Bird & Nature Blog
A clutch of the latest stories from Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance
Some most excellent land conservation news broke recently. The Driftless Area Land Conservancy (DALC) announced the creation of a huge new nature preserve in southwest Dane County!
Two aspects of the Spring Valley Preserve stand out: its size and diversity. At 308 acres, it's huge. Those acres include oak savannas, sand prairies, oak woodlands, oak openings, wetlands, springs, and a small stream. The land features some great native plants, including a personal favorite, the prickly pear cactus. I don't know if DALC and its allies have had the chance to identify all the animals that call this land home at one time or another but, in my blissful, hopeful ignorance, I'm rooting for the ornate box turtle to show up one day.
Photo courtesy of DALC
Time for some good news. Please see this link that will lead you to the news of the latest Dane County acquisition: 160 acres just south of Verona west and north of the intersection of STH 69 and River Road.
The press release focuses on Badger Mill Creek, the Sugar River, trout, flood control, and water infiltration, all important and in the context of this news, happy topics. Please note that the County has committed to restore almost all 160 acres to prairie. That's why the future management of the property will help protect streams and groundwater and mitigate floods but think of our grassland bird friends. A happy, happy home in their future.
Photo by Arlene Koziol
Our upland birds and waterfowl and shore birds have found a wonderful new ally in the elected officials and Land and Water Resources staff of Dane County. Determined to improve water quality and reduce flooding, Dane County has recently bought about a thousand acres in many different parcels, mostly in the Upper Mendota watershed. Almost all of this land is in row crops. Over the next few years, the County will restore those lands to prairie and wetlands, which are infinitely better at retention and infiltration of water and happy, happy homes for grassland birds. The wetlands and upland cover will also provide more habitat for waterfowl and shorebirds.
Madison Audubon photo
