Panorama | Fall 2017

panorama

Fall 2017

Conservation at the Center

WELCOME HELEN BOOMSMA Executive Director

The land is the basis for everything we do at Schlitz Audubon, and each day we work to revitalize this ecosystem with greater integrity, stability, and beauty.

For this reason, we’ve dedicated this edition of Panorama to conservation.

Developing a land ethic can begin at any age, and sometimes it begins by inviting a child to leave a beautiful flower growing alongside the trail - so that they can enjoy it at any time. Conservation is the common thread through all of our school programs, field trips, and outreach programs.

You’ll read about our Conservation Plan, which includes efforts to restore the land, combat Emerald Ash Borer, and implement storm water management strategies. Just as the land is a living and constantly changing ecosystem, so is this Plan.

Staff and volunteers recently discovered multiple Rusty Patched Bumble Bees on the Center’s property. This bee, which is pictured on the cover, is the only Federally Endangered Species in Milwaukee County. Our Conservation Plan is now evolving to create habitat for this vulnerable species. This discovery emphasizes how the important conservation work we undertake every day at Schlitz Audubon yields magnificent results.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Officers John Grunau President Tim Gerend Past President Kevin J. Kane Treasurer Meg Kinney Secretary Jane B. Bell VP-Development John E. ‘Jack’ Gebhardt VP-Governance

Rusty Patched Bumble Bee.

When you visit the Center, a newly planted example of this Plan engages you at the Welcome Booth. Three distinct habitats boasting 56 native species of plants occupy this strip of land.

This area is a focused example of the type of native plant diversity we strive for across the Center’s grounds.

Conservation is a commitment to an ongoing education, and a daily foray into the joy and astonishment provided by the natural world. Join me in celebrating both the efforts and the triumphs that take place every day on these 185 acres.

Board Aliah M. Berman Jonathan T. Bloom Shane Delsman Margarete R. Harvey Debra Katz Dennis Kois Eva Osborne Justin K. Patrick Benjamin T. Pavlik Arthur T. Phillips Sanderson S. ‘Andy’ Read Benjamin F. Rikkers John Schaub Mark Siler Carol Wolcott Mai Der Yang 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)

Wilson’s Warbler, one of the priority species for the Center’s Conservation Plan.

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Fall 2017 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

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

SEASONAL SIGHTINGS Discover a glimpse of our conservation plan at our entrance!

ED MAKOWSKI Communications Specialist

When you arrive at the Center, a small oasis points your way toward the Welcome Booth, and your path into these 185 acres. You might be surprised to learn that inside this rolling landscape, three distinct habitats coexist, and which are comprised of 56 species of native plants and trees.

In this area, one can witness aspects of Dry-mesic Prairie, Calcareous Fen (a small alkaline wetland that is high in calcium and magnesium carbonates), and Aspen Glade (an open area with shallow soil featuring Quaking Aspen).

This location provided a unique opportunity to highlight how this land can become a more bountiful habitat for native species.

After beginning to plant this space in June, we’ve already observed dragonflies laying eggs in the small wetlands in this area.

As you arrive, take note of how this gateway to our region’s floristic bounty changes with the seasons. This October you will be able to see the blossoms of Smooth Blue Aster, New England Aster, and Sky Blue Aster, as well as Showy Goldenrod. Throughout the year, watch for a plethora of bountiful beauties, such as Purple Prairie Clover, Northern Blue Flag Iris, Showy Blazingstar, Wild Quinine, and Heart-leaved Golden Alexander.

Northern Blue Flag Iris

The entryway is a microcosm of the habitat creation that Center staff and volunteers engage in every day at Schlitz Audubon.

This location is also a unique example of being able to start with a fresh landscape to compose, as opposed to remediating an existing parcel.

Land Stewards planting at the entrance of the Center.

Fall 2017 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

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RAPTOR EDUCATION

LINDSAY OBERMEIER Raptor Manager

RAPTOR EDUCATION Organizations around the world work towards the preservation and conservation of birds. In Wisconsin, the Department of Natural Resources, Wisconsin Society for Ornithology, and Bird City Wisconsin are just a few of these organizations. At Schlitz Audubon, multiple facets of our Conservation Plan are geared specifically to protect habitat for our native birds, and to provide the nesting and foraging opportunities they need to survive.

Wisconsin is home to 29 species of migratory or year-round resident raptors: hawks, owls, eagles, and falcons. Depending on the season, 14 of these birds can be found in the wild at Schlitz Audubon.

These strong and cunning predators keep prey populations at a healthy level. Raptors are also indicator species - animals whose presence, absence, or abundance is an indication of the health of an ecosystem as a whole.

