Going Green Field Trip More winter activities...participate from anywhere in the world. Each...

January-February 2016 All programs and activities are open to the public Vol. 37, No. 4

P.O. Box 184, Oshkosh, WI 54903 � Published eight times a year Editor: Janet Wissink, 7035 Mountain Rd., Pickett, WI 54964 � 920-589-2602 � [email protected]

Check our website for up-to-date information: www.winaudubon.org

Calendar of Events at a Glance Visit our website or see details in this newsletter.

Jan 16-17 A Day with Eagle along the Fox River

Jan 30 Toward Harmony with Nature Conference

Feb 12-15 Great Backyard Bird Count

Feb 20 Going Green, UWO Biodigester Tour

Apr 9 Spring Banquet

Apr 16 Midwest Crane Count

May 7 Oshkosh Bird Fest

May 7-Oct 16 JJ Audubon Exhibit at The Paine

May Birdathon

June 2-4 John James Audubon visits The Paine

Sponsored in part by Winnebago Audubon

Going Green Field Trip

UW Oshkosh’s Anaerobic Biodigester 650 Witzel Ave., Oshkosh

Saturday, February 20 10:00 am

What is an anaerobic biodigester? This state-of-the-art renewable energy facility on the UW Oshkosh campus is the first of its kind in North America, where yard and food waste is converted to biogas and electricity. This facility is not only having a green impact on campus but also for Oshkosh. A byproduct of this process is a premium grade organic compost being sold as “Titan Gold”. Join Audubon member, Michelle Bogden Muetzel, Administrative Coordinator for the biodigester, as we tour this facility and learn about the conversion process and its impact on the community. In association with the digester, we’ll learn about the testing required and services provided by UWO’s nationally certified testing lab. We’ll also learn about “Titan Gold” with the opportunity to purchase bags at a discount. So mark your calendar for this informative tour of a unique facility. Meet and park at Campus Services Building, 650 Witzel Avenue, Oshkosh.

Quiz Answer: Quiz Answer: Quiz Answer: Quiz Answer: Common Redpoll, Acanthis flammea

More winter activities: A Day with Eagles along the Fox River Jan. 16-17

Visit http://foxrivereea.org/eagle-days/ for all the details about this weekend event. There is a map of all the viewing sites to explore and a list of the presentations at various locations along the Fox River from Neenah to Kaukauna.

Toward Harmony with Nature Saturday, Jan. 30, Oshkosh Convention Center Learn more and pre-register on-line at www.towardharmonywithnature.org

20th Annual Conference presented by Wild Ones Fox Valley Area Chapter featuring keynote speaker, Darrel Morrison, a long-time advocate of the use of native plants, native plant communities, and natural processes in the design of landscapes. Plus 3 breakout sessions with 9 topics to choose from .

Great Backyard Bird Count Feb. 12-15

Join the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) on Friday, February 12 through Monday, February 15. It’s for everyone, from beginner birdwatchers to experts, and anyone can participate from anywhere in the world. Each checklist submitted helps the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Bird Studies Canada, and the National Audubon Society learn more about how to protect birds and the environment we share. Together we can make our local birds count! Visit www.birdcount.org for all the details on how you can participate!

Think Spring and save the dates for the events listed to the left. The Paine’s JJ Audubon Exhibit should be awesome. More details to follow on all of these plus we are planning a Birds and Beer series. We will have Swift Nights Out once again and monarch tagging in late summer. See you out there!

Frank Zuern receives Katherine D. Rill Environmental Award

By Zaiga Freivalds

Frank Zuern (center) receives the Katherine D. Rill Environmental Award from Winnebago Audubon Society with Society President Janet Wissink and his grandson Benjamin Seidl (right). Photo credit: Len Place.

Winnebago Audubon Society recently presented the Katherine D. Rill Environmental Award to Frank Zuern. Society members, friends and family honored Frank for his lifetime achievements in the area of environmental stewardship and commitment to instilling his love for the natural world in his family and anyone with whom he comes in contact. For Frank, like Katherine Rill, being an environmentalist is a lifetime endeavor. Frank exemplifies excellence as a private citizen in all four of the areas used as criteria for the award. An educator by profession, Frank was instrumental in locating Sullivan’s Woods and convincing the Oshkosh Area School District in 1977 to purchase the 40 acres from Beatrice and Humphrey Sullivan. This outdoor classroom plays an integral part in the school district’s outdoor

