Thanking the Fathers of Conservation

Thanksgiving is almost here and every year I try to find something new to be thankful for. Now more than ever, the environment and natural landscapes face a monumental threat in the form of human behavior, so I’ve decided to be thankful for the select group of individuals who recognized this threat and took the first steps toward eradicating it. 

"We abuse land because we see it as a commodity belonging
to us. When we see land as a community to which we
belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect."
-Aldo Leopold

First, I would like to thank Aldo Leopold. Leopold was born in 1887 in Iowa, where he caught the conservation bug at an early age. About a decade after graduating Yale Forest School, Leopold made the move up to Wisconsin where he began most of his conservation and restoration work. Perhaps his most infamous ecological experiment was the restoration of an old farm land just outside of Baraboo, WI. During the weekends that he was at “the Shack”, Leopold spent his time planting pine trees and restoring prairies. This experiment highlights his ideas of “land ethics”, which calls for a caring relationship between people and nature - something we could use a little more of today. 

"When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it
attached to the rest of the world." -John Muir

Second, I would like to thank the “Father of our National Park System”, John Muir. Muir was born in 1883 in Scotland, but then later moved to the United States. Muir wore many hats, some of which were as a naturalist, a farmer, an inventor, an explorer, a writer, and a conservationist. A fateful trip out to California’s Sierra Nevada region changed Muir’s life forever. The beauty of the natural landscape at Yosemite National Park had Muir in awe and so he began working to ensure that this beauty would remain untouched. In 1892, Muir and some of his supporters formed the Sierra Club, where they fought against business men and others who wanted to diminish the borders of Yosemite. 

"Conservation means development as much as it means protection.
I recognize the right and the duty of this generation to develop and
use the natural resources of our land; but I do not recognize the
right to waste them, or to rob, by wasteful use, the generations that
come after us." -Teddy Roosevelt

Lastly, I would like to thank Teddy Roosevelt. Roosevelt was the 26th president of the United States and was arguably one of the most environmentally conscious presidents this country has ever seen. Shortly after becoming president in 1901, Roosevelt founded the United States Forest Service (USFS) with the Department of Agriculture where he established five national parks, 150 national forests, four national game preserves, 51 federal bird reserves, and 18 national monuments through enabling the American Antiquities Act. It’s estimated that Roosevelt protected about 230 million acres of public land during his presidency. 

Resident Reptile

I enjoyed a hike at BCR on the cool afternoon of Thursday, Oct. 4th. On the trail that parallels the Eau Claire River, arriving down the east ridge and following the flow westward, I came across a 2' snake just lying there on the trail. It was motionless except for a flitting tongue and curled tail tip, and it was emitting a hissing sound at about 30-second intervals. It posed for photos, showing off colorful bull/rattler type symmetrical designs and a flat head; it was very unusual looking. I touched it gently, first with a hiking pole, then gloved fingertips, but got no response. I stepped over it and resumed the hike up onto the west ridge and back to the trailhead.

Internet "research" zeroed in on heterodon platirhinos, an Eastern Hognose snake, also known as "hiss adder, blow viper, spreading adder, bastard rattlesnake..." It's native to North America, usually southern Georgia, and their diet favors amphibians, particularly toads. The hissing sound appeared to be coming from the middle of the body, not the mouth...(maybe off-gassing a digesting toad?)

 

I missed other photo ops that day; a large 4-foot plus crane was wading in the shallows and it startled a small duck-billed bird that flew over the creek backwaters. Thank you for the many hours of exercise, solitude, and photos throughout the various seasons.

BCR member Keith Luer, Eau Claire
(*From our naturalists: Yes!  This is a Hognose snake.  As far as we know their diet consists solely of toads.  Also, our property is outside of the range of most crane species other than Sandhills.  There was a pair of Sandhill Cranes that were attempting to nest near this area. While we do not doubt Mr. Luer's knowledge, Great Blue Herons are more likely to be seen this time of year.  We thank Keith for taking the time to share his story and photos with us.)

