222 S. Hamilton St. / Madison, WI 53703 / 255-2473/ www.madisonaudubon.

org September 2009

Black Terns in Wisconsin:

Is There Hope for Recovery?
Free Public Program
Who: David Shealer
What: Black Terns in Wisconsin
When: Tuesday, September 15, 2009
7:30 p.m. – Program
Where: New Location!
Capitol Lakes Retirement Community
333 West Main St., Madison (see map)
Parking: Free – ramp across the street.
Park in lower levels only– must use
unmarked spaces or those labeled “DNR”
are now. The decline may have
been as great as 64% between the
early 1980s and the late 1990s.
Additionally, the number of wet-
lands that Black Terns use for
nesting has apparently declined
precipitously.
Since 1999, Dr. Dave Shealer and
his students have been studying
Black Terns in Wisconsin. Through College, Dubuque, Iowa and the cur-
intensive banding efforts, frequent nest rent president of the Waterbird Society,
monitoring at several colonies in south- an international organization devoted to

H ave Black Terns continued their
spiraling decline in Wisconsin, or is
there hope for recovery?
The Black Tern is a nomadic, enigmatic—
though certainly not secretive—summer
inhabitant of Wisconsin’s marshes.
Historical records and anecdotal accounts
suggest that Black Terns once were much
more abundant in our state than they
eastern Wisconsin, and genotyping analy-
sis, Dave has sought to answer some of
the basic questions to aid in the recovery
of Black Terns.
Dr. Shealer will summarize a decade of
work on Black Terns. He also will unveil
the results of the 2009 Roadside Transect
Survey he coordinated this summer
for the Wisconsin DNR. Dr. Shealer is
Associate Professor of Biology at Loras
the scientific study and conservation of
aquatic birds.
You are invited to join our speaker, MAS
board members and friends at the pre-
program dinner at Paisan’s Restaurant
(131 W. Wilson St.) beginning at 5 p.m.
Please call the office at (608) 255-BIRD
(255-2473) if you have questions.
Next meeting: October 20, 2009

Inside This Issue

Turtle Project ..................................... 2
"Wings" Raffle Winners.................... 2
Birds in Art. ....................................... 2
Faville Grove News......................... 3
Sanctuary's New Trail....................... 4 Madison
Seed Collecting.................................. 4 Audubon
Black Tern Study at GP.................... 5 Society
Fall Field Trips................................5-6 Serving Columbia,
Donations........................................... 6 Dane, Dodge, Iowa,
Adventure Days................................ 8 Jefferson, Richland
and Sauk Counties
The new location for this year's program/meetings is the
Capitol Lakes Retirement Community building on W. Main St.
Madison Audubon is a chapter of the National Audubon Society

Musk turtles (Sternotherus odoratus), run the same gauntlet of risks
faced by other turtle species in Wisconsin. Seldom encountered away
from their wetland haunts except on their overland journeys for laying
eggs, musk turtle females are threatened by predators and road traffic.
This breeding female, about four inches long, represents tens of eggs
laid in her generation. Sadly, she was found crushed by a vehicle soon
after this photo was taken. Future conservation success for our turtle
fauna will require increased public awareness and more widespread
concern for these vulnerable animals.
Turtle Project’s Fences Are Working
By Greg Geller
The Turtle Nest Protection Project seeks to increase the nesting suc-
cess of freshwater turtles by reducing mammalian predation via non-
lethal means. In the May 2009 CAWS, I reported on 2008 results which
suffered from turtle-nest-destroying floods last June.
So far in 2009, the nesting beaches I surveyed along the Lower
Wisconsin River have shown a substantial increase in nesting
Ouachita map turtles over last year (31 vs. 8 nests). Important inno-
vations in the fencing scheme have also helped improve nesting suc-
cess. The new design is simpler and much more turtle-safe.
The current tally for nests surviving inside the protection fences is
100% (0 out of 13 predated), while for the unprotected nests nearby
just 28% survived (13 out of 18 predated). Some surviving nests may
yet be lost to predators during hatching time in September. To cover
this vulnerable period, the fences remain enabled until October.
This project proceeds due to the generosity of many benefactors,
including Madison Audubon Society, which has allowed me the use
of two of the eight sophisticated digital game cameras dedicated to
this effort. Each week the cameras yield 80,000 photos. When project-
ed over the 5- month field season, the photos allow a comprehensive
dataset to be assembled and related to the effectiveness of the fences
and details of turtle nesting ecology. Ultimately this information
may be used to supplement current conservation initiatives for these
ancient creatures.
Visit Madison Audubon’s website (www.madisonaudubon.org)
for more details and photos.
Rental Space for Boats Available at Goose Pond
Looking for space to store your boat for the winter? Contact
Mark or Sue at (608) 635-4160 or goosep@chorus.net for
more information.
