MEET DREW HARRY!
Faville Grove Sanctuary Land Steward from March 2015 to July 2023
Drew looks into the rising sun on top of Haleakalā on the island of Maui (photo courtesy of Drew).
I'm Drew Harry, I joined Madison Audubon in March of 2015, which makes nearly 8 years in the position of land steward at Faville Grove Sanctuary. At UW-Madison I was undecided for a long time about my major and possible career paths. By chance, I lucked into an internship at Faville Grove in 2012, which completely changed the trajectory of my life. Before the internship, I had little sense of the natural world; the internship opened my eyes to the incredible diversity, wonder, and fun that can be had outdoors.
Why did you want to join the team at Madison Audubon?
I joined Madison Audubon because of the positive changes I saw happening on the landscape. Clearing walls of brush and pulling invasive plants was and still is tremendously visceral and rewarding work.
What's your favorite bird?
My favorite bird is the Northern Harrier, a raptor that lives in grasslands. Because they occupy large, open spaces, Harriers perform a free-wheeling mating display that includes flips and turns and barrel rolls; it's a joy to watch.
Name your top three favorite outdoor places.
Berry picking at Spread Eagle Barrens (photo by Drew Harry).
It's hard to pick three, but these are the three I frequent most often, so they definitely rank among my favorites.
Faville Grove—I love the diversity of the landscape and the fire-maintained views that are continually expanding, and it's delightful to see the influence that my hand has played on the landscape from finding a new plant species to pulling an invasive that I missed!
Summer interns on a field trip learn about the ecology of Lulu Lake (photo by Drew Harry).
Spread Eagle Barrens—This is a rolling landscape with frost pockets in the low spots, and it's unique in northern Wisconsin for its open character of bracken grassland and pine savanna. The northern forests are deservedly iconic, but at Spread Eagle Barrens the mixture of plant communities and sightlines offer tremendous beauty.
Lulu Lake—The moraines and kettles make for breathtaking hikes, while the prairie openings, fens, and bogs add dramatic diversity in this savanna landscape. The lake and springs are an enjoyable cool-down on a hot day, and every step along the gradient of oak canopy reveals patterning and distributions of birds and animals that is infinitely complex.
Share something cool you've learned since joining the team.
My favorite thing I've learned since starting here is probably the behavior of brown-headed cowbirds. Executive Director Matt Reetz provides a fantastic talk and summary of the cowbird here. It's a fun story to share with people and a good jumping off point for learning about bird behavior.
I encourage everyone to get out and enjoy the sanctuaries any way they can, whether it's through volunteer efforts or viewing wildlife or plants. There are amazing sights around every corner!
Cover image: A Northern Harrier soars over a dusky prairie (photo by Arlene Koziol).