A Bald Eagle nest.

As indicator species, raptors offer insight regarding what occurs in, or is potentially harming, the environment. Over the past few decades, ecologists have seen an increase in owl mortality. Toxicology reports uncovered the majority of deaths were due to poisoning, specifically rat poison (rodenticides). Unfortunately, using these anticoagulants can take up to five days to kill a rat, and they become easy prey in the process. Owls will ingest the poisoned rodent, which results in the death of the bird, an example of biomagnification. Researchers also found that bobcats, foxes, other raptors, and humans are affected by these poisons.

Many things can be done to help the owl population. Most importantly - don’t use poisons. A family of owls can consume thousands of mice in one year – they are nature’s pest control – and they make entertaining neighbors as well! Installing a nest box invites owls to move into your yard and dine on the local rodent population.

But another culprit also threatens raptors, in particular birds that commonly scavenge for their food, such as Turkey Vultures, Bald Eagles, and the largest bird in North America, the California Condor. In the same way that rodenticides poison through biomagnification, lead poisoning is a huge problem for these raptor species.

Whether from paint, fishing tackle, or lead ammunition, every lead product possesses a unique chemical signature. From this data, researchers are then able to determine which lead product has poisoned an animal. Most commonly, lead from ammunition or fishing tackle is poisoning these birds. According to the University of Minnesota Raptor Center, 90% of injured Bald Eagles they intake also have elevated lead levels in their blood. A study

published in 2014 studied 3,000 eagles killed in the last 30 years found that 25% of them died from poisoning, most often by lead.

When hunters use shotguns to hunt small game and certain game birds, they shoot small metal balls made of lead, called shot.

Some shot will strike the animal, but many of these projectiles end up strewn about forests and waterways. A wounded animal is an easy target for predators like raptors, which then ingest the shot as well. Similarly, lead fishing tackle can be cut from a line or ingested by fish, which are then eaten by raptors hunting in our waterways.

Fortunately, lead alternatives exist for those who wish to protect the health our national symbol while hunting and fishing. Several munitions companies produce projectiles made from a variety of metals and alloys such as bismuth, copper, tungsten, and steel. Many similar lead-free options also exist for fishing tackle.

Lead-free products can take some practice, but the environmental benefits are worth the learning curve.

Historically, Wisconsin has lead the way in conservation. Conservation programs worked tirelessly to reintroduce the Peregrine Falcon, which had been eradicated by DDT, the chemical insecticide. Wisconsin ranks 2nd in the continental United States for our Bald Eagle populations. Our state’s treetops boast 1,500 Bald Eagle nests and we host the longest running Bald Eagle/Osprey survey in the country.

Just as the Peregrine Falcon informed us of the widespread dangers of DDT, by paying close attention to raptors we can continue to better support and protect our shared ecosystems.

Fall 2017 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

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EDUCATION

Collecting water samples during an All Day Great Lakes class.

Conservation in Every Lesson JEAN STRELKA Naturalist

The spirit of conservation flows through all school programs at Schlitz Audubon. We teach students of every age to respect the habitats of other creatures. One of the first lessons school groups learn is how trails help us maintain habitat for plants and animals.

Staying on the trails is important to secure habitat for all native species.

One of our homeschool programs, Remove, Restore, Replant, focuses on how invasive plant species threaten native habitats. Students play a game that demonstrates the competitive advantages many invasive plants have over native ones. Invasive species tend to out-compete native plants for sun, soil, and water. Students learn that invasives reproduce and mature more quickly. This is important because these invasive flora do not provide the same ecosystem benefits to plants and animals as the ones they displace.

We then walk the trails to view the major invasive plants at the Center, such as Buckthorn, Dame’s Rocket, and Garlic Mustard. It is vital to manage these invasive plants, so the group meets with our Resource Ecologist to learn about the Center’s management efforts. Afterwards, students dig in by pulling invasive plants or planting native species in an already restored area.

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In our All Day Great Lakes program, middle school students learn about water conservation, the water cycle, the importance of wetlands, and life in our ponds and lakes. We visit our Lake Michigan shoreline, and in the sand students create their own ponds, rivers, lakes, and dams. By then filling their constructed waterway with Lake Michigan water, students observe, by their own design, processes such as erosion, water flow, and water absorption.

Additional Lake Michigan programs take on contemporary issues facing our Great Lakes, including aquatic invaders and the problems they create. In our secondary Great Lake Michigan program, students engage in hands-on conservation work by cleaning up litter on the beach and discussing the origins of the trash they find.

