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US POSTAGE
PAID
OSHKOSH WI
PERMIT NO 90

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

OFFICERS
President:
Janet Wissink
920-589-2602
wiss@centurytel.net NOVEMBER 2007 All programs and activities are open to the public VOL. 28, NO. 4
Vice President:
Pat Nichols P.O. Box 184, Oshkosh, WI 54903 l Published eight times a year
920-426-0261 Editor: Janet Wissink, 7035 Mountain Rd., Pickett, WI 54964 l 920-589-2602 l wiss@centurytel.net
jvnichols@earthlink.net
Secretary: Zaiga Freivalds Check our website for up-to-date information: www.winaudubon.org
920-233-5914

Owls - Birds of Prey

zaigam@charter.net
Treasurer: Dave Moon
920-235-4429
djmoon@northnet.net
DIRECTORS Thursday, November 15 - 7:00 p.m.
Carla Hansen RENEWALS: Your mailing label includes your membership expiration date above your Evergreen Retirement Community, 1130 N. Westfield St., Oshkosh - downstairs meeting room
920-233-1129 name. If you are a “Chapter Only” member the word CHAPTER will appear after the
carlajhansen@sbcglobal.net expiration date. Please renew your chapter membership by filling out the application
Tom Underwood form below. Thank you for helping us save on the cost of renewal reminders. Owls are the mysterious messengers that deliver mail to Harry Potter and the other
920-426-0349 If you are a member of National Audubon, you will receive renewal notices from Na- students at Hogwarts. We think of owls as wise, old birds. I love to hear the great
thomasj335@sbcglobal.net tional or you may renew by using the form below. horned owls calling to one another from the pines out in back or even from my
television antenna. I welcome them to my yard, these birds of prey, because they
keep the rabbit population under control.
Winnebago Audubon Society Mission Statement: Advance the mission of the National Audubon Society
to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of Winnebago Audubon in conjunction with Wild Ones Natural Landscapers welcomes
humanity and the earth’s biological diversity through grassroots efforts of community outreach and advocacy. you to meet a great horned owl up close at our meeting on November 15. Bird
rehabilitator, Ann Rosenberg, will bring a great horned owl, a screech owl, and a red-
tailed hawk. Ann cares for these three educational birds of prey which cannot be
released into the wild because of injuries.
AUDUBON SOCIETY Welcome New Audubon Members
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION Doug Akey Please join us in learning about these beautiful birds of prey. This program is free
Pat Bernhardt and open to the public. For more information please contact Janet at 920-589-2602 or wiss@centurytel.net
q YES, I want to become a member at the chapter
Thomas Colgrove
level and receive the Winnebago Audubon newsletter. Nancy Flanagan
I’ve enclosed a $20.00 check payable to Winnebago Jennifer Hadel
Audubon. Bryan Leinweber
The Malouf Family
Upcoming Audubon Events
q YES, I want to become a member of the National
Audubon Society, and the Winnebago Audubon Chap- Michael Nowicki
Elizabeth Olson
Watch for more details in future newsletters
ter. My membership dues entitle me to Audubon
magazine, and all chapter benefits. I am enclosing a
Cecelia Ostertag Saturday, January 26: Toward Harmony with Nature 12th annual natural landscaping conference
Brenda Reese
$20.00 check payable to National Audubon Society. Dexter Schaubs
presented by Wild Ones at the Oshkosh Hilton. For more information or to register on-line visit www.for-
Lawrence Weidner wild.org/chapters/foxvalley. Or contact Karen Syverson at 920-987-5587 or ksyve@core.com.
q I do not wish to receive correspondence or solicita-
John and Gail Ann Winkler
tions from National Audubon Society. February: Great Backyard Bird Count and Birdwatching Workshop
Be sure to take part in the Winnebago Audubon Society
Name: events that appeal to you. As a member of National March: Bluebirds
Audubon you receive membership in the local chapter. We
are happy to have you and hope that you find new
April: Crane Count, White River Marsh and Woodcocks, Earth Day, Frogs
Address: opportunities for supporting the environment through your May: Birdathon, Birds and Wild Flowers at Waukau Creek
membership. Please contact me if you have any questions
City/State/Zip: regarding membership or interest in becoming June: Turtles
Chapter Code: Z12 7XCH more involved with the chapter.
Mail this form with payment to:
Pat Nichols, VP, Membership Chair
July: Bats
Pat Nichols, Membership Chair
P.O. Box 184, Oshkosh, WI 54903
(email me at: jvnichols@earthlink.net) August: Monarch Tagging
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Needed: Citizen Monitors for
Wisconsin’s First Salamander Survey
The Wisconsin Audubon Council, Inc. (WAC,) a coalition
of the state’s 14 independent chapters and two National
Audubon centers, received a grant from the Citizen-Based
Monitoring Network of Wisconsin in August 2007 to Magenta, Mauve and Rose arrivals do low fly-by passes, then gain altitude, bank and
coordinate a statewide survey of salamanders. Members of return to fly by once again. A few birds eventually land
Wisconsin Audubon chapters will serve as citizen monitors. The gentle back-country ride home from “up north” is with quickening wing flaps and extended legs. They
Each monitor or volunteer family will place live traps in special this late October afternoon. Winds are calm. The disappear into the distant tall vegetation. Additional
