Beaver Creek Reserve Celebrates the Season of Gratitude

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time for family, friends, and good food. But, as the name implies, it is also a time to remember what you are thankful for. 

Here at Beaver Creek Reserve, we have much to be thankful for. In the last three years, we have experienced tremendous growth and have completed several large-scale capital projects. Our staff would like to share what we are each thankful for. 

Jeanette and her son enjoying
Tadpole Toddler Camp

"I am thankful for the new Tadpole Toddler Camp; my child loved it and can't wait to attend next year! I am thankful for all the new opportunities at BCR geared towards early childhood. I am thankful to be able to work on things I truly care about. I am thankful to have such great people to work with. I am thankful to call this 400 acres my office. I am thankful to have work in an environment that is open to the staff's ideas. I am thankful and amazed to have such committed and passionate volunteers. I am thankful for every person that approaches me with questions about nature.  It shows people are thinking, concerned, and care. I am thankful for every parent and grandparent that bring their kids to BCR.” 
             --Jeanette Kelly, Citizen Science Director

Jim Schwiebert Tagging Monarchs

"I am thankful for all the people who consistently step up to volunteer for all things butterfly related here at Beaver Creek. It is such a tremendous outreach to our region of the state and beyond, and we simply cannot do it without the dedicated core of volunteers that we have. I'm also thankful for all of the relationships I've developed with those volunteers! We are blessed to have such a wonderful group of people to call our volunteers and friends!

           --Jim Schwiebert, Naturalist

"I am thankful that I work for such a family-friendly place. I am thankful for my great coworkers that make work a fun and happy place.” 

       --Julie Felske, Database Coordinator

Bcr Staff catching butterflies

“I am so thankful to come to work each day and feel like what I do makes a difference.  I am thankful for my supportive co-workers who have become my extended family.  I am thankful that BCR is so supported and respected in the community. I am truly grateful to all the volunteers, board members and donors who give their time and money to ensure the future of this incredible place!”

         --Brianne Markin, Marketing and Development Coordinator

"I am so thankful to the members and donors who gave not only money but considerable amounts of time.  We accomplished a lot this year, and we could not have done it without them!"
        --Jerad Polden, Caretaker

Ruth Forsgren tapping trees with a guest at French Toast Breaskfast

"I am thankful for all the volunteers that help our programming go so well.  I am thankful for the contagious excitement of a 5-year-old, that makes my job new and fresh each day as well as the wide-eyed wonder I see when people meet Luna, Aurora or any of our animal ambassadors for the first time.  Lastly, I am thankful for the opportunities I have to share the awesomeness of nature with visitors of all ages."
       -- Ruth Forsgren, BCR Naturalist 

"I am thankful to have a dream job. Really, I have thought about what it would be like to work at a place like Beaver Creek long before I ever realized it could be a possibility here. Prior to working here I always placed a strong value on the land and programs that make this place so special, but as work here longer the relationships with the “friends” of Beaver Creek are most rewarding part. Getting to work alongside so many talented and amazing volunteers, staff, board and members makes me look forward to my job each day.

Solar Ribbon Cutting August 2017

2017 has been an especially thankful year with our large donation and the creation of the solar array on the Nature Center and then being able to generate all our electricity through solar power with the leasing of Eau Claire Energy Coop’s solar program. Having something like a solar-powered nature center was something that I hoped that could be accomplished in a decade and it all happened in a few months this year! I learn new things every day, I’m inspired, I’m humbled and most of all I am Thankful to be a part of such a great organization."

         -- Erik Keisler, Executive Director

Thanksgiving is also a time to consider end-of-year giving-- how you can use what you have to benefit others. For six years, Giving Tuesday, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, has been an amazing global campaign to give the season greater meaning and to channel funds, gifts, and time into worthy causes. This year, Giving Tuesday is November 28th, and it is the perfect way for you to give back. 

As you think about Giving Tuesday, we ask that you consider giving to Beaver Creek Reserve. We need your help in order to continue our mission of connecting people with nature. 

To make a monetary donation, visit our donation page at https://www.beavercreekreserve.org/support/donations/. 

To learn more about volunteer opportunities at Beaver Creek Reserve, visit our volunteer page at https://www.beavercreekreserve.org/support/volunteer/. 

We are thankful for you! We wish you and your family a safe and happy holiday filled with many things that make you grateful. 

Get Your Holiday Craft On!

Holiday Crafting for Kids 2017

Holidays are the perfect time to continue long-standing traditions and one of Beaver Creek Reserve’s favorites is Holiday Crafting for Kids.

