Panorama | Winter 2019

panorama

Winter 2019

Winter Sounds Page 4

Astronomy Page 7

Bald Eagles Page 10

WELCOME HELEN BOOMSMA Executive Director

Welcome to winter and the amazing transformation cold weather brings to Schlitz Audubon. Delicately balanced stripes of snow accumulate on the tree’s branches, allowing hikers on the Center’s trails to occasionally hear the sounds of snowflakes falling to the ground.

In this issue of Panorama, you’ll see that the trails at Schlitz Audubon offer great opportunities to experience the sights and sounds of winter. Search for ice sculptures on the lakefront and listen to the symphonic sounds, or silences, heard in the woods. Before you head out, make sure you are dressed for the weather. We have some suggestions based on what we recommend for the students in our Nature Preschool.

Wisconsin winter skies provide opportunities to view soaring Bald Eagles! You’ll learn about the comeback of this stately bird. Due to conservation efforts at the federal and state level, Bald Eagles’ population numbers are on the upswing. Read about the events in Sauk Prairie and Prairie du Chien that will feature presentations from our Raptor Program.

Consider going outside at night to appreciate the expansive sky. Learn why winter is the best season for stargazing, and what to look for, by reading our feature piece about winter astronomy. Adults can join us at the Center for three different guided astronomy programs.

In addition to astronomy programs, in the next year you will discover other new programs for adults. We’re building upon some recent successes, such as our environmental film series with Outpost Natural Foods and our evening with Milwaukee historian John Gurda. We’re expanding our selections based on interest from our community in areas such as birding and backyard wildlife.

Response to our Flight Night event led us to create more eco-entertainment – join us this winter for two new events, Nature Knowledge Trivia Nights and Wingspan & Wine.

When you visit the Center on a cold winter day, we suggest you head up to our Mezzanine Art Gallery. Through January 27, you can peruse an impressive collection of Plein Air paintings created by local artists Lynn Rix and Pam Ruschman. Many of their oil paintings depict the Center’s changing lakefront in winter.

Join us during this fabulous time of transition, and enjoy the wide array of wintery sights and sounds available at the Center.

Preschool Applications Now Available Summer Camp Registration is ONLINE this year and will be available mid-January!

Welcome to new Board member Terence Siau Johnson Controls

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Officers Aliah Berman President John Grunau Past President Benjamin T. Pavlik Treasurer Meg Kinney Secretary Jane B. Bell VP-Development Mark Siler VP-Governance Board Jonathan T. Bloom Shane Delsman Heidi Dondlinger John E. 'Jack' Gebhardt Timothy J. Gerend Amy Giuffre Margarete R. Harvey Kevin J. Kane Debra Katz Dennis Kois Diane O'Connor Sanderson S. ‘Andy’ Read Benjamin F. Rikkers John Schaub Terence Siau Carol Wolcott 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)

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

Winter 2019 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

SEASONAL SIGHTINGS

Visit the Center and discover the beauty of winter!

TESS CARR Naturalist

Schlitz Audubon in winter is a feast for the senses, like a natural theater where you have a front row seat to experience the drama of the season. Hear the crash of the waves on our icy shores and watch them fall in a glittering cascade down onto massive ice structures.

Each drop of water freezes over to build higher and higher, forming white peaks along the shoreline.

Beyond this magnificent display on the open water you can find winter visitors, migratory ducks peppering the surface of the water. Their bodies are covered in dense insulating feathers to keep them warm and an outer layer of slick oily feathers to keep them dry. View them with binoculars and watch them suddenly disappear as they dive underwater to catch fish swimming by, then find them resurfacing meters away. Some species to look for are Scaup, Merganser, Goldeneye, and Bufflehead.

Along the edge of our beach, bare trees and shrubs are splashed with the waves, and layers of ice freeze over them to create this daz-

zling effect. Branches are encased in ice like shining glass to create elegant ice sculptures. Visit after a particularly cold and windy day for the most pristine ice formations.

Away from the cacophony of waves crashing on the ice, you can search the silent woods for Great Horned Owls along the trails. In the day they perch in trees and blend in with the forest like a knot on a branch, but in the evening they come alive. You can hear them calling for a mate throughout winter, and as early as January they can begin to brood. By February and March the fluffy owlets will be visible near their parents, and they watch over their young for months after they hatch.