local wetland sites that experts have identified as potential air is cooling as the temperature dips after an unusually sandhills arrive from neighboring fields while others seem
breeding habitats. Volunteers will check the traps daily warm October day. Autumn colors are in full display. The undecided and fly off to unknown destinations. It seems
over a two week period in early April and enter their catch countryside seems asleep as there is little avian or animal like chaos in the sky with several hundred birds flying
results on a data sheet. activity to catch my attention. But that is to be expected as every which way. The birds talk constantly, their haunting
Wisconsin has seven salamander species. The survey the spurt of renewed growth and the time-absorbing calls carrying in the stillness. Sandhill crane talk is music
focuses on four species that breed in shallow woodland business of perpetuating the species is completed for I’ll always cherish.
pools: the tiger, spotted and blue-spotted salamanders and another year. The sun has departed. Cloud bottoms are once again
the central newt. This survey brings attention to these Volunteer monitors will survey wetlands for blue-spotted, Then I hear the familiar raucous rattle of sandhill cranes.
secretive creatures, gives wildlife managers’ much-needed spotted and tiger salamanders. Looking up, I discover several small flocks winging low
distribution data, and promotes the value of wetlands and overhead, traveling the same direction as we are. These
woodland pools. graceful, four-foot tall birds are flying effortlessly with slow,
According to Randy Korb, WAC president and project training and receive traps and locations of monitoring sites rhythmical yet powerful wing beats. They are catching and
director, willing participants must belong to or join an before the survey begins in late March 2008. Each chapter overtaking us.
Audubon chapter to become a salamander citizen monitor. must also have a coordinator that will communicate with We all seem to be heading to Lund’s swamp, our name
Each chapter will have up to 5 monitors. No prior monitors, collect their data, and report back to Korb. for a special wetland in Navarino Wildlife area. Rimmed by
experience is required and family members (parents and If you are interested in becoming a volunteer salamander white pines, colorful red maples, burgundy-hued oaks and
school-aged children) are especially encouraged to join the monitor and/or our chapter’s coordinator, please contact yellow-leafed aspens, this swamp is our favorite
survey. Monitors will receive web-based or workshop Janet Wissink at 920-589-2602 or wiss@centurytel.net. destination to witness Wisconsin’s abundant wetland
wildlife. Whether it be a bald eagle perched on a dead
snag or black terns upset with our presence or mating
dragonflies or “peenting” woodcocks, each time we visit,
the swamp shares a secret or inspires a special memory.
Today is no exception.
The sun is sinking below the horizon but is obscured by
a scattering of low-scudding clouds. The disappearing steely blue-gray but now the western clouds part revealing
sun’s gift to us is a glorious sunset. The cloud bottoms are a sky colored with many hues of magenta, mauve and
awash in magenta brilliance, changing in coverage and rose. A distant flock of twelve sandhill cranes passes by
intensity as the minutes slip by. Then shafts of magenta where the sun had been only moments before. Their dark
light rise from the horizon—backlighting tall pines and silhouettes against the colorful sky enhances an already
composing a truly stunning picture. With the ever- stunning picture. With my camera at home, it becomes an
changing kaleidoscope of color, it’s difficult to look away. indelible image captured only in my memory.
Yet I turn to the east and there is the half moon peeking Finally, the sandhill cranes settle in for the night.
briefly from behind a cloud, its white surface becoming Squawking diminishes. Darkness overtakes us. The moon
brighter as evening deepens. is as bright as ever in the clear northern air. Stars twinkle.
Noisy sandhill cranes continue to converge on the It’s time to go. The beautiful magenta afterglow stays with
swamp, winging in from several directions. Lund’s swamp us for many miles. Then it too slips into the peacefulness
Falconry Demonstration Draws a Crowd is a safe place for them to roost for the night. The early of night.
Falconer Randy Stoeger of Menasha introduces Myra, his
Harris hawk, to Winnebago Audubon Society members and
guests (above). Myra has been trained in the legendary art of
falconry by Randy. Falconers can use their birds to hunt rabbits FOR SALE:
and gray squirrels year-round but must abide by all other game Sturdy, Cedar The perfect
laws to pursue other species. Falconry is heavily regulated, with
state and federal testing and licensing required. Leopold Benches gift for the nature
Myra allowed us to tag along for an afternoon of hunting. lover in your life.
We flushed at least seven rabbits for her by walking in a
Assembled: $75.00
crooked line through the tall grass and briars, but she just or Kits: $65.00
wasn’t hungry enough. Still, she looked sleek and beautiful, (Pre-drilled, hardware & instructions included.)
whether perched in the treetops or gliding gently overhead.
To purchase your bench, just contact Dave
No one was disappointed, however, because it wasn’t about
getting the rabbit, it was about being a part of the natural
at 920-235-4429 or djmoon@northnet.net
world, if only for a short time.