Panorama | Summer 2016 by Schlitz Audubon

panorama

Summer 2016

Raptors at State Fair Page 4

Backyard Beekeeper Page 7

Emerald Ash Borer Page 10

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Summertime in Milwaukee NATHAN J. SMALLWOOD Executive Director

Summer has arrived in Milwaukee! It is the time when prairie plants, barely visible a few months ago, grow to eye-level and provide the backdrop for countless pollinators buzzing from flower to flower. It is also the time when you can enjoy warm summer evenings on the trails or bring a blanket to experience our outdoor music. We are open until 8:00pm Monday through Thursday through August 25.

This edition of Panorama is equally brimming with the celebration of wildlife throughout the Center. You’ll read about different bees in Wisconsin, the important work these precious pollinators engage in, and challenges they face. Learn how you can create habitat for our native species and help them flourish. Citizen Scientists, trained volunteers who participate in research, have always been important to both the Center and the scientific community. Read on to discover why and how we are growing our Citizen Science programs to offer new opportunities for engagement. Children can be Citizen Scientists too – we invite families to participate in monitoring our butterfly and moth populations. This is also a season to celebrate vital partnerships. Through Northwestern Mutual Foundation’s Prominent Destinations Grant we will bring nature to more Milwaukeeans this summer than in years past. Look forward to seeing raptor, reptile, and amphibian outreach at a wider range of neighborhood schools, libraries, and community events. This year also marks 10 years of our Raptor Program performing during Wisconsin State Fair thanks to We Energies. You can visit us daily at We Energies Energy Park August 4 – 14. Speaking of offering nature to a greater number of people, the Mystery Lake Boardwalk is on track to be complete mid-summer. This elegant boardwalk which follows the curve of Mystery, will increase our ADA trail network while also returning what had been trail to habitat. Additionally, you may have seen Sky Walker, our Red-tailed Hawk, perched in the outdoor raptor exhibit. This is another way we’re welcoming the extraordinary into anyone’s visit to the Center. As you may already be aware, Emerald Ash Borer was confirmed on the property in spring. Because 35% of our canopy is Ash, this will create deficits in our landscape. Fortunately, we have an innovative land management plan that you can read about in the following pages. This plan is taking a vast challenge and turning it into an opportunity for generations to come. We ask for your support to restore habitats unique to our region, and reclaim our bountiful natural history.

Welcome to our newest Board Members

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Officers John Grunau President Tim Gerend Past President Sanderson S. ‘Andy’ Read Treasurer Meg Kinney Secretary Jane B. Bell VP-Development John E. ‘Jack’ Gebhardt VP-Governance Board Aliah M. Berman Jonathan T. Bloom Shane Delsman Margarete R. Harvey Kevin J. Kane Eva Osborne Justin K. Patrick Arthur T. Phillips Benjamin F. Rikkers Carol Wolcott Mai Der Yang 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 Honorary Directors Edwin P. Wiley Director Emeritus Dorothy K. Vallier (1910-2013)

Aliah M. Berman Aurora Health Care Jonathon T. Bloom Fiduciary Management, Inc. Eva Osborne Microsoft Corporation Mai Der Yang S3 International, LLC 2

Summer 2016 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

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

SEASONAL SIGHTINGS Visit the Center and discover nature’s summer blockbuster! TOM FINLEY Director of Education

Milwaukee is the City of Festivals, but for those of the nature mindset the can’t-miss event of the season is at Schlitz Audubon. Looking for a summer blockbuster, then may I suggest taking in a marvelous matinee called Nature in Bloom? Summertime sights and sounds hold beauty, passion, and intrigue.

these tiny beautiful creatures, who weigh less than a penny, will travel more than 2,000 miles to their winter home in the Michoacán mountains. How daring!

