panorama
Summer 2021
New Wayfinding Signage Page 4
The Illustrious Life of Fireflies Page 5
Frog Species at the Center Page 10
WELCOME HELEN BOOMSMA Executive Director
Welcome to a brilliant summertime season, when sunlight covers our hemisphere with nourishing rays. Life on the trails is in full bloom! In this issue of Panorama, encounter the illustrious firefly and learn about its complex lifecycle. Read about the frog species you can hear and see at the Center and become familiar with their individual traits. Also, meet our new Peregrine Falcon, Otis, and uncover facts about this species. Our new beautiful wayfinding signage has been installed, so read about the new signs here, and then discover them on the trails next time you visit! They will give both first-time and seasoned visitors a clearer experience on our trails while maintaining a natural aesthetic. We continue to celebrate our 50th anniversary this summer. Join us on Sunday, August 29 for our Treasuring Nature Community Celebration. Through guided hikes, you’ll hear about the history of the land and visit our various ecosystems, where you’ll learn how we’ve improved habitat for a variety of plant and animal species. This engaging family-friendly event will include other activities that highlight both the history and future of the Center! In the meantime, head over to our website for details about Schlitz Audubon’s milestones. This summer, opportunities for fun exploration abound. Our varied array of programs include guided hikes, field trips, nature workshops, and more. Find details and register on our website. If you visit for a hike on the weekends, be sure to explore our drop-in opportunities. Word with a Bird has returned- see your favorite raptors up close at the Grassy Lot from 1:00pm – 2:00pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Our Nature Ambassadors are back on Sundays, 12:00pm – 3:00pm on the trails to lead activities and answer your nature questions. We are also offering the opportunity to take in the views of the Center in the evening. We’re open until 8:00pm on Mondays-Thursdays, through August. Evenings provide an enriching experience full of seasonal sights and sounds that cannot be found at any other time. Be sure to stop in our nature store for a fun selection of summer goods! We are releasing a bright summer t-shirt with a lovely swallowtail butterfly design, available to our summer campers and all visitors. In addition, we are offering an eco-friendly, re-usable water bottle illustrated with native butterflies—a perfect match for our t-shirts. Finally, honor our 50th anniversary by collecting our four Treasuring Nature enamel pins: a bird, flower, dragonfly, and frog!
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Officers Aliah Berman President Benjamin T. Pavlik Treasurer Meg Kinney Secretary Jane B. Bell VP-Development John Schaub VP-Governance Board Barbie Brennan Nelson Shane Delsman Heidi Dondlinger John E. ‘Jack’ Gebhardt Timothy J. Gerend Amy Giuffre Sanderson S. ‘Andy’ Read Benjamin F. Rikkers Jeff Rusinow 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 Timothy J. Gerend John Grunau Director Emeritus Dorothy K. Vallier (1910-2013)
CREDITS FOR PANORAMA
Come enjoy summer at the Center!
Director of Marketing & Communications Nancy Quinn
Summer Evening Hours
Creative Lead | Design & Photography Zoe Finney
June-August | Open until 8:00pm Monday-Thursday
Editing | Select Writing Craig Mattson
COVER PHOTO A photo compilation of fireflies.
Admission
FREE admission to Members Adults: $8 | Youth: $5 (ages 3—17) 1111 East Brown Deer Road | Milwaukee, WI
Summer Hours
No registration required Monday-Thursday | 9:00am-8:00pm Friday- Sunday | 9:00am-5:00pm
414-352-2880 | www.schlitzaudubon.org 2
Summer 2021 | www.schlitzaudubon.org
Schlitz Audubon is an independent, locally supported partner of the National Audubon Society.
SEASONAL SIGHTINGS
Painted Turtles basking at Mystery Lake.
Visit the Center and observe all that you can this summer! CASSIE RINCON Family Programs Manager
Surrounding yourself with the joys of the natural world is the perfect way to spend the summer months. Here at Schlitz Audubon, we have many programs to inspire excitement and being active. We also encourage you to take the secluded trails to discover plants and animals that you might not have noticed before. Summer is a great time to have a relaxing day where you can find one of our Aldo Leopold benches on the trails and wait for nature to come to you. Depending on what part of the Center you are visiting, or time of day, you will witness various animal habits. You may want to observe animals in their natural surroundings, however many will pause their routine if people are moving near them. The trick to getting them to continue their activity is to sit still and wait. After being still for a while and taking in the natural beauty, it’s amazing how much you will see. If it’s hot outside, consider going into the forest for some shade where you may have a chance to see unique bird behaviors, like the adults feeding their young. If you find a bit of sunshine beaming through the canopy, eventually you may happen upon the common garter snake. Snakes can feel vibrations from our footsteps on the trails and will slither away to safety. If the snake lingers, that is a compliment to your stealth. Maybe you prefer to enjoy a sunnier spot. If that’s the case, then the prairie is a habitat for you. Watch for the variety of insects, including our beloved monarch butterfly, flutter from flower to flower in a quest to drink as much nectar as possible. On top of the prairie soil, listen for scurrying feet of our resident small rodent the meadow vole. If you’re lucky, you can see their rotund brown body skillfully weaving in and out of the tall grasses, either searching for food or avoiding becoming food!
