 Searching for migrating birds in the Biocore Prairie The September 17, 2023, Friends of the Lakeshore Nature Preserve Fall Bird Field Trip was amazing because a rain shower the previous night had caused a group of night-migrating neotropical birds to "fall out." A "fall out" is an unusual event that is exciting for bird watchers. Hundreds of birds were migrating and suddenly they ran into rain and were forced to the ground, leaving hundreds of birds wherever they landed in the dark. The birds seen on the field trip were lucky to land at a migratory stopover in the Lakeshore Nature Preserve. Jill Feldkamp and Roma Lenehan led the group, looking up at shadowy birds in the trees near the first oak. They proceeded along the Big Oak Trail to the Second Oak and the Biocore Prairie edge and then to the Eagle Heights Gardens. Even in these open areas, warblers were everywhere - in the little oaks and other bushes, the native plants, and even in the non-native grass near the water utility. In addition to warblers, there were many flickers and other larger birds flying around  Roma Lenehan pointing out a sneaky bird hiding in the trees When not looking at birds, Ingrid Jordon-Thaden, Friends Board Host, explained about autumn seed dispersal of Great St. John’s Wort as well as about Black Knot, a disease found on fruit trees. Participants enjoyed learning about these plants when not watching birds. Several UW grad and undergrad students enjoyed the birds they saw, especially several hummingbirds feeding at cannas. They said that they liked the time outside away from their books and computers. At least 40 bird species were found. Highlights included good views of flying Redtailed Hawk, Cedar Waxwing, Northern Flicker, Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Eight warbler species were seen multiple times by various people including multiple Black-and-white and Palm Warblers. Many Tennessee, Nashville, and Magnolia Warblers flitted everywhere. Four Chipping Sparrows and 2 Lincoln's Sparrows were found in the Eagle Heights Gardens. A couple of very lucky people saw the Merlin, a small swift falcon, fly across the grassland, possibly looking at the many warblers.  Roma Lenehan and group members searching for migrating birds in the forest The leaders hoped that everyone enjoyed this rare phenomenon which dramatized the abundance of our migrating birds. Report by Roma Lenehan and Jill Feldkamp, photos by Ingrid Jordon-Thaden.
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 Leader Ben Klementz displays a vial full of pseudoscorpions! On the evening of Friday September 1st, arachnid specialist Ben Klementz led a group of 18 of us on a search for the Preserve’s many many-legged inhabitants. Ben is a PhD student in the Prashant Sharma Lab studying arachnid evolution and shared with us his deep interest in spiders, harvestmen (daddy longlegs), mites, ticks, and psuedoscorpions. What is a pseudoscorpion? To demonstrate, Ben had brought some specimens from his lab. We’d normally be able to find them out in the Preserve’s damp leaf litter, but it’s been a very dry summer. Preserved in alcohol, Ben introduced us all to the pseudoscorpion. They are pudgy little creatures with two scorpion-like pincer arms. While the pseudoscorpion does not have fangs like spiders and does not have a tail like a scorpion, it does have a venom gland located in its pincers! Fascinatingly terrifying. Though, to be fair, three of these critters could fit comfortably on your pinky nail, so they are no danger to humans. Just an important member of our native ecological community.