Their findings are reported to Alliance for Great Lakes, which helps assess the health of the lakes and provides aid in cleaning our bodies of water.

The diverse ecosystems at Schlitz Audubon provide a multitude of opportunities to teach the importance of conservation. Our goal is for students to take these principles and apply them throughout their lives.

Fall 2017 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

The creation and implementation of Schlitz Audubon’s Conservation Plan MARC WHITE Director of Conservation

CONSERVATION As a teenager in 1977, I would visit Schlitz Audubon to hike as well as shop in the bookstore. This is where I picked up my copy of A Sand County Almanac with Essays on Conservation from Round River, written by Wisconsin conservation visionary Aldo Leopold. Whether in print or in person, the Center first introduced me to a lineage of those who I consider my conservation mentors. Four decades later, as the Director of Conservation, that same well-worn copy now rests on the shelf above my desk.

One writer I also consider a philosophical mentor is Garrett Hardin, whose article The Tragedy of the Commons, published in 1968 in the journal Science, defines the inescapable truth that underlies the need for natural resource conservation. Hardin made it clear that unrestricted competition for any finite resource leads to over-exploitation. Whether the resource is Sturgeon in Lake Michigan, Bumblebees in an Oak Savanna, or our planet’s atmosphere, ungoverned exploitation will lead to tragedy for all. To ensure that natural resources can perpetuate, we need to find ways to govern ourselves and provide natural spaces for species that have been displaced by human settlement, farming, and development.

Wisconsin’s preeminent conservationist, educator, and writer Aldo Leopold had the answer even before Hardin defined the problem. Leopold took a parcel of degraded Wisconsin farmland and worked to restore the land with native flora. He documents a calendar of observations during this experiment in A Sand County Almanac. The solution that Leopold found to Hardin’s tragedy is the land ethic: “A thing is right that tends to increase the integrity, stability and beauty of the land, and its wrong if it tends otherwise.” By living the land ethic, we effectively govern ourselves.

At Schlitz Audubon, and in Milwaukee as a whole, our land has gone through several iterations of human use over the past centuries. Just as the way we choose to spend our days becomes how we spend our lives, the ecosystem we cultivate creates the world

we inhabit. Nature preserves like Schlitz Audubon offer us the opportunity to implement Leopold’s land ethic.

The Schlitz Audubon Conservation Plan is our guide to revitalizing these 185 acres with greater integrity, stability, and beauty.

The land is the basis of everything that we do, so every day we work together to improve it. Conservation at Schlitz Audubon is supported by this dynamic, thoroughly researched, and proactive strategy.

Just as the land lives and constantly evolves, so does our Conservation Plan.

We use science to measure, catalogue, and quantify our impacts. Because it’s important that we find ways to learn from our successes and our failures, we’ve developed a more quantifiable conservation ethic based on Leopold’s original: A thing is right that tends to increase biotic diversity and ecosystem function, and it’s wrong if it tends otherwise. Through this lens, we have created a plan that can measure our success in addressing the Center’s paramount environmental concerns, including Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) and other invasive species, stormwater runoff and ravine erosion, and habitat creation for species of greatest conservation need.

To combat EAB and other invasives, we work diligently to control them and the ecological damage they cause, and in their place plant flora that supports native and migratory wildlife. To stem storm water runoff and ravine erosion, we plan to disrupt ditches and drain systems installed when this land was a farm.

We will also improve the function of our wetlands, and create new ponds to moderate the flow of storm water into vulnerable forested ravines.

Cream Gentian blooming at the Center, a threatened species in Wisconsin.

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Fall 2017 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

CONSERVATION PLAN HIGHLIGHTS

Emerald Ash Borer

Annual Restoration

Approximately 35% of Schlitz Audubon’s tree canopy is comprised of Ash. The Center’s plan to combat EAB includes conservation of ash with greatest ecological value, removing potentially hazardous trees, slope stabilization, native forest restoration, and Oak savanna conversion to help conserve our region’s unique ecological heritage.

Every year, our conservation team and land volunteers eradicate invasive species by the acre, and restores treated areas with native plants. They also monitor sensitive plant and wildlife populations, maintain the health of our ponds, and manage our trails to ensure access for all visitors.

We will also create habitat to support species of greatest conservation need, such as our 21 bird species of greatest concern, as well as the Blanding’s Turtle, which is a Species of Special Concern in Wisconsin. On our grounds, we recently discovered the Rusty Patched Bumble Bee, which is the only Federally Endangered Species in Milwaukee County, and we are augmenting our Conservation Plan to support these vulnerable insects.