The Audubon CAWS 2 September 2009
“Wings Over Madison”
Banquet Raffle Winners
• Lady’s 14 karat yellow gold sapphire and diamond
ring donated by John & Judith Hutchinson of Fontana
Sports Specialties. Won by Lynne Clark of Poynette.
• Vortex Fury binoculars 8x32 donated by Eagle Optics.
Won by Linda Leggett of Sun Prairie.
• Framed Owen Gromme print donated by Marci Hess
with framing donated by Meuer Art & Picture Frame
Co. Won by Amy Ahrens of Madison.
• Framed eagle photo with framing donated by Meuer
Art & Picture Frame Co. Won by Mare Batchelor of
Madison.
• Gift certificate donated by Wild Birds Unlimited. Won
by Barb Unger of Madison.
• Gift certificate donated by Wild Birds Unlimited. Won
by Judy Houck of Madison.
• Gift certificate donated by REI. Won by Sylvia Marek
of Madison.
• Autographed copy of The Land Remembers by Ben
Logan donated by David Billing of Solheim Billing
& Grimmer law firm. Won by Dietrich Schaaf of
Middleton.
• Birdscaping in the Midwest by Mariette Nowak donated
by Itchy Cat Press. Won by Rich Lampe of Madison.
• Gift certificate donated by Orange Tree Imports. Won
by Sandra Kaul of Beaver Dam.
• Hungry for Wisconsin: A Tasty Guide for Travelers by
Mary Bergin donated by Itchy Cat Press. Won by Sue
Foote-Martin of Arlington.
Birds in Art
The 34th annual “Birds in Art” show, which will be
held from Sept. 12 - Nov. 15, 2009 at the Leigh Yawkey
Woodson Art Museum in Wausau, is another soaring
achievement. At center stage will be 19 works by Master
Artist John Busby of Scotland, a painter revered among
his peers for his exceptional drawings and loosely painted
watercolors, most often drawn en plein air to best capture
the essence of his bird subjects. He will be talking on “The
Subtleties of Drawing” on opening day, Saturday, Sept. 12
from 10-11 a.m.
There will also be a smaller complementary exhibition
of watercolors by Julie Zickefoose, a regular contribu-
tor to Bird Watcher’s Digest and National Public Radio’s
All Things Considered. An artist, naturalist, and writer,
she will give a talk on Sunday, Sept. 13 from 1-2 p.m.
based on her book Letters from Eden: A Year at Home, in the
Woods, about life on her 80-acre Appalachian sanctuary in
southeastern Ohio. Julie’s program is sponsored in part
by the Wausau Bird Club and the Wisconsin Society for
Ornithology.
The museum is always free. Hours are Tuesday thru
Friday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. (Thursday until 7:30 p.m. during
Birds in Art); Saturday and Sunday, Noon – 5 p.m.; closed
Monday and holidays.
For more information, visit www.lywam.org
Faville Grove Volunteer
Days Grant Renewed
Faville Grove Sanctuary is among 21 sites
nationwide selected to participate for a second
year in National Audubon’s TogetherGreen
Volunteer Days program, with funding from
Toyota. The award is based on our record of
attracting volunteer support during the first
year of the program, and on our plans for the
coming year.
Looking back on the first year as we prepared
our annual report to Audubon, we impressed
even ourselves with the strong showing of
support from our volunteers: 246 individuals
volunteered in the sanctuary on 75 different
days for a total of 2,155 hours. Of these volun-
teers, 200 had not volunteered previously at
Faville Grove, and of these 200, 40 returned to
help out one or more additional times during
the year. Volunteer accomplishments included
seed collecting, seed cleaning and mixing,
planting 40 acres of prairie (our biggest single
We’re looking forward to another bountiful harvest of prairie and savanna seed at
event, with 85 volunteers) as well as seeding Faville Grove Sanctuary this fall. Come lend a hand!
additional acres of savanna, brush clearing,
controlled burning, weed control, plant and
animal monitoring, web site development and various other hand clippers if you have them.
aspects of sanctuary management. Besides collecting and the big planting event, we also hope to
The few large volunteer events that we held were fun, brought conduct some controlled burns this fall (always on short notice),
in new volunteers and engaged school groups and others new to and we will need help with other activities in preparation for
the sanctuary, and we are planning several large events again in planting. Please send e-mail to favillegrove@live.com if you
the coming year, including prairie planting in early November. would like to be notified of these other activities. Also, let us
But the real bread-and-butter of sanctuary management is in know if you would like to receive periodic electronic newsletters
the many small-group work parties held most Wednesdays and from Faville Grove Sanctuary, or if you have any questions.