For over 15 years, this event has brought people together in the spirit of the season to be creative and make something fun for a gift or decoration. Join us on Saturday, November 18 from 10 am – 12 pm for this year’s holiday fun!

Over the course of the morning, each child will work on 4-6 crafts or activities focused on Thanksgiving and Winter themes. Watch as upcycled or recycled materials, from pinecones to sticks to toilet paper tubes, are transformed into something truly precious. Your child's boundless imagination will show through in the adorable projects they make. This program is great for kids of all ages, so you can bring the whole family along!

This year, there will also be a special “Green Saturday” sale in the Nature Center Store where everything is 20 percent off for both members and non-members.   

Holiday Crafting for Kids costs $6 per child for members and $8 per child for non-members. There is no charge for adult helpers—enjoy spending festive time with your young ones! All materials are included in the cost of the program, and a snack (gluten-free)  is also provided. 

Registration closes on Monday, November 13^th, so register now! at https://www.beavercreekreserve.org/reservation/event/1063/.

We can’t wait to celebrate the holidays with you!

To Migrate or Not to Migrate: That is the Question

What do birds do in winter? This article from the November/December 2017 edition of Woodprints has all the answers to that age-old question. Plus, stay tuned for links at the end to great homemade bird feeders that are the perfect projects for a cold, winter day!

Written by Ruth Forsgren, BCR Naturalist

When I ask kids what birds do in the winter, the common answer is migrate or fly south. Honestly, I think a lot of adults would answer the same way. But, there are a lot of non-migratory birds that tough out the winter months.  That raises an interesting question: why wouldn’t a bird head to milder climates for the winter months?  Well, migration is hard. Flying hundreds or even thousands of miles requires a lot of fuel. You have to find a safe hotel in a good neighborhood, compete with the crowds for everything, and have top notch navigation equipment. There are flight delays due to weather, plus many other trials for the avian traveler.

Make no mistake—staying here in the north isn’t a picnic in the park either. The birds that stay have special coping mechanisms for our variable winter weather.  Whenever temperatures take a severe nosedive, I hear people say how badly they feel for the wildlife. Yes, -20°F is tough, but 10°F to 20°F all day and night isn’t easy either. 

Black-capped Chickadee by Jason Mikelson

Small birds like chickadees have several ways to help them survive winter. As winter approaches, they store seeds in cracks of fences, tree bark, or wherever they can stuff a seed. Studies have shown that they can remember a lot of these hiding spots because they actually increase the number of neurons in their brains, expanding their brain volume by up to 30% and allowing for more memory storage (Cal State University study). Once the snow and cold temperatures arrive, these small birds are eating machines. They eat for most of their waking hours, filling up on the heaviest, fattest foods they can find. 

You may notice that birds seem to come to the feeders in flocks during the winter months. There are a couple of advantages to this behavior. When there are a lot of eyes watching, it is harder for predators to sneak up, and if they do, you simply have to be faster than the guy next to you. Huddling together with friends is also a great way to conserve heat during the dark nights.

Many small birds practice regulated hypothermia. A chickadee may be able to drop their core temperature by 15°F, which can save them about 25% of energy needed to maintain body temperature per hour. They fluff their feathers to trap air near the body and provide insulation against heat loss.  Small birds are also experts in shivering. Unlike the entire body jiggle that cold humans experience, birds activate opposing muscle groups, and these muscle contractions generate heat.

Can we help make winter a little easier for our feathered friends? You bet! You can offer black-oil sunflower seeds or suet at your feeders, since both provide the heavy fats birds need. If you leave nest boxes closed, birds can use them as roosting spots out of the wind and precipitation. You can also place brush piles or old Christmas trees near feeders so birds can get out of the wind. Finally, you can offer water in a clean, heated birdbath because water is needed and hard to find during long cold stretches.

These DIY Winter Bird Feeders and Homemade Bird Feeders will help you take care of your bird friends this winter and make a fun project in the meantime! Make these bird feeders with your kids, and enjoy their wonder in caring for the birds. 

Black Bear, Black Bear How Do You Spend Winter?

We continue to receive lots of questions about hibernation.  We'd like to reach back to the Woodprints archives from the winter of 2015 and share the cover article.