UW-Madison Professor John Curtis, author of The Vegetation of Wisconsin: An Ordination of Plant Communities, and many other researchers, have given us a palette of native plants with which to paint a landscape that will help native and migratory wildlife flourish.

Center staff, volunteers, and donors work to cultivate such habitats as Wet Prairie, Oak Savanna, Sedge Meadow and Southern Wet-Mesic Forest - plant communities that dominated historically throughout our region. Our conservation strategy is not to attempt to cultivate the precise environment that existed here prior to settlement impacts. Rather, through these intentional efforts, we are actively reclaiming, reseeding, and revitalizing our region’s unique ecological heritage.

The Center’s mission of environmental education and providing meaningful experiences inspires the need for our Conservation Plan. Its implementation ensures that these 185 bountiful acres of habitat can fulfill this mission for generations to come.

At the Center, restoration plays an active role in education. As work takes place on the land, staff naturalists will educate about the ways we are working to improve this habitat and the reasons

Storm Water Management We’ll lessen the threats of erosion and sedimentation from excessive storm water events by restoring and creating wetlands that keeps rain where it falls. We will also integrate a new path into a wheelchair accessible trail loop from our main building.

behind ecological restoration. During this process, we will engage the community in discussions about the importance of conservation, our strategy, and the long-term health of the land.

Now is the necessary moment to protect this habitat for generations to come. If left unaddressed, storm water erosion will continue to degrade biodiversity and ecosystem function in rare forested ravine habitat. If EAB is not confronted, the invasive beetle will spread more quickly, and in its wake invasive plants will take over the space these trees leave behind. By performing this work now, our reward will be an ecosystem with greater integrity, stability, and beauty. If we wait longer, the challenges will only become greater for those who follow us.

Much of the day-to-day work in conservation could be considered drudgery if it weren’t for the hope we carry in our hearts. Our staff and volunteers remove Buckthorn all winter long, pull Garlic Mustard throughout the spring and cut Dames Rocket in the hottest days of summer. Through snipping and pulling invasive species, then replanting with native plants, we cultivate ecological citizenship – both inside ourselves and within our community.

It seems fitting that after 40 years, this copy of the A Sand County Almanac has returned home to Schlitz Audubon. Every day it inspires us to bring greater integrity, stability, and beauty to the land. I hope you’ll join us in experiencing the wonder, joy and fulfillment it brings.

Fall 2017 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

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CONSERVATION

You Are a Vital Part of Conservation MELANIE JOHNSON Director of Development

In the previous pages we shared our Conservation Plan – and now we invite you to be a part of the progress! We need your help to continually increase the integrity, stability and beauty of the entire Center. You are a vital part of making these diverse habitats as stable and secure as they can be for future generations of plants, animals, and people. This work is costly: it takes careful planning, a tremendous amount of physical labor, tens of thousands of plants, shrubs, and trees, and equipment that requires maintenance to work properly.

The annual cost of ongoing Annual StewardshiP COSTS stewardship—controlling invasive plant species, restoring habitats and maintaining accessible, safe trails, is nearly $100,000 per year alone. In addition, we are battling Emerald Ash Borer through implementation of our EAB response plan, and tackling important regional water issues by creating and restoring wetlands to help catch and filter storm water runoff.

$100,000

It is only with your help that we can complete all of this critical work! No matter if you support us by volunteering, by making a charitable gift, or by simply becoming more engaged through learning - you give us the power to succeed.

You can be a patron of the natural world.

Lend a Hand Schlitz Audubon is always looking for individuals, groups, and companies to volunteer and help by removing invasive species and replanting remediated areas. We’ve got the tools, the knowledge, and the plan – but we need your hands. Contact Marie Honel, Volunteer Coordinator, at mhonel@schlitzaudubon.org.

Give A Gift An investment of any amount helps us achieve our mission, which includes strengthening our ongoing land stewardship initiatives, controlling EAB, and adding momentum to our storm water management efforts. Learn how you can donate by contacting Melanie Johnson, Director of Development, at mjohnson@schlitzaudubon.org.

Learn About Conservation at the Center The Center’s Director of Conservation, Marc White, leads quarterly Conservation Hikes, during which time he focuses on a specific area of the Center and explains our conservation goals for that area. The next hike will be October 21. You can also help inform our conservation efforts by engaging in Citizen Science. Citizen Scientists provide crucial information about species at the Center and inform our conservation strategy. See the Citizen Science page on our website for more information.

Land Management Intern Josef Christern cutting buckthorn and applying herbicide.