Our new Nature Packs include items to complete a seasonal scavenger hunt.
Another option for observation is near our ponds. On bright, sunny days you can find turtles basking on logs. Our most common turtle, the painted turtle, will stretch out their legs in what looks similar to a yoga pose. As relaxed as they may be, if you approach the turtles too fast they will plop into the water. Once the ripples have settled, make sure to gaze into the water and look for the macroinvertebrates, like dragonfly nymphs and crawling water beetles, swimming below the surface. No matter which habitat you prefer, there is something for everyone to enjoy. On the weekends, enhance your viewing experience by renting one of our family-friendly Nature Packs, which includes a Super Summer Scavenger Hunt, a Rocks and Minerals Quick Guide, a magnifying glass, and a Nature Notebook to write observations or draw what you experienced. They will make your visit a true naturalist’s adventure!
Summer 2021 | www.schlitzaudubon.org
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TRAIL UPDATE
New Wayfinding Signage
A trailhead sign directly off of the parking lot at the entrance of the Gateway Trail. Besides showing how to get to key places on the land, these trailheads give information about accessibility, trail length, and habitats the trail traverses.
ZOE FINNEY Creative Lead
A wayfinding signage system has been designed and installed by Schlitz Audubon staff, and will give new and seasoned visitors a clearer experience on our trails, while maintaining a natural aesthetic! We worked closely with Michael's Signs, based in Racine, to bring this project to life. From the beginning stages of this project, we asked our community about their current thoughts on our trails and sought to design a system that would improve the experience for everyone who visits. What we heard over and over was that it was easy to get lost on our trails, and especially for newer visitors, there were no clear markings of where to head after stepping out of the parking lot. The new system includes four different types of signs based on the feedback we received. There are now trailhead signs at significant starting points on the land to help visitors plan their hike and give detailed trail information including accessibility, length, habitat, and key destinations along the route. It will be much easier to find the Tower or Mystery Lake!
An informational post at an intersection. The trail or loop name a visitor is on is denoted at the top of the post. The directional arrows below show visitors how to get to other key destinations.
At most intersections and ponds there are now informational posts reminding visitors of what trail they are currently on, and what destinations are next depending on which arrows are followed. We have also strategically placed trail maps across our 185 acres as another way for visitors to pinpoint where they are with a "You Are Here" marker. And finally, at places like the Old Farm Machines, there are educational signs to give more information about these interesting areas on our land. This project was generously funded by Margarete and David Harvey, and we are grateful for their investment on our land. We hope these new signs improve the experience for everyone who visits! 4
Summer 2021 | www.schlitzaudubon.org
A new trail map with "You Are Here" indicators.
