Panorama | Spring 2023

Spring 2023

HELEN BOOMSMA Executive Director

Welcome to spring! Enjoy the renewed sunlight and warmth as the earth wakes up once again! In this issue of Panorama, read about prescribed burning, a land management practice our conservation team uses to maintain the health of prairies. Learn the science behind prescribed burns, as well as why and how we conduct them at the Center. Read about what you’ll see on our trails as spring returns. Gain knowledge of spring ephemeral wildflowers, some of the species you may encounter in the forest, and how they grow and reproduce. Discover what foods local birds love to eat and learn about some of their interesting foraging behaviors.

For many, birding is one of spring’s highlights. Enjoy a visit to the Center to take in the sights and sounds of migration! Our trails open at 7:00am for birding from April 22 through June 4.

We are hosting numerous programs for beginning and experienced birders alike. Join others for Saturday Morning Bird Walks in search of birds utilizing the Center’s diverse habitats. Enjoy Birding Exploration, where participants take early Sunday morning guided hikes led by experienced birders to learn about the identification, behavior, and ecology of resident and migratory birds. At Avian Adventure, families will visit a variety of bird-themed stations celebrating Wisconsin’s year-round residents and our migrating feathered friends. In addition, look for a Bird Photography Workshop, Bird Conservation in Coffee, field trips, and more! On June 22, Wingspan & Wine, where attendees sample wine while meeting our birds of prey, returns with a Mediterranean theme. To see all our birding programs, check the birding filter on our online calendar.

To help visitors identify species commonly seen on our trails, we created Birds of Schlitz Audubon, a pocket folding guide available in our Nature Store. While birding at the Center during regular hours, we also have a limited number of binoculars available to checkout. These Nikon 8 x 42 binoculars are free for use by members while on our trails and $10 for the general public. When you aren’t on the trails, view birds on our Feeder Cam. This handy tool allows you to see birds visiting Schlitz Audubon from anywhere when you access our website’s birding section.

When you visit this spring, you will likely notice that we are deep into restoring a piece of the land near the corner of Lake Drive and Brown Deer Road. This plot of dead ash, buckthorn, and low-quality understory is being converted into a vibrant and diverse hardwood swamp that will provide habitat for a variety of plant, bird, and other animal species. Once the project is complete, we will have transformed one of the most degraded areas of the property into one of the most lively and beautiful.

Until then, we have six miles of trails to explore over 180 acres. We hope you come to enjoy the brightness and green of spring!

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Officers

Shane Delsman

President

Evan Kirkstein

Treasurer

Benjamin T. Pavlik

Secretary

Barbie Brennan Nelson

VP-Development

John Schaub

VP-Governance

Directors

Joseph A. Camilli

Renee M. Clair

Amy Giuffre

Therese Gripentrog

Jonathan T. Luljak

Carrie Nichols

Leia C. Olsen

Jeff Rusinow

Lindsay Stevens

Past Presidents

John H. Kopmeier, Jr.

Philip R. Smith

Dennis L. Fisher

Terrence K. Knudsen

Thomas J. McCutcheon

Thomas B. Fitzgerald

Randolph H. Dean

Stephen F. Geimer

Thomas J. Drought

David K. Hoover

John S. McGregor

Margarete R. Harvey

Timothy J. Gerend

John Grunau

Aliah Berman

Director Emeritus

Dorothy K. Vallier (1910-2013)

CREDITS FOR PANORAMA

Director of Marketing & Communications

Nancy Quinn

Creative Lead | Design & Photography

Zoe Finney

Editing | Select Writing

Craig Mattson

Admission

FREE admission to Members

Adults: $8 | Youth: $5 (ages 3 — 17)

1111 East Brown Deer Road | Milwaukee, WI 414-352-2880 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

Hours

Monday - Sunday | 8:30am-5:00pm

Early Birding Hours

April 22 - June 4 | Trails open at 7:00am

Schlitz Audubon is an independent, locally supported partner of the National Audubon Society.

