Simple Strategies to Prevent Bird-Window Collisionswinaudubon.org/newsletter/documents/AudNov17.pdf · 2017. 10. 31. · Nov 16 Simple Strategies to Prevent Bird-Window Collisions

November 2017 All programs and activities are open to the public Vol. 39, No. 3

P.O. Box 184, Oshkosh, WI 54903 � Published six times a year Editor: Janet Wissink � 920-216-1172 � [email protected]

Check our website for up-to-date information: www.winaudubon.org

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From the From the From the From the Quiz Quiz Quiz Quiz Master:Master:Master:Master: I’m a furry, red-brown and black, 1.5 inch long caterpillar. I’m often seen crossing roads in autumn in search of a protective place to overwinter. I’m more well-known than what I become. What am I and what do I turn into?

(Look closely to find the answer in this newsletter.)

Calendar of Events

Visit www.winaudubon.org for updates and details.

Nov 16 Simple Strategies to Prevent Bird-Window Collisions by Chuck Hagner.

We are currently planning programs and field trips for 2018. Look for the next newsletter in January to find out what is on the schedule!

We wish you all a Happy Holiday Season!

Simple Strategies to Prevent Bird-Window Collisions

Thurs., Nov. 16 6:30 pm Social

7:00 pm Program

Evergreen Retirement Community

Lower Level Commons

1130 N. Westfield St., Oshkosh

Every year in the United States, between 365 and 988 million birds are killed after colliding with buildings. Contrary to conventional wisdom, the greatest mortality does not occur at gleaming, glass-covered high-rises, but at shorter buildings, and especially at residences. This means that homeowners across the country have a great opportunity: By decreasing the number of birds that strike their windows,

they can dramatically improve the state of our birds. In this presentation, Chuck Hagner will describe proven strategies and effective products that homeowners can use to keep birds from striking the windows of their home. Hagner is a member of the board of directors of the Western Great Lakes Bird and Bat Observatory, in Ozaukee County, and the former editor-in-chief of BirdWatching magazine. He lives in Milwaukee. Winnebago Audubon Society and Wild Ones Fox Valley Area invite you to join them at this co-sponsored program. It is free and open to the public.

Left: An example of one product that seems to help prevent window strikes.

Winnebago Audubon Society extends a sincere thank you for your support which allows us to continue to provide positive experiences in nature for our community.

We are so grateful for all the amazing donations that we have received in memory of Frank Zuern.

Thank you to his family and friends.

We will use the money wisely, keeping Frank in mind when we choose how to use it.

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My wife, Christine, and I are glad to report on another year of successful bluebird monitoring at Utica Golf Course. For those of you who are not familiar with this effort, a brief background summary is in order. This bluebird trail is sponsored by Winnebago Audubon Society and the Bluebird Restoration Association of Wisconsin (BRAW). It is composed of 28 bluebird houses that were placed at Utica Golf Club several years ago with the approval of the golf club owner, Greg Johnson. I wish to express my sincere thanks and appreciation for the support that is given by Greg and his staff in providing a safe environment for the bluebird houses at this location. We have found Utica Golf Club to be a great option to attract bluebirds and other native cavity nesting songbirds who depend on bird houses for safe nesting sites. Without the assistance of bird lovers who install and monitor bluebird houses on appropriate habitat, these beautiful birds would be dependent on natural tree cavities for nest sites. Unfortunately, natural cavities are declining do to changing land uses and competition from aggressive nonnative birds such as starlings and house sparrows (English sparrows). The semi open grass habitat found at golf courses provides ample volumes of insect larva and insects for food and is a good example of that preferred by bluebirds. The 28 birdhouses at Utica Golf Club and 3 additional ones located in my yard comprise this bluebird trail. Following guidelines of BRAW, we monitor and record the nesting activity of bluebirds and other songbirds weekly and send the monitoring report to BRAW at the end of the nesting season. Our bluebird trail may also be called a bluebird/tree swallow trail because of the large number of tree swallows that are found in eastern Wisconsin and the favorable nest sites provided for them on our trail. The competition between bluebirds and tree swallows for nest sites is a friendly one as the two species do not harm one another