The first spiders we encountered were Agelenid funnel-weaver spiders in the joints of the Picnic Point entrance fence. Unlike other web-weaving spiders, funnel-weavers do not add glue to their webs. These spiders instead use their speed to dart out and grab any prey that touches their web lines. Orb weavers and sheet-web weavers, on the other hand, do use glue. Spider silk glue is a fascinating substance that acts like a non-newtonian fluid, Ben informed us. Similarly to cornstarch and water, when an insect traveling at high enough speed hits the glue, the glue acts like a solid and the insect bounces off. When an insect traveling at the right speed hits the web, the glue acts as a liquid and captures them. Different spiders use different formulations of glue that speed-select their preferred prey, while preventing fast, dangerous insects like wasps from getting stuck. Silk glue chemistry also allows for the glue to be effective in wet and humid conditions, unlike most human adhesives. The most common orb weaver we encountered was the furrow spider, named after a furrow that runs down the top of its abdomen. We even had the opportunity to watch some of these furrow spiders building their beautiful webs. Web-building spiders use their own body proportions to precisely measure out the spacing of their web strands, allowing them to make such amazingly complex-yet-standard webs in a variety of places. It turns out that the spiders that have taken up residence behind my car’s side mirrors are also furrow spiders! How they can make webs between my mirrors and doors that withstand highway speeds mystifies me. We also encountered a number of sheet-web spiders, which make more abstract net-like webs than the typical circular “orb” webs of their counterparts. Additionally, we spotted two harvestmen (or daddy longlegs) on the trip. These arachnids are not spiders, do not make webs, and only have one body segment. Ben was able to identify one as being a juvenile of an introduced European species. We found very few ground-dwelling arachnids like harvestmen, wandering spiders, and pseudoscorpions likely because of the dry conditions, though we did find one millipede!  Sheet web weaving spider of undetermined species found on swamp white oak. As the sun set and it grew darker along the paved path up towards the Biocore Prairie, the spider webs became much easier to spot in the beams of our lights. We saw tiny intricate webs between leaves and huge multi-foot webs that were strung from sturdy ground anchors. Luckily spider size does not correlate proportionally with web size! Near the end of our trip we looped back down towards the Picnic Point entrance to look at the flowers in the rain garden and along the sumac boundary of the grass lawn at the base of Picnic Point. There we encountered a number of crab spiders! Crab spiders lie in wait on flowers to ambush unsuspecting insects. Their body shape is roughly reminiscent of a crab, which gives them their name. On our way back out we had one more chance to observe the Agelenid funnel-weaver spiders in the gate fence before we dispersed.
Many thanks to our leader Ben Klementz for this wonderful trip! Report and photos by Will Vuyk.  Field trip leader Brandon Corder displays a liverwort. Photo by Will Vuyk. UW Department of Botany doctoral candidate Brandon Corder (bcorder@wisc.edu) attracted 26 participants for this fascinating walk. As Brandon’s research is now focused on the relationship of orchids with fungi, Masters student Nkosi Evans, who is actively studying mosses, assisted him. After introductions by Hosts Will Vuyk and Doris Dubielzig at the Picnic Point entrance kiosk, we walked to a shady, wooded spot where Brandon pointed out moss growing on the bark base of a white oak tree. After looking carefully at mosses growing on the logs lying on the ground around us, Brandon explained that mosses are primitive plants that have neither flowers nor seeds. Moss ecology causes different species to occur in layers on logs and at different heights on tree trunks. They are difficult to identify, because
Consequently, genetic analysis is now used to identify moss species. Brandon pointed out the glossy green seductive entodon (Entodon seductrix). The less shiny, filmier, Leskea grows on higher, drier parts of tree trunks.
On the ground below a maple tree in Caretaker’s Woods, Brandon showed us a large patch of Anomodon that exhibited the moss lifecycle, which has two distinct stages. The green, leafy tissue produces the gametes – the eggs and sperm. After fertilization (the union of the egg and sperm), an elongated red capsule forms that contains the spores. After the spores scatter, they create more of the green, leafy tissue. In addition to sexual reproduction, Anomodon has asexual, vegetative reproduction.  Amomodon green leafy tissue and red spore capsules. Photo by Doris Dubielzig. On Frautschi Point, Brandon introduced us to fern anatomy and three kinds of ferns. Because they have vascular systems for transferring water and nutrients, ferns are generally larger than mosses. Ferns have two essential parts: 1) the leaf = “frond” and 2) the stem = “rhizome,” which is usually underground. The Wood fern has a large leaf (“frond”) which is subdivided into leaflets (pinnae) and subunits (pinnules). On the underside of the frond are many spots or “sori” which contain the spores. Brandon showed us a large patch of Ostrich fern, which has the sori all grouped together on a special fertile frond. He also described the Interrupted fern, that has some sterile pinnae and some fertile pinnae.
Finally, Brandon showed us a sample of liverwort. This relative of mosses usually has a flat plant body (“thallus”). Liverworts have high moisture requirements, which prevented us from seeing them in their habitat. I have seen them from a canoe on the rock wall rising above Lake Mendota’s surface, west of Raymer’s Cove,.