On one stage we feature the glorious mid-summer meadow. Schlitz Audubon has a number of trails that take you through fields of prairie plantings where the flowers, insects, and birds are too numerous to count. The gorgeous American Goldfinch can be seen visiting wild varieties of sunflower such as Compass Plant, Prairie Dock, Cup Plant, and Saw-tooth Sunflower. The striking orange of Butterfly Milkweed beckons Monarchs, swallowtails, and fritillaries galore. The grand panorama of Lake Michigan is breathtaking and majestic. All the way from the bluffs you can hear the sound of waves crashing along the shore. Herring Gulls fight the wind as they search for near-shore edibles. Eager children comb the warm sand for beach glass. Rafts of diving ducks, swimming just out of reach, abruptly submerge and reemerge again. As September arrives Monarchs congregate in the field to prepare for an amazing migratory journey. It’s incredible to think that

Let’s not forget the early evening show. Walking the ADA accessible trail toward Mystery Lake reveals the sonorous chirp of crickets, which indicate the temperature by the speed of their chirp. The more rapid the chirp, the higher the temperature. With the Center open until 8:00pm Monday-Thursday through August 25, you can experience this feature show for yourself. And it’s one you see again and again…where the ending always changes and the sequels are as good as the original. American Goldfinch camoflauged in Sawtooth Sunflower.

Summer 2016 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

RAPTOR EDUCATION

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS AT

WISCONSIN STATE FAIR DIANE VISTY Raptor Program Manager

Wisconsin State Fair is the annual celebration of the plants, animals, and people of Wisconsin. Amidst the livestock blue ribbons and agricultural achievements, Schlitz Audubon brings a few of our own champions to the fair, thanks to We Energies.

Attendees come face to face with owls and are able to discover the astonishing strength of an egg or compare their grip strength to that of an eagle. This year, for the first time, we’ll have children building a model Bald Eagle’s nest!

This is our landmark 10th year of partnering with We Energies in wowing 10,000 visitors per day at We Energies Energy Park. Our participation began thanks to Noel Cutright, then senior terrestrial ecologist with We Energies, and a big supporter of our Raptor Program. Cutright suggested our participation, since both organizations are leaders in raptor conservation in the Great Lakes region.

Additional meet & greet opportunities run throughout the day, with smaller birds such as Malary, our female American Kestrel, out in our display area. Inquisitive visitors of all ages are able to stand close and see their colors more clearly, observe the shape of their feet and talons, and if lucky, get to hear birds chirp or trill.

In 2006 we only performed two presentations a day at state fair. We now have four daily presentations, plus three additional meet & greet sessions. This expanded schedule is a tribute to the curiosity these awesome birds inspire and the wildness they represent. All told six or seven birds visit Wisconsin State Fair each day. We’re able to offer so much programming during the fair because of the commitment our volunteers have to the individual birds and the Raptor Program as a whole. Fairgoers are awestruck when Cysco, our Harris’s Hawk, shows off his maneuverability by flying vertically to catch a lure. Turkey Vultures are often glimpsed when high in the clouds, but seeing Tullulah’s six-foot wingspan when she soars overhead puts these birds’ size and majesty into perspective. The crowd’s excitement can be felt throughout Energy Park. Our fast paced, interactive, and entertaining programs share how the Peregrine Falcon and Bald Eagle species have been brought back from the brink, voice concern for recent changes birds face in the environment, and highlight what individuals can do in their own backyards to help big and small birds alike. 4

As I write this, staff are working on their presentations and our birds are doing jump-ups to strengthen their flight muscles. We’ll also practice at Energy Park to familiarize the birds with the presentation space and to prepare them for the non-stop excitement and hubbub that they will experience during the 11 days of Wisconsin State Fair. We are delighted to continue our historic partnership with We Energies at Energy Park, and hope to see you there from August 4 - 14!

State Fair Schedule 9:00am | 10:30am* | 12:00pm | 1:30pm* Three additional meet & greets with the raptors are held throughout the day. *Main stage programs always feature one of our magnificent Bald Eagles, Cutright, our Peregrine Falcon, and a beautiful owl.