Unique Nest Box Discovery

Written by Judy Schwarzmeier

Members of the Beaver Creek Reserve banding crew have been out checking American Kestrel Nestboxes and had a unique discovery recently.  

American Kestrel 1783-89541 was banded on July 5, 2016 when it was still a baby in the nest.  (The 'nest' is in a box made for birds of this size, filled with wood shavings, and placed on a tall pole.)  Judy Schwarzmeier, one of Beaver Creek Reserve's volunteer bird banders, put the band on the young bird's leg that day.  At the time we could not tell whether 1783-89541 was a boy or a girl because it just had the downy white pin feathers of a baby, with no distinguishing adult feathers.  It couldn't fly and needed both its mom and dad to bring food to it and its four siblings.  

It grew up in one of several nest boxes along County Hwy D in eastern Eau Claire County that the BCR banders have been monitoring.  Once 1783-89541 was able to fly and hunt for food on her own, she probably left our area and went south for the winter, perhaps to central or southern areas of the U.S.  

Then two years later on May 21, 2018, when the kestrel banding crew was out doing theirregular nest box check, one box had an adult female sitting on five eggs.  She had a band on her leg, which turned out to be 1783-89541!  She was not in the same box where she grew up, but in a different one just a few miles down the road on County Hwy D from the one where she had hatched and fledged.  

The kestrel crew was very excited when they looked back in the old banding records to see when and where the band with the number 1783-89541 had been used.  It might not seem like a big deal, but this is the first time in all our years of monitoring kestrel nest boxes (about 12 years or more, during which we've banded hundreds of young kestrels), that one of our banded babies has returned as an adult in a subsequent year to make a home in one of our nest boxes and raise her own family.

Part of the reason for the rarity of such an event is that wild animals, in general, have a very high mortality rate in their first year of life.  It's a tough world out there, and very few survive.  And the American Kestrel as a species is in a general decline in the U.S.  One reason might be that these days it is harder to find suitable tree cavities in which to make their nests.  Most trees with large holes get cut down.  We hope that providing nest boxes may help to boost the survival of this species..  

  

We will keep watching 1783-89541 for the rest of the 2018 nesting season to see if her five eggs hatch and perhaps we'll even band her babies before they fledge.  We feel a bit like proud parents!  As well, we have a sense of satisfaction that our efforts to learn about a small part of the natural world will contribute to its survival.

  

The Butterfly Blues

By Christy Thomas and Brianne Markin

When you think about butterflies, the majestic Monarch is probably one of the first species to come to mind. For years, efforts to educate the public on the protection and of Monarchs have been successful, especially here at Beaver Creek Reserve.  Each year we raise between 400-1000 monarchs from eggs in our caterpillar lab. However, there is still much work to be done.  Despite a surge in population growth from 2013 - 2016, the population has declined again in the past two years.  For more information relating to the Monarch visit JourneyNorth.org or visit the Butterfly House at Beaver Creek Reserve which opens July 5th.

While the Monarch is a butterfly species of concern, it is not the only one. The Karner blue (Lycaeides melissa samuelis) is another, even more, threatened species for us to monitor and protect. The Karner blue has been on the endangered species list since 1992 after a sharp increase in the destruction of their habitats by agricultural, residential, and commercial development.

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, over the past 100 years, the Karner blue population has declined by nearly 99%.  Most drastically, 90% of the total population decline was seen in the past 15 years.

Similar to the Monarch butterfly, Karner blue caterpillars have a specific host plant.  This means that there is only one plant that the caterpillars will feed on.  For Monarchs this is milkweed.  For the Karner blue this is lupine.  Wild lupine, currently in bloom at Beaver Creek Reserve, is most often found in open prairies, savannas, and barrens.  These areas have been highly affected by development.  Without the host plant, the caterpillars cannot survive.

The Karner blue is a small butterfly, —only about the size of a nickel. They show varying shades of blue, silver, and brown on top of their wings, and characteristic orange crescents spot the underside of their fore- and hind- wings. See images at left. 

