panorama
Spring 2021
Strategies of Lichen Page 4
The American Robin Page 5
50 Years of Schlitz Audubon Page 11
WELCOME HELEN BOOMSMA Executive Director
Welcome to the wonders of spring, when you can see the vibrant budding of new life and encounter a host of migratory birds stopping at the Center on their way further north. We hope you join us to experience the season. As we begin to transition back to normalcy, starting April 19, we will no longer have registration for hiking during the week. Registration for weekend trail access will still be required for the time being. After reading this issue of Panorama, you will view the American Robin in a new light. These familiar spring songbirds might have some characteristics that surprise you. Also, learn the best course of action to take when you encounter wild, injured birds. Read about the complexity of lichens and their strategies for surviving in many climates and environmental conditions. This spring is a special one for Schlitz Audubon as it marks our 50th anniversary! On April 26, 1971, the Schlitz Foundation voted unanimously to donate its 185-acre Nine Mile Farm to the National Audubon Society for the purpose of creating an environmental education center for local school children. In our Center’s five decades since then, dedicated staff and volunteers have worked to conserve our land’s diverse habitats and provide meaningful experiences and environmental education for all. Throughout 2021 we’ll be Treasuring Nature by celebrating this milestone and looking forward to our next 50 years - we hope you join us! Begin by reliving a few moments of importance from our history in this issue of Panorama, and then pop over to our website for a more extensive timeline. Throughout the year, visit our blog and social media, where we’ll feature more in-depth highlights from our history. Our 50th Anniversary Gala will take place on Saturday, June 26. An all-outdoor experience, guests will move through three unique areas over the course of the evening, each featuring a special facet of our mission and a nod to those individuals who have been so important to the Center’s growth over the decades. It will certainly be a night to remember! Other Treasuring Nature events, including a family-friendly celebration and a volunteer appreciation dinner, will take place later in the year. In the meantime, come to the Center to experience all that spring has to offer. Whether you decide to join us for early birding hours during spring migration, join in a guided hike, or participate in a program, you’ll be sure to appreciate this season of renewal.
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
Editing | Select Writing Craig Mattson
COVER PHOTO An American Robin in spring.
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Benjamin T. Pavlik Treasurer
Creative Lead | Design & Photography Zoe Finney
May 1-31 | 7:00am
Hours
FREE admission to Members Adults: $8 | Youth: $5 (ages 3—17)
No registration required Monday—Friday | 9:00am-5:00pm
1111 East Brown Deer Road | Milwaukee, WI
Pre-registration required on the weekends Saturday & Sunday | schlitzaudubon.org/calendar
414-352-2880 | www.schlitzaudubon.org
Officers Aliah Berman President
Director of Marketing & Communications Nancy Quinn
Early Birding Hours
Admission
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Spring 2021 | www.schlitzaudubon.org
Schlitz Audubon is an independent, locally supported partner of the National Audubon Society.
SEASONAL SIGHTINGS
A male Black-throated Green Warbler photographed from the Observation Tower.