Summer 2016 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

RAPTOR EDUCATION

CITIZEN SCIENCE

Left: A female Eastern Bluebird occupies a nest box at Schlitz Audubon. Top: A male Eastern Bluebird stands guard in a tree near the nest box. Bottom: Four Eastern Bluebird eggs discovered in the nest box.

Growing Citizen Science CORINNE PALMER Environmental Educator

Schlitz Audubon began through a grass-roots movement to preserve the former Uihlein property as a nature center. This was made possible due to the hard work and dedication of local volunteers and advocates like Dorothy K. Vallier. For more than 40 years, volunteers have played an integral role at the Center, including through Citizen Science. Citizen Scientists observe and catalog data about the land and the diversity of its flora and fauna. They have contributed by tracking Blanding’s Turtles, snakes, and flower bloom dates, and most continuously through recording bird observations. Senior Ecologist Don Quintenz regards Citizen Science volunteers as a vital facet in assisting research. “Citizen Scientists support professional researchers in many ways: by collecting and submitting data, distributing valuable information, and assisting scientists directly with their work.” Schlitz Audubon is growing our Citizen Science programs by offering new opportunities for participation. We recently held training sessions for studying aquatic macroinvertebrates and plants, monitoring our Eastern Bluebird nest boxes, documenting when flowers first bloom, and counting and identifying butterflies. Please see our Calendar of Events for new Citizen Science programs related to moths and Monarchs. 6

Our Conservation team will use the information collected on our property to make decisions regarding land management. This vital data allows us to understand the complexities of ecosystems, and how habitat change impacts all species. The Center will send data collected to scientific organizations throughout the region, including Wisconsin DNR and eBird, a website used world-wide for submitting bird observations. When scientists compare our data to that of the state and region, it contributes to a nuanced understanding of how species adapt to habitat loss, human disturbance, and climate change. The value of volunteer contributions reach well beyond the Center. As Quintenz says, “Scientists benefit from having more data to analyze. In today’s world this is an absolutely essential element in the battle against environmental degradation.” We invite you to actively become involved in monitoring and improving the health of our land. Dorothy K. Vallier led a group of concerned citizens in protecting the land that is now Schlitz Audubon. Becoming a Citizen Science volunteer continues her legacy, to maintain this vital community resource.

Summer 2016 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

FEATURE

Backyard Beekeeper JILL SCHANON MACEK Executive Manager & Backyard Beekeeper

Summer 2016 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

FEATURE

People have long had an attraction to the charismatic honeybee. After all, they introduced us to sweetness and light in the form of honey and beeswax. They have also been a dependable partner in agriculture and medicine for thousands of years. Europeans brought honeybees to the Americas in 1622 and both Europeans and bees quickly colonized the continent. I decided to become a beekeeper twelve years ago and ordered the necessary equipment including an unassembled hive, bee bonnet, smoker, a hive tool, and a three-pound package of honeybees. The majority of honeybees are dependent on humans to survive. Beekeepers put them in wooden boxes with removable frames, containing hanging file folder-like structures where the bees build hexagon-shaped wax cells. Within these tiny cells, the nectar is reduced to honey, pollen is stored, as well as eggs and larvae. The hive houses an average of 60,000 female workers, who will have several jobs in her lifetime, and a few thousand male drones, whose only job is to inseminate a newly-hatched queen. The queen is busy, laying up to 1,500 eggs a day. Honeybees have been in decline since the mid 1940â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. Following WWII, we industrialized agriculture to increase yield and eliminate pests. As commercial beekeeping emerged, honeybees suffered. Bee hives are crammed onto semis and trucked around the country to pollinate industrial crops such as almonds. Not able to forage for nectar and pollen, they survive on an unnatural diet of high fructose corn syrup. The combination of bad food and close quarters make them vulnerable to disease and parasites. Each February, 1.6 million honeybee hives arrive to Californiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s al-

