Bird & Nature Blog

Good news for cranes (for now)

The bill (SB620) that proposes to legalize a Sandhill Crane hunt in Wisconsin was not moved forward for consideration in this legislative session. It has not gone away, but will be held for a future session, perhaps in January.

To those of you who contacted your legislators asking them to vote NO on this issue, THANK YOU! Your support is incredible and makes a difference.

Photo by Arlene Koziol

Visitors from 9 to 99 at Otsego Marsh and Goose Pond

Dorothy Haines, a Madison Audubon member for over 50 years (recently featured in our Meet a Birder series), and eight residents of Oakwood Village East visited Goose Pond today and were greeted by thousands of waterfowl and ring-billed gulls and mid-October weather. Dorothy enjoyed stopping at the Browne Prairie and at the Kiosk.

Columbus Grade School has been frequent visitors to Goose Pond and Otsego Marsh this fall. A class visited Otsego Marsh today and as they hiked up the trail a teacher said, "We are going to see what has changed since we were here last."

Still a "No" for Sandhill Crane hunt

Still a "No" for Sandhill Crane hunt

As a hunter, angler, and conservationist, I stand with Madison Audubon against the Sandhill Crane hunt. The reasons are numerous, and you can read them in my previous post here, but make no mistake: they are informed both by sound science and by a love of cranes.

Bruce Ross, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association (WWA), recently replied to my blog on a hunting season on Sandhill Cranes, and argued that hunters and non-hunters should support such a season.

Well, that was throwing a fly to a hungry trout so I rise to the bait.

Photo by Arlene Koziol