Fond du Lac Area Bird & Nature Alliance (formerly Audubon) offers programs, field trips, activities, and workshops related to the environment.
BIRD & NATURE ALLIANCE PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES
Our room at MPTC is B141. People can park in the B lot on the north side of MPTC and enter door B3. For more information about these events, contact dianahbeck@gmail.com or 920-922-7931.
Science Audubon Conservation Ranching Improving Habitat for Grassland Birds in Wisconsin One Farm at a Time (Presentation)
Wednesday, November 12, 7 pm, MPTC Room B141
The majority of grassland birds whose populations have declined by more than 50 percent in the last 50 years, inhabit privately-owned land. Audubon Conservation Ranching (ACR) aims to work with graziers to enhance habitat on working lands through a new certification program. This successful program from the western U.S. has been implemented by Audubon in Wisconsin. Excitement, as well as lands that are managed with grassland birds in mind, are growing. Learn about which species are benefiting and how you could help, even if you don’t graze cattle!
Community Shopping Night
Thursday, December 4, 10 am – 5 pm, Just Fare Market
For more information on these events, call 920-922-7931 or email dianahbeck@gmail.com.
Audubon’s annual shopping event at Just Fare Market is at their store (N7645 N. Peebles Lane) and also online. Pick up your order Thursday 10 –5, Friday 10 –4, or Saturday 10 –2.
Fair Trade is a direct and cooperative business approach that supports farmers and craftspeople throughout the world by paying a living wage and providing safe working conditions. One of the main principles of Fair Trade is that environmentally sustainable practices are used in producing products. Fond du Lac County Audubon benefits as we receive 15% of total sales over $500 during the event. Those funds support our local programs, conservation, and education efforts. Audubon members will be at the shop during Thursday event hours to greet you and assist with your shopping. Invite your friends.
Small Mountain Owls (Presentation)
Wednesday, January 14, 7 pm, via Zoom in your home
Join us for a presentation with Scott Rashid, Director of the Colorado Avian Research and Rehabilitation Institute (CARRI). Originally from Fond du Lac, Scott has been living in Estes Park since 1989.
Small Mountain Owls is the name of Scott’s most recent book. His presentation covers four small owls found in the western mountains, especially in the Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) area. Learn about the natural history of the Northern Pygmy-Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Boreal Owl, and the Flammulated Owl. Scott has been researching and rehabilitating these owls for more than 30 years.
Scott has documented the first nest of Flammulated Owls in RMNP and the first-ever Boreal Owl nest there and each species’ preferred habitats, nests, feeding, courtship, growth of young, and more.
Scott and his researchers have been trapping and banding these birds as part of their research. Find out the results of banding operations, how many of the birds are captured by CARRI members each fall, and where they may spend the winters.
A link to the Zoom presentation will be emailed to members and be on our Facebook page. Anyone not currently receiving our email notices and wanting the January Zoom link, please send us your email at fondyaudubon@gmail.com. We do not share our email list and only use it for our program reminders.
Snowshoe Saturday at Kiekhaefer Park
Saturday, January 17, 1 pm, 4235 Kiekhaefer Parkway
Enjoy a guided winter exploration of the hilly trails at beautiful Kiekhaefer Park. If there is good snow, we will snowshoe; otherwise we will hike. (Canceled if too muddy, raining, or temp/wind chill below zero.)
Limited snowshoes will be available by reservation at no charge, courtesy of Attitude Sports. For trail conditions or to reserve snowshoes, contact Diana at 920-922-7931 or dianahbeck@gmail.com.
Audubon Bird Seed Sale
Saturday, January 31, 9 –11 am
Haentze Floral Company, 658 Fond du Lac Avenue
Pre-order bird seed by January 10. See our flyer or the order form on our website. We offer high quality seed to attract a variety of birds to your feeders. There is limited seed available if not pre-ordered.
How to get information:
1) email fondyaudubon@gmail.com and we’ll email or snail mail a flyer, or
2) check our website: fdlaudubon.org, or
3) call Lori at 920-960-7930
Gardening for Pollinators Using Native Plants (Presentation)
Wednesday, February 11, 7 pm, MPTC, Room B141
Margie Winter, Fond du Lac Audubon vice-president, will give this presentation about supporting pollinators as well as birds with the use of native plants in your yards and gardens. Margie will share information and photos of native plant species (trees, shrubs, and wildflowers) that she grows in the gardens on her property that maintain adult pollinators as well as pollinator larvae. Learn about plants for sun, part-shade, and shade. Discover gardening practices that encourage pollinators.
Great Backyard Bird Count
February 13–16, your own backyard
Contribute to this successful bird count. More than 173,000 people of all ages worldwide join the four-day count annually to create a snapshot of the distribution and abundance of birds. Observations can be made from the comfort of your home and only involve a minimum of 15 minutes. The website has wonderful aids for identifying the birds in our area. Enter the results online; final totals and results are available later to all participants. Details are on the website: gbbc.birdcount.org
Explore Local Trails with Your Family
We encourage you and your families to explore some of the beautiful trails in our area on your own and with your families.
• Kiekhaefer Park
• Gottfried Prairie & Arboretum
• Peebles Trail
• Greenway Arboretum
• Hobbs Woods
• Shaginappi Park
• Eisenbahn State Trail
• Archer Thomas Olsen Trail at Lakeside Park West
• Mascoutin Valley State Trail (Rosendale)
• Northwoods (Rosendale)
• Riggs Park (Ripon)