Written by Ruth Forsgren, BCR Naturalist

When I was taking animal behavior and other like classes at UW Steven’s Point, I was taught that black bears were not true hibernators. Animals like chipmunks and woodchucks were true hibernators while bears were loosely defined as deep sleepers. Under the old definition of hibernation that looked solely at the lowering of body temperature to near freezing, bears were not hibernators. Scientists have redefined hibernation to include continuous periods of inactivity and/or reductions in heart and metabolic rates. With these broadened parameters, bears are one of the best-of-the-best when it comes to hibernation. Bears cut their metabolic rate by 50 to 75%, breathing only once every 45 seconds, their heart rate drops from about 100 beats per minute (bpm) to between 8 and 20 bpm, and blood flow to skeletal muscles is reduced by 45%.

                                                                   

Black Bear by Hope Rutledge

There are differences in how animals hibernate. Small animals like chipmunks will store food in the den while black bears store body fat. The den of the chipmunk will usually be below the frost line and sealed. Temperatures in the burrow will not usually drop below freezing. A black bear den is open and will roughly match outside temperatures. A hibernating chipmunk’s body temperature will drop to about 40°F while the black bear’s temperature will only drop about 12° to between 88 to 90°F. Chipmunks will periodically raise body temperatures, awaken, eat stored foods and produce wastes throughout the winter. Bears will go through periods of being somewhat awake but can go up to 7 months without eating, drinking or producing wastes.

During hibernation, a male bear will lose 15 to 30% of their weight, while pregnant females can lose up to 40%. The weight they lose is mostly fat, with little loss in muscle or bone mass. The bears also emerge from the dens without being severely dehydrated or having any loss of organ function.  How they do this is still a mystery, but it is being heavily studied by doctors and scientists that can see many applications benefiting humans, from keeping bed-ridden patients from losing muscle to an induced hibernation state for space exploration. (Click here to learn more about recent research)

Surprisingly it is estimated that 99% of bears that safely enter hibernation will survive the winter. Those that do not survive usually have died from predation or flooding of the den and not starvation. A bear must be ready when winter comes, which means in late summer to early fall they go through a stage known as hyperphagia, or a period of overeating. A bear with unlimited resources can eat 15,000 to 20,000 kcals (1 kcal = 1000 calories) and drink several gallons of water. Later in the fall, the bears will transition by eating less but continuing to drink water to purge the system of wastes.

Photo Courtesy of Joe Motto, BCR Photo Club

Personally, I am a tad bit jealous of the bears. When our winters are exceptionally cold or long I wish I too could put my head between my paws and sleep, at least through a few of the worst days.

Want to learn more about the black bears of Wisconsin?  Come to a special program taught by Dave Schmidt on Saturday, November 4th from 10:00 - 11:00 am at the Wise Nature Center. Click here for more information. 

Explore the Beauty of the Lower Chippewa River

The Tiffany Train Ride is a great way to experience the natural
wonders of the Lower Chippewa River.

The Lower Chippewa River is one of The Nature Conservancy's 327 Critical Watersheds for Conservation. This stretch of the river has designated four Wildlife Areas, three State Natural Areas, one Extensive Wildlife Habitat Area, as well as a 72,000 acre Important Bird Area. These properties are home to 125 rare species, 87 vertebrate Species of Greatest Conservation need and 20 Endangered, Threatened or Special Concern mussel, dragonfly and mayfly species.  139 bird species breed within the Lower Chippewa River Important Bird Area, and 70% of fish species present in Wisconsin are found in the Lower Chippewa River.

If you wish to experience some of the natural wonders found along the Lower Chippewa River, come spend the day with Citizen Science Center staff and special guests on an open-air antique train as it chugs along 14 miles of track through the Tiffany Bottoms on Saturday September 16.  Topics will include property management, use of the area by Native Americans, plants, birds, Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake, and more!  Registration fees support the Citizen Science Center. For more details visit our website or the Chippewa Valley Motor Car Association website http://www.chippewavalleymotorcarassociation.ellawisc.com/ or contact Jeanette at csc@beavercreekreserve.org.

Massagauga Rattlesnake, Photo Courtesy
 of Joe Crowley,
Nature Ontario and USFW

Register Now

Written by Emily Lind, CSC Technician

Bigfoot Sighted at Beaver Creek Reserve

You read that right.  Bigfoot and his family will be at Beaver Creek Reserve all summer long, as part of the featured book on the Storybook Hiking Trail.  Some say Bigfoot is just a myth. But real or not, one thing is certain; Bigfoot knows his birds of North America (and trees and mammals, but those are different stories).  Follow the Bigfoot family as they explore nature and learn to identify our common feathered friends.