COVER PHOTO An American Redstart

Welcome to our new board member!

Joseph A. Camilli | von Briesen & Roper, s.c.

Discover the signs of spring

ABBY SAXTON Naturalist

Spring is upon us, with the emergence of new plants, the return of migrating birds, and the awakening of dormant species; tree buds, reptiles, and amphibians alike. As life begins to quicken in pace with the changing of the seasons, take a slow walk in nature using your senses with intention to notice these signs of spring.

One of the season’s highlights is the return of migrating birds. Among the first to visit in April and May are waterfowl such as the Wood Duck and Blue-winged Teal. Visit Wood Duck Pond or Mink Pond along the West Meadows Loop, and you may hear the whistling of Wood Ducks flying overhead or see their bright orange bill and green head on the shore. Hike to Dragonfly Pond and Teal Pond to observe the Blue-winged Teal, with their distinct cheetah-patterned wings and white-striped head.

The Center becomes a birding hotspot in May due to our location on the Mississippi Flyway along the shore of Lake Michigan as more species make their trips back north. Among the most abundant are the warblers; 36 species stop in southern Wisconsin, creating a swarm of vibrant colors and sounds. Look for the bright sunlight colored Yellow Warbler, Wilsons Warbler, and Black-throated Green Warbler. These birds can be seen from May to June throughout the tree canopy in our forest habitats.

As soon as the wetlands and ponds thaw, brumating reptiles and amphibians reappear. In early April, during the day, look for little painted turtle heads starting to poke above the surface of the water on our ponds. Closer to evening, tune in to the songs of frogs like the spring peeper and boreal chorus frog. Named for its high-pitched call, the spring peeper makes a distinct “Peep, Peep!” The songs of the chorus frog sound similar to running a thumb across a hair comb.

While taking a walk in the forested areas of the Center, such as the Lake Terrace Loop or the Central Wetlands Loop, look up at the towering trees above and notice the newly budding branches. The dormant green giants are waking up with the weather as their buds begin to turn into leaves that will later produce food for the tree through photosynthesis. Closer to the ground, the buds of red-osier dogwood trees are being nibbled on by white-tailed deer. You can easily locate these dogwood trees as they reside in clusters and have bright red branches in the spring. Their buds will turn into bright white flowers in June, providing pollen for returning migrators such as the monarch butterfly and hibernators like the rusty-patched bumble bee.

The Center is the perfect place to observe the first signs of spring. From the forests and ponds, to the shore of Lake Michigan, experience the changing of the seasons by taking a close look at nature.

Wilson's Warbler

Beyond the Beauty of Spring Ephemerals

AUBREY ELLICKSON FULSAAS Children's Events Coordinator

When spring arrives in the forest, sunlight beams down between still bare branches, warming the leaf litter that engulfs the forest floor. Sprinkled among the shades of brown is the bright green shimmer of new life, pushing through towards the light. These plants, known as spring ephemeral wildflowers, offer the first feeling of rebirth and rejuvenation in the forest community. Ephemeral, a term synonymous with temporary, is used to describe certain natural phenomena that last a short time before disappearing.

If all flowering plants bloomed at the same time, competition for resources such as sunlight, water, space, and pollinators would prove detrimental for most species. Ephemeral plants have evolved to take advantage of the early spring conditions within the forest, where the sunlight is able to reach beneath the tree canopy for a short period of time before tree leaves burst from dormant buds. This period, typically lasting from late March to early May, is characterized by slightly warmer temperatures and moist soil from snowmelt and rain. Ephemeral plants are perennial, with root structures that lay dormant under the soil for most of the year, blooming for only a few days before going to seed. Some of these ephemerals, such as the great white trillium (Trillium grandiflorum), take almost ten years to develop from seed to flowering plant. They bide their time, conserving energy to take full advantage of the unique spring conditions.