Saturdays and on the spur-of-the-moment. These events are Directions: From Madison, take I-94 east to the Lake Mills/
where we really get to know each other and build community, Waterloo exit (Highway 89), go north approximately 1.75 miles
and where volunteers really get to know the sanctuary and its and turn right onto County G. Travel north on G about 1.5 miles
inhabitants and what’s involved in its management. and turn right onto Prairie Lane. Work parties will meet near the
Our primary goal for the coming year is to increase involve- Faville Grove Sanctuary sign.
ment in these smaller work parties. Every additional set of hands
makes a big difference in what we can accomplish for wildlife
in the sanctuary. Volunteering is a great way to learn about the Jill Martin Endowment Fund
plant and animal communities in the area and strengthen your
ties to the land; it’s a great way to get to know like-minded mem- Established
bers of the human community; and it’s good exercise for body As reported in the June CAWS, Madison Audubon supporter
and mind alike. So come on out and give it a try! Jill Martin died in April after a long illness. She made a bequest
to Madison Audubon with the request that half the amount be
used to establish an endowment for wildlife management.
Fall Events Faville Grove The MAS board of directors has accepted the gift, and estab-
Regular seed collecting events at Faville Grove begin Sept. 5 lished the Jill Martin Wildlife Management Endowment Fund.
and continue every Saturday morning and afternoon and every Jill’s gift and all subsequent donations to the fund will be held in
Wednesday morning through October. We’ll meet each morn- perpetuity. Income from the fund will support wildlife manage-
ing at 9:30 and work until noon. Saturday afternoons, we will ment activities at MAS sanctuaries, including bird nest box and
meet at 1:30 and work until 4 p.m. Meet at the sanctuary sign on platform construction, planting of wildlife food plots, purchase
Prairie Lane and travel from there a short distance to our collect- of food for wildlife, and planting of trees and shrubs.
ing spot for the day. We will post work locations for anyone who Jill’s bequest will benefit birds and wildlife for years to come.
arrives late (we hope to have an informational kiosk installed We thank Jill and Jerry Martin for their donation of volunteer
near the machine shed across the road from the sanctuary sign time and for their generous support.
by September). Bring gloves, sunscreen and insect repellant, and

The Audubon CAWS 3 September 2009


The Sanctuary’s New
Trail Beckons
By Dorothy Haines
“Come on along, Come on along, let
me take you by the hand,” leaders could
have been singing in July as they opened
the new prairie hiking trail in the Goose
Pond Sanctuary restoration known as the
Browne Prairie. The non-event was trum-
peted by fanfares of bird songs, buzzing
insects and prairie planners/planters’
deep sighs of pleasure and pride.
The public is invited to imagine the best
band in the land leading the way along
the carefully mowed trail up and down
and around the rolling hills; to enjoy the
shades of purple and yellow blossoms,
the expansive view over the Empire
Prairie as well as details of such sights
as a butterfly sipping nectar or a ground
squirrel scurrying into its underground
city in the middle of this 60-acre restora-
tion.
Starting at the Browne Prairie parking lot
— just “up the road a piece” to the west
of the residence at W7503 W. Kampen
Road — the mowed trail beckons the
strollers deep into the distinguished
prairie ecology that developed over an
inestimable time. The circular trail takes
you up a rise to a resting bench overlook-
ing the swells and swales of the Empire
Prairie. If you continue on this trail you
will find more of Nature’s arrangements
of varying shades and shapes as you
circle around to the fork in the trail near
the parking lot.
The sanctuary’s “princess prairie” has
begun to show off her pre-teen attire,
as this is her first year on her own in a
dress; she will wait about two more years
to complete her debutante’s prom dress
because some native perennials don’t
bloom until about four years old. We are
The Audubon Caws
awaiting the sky-reaching blooms of the
compass plant, whose deeply indented
large leaves seen now continue to feed
the roots reaching deeply into the rich
prairie soil. In the meantime this fall we
can already enjoy the soft lavenders and
yellows of the varieties of golden rods
and asters that replace the monardas and
coneflowers we enjoyed in July.
The “princess prairie” will lose her rag-
gedy look in a few years because some of
the weedy species that sprouted up from
seeds left in the soil bank will be crowded
out as the natives get stronger. Likewise,
the native perennials will squeeze out the
wild rye that was included in the planting
mix to act as a nurse crop for the prairie
seedlings and now arches its seed heads
over all.
“Dedicated to wildlife”, the marker
reads. So, unless you consider yourselves
part of the wildlife, you realize that this
restoration is really for the “wild” crea-
tures that have wings or more than two
legs. The “restored prairie” will evolve
to re-create a suitable homeland for them
to live and raise their young among the
plants that attract the insects that attract
the birds. Already grassland birds – some
sparrow species, meadowlarks, Bobolinks
and Dickcissels — are visiting here and
some have nested. Loose sandy soil indi-
cates that a badger has been digging for
a ground squirrel, though never seen in
daylight. Two Sandhill Cranes are teach-
ing the colt to catch young frogs and flap
its wings. And so life goes on. ...in many
forms.
