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Peregrine falcons exploring nest box at Madison power plant

Species was one of the successes cited in recent national ‘State of the Birds’ report

MADISON – The sighting last week of two peregrine falcons investigating a nesting box mounted on the roof of the Madison Gas and Electric Blount Generating Station reflects one of the success stories cited in a recent national report on the state of bird populations in the United States.

The U.S. Department of Interior this week released the first ever comprehensive report on bird populations in the United States. The State of the Birds [exit DNR] report found that nearly a third of the nation’s 800 bird species are endangered, threatened or in significant decline due to habitat loss, invasive species, and other threats.

At the same time, the report highlights examples, including the ongoing recovery of peregrine falcons, where habitat restoration and conservation have reversed or are working to reverse population declines.

Sumner Matteson, an avian ecologist with the Department of Natural Resources Bureau of Endangered Resources, investigated a reported sighting of a peregrine at the MGE plant last week, and observed two birds at a nest box at the plant.

“One was an adult banded male and the other a brown female, which because of her color, we estimate is a 1-year-old,” Matteson said. “We witnessed a prey exchange at the box, with both birds disappearing into the box a few times during the time we watched.”

Matteson met with MGE officials and learned that a plant employee had received nest box plans 10 years ago from Greg Septon, who at the time was the Director of the Peregrine Falcon Recovery Program at the Milwaukee Public Museum. The employee and his son built the box for a school class project and received company approval for placing it on the building.

The nest box can be seen easily from the Isthmus bike path, a segment of the Capitol City Trail, and one of the most heavily travelled bike routes in the state.

“The preliminary signs indicate that this pair may stick to this site,” Matteson said, adding “but there's never a guarantee with a young unbanded female peregrine.”

The American peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) is renowned for its ability to hunt from the wing or from a high perch. It spots prey with keen eyes and begins its stoop, a streamlined dive with tail and wings folded and feet lying back. During a stoop, peregrines may reach speeds of 200 miles per hour. The falcon hits its prey with its foot, stunning or killing it, then swoops back around to catch it in mid-air.

Although never abundant in the state, at least 24 peregrine nest sites were active in Wisconsin until the mid-1950s. Over the next 20 years, due to the use of organochlorine pesticides like DDT, peregrines disappeared from Wisconsin. The peregrine falcon was one of the first species protected under the Endangered Species Act. It was officially declared recovered and removed from the federal endangered species list in 1999. It is still listed as a state endangered species in Wisconsin.

In 1987, the DNR Bureau of Endangered Resources started a peregrine falcon reintroduction program and began releases of captive raised peregrines. In 2008 there were nearly 30 active nest sites located on buildings, smokestacks and cliffs on the Lake Michigan shore and along the Mississippi River.

Like many efforts to restore and protect species and unique habitat in Wisconsin, the peregrine falcon recovery efforts have benefited from a combination of public and private funding, as well as both corporate and volunteer efforts. One way all state residents can support these types of efforts, is through contributions to the Endangered Resources Fund through the checkoff on state income tax forms.

Residents who haven’t yet filed state income taxes are being reminded to “Look for the Loon” to help support the protection of Wisconsin’s endangered resources, said Signe Holtz, director of the Endangered Resources program in the Department of Natural Resources.

“For the past 26 years, these tax donations have helped to protect more than 200 endangered and threatened animals and plants in our state,” Holtz said.

“Your gift to the Endangered Resources Fund helps to conserve wildlife and their habitats while it is still cost-effective to protect them,” Holtz noted, adding that each dollar donated to the Endangered Resources Tax Checkoff is matched by state funds, “making your gifts twice as important.

“Every contribution, big or small, adds up to make a huge impact on Wisconsin’s quality of resources and quality of life. It is a vital investment in the health and well-being of the environment, economy and quality of life. These are benefits everyone can appreciate and enjoy, now and for generations to come,” Holtz said.

Look for the loon on the state income tax form or send a check directly to the Endangered Resources Fund, PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707, or donate online through the DNR Web site.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Sumner Matteson – (608) 266-1571 or Pat Manthey, DNR endangered resources biologist, La Crosse (608) 789-5651

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28-year-old bald eagle released back to the wild

LADYSMITH - A 28-year-old male bald eagle was released back to his home territory last week after being treated for injuries received last summer. He is once again flying the skies near the Dairyland Flowage, north of Tony.

The eagle was found May 22, 2008 by Department of Natural Resources biologists Mark Schmidt and Chris Cold and transported to Antigo, where he was treated for impact trauma by wildlife rehabilitator Marge Gibson of Raptor Education Group, Inc. Cold said that the decision to hold the bird and wait until mid-March for release was made because of old age and the recent severe temperatures.