Our owls, winter migrants, and ice sculptures are reminders that there are many fleeting sights to be witnessed during winter.

Come join us in seeing the unrivalled beauty the Center has to offer during this season.

Winter 2019 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

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EDUCATION

AUBREY ELLICKSON Naturalist

There is no season that transforms the landscape as drastically as winter. Lush greenery is replaced with stark white blankets of snow and ice. But the muted color palette of winter is contradicted by the vibrancy of winter noises. Riding on the bitter winds are the soundwaves of the season, sounds that have been transformed by the frigid temperatures and delicate snow. The symphony of nature begins a new movement in winter, a movement worth braving the chill for. To experience the tranquil melody of winter sounds that serenade the land at Schlitz Audubon, it’s worth knowing the science behind the score.

Before the first snow falls, the sounds at the Center can be heard louder and clearer than in other seasons. The freezing of the ground allows soundwaves to better retain energy as they travel, and the decreased absorption in the hard earth surface leads to louder and crisper sounds. A call of a chickadee that would be muffled in spring reverberates stridently over the frozen earth in winter, its soundwaves no longer suppressed by muddy ground.

“Chicka-dee-dee-dee!”

As the snow falls, it envelops everything in a white porous coat that absorbs higher sound frequencies. The fluffy precipitation covers the barren tree branches, weighing them down towards the earth and preventing movement. Settling snowflakes create pockets of air that trap soundwaves, and the entire world becomes quieter with a fresh snow.

Most water sources are solidified as ice during a Wisconsin winter, but the vast Lake Michigan remains in a liquid state, as energized as ever. The waves crashing against the frozen shoreline provide a calming sound. The gradual crescendo of water building in intensity before rushing to the icy beach is followed by a decrescendo as

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the water is pulled back towards the lake. As the chilled wind blows off the lake, close your eyes and listen to the steady motion of the waves. It is truly a soothing experience.

The frozen waters of Mystery Lake provide a different experience for the ears. Ice may expand or contract due to temperature changes. This creates vibrating soundwaves that mimic an ominous crack, thud, or pop. Once noisy frogs are silently hibernating beneath the ice. A deer may slowly trek across the frozen water, crunching over snow or plodding slowly over clear ice. They cross the ice to access the island in Mystery Lake, only accessible to them in winter.

The finale of winter sounds is within the woodland loop, a path of seclusion with trees inundating the trail. The insulation of the frosted brambles prevents sounds from the outside world, creating the illusion of absolute silence. Abruptly, the “what cheer, what cheer, cheer cheer cheer!” of a Northern Cardinal breaks the stillness. It is closely followed by “wah-wah-wah-wah” of a White-Breasted Nuthatch. A winter visitor – the Dark-eyed Junco – chirps a long musical trill. This bird prefers cold temperatures and will migrate to Canada once things warm up. A distant rapid drumming rings out from a Downy Woodpecker looking for hibernating insects.

To hear this winter symphony, a hike through the trails of Schlitz Audubon Nature Center is worth braving the cold air. Bundle up in your warm winter clothes and rent a pair of snowshoes from the Education Center (free for members, $10 for guests). Snowshoes, boots, or cleats for icy conditions will take the stress out of hiking in the Wisconsin winter. Come listen to the silence and sounds of the season and experience nature in a whole new dimension.

Winter 2019 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

EDUCATION

Winter 2019 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

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g n i s rD es r e t n i W

NATURE PRESCHOOL

In the Nature Preschool, we believe there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing choices. Here are our suggestions on how to be prepared for winter play.

Warm Hat

Keep your head and ears covered in the cold with a good hat, and consider a wool-blend hat to help you stay even warmer!

Scarf

Mittens

Winter Coat

Keep your neck and throat warm and dry by wearing a nice, thick scarf!

A good winter coat is the centerpiece of a cold-weather wardrobe, necessary for keeping arms as well as the entire upper body warm and dry. The best coats are well insulated, and will protect you from the wind and cold when leaping in snow-covered play areas.