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Fall 2017 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

PRESCHOOL MEZZANINE ART GALLERY

Warmth of Nature Quilts by Myra Van Uxem November 24 - January 28

Myra Van Uxem is a longtime land and raptor volunteer at the Center. About 15 years ago, Myra took a quilting class and she’s been decorating her surroundings with brightly-colored patterns and images ever since. What makes Myra’s quilts unique is she blends her love of quilting with her passion for the natural world. Three of Myra’s narrative nature quilts are on permanent display at the Center and this is a special glimpse of a few of her other works.

Celebrate these months of logs in the fireplace by letting Myra’s quilts warm your heart and imagination.

Join us for the gallery opening on Thursday, December 7 at 7:00pm. and hear Myra tell the tales of the threads that weave through her work. The Schlitz Audubon Gallery is located on the Second Floor Mezzanine, is handicap accessible, and is open during the Center’s regular hours.

Learning to Love Nature CATHERINE KOONS HUBBARD Preschool Director

Conservation can start at any age. Our Nature Preschool teachers help children develop an environmental ethic over time.

We do this at the while we help children develop emotional, cognitive, and physical skills. Children learn to make a connection between caring for the land and caring for themselves. We simply make nature a part of everything we do, an active participant in each lesson.

If a child sees a pretty flower, very often, the first instinct is to pluck it from the ground so that they can hold its beauty. We explain that if they leave the flower, they can return to enjoy it anytime they wish – and everyone else can too. It takes patience, repetition, and above all, modeling, for a child to come to see nature as something worthy of protection.

While hiking, we discuss the connection between seeds and flowers, as well as the needs of the animals who depend on plants for food or shelter. We care for the animals in our classrooms, handle frogs at the ponds with care, and learn how to be calm and observant near bees. Slowly, our students

develop not only confidence in nature, but also their own sense of responsibility.

Teaching a love of nature doesn’t only take place during our year-round Preschool.

We begin with infants and toddlers during Audubon Babies and Hand-in-Hand. These programs are a sensory-rich way for children to experience nature one-on-one with their adult, whether parent, grandparent or caregiver.

Nature Mondays and Preschool Summer Camps utilize the Center’s trails, as well as the Preschool’s vibrant classrooms. During these short-term programs, students share in the Nature Preschool experience, including learning formative conservation concepts.

Developing a conservation ethic is an ongoing experience that doesn’t happen overnight. Our Preschool programs provide children with an introduction to caring for nature early in life. They can then spend the rest of their years enjoying beautiful flowers rooted in the soil.

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

Registration helps us prepare for our programs.

Discovery Nature Hiking*

Youth price is for those ages 3–17.

18 and up are charged the adult price.

Experience the wonders of fall as we walk along the meadows, woods, and wetlands of the Center. Don Quintenz will lead you to the seasonal events that stir our sense of beauty or imagination and help answer the questions that nature evokes in us. The entire program takes place on the trail.

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.

Call 414-352-2880 x0 to register.

After School Adventure Club*

Tuesdays, October 3 – December 12 4:00pm - 5:30pm

Join us every week for 90 minutes of outdoor exploration! Our teachers will lead students on guided hikes to popular destinations, such as Mystery Lake, the Tower, and Lake Michigan.

Each session includes hands-on activities and outdoor play. This after-school program is ideal for students ages 5 – 8, with no need for adults to accompany. Come dressed for the cool autumn weather!

M: $7 NM: $12

Hand-in-Hand*

Thursday, October 5 | Prairie to Pond Thursday, October 19 | Fall Leaves Thursday, November 2 | Bushy Tail Squirrel Thursday, November 16 | Turkeys Thursday, December 7 | Getting Ready for Winter Session 1 | 9:00am - 10:15am Session 2 | 10:30am - 11:45am

Explore nature with your little ones! Hike, play, enjoy art activities, and listen to a story. Dress for the weather; we explore outdoors rain or shine. We recommend waterproof shoes or boots. This program is for 2-3 year-olds and their adult.

M: $14 pair per program NM: $19 pair per program Additional child, age 1 and up: $10

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

October 5 | 10:00am - 11:15am October 19 | 10:00am - 11:15am November 2 | 10:00am - 11:15am November 16 | 10:00am - 11:15am December 7 | 10:00am - 11:15am

Children are never too young to enjoy the wonders of nature. Come enjoy a hike on the trails filled with sensory explorations and meet new friends. We will start inside and venture out when everyone is ready. Dress for the weather; we explore rain or shine. Waterproof shoes or boots are recommended. If the weather is not appropriate to go outside, we will explore indoors.