education program and has been visited by over 40,000 students. After retirement Frank continued his involvement by serving as a classroom guide and helping maintain the property. Frank’s interest in conservation of birds, especially bluebirds, began in the 60’s when the bluebird population had reached its lowest point. He started building birdhouses and established several bluebird trails, which he diligently monitored. While traveling in Georgia he observed a bluebird nesting in a cannon and consequently designed a new bluebird house and named it the “Tree Branch” house. Frank based the design on the theory that the bluebirds would nest in the back of the box and the long distance from the entrance would prevent raccoon’s from destroying the nest. This design was published in the Wisconsin Bluebird, the newsletter for Bluebird Restoration Association of Wisconsin (BRAW). He is a long time member of BRAW and has served on its board. Over the years Frank has engaged in citizen science by writing many letters to local and statewide newspapers regarding environmental issues. In 2012 he was interviewed by attorney George Curtis regarding the Governor’s controversial wetland reform bill. This was posted on youtube.com and demonstrates Frank’s passion for protecting our wetlands. Frank showed his dedication to preserving and restoring habitat by persuading the Winnebago County Conservation Club to create the old Glatz Brewery grounds into a nature preserve/park. In Arkansas he participated with groups that prevented the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from dredging and straightening the Cache River. This motivated him to write and publish “Cache River Eulogy” in 1973. Congratulations Frank!

Nominations Sought for 2016 Environmental Award

Each year Winnebago Audubon Society recognizes an individual (or an organization) from our community who has worked to achieve the Society’s objectives. The award was named to honor the memory of Katherine D. Rill who dedicated her time, skills and efforts to preserve and restore wildlife habitat, conserve birds, engage in citizen science, and educate others about natural systems. Past recipients have included George Curtis, Michael Lizotte, Paul Fowler, Quintin Metzig, Elaine Swanson and Frank Zuern. Nominees for the Katherine D. Rill Environmental Award must be from our area. The candidate must have shown a dedication to preservation or restoration of habitat; or conservation of birds; or engagement in citizen science; or education of others about natural systems. Candidates may not nominate themselves. For more information on past recipients, visit www.winaudubon.org/issues or contact Janet at 920-589-

2602 / [email protected]. Please send nominations to Winnebago Audubon Society, PO Box 184, Oshkosh, WI 54903 no later than March 16, 2016. Include your complete contact information along with a letter detailing why your nominee qualifies. The nominee should be able to attend the Spring Banquet on April 9, 2016 when the award will be presented.

Audubon member, Joe Tondu, took this photo on Dec. 27 off Brooks Lane channel on the SE side of the Butte des Morts bridge near Oshkosh. These may be the same three that halted traffic on I-41 earlier in the month. I hope these white pelicans headed south before the snowstorm hit on the 29th.

Badger Tracks Badger Tracks Badger Tracks Badger Tracks by Anita Carpenter

“During winter, several small, slender, 5-inch, beigey-

brown birds visit my bird feeders. What are they?” This is the avian question I am most frequently asked. If you saw these active sprites in summer, resplendent in their golden yellow feathers and black cap and wings, identification would be easy. Some people call them wild canaries but ornithologists identify them as American goldfinches, Spinus tristis. The colorful yellow birds are males. When nesting season ends, these males don’t just mysteriously disappear. They molt, replacing their bright yellow feathers and black cap with beigey-brown feathers. Now males more closely resemble the duller olive-backed females. American goldfinches stay with us year round. In winter, loose flocks may form and wander the countryside in search of weedy fields abundant with available seed. They are a delight to watch. Frequently while feeding, these little

acrobats seem to “stand on their heads” as they diligently work to extract a thistle or sunflower seed. As they fly from here to there, their undulating flight pattern is characteristic. Even if you don’t see them, you may hear them passing overhead for they often call while flying. With each dip in the pattern they utter, “ti-di-di-di”. As springtime temperatures rise, male goldfinches gradually molt back into their yellow nuptial plumage. Now the conspicuous goldfinches are actively talking to each

other, singing sweet musical songs composed of high, bubbly trills and twitters. With all this excitement of spring’s rebirth, one would assume that goldfinches would be eager to start nesting just like all the other birds. But such is not the case. Come late June into mid-July, long after many other birds have completed their first nesting cycle, goldfinches finally get serious about nesting. The timing of nest initiation seems to correlate with the availability of thistle seeds and down. Goldfinches prefer to nest in shrubby areas near their favored thistles and in widely-spaced deciduous tree saplings. Each tiny cup nest is placed on a branch and woven around small upright supporting branches. The well-constructed nest, with a 3-inch outside diameter and a 2-

inch inside diameter, is neatly woven with fine plant fibers and cozily lined with soft thistle down. Usually 5 to 6 jelly-

