Advocacy

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Summer, habitat, and Prairie Chickens

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"Sumer is icumen in/ Lhude sing cucco" — for those of us with some British ancestry, that's the start of a song our ancestors would greet the summer in the 13th Century. It's charming, important to musicologists, and vaguely familiar to folks who remember Chaucer from their survey of English lit course. We in Madison Audubon would probably agree that the start of summer and any celebration thereof should include birds. Surprisingly, mercifully, and thankfully, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Board probably agrees.

Photo by Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren

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Teacher, Teacher, Teach Me Love

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Teacher, Teacher, Teach Me Love

One of the underestimated joys of human existence is watching great teachers at work and today I saw two of the best: Josie Guiney, a 4th grade teacher at Madison's Lincoln School and MAS's very own Carolyn Byers. The occasion was "the-worst-of-COVID-might-be-beyond-us" renewal of the annual field trip for those 4th graders to Dane County's Basco Unit of the Sugar River Wildlife Area. The kids spend a couple of hours learning about prairies and rivers and then accomplished some good conservation deeds.

Photo by Carolyn Byers / Madison Audubon

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Take care of the turtles

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Take care of the turtles

Monday, May 23 was World Turtle Day. Lest you think this is some goofy day to celebrate a random animal group, take note: Wisconsin turtles really do need our help! Many of our turtle species are declining. Most of the reasons are human created problems, with the automobile high on the list.

Photo by Arlene Koziol

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Endangered but they don't have to stay that way

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Today, Friday, 5/20, is Endangered Species Day. Check this link out for a fun BINGO game to learn about some of Wisconsin's endangered and rare species. The key point is that almost all of our endangered species can be saved. Saved means restored to viable, robust populations with more than just hardy, isolated survivors.

Image courtesy of Wisconsin DNR

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The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

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This has been the hardest blog I've written for Madison Audubon. I've now paused at least 5 times because of the rage this Senator's misdeed and the JFC's acquiescence in it have generated. This is an example of inexcusable legislative arrogance and corruption. This legislator and JFC are spitting on grassroots conservation efforts and Wisconsin's vital tradition of open government.

Photo by Aaron Volkening FCC