The first flowers of this season provide much-needed sources of pollen and nectar for insects coming out of hibernation or migrating back to Wisconsin. Dutchman’s , a unique spring ephemeral with white flowers resembling a row of royal pantaloons, is exclusively pollinated by bumble bee queens as they come out of hibernation. These fertile queen bees fuel up with nectar as they begin creating a new ground nest. Some may even choose their nesting locations based on the abundance of early spring flowers.

Once pollination is complete and seeds are developed, the flowers disappear within days of their arrival. The small seeds now need to travel away from the parent plant and find a suitable area for new growth. The seeds are being transported by a miniscule but mighty creature – the ant.

Up to 35 percent of understory plants - including trilliums, bloodroot, violets, hepatica, Dutchman’s breeches, trout lilies, and rue-anemone – exclusively rely on ants to disperse their seeds. These seeds have evolved to have external fat-rich attachments known as elaiosomes. The ants carry the seeds back to their colonies to feed the elaisomes to their larvae, eventually discarding the unharmed seed in a nutrient-rich pile perfect for plant growth.

The journey the seed takes is only six feet from the parent plant. This short distance prevents populations of ephemerals from adapting and spreading quickly, so clusters of plants are extremely vulnerable to disturbance. Spring ephemeral populations require a late successional forest, and can take up to 20 years to reestablish themselves among the forest understory. Invasive species, such as European buckthorn, garlic mustard, or dames rocket can quickly choke out the space and nutrients required for native plants to succeed.

It takes a healthy, well-balanced forest to support a variety of beautiful spring ephem erals. Ongoing land res toration and preser vation allows Schlitz Audubon to boast an abundance of these unique and transito ry plants within our forests every spring season.

CRAIG MATTSON Communications Specialist

With contributions from Drew Shuster

Prescribed burns are a useful and effective tool for land managers to maintain prairie habitats. Burns benefit the land in different ways depending on when they are conducted. Spring burns curtail the growth of several species of undesirable plants, which ultimately helps overall prairie health, while fall burns promote wildflowers.

Controlled burning of prairies has a far-reaching historical precedent. Native Americans conducted burns to maintain prairie habitat so bison herds would flourish. The fires mimicked the effects of lightning strikes and kept the prairies healthy, while creating the conditions needed for good hunting land.

Schlitz Audubon plans to conduct prescribed burns in several of our prairie habitats in early spring of 2023 if conditions are favorable. Ideally, prescribed burns are done in the same area every two to five years. Holding to this frequency is considered optimal to reap the longer-term rewards of burning and to keep certain plant growth at bay.

THE SCIENCE BEHIND PRESCRIBED BURNS

There is a science behind prescribed burns that forms the basis for creating a flourishing habitat. First, a prescribed burn removes the duff layer, which consists of old plant detritus, opening space in the ground layer for new, desirable plants. After the spring thaw, the grasses are matted down and burn more thoroughly, killing the grasses underneath. An early spring burn (before the growth of warm season grasses) will stop cool season grasses, controlling non-native Eurasian plant species, as well as prevent woody stemmed plants from growing.

A burn creates blackened soil, whose dark color absorbs and holds onto sunlight more readily than unburned soil, increasing its temperature. The warmth stimulates the growth of warm season grasses, including big bluestem and Indian grass, which will grow prolifically after a burn.

Prevention of woody growth, including dogwoods, ash trees, and buckthorn, is a key factor in managing prairies. Burns remove woody plants, preventing the land from turning into a forest habitat. Not all trees are killed during a burn, however. Species like oaks have adapted thick bark, which shields them from the flames. Only large oaks, however, have bark thick enough; young ones need to be protected by land managers.

PREPARING FOR A BURN

Great care is taken to prepare for a prescribed burn. Safety is the number one priority! Each season, one of the first steps the Center’s land management team undertakes is creating a burn map. This shows all areas to be burned, as well as the placement of firebreaks, which are areas of ground where nothing is flammable. At Schlitz Audubon, we also consider the presence of visitors and students, so they remain safe.

WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR A PRESCRIBED BURN

The Center’s land management team will begin to watch wind speed and direction, temperature, and humidity leading up to the day scheduled for a burn, and especially on the day of the burn. Drew Shuster, Director of Conservation, said a desirable and safe wind speed is 5-15 mph. The slow speed helps prevent the appearance of unpredictable fire, which can get away from the planned burning locations. The optimal temperature is 4060 degrees; above 80 degrees it’s considered hazardous, while at temperatures below 32 degrees, the fire won’t burn.

Humidity is an important factor in determining the effectiveness and safety of a potential burn. Relative humidity determines how hot a fire will burn on prairie grasses. Drew likes to conduct a burn at 20-60 percent humidity. Above 60 percent, the fire burns poorly, and below 20 percent, fire is considered hazardous. Compared to other areas in our region, the air near Lake Michigan is more moist due to the lake effect, so this also needs to be taken into consideration.

The burn crew gauges wind direction. In an urban or suburban setting, such as Schlitz Audubon, controlling the direction of smoke is of great importance. The wind affects the smoke’s movement and the effectiveness of the burn breaks. A change in wind direction can present challenges by causing the fire to become unpredictable.

THE BURN CREW

Only people experienced with prescribed burning should participate. At the Center, there are a number of staff and volunteers involved. Some, such as the burn boss, focus on overseeing the entire process, while the line crew will focus on setting or tending the fire. There are also people who watch the fire to make sure it doesn’t jump to an unplanned spot.

To keep the fire under control, the line crew uses backpack sprayers to shoot a focused stream of water where it is needed.

A volunteer using a backpack sprayer to control the fire.

The water prevents the fire from spreading in directions other than where it is needed to go. They also use fire swatters and flappers to control the direction and growth of the flames.

THE PROCESS OF CONDUCTING A PRESCRIBED BURN

There are some naturally occurring firebreaks, which include a road, a body of water, or a trail. If they are not present naturally, firebreaks are created. This may be done by mowing an area of the prairie to remove material such as drier grasses. It is also accomplished by burning an area of land to remove the flammable material. It is important to create these non-flammable areas, so fire doesn’t spread beyond its desired location.

A typical burn will have firebreaks on three sides, creating a U shape. The main portion of the burn is done within a U shape, using a stepladder formation to coordinate the flames, called head fires. Once the U is formed, the crew begins by lighting a fire on a small strip across the U, creating one step of the ladder. The wind pushes the fire forward, down the U, into the break at the bottom. Then, once the first strip area of the step has burned, they move up the U to do the next strip. Each step is burned in succession until the entire area within the U shape is complete. This method keeps the fire under control.

WHAT VISITORS WILL NOTICE

This year, our land management team and their volunteers will use prescribed burns in the West Meadows, on the Terrace’s prairie, and in an area south of Molly’s Pond. About a week afterward, visitors will notice green shoots rising through the “black,” a term describing the area where all the soil is blackened from the burn. People will also see vigorous bird activity in this area, as insects become abundant.

Then, after a couple of weeks the warm season grasses will begin to grow, and ultimately, they will be almost two feet taller than they would be without the burn. The enhanced growth will last from 1-2 years, and visitors will see the difference when the burned areas are in proximity to unburned areas and can compare the heights of the grasses. After this period the grasses will resume growing to their shorter, more commonly seen height.

At the Center, it's necessary to use prescribed burns to prevent the prairie from returning to forest. Our prairies are prime locations for wildlife, education, and people’s enjoyment. Maintaining the prairie is important to continue providing such good habitat for prairie wildflowers, insects, and the animals that dwell on prairie lands. Visit the Center later this spring to witness the effects of this wonderful conservation activity in person.

A volunteer controlling the perimeter of a prescribed burn at Schlitz Audubon in the West Meadows.