Are you or a little one going exploring, or building a snowman? Make sure to wear waterproof mittens so your fingers stay toasty!

Layers

Multiple layers of clothing will keep you and your small one warmer than a single layer. If you get too warm, just take a layer off, one at a time, until you feel comfortable.

Snowpants

If playing in snow, or going sledding, you will need well-insulated snowpants. Keeping your legs warm and dry is a must when jumping in deeper snow!

Wool Socks

Wool-blend socks are the best at keeping feet warm in winter. Wool insulates better than cotton, and when we play outside, we need warm feet so we can keep moving!

Insulated Boots

Whether hiking through the snow, or just playing outside, insulated boots are a must. They should keep your feet cozy and dry from the elements.

FEATURE

ASTRONOMY VIEWING the winter night sky

BY CARRIE BECKER

FEATURE

W

inter in Wisconsin gives us many opportunities to appreciate the quiet majesty of the night sky. Long winter nights, dry air, and bright stars provide conditions for stargazing that can’t be matched at any other time of year.

Stargazing may seem intimidating if you’re a novice, but it shouldn’t be. All you really need is curiosity, some warm winter clothes, and a clear night. Having a decent guidebook or chart, and a pair of binoculars or a telescope can also help. After that, head outside and look up!

Why Winter?

The winter solstice bestows 15 hours of darkness and a mere nine hours of daylight. The sun sets at 4:19pm on the solstice, and won’t rise again until 7:20am the next day. The math is simple – we have a lot more time in which to squeeze a few minutes outside to enjoy the sky. Peak stargazing time begins two hours after dusk, which means we can appreciate great views as early as 6:00pm instead of having to stay up as late as we would during the summertime.

Another factor that favors stargazing in winter is the earth’s location and situation in our galaxy, the Milky Way. In summer, we face the galaxy's center during our night hours, and will consequently see the hazy light of many more stars – just like looking at the crowded lights of a big city skyline. In winter, however, we’re looking toward the outer edge of the Milky Way, where there are far fewer stars, and less light pollution. The winter sky also contains our brightest star, Sirius.

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Dry air, often considered a minus when tallying winter’s qualities, is actually a plus when it comes to visibility. Cold winter air doesn’t hold as much water vapor as warm, summer air. When present, water vapor disperses or bends light, which can affect your view of distant objects. Summer air is also prone to trapping ozone, particulate matter and other pollutants, creating haze and smog that can further distort our views of the heavens.

Of course, even in winter, viewing is not always optimal. A blizzard, large trees, and the constant glow of city lights can easily impede your view! When a clear sky beckons, consider heading to an area free of trees or above the tree line that will provide good sight lines. Once you find your site, give yourself 10 minutes to let your eyes adapt to dim light, after which you will perceive many more points of light in the sky.

Find Home One of the first things you may want to look for in the night sky is our home galaxy, the Milky Way. Comprised of between 100 billion to 400 billion stars, give or take a few, the name is inspired by the milky-white, hazy appearance of these stars when seen from Earth. The Milky Way is disk-shaped, and relatively flat, so our view looks like a glowing white ribbon arcing across our night sky.

On any clear winter evening, you can get a good view of the Milky Way, provided you have a dark enough sky. Start by finding the famous winter constellation Orion the Hunter, and then look for the milky stripe running through it.

Winter 2019 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

FEATURE

Catch a Shooting Star In astronomical terms, shooting stars are known as meteors, and they look like streaks of light racing across the night sky. A meteor is a small rocky or metallic body that becomes superheated as it moves through the Earth's upper atmosphere, typically disintegrating before it hits the ground. The rare few that hit the ground are known as meteorites.

Meteors are visible on any given night, but the probability of viewing one (or several!) spikes dramatically during a meteor shower. The winter Quadrantid meteor shower is the first major meteor shower of the year. It occurs when Earth travels through a known debris field in its orbit. Peak displays should occur on the night of January 3 and during the early morning hours of January 4. For optimal viewing, look north along the horizon line until midnight, and then look higher in the sky as the night progresses into morning. People willing to brave the cold will receive a good lesson in the power of gravity while witnessing a spectacular show of shooting stars.