“This bird has an interesting history,” Cold said.

He was banded as a nestling on June 5, 1981 by DNR wildlife biologists Ron Eckstein and Chuck Sindelar at Jersey City Flowage, north of Tomahawk. Sometime late in life, he was shot and now has a healed leg fracture to show for it.

“This old injury may have eventually predisposed him to other injuries, which ultimately put him in rehab,” Cold said.

“The good news is that his condition is good and the time is right. As the river breaks up, it is heartening to know that this old veteran is once again on familiar ground as one of the oldest known wild eagles presently alive and free in our state.”

Schmidt and Cold commended the efforts of Marge Gibson and other animal rehabilitators for making this success story possible. While Wisconsin eagle numbers have recovered from historic lows to a present population of more than 1,200 known breeding pairs, they still face threats from illegal shooting and environmental contaminants. One of the major contaminants is lead.

Cold said that when lead is ingested as spent buckshot in crippled game or as sinkers and jigs in unrecovered fish, it continues to kill eagles at a time when alternatives to this toxic metal are available to hunters and anglers. A large percentage of eagles coming in to rehab centers are suffering from lead exposure, either directly (shot) or as ingested in dead fish and animals.

“Lead levels in the blood may predispose eagles to impaired behavior that predisposes them to injury such as impact trauma from vehicles at roadkill sites,” Cold explained.

The biologists and rehabilitators encourage all sportspeople to “get the lead out” and do their part for wildlife conservation. An old eagle flying above some waterway somewhere will benefit from such efforts.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Chris Cold (715) 532-4373 or Mark Schmidt 532-4369

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Spring offers unique fish watching opportunities in Wisconsin

Crowds gather to watch annual lake sturgeon spawning run

MADISON – People looking for a free, family-friendly event this spring can visit some Wisconsin waterways where fish put on quite a show as they travel to their spawning grounds.

One of the most well-known fish watching events, bringing out thousands of visitors each year, is the upstream movement of the ancient lake sturgeon along the Wolf and Embarrass rivers during mid-April to early May.

A short video clip of sturgeon spawning and the people who come out to watch them, “Come face to face with prehistory” is available on the sturgeon spawning page of the DNR Web site.

“You really can’t see anything like this anywhere else, not on this scale,” says Ron Bruch, Department of Natural Resources senior sturgeon biologist. “During their spawning runs, you are able to be within a foot or less of these prehistoric fish, some weighing in excess of 150 to 200 pounds, spawning right at your feet.”

The world’s largest naturally reproducing lake sturgeon population resides in the Lake Winnebago System thanks to Wisconsin’s century-old sturgeon management program, the dedicated work of DNR fisheries staff, and the commitment of citizens.

“This is such a unique resource,” says Bruch. “If you can just imagine, more than 150 million years ago, there were dinosaurs watching these fish do the same thing and the sturgeon then looked pretty much exactly like they do now.”

Depending on where the fish are, the public might also have a chance to watch DNR fisheries crews as they net the large fish, bring them ashore, measure and tag them, and then release them back into the river.

Spawning time is dependent on water temperature and flow but typically happens during mid-April to early May. An average spawning run lasts on average for seven days and there is typically no more than two days of peak spawning at every given site, so visitors are encouraged to call the Sturgeon Hotline (920) 303-5444 for the most up-to-date information.

“This is just a great opportunity in the spring to see a wonder of nature,” says Bruch. “We have these fish here because we’ve been doing it right with sturgeon for 100 years, and we’re reaping the benefits.”

Lake Sturgeon Spawning and Viewing Locations

• Wolf River Sturgeon Trail (near New London) - About two miles west of New London on County Highway X. Parking available on the south side of the river about one-half mile from the spawning site.
• Bamboo Bend at Shiocton - on County Hwy 54. Parking available on the north side of County Hwy. 54.
• Shawano Dam in Shawano - Parking available on the east side of the river at the end of Richmond Street.

* Maps are available on the sturgeon spawning Web site.

Sturgeon guard volunteers still needed

While the sturgeon are spawning, they are fairly oblivious to human activity and are vulnerable to illegal harvest. “Sturgeon Guard” volunteers are needed who can commit to 12-hour shifts of watching the fish while they are spawning.

If you would like to sign up, send the downloadable form [PDF] to the DNR sturgeon guard coordinator at the DNR Oshkosh Service Center at DNRSturgeonGuard@wisconsin.gov or call (920) 303-5444. For more information visit the Sturgeon Guard web site.

Other spring fish watching opportunities

Sturgeon aren’t the only ones making waves as they travel to their breeding grounds.