bean-sized white eggs are laid. Nestled in the tiny cup, the female incubates for 12 to 14 days. Fed by both parents, young leave the nest or fledge in about 12 to 17 days and remain dependent on their parents for 3 weeks. Only one brood is raised per year. Winter is upon us. Nesting is completed. All American goldfinches are now beigey-brown to olive green and wandering in search of food. On my daily walks, I now turn my attention to locating bird nests which are no longer hidden by layers of leaves. Often when I find a goldfinch nest, it is located just a few feet overhead from where I walk. The discovery never ceases to surprise me. I feel that I’m an observant person and yet I ever knew the nesting pair was so close. The once bubbly, vocal, obvious birds become silent, secretive and inconspicuous throughout the important nesting season. They somehow elude detection even while actively feeding nestlings. As I bicycle around Oshkosh, I’m also amazed at how many goldfinch nests I find. They are more numerous than I ever imagined. My challenge to you is to get out and see if you can find one or more goldfinch nests. Check out lone, free-standing 10 foot saplings, even those found in large, retail parking lots. Also look for nests placed on the outer edge of lower branches on a larger tree. You will soon discover that goldfinches are very much a part of the urban avian community. How fortunate we are. In your search, how many other kinds of nests did you find?

If you need a reason to venture outside to enjoy Wisconsin’s winter weather, try nest searching. Remember, federal law does not allow you to collect nests. If nest-searching doesn’t pique your curiosity, put out niger (thistle) and black oil sunflower seed in your yard. Perhaps, you’ll attract mystery beigey-brown birds to your yard. If you’re successful, you can now identify them. They really aren’t a mystery after all.

Winter’s Mystery Birds

From theFrom theFrom theFrom the Quiz Quiz Quiz Quiz Master:Master:Master:Master:

I’m an unpredictable winter visitor but I’ve flown here this winter from up north. I’m a 5-inch long finch with a pinkish breast, streaks on my flanks, a forked tail and a red cap. Whooo am I? (Look closely to find the answer in this newsletter.)

Drawing by

Janet Wissink

Remembering The Frog Guy

Randall Mark Korb, the Frog Guy, whose childhood experiences with the outdoors led him to a lifelong-mission of protecting nature's most fragile creatures, passed away

suddenly and unexpectedly of an aortic aneurysm on October 28th, 2015. He was 60 years old. A Clintonville native, Randy spent many years in the Green Bay-Appleton area, where he earned a graduate degree from UW-Stevens Point and started a family. Early on he advocated for the emerging concept of butterfly gardening which lead him to pioneer and develop butterfly life-cycle kits which he distributed to classrooms. This in turn offered him an opportunity to interact with and

educate children and families. As time went on, Randy's career in wildlife conservation became focused on educating children. To the sound of wild applause, the Frog Guy gave classroom presentations throughout the US. His work was punctuated by his contributions as President of the Wisconsin Audubon Council and Northeastern Wisconsin Audubon

Society; Co-Founder of the Gaylord Nelson Audubon Chapter; and his service on the City Council in St. Croix Falls, where he came to call home in 2007. His passion for both nature and good old-fashioned fun lead him to create many friendships in the community and provided opportunities to highlight his skills at the Library, the Community Garden, and many other local events and festivals. Randy is survived by three daughters and two sons-in-

law: Laura & Nolan Hoistad, Jessica Korb, and Emily & Eric Sakowski; two grandsons: Maxwell Eilbert and Henry Hoistad; six brothers; two sisters; and a close-knit large extended family. He was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Agnes Korb and sister, Bonnie Barrington. He will be sorely missed as a shining example of how to live a life filled with passion and laughter by both family and friends.

I still find it difficult to find the right words, but I know I

will miss him, and our community will miss his frog

programs and night hikes. His youthful enthusiasm and

love and respect for all creatures was contagious and

inspiring to children and adults. ~ Janet

It is already time to be looking ahead to our chapter’s new fiscal year that will begin on May 1. We would welcome the energy and ideas of new VOLUNTEERS and BOARD members to help us continue the 38 year tradition of bringing worthwhile nature programs and events to our community. Please consider volunteering to coordinate an activity, serve as a director, or keep the website up-to-

date . . . there are many opportunities. Attend a board meeting and meet the group. We are friendly, down-to-

earth folks who share a passion for nature. Or maybe you would like to nominate someone. I would be happy to answer any questions you have about the responsibilities and time involved, so give me a call (589-2602) or send an e-mail ([email protected]). — Janet

The Future of Winnebago Audubon Depends on YOU . . . Come on Board!

Giving the salamanders a drink and tagging monarchs.

Winnebago Audubon Society extends a sincere thank you for your support which allows us to continue

to provide positive experiences in nature for our community.