mond groves. Industrialized crops rely on pesticides and pollinating these crops is dangerous work. If the bees come into direct contact with pesticides, they will most likely die in the field. But if they survive, they can still bring the residue back in the form of nectar and pollen, contaminating the hive. The California almond groves have been called the honeybee bordello and when they move on to the next crop they bring disease and pesticide residue with them. Although the decline in honeybees is tragic, it has also done something very important. It has created a widespread awareness of the plight of all bees. In response to this reality, many people I encounter want to help by starting their own backyard honeybee hive. But there is an easier solution. We can all become backyard beekeepers by enticing native bees to our yards. All bees are losing habitat. You can easily provide food and shelter for them in your backyard by creating an attractive landscape of native flowering plants. Not only will this help bees, but also keep your garden blooming from spring into fall. In Wisconsin we have 500 identified species of native bees. Most native bees are difficult to see and often go unnoticed. All native bees are considered keystone members of our ecosystem, meaning they significantly alter the habitat around them and affect other organisms. Bees support native plant communities that provide food and shelter for wildlife. When plants are pollinated, they produce seeds, nuts, and berries that feed birds and help plants propagate. Native bees not only support native habitats, but they also play an important role in pollinating food crops like apples, blueberries, cranberries, squash, and many more. It is time we start noticing and appreciating these important insects. The primary native bee families identified in the 2015 BioBlitz at Schlitz Audubon include Sweat Bees (Halictidae), Mining Bees (Andrenidae), Mason Bees (Megachilidae), and Bumble Bees (Bombus). These native bees co-evolved with native plants to ensure pollination. Typically, each flowering plant has a small team of bees who specialize in pollinating them.

Summer 2016 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

FEATURE

You might not know by the name, but the Green Sweat Bee (Agapostemon) is a beauty to behold. These little bees are generally metallic greenish bluish and are fast fliers who specialize in pollinating native blooms. Like Bumble Bees and Mining Bees, Sweat Bees are buzz pollinators. Using their jaws, they grasp the flowerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s anther and flex their wing muscles to vibrate the pollen off the flower. Bumble Bees are our most recognized and beloved native species. With their large fuzzy bodies, they are sturdy enough to fly in the rain. There are thirteen Bumble Bee species in Wisconsin, and the Yellow Banded Bumble Bee (Bombus terricola) is listed in critical decline. This is a classic looking black and yellow bumble bee, and is more effective in pollinating cranberries, blueberries, and apples than honeybees. This species uses abandoned rodent tunnels to create an underground nest. Mason Bees are wood tunneling bees, using twigs and plant stems, wood, or tree stumps, to accommodate their nests. Mason Bees (Osimia) species include the Orchard Mason Bee (Osmia lignaria), which have a metallic-blue rounded body with fuzzy undersides. They are wellliked for their pollinating services and many gardeners attract

them by setting up nests. Schlitz Audubon has examples of these nests, find them just north of the building and on the prairie path. It is a block of wood mounted on a metal pole. There are dozens of holes the diameter of a pencil drilled into the wood. You can also make nest boxes using bamboo or cardboard tubes tied in small bundles. There are 500 species of Mining Bees in North America. In the spring, they are the first native bees on the landscape, pollinating woodland wildflowers, Pussy Willows, Viburnum, and Dogwood. In the summer, they are an important Blueberry pollinator, and by fall they forage on late bloomers like Aster and Goldenrod. There are different species for different blooms. You can easily see how such a plant specific pollinator could decline once losing habitat. Gardeners often unintentionally destroy nesting bee sites when digging in the soil, mulching a flower bed, using pesticides, and by keeping a garden too tidy. To support safe habitat, leave large sunny spots on the ground free of mulch and untouched by shovels. Leaving standing dead trees is always great for wildlife habitat, but logs (without bark) and branches are hospitable as well. After pruning shrubs, assume there are bee larvae inside them and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be self-conscious about keeping debris piles and other messy spots in your garden. Educate your skeptical neighbors of your goals and many bees will thank you. I suggest we all become backyard native beekeepers, and support this mutually beneficial relationship. It is a simple and easy step towards saving the bees and building a better landscape. Plus, solitary bees rarely sting unless provoked!

