Bird & Nature Blog

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Kids and the Curiosity Seed

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Harry and his family moved on to another air base and many years passed. Thirty or so years later, I asked Mom whatever happened to Harry Greene. Funny you should ask, she said, I'll send you the latest copy of the Smithsonian magazine and you'll see for yourself. That issue announced a series of lectures by Professor Harry Greene coinciding with the publication of his evolutionary study of snakes (like all the snakes in the world). Harry has become one of the world's most prominent herpetologists and is now an advocate for re-wilding parts of the West. He is now a Professor Emeritus at Cornell. His massive and beautifully illustrated evolutionary study of snakes is entitled Snakes (simple enough).

Photo by Dave Thomas FCC

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The Many Ways to Bird

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Have you seen a lot of cars pulled off onto the side of country roads lately? Have you wondered what they’re up to? If there’s a pond or wet, muddy field nearby, chances are they’re birding.

In previous weeks on our Entryway to Birding blog, I’ve probably made birding sound a lot like a walk in the woods with some binoculars. That’s not an inaccurate depiction by any means—but it’s also not a complete one.

Birding is a versatile and accessible hobby that can be done in more ways than one. If your intention is to look or listen for birds, then congratulations! You’re birding—even if you aren’t in the woods, even if you don’t have binoculars, even if you haven’t left your house.

Here’s a round-up of just a few of the many other ways you can bird.

Photo by Caitlyn Schuchhardt

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Earth Day Birding

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Welcome back to the Entryway to Birding blog! After some colder temps last week, things are starting to trend warmer and it’s really feeling like spring. Spring peepers have been peeping, new blooms are coming up, and exciting birds are making some pit stops in Madison as they travel through during spring migration.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve started to lose track of time. Several weeks have gone by since COVID-19 sparked a complete upheaval of our daily routines. It’s hard to believe all the adjustments Wisconsinites have made in such a short amount of time (which simultaneously feels like an eternity)! Our social distancing efforts are paying off, though, and it’s important that we continue to hold our course and limit our contact with others as much as we can, for the benefit of everyone.

There’s an important day coming up, though, that I don’t want us to forget about in the midst of our strange reality. A day that is perhaps feeling more important to us that ever—Earth Day.

Photo by Caitlyn Schuchhardt

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We are Not Alone

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We are Not Alone

The plague has reminded us how important human contact is — physical, familial, emotional — and how painful the loss of that can be. We need to be reminded that we are not alone and how we can maintain contact with one another. Thanks to Matt, Brenna, Carolyn, Caitlyn, Becky, and John of Madison Audubon's staff as they create new ways to reach out to our members, volunteers, and friends during these uniquely trying times.

Madison Audubon is not alone either. I thought a review of some of our organizational friends, partners, and allies might make for a few moments of happy reading (and some ideas of some new places to spend time outdoors).

Photo by Drew Harry

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Good news for grassland birds (and people!)

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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