Everything kicks off with the opening Storybook Hiking Trail Program on Friday, June 23rd from 12:15 - 1:30 pm at Wise Nature Center at Beaver Creek Reserve.  Authors and illustrators of Walking with Bigfoot: A Beginner's Field Guide to Birds of North America will be the hosts for this very special edition of the Storybook Hiking Trails program.  Sharen and Mark Mellicker of Nature Lover Books, the authors of the Walking with Bigfoot series will be offering a special reading of their book, alongside other fun activities related to the book.


Preregistration is required. To register for the program click here.

Mark and Sharen Mellicker

Where, oh Where Has Our Little Bird Gone?

Courtesy of the BCR Bird Banders

One of the long-term activities of the Beaver Creek Reserve Citizen Science Center is bird banding. Bird banding is the practice of capturing wild birds, placing a uniquely numbered identification band on their leg, and releasing them. The banding of birds in the United States is controlled under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and requires a U.S. Federal Bird Banding and Marking Permit.

Bird banding data are useful for research, management, and conservation projects. It makes it possible to identify individual birds and allows for studies of bird movements as well as providing information on survival rate, population sizes, reproductive success, and other scientific analysis.

Most of the birds we band are small songbirds captured as they come in to feed at feeding stations at the Reserve or nearby private properties. It is not unusual for us to recapture many of these birds, some multiple times. But we rarely get reports that one of “our birds” was found by someone else away from the place it was originally banded. Encounter rates for waterfowl and gamebirds banded by government authorities to manage hunting can be considerably higher, but it has been estimated that fewer than 1 in 10000 banded songbirds are ever reported to the USGS Bird Banding Laboratory (BBL) after being encountered by someone other than the original bander. This number seems to be increasing slightly since the coming of the internet, but it is still exciting when a bander receives a notice from the BBL that a bird they banded has been found.

Over the years, the BCR banders have gotten such reports for several songbirds we have banded, such as Pine Siskins that were probably killed when they flew into windows, one in California and one in Alberta, Canada; a Mourning Dove shot by a hunter in Luling, Texas; a Purple Finch in Entwistle, Alberta, Canada; two American Goldfinches from Texas; and more from much closer in Wisconsin and other nearby states.

It is always with some degree of excitement that we open the attachment in an email with the subject “Report to bander” from the BBL. Whether it informs us of a Purple Finch recaptured by another bander in Entwistle or a Common Grackle that was killed when it flew into a backyard neighbor’s window in Eau Claire, we are always happy to get feedback on where “our” birds have gone.

This week we received such a “Report to bander” informing us that a male Rose-breasted Grosbeak we banded at the Reserve on May 10, 2012 was found dead on May 4, 2017 in Pineville, Rapides Parish, Louisiana. This bird was likely on its return migration from somewhere in Central or South America to Wisconsin or farther north when it perished.

Remote encounters with neotropical species, birds like Rose-breasted Grosbeaks that breed in our area in the summer but return to the tropics for the rest of the year, are almost never reported. Prior to last year we had never gotten a report of any neotropical migrant being encountered more than a few miles from where it was banded. In the tropics, where people are less aware of things like bird banding, someone who might incidentally encounter a bird with a band usually has no idea of what to do with it or has no easy way to report it.

Over the years, in addition to the unique 9-digit identification number, bands have been stamped with various short directions on how to report the information to the BBL. Larger bands contain more information than the smaller bands used on songbirds, but in an age before Google and texting these shorthand directions were often cryptic and unlikely to be followed. Stories are told that one such inscription, “Rept Wash Biol Serv” when bird banding was under a government department known as the Washington Biological Service, was discontinued quickly when it was discovered that it was being interpreted as “Repeat Wash, Boil, and Serve” even by people in the United States. Today, bands are more likely to simply give a 1-800 phone number or an internet address for reporting the band number to the BBL.

What about that report from last year? While the report of a banded Rose-breasted Grosbeak in Louisiana was indeed exciting, it reminded us of the one from last year. You can imagine our surprise and pleasure when the notice we received last year was for one of those neotropical migrants and our longest distance encounter ever reported. Another Male Rose-breasted Grosbeak that had been banded by our off-site banders outside of Eleva in June, 2012, had been shot by hunting children on a farm near Somotillo, Nicaragua on December 26, 2015.

Green arrows on map indicate where other birds banded at Beaver Creek Reserve have also been reported.

 If you find a dead bird, check to see if it is wearing a band. If you see a bird with a band coming to your feeder and you have a digital camera try to take pictures of the band. You may not be able to photograph the entire number but could get enough digits to allow tracing the band. Then report the band number (or portion of the number) on the internet at <www.reportband.gov> or by calling 1-800-327-BAND.