Panorama | Summer 2019

panorama

Summer 2019

Red-tailed Hawks Page 4

Dragonflies Page 7

Support our Raptors Page 12

WELCOME HELEN BOOMSMA Executive Director

During the summer months, the Center is brimming with life. Warm summer weather and brilliant sunshine invite visitors to explore our many habitats. Witness the tall plants in the prairies as they bloom and stretch skyward while watching for the iridescent hues of dragonflies darting about, defending their territory.

In this issue of Panorama, learn about the wonders of those dragonflies! Discover their unique hunting, feeding, and flying styles while also seeing their incredible variation. Also in this issue, read about the Red-tailed Hawk, another expert flyer who you will often find living near roadways, cities, as well as in open fields, and whose distinct red tail will help you identify them.

Rediscover Lake Michigan as you explore the nature of its coloration. See the many variables at work making the lake look green, dark blue, or other colors on the spectrum. Consider visiting and looking out from our 60-foot tower to track the color changes. Come discover the hidden relationships between plants, insects, and animals in our prairie habitats as you read the article about the intricate ecological web these creatures make.

Come to see prairie plants in all of their glory by walking the Gateway Trail. This trail completes a one-mile accessible loop that now allows all visitors to travel from the Dorothy K. Vallier Environmental Learning Center, to Mystery Pond and the Amphitheater. Travelling through savanna, prairie, and wetlands, it ensures that visitors using mobility devices can access the best of our high-quality habitats and educational hot spots. Hiking this trail in the summer is a sure way to view the many colors and interesting leaf patterns of the plant species living in the Center’s prairie.

Remember to enjoy our extended summer hours. We are open until 8:00pm, Monday through Thursday until the end of August. Consider attending an evening concert from our Summer Concert Series. We also have plenty of engaging programs that will take place during our evenings, including several Full Moon Hikes, and Night Life, featuring nocturnal creatures. On some evenings, you may notice volunteers on the property collecting data for one of the Center’s citizen science projects. Consider joining them by becoming a citizen science volunteer!

Summer Hours through August Monday-Thursday 9:00am - 8:00pm Friday-Sunday 9:00am - 5:00pm

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 Shane Delsman Heidi Dondlinger John E. 'Jack' Gebhardt Timothy J. Gerend Amy Giuffre Matt Haas Margarete R. Harvey Kevin J. Kane Debra Katz 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.

Summer 2019 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

SEASONAL SIGHTINGS

Frog on a lilypad at Mystery Lake.

Visit the Center and discover the beauty of summer!

MOYA MOWBRAY Naturalist

Summer hiking is a delight for the senses. This season of bounty and growth provides interest no matter where one strolls at the Center. Vegetation is lush, using the heat of the summer months to grow, blossom and produce seeds for dispersal. Creatures large and small are actively raising young and defending territory. Look too, for people monitoring summertime life and habitats. Feel free to stay longer during our extended summer hours, and delve deeper by signing up for one of our unique summertime programs.

When the pond water warms to about 70°, listen for the bull-like bellow of bullfrogs, and the staccato “gunk” of the Green Frogs as they look for love.

In July, gaze into any of our ponds to enjoy a ballet of life. Tadpoles, fish and frogs dart between vegetation, macroinvertebrates cluster and spin in unexpected patterns, and turtles bask on nearby logs. As you saunter through the leafy shade of our woodland paths, listen for the sounds of young birds calling for food from their parents. Look from forest floor to tree canopy and you can see a spectrum of greens filling this forest habitat.

Thermals created by the lake provide an excellent migratory corridor in September for migrating neo-tropical birds, and migrating insects. September also offers a riot of color in all of our prairies.

The gentle hum of pollinators moving between blossoms swaying in the cooling breeze of our favorite great lake, provides a relaxing soundtrack.

As summer progresses, toads and frogs, as well as their predators, can be found around the edges of our ponds. Look carefully along the bank of Mystery Pond, for a frequent visitor, a Green Heron.

When temperatures rise in August, head down to our Lake Michigan shoreline to enjoy some cooling breezes. While beach combing, look for fossil reminders of an ancient Silurian reef, uncovered on Lake Michigan’s coast.

It is always fun to gain a wider perspective of just how great Lake Michigan is, from atop our 60-foot tower. While on top, you may see hints of fall color in September, reminding us that autumn is on the way.