Visit the Center and discover the season of renewal! AJ GRILL School Programs Manager
Spring: the season of renewal. The days become longer and our sunshine warmer. It’s the time of year we get to watch the world around us burst back to life. Schlitz Audubon is an incredible place to appreciate the wonders of spring. Walk along our boardwalks through the prairie to see last year's grass flattened by snow. Look closely, however, and you’ll see the tiny and impossibly green new shoots of big bluestem reaching toward the sky. Wind your way to one of our many ponds and listen closely for the chirp of spring peepers calling from the vernal pools at a pond's edge. The spring peeper is a sure sign of the season’s arrival. Enjoy watching the painted turtles bask on logs with their legs stretched out to catch every last ray that the sun offers. While the turtles bask, listen for the ruckus call of the Red-winged Blackbird as it weaves a nest hidden in the cattails, just above the water's surface. Notice the lily pads re-emerging from the water, ready to unfurl and reveal their angelic white flower and golden center. As you continue past the ponds, look for skunk cabbage in the surrounding low-lying wet areas. With its unique flower emerging from the wet black soil, you’ll know you’ve gotten too close when the smell of skunk is thick in the air. Bring your binoculars along if you wish to see some of our avian friends passing through. Watch as a Yellow-rumped Warbler bounces between aspen branches, attempting to find food on its
journey to its breeding grounds further north. Then listen for a Black-throated Green Warbler singing from the canopy top. Warbler species can be quick and elusive, but with some patience and a keen eye you are sure to spot these gems of spring. As you continue into the forest, look for one of our earliest wildflowers, bloodroot. Its deeply lobed leaf and showy white flower are sure to grab your attention. Or perhaps you notice the sides of the trail are riddled with a nodding purple to almost blue flower. These Virginia bluebells are a sight welcomed by our hungry pollinators, as they are a favorite for our bees. Hike back toward Mystery Lake to check and see how this year’s generation of Canada Geese are doing and look toward the island to see if any geese are on their nest. Wander the Western Meadows to get a glimpse of the Eastern Bluebird perched on top of its man-made bluebird nesting box, singing loud to keep competitors away. A trip to the Center wouldn’t be complete without spending time on our gorgeous Lake Michigan shoreline. The warmth of spring loosens the ice to reveal the sand and rocks still there, waiting to be picked through as you search for fossils and beach glass. Spring is a special time everywhere. A time to celebrate the renewal of life and warmth. Come see what makes it special here at Schlitz Audubon and celebrate with us.
Spring 2021 | www.schlitzaudubon.org
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NATURE
Re-Introducing Milksnakes to Schlitz Audubon Lichen photographed at the Center.
Survival Strategies of Lichen TESS STAHLER Naturalist
Lichens are a complex life form made from a symbiotic partnership of two separate organisms, a fungus and an alga. They are found on trees, rocks, bricks or even sidewalks, and cover about 7% of the Earth’s surface. This diverse species has survived by being able to adapt to many challenging environments. Some lichens look like miniature branching bushes; some, a flaky, papery crust; others have long, hanging hairs, or tiny little cups, or just look like a powdery coating. They can be mistaken for moss, which is a plant that grows in similar locations, but mosses are not related to lichen. Some lichens grow relatively quickly, up to a few feet per year, and some extremely slowly, expanding only by a millimeter or so each year. They come in about every color, green, blue, and occasionally are red or yellow. There are at least 18,000 species of lichen, each a unique combination of fungi and algae or cyanobacteria. Algae are a large group of plants that range from seaweed to single celled organisms, but the main species found in lichen is green algae. Cyanobacteria (formerly known as blue-green algae) can also occupy this role in the fungi-algae partnership. These species are great at producing sugars and oxygen with the chlorophyll they contain. Fungi provide the structure in which algae can do their photosynthesis work. New discoveries have shown that lichen contain two or even three types of fungi with their one algal partner. In this partnership, the fungi have access to the products of photosynthesis. The algae, with the protection of the fungi’s filaments,
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can grow in a much drier place than if it were on its own. Because of this, lichens can tolerate extreme climates like dry, arid deserts and freezing tundra. In places where true plants cannot survive, lichens are a huge contributor of oxygen to the atmosphere. This may be important when climate change causes more extremes in temperatures around the globe. Lichens have the ability to simply go dormant when conditions are too severe, and the filaments of the fungi will protect the organism until conditions are better. In cold climates, lichens are able to photosynthesize even when frozen, obtaining water from snow and the saturated air. Some Arctic map lichen have been found to date back 8,600 years, making them the world’s oldest known living organisms. But like anything, lichens also have their sensitivities. Lichen has often been used as an indicator of air quality, as some are very sensitive to pollution. Lichens absorb everything from the air, including harmful chemicals. Scientists can actually use lichen to evaluate air pollution in an area by extracting toxins from their fibers. New lichens are being discovered each year and we’re learning more and more about their lives along the way. Numerous types of lichens flourish at the Center due to the moist, clean air, and are easy to see on the lower trunks of trees and the surface of large rocks, especially when using a magnifier. So next time you see a lichen, take a close look and see what you can discover.
