Bird & Nature Blog
A clutch of the latest stories from Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance
Think back to the snow-covered quiet of mid-winter… did you hear the “hoo-h’HOO-hoo-hoo” of Great Horned Owls calling back and forth? And while the coldness of winter might prompt humans to wonder how animals can survive sub-zero temperatures in Wisconsin, Great Horned Owls are doing more than surviving: They’re nesting!
Here is a story of an unlucky owlet who fell from a nest but was lucky to have some knowledgeable humans lend a helping hand.
Photo by Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren
Last week the Dane County area saw our first reports of American woodcocks, also lovingly called timberdoodles! (Why? It’s a mystery to me—but it sure seems to fit their quirky style!) American woodcocks are actually shorebirds that belong in the sandpiper family—you can see their resemblance to the Wilson's snipe, a closely related bird that you're likely to find in flooded fields, muddy shores, or marsh edges. But if you go looking for American woodcocks in the same spot you'd expect to find other shorebirds, you'll be disappointed.
American woodcocks nest in forests and wooded areas, but will perform their aerial flight display in open fields and prairies that are near woodlands. This week's Entryway to Birding blog will give you some suggested locations to go looking for American woodcocks and tips to make the most of your timberdoodle adventures—so you can experience the wonder of their sky dance in full.
Photo by Will Pollard
I needed to check out a trout stream project on Sunday. The site was only 100 yards or so from the bridge and someone had already tracked through the snow almost all the way there. Almost. And I found out why. If Satan wants to make hell more miserable he can simply add postholing to the list of daily activities. As each foot breaks the crusted top layer of snow through the remaining eight inches of snow and is then extricated with a mix of lung and thigh power, the operator of that foot begins to question the sanity of being outside on what seemed such a nice day.
Photo by Katerine Hala FCC
The Wisconsin DNR’s Natural Heritage Conservation program is now taking applications for a number of paid internships that are geared toward engaging traditionally marginalized groups.
The outdoors we love is going to take an abundance and diversity of young people who'll make the outdoors their passion and their profession. Those folks need internships. Please see the information below about a very worthwhile DNR summer internship program and alert any young person who might be interested and has any of the qualifications described in the third paragraph.
Photo courtesy of WDNR
The WDNR just issued a notice concerning the annual spring hearing of the Wisconsin Conservation Congress. The hearing will be a three day virtual event beginning on April 12. The virtual format makes expressing your opinion on a variety of conservation issues facing the state convenient.
Photo by Elvis Kennedy