and are both beautiful song birds that are important members of our environment. This year we have experimented with placing bluebird houses in pairs 20 feet apart to see if bluebirds and tree swallows will nest close to each other. If they do, it may increase the total production of both species. In our experiment we established 3 pairs of bluebird houses and found that each pair of houses did produce successful bluebird and tree swallow nests at the same time. Evidently, the bluebird pairs will potentially accept the presence of tree swallows in their nest territory even though they do not allow other bluebirds to nest within their territory. Next year, we intend to expand our experiment with paired bird houses to further explore this alternative. This year we again monitored the trail weekly and enjoyed watching and recording the nesting success of these wonderful song birds. Even though the nesting season is now ended, the bluebirds are still very evident on the golf course as they continue their fall migration to southern states to spend the winter. We have kept a record of the nesting activity and can happily report that the total results of the song bird nesting on this trail this year includes the production of 70 young bluebirds, 76 young tree swallows and 10 young house wrens. We reported this successful production to BRAW. They in turn accumulate this data from other bluebird monitors state wide and are able to announce at a later date a total production for the entire state. As a result, Wisconsin is always among the top producers of bluebirds in the U.S. With predator guards installed on the birdhouse posts we are able to reduce most raccoon and other mammal predation. We do have a few houses that initially are occupied by house sparrows that are present at nearby farms. These non-native birds are a main avian predator of bluebirds and are known to kill adult and young bluebirds and tree swallows on their nests. Fortunately, we are able to control these predators through the use of VanErt sparrow traps at the beginning of the season. Another main avian predator of bluebirds is the starling. This non-native bird can be controlled through the use of the bluebird house entrance hole that is designed to be too small for starlings but the right size for bluebirds. As a side note to those of you who may be interested in placing one or more bluebird houses in your back yard or other appropriate habitat to try your hand at promoting bluebirds or other cavity nesting song birds, I give you enthusiastic encouragement and advice that you follow guidelines provided by BRAW at www.braw.org This guidance includes birdhouse plans, placement guidance and monitoring recommendations. Please also consider joining BRAW to receive additional guidance in promoting this important songbird. So, for now so long, good luck in your bluebird house experiences and hope to report to you again next year.

Bluebirds at Utica Golf Club by Dave Misterek, Trail Monitor

Photo by Patrick Ready

October is a month of quiet transition. The animals have raised their young. Winter preparations are finished; acorns have been buried, seeds stored, bodies fattened, fur coats thickened, and next year’s buds produced. Many birds have already flown to warmer places and the winter finches have not yet arrived. The hibernators are retreating underground. Shorter days and frosty nights warn us of the approaching winter. In October, the meadows, lakes and skies are still. Then brisk, chilling northwest winds sweep in to stir things up, sending leaves, seeds, birds and imaginations soaring on windswept journeys. October winds tug at trees and send a shower of fiery red and gold, subdued purple and brown leaves swirling to earth. In a gentle breeze each type of leaf has a characteristic falling style; some float, some free-fall, others twirl around the stem. In a strong wind, this individuality is lost as the leaves move in mini-whirlwinds through the air and along the ground. At rest, the colorful, many-shaped leaves quilt the ground with the artistry of a gifted craftsman. October winds pull at ripened seeds and send them on their way. Dried milkweed pods split open along one side, exposing flat brown seeds arranged like cedar shingles on a roof. Each seed is attached to a white, fluffy parachute. Gentle and not-so-gentle winds tug on the billowy floss

one by one to carry the seeds aloft. When the pod and wind conditions are perfect, the seed-carrying parachutes lift off in military precision, one right after another, and float single file to unknown destinations. October is not complete until I hold a handful of milkweed seeds over my head and let the wind work through my fingers snatching the seeds away. This has been a ritual since childhood. Each year I dream of what it would be like to float freely on October winds, wondering where I would land when the winds finally release me. October winds assist avian migrants. Long undulating skeins of Canada geese ride south on northerly winds. Their resonant honking makes even the nature-oblivious look skyward. I call these brisk northwest winds “the hawk winds.” On these special days I often scan the skies hoping to see a migrating hawk or eagle. With its wings swept back and buoyed by invisible winds, the bird is escorted swiftly southward without so much as a wing flap or a great expenditure of energy. Flocks of broad-winged hawks passed in mid-September, but in October, the hawks generally migrate alone; a red-tailed hawk, a sharp-

shinned or was it a Cooper’s hawk? Perhaps an elusive peregrine falcon will streak across the horizon or a wandering golden eagle. October winds make me feel good. When I inhale the cold, fresh air, I feel alive. These winds replace the sultry stagnation of late summer and herald Wisconsin’s annual march into winter, my favorite season.

Word of the Day: Leaf scar

The mark left on the twig at the point of attachment of a leafstalk when the leaf falls.

Badger Tracks Badger Tracks Badger Tracks Badger Tracks by Anita Carpenter

October Winds

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EDITOR’S NOTE: I shouldn’t be helping you out with the Quiz, but I couldn’t resist including pictures (right) of the answers. I have seen many of these caterpillars crossing the road this fall.

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Welcome to Welcome to Welcome to Welcome to Winnebago AudubonWinnebago AudubonWinnebago AudubonWinnebago Audubon

A special thank you to all those who are renewing

again this year as well. You are invited to participate in

activities of your local Winnebago Audubon chapter. It's a great way to meet like-minded people and to enjoy

what nature has to offer.

If you are a new member of National or the Chapter and haven’t seen your name here in the last couple of issues,

please contact

Pat Nichols, Membership Chair (email me at: [email protected])

Theresa Cheng

Robert Horton

Jane Hutchinson

Jacqueline Mc Gee

Quiz Answer: Quiz Answer: Quiz Answer: Quiz Answer: Woolly bear caterpillar, Pyrrharctia Isabella;

Isabella tiger moth