Spring 2021 | www.schlitzaudubon.org
FEATURE
All About the AMERICAN ROBIN Craig Mattson | Communication Specialist With Contributions from: Michelle Allison, Aubrey Ellickson Fulsaas, Zoe Finney, and Don Quintenz
FEATURE
T
he American Robin (Turdus migratorius) is one of most recognizable songbirds in North America. It is associated with the arrival of spring, when its cherished song is often the first one heard, and can be seen darting across American lawns searching for earthworms. You can hear the robin singing a melodious song early in the morning and often late into the evening. It is so well-known that during a bird study sponsored by the State Federation of Women’s Clubs, public schoolchildren voted for the American Robin to become the state bird, receiving twice as many votes as other birds. It was eventually named the Wisconsin State Bird on June 4, 1949. This demonstrates the familiarity and affection that has been developed for the American Robin. Still, there is much about this bird species people may not be aware of. Robins are a part of the thrush family, which are plump, small to medium-sized birds with soft plumage. Thrushes are found on every continent except Antarctica, and locally include the Wood Thrush, Eastern Bluebird, and Hermit Thrush, as well as others. The American Robin is the only member of its genus that occurs solely throughout the North American continent. It is a woodland bird, but is also found in open spaces, such as lawns, parks, and agricultural developments. Robins are sexually dimorphic, which means the sexes have visual differences. In robins, these differences can be more subdued from other species. Males have a dark black head and bold orange breast. Females have similar patterns but lack the dark head and are generally more pale and smaller. Immature birds can resemble females, but with dark speckling on their breast, and light speckles on their back. The American Robin’s range includes Canada, North America, and Mexico. They are short to medium distance migrants, with most northern species migrating in the fall to the southern US and Mexico. In the last two decades, it has been found that some
robins are staying closer to their breeding territories, migrating less than 100 kilometers and overwintering near their nesting grounds. Their migration patterns are often food dependent, and some robins adopt a nomadic style, migrating only far enough to search for the closest food sources. In the winter, robins form flocks, typically comprised of a dozen birds but sometimes reaching into the hundreds, and roost in trees throughout the season. They are active in small groups during the day, looking for berries and fruit, but will return to the ground in spring when worms are available. When it is time to nest, the birds become less social and leave the group to defend a territory. Robins eat soft-bodied invertebrates, insects, and earthworms in the spring and summer. They benefited greatly from European settlement, when the earthworm was introduced to Wisconsin. The adaptable robin was able to live within the same habitat as humans, taking advantage of the earthworm as a plentiful food source. The turning of soil on land developed post-settlement ensured a large number of earthworms. The presence of lots of open land provided the robin with an abundance of this food, which is its main source of protein. In suburban developments, robins hunt earthworms on lawns by sight, not sound as is commonly thought. They use bursting forward movements with their head cocked, using one eye to look for movement on the grass, pouncing on their prey and seizing it, pulling it up with their beaks using their strong legs. In fall and winter, or in the later part of the day when worms are unavailable, robins eat fruit and berries, which are a good source of vitamins. Food is often sourced from dogwoods, and also includes serviceberries and other berries. They especially benefit from insect-infested fruit, which provides more nutrients. Robins are seed spreaders, dropping the seeds from the plants whose berries they eat. This can include the berries from invasive plants such as buckthorn and other invasive, berry producing plants, helping them to spread.
Typical male
Juvenile American Robin
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Spring 2021 | www.schlitzaudubon.org
FEATURE
Thrushes are known as one of the most melodious bird families, and when people think of beautiful bird songs, it’s often a song from the thrush family that comes to mind. Their complex, harmonious songs originate from having multiple vocal cords, called a syrinx. This allows them to create separate notes at the same time, that are then melodiously blended together. The Wood Thrush, a relative of the American Robin, has a hauntingly beautiful song that exemplifies this ethereal nature. But the American Robin is no exception among thrushes--their lovely song is filled with complex vocalizations including its signature cheerful warble, a recognizable tune on spring mornings.