The spring steelhead run has begun on Lake Michigan tributaries, and a number of facilities offer fish viewing during the run, including the Root River Steelhead Facility in Racine County, where people can watch fish move up fish ladders, and the C.D. Besadny Anadromous Fish Facility on the Kewaunee River in Kewaunee County that has a unique viewing window allowing visitors to see fall and spring runs of fish as they enter the facility.

Walleye, northern pike, and musky will also be on the move beginning in late-March. The DNR Fish Watching web site has more information on when and where these fish are in action.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: lake sturgeon - Ron Bruch (920) 424-3059; C.D. Besadny Anadromous Fish Facility- (920) 388-1025; Root River Steelhead Facility - (262) 884-2300; DNR fisheries management - (608) 27-7498

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Safe, beneficial alternatives exist to burning yard waste and debris

MADISON – Spring time in Wisconsin usually means a thorough yard cleaning, but state officials are urging people to consider alternatives to burning yard waste – branches, leaves and the like.

Debris burning is the number one cause of wildfires in Wisconsin and accounts for roughly one-third of all wildfires in the state. These fires can quickly get out of control and, especially in the spring before grasses turn green, can burn hundreds of acres of fields and forests, and even buildings and other structures before they are brought under control.

“Wisconsin’s firefighters are particularly concerned about debris burning in the spring,” said Catherine Regan, wildfire prevention specialist with the Department of Natural Resources. “Homeowners and landowners have a big financial incentive to not start wildfires. Anyone found responsible for causing a wildfire on state, federal or private lands is liable for all costs associated with fighting the fire and the damage to the state’s natural resources.”

Burning permits – which are free – are required in many areas of the state. People wishing to burn should contact their local DNR office, emergency fire warden, fire department or local officials before burning to find out if a burning permit is required. Anyone burning without a required permit may be issued a citation. More information on burning permits and current fire danger can be found on the DNR Web site.

For those cleaning out attics and garages, tossing a match onto a pile of burnables may seem like the easy way to get rid of them, but burning just about any material, whether plastic, paper or wood, produces a variety of hazardous and toxic air pollutants, including carcinogens such as arsenic, benzene and formaldehyde.

State law prohibits the burning of the following materials under any conditions:

• Wet, combustible rubbish, such as wet cardboard or paper.
• Oily substances, such as oily or greasy rags, oil filters, etc.
• Asphalt, such a asphalt shingles or tar paper.
• Plastics of any kind, including plastic bottles and plastic bags.
• Rubber products, including tires and hoses.
• Treated or painted wood.

Donating usable but unwanted items to local thrift stores, charities, schools or churches is a perfectly suitable option for home furnishings and appliances that people who need to get rid of materials should consider. Recyclables and some other items may need to be taken to a local landfill.

Businesses, commercial enterprises, and industries may not use burn barrels or engage in any other kinds of open burning and may not be granted burning permits by municipalities. Businesses may obtain a permit to burn small brush piles that are the result of clearing business property on a case-by-case basis.

“Even much of a person’s yard waste could be used in ways other than fuel for fire,” Regan said. “You could consider composting some material or even creating some wildlife habitat in nearby woods.

The Department of Natural Resources encourages everyone to consider alternatives to outdoor burning such as reducing the amount of waste produced, recycling, landfilling or composting yard waste and brush.

More information on open burning and backyard composting and recycling is available on the DNR Web site.

“If you do burn, make sure you have the proper permit and don’t burn illegal materials,” Regan said. “You should also have a plan ready just in case your fire gets out of control. And, keep in mind, your local DNR staff is there to answer your questions or address your concerns.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Catherine Regan, (608) 266-2359

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Volunteers sought to help Wisconsin State Parks prepare for the summer season

MADISON – People looking for ways to celebrate Earth Day by helping to improve Wisconsin’s environment can participate in volunteer work days that are scheduled at 10 state parks across Wisconsin.

“With a tight economy, state park officials are anticipating more people will be looking for recreational opportunities close to home, and they expect state parks will be especially busy this summer,” said Luthien Niland, Wisconsin State Parks liaison to the Friends of Wisconsin State Parks, which is sponsoring and coordinating the volunteer work days.

Volunteers will help local Friends groups and Department of Natural Resources parks staff to prepare the parks for the summer season by clearing debris from trails and campgrounds, making minor repairs to park structures, cleaning up beaches and waterfronts, controlling invasive species, and a variety of other tasks.

“This is an opportunity for visitors to give back to the favorite park or explore a new park they have never been to before,” Niland said. “There will also be time set aside for people to appreciate and enjoy the park where they volunteer.”