Witness a Lunar Eclipse On January 2o, the winter sky will provide us with this year's only opportunity to witness an eclipse in the United States. It’ll be a supermoon lunar eclipse, meaning the eclipse occurs when the moon is at perigee, or the point in its elliptical orbit at which it is closest to Earth. During a lunar eclipse, the sun, Earth, and the moon are perfect in alignment, and Earth blocks the sun’s rays from reaching and reflecting off the moon’s surface. While the whole event will last a little over five hours, the total eclipse will begin at 10:41pm, with maximum eclipse at 11:12pm, and end at 11:43pm.

The night sky is a continual source of fascination, with something new to offer stargazers every week. Take advantage of winter’s long nights to expand your horizons far beyond the limits of our home planet.

Sight a Planet Sometimes a “star” you’re gazing at isn’t a star at all, but a planet. Planets don’t produce their own light, but reflect the light of the sun, just as our moon does.

You can easily spot a very bright planet in early 2019 by looking east in the predawn sky. If you look up on January 6 at about 45 minutes before sunrise, Venus will be at its very brightest, third in visibility after only the sun and the moon.

Astronomy Programs

Written with contributions from: Tom Finley and Don Quintenz

Winter 2019 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

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RAPTOR EDUCATION

Bald Eagles Make a Comeback in Wisconsin MADELYN SISLOW Raptor Educator

Bald Eagles have long been admired as powerful and majestic birds, and as such were chosen as our national symbol more than 200 years ago. It was a fitting choice, as they are the only eagle species that lives only in North America. Despite their importance to our country, until recently many people have not had the opportunity to see these birds in the wild. The awe-inspiring Bald Eagle has only recently come back from the brink of extinction.

ties in the state of Wisconsin do not have any known active Bald Eagle nests: Milwaukee, Walworth, and Washington. The high number of eagles in our state means that Wisconsin residents now have an incredible opportunity to see them up close.

All of the world’s eagles are placed into four groups: fish, booted, snake, and forest eagles. Bald Eagles are a part of the fish eagle group, as their prey consists primarily of large fish. To be able to catch their prey, eagles make their homes near open water, a difficult feat to accomplish in winter. Raptors are generally solitary, but during the winter thousands of Bald Eagles congregate around the country’s largest open water sources, such as the Mississippi River in Western Wisconsin.

During the 1940s, DDT became widely hailed as the best pesticide for killing mosquitoes and other insects. At the time, people were unaware that this chemical was accumulating in small aquatic organisms, and that DDT was becoming more concentrated with each step up the food chain to reach extremely high levels in apex predators. In birds, DDT inhibits the implantation of calcium in eggshells, and adult eagles were crushing their eggs underneath The Mississippi River is too large and fast to completely freeze them during incubation. in winter, making it the perfect habitat for feathered fisherman.

From December to mid-March, huge groups of eagles can be In 1967, only 72 Bald Eagle nests were recorded in the entire state found perched along the banks of the Mississippi throughout the of Wisconsin. Only 417 breeding pairs existed throughout the day, scanning the open water for fish. entire country. Fortunately, concerned conservationists began to take notice. In 1972, DDT was banned from use in the United The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Bald and Golden Eagle ProStates. tection Act prohibits human activity close to Bald Eagles nests between January 15 and July 30, but there are still plenty of opThe following year, President Nixon signed the Endangered Spe- portunities available to view eagles from a respectful distance cies Act (ESA) into law, and one of the first animals to be protect- without disturbing them from their nests or roosts. Sauk Prairie’s ed was the Bald Eagle. The Act helps species by making it illegal Bald Eagle Watching Days in January and Prairie du Chien’s Bald to harm them, by designating critical habitat, and by requiring Eagle Appreciation Days in February are two huge festivals that design of a species recovery plan. Ninety-nine percent of all spe- include Bald Eagle watching tours, educational speakers, and cies protected by the act have been prevented from extinction, in- even the release of rehabilitated Bald Eagles back into the wild. cluding other native Wisconsin birds like Peregrine Falcon, Kirt- Both of these events will include presentations from our own land’s Warbler, and Piping Plover. Bald Eagle populations have Raptor Program with Valkyrie, our adult female Bald Eagle, and been improving since they were placed under protection, and a few other birds. they were deemed stable enough to remove from the ESA in 2007.