Thank you, Brandon Corder, for your thoughtful preparations and clear explanations. Report by Doris Dubielzig, photos from Mary Prior, Doris Dubielzig, and Will Vuyk On Sunday, July 23rd, UW Emeritus Limnology Professor John Magnuson guided 9 attendees around the Class of 1918 Marsh. Throughout the tour, John provided historical context of the marsh. For example, the marsh was once an experimental corn field - an unexpected origin for such an ecosystem! First on our trip was heading to the boardwalk lookout. This provided a great view of the pond hidden behind all the cattails. The lookout also boasted an intriguing feature: a sign displaying a phone number to call and listen to topics about the marsh. John encouraged attendees to dial the number and so we listened to a few tracks. The last stop on our trip was visiting the spot where a giant snow pile lays in the winter. Professor Magnuson explained that they are closely monitoring the sodium concentrations and salt levels resulting from the snow melt caused by this massive snow pile. This sparked a range of conversations within the group, as we were all curious to learn about the current data.
Report and photos by Diana Tapia Ramon
On a bright Sunday afternoon, leader Anne Pearce guided two of us (one participant and myself) on a walk from the Picnic Point Entry Kiosk up and around the Biocore Prairie. We discussed the Friends’ ongoing citizen science projects (including the Bluebird Trail, PUMA House, Clean Lakes Alliance Monitoring, and the Friends of Amphibians network). More information about these projects can be found here on our website. The joe-pye weed booms floating like purple clouds over the prairie, however, you have to see with your own eyes. They are especially prominent walking north towards Caretaker’s woods, standing out above the prairie in midsummer bloom. We were also surprised by a docile purple martin chick in the middle of the path by the house. The chick appeared unhurt, but also would not move out of our way! We appreciated the opportunity to see a normally athletic and fleeting bird up close, and then acceded to the worrying cries from up above and gave the fledgling its space.  A fledgling purple martin demands we calculate its airspeed velocity before allowing passage down the trail.  The little PUMA didn’t move an inch, therefore its airspeed velocity was zero! It probably noticed our lack of coconuts and took pity on us. Report and photos by Will Vuyk
Friends President Will Vuyk welcomed and introduced the small group that gathered at the Picnic Point Kiosk to the Friends of Amphibians citizen science goals and methods. Members of Madison’s new volunteer network survey the numbers and kinds of amphibians in promising locations. Under an osprey wheeling in the sky, Will led us to two areas he samples in the Lot 60 Bioswale. More than 24 hours earlier, he had placed traps, baited with rabbit chow to lure tadpoles into them. Because ranavirus (frog virus 3) infections have been detected at multiple sites around Madison this summer, Will sprayed his boots with disinfectant before entering the marshy Bioswale to retrieve the traps. Although it is bullfrog and green frog mating season, we heard only the green frog’s “glunk".  Scientists in training! Under the shade of a tree next to each site, Will brought the trap to us and transferred the contents into a bucket, for identifications. Amphibians and many species of insects live as aquatic larvae at the beginning of their lives. Will had a sheet of colored photos to assist in tadpole identification, but we saw none. We did see a huge dragonfly nymph, several water boatmen, some small snails, a leech and a recently emerged green darner dragonfly (deceased) and its exoskeleton.
Our observations and photos were entered and uploaded from Will’s smartphone to The Friends of Amphibians site, which can be accessed from The Friends of the Lakeshore Nature Preserve’s website in the Citizen Science folder. This data is used and managed by the UW Forest & Wildlife Ecology Professor Jessica Hua’s Lab.  Observations and data can be entered via the Friends website from a smartphone. After the data entry was completed and the wildlife was returned to the Lot 60 Bioswale, Will emerged through the compass plants with a great grin on his face, and a small toad in his hands. It was a gratifying conclusion to a wonderful morning. Thank you Will!  A very little toad that just missed the survey. Report by Doris Dubielzig and Will Vuyk
Photos by Glenda Denniston The field trip for June 25, 2023, was focused on learning about the many preservation efforts that occur on Frautschi Point and the Lakeshore Nature Preserve overall. Myself, new board member Ingrid Jordon-Thaden, Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator, Bryn Scriver, and Field Projects Coordinator, Adam Gunlach, as well as long-time volunteer and birder Laura Berger, answered a myriad of questions from two short-term visitors to west campus from foreign countries. They were both neurosurgeons visiting our medical campus for a short period of time. They had found our tour information from the kiosk at the parking lot and wanted to learn more about the ecological restoration going on in the area. Given their general interest in anything biologically related, the conversations about what we were observing ranged far and wide. As Adam and Bryn showed them the importance of the oak and prairie communities and what we are doing to preserve these habitats, we talked about invasive species, diseases, and the general balance of ecosystems. For example, here is a picture of a spongy moth caterpillar (formally called the gypsy moth) climbing in a wound on an ash from the Emerald Ash Borer.  