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Let's Talk Timberdoodles!

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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

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March Mudness

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March Mudness

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

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Preserving, restoring, protecting, and improving

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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

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WCC Spring Hearing needs to hear from you

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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

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In praise of elected officials (really!)

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Some most excellent land conservation news broke recently. The Driftless Area Land Conservancy (DALC) announced the creation of a huge new nature preserve in southwest Dane County!

Two aspects of the Spring Valley Preserve stand out: its size and diversity. At 308 acres, it's huge. Those acres include oak savannas, sand prairies, oak woodlands, oak openings, wetlands, springs, and a small stream. The land features some great native plants, including a personal favorite, the prickly pear cactus. I don't know if DALC and its allies have had the chance to identify all the animals that call this land home at one time or another but, in my blissful, hopeful ignorance, I'm rooting for the ornate box turtle to show up one day.

Photo courtesy of DALC