Bring some kids and see what you-all
can find. Leave your cars and get into the
prairie. It looks different when you get
right down to it.
(See "Nature News" on our web site for
more color photos)
4 September 2009
Calling all wildlife
habitat-lovers
NOW IS THE TIME!
Every Saturday, Sept. 12 to Oct. 31
9:30 a.m. to noon
Goose Pond Sanctuary
Help gather seed for planting 9 acres of
dry-mesic prairie at Erstad Prairie this
fall, and for 45 acres to be planted in 2010
at Lapinski-Kitzke Prairie.
JUST THE FACTS:
•T  he 2009 crop of pricey prairie seeds
will soon ripen and drop to the ground–
never to be captured again. But we need
them to spread on the land that is being
prepared for prairie restoration. Before
it is lost, we must reap this precious
bounty by hand, species by species.
Volunteers are also needed to process
the seed.
•N  o experience is required. Tools and
containers are furnished. Youth groups,
clubs, and classes are encouraged to
come and bring others.
• Your time will result in additional prai-
rie habitat and benefit hundreds of spe-
cies of plants, birds, and invertebrates.
The seed collected has an estimated
value of $1,000 per acre.
Meet at the manager’s residence (W7503
Kampen Rd.) by the farm buildings north-
west of the west pond. Contact Mark or
Sue at (608) 635-4160 or at goosep@cho-
rus.net for more information. You can also
reach us on Saturdays at (608) 333-9645.
For more information visit www.madi-
sonaudubon.org.
Share birding with senior
groups or school classes!
It’s easy to do with a PowerPoint
program and your love of birds.
Join us to learn or refresh your skills.
Bird Training Workshop
Wednesday, Oct. 7, 9:00 a.m.
Sequoya Library, at Midvale & Tokay
Blvd. in Madison
Black Tern Survey in
Southern Columbia
County
By Mark and Sue Foote-Martin
Black tern surveys have been conducted
in the Columbia County in 1980-1982
and 1995-1997. This year we were ask by
Dave Shealer to conduct the two surveys
routes in Columbia County. What a dif-
ference in 30 years in regard to habitat
and wildlife! This is a report on the first
survey conducted in southern Columbia
County on June 4th. We were also to
report other marsh birds.
We began at Goose Pond and found a
Red-necked Grebe (state-endangered) in
the middle of the pond. This was the only
sighting of a Red-necked Grebe we had
this spring. The second stop was to be at
holding ponds at the former Del Monte
Canning factory in Arlington. However,
we did not stop there since those ponds
were filled in when the plant closed in the
about 1997.
Next we headed to survey 4 locations at
Schoeneberg’s Marsh. At the first loca-
tion there were 3 Whooping Cranes in a
field, 1 Sandhill Crane on a nest, and 1
Red-necked Grebe. The next stop was at
Madison Audubon’s Erstad Prairie and
from the overlook of the prairie pothole
we found 1 Black Tern, 1 Great Egret
(state-threatened), 1 American Bittern, 3
Double-crested Cormorants, 10 Great Blue
Herons, and 6 broods of giant Canada
Geese.
The next stop was at the curve on
Harvey Road north of highway 60. The
road was closed due to high water and
will probably be permanently closed in
the near future. We surveyed that spot by
going through Erstad Prairie and found
22 Black Terns. Other wildlife found
included 1 pair of Sandhill Cranes with
one young, 1 drake Redhead, and 1 Green
Heron. Audubon volunteers monitor
Wood Duck boxes at this location, but we
did not see any Wood Ducks that day. At
the east end of Schoenberg’s Marsh there
were a many Turkey Vultures in the air.
Then we headed to Keyeser Marsh on
Highway K were we found one Great
Egret. Later in June the marsh was full
of White Pelicans and Great Egrets. At
the next marsh we found Yellow-headed
Blackbirds, one Marsh Wren and one
brood of Pied-Billed Grebes. The next
marshes were hard to observe due to tree
The Audubon Caws
growth in the past 25 years, blocking our
view.
At Otsego Marsh we found 3 Black Terns
and one brood of Canada Geese. We
traveled up the road to the next stop we
named the “Junkpile Ponds”, the former
sited of a car junk yard. Over 10 years ago
all the old cars were removed and no sign
remains of the large “junkyard”. There
we found 2 Wild Turkeys and 1 Cooper’s
Hawk.