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Raptor Saturday

Saturday, October 7 | 1:00pm – 2:00pm Saturday, November 4 | 1:00pm – 2:00pm Saturday, December 2 | 1:00pm – 2:00pm

October While owls are well loved, they are not often found. Come and learn about the adaptations that allow owls to succeed at being elusive nighttime predators. Our resident owls will teach you what to look for, and what to listen for when searching for owls in your neighborhood.

November Raptors have captivated the human race for hundreds of years – some cultures even believe that raptors were the first life on Earth. Join us in learning about the cultural, spiritual, religious, and even magical tales about raptors. A few of our resident birds will teach you about the exciting relationship humans and raptors have had through history.

December During the coldest part of the year, raptors need to take extra precautions in order to survive the sub-zero temperatures of Wisconsin. Some of our resident birds will teach you about strategies for winter survival, such as food caching and communal roosting. A few even put physics to use!

Free with membership or admission Sponsored by:

Tuesday, October 10 | 1:00pm - 2:00pm

M: $7 NM: $12

SPARK!*

Tuesday, October 10 | 1:00pm - 2:30pm Tuesday, November 14 | 1:00pm - 2:30pm Tuesday, December 12 | 1:00pm - 2:30pm

This program is designed for both people experiencing cognitive changes such as memory loss, as well as their caregivers. Led by our Director of Education Tom Finley, each month is devoted to learning about the simple beauty found in nature and how it enriches our lives.

Programs begin inside the Auditorium and may include a brief outdoor component, close to the building, so dress for the weather. Themes are seasonally based and change each month.

Free to participants and caregivers

Photo Club*

Wednesday, October 11 | 5:00pm - 6:00pm Wednesday, November 8 | 5:00pm - 6:00pm

Photographers of all ages and skill levels are invited to participate in monthly hikes. Center Naturalist Cassie Rincon guides participants to locations that offer unique photographic opportunities. Everyone works together to further their art, share photography ideas, and capture memories. Schlitz Audubon does not provide cameras. Participants 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

Free with membership or admission

Bird Club* Adult Owl Prowl*

Monday, October 9 | 6:30pm - 8:00pm Rain Date: Tuesday, October 10 | 6:30pm 8:00pm

Discover the behaviors and adaptations of owls as we search out the elusive residents of Schlitz Audubon. Hiking through their habitats and listening for their hoots, trills, and squawks is the best way to find the local owls. After our nighttime hike, we will warm up with a cup of hot cocoa and meet some of the Center’s owl ambassadors. This program is designed for adults.

M: $12 NM: $17

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

Fall 2017 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

Wednesday, October 11 | 6:30 pm - 8:30pm Wednesday, November 8 | 6:30pm - 8:30pm

Co-presented with Milwaukee Audubon Society. Please check our online calendar for specific topics for each month. Young adults and birders of all interest level are welcome to join this free drop-in program. In October, Brooke Bateman, National Audubon Society Director of Climate Watch, will present about the Climate Watch Program, a new citizen and science community project. November is our Annual Holiday party; all levels of birder are welcome to join, even if you have never been to Bird Club. We have no Bird Club in December.

Free to all

CALENDAR Raptor Handling Workshop* Saturday, October 14 | 10:00am – 4:00pm

of time for play and social interaction. Nature Mondays are the perfect option for families who would like their children to share in the Nature Preschool experience, but prefer a short-term commitment! Register for this program by downloading and completing the required forms on our website under Education/ Preschool/Nature Mondays. Please contact the Nature Preschool with any questions at 414-352-2880 x154.

Have you ever wondered what it felt like to be nose-to-beak with a Peregrine Falcon? Or solve a puzzle with a savvy crow? Spend the day at our Raptor Facility with our trainers learning all about raptor handling! We will cover basic avian care and give you the opportunity to train our star birds: a truly exhilarating experience!

Dress to get dirty and prepare to be amazed!

(Please bring a bag lunch. Beverages provided by the Center.)

Forest Succession Hike*

M: $135 NM: $160

Saturday Hand-in-Hand Celebrate Fall*

Saturday, October 21 | 10:00am - 11:15am

Celebrate the season during this special Saturday Hand-in-Hand program. Hike, play, and have fun exploring the trails and outdoor play spaces. Come dressed for the weather. We go outside rain or shine. This program is for 2-3 year-olds to share with an adult.

M: $14 pair per program NM: $19 pair per program

Conservation Hike*

Saturday, October 21 | 1:00pm – 2:30pm

Conservation of our land is an effort that is continually evolving. Join Marc White, Director of Conservation, in exploring important conservation areas at the Center. Participate in the discussion of on-going progress and learn about upcoming initiatives. This is an excellent opportunity to learn about the land and gain a deeper understanding of our conservation focus.