Summer 2019 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

3

RAPTOR EDUCATION

4

Summer 2019 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

RAPTOR EDUCATION

Roadside Raptors MADDY SISLOW Raptor Educator

Red-tailed Hawks Buteo jamaicensis are the most common raptors in Wisconsin and in North America. They adapt well to almost any environment and live in areas that are wide open, like grasslands and prairies, parks, deserts, and even roadsides. Because they are opportunistic hunters, they are well suited to urban areas.

This species is named for the cinnamon-red tail of an adult. However, this feather color does not emerge until after the bird has molted into its adult plumage after more than a year of life. In addition, there are regional differences in Red-tailed Hawks’ feather coloration – often making them difficult to identify, even to the most knowledgeable birdwatcher.

Juvenile Red-tailed Hawks have a tail that is longer and striped with brown. These different tail colors and shapes aid the young birds in three ways: the longer tails are easier to maneuver as the bird learns to fly, the colors are better for camouflage, and it signifies to adults that they are not ready to mate or hold territory.

When they molt in their red tail, those benefits are foregone.

Some individuals are identified by their morph, or color, and are sometimes considered a subspecies of Red-tailed Hawks. However, all adult Red-tailed Hawks have that famous red tail in some capacity, and are classified under the Buteo genus for “soaring hawks.” One way to identify a Red-tailed Hawk is to look at the bird in sunlight; the bright red tail will look like it is glowing.

All species in this genus have broad wings and a widespread tail that allows them to effectively use warm air thermals to soar.

These adaptations save them the energy of flapping, but also restrict them to activity during the day when warm air thermals to soar on are strongest.

Their incredible eyesight allows them to scan open areas for their favorite prey items. Red-tailed Hawks have vision much more acute than humans; some scientists have said that they can spot their moving prey from a mile away. These raptors can also see light from the UV spectrum, which humans cannot do. This means that these hawks can perceive colors we can’t even dream of!

Their acute eyesight, in addition to sharp talons, helps them hunt and catch their prey. They eat animals such as voles, mice, wood rabbits, and ground squirrels. They also eat other birds and snakes, and are able to carry prey up to half of their body weight. Red-tailed Hawks use a hunting method called perch and pounce, perching on a branch until their prey appears, and then pouncing quickly to catch it.

Red-tailed Hawk soaring

The same characteristics that help the birds hunt also help them defend their territory and nests. Red-tailed Hawks make new nests or reuse already made ones, building them in areas that have a good view, like tall trees and cliff ledges, or on artificial structures like billboards. They are made of dry sticks and are lined with bark, foliage, and dry vegetation. Nest structures are large; around sixfeet high, three-feet wide, and when the birds brood, will hold from one to five eggs.

If you want to see Red-tailed Hawks in the wild, you don’t have to look very far. The prairies at Schlitz Audubon are home to many of these raptors in the summer, where they can soar overheard and scan for a tasty meal. And, the next time you’re driving, take a quick glance on the tops of light poles for Red-tails scanning the roadsides!

Schlitz Audubon’s Raptor Program has as resident 20-year-old Red-tailed Hawk named Sky Walker. As a young bird, she found her way into a family’s backyard. The family recognized that she needed help, and took her to a wildlife rehabilitator. It was determined that she lacked the skills to survive in the wild, and she was deemed imprinted on humans. Sky Walker can often be seen greeting visitors at the Raptor Exhibit in front of the Center; next time you’re enjoying a summer hike at Schlitz Audubon, stop by and say hello!

Summer 2019 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

5

EDUCATION

LAKE MICHIGAN COLORS Lake Michigan Blues.

CRAIG MATTSON Communication Specialist

Lake Michigan is a slightly different color almost every time you look at it. Seeing the lake in a variety of shades of blue, green, silver, or other unusual colors is a treat for the eyes and also reflects complex scientific principles at work. The overall coloration of the lake is caused by a combination of factors, including the behavior of light in relation to water depth, refraction, reflection, and suspended particles in the water. It can also be a sign of water quality.

Water is colorless. The color can appear to be different shades of blue, or a slightly different color altogether for a number of reasons. When water is the blue color we associate with a lake, it is most often the reflection of the sky.

Light from the sun hits the water at different angles at different times. It can be refracted, which refers to a change in the light’s direction when it passes from air to water or vice-versa, and reflected, which is like a mirror image. When it hits the water at an angle that deviates from a line going straight up from the surface, it will reflect more. Hitting it at a smaller angle from this line, it will reflect less.

Electromagnetic radiation exists as a spectrum of waves mostly beyond human visual perception. When they are in a frequency of 380 to 740 nanometers, or billionths of a meter, they are visible.