Summer 2016 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

CONSERVATION

Emerald Ash Borer at Schlitz Audubon

Left: Woodpecker flecking is created by woodpeckers searching for EAB larvae. It is the first indicator that EAB is present in a tree. Right: Larval galleries. EAB larvae feed on vascular tissue and create this S-shaped pattern under the bark.

MARC WHITE Director of Conservation

We confirmed Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) on the Center’s property on March 1, 2016. EAB is a small invasive beetle that kills ash trees. Its arrival has been imminent for some time, and we’ve spent the last several years planning and launching a comprehensive EAB response plan. 35% of Schlitz Audubon’s tree canopy is comprised of ash, the majority being Green Ash, followed by White Ash, Black Ash, and a few Blue Ash. Ash took root about 50 years ago, when the land was retired from agriculture. This provided the ideal conditions for ash trees to establish and spread, and is when much of the Center’s existing ash canopy began to form. As Milwaukee’s only nature center located on Lake Michigan, Schlitz Audubon is home to an amazing range of wildlife and ecosystems. This land is special. EAB presents a vast challenge that we are turning into an opportunity. OUR RESPONSE PLAN INCLUDES FIVE FOCUS AREAS:

Native Forest Restoration Last year, Schlitz Audubon planted 2,000 native trees and shrubs, and plans to do so annually for the next 10 years. These trees and shrubs, such as maple, poplar, dogwood, and viburnum, will grow to restore our native forests for centuries to come. Ash Conservation The Center has a few rare ash trees on the property, specifically Black Ash, which is uncommon at the Center, and Blue Ash, which is a threatened species in Wisconsin. These uncommon trees will be treated individually to conserve them. Hazard Tree Removal Trees that may one day pose a hazard will be proactively cut down. Trails will be routed away from locations with high ash density. 10

Slope Stabilization Trees play a large role in maintaining the integrity of our slopes, ravines, and bluffs, which are home to our most sensitive and diverse forest habitat. Large ash—critical to stabilizing our bluffs and ravines—will be treated to protect them from EAB. These locations will also be planted with a variety of trees that will flourish in these areas, helping to stabilize the soil. Savanna Conversion Prior to European settlement, nearly one-third of Wisconsin was comprised of savanna. Oak Savannas are a lightly forested grassland, where Bur Oaks are the dominant species. Oak Savanna is one of the two most critically endangered habitats in Wisconsin. Converting areas to oak savanna will help us conserve our region’s unique ecological heritage. The Center needs you to make this plan a success. Our 185 acres is the foundation for everything we do at Schlitz Audubon. Your gifts of time and money will both heal this land and impact our community. Emerald Ash Borer, although a tragedy, accelerates our efforts to create a more biologically diverse landscape. In order for this plan to succeed, an additional $1.7 million of funding and tripling our volunteer hours will be necessary. You are a vital member of Schlitz Audubon’s ecosystem. Together we can plant the seeds that will flourish for generations.

Want to help? Volunteer Coordinator Stevie Otap | sotap@schlitzaudubon.org Development Coordinator Lisa Greco | lgreco@schltizaudubon.org

Summer 2016 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

DEVELOPMENT MEZZANINE ART GALLERY

Andrea Avery

Bringing Nature to the Community

June 10 - Sunday, July 24

Andrea Avery is an artist from Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Her paintings on display are of native or migratory Wisconsin wildlife. Avery turns to the outdoors and traveling for inspiration, and paints every day. Some of the pieces on display are collaborations with rosemaling artist Patsy Vork. Andrea is the Community Arts Coordinator the John Michael Kohler Art Center. She has degrees in painting, drawing, and art history, and has taught elementary through college-age students.