FEATURE
The Illustrious Life of the Firefly Craig Mattson | Communication Specialist With Contributions from: Aubrey Ellickson Fulsaas Emily Leonard, & Moya Mowbray
FEATURE
E
very summer, fireflies illuminate the evening sky with an irresistible light show. But there is much more to their lifecycle than this display reveals. Fireflies are complex creatures with longer lives and a more varied existence than you might think. Knowledge about these illustrious insects is always changing. Fireflies are a part of the beetle family (Lampyridae), in the order Coleoptera. Information about this species is in constant flux, but it is believed that there are 2000 firefly species worldwide, with up to 200 species in North America and 17 species flashing throughout Milwaukee. At Schlitz Audubon, 10 species of firefly within three genera have been documented. A UNIQUE CHARACTERISTIC OF FIREFLIES Fireflies are known for a unique physical trait called bioluminescence, which is defined as the production and emission of light by a living organism. It occurs widely in marine vertebrates and invertebrates, some microorganisms, and terrestrial arthropods such as fireflies. In fireflies, the emission of light is seen in the flash patterns emanating from the lower abdomen. These light patterns have several uses and allow the identification of individual species by other fireflies, as well as by people. People can identify a species by the flashing light’s speed, color, and intensity, along with the time of day it is seen. The light, which appears as white, yellow, and amber, with some instances of green and orange, is created by the chemical luciferin when the enzyme luciferase reacts with oxygen in cells called photocytes. Because the light is made solely by this chemical reaction, there is no heat emitted. Thus, it is called cold light. In contrast, incandescent lightbulbs produce 10 percent light and 90 percent heat. It takes time and patience to learn how to identify fireflies. But each species has a definitive flash pattern that you can learn to spot, including members of the genus Photinus, which includes a species with the signature
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name Big Dipper (Photinus pyralis). When flying, they drop and then rise in a J-shaped pattern that looks like the star pattern called the Big Dipper. REPRODUCTIVE STRATEGIES OF FIREFLIES The purpose of bioluminescence in many organisms is defense, but in fireflies it's also used for mating purposes. When fireflies are mating, males fly higher up in the air and flash while females stay on the ground. Males with the brightest flash are considered the strongest and most attractive to females. When a female firefly is interested in mating, she emits a flash in response, and the male will then descend toward her. During the mating process, males of most firefly species deliver what is known as a nuptial gift, which contains spermatozoa and a host of helpful proteins. Males with the strongest, brightest flash are considered to possess the best and biggest nuptial gifts. Studies at Tufts University have found that there are more than 200 proteins within this gift, including enzymes to help females lay eggs, proteins to enhance male sperm, and the substance lucibufagin, which is a bitter tasting toxin that helps protect eggs and adults from predation, along with other proteins. Overall, the gift strengthens reproductive success and helps produce the healthiest eggs. THE FIREFLY LIFECYCLE There are four stages in a firefly’s lifecycle. The egg phase requires moist soil for it to be successful, and the eggs are either found in the soil, moss, or in leaf litter. The eggs are deposited in mid-summer, hatching within three to four weeks. Fireflies then enter the larval stage, which lasts for up to two years. During the larval stage, a firefly’s main activity is eating, mostly at night. Firefly larvae thrive in rotting wood and forest litter, and are found in fields, forests, and marshes. The larvae feed until fall, molting to shed their exoskeleton as they grow, replacing it with a larger cuticle until it reaches up to 3/4 of an inch in diameter. After spending up to their first two years as larvae, they will burrow under the soil at varying times to pupate in winter.
Summer 2021 | www.schlitzaudubon.org
FEATURE
Later in the spring, they metamorphosize using a process called histolysis. This process breaks the pupa’s body down, activating the formation of special cells called histoblasts. These cells trigger biochemical reactions that transform the pupa into an adult after about two weeks. The pupa then emerges as an adult, which is consumed by the motivation to mate. During the adult stage fireflies usually don’t eat, and some don’t even possess mouthparts to do so. Adults live a frenzied existence for about two weeks, until they produce eggs and complete their lifecycle. VALUE & VARIETY OF FIREFLY BEHAVIOR These creatures are valuable to the ecosystem as well as home gardens. Fireflies eat garden pests while in the larval stage, voraciously consuming as much food as they can, including slugs, snails, worms, and other insects. As adults, they are also sometimes considered pollinators, which are beneficial to native plants. Fireflies are not preyed upon by many animals. This is because of the toxic chemical lucibufagin, which makes the firefly poisonous and ill-tasting to most of their would-be predators. Spiders and other invertebrates will eat them, however. Despite their namesake, not all fireflies light up. Many species that live east of the Rocky Mountains flash, while most western fireflies are dark. Another interesting variation on the use of flashing is the case of the femme fatale, which is a female firefly in the genus Photuris. She will flash in a pattern of a member of the genus Photinus. When the male of that genus approaches, instead of mating, he is eaten. This happens because the female Photuris lacks the ability to produce lucibufagin to defend her eggs, and she will obtain it when she eats the male firefly. CONSERVATION STATUS OF FIREFLIES The population of fireflies has declined in recent years. Many species, other than those that are crepuscular and prefer twilight times, are affected by light
pollution, which undermines their communication and mating behavior. As light from developed areas has replaced the dark forest and fields where fireflies were once abundant, their signaling flash patterns have been disrupted. This leads to fewer larvae being produced. Another threat is habitat destruction, which includes development, but also includes mowing lawns too short for fireflies to shelter in and pesticide use. Longer grasses provide shelter and hiding places for these natural pest controllers. To help maintain a healthy population of fireflies, consider keeping lawns longer and leaving some leaf litter on the ground. The fascination of firefly displays can also motivate people to make them into a tourist attraction. There is evidence that areas in forests and marshes where too much human traffic has been generated, with its accompanying use of cell phones, car lights, and other light-emitting devices, now have reduced firefly populations. WATCHING FIREFLIES IN ACTION If you are interested in helping fireflies, there are Citizen Science programs in which people can monitor their status. The Firefly Watch Community Science Project from Mass Audubon is designed for people across North America who want to monitor fireflies from their own home during the summer months. Information on firefly populations is sparse, so any assistance is helpful. Anyone who can spare a few minutes a week can join this program. Getting involved is a good way to help threatened firefly populations by helping scientists gather important data. If you would like to see the lights of fireflies this summer, look out over open spaces or your yard between late June and early September. They appear at varying times of night depending on the species but are usually spotted at dusk and later. If you are at the Center for one of our late-evening programs, there are many fireflies to see on the Terrace Loop and in the West Meadows.