Blue light is a shorter wavelength, about 450 nanometers, whereas red light is longer, around 700 nanometers.

When the lake is shallow, light scatters and reflects shorter wavelengths of light, causing a lighter blue color to appear. The blue col

6

or is a product of blue light being bounced around by the physical structure of water and the color of the sky. Light that hits the surface of the lake from straight above penetrates more deeply, reflecting less. When the lake is deep, and the angle of incoming light is smaller, the lake appears deep blue because the light travels down with little obstructions and dissipates far below the surface, causing it to appear darker in the visible spectrum.

It gets more complicated when there are suspended solids in the water. The solids reflect light, making the color of the lake seem greenish or murky. Lake Michigan looks bluer than it did in the past. Clearer, bluer water is a sign that something is removing phytoplankton, which includes a form of green algae. Green algae is what had previously made the water greener and murkier, and responsibility for this bluer water goes to Zebra and Quagga mussels.

Phytoplankton is a basic building block of the food chain, and it is a food source for many aquatic animals. It feeds many small fish in Lake Michigan. Populations of small fish have collapsed because of the loss of phytoplankton from the invasive mussels, and that has affected the larger fish that depend on the smaller fish for food.

Lake color can be a complex issue, but it is still an amazing experience to visit the lake and note the daily changes in hue and brightness. We are lucky to have the wonderful Lake Michigan here in Milwaukee. Come and view the ever-changing lake from the vantage point at our shoreline waiting to be explored at the Center.

Summer 2019 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

FEATURE

Nature's aerial hunters CRAIG MATTSON Communications Specialist

FEATURE

D

ragonflies are majestic in their beauty. The sheen of their iridescent bodies, their prominent, specialized wings, and their formidable flying style make them a wonder to observe. They are flying insects of the order Odonata, which includes both dragonflies and damselflies, displaying a remarkable range of diversity in behavior and appearance.

The Common Green Darner male has a grass green upper body with bright blue abdomen, while the Common Whitetail has a chalky white abdomen, dark face, and wide brown band across the center of their wing. The names of dragonfly species often reflect their unique qualities. Widow Skimmers skim over the water when they hunt, Prince Baskettails are named for how the female uses her tail like a basket to carry eggs, and a female from the Spiketail family has a spike-like ovipositor.

There are nearly 6,500 species of Odonates worldwide, and 3,000 of them are dragonflies. They inhabit all continents except Antarctica. In Wisconsin, there are approximately 164 species of dragonfly and damselfly.

Dragonflies can be distinguished from damselflies by how they hold their wings at rest. Damselflies hold their wings behind their back or outwards at a 45-degree angle, while the dragonfly’s four wings are stiff-looking, held straight out from both sides of the body. They have similar lifecycles and habitats, but hunt differently because their flying abilities.

Dragonflies are prolific at the Center. In one, three-hour survey looking for Odonates in 2018, we found 15 species. We are certain to find more species as we continue surveying. They live in all of our habitats, and include recently counted species like the Twelve-spotted Skimmer, which has three distinct black spots on each wing, and the Dot-tailed Whiteface, named for the telltale yellow dot on its rear segment and white spot on its face. Also seen on the property was the Blue Dasher, with pale blue abdomen and green and black striped thorax on the male.

THE AQUATIC STAGE Dragonflies are aquatic for most of their life, living from one month to seven years as nymphs, depending on the species, and spending only a fraction of their lives as flying adults. They live underwater in ponds, lakes, rivers, streams, and marshes. At this 8

stage, they are dull brown-black, crawl and swim instead of fly, and breathe through gills.

The six-legged dragonfly nymphs hunt and eat tadpoles, stonefly larva, snails, other dragonfly nymphs, and other invertebrates.

They use their exceptional hinged lower jaw, called the labium, which acts like a third arm. The labium is sharply serrated, shooting forward to seize prey with moveable hooks on its front edge.

To hunt, the nymph will either hide and ambush prey or will stalk and pursue prey and spear it with their outshooting mouthpart.

EMERGENCE OF FLIGHT Emergence is the highlight of dragonfly life, a turning point when the young nymph undergoes metamorphosis to become a very different creature. Newly emerged dragonflies are called tenerals, Latin for “tender” or “delicate.” When it emerges, it is soft with pale coloring and cannot fly well. Dangerous predators like frogs, toads, fish, spiders, and birds are everywhere, and if it is knocked into the water, it will drown. Small, newly emerged tenerals take a half-hour to two hours before they fly. Then, they head to shelter in a woodland or grassy meadow, leaving behind their abandoned nymph skin, called an exuviae. It takes one to two weeks before they will become a sexually mature adult.