Bird Foraging Methods

MICHELLE ALLISON Adult Programs Manager

Birds search for food using a variety of foraging methods depending on what they eat. It can sometimes be challenging to see how small birds forage, but learning about their physical traits and behaviors can help. Take note of some of the characteristics common to local birds who forage on plant food, such as seeds, fruit, and nectar, as well as those who forage on insects and other invertebrates. It will help you identify them and how they find food.

When foraging on plant sources, one important factor in determining how birds obtain nutrition is bill shape. Some birds, such as American Robins and Cedar Waxwings, have bills ideal for eating small fruits and berries. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds insert their long bills into tubular-shaped flowers to feed on nectar.

Seed-eating birds, like finches, show a great diversity of behavior and bill shape. Birds in the sparrow family display a characteristic thick, triangular shaped bill used for cracking seeds. Some sparrows, like Eastern Towhees, forage on the ground using a double scratch method. Jumping straight up, they swing their feet forward then rake backwards against the ground, kicking out leaves and debris. Then they search the ground to see what food they may have uncovered.

Black-capped Chickadees are frequent visitors to bird feeders, where they may fly off with a seed to store in a hidden location. This behavior is called caching. During a harsh winter, a chickadee may store thousands of seeds in a process called scatter hoarding, tucking food into tree crevices or anywhere they can hide it for later retrieval.

Insects become a more common food source in the warmer months. Birds use a variety of techniques to catch insects to feed themselves and their young. Gleaning is a method used by birds to pick insects off leaves, branches, or other surfaces. This can be done in several ways. Many warblers, like the Blackburnian Warbler pictured, use perch gleaning, when a bird grabs prey while remaining on a perch. Red-eyed Vire-

os and chickadees often utilize sally gleaning, watching nearby vegetation for movement. When an insect is located, the bird flies out to grab it. Some birds, such as kinglets and Great Crested Flycatchers, practice hover gleaning, in which the bird will actually hover over the vegetation, picking food from the surface.

Aerial insectivores, such as Barn Swallows and Chimney Swifts are often seen flying over ponds and open fields where they are adept at catching insects in midair. Many flycatcher species, including Eastern Phoebes and Eastern Kingbirds use the technique called hawking, in which a bird waits on a perch, flies out to catch an insect from the air, and returns to the same perch.

Some birds probe with their beaks to find insects and other invertebrates. Woodpeckers provide an excellent example of this, as we see them hammer into a tree to find invertebrates like beetle larvae, ants, and caterpillars. Brown Creepers maneuver up tree trunks as they probe, peck, and glean insects from crevices in the bark, while White-breasted Nuthatches also probe tree trunks, but tend to work their way down the tree. American Woodcocks use their long, straight bill to explore the forest floor in search of earthworms and other food.

Many birds are able to forage for both plant-based sources of food as well as insects. Black-capped Chickadees have an assorted set of foraging skills. Their diet consists of both plant and animal sources including seeds, berries, insects, spiders, and caterpillars, among others. Yellow-rumped Warblers are adept at catching insects with their thin bills as well as picking fruit small enough for them to eat, such as poison ivy berries.

When you visit the Center, observe birds at the feeders, on tree trunks, near vegetation, or in the sky while you’re on our trails. If you look closely at the birds’ behavior, try and notice all the different foraging methods you can identify.

In Memory Of In Honor Of

Bonnie Behee-Semler

Robert Amich

James P. Connelly

Burton and Carla Bartlett

Rick and Grace Battistoni

Cissy and Tom Bell

Ellen Bladorn

Suzy and David Boerke

John and Laurie Chester

Mary and James Connelly

Randolph and Kathleen Dean

Beth D. Frankey

Ann and Jon Hammes

Anita and Tom Hauske

Al and Kathy Krug

George and Carol Milne

Mr. and Mrs. Allen Morgan, Jr.