The last two stops yielded 7 broods of
Canada Geese, 2 Great Blue Herons, and 1
Sandhill Crane.
We found 26 Black Terns compared to
an average of 40 in 1980-1982 and 17 in
1995-1997. Hopefully Black Tern numbers
would keep increasing in the long term.
The most interesting part of this survey
was finding many bird species that were
uncommon in the 1970s and 1980s pres-
ent that day. Older bird watchers really
appreciate increases in some bird species
in southern Wisconsin. We thought it
would be nice to summarize some species
that greatly increased in numbers.
- Canada Geese (giant variety) were rein-
troduced into Wisconsin. The Breeding
Bird Atlas (BBA) reported an estimated
1,600 giant Canada Geese were present
in Wisconsin in 1970 and by 2000 an esti-
mated 100,000 were found;
- Wood Ducks were not seen on the Black
Tern survey, however many Wood Ducks
use nest boxes erected by Audubon vol-
unteers in the local marshes. It is hard to
believe that the Wood Duck faced extinc-
tion in the early decades of the twentieth
century;
- Wild Turkeys were extripated from
Wisconsin in the late 1800s. Birds from
Missouri were reintroduced in 1976. The
BBA reported Wild Turkeys expanded
in Wisconsin by more than 32% per year
from 1980 to 2002;
- American White Pelicans were listed
in the BBA in the “Seldom Reported
Species”. Prior to 2000 they nested only
in Green Bay and in 2000 began nesting
in Horicon Marsh. Numbers have greatly
increased and pelicans were seen earlier
the day of the tern survey circling high
over Schoenberg’s Marsh;
- Double-crested Cormorants were state
threatened due to DDT in the 1970’s and
only nested at the Mead State Wildlife
Area. The BBA reported an estimated
10,500 pairs at 23 colonies in 1997.
5 September 2009
Numbers are now being reduced due to
concerns with their impact on sport fish;
- Turkey Vultures were uncommon to rare
in the early 1900s. Mike Mossman report-
ed in the BBA “Significant, mean annual
population increases were calculated at
15% for Wisconsin as shown by the 1966
to 2002 breeding bird survey;
- Cooper’s Hawks were impacted by DDT
and were listed as a threatened species in
1989. They are now probably one of the
commonest diurnal raptors in Wisconsin
according to Robert Rosenfield and John
Bielefeldt who summarized this species
in the BBA. Madison Audubon funded
Rosenfield’s Cooper’s Hawk research in
the 1980’s;
- Sandhill Cranes were estimated by Aldo
Leopold in the mid 1930s at about 25 pairs
statewide. Karen Etter Hale summarized
the Sandhill Crane in the BBA and it was
estimated that 850 cranes were found in
31 counties in 1973. .Atlas data estimated
3,000 – 4,000 pairs in Wisconsin in early
2000;
- Whooping Cranes were introduced to
Wisconsin in the late 1990s and the three
we found are part of the 70-80 birds in the
Wisconsin population.
Field Trips for Fall
Monday, Sept. 7: Pleasant Valley
Conservancy Tour
On Labor Day, Kathie and Tom Brock will
lead an afternoon trip, co-sponsored with
The Prairie Enthusiasts, at Pleasant Valley
Conservancy State Natural Area. The site is in
the Town of Vermont, south of Black Earth, in
the driftless area of southwestern Wisconsin.
The property contains prairie remnants, wet-
lands, and extensive oak savannas and has
been under intensive management for the
past eleven years. An extensive prescribed
burn program and judicious use of herbicides
have resulted in excellent control of invasive
brush. Hiking will be partly across steep bluffs;
long pants and good hiking shoes are recom-
mended.
Meet at the property at 1 p.m. The trip will
last three hours. From Black Earth take CTH F
to the west and then south for 5 miles. Turn left
on Pleasant Valley Rd. Park along the south
side by the driveway at Fire Number 4609. If
you have questions about the trip call Kathie
or Tom at (608) 238-5050, or kmbrock@charter.
net.
Saturday, Sept. 12: Birding Madison
School Forest
Enjoy a fall walk through this mature hard-
continued on next page
Field Trips . . .
continued from page 5
wood forest on well-maintained trails. We
hope to see a variety of sparrows, thrushes,
warblers and other fall migrants.  This trip will
last 2-3 hours.
Meet at the School Forest parking lot at 8 a.m.  lot at the beginning of the gated road. The trip
From the intersection of Hwys. 151 & 69 south
of Verona, go south on Hwy. 69 about one mile
and turn right on Riverside Rd.  Go west about
two miles and turn left on Fritz Rd., then south
about one mile to the curve and turn left into
the parking lot. Leaders are Peter Gorman and
Peter Fissel. Contact Peter at (608) 226-0260
(before 10 p.m.) or pfissel@library.wisc.edu
only if you have a question about the trip.