CONTINUING THEIR LIFECYCLE The adult period of a dragonfly’s lifecycle is comparatively short, emerging to mate in either spring or summer. As adults, spring species mate at around the same time in March, April, or May, and then die within a couple of weeks. Summer species emerge at different times throughout the summer, so people will see them more continuously, but also die soon after mating.

Adults head back to water to mate. Male dragonflies find territories that have high quality habitat, with access to food, for females to lay eggs. Males defend territory, though some species are more territorial than others are. The mating period includes two weeks to a month of intense activity.

The female will likely mate several times, laying about 100 eggs at a time. These eggs are pinhead in size, oval or round, with a hole at one end. When they are deposited in streams, they are at risk in areas of high current. When placed in lakes or ponds, they are safer as they will sink to the bottom, but still need to avoid

Summer 2019 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

FEATURE

predators. Some species’ eggs are safely deposited in plant material. Most eggs hatch in a couple of days, while some stay dormant until the next spring.

A newly hatched dragonfly is called a pronymph, which is featureless until it molts, or sheds its skin. They molt frequently: Darners molt 10 to 13 times. Most North American species take 11 months to get through all of their molts, but it varies between species. Wandering gliders become full size nymphs in 40 days, and are then ready to emerge, while the Clubtail Dragonhunter from the tropics takes five to seven years to emerge. The period between molts is dependent on resources like food availability and warmth.

AVID HUNTERS Once in adulthood, dragonflies become agile hunters. They eat only live insects—whatever happens to be flying nearby—including deerflies, blackflies, horseflies, midges, and mosquitos.

They also hunt beetles, flying ants, other dragonflies and winged insects. The amount they eat is massive, at least ten to fifteen percent of body weight per day, and sometimes much more.

Their hunting techniques include hawking or gleaning. To hawk, they will fly back and forth in the same area, scanning to catch insects with their mouth or legs. To glean, they will hover over a plant to see if an insect is there and catch it with its legs. They will also follow large animals, catching whatever they stir up.

Hunters can also be perchers or flyers. Perchers sit on a branch and swoop to the prey when they see it, catching insects between three times an hour to one every minute. Flyers glide along and hunt for food in mid-air, using their mouthparts and/or legs to seize prey. Their aerial feeding strategy was pioneered 300 million years ago using the power of its aerodynamic wings. It flies non-stop on good, warm and sunny days, and they can hunt in swarms. Amazingly, their catch rate is 99 percent.

Dragonflies are the most agile of all flying insects, and are studied by NASA and the US military. They can lift twice their body weight and fly 25-35 mph over long distances. The female dragonfly is 40 percent flight muscle, while the adult male can be 60 percent flight muscle. Some of the aerial tricks they perform include taking off straight up, making unbanked turns, and hovering for up to a minute.

THE ADVANTAGE OF MANY-SIDED SIGHT Another advantageous trait the dragonfly has for flying and hunting is its compound eye, which helps it hunt totally by sight.

80 percent of the dragonfly’s brain is used for visual processing.

The eyes make up most of the head, and are comprised of ommatidia (facets). They possess 10,000 to 30,000 facets per eye.

Each facet resolves a slightly different image with a different direction, allowing them to see in almost every direction simultaneously.

They have another powerful visual enhancement as well. While humans have three light-sensitive photoreceptor proteins called opsins that allow us to see in red, green, and blue, dragonflies have four to five, and sometimes more photoreceptors.

This allows them to see in four, five, or more colors as well as UV light and polarized light. This helps them detect movement to see their prey in sunlight and in water bodies.

The dragonfly has a world of sight available to it that we as humans can’t even imagine. Their experience flying by ponds at the Center or through our forests must look completely different to them than to us. Nonetheless, they are spectacular to see. Stop by the Center to hike the trails and witness the spectacle of dragonfly life!

Written with contributions from: Marc White, Don Quintenz and Tess Carr

Summer 2019 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

9

CONSERVATION

prairies & predators TESS CARR Naturalist

10

Summer 2019 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

CONSERVATION The mixed tall grass prairie at Schlitz Audubon is a stunning sight in the summer months. With Indian Grass flowers dangling like chandeliers and Big Bluestem swaying overhead, these grasses provide structure in the prairie for a variety of wildlife, much of which tends to go unnoticed.