Andy Read and Suzy Hauske

David and Kris Reicher

Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Schuemann

Jay and Madonna Williams

LuAnne Ehr

James and Joan Judziewicz

Paul M. Hauer

Mark Hauer

Jimmy Keller

Craig and Kari Keller

Martha Lunz

David Haase

Terry and Carole Knudsen

Alfredo and Liberty Lui-Perez

Thomas and Judith Wick

Jean Pagel

Henry and Judy Eckstein

Karen Lee Radtke

Jay and Stephanie Radtke

Frederick R. Ruenzel

Christy and William Breihan

Joe and Lorna Hilyard

Dorothy K. Singer

Catherine Singer

Matt Singer

Barbara Stein

Peggy A. Ward

OSS

Charlene Neitzel

Mary Norman

Theresa Wells

Honorary Trees: A Living Tribute

Catherine Farrenkopf

Pat Bakula

Richard and Charlotte Halfman

Brad and Nancy Halfman

Carrie Hiestand

Ryan Hanley

Helen Johnson-Leipold

The Johnson Outdoors Executive Team

Terrence K. Knudsen

Dan and Kay Esposito

Catherine Koons Hubbard

Marjorie and Jim Pines

Jennifer MacKinnon & Peter Ensch

John and Connie Kittleson

Mason

Rosalie Borda

John N. Pearce

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph R. Purpura

Don Quintenz

Marilyn Hauer

Bob Roska

Chelsea and Tim Hren

Ellen Marie Silverman

Melissa Tessmer

Susan Strecker

Christine and Norman Littig

Kevin, Kristin, Signe, and Zoe Wright

Pam and George Wright

Amanda Zarder Anonymous

Planting or adopting a tree can be a powerful way to celebrate and honor your loved ones. You will secure a touching, living tribute to those who you cherish, while providing benefits for future generations by protecting and enhancing the habitats that you care about. Choose from three honorary tree options.

Restore Native Habitat - $500

Many choose to have a tree planted as part of a large-scale habitat restoration project. Over the coming growing season we’ll be planting swamp white oak trees in the Hardwood Swamp, a powerhouse habitat that, when restored, will support several locally-rare plant and animal species. Located off trail, these trees will continue to grow, change, and improve this habitat for decades to come.

Adopt a Favorite - $1,000

A special tree can bring us back to a happy moment in time. The Center is home to many unique, established trees, one of which may have already taken root in your heart. Any tree at the Center can be adopted, helping us to maintain the longevity of the tree for its full life span. By sponsoring an established tree, your support helps our Conservation team keep the forest healthy.

Gifts listed in this issue were received between 10/1/22 – 12/31/22

Plant a Trailside Tree - $1,500

Another, limited-availability option allows you to “visit” your tree to watch as it changes and grows throughout the seasons. Working in tandem with Center staff to choose a well-suited species and location, you can have a tree planted in view of a trail, where it can be treasured for years to come.

To learn more about tree planting options at Schlitz Audubon, please contact us at giving@ schlitzaudubon.org.