However, in Wisconsin, we are lucky enough to have the largest population of Karner blue than anywhere else in the world. With that privilege comes a responsibility to invest in their continuation and encourage their growth. Across Central and Northwestern Wisconsin, recovery properties have been created to preserve habitats and monitor the Karner blue populations. The U.S Fish and Wildlife Service created a recovery plan for the Karner blue that has set goals to reclassify the Karner blue from endangered to threatened by increasing the species populations.  The individual states that are home to the dwindling Karner populations, including Wisconsin, each have individual plans and goals to grow and protect the populations. (See Karner blue range map at bottom of page)

Monitors conducting a Karner Blue Survey 2013

Karner blue butterfly Range Map, 2013

So what can you do?  Similar to the work being done to bolster the Monarch populations, there are many citizen science projects operating across Wisconsin.  Visit https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Endangeredresources/karner/volunteer.html for more information. One important step would be to protect and plant Wild Lupine.  Beaver Creek Reserve sells lupine at our annual Native Plant Sale, which is always the Saturday of Mother’s Day weekend. When shopping for wild lupine beware of invasive hybrids online and in retail greenhouses. You can also attend a Karner blue survey training.  More information is available at the link above.

Yuri's Night: A Celebration of SPACE

Yuri's Night Logo courtesy of yurisnight.net

Come join us for Yuri’s Night on April 12, 2018—a night of excitement and learning as we celebrate past and present scientific innovation, especially as it relates to SPACE!

On April 12, 1961, Yuri Gagarin became the first human to enter space. Upon launch, he famously exclaimed, “Poyekhali!”—“Let’s go!”

Yuri was born on March 9, 1934, to two hardworking parents. They struggled through difficult circumstances and German occupation during World War Two, but through it all, Yuri stayed committed to his education, completing vocational school with honors and technical school. His lifelong dream, though, was to become a pilot.

In pursuit of that dream, he spent a few years climbing up the ranks in the Soviet Air Force before being selected for training in the space program. A year later, his spacecraft, Vostok 1, launched and spent 1 hour and 48 minutes orbiting the Earth before returning him safely. On April 12, 1961, at only 27 years old, not only had he reached his dreams, but he became the first human to venture into space.

Photo courtesy of history.com

After this historic launch, he became an icon of advancement and new horizons and, for that reason, never returned to space. Even still, he was an outspoken advocate for space travel around the globe, supporting friends and colleagues in their endeavors. He was known for his engaging personality and ever-present smile. Unfortunately, he passed away in 1968 in a freak accident during a routine airplane training flight.

However, Yuri’s dedication and commitment to innovation laid the groundwork for hundreds of astronauts to make their way to space. In fact, exactly 20 years after Yuri’s space excursion, the first space shuttle was launched on April 12, 1981. This was the first test flight of the most complex spacecraft built to that date, and the two crewmen spent most of their 52 hours in orbit doing tests.

Yuri's Night on the International Space Station, 2011
Photo courtesy of yurisnight.net

Even now, we continue to push the limits of our scientific knowledge. Since November 2000, people have been living on the International Space Station (ISS), a collaboration between the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada. The purpose of the ISS is to carry out scientific research and act as a base for other exploratory missions in space. This station has a rotating crew of at least 3 people with a maximum capacity of 10.

Yuri would be amazed to see the advances made since his death, and if he were still alive, he’d be calling out “Let’s go!” at every shuttle launch.

That is why, every year, people all around the world recognize the legacy of Yuri Gagarin and succeeding space explorers. Yuri’s Night is celebrated on nearly every continent and is symbolic of cultures and communities coming together to encourage scientific knowledge and look toward a sustainable and harmonious future. It’s also a celebration of Yuri’s curiosity and commitment to his dreams.

This local event, put on by Beaver Creek Reserve and the Children’s Museum of Eau Claire, is perfect for children of all ages and allows them to engage with hands-on activities related to space and scientific advancement. Some of the space-related activities include an inflatable planetarium and, weather-permitting, open viewing in the Observatory.