In the summer, the leaves of Big Bluestem are food for the Meadow Vole. As the seeds of these grasses ripen and fall to the ground in autumn, they provide another food source to last the Voles throughout the winter. As this vegetation dies back at the end of the year and the tall stems fall over, they create systems of tunnels and corridors over the ground that can persist for years.

The Northern Short Tailed Shrew – one of the few venomous mammals in existence – is found under these grasses. They can eat up to three times their body weight every day. A large part of their diet consists of worms, insects, and snails that are common among the vegetation of the prairies, but they can also find more rewarding prey in these passageways. Since their eyesight is poor and they are primarily nocturnal hunters, they use echolocation to find Meadow Voles to bite, paralyze, and eat.

Some animals have a unique way of tracking their prey. Voles and Shrew may stay well hidden, but since these rodents mark their trails with urine to claim their territory, they create a map over the prairie. This leads raptors like the American Kestrel directly to them. These birds can see in the ultraviolet spectrum, making urine trails clearly visible. They hover above the prairie like a helicopter and wait for the rodents to reveal themselves along these trails. Then they swoop down and use their feet to capture and kill their prey. Kestrels are opportunistic hunters and will eat what’s available to them – they also happen to be one of the largest consumers of grasshoppers.

stem, making it look as though the stem grew straight through the long diamond shaped leaves. The unique name for this plant comes from its medicinal uses for a flu-like illness that causes pain in bones. At the top of the plant many clusters of tiny, star shaped, white flowers bloom issuing a lovely, delicate scent, which attracts moth species that pollinate the flowers.

Some of our most charismatic flowers of the prairie bloom late in the summer. In August and September as the grasses are maturing and exhibiting a rainbow of shades in their stems and leaves, golden flowers begin to pepper the landscape – Goldenrods, Coneflowers, Black-eyed Susan, and Sunflowers can be seen on any given hike. At up to ten feet tall, the interestingly named Jerusalem Artichoke towers over the other prairie plants. A member of the Sunflower family, its showy blooms provide nectar and pollen that attract many types of bees and other pollinators. Some moth and butterfly species, like the painted lady, feed on the foliage.

Our new prairie boardwalk, the Gateway Trail, makes the charm of this habitat accessible to all of the Center’s visitors, and being elevated above the ground allows wildlife to utilize the expanse of the prairie, undisturbed. So walk the new path and take some time to observe those relationships that so often go unnoticed.

Grasshoppers consume the leaves of Common Boneset, a wet prairie plant that can be found at the end of the new accessible boardwalk. Pairs of opposing leaves clasp the four-foot tall hairy

Summer 2019 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

11

DEVELOPMENT ART GALLERY

Nature Art of James Steeno & May Klisch Through July 26

Support Our Raptors MELANIE JOHNSON Director of Development

Participating in Adopt-a-Bird supports the care of our magnificent raptors as they fulfill their role of educating the public about wildlife conservation. The birds create memorable experiences with everyone they meet, offering a glimpse into the power and beauty of nature and, with donor support, spend their lives with us healthy and enriched.

Behind the scenes, the raptors in our Raptor Program live in a special building called the mews. It’s a secluded home for our raptors, where the birds can relax and restore after educating the public. Each day a team of volunteers and staff take care of the birds’ needs. This includes cleaning the mews, providing fresh water, preparing and parsing out the birds’ food, and providing training and enrichment. Staff and volunteers invest a lot of time building trusting relationships with the birds, which helps them learn the basics of becoming a teacher and working with people.

surroundings. Enrichment activities are designed for each bird to exercise both their bodies and minds. Staff and Volunteers learn the likes and dislikes of every bird, and pay attention to how each bird responds to stimuli, which enhances their lives.

If you’d like to help us provide for our raptors, including food, which varies by species, and medical care, consider adopting a bird.

FOOD COSTS

Screech Owl - $300 per year Red-tailed Hawk - $600 per year Great Horned Owl - $600 per year Bald Eagle - $1,000 per year MEDICAL COSTS

Annual veterinary exams for all birds $3,600 per year

Your family, business, or organization can participate in wildlife stewardship, while creating a personal connection with one of the resident feathered ambassadors.