Saturday, Sept. 12: Bird Banding at
Biocore Prairie Bird Observatory
This easy fall field trip near Picnic Point runs
from 8 a.m. until noon. Come early or later in
the morning, stay the full time or just a few
minutes. See how birds are netted, banded,
measured and released, and discuss how
important information is gathered for man-
agement and conservation purposes. You can
expect to see resident songbirds and a variety
of other migrating birds in the hand. You
can accompany bird banders to the nets and
observe how they remove birds, band them,
and measure the birds at the mobile station.
Bring insect repellent. To get to the band-
ing station, take Lake Mendota Dr. and park
at Frautschi Point. Walk south through the
woods, keeping Lake Mendota on your left,
onto the Biocore Prairie. At the prairie, follow
the trail to your right, then left. The banding
station (aka picnic table) is at the top of the
prairie. Visitors not able to walk are asked to
contact the trip leader ahead of time for per-
mission to drive you to the site. Contact: Mara
McDonald, mamcdona@wisc.edu or (608) 274-
2534 before 8:30 p.m., please.
Saturday, Sept. 12: Monarchs & Fall Flowers
at Pheasant Branch Conservancy – NEW!
Join us on a walk through the lovely Pheasant
Branch Conservancy in Middleton. The many
beautiful asters should be in bloom, and we
hope lots of butterflies will be nectaring on
these flowers. We can expect several spe-
cies, including Monarchs, sulfurs, blues, and
possibly some southern immigrants, such
as Common Buckeye and Painted Lady. You
never know what you may find! We will also
learn more about restoration efforts at the
conservancy. Long pants, a hat, water, and
sturdy hiking shoes are recommended. Close-
focusing binoculars are also useful. We will
hike 2 or 3 miles. Leaders are Ann Thering
and Dreux Watermolen. Co-sponsors are
Friends of the Pheasant Branch Conservancy
and the Southern Wis. Butterfly Assn. Contact
the trip leaders only if you have questions:
Dreux Watermolen: (608) 266-8931, dreux.
watermolen@dnr.state.wi.us, or Ann Thering,
therannc@yahoo.com, (608) 836-1097.
The Audubon Caws
Meet in Middleton at noon. At the west end
of Lake Mendota take Allen Blvd. north, then
turn left on Century Ave. (CTH M). Track your
mileage as you turn right onto Old Creek Rd.
and then right on Pheasant Branch Rd. going
north 1.2 miles to the small county parking
will last until 3 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 20: Birding Zeloski Marsh
Zeloski Marsh has become a major stopover
for shorebirds—23 species were seen here dur-
ing spring migration—and is also frequented
by waterfowl and wading birds. This tour,
scheduled during fall migration, includes
about 1.5 miles of walking to get good views
of these birds. For a description of Zeloski
Marsh, check out the sanctuaries page on the
MAS website. Meet at the DNR parking lot at
the end of Alley Rd. at 9 a.m. Alley Rd. is off
CTH S, west of Lake Mills, south of CTH B
and north of CTH A. Bring lunch and a scope
if you have one. Contact Nolan Kollath at (920)
648-3842 or nkollath@charter.net with ques-
tions.
Saturday, Sept. 26: Lodi Marsh
Ice Age Trail Tour
Come visit a variety of plant communities and
bird habitats in the Lodi Marsh State Wildlife
Area. We will walk about a 5-mile segment
of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail from the
margin of the marsh, through wet meadows,
oak woodlands and savannas to hilltop prai-
ries. We will look for Sandhill Cranes, Great
Blue Herons and other birds, and enjoy the
autumn flowers and glacial rocks. We will
inspect wetland, prairie, and savanna restora-
tions and talk about the impact of glacial ice
sheets with trip leader and Ice Age Trail expert
Gary Werner. This is a joint trip with the Ice
Age Trail Alliance.
Bring lunch, water, binoculars and sturdy
shoes. Meet at 8 a.m. at the Copps parking lot
(6800 Century Ave.) in Middleton (Middleton
Heights) to carpool from the Madison area.  Or
you may join the trip at 8:45 a.m. at the Ice Age
Trail parking lot about 0.75 miles north of the
intersection of Lee and Lodi-Springfield roads
in the Town of Dane. The trip includes about
5 miles of walking on rough trails for 3 to 4
hours. Contact Gary Werner at (608) 249-2421
or nattrails@aol.com with questions.