The volunteer work days kick off on Saturday, April 25 in honor of Earth Day on April 22, and will continue on the following two Saturdays. The rain date for each event will be the following Sunday. Lunch and snacks, donated by area businesses, will be served at each location. Advanced registration is free, but required. People can find more information or register through the Friends of Wisconsin State Parks Web site at www.fwsp.org [exit DNR].

The work days will run from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on the following dates at the parks listed:

Saturday, April 25:

• Mirror Lake State Park, Baraboo
• Governor Dodge State Park, Dodgeville
• Lake Kegonsa State Park, Madison
• Wyalusing State Park, Prairie du Chien

Saturday, May 2:

• Hartman Creek State Park, Waupaca
• Lake Wissota State Park, Chippewa Falls
• Kettle Moraine State Forest- Northern Unit, Fond du Lac

Saturday, May 9:

• Perrot State Park, Trempealau
• Buckhorn State Park, Necedah
• Copper Falls State Park, Mellen

The Friends of Wisconsin State Parks is a nonprofit organization that works to support local Friends groups around the state and assists them in enhancing, preserving, and protecting Wisconsin State parks, forests, and trails.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Luthien Niland - (608) 264-8994 or luthien.niland@wi.gov.

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Road expansion, trail development may result in Incidental Take of rare snake

[EDITOR’S NOTE: Wisconsin’s endangered species law (§ 29.604, Wis. Stats.) requires the Department of Natural Resources to notify the public when it proposes to authorize the incidental taking of a state endangered or threatened species.]

MADISON - The expansion of a City of Waukesha roadway and the development of a recreational trail in the City of Brookfield could result in the incidental taking of a gartersnake listed as a state threatened species, under authorizations the Department of Natural Resources is proposing for both projects.

Incidental take refers to the unintentional loss of individual endangered or threatened animals or plants that does not put the overall population of the species at risk.

The City of Waukesha proposes to expand Sunset Drive from Chapman Drive to West St. Paul Avenue (County Highway X). The project extends up to, but does not include the Fox River crossing of Sunset Drive, and does not include changes to the existing Fox River bridge structure. The expansion is necessary to accommodate increased road and pedestrian traffic along Sunset Drive.

Habitat suitable for Butler’s gartersnake (Thamnophis butleri), a species listed as threatened in Wisconsin, occurs along the Fox River corridor and an area of the expansion project includes a small amount of suitable Butler’s gartersnake habitat.

Through the Incidental Take Consultation process, minimization measures were developed to ensure protection of the snake, including disturbing only a small amount of suitable habitat and placing snake exclusion fencing along the project. The roadway will be widened only slightly and impacts will only occur on the north side of the road so permanent loss of habitat will be minimal.

Beverly Hills Trail - Wirth Park segment in the City of Brookfield

This Beverly Hills Trail is part of the City of Brookfield’s Greenway Corridor Recreational Plan. The approximately 2,000 foot trail will connect the Beverly Hills Trail from Pheasant Drive to Wirth Park. It will extend and replace a mowed trail that presently occurs along the same alignment with an asphalt surface. The purpose of the new trail is to provide improved recreational access, and secondarily to provide alternative emergency access to Wirth Park.

The project area includes portions of habitat that is occupied by Butler’s gartersnake. The city minimized the amount of impact to the snake habitat during project design and placement, proposes to enhance a portion of the adjoining wetland to historic conditions and functions to improve habitat for the snake, and to install snake exclusionary fencing to keep snakes out of the project area. This fencing will be maintained during the snake’s active period until the bike trail and revegetation of the area has been completed.

The Department of Natural Resources has determined that the proposed projects will minimize the impacts to the snake; are not likely to jeopardize the continued existence and recovery of the state population of the snake or the whole plant-animal community of which it are a part; and have benefit to the public health, safety or welfare that justifies the actions. Department staff determined that at the proposed Beverly Hills project, the snake will benefit from improvements to habitat through restoration of previously drained and filled wetland areas as a result of reestablishment of hydrology, removing fill, re-grading and reestablishing wetland plant communities.

The conservation measures to minimize adverse effects on the Butler’s gartersnake will be incorporated into the proposed Incidental Take Authorizations. Copies of the jeopardy assessment and background information on the Butler’s gartersnake are available on the Incidental Take page of the DNR Web site or upon request from Rori Paloski, Department of Natural Resources, Bureau of Endangered Resources, 101 South Webster, Madison, WI 53707, 608-264-6040. Public comments will be taken through April 7, 2009 and should be sent to Rori Paloski at the above address.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Rori Paloski - 608-264-6040