Enrichment is one way that we can ensure Choose to support all of our raptors or adopt the mental stimulation and contentment your favorite. Various benefit levels are of the birds. The Center’s raptors are wild available. animals. Even though they are habituated to living among people at the mews, these Visit www.schlitzaudubon.org/supanimals have natural instincts. Each bird port-our-raptors/ for details. has its own preferences for games and 12

Summer 2019 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

James Steeno and May Klisch come together to display works that reveal their passions for color, natural landscapes, wildlife, and birds. Both have painted wildlife scenes of the Center, as well as our raptors. James Steeno loves the flora and fauna of Wisconsin, and takes much of his inspiration from common, everyday scenes and places in which he can find a new world hidden in plain sight. May Klisch is inspired by the beauties of nature. She is interested in the relationships, emotions, and spirit behind the places & things she depicts.

Raptors in Focus August 1 — November 2

This summer, we will exhibit photographs from the 2020 Schlitz Audubon Raptor Calendar. Photographs are taken at the annual Raptors in Focus event at the Center. This year more than 75 photographers participated and submitted images for consideration for the calendar. The images selected for the 2020 Raptor Calendar will be on display August through November. Visit the gallery and join us in celebrating our fantastic feathered ambassadors.

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

Payment is due at time of registration.

Monarchs, Milkweed, and More*

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.

Saturday, July 13 | 10:00am - 11:30am

Register online at www.schlitzaudubon.org Summer Canoe Trip* Tuesday July 2 | 10:00 am – 12:30 pm

Join Center staff on a guided trip down the Milwaukee River. It’s fun for the whole family!

M: $40 per canoe | NM: $60 per canoe

Citizen Science: Bat Monitoring* Tuesday, July 2 | 7:30pm – 8:30pm

Learn about the importance of bats in our ecosystem and how you can help Schlitz Audubon monitor bats for the Wisconsin DNR.

M: Free | NM: $10

Citizen Science: Wisconsin Frog and Toad Survey* Tuesday, July 2 | 8:00pm - 12:00am

After sunset, we will carpool to ten sites in northern Milwaukee County and survey the frog and toad calls we hear.

M: Free | NM: $10

Raptor Saturday

Saturday, July 6 | 1:00pm - 2:00pm Saturday, September 7 | 1:00pm - 2:00pm

The auditorium is transformed into an educational aviary. Come learn about and meet our feathered friends.

Free with membership or admission.

Sponsored by:

Sunday Morning Bird Hike Sundays July 7, August 4, September 1 7:30am - 9:00am

Join us for an early morning guided bird hike through our various habitats. We’ll meet in the parking lot.

Free to all.

Summer Tree Identification*

Sunday, July 7 | 9:00am - 12:00pm Sunday, July 14 | 9:00am - 12:00pm

Discover which tree species we have at the Center and how to identify them using their leaves, fruit, bark, and habitat in this two-part workshop. Price is for both sessions

M: $30 | NM: $40

Join our Monarch experts in a demonstration of responsible butterfly rearing. We will assemble rearing kits to take home and discuss how to create habitat for Monarchs.

Soundwaves

Tuesday Evenings | 6:30pm - 7:30pm Tuesday, July 9 | The Kitchen Boys Tuesday, July 16 | Silver Fusion Tuesday, July 23 | The Estlund Yanovskaya Duo Tuesday, July 30 | John Stano Tuesday, August 6 | Joey Leal Tuesday, August 13 | David Noll

Join us Tuesday evenings for a performance by a local artist at our Pavilion overlooking Lake Michigan.

Free with membership or admission.

Citizen Science: Dragonfly and Damselfly Survey*

Wednesday, July 10 | 9:00am - 4:00pm

Odonata is the order of carnivorous insects that encompasses dragonflies and damselflies.

Join Marc White, Director of Conservation, in a Center-wide search to document odonates.

M: Free | NM: $10

Bird Club*

Wednesday, July 10 | 6:30pm - 8:30pm Wednesday, August 14 | 6:30pm - 8:30pm Wednesday, September 11 | 6:30pm - 8:30pm

Join us for a seasonal bird hike. See our website for details. Birders age 14 and up of all skill levels are welcome.

Free to all.

Citizen Science: Discovering Milwaukee’s Fireflies* July 10 | 8:00pm - 9:30pm August 7 | 7:30pm - 9:00pm

Fireflies light up our nights, yet these luminescent beetles are still mysterious. Learn about fireflies in southeastern Wisconsin with researchers from the Milwaukee Public Museum.

Free to all.

Audubon Babies*

Friday, July 12 | 10:00am - 11:15am Friday, August 2 | 10:00am - 11:15am Thursday, September 19 | 10:00am - 11:15am

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

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

Fossil Finders* Saturday, July 13 | 10:00am - 12:00pm

Come explore our Lake Michigan shoreline and look for signs of ancient life.