Sunday, Sept. 27: Mushrooms & Lichens
of Indian Lake County Park
NOTE: Date and time changes
Join trip leaders Dan Lindner, Marie Trest
and Tom Volk in an exploration of the
mushrooms and lichens of Indian Lake
County Park west of Waunakee. Bring a
hand lens, if you have one, and all those
mushroom and lichen questions that have
been puzzling you. If fungi are abundant,
we may continue into the afternoon, so
you might like to bring a snack. You can
learn more about lichens at www.botany.
wisc.edu/wislichens/ and mushrooms
6 September 2009
at <tomvolkfungi.net>. Meet at 12 noon
in the Indian Lake parking lot (www.
co.dane.wi.us/lwrd/parks/indian_lake.
aspx). From Madison take Hwy. 12
northwest; turn left (west) on Hwy. 19;
go about 2 miles and turn left to enter
the park. This field trip is co-sponsored
by Madison Audubon Society and the
Wisconsin Mycological Society, (www.
wisconsinmycologicalsociety.org/index.
htm). Questions: Marie at mttrest@wisc.
edu.
 Saturday, Oct. 10:  Migrant Songbirds
of Pheasant Branch Conservancy
The focus of this field trip will be sparrow
species, including White-throated, Lincoln’s
and many others. We will also look for late
warblers, flycatchers, thrushes and other fall
migrants.
Meet at the Dane County Unit of Pheasant
Branch Conservancy, about 1-1/2 miles north
of Century Ave. in Middleton on Pheasant
Branch Rd. This is the third parking lot for
the conservancy on the right as you drive
north out of Middleton. The field trip begins
at 7:15 a.m. Bring warm clothes for cool early
morning fall weather. Call trip leader Mike
McDowell at (608) 850-4122 with any ques-
tions.
Donations: May, June & July
ACRE MAKER
The estate of Jill Martin
HALF-ACRE MAKER
In Memory of Amy Wood
Ken Wood
Levi and Janet Wood
MY OWN VISION
Louis and Frances Locke
David and Nancy Ludwig
Barbara Minz
Ginny Nelson
Richard and Andrea Zietko
GIFTS IN MEMORY OF A PERSON
In Memory of Jill Martin
Amy and Billy Chapin
Mark Martin and Sue Foote-Martin
Jon and Marilyn Peterson
In Memory of Mildred Martin and
Clifford Woerpel
Marcella Martin
Mark Martin and Sue Foote-Martin
GIFTS IN HONOR OF A PERSON
In Honor of Owl
Anonymous
In Honor of Brand Smith
David and Linda Voelz
 Membership, Renewal and Donation Form
NEW MEMBERS WELCOME!
Join Madison Audubon Society, or give a
gift membership.
TIME TO RENEW?
Check your Madison Audubon CAWS ad-
dress label to determine your renewal date.
Please renew two months before that date
to keep your membership current and avoid
missing any issues of the CAWS.
Tip: Renewing through the MAS office
directs more of your donation to local
activities and conservation projects.
Update: We now send an annual renewal
notice. In the future we plan to offer a re-
newal option via the MAS website.
MAKE A DONATION
Help make Madison Audubon’s vision a
reality. We offer education about the natural
world, opportunities to advocate for the en-
vironment, and two wildlife sanctuaries with
natural habitat where you can learn about
the beauty and value of nature.
MAIL TO:
MADISON AUDUBON SOCIETY
222 S. Hamilton St., Suite #1
Madison, WI 53703
Madison Audubon Society, Inc. is a tax-
exempt, not-for-profit organization under
Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue
Code. Donations are tax deductible to the
extent allowed by law. Madison Audubon’s
financial statement is available upon
request.
MADISON AUDUBON SOCIETY
President: Brand Smith
Vice-president: Debra Weitzel
Goose Pond resident managers:
Mark and Sue Martin
Faville Grove Sanctuary managers:
David Musolf, Roger Packard
Editor: Patrick Ready
pready@tds.net
Graphic design: Patrick Ready
pready@tds.net
CAWS printer: Roemer Printing
Submissions for the October CAWS
are due September 1.
The Audubon Caws
MY NAME__________________________
Address _ ______________________________
City_ __________________________________
State_____ ZIP__________________________
Day phone: ( )_______________________
E-mail_ ________________________________
YES! I want to
___ Join Madison Audubon
Society
___ Give a gift membership to:
Name _________________________________
Address _ ______________________________
City_ __________________________________
State_____ ZIP__________________________
Day phone: ( )_______________________
E-mail_ ________________________________
___ Renew/upgrade my membership
___ Make a donation
[ ] In memory of _______________________
[ ] In honor of _________________________
Please send notification of this gift to:
Name _________________________________
Address _ ______________________________
City_ __________________________________
State_____ ZIP__________________________
Day phone: ( )_______________________
E-mail_ ________________________________
[ ] Please do not acknowledge my
Gift in Madison Audubon CAWS.
THE AUDUBON CAWS is published
September through June by:
Madison Audubon Society,
222 S. Hamilton St., Madison, WI 53703,
(608) 255-2473.