Though once teetering on the brink of extinction, Bald Eagles Ten years later, in 2017, the Wisconsin Department of Natural have rebounded to achieve a healthy population. Join us this winResources recorded 1,590 Bald Eagle nests in our state. Ours is ter to admire them from afar to appreciate their strength, majesamong the highest population in the United States, behind Alas- ty, and resiliency. ka and Florida, and comparable to Minnesota. Only three coun

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Winter 2019 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

RAPTOR EDUCATION

Winter 2019 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

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DEVELOPMENT RAPTOR NEWS

Raptor Volunteers rally and donate to acquire Raptor Van!

Schlitz Audubon Raises More Than $500,000 for Stormwater Management MELANIE JOHNSON Director of Development

When you visit the Center this winter and early spring, you’ll notice a lot of commotion in the east meadows and adjacent to the North Ravine. This activity—which will span approximately 20 acres—is the culmination of several years of work finally coming to fruition, and we hope you’ll pardon the temporary closure of some of our popular trails! Work crews will be implementing the first phase of our Stormwater Wetland & Ravine Restoration Project, including creation of several new wetland scrapes and temporary ponds, and stabilization of the North Ravine.

Once construction crews depart in spring, our conservation team and volunteer land stewards will be hard at work planting more than 25,000 trees, shrubs, and plants, and installing new wheelchair-friendly trail segments, boardwalks, and teaching decks through the project area.

When complete, the cumulative efforts of the Stormwater Wetland & Ravine Restoration Project will dramatically reduce the impact extreme storms have on our land, on Lake Michigan, and on the surrounding community, as well as provide new opportunities to educate all of our visitors on the importance of water conservation. These actions will not only prevent artificially high sediment loading into open waters, but also enhance habitat quality for native Wisconsin plants and animals. Several

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rare or threatened species have been found at the Center, including Rusty Patched Bumble Bee (U.S., endangered), Blanding’s Turtle (WI, special concern), Northern Long-eared Bat (U.S. threatened), and Blue-stemmed Goldenrod (WI, endangered), and as we continue our restoration efforts, growth of these plant and animal populations will be a key measure of our progress.

Local, regional, and national partners have rallied to support conservation at Schlitz Audubon by funding the Stormwater Wetland & Ravine Restoration project, and this work wouldn’t be happening without them. To date, Schlitz Audubon has received grants and pledges of support for the project from the Brico Fund ($50,000), National Fish and Wildlife Foundation ($116,000), Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District Green Infrastructure Partnership Program ($189,000), Fund for Lake Michigan ($100,000), Freshwater Future ($10,000), Brookby Foundation ($20,000), Pentair Foundation ($10,000), an anonymous corporate donor ($1,000), and an anonymous private donor ($10,000).

We hope you are as excited as we are as we move forward with the Stormwater Wetland & Ravine Restoration Project. Look for more updates on our progress throughout 2019!

Winter 2019 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

The Center is elated to announce the acquisition of a new Raptor Van! This 2018 Ram ProMaster will carry our birds and staff all around the state of Wisconsin as we share our educational message with the public. The Schlitz Audubon Raptor Program does over 350 programs a year with 17 birds.

The artwork on the van features our Barn Owl, Snowy Owl and Bald Eagle and will spread awareness of the outreach work that Schlitz Audubon performs in the community. As we arrive at a school, the Wisconsin State Fair, or Eagle Day Festivals around the state, the vehicle will announce our involvement and create excitement for our birds and Program.

The Raptor Van elevates our presence in the community as we continue to have the honor to bring raptors to your schools and events.

We are grateful to our core of raptor volunteers who, through a focused fundraising campaign, donated the funds to cover the full cost of the vehicle. We are grateful to The Russ Darrow Automotive Group for providing Schlitz Audubon with a significant discount and for gifting us the decorative wrap featuring three stars from our Raptor Collection.

CALENDAR Adult Program Family Program Preschool Program Wheelchair Accessible Member Price Non-Member Price Registration Required

Payment is due at time of registration.