Yuri’s Night will take place at Beaver Creek Reserve on April 12 from 6:00 – 10:00 p.m. Activities will be held on the North Campus at Hobbs Observatory and the Main Lodge (across the road from Wise Nature Center). This event is FREE for those who are members of BOTH Beaver Creek Reserve and the Children’s Museum. Otherwise, it is $3 for Friends of Beaver Creek Reserve and $5 for nonmembers. Note that all children must be accompanied by an adult. Please register in advance by Tuesday, April 10 at beavercreekreserve.org/events.

We look forward to spending time with you!

Beyond Rudolph, Things You Might Not Know About Reindeer

By Ruth Forsgren, BCR Naturalist

If we believe the pictures, then Santa’s team members are probably female.  Both male and female reindeer have antlers but males shed theirs at the end of the mating season in November while females retain theirs until late winter or early spring. This means that the reindeer that pull Santa’s sleigh are most likely females.

Reindeer and caribou are genetically the same animal. Caribou usually refers to the animals found in northern Alaska, Canada, and Greenland.  Reindeer is used for the smaller animals found in Asia and Europe and are more likely to be domesticated.  (For purposes of this article reindeer will be used to refer to either)

Reindeer are the only large animal able to metabolize lichen, their primary food source in the winter. During the warmer months, they feast on grasses, mushrooms, and other tundra plants.

The usually single calf is born in May or June. These babies are ready to run within about 90 minutes of birth. They must be ready to migrate with the herd for safety. Calves generally stay with mom until fall. 

Photo by Tanya Dewey

Not all reindeer migrate.but some  North American reindeer are known to travel 3000 miles. This is one of the longest migrations made by a land animal. Some of these animals might join a super-herd, which can number from 50,000 to 500,000 individuals.

Their feet are specially designed for life on the tundra.  Besides having hooves covered with hair, reindeer have 4 “toes” that spread wide to act like snowshoes. In the summer the footpad swells and becomes spongy;  giving the animals traction on the soggy ground, during the winter this pad shrinks back exposing the sharp edges of the hooves which help cut into the icy terrain.

Reindeer click, literally. Some sub-species of reindeer have tendons that click as they slide over bones in the feet. This noise possibly helps the animals stay together during a blinding blizzard. 

Top Five Wintry Activities at Beaver Creek

Winter weather is upon us! As you watch the snowflakes pile up outside your window, you may be tempted to burrow under a blanket and hibernate until spring. But even in winter, there are so many great possibilities to explore and learn more about the outdoors. Plus, you don't really want to miss snow's magical beauty!

Keep yourself from going stir-crazy this winter with these Top Five Wintry Activities at Beaver Creek!

1. Hit the Trails by Candlelight. Our popular candlelight snowshoe hikes are scheduled for January 5th and February 2nd. Each night has an early and a late shift. Reserve snowshoes in advance or bring your own. After hitting the trails, enjoy a warm fire and hot chocolate. The short course is perfect for all ages. Register on our website.

2. Get Frosty! The Frosty Frolic is back for a second year! Come out on January 20th for a full day of snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, crafts and projects for all ages, dogsledding, food truck, warm fires, hot cocoa and snacks, and much more!

3. Learn about Trees and Animals in Winter. Come to our Tree and Shrub ID in Winter program on Saturday, February 3rd (adult learners) or our Winter Tracking for Kids program on Saturday, February 17th.

4. Snowshoe or Cross-Country Ski. Did you know we rent snowshoes and cross-country skis for only $3 per pair? Call our office to make sure our trails are ready at 715-877-2212. Equipment can be rented from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 12 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Sunday.

Haycreek Winter Scene by Dave Schmitt

5. Support Your Resolutions. Whether your New Year's resolutions involve being more active, getting healthy, taking more time for your self, or giving back-- Beaver Creek Reserve can help you meet them all! It starts with an affordable membership. Learn more here.

We can't wait to explore the winter wonderland with you!