Fox Valley Sierra Group Scheduled Programs (7:00pm at Bubolz Nature Preserve)

October 8, 2009

"Preserving the Past"

Brad Larson, Director of the Oshkosh Public Museum, will tell us about preserving the past. He will mostly speak on their current exhibit, which is The Era of Public Enemies

November 12, 2009

Dr. John Shillinglaw presents "Prairie Restorations and the Impacts on Grassland Birds".

The program Dr. Shillinglaw would like to present is the response of grassland birds to a prairie restoration project in cental Wisconsin's sand country. He has been involved in a project to create habitat for the federally endangered Karner blue butterfly in Waushara County for the past 10 years. Working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, prairie restoration has been accomplished on about 125 acres of land. Grasses and forbs conducive to the butterfly's well being were planted. When restoring habitat for one species, many species of plants and animals benefit. In addition to an increase in Karner blue butterflies, breeding bird surveys over the past 10 years have demonstrated an increase in use of the restoration by grassland dependent birds. He will discuss the prairie restorations and techniques used in continuing management, the patterns of use by grassland birds, and implications for grassland bird conservation in the future. Background note from a Wisconsin DNR story: The lore of the Mecan River's fabled brown trout fishing originally drew John and Fawn Shillinglaw to the Marquette County area. They eventually purchased 235 acres of an old farm on the county line to camp next to his favorite river. The property provided more than quick access to the Mecan. Isolated grasses and flowers growing throughout the property soon captured their imagination and inspired them to restore some of the prairie and savanna that originally dominated the landscape. "In the beginning, I wasn't aware of all the government programs available to landowners. So I just started harvesting seeds from wild plants on one part of my property and establishing them on other portions," John Shillinglaw said. Their efforts were quickly rewarded as newly established patches of wild lupine were quickly colonized by Karner blue butterflies, a federally endangered species. Shillinglaw eventually learned about government sponsored initiatives such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Partners for Fish and Wildlife Programs to restore prairie and savanna habitats. It was Mother Nature, though, who arguably provided the most effective restoration tool for red-headed woodpeckers on the Shillinglaw property. In 2000, a hail storm pelted the area, damaging many aspen trees. Remembering how a pair of red-headed woodpeckers had once nested in a dead oak tree in his backyard in Appleton, Shillinglaw decided to leave the dead aspen trees standing. The hands-off approach was quickly rewarded. "I really hadn't seen red-headed woodpeckers before the big hail storm, but there were several pairs present the next spring," John said.

Email to John Shillinglaw: jashlaw@aol.com

December 10, 2009

Seasonal Holiday Party! Join us for our annual holiday social. This is a potluck event, so please bring a dish to pass and your own place setting. A traditional "fun" event is our white elephant gift exchange. Don't buy anything, but look around your home for a gag gift or something used that you want to get rid of (but not junk). Even your wrapping paper can be recycled grocery bags. We will again collect donations to present to Bubolz Nature Preserve. The preserve is very appreciative of the support they receive from our members.

January 14, 2010

Dr. Mike Lizotte from the Lake Winnebago Lakes Council will tell us what is going on in our nearby lakes and will share a film on sturgeon.

"Mysteries of the Great Lakes"
This is an award-winning Candadian film featuring sturgeon of the Winnebago system and local fish biologist Ron Bruch. It tells of the many challenges the great lakes face as they move from pristine to polluted to recovering. Originally produced for IMAX theatres, it is also a beautiful film on the small screen (40 minutes).

The Lakes Council featured this film at its Annual Meeting on October 13 and will be showing it in partnership with other groups. These events are open to the public.

Michael Lizotte, Ph.D., ex-officio Executive Director Lakes Winnebago Council, is Interim Director of Sustainability at UW-Oshkosh and former Director of the Aquatic Research Laboratory. His professional interest is scientific research in aquatic ecology, particularly algal blooms and environmental education. He also serves on the board of the Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance. UWO, Director of Sustainability Congrats to Dr. Lizotte

On May 2, 2009 the Winnebago Audubon Society presented the Katherine D. Rill Environmental Award to Michael Lizotte for his outstanding work in citizen science, environmental education and habitat protection. Dr. Michael Lizotte is one of the leading experts on the Lake Winnebago system. He has trained citizens to monitor the lakes, brought in over $200,000 for lake protection, and helped several thousands area individuals gain a better understanding of lake ecology and culture. His work and knowledge as a citizen and as a professor at UW Oshkosh is particularly important in our community as it has created positive perceptions and attitudes toward governmental agencies and sound environmental resource management.

February 11, 2010

Deb Marty, wildlife rehabilitator in Green Bay, talks about bats.

Deb Marty is affiliated with Bat World Sanctuary.

March 11, 2010

Don Lorenz, our traveling photographer, talks about Yellowstone.

April 8, 2010

Jay Breyer talks about bees and beekeeping.

May 13, 2010

Annual Fundraiser Auction.

June 10, 2010

Planning to have a program about a trip of some kind.

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