Bird & Nature Blog
A clutch of the latest stories from Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel revealed yesterday what southern Wisconsin birders have known for several days. The Lake Michigan shoreline in Milwaukee is hosting a male Mandarin Duck, arguably the world's most spectacular and beautiful duck.
If you don't want to drive to Milwaukee and join dozens of other birders, check out the photos below. WOW, WOW, WOW.
Photo by Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren
On Dec. 27, Governor Evers announced that he appointed Adam Payne the new Secretary of the DNR.
Mr. Payne might be appropriately named because he has a lot of that awaiting him. The DNR always has contentious issues and he'll step into two of the most controversial: wolf management and water pollution, PFAS immediately and agriculture-related run off soon thereafter. Powerful legislators and lobbyists for some business and agricultural interests don't want much, if anything, done about the pollution. Wolves always evoke passion; I don't know if any management plan will achieve a consensus among the folks for whom the plan is important. Plenty of other tough issues will arise.
Photo by Karen Viste-Sparkman/USFWS
Charles Carlin and our good friends at Gathering Waters are fighting the good fight to preserve the Knowles Nelson Stewardship Program. Click here to read the latest update from their team. You'll recall how an anonymous member of the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) was destroying the Pelican River conservation project in NE Wisconsin. The linked article shows that JFC did not even follow its own bad rules and that Governor Evers might have the chance to save the project.
Photo by Joshua Mayer
The faithful six readers of this blog know that one of my perennial concerns has been the threats facing the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program. The most insidious of these is the power the Joint Finance Committee has exercised. Currently, any member of the Joint Finance Committee can anonymously stop any Stewardship grant that comes before the Committee without stating any reason and without any public hearing on that action.
Charles Carlin of Gathering Waters offers an effective description of the latest abuse of power by some JFC member. That legislator has stopped the Pelican River conservation/timber easement of 70,000 acres in northeast Wisconsin.
Photo by Joshua Mayer
The Wildlife Society has a great article on the Recovering America's Wildlife Act (RAWA) and the need for Congress to pass it before the end of the year. The bill is broadly (and fervently) supported by dozens of local, regional, and national conservation organizations. Contact your senators today!
Photo via Pixabay