Free with membership or admission

Spiritual World of Nature: Native American Energy Healing*

Wednesday, October 25 | 7:00pm – 8:00pm

Learn about a powerful healing method seldom seen off the reservation through Dennis King, carrier of the Bear Medicine. The Creator sends out spirits to help Dennis help others.

Dennis comes from a lineage of healers and he now continues their legacy. An opportunity will be offered to participate in group healing sessions at the Center.

M: $10 NM: $15

Nature Mondays | Winter in the Woods*

Mondays, November 6 - December 11 1:00pm - 3:30pm

Nature Mondays is a 6-week series hosted by the Schlitz Audubon Nature Preschool. This program is designed for children ages 4 – 6, and makes use of the Center’s outstanding nature trails, as well as the Preschool’s wonderful indoor and outdoor classrooms. In this series, Preschool teachers focus on nature experiences that are age appropriate and include plenty

M: $200 NM: $250

Tuesday, November 7 | 1:00pm - 2:00pm

Forests regenerate themselves after a major disturbance in successive stages. If an area is stripped of all the trees, “pioneer” species establish themselves quickly. They, in turn, are followed by other species, and ultimately a “climax” forest is attained where the species perpetuate themselves indefinitely unless a new disturbance occurs. We will read the landscape and validate what scientists did in the past to discover this ecological concept.

M: $7 NM: $12

Film Screening: Look & See: A Portrait of Wendell Berry* Thursday, November 9 | 6:30pm

Join us for a screening of Look & See: A Portrait of Wendell Berry, which chronicles the farm culture in Henry County, Kentucky, where world-renowned farmer, writer, and poet Wendell Berry works the land. This documentary sheds light on Berry’s lifelong relationship with the land, as well has how it has provided the basis for his prolific writing career. This documentary investigates how widespread industrial farming methods have replaced our human connection to the land & how it has affected those who derive their livelihoods from the soil. This event is co-presented with Outpost Natural Foods, and is accompanied by coffee and dessert, and followed by a panel talkback.

Free and open to all. Due to seating limitations, registration is required through Eventbrite.

Check the Center’s online calendar for registration details.

Family Owl Prowl*

Friday, November 10 | 6:00pm - 7:30pm Rain Date: Sunday, November 12 | 6:00pm - 7:30pm

Hike with us deep into the forest to discover “Whooooo’s” making noises in the night. Sound is the best way to identify our local owls, so put on your owl ears and prepare to hear and see some of our local residents! After our nighttime hike, we will warm up with a cup of hot cocoa and meet some of The Center’s owl ambassadors. This program is designed for families.

Turkey Time* Saturday, November 11 | 9:30am – 11:00am

Now that the chill of fall is upon us, it’s time to start thinking of family celebrations and all things turkey! Join Education Specialist Shelly Rollins in exploring the world of Wild Turkeys.

We will read turkey related stories, look at turkey artifacts and take part in other turkey related activities. We will then hike in search of wild turkeys and the signs that they leave behind. An adult must accompany child/children.

M: $5 per youth NM: $10 per youth

Autumn Astronomy: Celestial Mechanics*

Monday, November 13 | 7:00pm - 8:30pm

Contrary to what one might expect, the term “celestial mechanics” does not refer to the people who change the oil on space shuttles.

Through activities, learn about the movement and sky-celestial mechanics of the moon, Earth, and other planets. Then we’ll head out under the stars to see some delights of the autumn sky through telescopes, including our neighbor galaxy, Andromeda. Dress warmly.

M: Youth $5 | Adult $7 NM: Youth $10 | Adult $12

Animal Movie Night* Friday, November 17 | 6:00pm - 9:00pm

The fun starts with s’mores by the fireplace.

Then Jim brings out his live animal friends to touch and hold. Bring a pillow, blanket, and stuffed animals, and whatever you like to get comfortable during movies. Check the Center’s website for which movie will play on each date.

M: Youth $5 | Adult $10 NM: Youth $10 | Adult $15

Repamphibiantile Sunday

Sunday, December 3 | 12:00pm - 1:00pm

The days are getting shorter and so is your chance to see reptiles and amphibians. Hold a snake and marvel at salamanders. Bring the whole family to gain a deeper understanding of these often misunderstood creatures. This is an interactive and educational program for all ages!

Free with membership or admission

Nature Art*

Saturday, December 9 | 9:30am - 11:00am

Have fun creating natural art projects and playing in our beautiful nature preschool classrooms. Then head outside for a short hike!

This workshop is designed for parents and children (ages 3-6) to enjoy together. The cost includes all materials.

