Friends Field Trips Spring - Summer 2024Friday, April 5 - Sunday, April 7
Science Expeditions Please check the Preserve website, www.lakeshorepreserve.wisc.edu. The Friends sincerely thank Doris Dubiel- zig for her unswerving commitment to Science Expeditions. She will also be assisting the Preserve office with the Expeditions this spring. Sunday, April 21 Lichens of the UW Lakeshore Nature Preserve 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. We will stroll the paved road and the larger gravel paths on Picnic Point, look- ing for lichens growing on trees and rocks. Lichens are a very hardy (vis- ible year-round) symbiosis mostly of a fungus and an alga; learn more on the walk! In preparation for this field trip, you may download to your cell phone the guide “Lichens of the Lakeshore Nature Preserve” from https://lakeshorepreserve. wisc.edu/field-guides-and-species-check- lists/ The first couple of pages of this are valuable but NOT necessary! Be sure to dress warmly and wear waterproof boots if you have them, just in case. If you have a hand magnifier of any sort to bring, you will find it very helpful (none provided)! And remember – no collecting! Meet at the Picnic Point entrance kiosk, 2000 University Bay Drive. Leader: Susan Will- Wolf (swwolf@wisc.edu). Sunday, April 28 Beyond Backyard Birding: Lakeshore Nature Preserve 7:30-9:30 a.m. This morning trip is especially for back- yard birders looking to grow their skills! Come to have your bird questions an- swered and find help identifying all of those small, streaky brown birds. We'll also be keeping our eyes out for any ex- citing spring migrants. The walk will be on even trails at a leisurely pace so bring the whole family! We will have binoculars for loan. This walk is co-sponsored with Southern Wisconsin Birding Alliance. NOTE: This trip is limited to 20 people. Registration is required at Southern Wisconsin Birding Alliance website. Registration opens six weeks in advance. Meet at Picnic Point Entrance Kiosk, 2000 University Bay Drive. Leaders: Ashley Olah (ahannah@wisc.edu or 608-515- 1304) and Jenn Schneiderman. Sunday, April 28 Wildflowers of the UW Lakeshore Nature Preserve (FUN) 1:30-3:00 p.m. On this family-friendly hike, explore the first Friends’ restoration project, begun in 2001. We will look for spring ephem- erals and other tender new growth. Learn how to identify wood phlox, violet, bloodroot, Jacob’s ladder, wild strawberry and other wildflowers. Meet at the Picnic Point entrance kiosk, 2000 University Bay Drive. Leaders: Glenda Denniston (glendadenniston8@gmail. com, 608 231-1530) and Eve Emshwiller. Tuesday, April 30 Spring Birding in the UW Lakeshore Nature Preserve 7:30-9:30 a.m. Join us to look for spring migrants, in- cluding early warblers, vireos, thrushes and orioles as well as resident birds in this Important Bird Area. Learn how the Lakeshore Nature Preserve serves as a critical stopover habitat for migrating birds, and how, in bad weather, Picnic Point can produce spectacular collec- tions of fallout migrants. Bring binocu- lars and a field guide if you have them; Southern Wisconsin Birding Alliance will also have a few pairs of binocu- lars to loan. NOTE: This trip is limited to 25 participants and registration is required at the Southern Wisconsin Birding Alliance website. Registration opens six weeks in advance. Meet at the Picnic Point kiosk, 2000 University Bay Drive. Leaders: Roma Lenehan (rlenehan@charter.net, 608-238-5406) and Becky Abel. Wednesday, May 15 Warblers of Frautschi Point 7:30-9:30 a.m. We will focus on seeing warblers through leafy foliage and look for other spring mi- grants. Bring binoculars and a field guide if you have them. Meet at the Frautschi Point parking lot, 2662 Lake Mendota Drive. Leaders: Roma Lenehan (rlene- han@charter.net, 608-238-5406) and Jill Feldkamp. This birding field trip has been described as “magical!” Sunday, May 26 Frog Walk (FUN) 1:30-3:00 p.m. We will discuss frog and toad calls and look for recently metamorphosed toads hopping around. Learn about the Preserve’s amphibians and the impor- tance of monitoring their populations. Meet at the Picnic Point entrance kiosk, 2000 University Bay Drive. Leader: Mary Campbell (mcampbell32@wisc.edu). Wednesday, June 12 Lake Mendota Boat Trip 9:00-11:30 a.m. Rain date: Friday June 14 Learn about Lake Mendota and the shoreline of the UW Lakeshore Nature Preserve from a different perspective aboard LIMNOS2, the UW Center for Limnology's research vessel for teaching, research, and outreach. Group size is limited to 12; reserve your place early for this popular field trip. Meet at Hasler Limnology Laboratory one block west of Memorial Union. Register with Leader John Magnuson (johnjosephmagnuson@gmail.com). Sunday, June 23 Bluebirds and Martins (FUN) 1:30-3:00 p.m. The purple martin house and the Bluebird Trail at the Biocore Prairie were installed by the Friends to entice these birds to nest in the Preserve. Field trip leaders will describe the appearance, habits and nesting behaviors of purple martins and bluebirds. Leaders will also describe the Friends’ efforts to protect birds from their enemies. We hope to get a peek at some baby birds, too. Meet at the Picnic Point entrance kiosk, 2000 University Bay Drive. Leaders: Jeff Koziol ( jeffkoziol@ gmail,com, 847-331-2430) and Richard Ness (Richard.s.ness@wisc.edu). Sunday, July 28 Class of 1918 Marsh (FUN) 1:30-3:00 p.m. Take a hike around the marsh to learn the history and biology of this wetland. John Magnuson will discuss the threats to the marsh from invasive cattail spe- cies and from chloride concentrations, drawing on his own research. Meet at the Picnic Point entrance kiosk, 2000 University Bay Drive. Leader: John Magnuson ( john.magnuson@wisc.edu). Sunday, August 25 Biking the Temin Lakeshore Path (FUN) 1:30-3:00 p.m. Join Paul Noeldner and bike the Temin Lakeshore Path and adjacent streets that travel from one end of the UW Lakeshore Path to another. We will stop at safe pull-off points at several places along the path and see the natural wonders in the middle of a busy university campus. Bring your own bike or rent one. Meet at the Memorial Union bike-parking area just west of the Union. NOTE: Bikes and bike parking are permitted along the Temin path and adjacent roads. They are NOT permitted on any Preserve path inside the gates or wooden fence en- trance to Picnic Point and other Preserve areas. Free, welcoming, student and family friendly! Leader: Paul Noeldner (paul_noeldner@hotmail.com). |
Free public field trips are one of the most valuable contributions the Friends make to the Preserve. They have been organized every spring and fall for over 10 years on various topics and are all led by Friends volunteers. Many are professional naturalists and emeritus faculty and staff. The Friends also partner with other environmental organizations for field trips.
Field trip coordinator: Signe Holtz Bird and Nature Outings Free, family-friendly walks on the 4th Sunday of the month. Bring your binoculars and camera. Sponsored by the Friends of the Lakeshore Nature Preserve, Friends of Urban Nature, and Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance. Meet at the Picnic Point Kiosk, across from UW Lot 130 (2004 University Bay Drive). Contact Paul Noeldner (608-698‑0104). Fall 2022 - Winter 2023 field trips
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