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.

Register online at www.schlitzaudubon.org Raptor Saturday

Saturday, January 5 | 1:00pm - 2:00pm Saturday, February 2 | 1:00pm – 2:00pm Saturday, March 2 | 1:00pm -2:00pm

January Learn with us as we compare our national symbol, the Bald Eagle, to other eagles around the world and to other charismatic raptors of Wisconsin.

February The day before the Super Bowl, come out to learn about a totally different kind of player: the avian athletes!

March A few of our resident birds will take you along a raptor’s life story; through nesting, fledging, their impressionable juvenile years, and finally becoming a parent themselves.

Free with membership or admission Sponsored by:

February Wisconsin Humane Society Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Milwaukee Director Scott Diehl, will present on real life adventures in avian rehabilitation.

March Mike Mossman will present on the changes and future of birdlife at the former Badger Army Ammunition Plant.

Nature Preschool Open House Saturday, January 12 | 9:00am-12:00pm

Are you interested in learning more about Schlitz Audubon Nature Preschool? At our Open House, prospective families will have a chance to visit our classrooms, meet our teachers, and ask questions. Our program is open to children who will be between ages 3-5

by September 1, 2019.

Sunday Morning Bird Hike

Sunday, January 6 | 7:30am-9:00am Sunday, February 3 | 7:30am-9:00am Sunday, March 3 | 7:30am-9:00am

Join us for an early morning guided bird hike through our various habitats to view and document bird species. Meet in the parking lot.

Weather permitting.

Free to all

SPARK!*

Tuesday January 8 | 1:00pm-2:30pm Tuesday February 12 | 1:00pm-2:30pm Tuesday March 12 | 1:00pm-2:30pm

This program is designed for both people experiencing cognitive changes and their care givers. SPARK! celebrates how the simple beauty found in nature enriches our lives.

Free to all

Bird Club*

Wednesday, January 9 | 6:30pm-9:00pm Wednesday, February 13 | 6:30pm-9:00pm Wednesday, March 13 | 6:30pm-9:00pm

January The Western Great Lakes Bird and Bat Observatory will present their latest research on their monitoring of American Kestrels.

M: Free NM: $10

Free to all

Environmental Education Fair

Saturday, January 12 | 9:00am-12:00pm

Come meet representatives from schools and organizations throughout SE Wisconsin that offer environmental education programs for elementary, middle, and high school students.

Free to all

Winter Tree Identification*

Saturday, January 12 | 10:00am – 12:00pm Saturday, January 19 | 10:00am – 12:00pm Saturday, January 26 | 10:00am – 12:00pm

Embrace the cold weather during this threeweek session to learn how to identify deciduous trees at the best time of year – winter!

M: $45 NM: $60

Winter Astronomy: The Moon* Monday, January 14 | 7:00pm-8:30pm

Find out how to observe the January 21 lunar eclipse and learn about the moon’s features, phases, myths, and lore.

M: $15 NM: $20

Audubon Babies* Thursday, Thursday, Thursday, Thursday, Thursday,

Children are never too young to enjoy the wonders of nature through guided hikes on the trails filled with sensory explorations. For 6-24 month olds with an adult.

M: $12 per pair NM: $17 per pair

Nature Knowledge Trivia Night*

Thursday, January 17 | 7:00pm – 9:00pm Thursday, February 21 | 7:00pm – 9:00pm Thursday, March 21 | 7:00pm – 9:00pm

Join us for a light-hearted evening of intriguing nature–based trivia. You’ll meet some of our animal ambassadors while testing your knowledge of fascinating wild facts.

$15 per person

Hand-in-Hand*

Session 1 | 9:00 – 10:15am Session 2 | 10:30 – 11:45am Thursday, January 17 | Owl Babies Thursday, February 7 | Red Like a Cardinal Thursday, March 7 | Maple Sugaring Thursday, March 21 | Splish and Splash

Explore nature hand-in-hand with your little one ages 2 – 3 years old.