Birding hotline, 255-2476.
www.madisonaudubon.org
masoffice@mailbag.com
E-mail services donated by Berbee
The mission of the Madison Audubon
Society is to educate our members and
the public about the natural world and the
threats that natural systems are facing,
to engage in advocacy to preserve and
protect these systems, and to develop and
maintain sanctuaries to save and restore
natural habitat.
7 September 2009
PAYMENT INFORMATION
New membership
[ ] $25 New or Gift $_________
Renewal _________
[ ] $25 Student/senior
[ ] $60 Family
[ ] $40 Renewal
[ ] $20 CAWS newsletter Only
(non-member)
Over and Above Member _________
[ ] Patron $1,000
[ ] Benefactor $500
[ ] Partner $250
[ ] Contributor $100
Donation _________
[ ] Acre-Maker, $2,500 or more
can purchase and restore
one acre of land
[ ] Half-Acre-Maker, $1,250-$2,499
[ ] Quarter-Acre-Maker, $625-$1,249
[ ] Adopt-an-Acre, $100 a year for
three years ($300 total). Here is
my first installment.
[ ] Nest Egg, $50 a year for three
years ($150 total). Here is my
first installment.
[ ] My Own Vision
Total enclosed/charged $_________
Please make check payable to
Madison Audubon Society,
OR please charge my
[ ] VISA [ ] Master Card
Name on card _______________________________
Card # _____________________________________
Expiration date _______/ _________
Signature __________________________________
Madison Audubon Wishlist
We greatly appreciate any
donations, or contributions, for the
following items.
• Quality binoculars
• Digital (LCD) projector
• Mule utility vehicle
•Rider mower/snow blower in
working condition
• Energy efficient washing
machine
• Household/deck furniture
• Small, custom-routed, wood signs
 Madison Audubon Society, Inc.
Brand Smith, President
222 S. Hamilton St. Suite #1
Madison, WI 53703
Black Terns in Wisconsin
see page 1
Audubon Adventure
Days at Goose Pond
Sanctuary
This fall, Madison Audubon’s educa-
tion committee will once again host
elementary school classes and home
school groups for a half-day of fun
environmental science-based learning
activities at Goose Pond Sanctuary.
Date: You choose your day and time,
between September 15 and October 20.
Time: You choose morning or after-
noon. Sample times: 9:00-11:30 a.m., or
12:00-2:30 p.m.
Location: Goose Pond Sanctuary, near
Arlington
Free bus transportation for the first
three school groups to sign up this fall;
some restrictions apply.
Kids and families can expect to experi-
ence the natural magic of the prairie
during fall migration! We know that
kids learn best when they are engaged
and having fun. Every Audubon
Adventure Day will include:
• Bird watching at Goose Pond
• Prairie seed collecting tours
• Kid-friendly, science-based environ-
The Audubon Caws
9/09
Is it time to renew your membership?
See form on page 7 and help MAS.
NOW IS THE TIME TO GIVE TIME:
HELP REAP PRAIRIE SEED!
SEE INFO ON PAGE 4
mental activities and games, including
Sleeping Badger, a simulation game,
Goose Pond Sanctuary
Background Info:
and Critter Quest, which is all about
insects.
Currently 664 acres are owned by Madison
Audubon at Goose Pond. Over 250 species
When children engage in the real of birds have been sighted at this prairie
work of preserving and protecting the pothole, located 15 miles north of Madison.
natural world around them, they gain During spring (mid-March to mid-April) and
a sense of ownership and satisfaction, fall (October to mid-November) migration,
and the reassuring realization that they thousands of waterfowl can be observed.
are a part of the larger whole. All of our
Goose Pond is one of Wisconsin’s
activities are kid-tested, safe and fun.
Watchable Wildlife Areas and a designated
Kids leave with a new first-hand expe-
State Natural Area. The major focus at
riential understanding of the prairie
Goose Pond is wetland preservation
ecosystem.
and restoration and tall grass prairie
Last fall, we viewed and identified
restoration. Seven endangered and
hundreds of birds representing 18
threatened plant species are currently
species, including numerous ducks,
being restored. Grassland birds such
Canada Geese, hawks, pheasants,
as Sedge Wrens and Dickcissels have
cranes, and Tundra Swans. We will
greatly increased. An information kiosk
provide both scopes and a kit equipped
along Prairie Lane (south of Goose Pond)
with child-size binoculars, and our bird
provides information on prairie trails that
experts will ensure that every child will
are open for public use.
have an inspiring and successful bird
watching experience.
To reserve an Audubon Adventure
Day for your school or home school
group, please email Nancy Hylbert,
at nhylbert@yogaforhealth.net, or call
(608) 271-0956.
8