The invasive spongy moth caterpillar climbing on an ash tree. While observing the plants around us I noticed some natural aphid parasitism from wasps (pictured below) and talked about the process of mummification of the aphids and how they look like little brown pearls. Laura pointed out various bird songs along the way and we were graced with the presence of a brood of baby turkeys as we walked along the edge of the prairie.  Adam noticed that despite the extreme drought we have been experiencing, the prairie wildflowers were doing fantastic this year. Bryn and Adam talked about notable prairie plants, and we turned the discussion to fire ecology. I then talked a bit about native vs. introduced grasses in a prairie and how prescribed burning in the spring not only encouraged all prairie plants over woody trees and shrubs but encouraged room for native grasses to flourish late in the summer and fall. We had excellent weather with large billowy clouds overhead and a nice breeze that allowed for the conversations to go long and natural without fainting or running from the rain.  Bryn Scriver admiring the wildflowers in the preserve. Report and pictures by Ingrid Jordon-Thaden
After 2 days of strong winds we got lucky that the weather for John Magnuson's Lake Mendota Limnology field trip was perfect. The lake was still and the water was clear down to 3 meters. Nine people joined Dr. Magnuson and our very skilled boat captain, Aaron, for a view of the entire shoreline of the Lakeshore Nature Preserve from the water. The morning was filled with information about the glacial history and ecology of the lake and stories about the human history of the area. Several participants shared their experiences with the area, including Steve Holtzman who was present when the State Historical Society staff pulled the first of 2 ancient Ho Chunk dugout canoes from the lake. We learned about how land management of the Preserve is helping to slow erosion of the shorelines. We were able to watch as cliff and bank swallows fed their chicks in their mud nests clinging to the bluff. We took vegetation, sediment and water samples from the lake and discovered abundant invertebrates living in the water. If you have not yet done this field trip, I highly recommend it. It will greatly expand your knowledge of both the lake and the Preserve. Report by Kelly Kearns.
The Beginning Birding field trip took place on 6/3/2023. Anna Walther was the leader, there were 10 total in attendance (including me and Anna). I confess I got a little wrapped up in watching birds and forgot to take photos. Here is a list of the birds we saw: Red-winged blackbirds Gray catbird Blue jay European starlings Song sparrows American goldfinch Tree swallows Purple martins Common yellowthroat Indigo bunting House wren Baltimore orioles Turkey vulture Eastern bluebird Ruby-throated hummingbird Red-tailed hawk Brown-headed cowbird Report and list from Steve Sellwood.
 Jeff Koziol opens up a bluebird box for the group to see while a purple martin flies over his head to the purple martin house in the background. Leaders Jeff Koziol and Chuck Henrikson led 14 attendees on a tour of the bluebird and purple martin houses the Friends have maintained around the Biocore Prairie. We also saw many other birds along the way, including yellow warblers, gold finches, common yellowthroat, a rose breasted grosbeak, song sparrows, turkey vultures, and a yellow-billed cuckoo.  Many of the bluebird boxes were occupied by nesting tree swallows. Tree swallows are a protected native species and cannot be removed. House sparrows, on the other hand, are removed from bluebird boxes if found there. Jeff has also added a metal skirt below each box to prevent predators like raccoons and snakes (if there are any!) from predating on nesting birds. Sometimes ants can infest the boxes too. Jeff has found that bike grease or anti-seize compound, when lathered on the pole, can prevent ants from climbing up it.
Two of the bluebird boxes we looked at were indeed occupied by bluebirds! Swallow eggs are white, so these blue eggs are a telltale sign of successfully nesting bluebirds.  At the end of the trip, we made our way to the purple martin house where Chuck lowered the whole contraption to eye level. When we looked in Gourd A, we found a female purple martin and five eggs inside. Chuck gently tilted the gourd so everyone could peak inside! All the while, many adult and subadult martins swooped and chattered above our heads.  After our quick peak inside the gourd, mama, eggs, and the whole house were cranked back to their previous height intact. The only critter who seemed especially disgruntled about the whole ordeal was the vole living under the martin house ladder. After four scurrying escapes, the vole finally had its home restored when the field trip ended and we all dispersed to enjoy our long Memorial Day weekends.  Report and photos by Will Vuyk.
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Friends of the Lakeshore Nature Preserve
P.O. Box 5534 Madison, WI 53705 UW-Madison Lakeshore Nature Preserve website Documents |
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