The robin averages two, and sometimes three broods, consisting of about three to five eggs each. The time it takes from incubating eggs, to young robins hatching, fledging, and then surviving on their own is approximately 36-40 days. The eggs are a beautiful blue color, which is caused by the substance biliverdin. Biliverdin is found in healthy females, and more brilliant blue eggs reflect better health. This blue color is often described as soft, clear, and tranquil, and is the inspiration for many human-made varieties such as house paint. Crayola has had a robin’s egg blue crayon since 1993, and Tiffany & Co's signature "Tiffany's Blue" jewelry box is inspired from this color.
Robins begin regularly singing in March, when they start to look for mates. Males sing more before they are coupled, mainly to attract females and to maintain territories. Nestlings begin to vocalize when they hatch, using a begging call as a way to get food. They learn songs by imitating their neighbors when they are young, but songs are also made up of individually invented components. Knowing the robin’s vocal patterns can tell a listener a lot about the environment. It uses an alarm note as a call for danger in response to predators, to warn other birds, and as a way to communicate with young when nesting.
The population of the American Robin is healthy, estimated at 380 million birds and growing. It is currently a species of low conservation concern, but this hasn’t always been the case. Earlier in history the species was vulnerable to overhunting. Later, when DDT was widely used as a pesticide, robins were affected, and their population declined. When DDT was banned in the early 70s, robins experienced a recovery and their numbers rebounded. Now, their main threats are due to lawn pesticides and predation from cats.
The robin is an early nester, beginning in April and continuing until July. The nest is a combined layer of twigs and other fibers, reinforced with a layer of mud, then covered with very fine material on the surface. During nesting season, inter-male aggression is common. Males defend their territory and will sometimes physically grapple with other males who overstep their boundaries, especially when space is limited. Much of the time, robins are monogamous, but they will occasionally switch partners during a nesting season. Robins can build nests on porches and in rafters and may return to it every year during nesting season, so they are sometimes found close to human activity. They are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, so please do not move their nests, but rather consider it an opportunity to observe nature happening right on your doorstep.
If you’d like to see more robins in your yard, they can be attracted using bird baths and by planting native plants with berries. To keep them healthy, avoid using pesticides on your lawn. With spring underway, the robin is already singing its joyful melody. You can see robins in your neighborhood, but a visit to the Center may also reveal a prime spot to view this common, but surprisingly complex bird species.
SOURCES Birds of the World, https://birdsoftheworld.org Cornell Lab of Ornithology The Sibley Guide to Bird Life & Behavior David Sibley
Females can be more pale with light barring on breast, but often are difficult to distinguish from males
Spring 2021 | www.schlitzaudubon.org
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WILDLIFE EDUCATION
How to Help Injured Birds LIZ ALAGNA Raptor Educator
In spring, you can witness the wonder of bird migration in Wisconsin. With the presence of so many birds, you may also see sick or injured birds in the wild. Though it may be in our nature to want to help a wild bird in need, it’s important to know the proper steps to take. MIGRATION & WINDOW STRIKES Every year, up to a billion birds die from window collisions. During spring, migratory birds can be at a higher risk for these collisions. Glass windows can be disorienting to birds, as they often reflect trees, branches, or look passable. Fortunately, you can prevent window collisions by putting decals on large windows, windows near feeders, or on any that lie in a bird’s flight path. Place a group of these decals close enough together so they look like they are too narrow for a bird to fly through. If you find a window strike victim and want to help, approach the bird slowly and quietly from behind and cover it with a cloth. Gently grasp the bird from behind, keeping its wings in close to its body, and carefully move the bird into a secure, well-ventilated cardboard box. Ensure that the box is closed securely and move it into a dark, quiet, warm place for the next hour, afterwards opening the box outdoors. If the bird flies away, it has recovered. If the bird does not fly away, call your local wildlife rehabilitator. You can find the rehabilitator licensed in your county in the wildlife rehabilitation directory at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources website. CAR COLLISIONS Another threat to larger birds are car collisions. If you happen to find an injured raptor on the side of the road, contact a wildlife rehabilitator so they can guide you on the next steps. Remember that wild animals view humans as large predators and their instinct is to defend themselves, even if you are trying to help. FLEDGLINGS VS. NESTLINGS Spring and summer are typical mating seasons for most bird species, a time when you may come across a young bird in need. A baby bird’s best chance of survival is with its mother. In most cases, baby birds are kept in their nest throughout the day while the parents search for food, and they will return to the nest to feed their young when it is safe. Most young birds out of the nest are fledglings. A fledgling is a feathered young bird that is still learning how to fly. This bird has probably left the nest before it can fly and defend itself, but it is still being cared for by its parents and should be left alone. Although the bird may seem vulnerable, this is a necessary part of a bird’s development.