Summer 2021 | www.schlitzaudubon.org
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RAPTOR EDUCATION
Peregrine Falcons & Our History LIZ ALAGNA Raptor Educator LINDSAY OBERMEIER Raptor Program Director
Earlier this year, Schlitz Audubon Nature Center welcomed a new addition to our Raptor Program: Otis, a Peregrine Falcon. Hatched in the wild in 2013, Otis arrived at Raptor Education Group, Inc (REGI) in Antigo, WI as a juvenile with a severe leftwing injury. Wildlife rehabilitators at REGI believe that he collided with a phone wire mid-flight causing acute damage. Otis underwent surgery to repair his injuries, but the wing did not heal properly on its own, causing him to permanently lose his ability for strong flight. Otis was deemed non-releasable to the wild and remained at REGI as an educational bird until early 2020. Last year, he moved into the Wildlife in Need Center in Oconomowoc, WI to continue his work as an educational ambassador. With a strong collaboration between Schlitz Audubon’s Raptor Program and the Wildlife in Need Center, the decision was made to transfer Otis to us, and we are grateful for the wonderful opportunity to bring him into our program. Peregrine Falcons are one of the largest falcon species found in the United States, weighing in at an average of 2 1/2 pounds with a 3 1/2-foot wingspan. Adults have a dark, blue-grey head and feathers with a lighter, barred chest. Their slate grey wings and tail are built for aerodynamics and are long, stiff, and sharply pointed. These birds are fierce aerial predators and are most famous for their incredible speed, claiming a top diving speed of 240 mph. As a mid-flight hunter, Peregrine Falcons prefer perching and nesting on tall structures such as cliffs, bluffs, and skyscrapers where they can scan the horizon for their prey. The majority of their diet consists of small to medium-sized birds such as ducks, pigeons, and starlings.
ABOVE A program at Wisconsin State Fair in partnership with We Energies. RIGHT Otis, our new Peregrine Falcon.
with the help of the birds in our care. Our Peregrine Falcon ambassadors serve as strong symbols of Peregrine conservation in our state, bringing awareness to the environmental threats to this endangered species.
Our program received its first federal education permits in 1983, allowing us to care for these magnificent birds and share their stories. We welcomed our first Peregrine, Cliff, in 1999 and have since had the honor of educating about this species. Four amazPeregrine Falcons have been listed as an endangered species in ing Peregrines have been a part of the Raptor Program over the the state of Wisconsin since 1975. Their species was at risk for years, and our newest ambassador Otis will carry on our mission. many years due to poisoning from a pesticide called DDT which caused their eggshells to weaken and break. The use of DDT has We are proud of our partnership with We Energies, who support since been banned in the United States and their populations our environmental education programs. In 2006, we were invithave slowly increased over the past few decades thanks to the in- ed to participate at We Energies Energy Park at the Wisconsin tegral implementation of nest boxes across the state. Companies State Fair and continue to present there every August. Our Persuch as We Energies have supported Peregrine Falcon popula- egrine, as well as other birds, meets the public and we share intions by building nest boxes in their power plants, which act as formation about conservation efforts and the work that We Enideal nesting sites due to their tall structure. We Energies began ergies does for the species. They also sponsor our onsite Raptor their program to help Peregrines in the early 1990s, and today Saturday programs, that occur every first Saturday of the month. their nest sites in Wisconsin have produced 388 of these birds. In our Raptor Program, Otis will continue our long-standing hisIn support of our mission, our Raptor Program aims to provide tory of Peregrine Falcon education. We look forward to sharing meaningful experiences and environmental awareness to all him with you!