M: $15 per adult and child pair NM: $20 per adult and child pair

Celebrating Artist Alexis Rockman & The Great Lakes Cycle Experience Saturday, January 26 | 10:30am-12:00pm

In collaboration with Marquette University’s Haggerty Museum of Art, Schlitz Audubon is celebrating the upcoming exhibition Alexis Rockman: The Great Lakes Cycle with lakethemed activities for the whole family.

Free with membership or admission

Family Trail Trekking* Saturday, February 2 | 10:00am-12:00 pm

Join us for a seasonal hike to see what winter has brought us, be prepared to snowshoe, explore Lake Michigan ice formations, or even do some animal tracking!

M: $10 NM: $15

Tai Chi Fundamentals: Animal Forms* Saturdays, February 2 - March 30 (No class March 9) | 10:00am-11:00am

Explore the core principles of Tai Chi through this eight-week series focused on the Crane form.

Winter 2019 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

January 17 | 10:00am-11:15am February 7 | 10:00am-11:15am February 21 | 10:00am-11:15am March 7 | 10:00am-11:15am March 21 | 10:00am-11:15am

M: $80 NM: $96

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CALENDAR Snowshoe Discovery Hiking* Saturday, February 9 | 1:00pm – 2:30pm

We’ll venture out on the trails with Senior Ecologist Don Quintenz in search of the wonders of winter ecology.

M: $15 NM: $20

American Energy Healing* Saturday, February 16 | 1:00pm – 2:30pm

Learn about a powerful healing method seldom seen off the reservation through Dennis King. Dennis comes from a lineage of healers, and now he continues their legacy!

M: $15 NM: $20

Winter Concert Series

2:00 pm -3:00 pm Sunday, February 17 | Little Blue Heron Sunday, February 24 | The Kitchen Boys Sunday, March 3 | The Ukuladies Sunday, March 10 | Michael Drake Sunday, March 17 | Estlund Yanovskaya Duo

Join us on Sunday afternoons in winter for live music in our auditorium!

Free with membership or admission

After School Adventure Club: Winter* Wednesdays, February 20 – March 20 | 4:00pm - 5:30pm

This five-week series is packed with 90 minutes of hiking, hands-on activity and outdoor play. Ideal for students ages 5-7 without accompanying adults

M: $45 per 5-week session NM: $65 per 5-week session

Citizen Science: Ephemeral Wetland Monitoring Orientation* Saturday, February 23 | 9:00am – 11:00am

Learn all about the salamanders, frogs, and crayfish that spring brings to our wetlands and how you can help monitor them here at the Center!

M: Free NM: $10

Squirrel Talk Saturday, February 23 | 12:00pm - 1:00pm

Meet Amelia, the Center’s Southern Flying Squirrel, one of Wisconsin’s elusive small mammals.

Free with membership or admission

Citizen Science: FrogWatch USA Training*

Spring Astronomy: Vernal Equinox and the Full Moon*

Tuesday, February 26 | 3:30pm-6:30pm

Tuesday, March 19 | 6:00pm-7:30pm

Learn about Wisconsin’s frogs and how you can help monitor them here at the Center or in your neighborhood.

Telescopic Astronomy* Wednesday, February 27 | 6:30pm–8:00pm

Winter brings the most spectacular sky of the year. We’ll look for the brightest star, a giant cloud where you can see stars being born, and our sister galaxy Andromeda.

M: $15 NM: $20

Tai Chi*

Wednesdays, February 27 to April 17 4:00pm–5:00pm

Eight-week series of Tai Chi classes for continuing students, led by Alice Kuramoto.

M: $80 NM: $96

Nature Mondays*

Mondays, March 4 – March 18 1:00pm-3:30pm

This three-week mini-series is hosted by the Schlitz Audubon Nature Preschool for children ages 4-6

M: $100 for full session NM: $150 for full session

Animal Myths: Fact or Fiction?* Saturday, March 9 | 9:30am – 11:30am

Learn the truth about popular animal myths, how they got their origins and if they are true.