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ABOVE Baron von Screech, Eastern Screech Owl. Baron is one of the birds in our Raptor Program and came to Schlitz Audubon due to a non-releasable injury. RIGHT A Northern Cardinal nest discovered at Schlitz Audubon in spring 2019 with nestlings.
On the other hand, you may come across a nestling, a very young baby bird that is completely naked or only sparsely covered in down feathers. If you find a nestling on the ground, it will not survive for long. You can place an uninjured, warm baby bird back in their nest, just remain hidden and watch from a distance to ensure the parents return. The mother will not reject her young unless it is injured, sick, or has a birth defect. WHEN BIRDS CANNOT BE RELEASED Sometimes birds cannot be rehabilitated and released back into the wild. This can happen when large species like raptors are injured. If a bird cannot be released into the wild but is still healthy enough to maintain a high quality of life, it may become an educational ambassador. Schlitz Audubon’s Raptor Program provides a permanent home for birds who have been brought into wildlife rehabilitation centers but have been deemed non-releasable. Baron von Screech, the Eastern Screech Owl, was injured in a car collision. Wildlife rehabilitators found that damage to his right eye was severe and the eye was removed for his health. Baron is now an educational ambassador and can be seen bobbing his head at Raptor Program events!
Spring 2021 | www.schlitzaudubon.org
WILDLIFE EDUCATION
Spring 2021 | www.schlitzaudubon.org
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50 YEARS
Treasuring
Nature
Celebrating 50 years of Schlitz Audubon
This spring marks Schlitz Audubon’s 50th anniversary! Prior to becoming a nature center, our 185 acres were the Schlitz Brewery Farm and then a recreational area for the family and employees. For years, four women advocated for the land to become a center for environmental learning, and on April 26, 1971, the land was donated for that purpose to the National Audubon Society by the Schlitz Foundation. Today, our independent nature center reaches over 155,000 people annually, including more than 20,000 students. We offer six miles of trails through prairies, wetlands, forests, and Lake Michigan shoreline, including wheelchair accessible trails and boardwalks. Naturalists provide environmental education for people of all ages and the birds of prey in our Raptor Program teach about their wild counterparts. Through conservation projects, we work continually to improve the land's sustainability and biotic diversity. We are committed to making nature accessible to all and to laying the groundwork for the Center to continue to flourish in the next 50 years. Visit our website to explore more of our history and how you can be a part of our future.
1970s
50 YEARS
1980s
The Schlitz Foundation donates land for a local nature center. Schlitz Audubon is established & opens to the public. Birding observations begin to be recorded, starting one of the longest-running citizen science projects in the region.
Our Raptor Program is founded. Mystery Lake and the Observation Tower open, and summer camps are offered for the first time.
1990s
Environmental Education programming expands to include more ages. Emerson the Snapping Turtle comes to the Center, and our volunteer base grows.
2010s 2000s 2020s Our 15-year conservation plan, including the Stormwater Wetland & Ravine Restoration Project, is implemented. Accessible trails & programming are expanded, and we re-brand!
While this decade is only just beginning, we have exciting things planned Center-wide! The Central Wetlands Loop is open and will create more accessible experiences at the Center. Trail improvements, and new wayfinding signage will be completed in the upcoming year.
Our Future
We will continue to conserve our land’s diverse habitats on Lake Michigan and provide meaningful experiences and environmental education for all. Join us!
Dorothy K. Vallier Environmental Learning Center and our Nature Preschool open.
Schlitz Audubon Nature Center 1111 East Brown Deer Road Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53217
SPRING 2021 PANORAMA
Join us for our Annual Gala Saturday, June 26, 2021 More details at schlitzaudubon.org
U.S. Postage
PAID
Milwaukee, WI Permit No. 4168