Raptor Sponsorships

Athena – Barn Owl

Megan Bennett

John Fleischman

Michelle Herro

Shea McCreight and Janice Rae Sandrin

Katie Podmokly

In Honor of Duke Richard Gordon

Kathie Gordon

In Honor of Sandy Heim

Marcel De Ridder

In Honor of Phil Recht

Donna Recht

Atlas – Red-shouldered Hawk

Anonymous

Michelle Herro

Katie Podmokly

Ken and Barb Wardius

Baron von Screech – Eastern Screech Owl

Alycia Aldaz

John Fleischman

Michelle Herro

Keke Lewandowski

Amanda Zarder

In Honor of Sam Hall

Katie Hall

In Honor of Amelie Newton

Nicolette Deveneau and Ryan Newton

In Honor of Landry Newton

Nicolette Deveneau and Ryan Newton

Gimli – Eastern Screech Owl

Kathleen Dahl

Michelle Herro

Ariel Namowicz

Katie Podmokly

In Honor of Petey Chambers

Rosa Flanagan

In Honor of Ellen Conley

Ellen Conley

In Honor of Johnny Frey

Jodi Reilley

In Honor of Ben Olson

Tracy Olson

In Honor of the Rothe grandbabies

Patricia Rothe

Glory – Bald Eagle

Kendall Dolmyer

Michelle Herro

Peter and Michelle Source

Jim and Cathy Toohey

In Honor of Dad & Mallory

Bob and Linda Mlynarek

In Honor of Krista, Klaus & Helena Wintersberger

Rick and Victoria Wintersberger

Loki – American Crow

Alejandro Arellano

Ellen Boerner

Jessica Fredrickson

Michelle Herro

Dawn Tuchel and Frederick Ellner

Valerie Young

In Honor of Maddie Boyd

Mary Burgdorff

In Honor of Ren Johnson

Leif Johnson

In Honor of Nathan Olson

Tracy Olson

In Honor of Gavin Rozansky

Gus and Ann Kaufmann

In Honor of Milo Shrubb

Edwin Thaves

Malary – American Kestrel*

Cody Dangelser and Jessica Behrens

Michelle Herro

Catherine Maerzke

Amanda Zarder

In Honor of Adrienne Turnbull-Zupke

Andrew Zupke and Jessica Turnbull

Nicco – Broad-winged Hawk

Michelle Herro

Don Laferty

Deb Newberry

Amanda Zarder

In Honor of Tyler Triebenbach

Lauren Triebenbach

Otis – Peregrine Falcon

John Fleischman

Michelle Herro

Dalyn Ward and John Mei

In Honor of Zoe Heim

Marcel De Ridder and Sandra Heim

Perseus – Barred Owl

Michelle Herro

Sherry and Richard Lundell

Janet Otte

In Honor of Forrest

Lauren Janzen

In Honor of Emily Olson

Tracy Olson

Sky Walker – Red-tailed Hawk

Alexander Daron

Michelle Herro

In Honor of Darcy Grier

Janice Wesolowski

In Honor of the Rothe grandbabies

Patricia Rothe

In Honor of Alex Rothstein

Alex and Dr. Abby Rothstein

Tallulah – Turkey Vulture

Ellen Boerner

Michelle Herro

Rebekah Krieger

In Honor of the Cashman Family

Jade and George Cashman

In Honor of Jack Heim

Marcel De Ridder and Sandra Heim

Tucker – Eastern Screech Owl

Erin and Terrance Cram

Susan Fink and Michele Dziaba

Michelle Herro

Mary Hoehne

Janet Otte

Katie Podmokly

Zachary Schaefer

Katie Walsh

Valkyrie – Bald Eagle

Chris Hawley

Michelle Herro

Patty Kugel

Brook and Bret Mayborne

Timothy Taylor

In Honor of Bob

Bob and Cato Schley

In Honor of the Darbys

Claire Stillman

In Honor of John & Bobbie Gates

Samantha Gates

Willow – Northern Saw-whet Owl

Anonymous

Ellen Boerner

Cody Dangelser and Jessica Behrens

Michelle Herro

Ellen Hing and Chris Leadley

Peter and Michelle Source

Edwin Thaves

In Honor of Jack and Zoe Heim

Marcel De Ridder and Sandra Heim

In Honor of Morgan Heling

Ellen Conley

In Honor of the Rothe grandbabies

Patricia Rothe

In Honor of Simon Rothstein

Alex and Dr. Abby Rothstein

In Honor of Amy Willinger

Ann Williamsen

Zari – Great Horned Owl

Ann Becker

Antony Ludwig

Chad and Krista Pankop

Jennifer Schaeflein

In Memory of Malary the American Kestrel*

Michelle Herro

*Malary the American Kestrel passed away in December of 2022.

Gifts listed in this issue were received between 10/1/22 – 12/31/22

SPRING

Schlitz Audubon

2023 PANORAMA