M: $10 | NM: $15

Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11* Tuesday, July 16 | 7:30pm - 9:00pm

We will look back at the history of this incredible mission, which brought our species to the moon. Then we will view the moonrise over the lake.

M: $15 | NM: $20

Full Moon Hikes*

Tuesday, July 16 | Buck Moon Thursday, August 15 | Sturgeon Moon Thursday, September 12 | Harvest Moon 9:00pm - 10:00pm

All lunar lovers are welcome to this evening hike each night of the full moon.

M: $10 | NM: $15

Kirtland's Warbler Recovery in Wisconsin and Beyond*

Wednesday, July 17 | 6:30pm - 8:30pm

Davin Lopez, Conservation Biologist with the Wisconsin DNR, will discuss the crucial measures taken to aid and increase the population and range of the endangered Kirtland's Warbler.

Free to all

Citizen Science: Moth Watch*

Wednesday, July 24 | 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm

As part of National Moth Week, visitors will have the opportunity to learn how moths differ from their daytime cousins, the butterflies, and why they are so important to have in the world.

M: Free | NM: $10

Kids with Cameras!* Saturday, July 27 | 4:00pm - 5:00pm

Take an hour-long guided hike with your child looking through the lens of a camera.

M: $10 per child | NM: $15 per child

Discovery Nature Hike*

Wednesday, July 31 | 9:00am - 10:30am Thursday, August 15 | 9:00am - 10:30am Friday, September 27 | 9:00am - 10:30am

Senior Ecologist Don Quintenz will lead you to the seasonal events that stir our sense of beauty and imagination.

Summer 2019 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

Members: $15 | Non-Members $20

M: $15 | NM: $20 13

CALENDAR Night Life: Fireflies, Bats, Frogs & Flying Squirrels* Wednesday, July 31 | 8:00pm - 9:30pm

Tai Chi Fundamentals: Animal Forms* Saturdays, September 7 – November 16 10:00am - 11:00am

Experience the nightlife at the Center! Meet Amelia, the Southern Flying Squirrel, and then hike to find fireflies, bats, and frogs.

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

M: $15 | NM: $20

Forest Bathing & Art Journaling*

Tuesdays and Thursdays, August 6 - 15 6:00pm - 7:30pm

In this four session program, unleash your creative side through art journaling inspired by forest bathing out on our trails.

M: $80 | NM: $100

Tai Chi*

Wednesdays, August 14 - October 9 4:00pm-5:00pm

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

M: $80 | NM: $96

M: $90 | NM: $108

Shinrin Yoku: The Healing Art of Forest Therapy* Sunday, September 8 | 8:00am - 10:00am

Learn this Japanese form of nature therapy and discover how to experience forests with a sensory approach to improve physical and mental wellbeing.

M: $20 | NM: $30

SPARK!* Tuesday, September 10 | 1:00pm - 2:30pm

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

Fascinating World of Spiders*

Join Senior Ecologist Don Quintenz on a hike to see the many incredible ways spiders catch their prey and avoid being caught.

Raptor Handling Workshop*

Saturday, August 17 | 9:00am - 10:30am

M: $15 | NM: $20

Squirrel Talk Saturday, August 24 | 2:00pm - 3:00pm

Southern Flying Squirrels are an elusive small mammal native to Wisconsin. Meet the Center’s resident flying squirrel, Amelia.

Free with membership.

Photo Club*

Saturday, August 24 | 4:00pm - 5:00pm

Participate in a community of photographers taking a hike to explore the season at the Center and photograph the nature we discover.

Free to all.

Citizen Science: Mussel Monitoring and Adopt-A-River Project* Sunday, August 25 | 10:00am - 4:00pm

Learn about Wisconsin’s river habitat and participate in a mussel monitoring survey at our property along the Milwaukee River. We’ll also participate an Adopt-A-River clean-up, a Milwaukee Riverkeeper program.

Free to all.

Free to participants and caregivers.

Saturday, September 14 | 10:00am-4:00pm

Spend a day with Raptor staff as we introduce you to the behind the scenes care of our raptors.

Members: $140 | Non-Members $165

All About Monarchs*

Monday, August 26 | 6:00pm - 7:30pm

Emily Stone, Naturalist and Education Director at the Cable Natural History Museum, will talk about her new book. An optional hike with Emily begins at 5:00pm.

Ron Moor will lead a discussion about the Tao, an ancient way of living in harmony with the world.

