a fish story and it's even true. At the end of the morning, Dan Oele offered to shock and survey some of the stream for us. We were every bit as eager as the school kids. At the last spot, the story was told about another WDNR biologist shocking this very same spot for SWTU members about 25 years ago and rolling out a huge trout. 15 seconds later, Dan produced another huge trout from that very same spot.
Eagles, Ospreys, and big, old trout—Nature sometimes lets you know you're on the right track.
Take care,
Topf Wells, Madison Audubon advocacy committee