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Summer 2021 | www.schlitzaudubon.org
RAPTOR EDUCATION
Summer 2021 | www.schlitzaudubon.org
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NATURE EDUCATION
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Summer 2021 | www.schlitzaudubon.org
NATURE EDUCATION
Many people enjoy observing frogs and toads at Schlitz Audubon during the warmer months. These charismatic amphibians can be seen basking in the sun, catching insects, and even swimming as tadpoles. They also make their presence known during the breeding season when males produce calls to attract females and defend territories. Of the 12 species of frogs and toads in Wisconsin, nine have been documented over the years at Schlitz Audubon and six species can frequently be observed in summer. TRUE FROGS The wood frog (Lithobates sylvaticus) prefers moist forest habitat and breeds in ephemeral ponds. They can be identified as small brown frogs with a dark “mask” behind the eye and a white upper lip. Their call sounds like a hoarse, subtle quacking which you can occasionally hear in the Woodland Loop between late March and early May. The range of the wood frog extends farAn American Toad at Mystery Lake. ther north than any other amphibian in North America, above the Arctic Circle in Alaska. They have evolved an amazing ad- TOADS aptation to survive freezing temperatures by producing a natu- Wisconsin’s only toad species, the American toad (Anaxyrus ral “antifreeze” which keeps ice from forming in their cells. americanus) can often be found walking or hopping on the Center’s trails in spring and summer. This terrestrial species can live Green frogs (Lithobates clamitans) and bullfrogs (Lithobates in a variety of habitats, such as woodlands, prairies, wetlands, catesbeiana) are the largest frogs at the Center and inhab- parks, and suburban yards. Toads have stocky bodies with short it many of the deeper bodies of water, like Mystery Lake and legs, warty skin, and special parotoid glands behind their eyes Wood Duck Pond. These are the species many people think of which release chemicals that aid in defense against predators. as “typical frogs” with green to brownish-green bodies and long Toads feed on a variety of invertebrates like insects, spiders, legs. These species can appear similar, but bullfrogs will reach a snails, and earthworms. During the breeding season, they move larger adult size (up to eight inches long!) and do not have a dor- to a body of water to mate and lay eggs. The male’s call is a long solateral ridge (a fold of skin extending from the eye to the lower uninterrupted trill lasting up to 30 seconds. You may be able to back) like green frogs. The tadpoles of both species overwinter see the toad’s tiny black tadpoles swimming in Mystery Lake in at the bottom of permanent waterbodies, with bullfrogs prefer- late spring or early summer. ring a habitat containing more abundant vegetation. TREEFROGS Spring peepers (Pseudacris crucifer) are tiny tan-colored treefrogs, with a dark irregular shaped “X” marking their backs. A common species at the Center, they are more often heard than seen. Males produce a high-pitched “peep” call by inflating the vocal sac in their throat like a balloon. Some people compare the sound to “jingle bells” and when a chorus of males call at the same time, the sound can be unbelievably loud. Teal pond is a good place to listen for spring peepers in April and May. Gray treefrogs (Hyla versicolor) have the amazing ability to change their skin color from gray to green, depending on temperature and the color of their surroundings. They can be found in most areas at the Center because they prefer wetland habitats adjacent to woodlands. Adult gray treefrogs are slightly larger than spring peepers, reaching a length of up to 2.4 inches, whereas spring peepers have a maximum size of 1.5 inches. Both species have sticky toe pads, which enable them the climb trees and shrubs.
CONSERVATION Amphibians are considered a biological indicator of the health of the environment. Their permeable skin makes them sensitive to a variety of environmental changes such as pollution, disease, and habitat degradation. Worldwide, amphibian populations have been declining since the 1970s, so conservation efforts, especially in wetland habitats, are crucial to the future survival of frogs and toads. The Center is working towards amphibian conservation through our Stormwater Wetland and Ravine Restoration Project, which over the last two years has allowed us to increase our wetland habitat. The expanded wetlands created by the berm that runs along the wooded North Ravine are ideal for tree frogs and spring peepers. We also have two new ponds, which are perfect habitat for the deep-water species. To further assist our conservation efforts, we monitor frogs to learn how they colonize these new areas. Overall, these efforts improve habitat for amphibians and other wildlife at the Center.
Summer 2021 | www.schlitzaudubon.org
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Schlitz Audubon Nature Center 1111 East Brown Deer Road Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53217
SUMMER 2021 PANORAMA
U.S. Postage
PAID
Milwaukee, WI Permit No. 4168