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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
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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.
 Leader Rori Paloski (third from left) explains how to distinguish frog calls. Photo by Glenda Denniston. On this gorgeous Saturday evening, a stream of excitement flowed into the Preserve. Apart from the smiles, laughter, and crackling weekend fires, however, were the sounds of a different party taking place in the marsh. Seven of us joined DNR herpetologist and UW Madison PhD student Rori Paloski to learn about these boisterous spring gatherings and the amazing audible amphibians behind them.
 While well-camouflaged from above, this tree frog has bright yellow patches underneath! Photo by Glenda Denniston. Both gray and Cope's gray tree frogs were calling in the marsh by Lot 60 when we arrived, giving us the opportunity to hear them side-by-side and practice our call discernment skills. One tree frog even hopped right over to us on the path, allowing us to marvel at the bright yellow patches on its underside. While this individual is currently green, these tree frogs can change the color of their skin to best camouflage with their surroundings. Whether this particular frog was a Cope's gray or a gray tree frog we will never know!
At the Picnic Point marsh we heard more tree frogs, and discovered the results of the recently-finished American toad mating period. Hundreds (maybe thousands?) of little American toad tadpoles wriggled in the minnow trap Will had placed the day before. Unlike green frog tadpoles, American toad tadpoles metamorphose into tiny adult toads the same season they hatch. Soon the Preserve will be hopping in multitudes of these extremely small "penny toads". Once the tree frogs finish with their mating period, their tadpoles too will join the other toad and frog tadpoles in the Preserve's wetlands.
Frogs and toads are abundant and integral members of our native Wisconsin ecosystems. They are also very susceptible to human impacts on the landscape including water quality degradation, chemical pollution, invasive pathogens and urban infrastructure. The more we can learn about our amphibian neighbors the better we can learn to live alongside them. If listening for adult frogs and toads, and searching for tadpoles like we did in this field trip sounds fun to you, take a look at our Citizen Science page to see how you can help with our ongoing "Friends of Amphibians" project! Report by Will Vuyk. Photos by Glenda Denniston and Signe Holtz.
 Spotting birds at the top of Raymer's Cove. Led by Jill Feldkamp and Roma Lenehan, this group of 18 sharp-eyed birders documented 46 species on their walk through the trails of Frautschi Point out to Raymer's Cove. Despite sub-optimal conditions for birding that morning, Leader Jill Feldkamp reported that "I think everyone has a good time and saw enough birds to keep them happy." See the E-Bird report below:
 Leader Roma Lenehan (middle) pointing out a bird. Report and photos by Steve Sellwood.
 Watching White-throated Sparrows from the Picnic Point path Nineteen people arrived for a spring birding tour that began at 7:30am in chilly (40F), overcast conditions next to the Class of 1918 Marsh. Roma Lenehan, a founder of the Friends and author of the Preserve’s breeding bird survey and Becky Abel, Madison Audubon’s Director of Philanthropy, led the two-hour tour that observed birds in the Class of 1918 Marsh, in University Bay from the Picnic Point trail, in the Picnic Point Marsh on the leeward side of the peninsula, in deciduous and pine woods, in the former orchard, and on Biocore Prairie Next to the spotting scopes trained on the buffleheads, Northern shoveler and blue-winged teal in the open water of the Class of 1918 Marsh, Becky Abel explained to the group the importance of the Preserve as a stopover sites for migratory birds. On their journey north, birds stop to rest and refuel at three kinds of sites. Typically small, “fire escape” stopover sites, with limited resources, are infrequently used but vital in emergency situations. “Full-service hotel” stopover sites, like the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest in northern Wisconsin, provide abundant food, water and shelter for migrants. Lying between those two extremes, the Lakeshore Nature Preserve serves as a ”convenience store” stopover site. Surrounded by urban development, our Important Birding Area is a place where birds can rest for a few days and easily replenish some fat or muscle, or both, before continuing. The Preserve offers a variety of habitats, fresh water and a variety of food sources, including fruit and insects. This cool morning meant that the tree swallows flew low over the water to capture insects in the Marsh, and white-throated sparrows hopped on the ground and flitted in shrubs along the Picnic Point path to capture insects at our eye level. Many of us marveled at the extensive clones of trout lilies about to burst into bloom on the Picnic Point peninsula.  Trout lilies preparing to bloom Both leaders are expert birders-by-ear. Roma Lenehan and Becky Abel recorded observing 38 bird species. Some of the highlights were sighting