M: $15 | NM: $20

Fall Hand-in-Hand*

Thursday September 19 | World of Bugs Session 1 9:00 - 10:15am Session 2 10:30 - 11:45am

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

M: $15 | NM: $20

Raptor ID Workshop*

Sunday, September 22 | 11:00am - 3:00pm

With fall migration here, join the Raptor Program for an introduction to raptor ID in flight.

Includes a field trip to Forest Beach Migratory Preserve.

M: $50 | NM: $75

Astronomy: Star Clusters*

Monday, September 23 | 7:00pm - 8:30pm

If the sky is clear, we will view some of the star clusters in our galaxy as well as Jupiter and Saturn through binoculars and telescopes.

M: $15 | NM: $20

Bald Eagles in Wisconsin Today*

Wednesday, September 25 | 6:30pm 8:30pm

Monarch migration is underway! Learn about the life cycle and migration of Monarchs in an interactive, family-friendly way. Then venture out with nets and tags to participate in an international Monarch study.

M: $10 | NM: $15

Richard Staffen of the Wisconsin DNR will talk about how our national symbol was brought back from near extinction through conservation efforts. Valkyrie, our female Bald Eagle, will share the stage.

Free to all.

Nature Mondays Autumn Afternoons*

Weekend Guided Hike

This five-week series is hosted by the Schlitz Audubon Nature Preschool for children ages 4-6 and focuses on age-appropriate nature experiences in the Preschool’s wonderful indoor and outdoor classrooms.

Learn more about the plants and animals found out on the trails. Meet in the Great Hall for a 45-minute guided hike, led by our Weekend Naturalist or Nature Ambassadors.

Mondays, September 16-October 14 1:00pm - 3:30pm

M: $200 full session | NM: $250 full session

Field Trip to the Former Badger Army Ammunition Plant* We will tour the state-owned portion of the former Badger Army Ammunition Plant to see and learn about ecological restoration in different stages.

M: $75 | NM: $90

$15 for hike + program | $10 for program

14

Wednesday, September 18 6:30pm - 8:00pm

Saturday, September 14 | 2:00pm - 3:30pm

Tuesday, September 17 | 9:00am - 6:30pm

Emily Stone, Author of Natural Connections 2*

The Tao: A Way Forward Calling to Us from Our Ancient Past*

Summer 2019 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

Every Saturday and Sunday 11:00am and 2:00pm

Free with membership or admission.

Word with a Bird

Every Saturday and Sunday | 1:00pm – 2:00pm No WWB August 3 - 11 (Visit our raptors at Wisconsin State Fair)

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

In Honor Of

Raptor Sponsorships

Dr. Alfred Bader Margarete and David Harvey

Beth Chapman Virginia Johnson

Aero – American Kestrel

Tom Bartkus Alice and Jerome Jacobson

Michael Koscinski Pat Bakula

G. H. Brister Emily Runbeck

Alexander Martin Robert and Margaret Canary

William “Bill” Eastham Janine and Jeff Bamberger Barbara and Bob Elsner Ann Ross MacIver Elizabeth Quann

Simon Thomas and Pauline L. Jeffers Myra Van Uxem Lisa Trost and Laurel Doak

In Honor of Lena Schircely Leeann Kelnhofer

Malary – American Kestrel In Honor of Raptor Handlers Sue Holcomb

In Honor of Lindsey, Sara, Maddy, & Raptor Volunteers Sue Holcomb In Honor of Lorrie Giesen Sue Holcomb

Orion – Barred Owl

In Memory of Faith Miller Richard Miller and Cynthia Mieszala

David J. Frank Cheryl and Scott Bjornstad Arleen J. Hemke Thomas and Gail Gitzlaff Marilyn Hauer

Skywalker – Red-tailed Hawk Martin M. Suchocki

Don McDonnell Pat Bakula Alice Nasr Geri and Marvin Olson Dr. Milton and Beverly Shapson Christine Genda Trudy Symonik Kathleen and Richard Brehmer Joan Flaaten Margot Fuchs Brigid O’Donnell Shirley and Richard Sternig Mary Trevillian

Join us on social media!

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

Summer Hours

Monday-Thursday 9:00am - 8:00pm Friday-Sunday 9:00am - 5:00pm

Summer 2019 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

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

15

Schlitz Audubon Nature Center

U.S. Postage

1111 East Brown Deer Road Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53217

PAID

Milwaukee, WI Permit No. 4168

Summer 2019 PANORAMA

Host Your Evening Gathering

at Schlitz Audubon

www.schlitzaudubon.com/venuerentals for more information