Brooklyn Henke August 5 – September 24

For many years Northwestern Mutual Foundation has been a cornerstone of the Milwaukee community. At Schlitz Audubon, their philanthropy has created countless opportunities for people of all ages to forge connections with nature. The Foundation’s most recent gift to the Center ensures that more members of the Milwaukee community have access to nature programming both in individual neighborhoods and at the Center. Throughout this year, Schlitz Audubon will bring animal ambassadors into neighborhood preschools, libraries, and community gatherings through outreach events. But we’ll also bring nature experiences to specific areas throughout the city, including the Amani, Muskego Way, and Metcalfe Park neighborhoods. Northwestern Mutual Foundation’s goal is to support initiatives that help build safe neighborhoods, healthy and thriving youth, strong families, and quality education. As a leader in experiential environmental education for more than 45 years, Schlitz Audubon is a natural fit. We are providing outreach at three locations: preschools, libraries, and community events. Preschoolers will get to observe one of the Center’s resident Screech Owls, learn about owls through stories, and hold owl feathers and artifacts. During Myth and Magic of Amphibians and Reptiles, which take place at public libraries, children can encounter turtles, frogs, snakes, and salamanders. At community events such as COA’s Family Fun Nights, families can become acquainted with one of our animals while chatting with Center Naturalists. At each event we explain the ecosystem services that animals such as snakes and owls provide in backyards and gardens.

Brooklyn Henke lives in Milwaukee and her show will focus on pollinators native to Wisconsin. She is fond of walking through nature, photographing, and drawing the natural world. Brooklyn earned her undergraduate degree in painting from Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design (MIAD), and her Masters of Fine Arts from UW- Milwaukee. Brooklyn teaches at MIAD, educating students how to see, observe, draw and paint the world around them.

Personal experience is the most powerful teacher, and watching an owl perch and survey the room, or holding a turtle or a frog in their hands can be transformative for children. For some, our outreach events are their first introduction to the Earth’s interdependent ecosystems. At these outreach programs, children and families can learn about the wildlife living in the city and what they might see in their own backyards. Through engaging with Center staff humans and animals alike - children can begin to develop a connection to the natural world. Northwestern Mutual Foundation also provides participants with a Family Guest Pass to the Center, inviting the whole family to explore Schlitz Audubon free of charge. Families can continue to cultivate their interest in the natural world while exploring our trails. Through this partnership, Northwestern Mutual Foundation is increasing the number of people who have access to learning about nature.

Summer 2016 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

CALENDAR Adult Program Family Program Preschool Program Handicap Accessible Member Price Non-Member Price Pre-Registration

Pre-registration helps us prepare for our programs. There will be an additional $2.00 charge for walk-in participants attending a program that requires pre-registration.

Bird Club*

Youth price is for those ages 3–17. 18 and up are charged the adult price.

Co-presented with Milwaukee Audubon Society. Please check our online calendar for specific topics for each month. Young adults and birders of all interest levels are welcome to join this drop-in program.

Refunds will only be given to those who cancel 14 or more days before a program. If Schlitz Audubon cancels a program, refunds will be given.

Call 414-352-2880 x0 to register. Raptor Saturday

Saturday, July 2 | 1:00pm – 2:00pm Saturday, September 3 | 1:00pm - 2:00pm

July We will celebrate the bald eagle as well as other raptors that have been recognized as symbols of strength & beauty around the world. August No Raptor Saturday—Visit us at Wisconsin State Fair! September Vultures traditionally represent death and decay in human stories, but these birds play a critical role in the well-being of the environment. Come learn about nature’s cleanup crew with Tallulah, our resident Turkey Vulture.

Free with membership or admission