The attendees were respectful and engaged, sharing their own observations while learning from Abel and Lenehan’s expertise. Report and photos by Doris Dubielzig 2. April 25, 2023 Picnic Point Field Trip Bird List by Roma Lenehan for Picnic Point and the Class of 1918 Marsh, April 25, 2023, 7:30 - 9:30 a.m. Madison Audubon Society and Friends of the Lakeshore Nature Preserve Field Trip Led by Becky Abel and Roma Lenehan Weather: 40s, cloudy, wind NW 5-12 (h) = detected by ear
 Glenda leading the group to a patch of Virginia bluebells On Sunday, April 23, 2023, eleven hardy souls met in the cold spring afternoon to learn about and see wildflowers with Glenda Denniston, a charter member of the Friends of the Lakeshore Nature Preserve. Glenda also has been instrumental in restoring many beautiful spring wildflowers to the preserve. We walked through Bill’s Woods and stopped to see many wildflowers, some in bloom, some past bloom, and some just thinking about it. Glenda talked about her work and the work of the Friends and the UW staff and volunteers to purchase, transplant, start from seed, and grow the many species that we were able to see on this cold afternoon. Species (not all flowering) included Virginia bluebell, Virginia waterleaf, toothwort, twinleaf, rue anemone, false rue anemone, meadow rue, trout lily, downy yellow violet, common violet, wild geranium, Dutchman’s breeches, columbine, bloodroot, mayapple, bellwort, trillium, wild ginger, spring beauty, and hepatica.  Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis). Photo by Glenda Denniston Glenda also described the many ways that species “get around,” how they disperse their seeds or corms. In fact, the seeds of almost all spring ephemerals that we saw - trout lily, violets, Dutchman’s breeches, columbine, bloodroot, trilliums, wild ginger, hepatica, spring beauty, and bellwort - are distributed by ants. An oddball is Jack in the Pulpit. Glenda said, “It is fertilized by a small insect called a fungus gnat. These plants are either male or female, unlike most plants that have both male and female organs. Apparently, the scent of this plant tricks these gnats in entering “the pulpit” and they are unable to climb back up. If a fungus gnat enters a male Jack in the Pulpit, it thrashes around for a while and gets coated with pollen. In the male plant there is a little hole at the base and the insect can escape. If it then enters a female flower, that flower gets fertilized with the pollen, but there is no hole for it to escape. Too bad, little gnat! The fertilized flower produces the bright red berries we see in late summer. These are dispersed by squirrels, chipmunks, mice, and other small mammals (and a few humans). Evolution is amazing!” Although the day was cold and overcast, the beauty of wildflowers gave participants a hint that spring is really here.  Dutchman's breeches (Dicentra cucullaria)  Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica) at lower left and twinleaf (Jeffersonia diphylla) at upper right. Report by Signe Holtz; photos by Signe Holtz and Glenda Denniston
 Bundled up birders walking down Picnic Point After rescheduling from the prior week due to cold rain, a hardy group of 16 people showed up in slightly-less-cold light snow and wind on Earth Day to go Beyond Backyard Birding. The trip, led by Ashley Olah, was co-hosted by the Friends and Madison Audubon. As we assembled at the entrance to Picnic Point, we heard sandhill cranes from far away, likely at the mouth of Willow Creek. We learned that sandhill crane calls can be heard from up to 2.5 miles away! Wow! A little way down the trail, there were feathered friends singing, “Oh sweet Canada, Canada, Canada!”. The white-throated sparrows singing that song are passing through on their way to breeding territory further north. Perhaps some of them may even make it to Canada! While white-throated sparrows are usually found foraging for seeds on the ground, this flock was mostly high in the trees, eating buds.  Scanning the bay for loons and following the osprey flight. One member of our group said they hoped to see a loon, since they are not originally from Wisconsin and have never seen one. When we first scanned University Bay, there were no loons to be found. But we did have an osprey fly across the bay toward us and then perch in a tree nearby. One tip we learned for identifying osprey in flight is that their silhouette looks just like the shallow “M” shape used for birds in many kids’ drawings. We would continue to see the osprey through most of the rest of our walk, including a fly-by at the tip of Picnic Point. Continuing down Picnic Point, we were greeted by many species that use the Preserve year-round, including black-capped chickadees, northern cardinals, white-breasted nuthatches, and downy woodpeckers. We also saw a few more migrating songbirds, including a palm warbler, which bobs its tail while it is perched. Looking out to the water from both the north and south sides of Picnic Point, we did our best to identify waterfowl without a spotting scope. American coots, ring-necked ducks, and lesser scaup were plentiful. We also saw at least a couple of ruddy ducks and canvasbacks. And, luckily, we did see at least two common loons before the end of the trip!  We found one loon off the end of Picnic Point! Report by Anne Pearce; photos by Will Vuyk
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P.O. Box 5534 Madison, WI 53705 UW-Madison Lakeshore Nature Preserve website Documents |
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