M: $12 per pair NM: $17 per pair

It’s Maple Sugar Time*

Saturday, March 16 | 10:00am-12:00pm Saturday, March 16 | 1:00pm-3:00pm

Here comes the melting snow, muddy shoes, and MAPLE SUGAR! Bring your big boots and sweet tooth, and we’ll do the rest. Begin inside with a story of how maple sugaring may have been discovered. Then travel outside through the stages of making maple syrup, from tapping trees to boiling sap with the sugar farmer at the evaporator. Top the morning off with REAL maple sugar over silver dollar-sized pancakes. Directed towards 5-10 year olds

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M: Free NM: $10

M: $10 NM: $15

Winter 2019 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

Discover why the seasons change as we welcome spring and a full moon for the vernal equinox.

M: $15 NM: $20

Rainer Maria Rilke, Master Poet of the Soul* Tuesday March 26 | 6:30pm – 8:00pm

Join in the discussion of master poet Rainer Maria Rilke’s work. Educator Ron Moor will share Rilke’s poetry and his philosophy: our presence on earth is part of the Earth’s “Great Transformation.”

M: $15 NM: $20

Citizen Science Spring Kick-off* Thursday, March 28 | 6:00pm-8:00pm

We are looking for eager community volunteers to help monitor conservation efforts at the Center! Learn more about our new and ongoing Citizen Science projects.

Free to all

Finding Fossils* Saturday March 30 | 10:00am – 12:00pm

Explore our Lake Michigan shore in search of signs of ancient life.

M: $10 NM: $15

Word with a Bird

Every Saturday and Sunday 1:00pm – 2:00pm

Join us in the Great Hall to meet a live bird of prey from our Raptor Program! We’ll talk about the specific skills, traits, and adaptations that are unique to that bird.

Free with membership or admission

THANK YOU THANK YOU In Memory Of

Raptor Sponsorships

Gary Donaldson Sandy Bennett

William J. Schinner Heather Lacroix

Donna Dooley Anonymous (3) Robert T. Adlam, MD, FACP Mary and James Connelly Genny and Patrick Dunphy Steve and Linda Francaviglia Shelly and Michael Hart Betsy Hill Jennie Riesch Jerger and David P. Jerger Dr. James and Ann Maney Kelly Matthews Mark and Paula McAndrew Kevin J. and Teresa McBride Lynn and Dennis Potts Michele Potts Ann P. and John V. Riley Kevin and Carol Shuele Paul and Terese E. Stockhausen Kathleen and Michael Tuchscherer Nick W. and Kathleen H. Turkal

Tom Schmidt Pat Bakula

Suzy Foster Tom and Bette Drought John Shannon Terry Lanke Christy and William Breihan Elizabeth and Jack Dussault Jennifer F. Henning Robert L. and Laura M. Lionberg John F. and Elizabeth Vollrath

Frederick Warhanek Pat Bakula

Baron von Screech–Eastern Screech Owl In Memory of Tony Interdonato Kristen Vogt

Malary – American Kestrel In Honor of Liz Alagna Sue Holcomb

In Honor of Andrea Brennan Sue Holcomb

In Honor Of Sarah, Emerson, Jack, and Henry John and Maija Bentley Alice Ambrowiak Brian Paulson

In Honor of Katherine Schmitz Sue Holcomb

Malary – American Kestrel Dorothy Zajac

John and Julie Carpenter Michael and Peg Uihlein Karl Gruehn Dick and Dayle Dieffenbach Cassidy McManus Anonymous Myra Van Uxem Jean Downie Judy Wick Mary Kae Nelson

Denise Mueller Angela K. and Gregory T. Nelson Martin H. Panning Anonymous John Reiss Pat Bakula Barbara Roebkin Pat Bakula Burkhardt Rosebrock Margarete and David Harvey Carol R. White

Join us on social media!

Admission

FREE admission to Members Adults: $8 | Youth $5 (ages 3 — 17)

Hours

Open 7 days a week 9:00am - 5:00pm

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

Credits for Panorama | Winter 2019 Director of Marketing Nancy Quinn Design | Illustration | Photography Zoe Finney Editing | Select Writing Carrie Becker & Craig Mattson

Winter 2019 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

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Schlitz Audubon Nature Center

U.S. Postage

1111 East Brown Deer Road Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53217

PAID

Milwaukee, WI Permit No. 4168

WINTER 2019 PANORAMA

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