M: $7 per person NM: $10 per person

M: Youth $8, Adults $10 NM: Youth $13, Adults $15 Fall 2017 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

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CALENDAR Fun in the Winter Sun*

Wednesday, December 27 Thursday, December 28 Session 1 | 9:00am - 11:30am Session 2 | 12:30pm - 3:00pm

Come to the Center over winter break and see some great mammal furs and skulls, make an animal track to take home, and meet a live animal friend. We’ll head outside for a hike to see who is active and awake this time of year, then come back in for hot chocolate. The program is the same for each date and time, and is intended for children ages 6 - 12. Parents attend free.

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M: Youth $12 NM: Youth $17

Hatha Yoga Class*

Word with a Bird

Start your week right with yoga at the Center.

Classes are designed for all levels of students, they are therapeutic in nature, and will be challenging at times. All students are taught to observe their body and breath, and to practice within their capacity. Stretch and de-stress in the beginning of your week. The first class is always free!

Each Word with a Bird program focuses on the specific skills, traits and adaptations that make that bird such a unique creature. Meet a different bird each time! While visiting the Center make sure to spend some time outdoors on the trails. There is no WWB on December 24 or December 31.

Every Monday from 5:30pm – 6:45pm

M: $100 for 10 weeks $15 for single class NM: $120 for 10 weeks $20 for single class.

Fall 2017 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

Saturdays and Sundays | 1:00pm - 2:00pm

Free with membership or admission

THANK YOU THANK YOU In Memory Of

Raptor Sponsorships

Daniel S. Berry Carolyn Berry

Helen Siegrist Sue Bobusch

Deborah Bloxham Russell and Susan Yale

Jean Pagel James Greenlee Jerry and Katie Parent

Andrew Boyd, M.D. Anonymous Andrews S. and Deana Boyd Anne Cornell Doris Bummins Lake Bluff Sunshine Fund Susan Nichols Doris Reisel John Christiansen Anonymous Saadia Alizai-Cowan James Beach Marsha Branovan Kathy Christiansen Becky and Fred Emmerich Jodell and Michael Garr Carl and Clarice Geenen Rebecca Goldberger Sharon Goldberger Barbara and Wayne Hoppe Jo Kellman Edwina Levine Leroy and Anne Lutz Michael and Martha Mahoney Robert and Rita Radke Dale and Audrey Tinsley Barbara and Ken Willenson Robert B. Harkins John and Betty Ames Mark and Virginia Gennis Renelle Staus Vance and Paula Strother Urgent Care Staff Dolores Koloske Dave Jalowiec and Kathy Lorum Joy Kayon Margaret Mathias June Winters

Stanley Weiss Susan Marcus and Stanley Shlimovitz

In Honor Of Kate Abele Tim Eilbes Beatrice Fetherston Louie and Francine Kostopoulos Megan Krizek Jasna Coralic McCormick and Michael McCormick Olga and Zachary Mesenbourg Jonathan Boettcher Carolyn and Terry Trotier

Athena – American Barn Owl In Honor of Dale Dieffenbach Anonymous

Dory – Northern Saw-whet Owl In Honor of Sophia Zappia Theresa Reagan and Bill Reitman

Malary – American Kestrel

In Honor of Nicole Cucinello Sue Holcomb In Honor of Sarah (Sam) Starrett Sue Holcomb In Honor of Martie Stevens Sue Holcomb

Tucker – Eastern Screech Owl In Honor of Sue Holcomb Susan Strecker

Windchill – Snowy Owl

In Honor of Louis C. Branch III Louis and Sara Branch

Ellen Daroga Robert Stein Peter J. Kudlata Carl and Mary Fuda Chuck and Gail Roeder Keralyn Bolliger Kathryn Van Dyke Eleanor Seaman Diane Visty Lorette Russenberger Sophia Zappia Brian and Melissa Bowles Dean A. and Susan R. Fuerbringer

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Admission

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

Hours

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

Credits for Panorama | Fall 2017 Marketing Manager Nancy Quinn Design | Illustration | Photography Zoe Finney

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

Editing | Select Writing Ed Makowski

Fall 2017 | www.schlitzaudubon.org

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Schlitz Audubon Nature Center 1111 East Brown Deer Road Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53217

U.S. Postage

PAID

Milwaukee, WI Permit No. 4168

CONSERVATION PANORAMA

Sunday, October 15 | 10:00am - 4:00pm at Schlitz Audubon Nature Center All members $5 Non-members Adult $10 | Youth $5 Autumn Hikes | Fall Market | Cider Press Turkey Tales | Quidditch Tournament Check website for parking details

www.schlitzaudubon.org | 414-352-2880