Bird & Nature Blog
A clutch of the latest stories from Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance
If you have to choose between donating to MAS and voting, VOTE.
If you have to choose between seeding collecting at one of our sanctuaries and voting, VOTE.
If you have to choose between birding for the rest of the fall migration and voting, VOTE.
Of course, you don't have to make those choices, but, in my opinion, you do have to VOTE.
Graphic provided by National Audubon
The Natural Heritage Conservation wing of the DNR just published a report on the state of Wisconsin birds with a combination of bad news, good news, and ideas for creating more good news for birds and those of us who cherish them. Please use this link to read the full report: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/wnrmag/2020/Fall/Bird
Photo by Patrick Ready
Neonicotinoids are a type of pesticide used on a wide variety of crops in this and other countries. They can be long-lasting, effective against many insects, can be applied via seed coatings, and are less toxic to mammals than other pesticides. Those first three attributes are why they have raised many concerns among conservationists and environmentalists. Lots of insects are beneficial to us and even those that are bothersome can be important food for other creatures, especially birds. Birds eat seeds as well as bugs.
Photo by Arlene Koziol
Brand Smith, former MAS President, super volunteer, wonderful birder, and all-round nice guy, has led Madison Audubon's kestrel nest box monitoring program for several years. Many volunteers in turn have helped build and install the boxes and monitor them throughout the season. Madison Audubon has long documented the outstanding success of these nest boxes in helping kestrels produce healthy youngsters. In and of itself, that's invaluable because kestrels are on the sad list of bird species which are declining.
Photo by Jim Stewart
The 2020-2021 Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (aka the Duck Stamp) is now available. Please buy one or a bunch soon. I just bought several even though my duck hunting days are probably past. The reason:
Revenue from the Duck Stamp supports the National Wildlife Refuges and the Waterfowl Production Areas. The Wildlife Refuges are big and mostly well known as are the habitat and wildlife they offer.