Anonymous Anonymous Anonymous Anonymous

Barbara & Charles Bowlus Mary Jane Bumby Anita Carpenter Louise Coumb

James Doty Thomas Fadner

Robert Gluth Kristin Kauth

John Loe David Moon

Doris Pierzchalski William & Mary Pucci

Karen Syverson John & Maria Talin

Doris Thomas William Zimar & Susan Neitzel

In Honor of My Grandchildren

Anonymous

In Memory of Amy Fissel James & Suzanne Otto

Katy Ratliff

In Memory of Mary Kay Harmon Mr & Mrs James A Harmon

In Memory of John (Jack) Kaspar Dave & Chris Misterek

In Memory of Randy Korb Zaiga Freivalds & Mike Brandel

Janet & Steve Wissink

In Memory of Richard Lotte Mohr Mary Beth Petesch

In Memory of Michele Ramseier Stone Laura Ramseier

In Memory of Humphrey & Bea Sullivan Mary Grace Langenfeld

YBC of Wisconsin (Young Birders Club)

We recently received an e-mail from a young man you is trying to connect with other young birders in the state. His name is Ryan Treves and he is a 15-year-old bird enthusiast. He has loved birding ever since he received his first pair of binoculars at age 7. Nowadays, he volunteers with Madison Audubon and chases rarities on the weekends. Recently, he has noticed how often he is the youngest birder by many years on these outings. He decided to change that by creating the Young Birders Club of Wisconsin. Ryan is confident there are other young birders out there. His goal is to connect young bird-lovers and create a stronger community for tomorrow. This club would be a nonprofit, free, community-based field trip group in Wisconsin. All experience levels in grades 5-12 would be welcome. With support from the National Young Birders Network, Wisconsin Society for Ornithology, Madison Audubon Society and several prominent Wisconsin birders, he is working hard to see his dream become a reality. For more information, visit https://docs.google.com/document/d/1v7v3NQ5yeRbpk38GnFqTwjQIxiBHr6bXbJP02V3k--c/edit?usp=sharing

You may contatct Ryan Treves at 608-770-6676 or [email protected] if you know someone or are someone who might be interested in meeting other young birders! If you would like to see a model for what this club could become, http://ebird.org/content/ybn/ has tons of great info.

Our October field trip to Linwood Springs Research Station to learn about saw-whet owls was a great experience. Audubon member, Emmy Riechenberger, had the chance to hold one after it was banded and before it was released. Right: Saw-whet owl photographed by Audubon member, Chris Binder.

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Winnebago Audubon Society Mission Statement: Advance the mission of the National Audubon Society to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth’s biological diversity through grassroots efforts of community outreach and advocacy.

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Mail this form with payment to: Pat Nichols, Membership, PO Box 184, Oshkosh, WI 54903

OFFICERS President (Acting): Janet Wissink 920-589-2602 / [email protected]

Vice President: OPEN

Secretary: Zaiga Freivalds 920-233-5914 / [email protected]

Treasurer: Mike Brandel

[email protected]

DIRECTORS Anita Carpenter, 920-233-6677 Dave Hanke., 920-688-2907 Evelyn Meuret 920-573-7828 / [email protected]

Dave Moon 920-235-4429 / [email protected] Pat Nichols 920-426-0261 / [email protected]

Important Note: TEMPORARILY AWAY? Please notify us if you will be temporarily away. The post office will not forward your newsletter. If your newsletter is returned to us, we remove you from our mailing list. Please contact Pat Nichols at [email protected] or 920-426-0261 with any questions.

RENEWALS: Your mailing label includes your membership expiration date above your name. If you are a “Chapter Only” member the word CHAPTER will appear after the expiration date. Please renew your chapter membership by filling out the application form below. Thank you for helping us save on the cost of renewal reminders. If you are a member of National Audubon, NATL will appear after the expiration date. You will receive renewal notices from National or you may renew by using the form below. If you are receiving a complimentary newsletter, COMP will appear with an expiration date. Please consider joining our chapter by using the application below.

GO GREEN by opting to receive your newsletter via e-mail. Contact Pat Nichols at [email protected]

Welcome Welcome Welcome Welcome to Winnebago Audubonto Winnebago Audubonto Winnebago Audubonto Winnebago Audubon

A special thank you to all those who are renewing

again this year as well. You are invited to participate in activities of your local Winnebago Audubon chapter.

It's a great way to meet like-minded people and

to enjoy what nature has to offer.

If you are a new member of National or the Chapter and haven’t seen your name here in the last couple of

issues, please contact Pat Nichols, Membership Chair

(email me at: [email protected])

Robert Cummings

Lynn Fox

Barry Home

William La Fleur Pamela Newell

Word of the Day: passeriformes

In the scientific classification of birds, this order refers to those birds adapted to perching on stems and twigs. These

birds have unwebbed toes, with 3 toes in front and one

behind. Examples: Robin, Bluejay, Chickadee.

Going Green Field Trip More winter activities...participate from anywhere in the world. Each...

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