222 S. Hamilton St. / Madison, WI 53703 / 255-2473/ www.madisonaudubon.

org May 2008

Come to the Fair! Inside This Issue

O n Saturday, May 3, the Madison
Audubon Society is bringing its
32nd Art fair to the Dane County com-
32nd Annual Art Fair................................ 1
Keep It Green!............................................ 1
munity. Big Birding Day......................................... 3
The 1st MAS Art Fair took place in Violin Artist................................................ 3 Madison
1975 at a local church with 34 artists.
MAS Spring Field Trips.........................4-6 Audubon
Over the years, it has grown in size
MAS Banquet Highlights........................ 6
and attendance, and this year, the fair Society
will have over 110 artists. Goose Pond Canines................................. 7
Serving Columbia,
Their work showcases photography, March Donations....................................... 7 Dane, Dodge, Iowa,
painting, printmaking, weaving, glass, Banquet Raffle Winners........................... 8 Jefferson, Richland
furniture, drawing, batik, ceramics, and Sauk Counties
jewelry and a variety of sculpture and
mixed media. Nature-related art will
be well represented. You can check out
information about the artists on the
Audubon web site under the Art Fair Keep It Green!
link (madisonaudubon.org) Reducing Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Olbrich Botanical Garden is providing the beautiful location By Dietrich Schaaf
and the promise of spring. Food will be available this year Climate change is a reality! Rising sea levels threaten bird nest-
through Willy St. Coop. Raffle prizes, an exciting silent auction, ing sites and other habitat. Birds are beginning to change their
and kids’ activities will all add to the festivity. ranges, moving up in altitude and north (or south) in latitude as
average global temperatures rise. Many of these changes have
2008 Art Fair Raffle prizes appeared in just a few years, and we need to act now to amelio-
Framed original watercolor $25 gift certificates donated rate the kinds of environmental change that many species (not
“On Top of the World” do- by Wild Birds Unlimited (3 only birds) simply won’t be able to handle.
nated by artist Janet Flynn. certificates)
Retail value $425. What’s to be done? Here are some simple things that can
Birdscaping in the Midwest: reduce our carbon footprint and impact on the environment.
Vortex Impact 70 mm spot- A Guide to Gardening with
ting scope donated by Eagle
Perhaps you’ve heard them before, but it does no harm to rein-
Native Plants to Attract Birds force these ideas:
Optics. Retail value $180. by Mariette Nowak, donated
by Itchy Cat Press (3 books) •R  educe car use: walk, bike, carpool or take a bus to cut CO2
Metal sculpture donated by
artist Ellis Nelson. Retail at $27 each. and other harmful emissions.
value $75. CD “Lynette” donated by
•R  educe waste: use cloth shopping bags and choose products
$50 REI gift certificate for Lynette Margulies. Retail with less packaging.
gear rental donated by REI. value $12. •R  ecycle: glass, metal cans, paper, cardboard, and some plastics.
$25 gift certificate, t-shirt Bike accessories donated by •B  uy green power: check with your electric utility and sign up
and grocery tote bag from Budget Bicycle. Retail value for renewably generated electricity to help reduce fossil fuel
recycled materials donated $20. emissions.
by Williamson Street Grocery Tickets are $2 each or 3 for $5. •R  eplace turf grass with native species: the right plants can pro-
Co-op. Retail value $37. Winner need not be present vide food and shelter for birds and other wildlife while reduc-
Cutting board donated by to win. ing the need to add water and fertilizer.
Orange Tree Imports. Retail • I f you’re shopping for a new car: buy one that gets exceptional
value $25.
gas mileage. continued on page 2
Madison Audubon is a chapter of the National Audubon Society

New, renewal and enhanced members
To join Madison Audubon Society,
renew or upgrade your membership,
please complete this form:
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Address _____________________________
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Address _____________________________
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[ ] $ 25 New members, students and
seniors
[ ] $ 60 Family
[ ] $ 40 Renewal
[ ] $ 25 Gift membership (for new mem-
bers only, please)
[ ] $ 20 CAWS newsletter only (non-
member)
Over and Above Memberships
[ ] P atron $1,000
[ ] B enefactor $500
[ ] P artner $250
[ ] C ontributor $100
Membership Amount $______
Additional contribution $______
TOTAL Enclosed/Charged $______
Please make check payable to
Madison Audubon Society
OR Please charge my
[ ] V ISA [ ]M
 aster Card
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Exp. Date _____/_____
Signature _________________________
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National Audubon magazine.
The Audubon CAWS
Green . . .
continued from page 1
• Join an EnAct Environmental Action
team: visit www.enactwi.org or call
(608) 204-2888 to find out how to connect
with your neighbors or coworkers and
learn to reduce your household’s envi-
ronmental footprint.
• Reduce water use: install low-flow toilets
and showerheads, use a rain barrel to col-
lect water for your outdoor landscape.
• Use less electricity: save money and
reduce greenhouse emissions by switch-
ing to compact fluorescent bulbs, and
look for the Energy Star rating when
replacing appliances.
• Get an energy audit on your home: you
can have it done free of charge, and you
may be surprised at the ways you can
improve efficiency and save energy.
• And finally, continue to support the
efforts of organizations like Madison
Audubon and others, who are working
to get the message out, for the benefit of
humans and wildlife alike!
Time to renew? Members
Check your Madison Audubon CAWS
address label to determine your renewal
date. To avoid interruptions to your
subscription, please renew two months
before that date, so you won’t fall behind
on news and notices of events.
Tip: Renewing through the MAS office
directs more of your donation to local
activities and conservation projects.
Update: We are now sending a sepa-
rate renewal notice once a year and in
the future we plan to offer the option of
renewing on the Madison Audubon
website.
The mission of the Madison Audubon
Society is to educate our members and
the public about the natural world and the
threats that natural systems are facing,
to engage in advocacy to preserve and
protect these systems, and to develop and
maintain sanctuaries to save and restore
natural habitat.
THE AUDUBON CAWS is published
September through June by:
Madison Audubon Society,
222 S. Hamilton St., Madison, WI 53703,
(608) 255-2473.
Birding hotline, 255-2476.
www.madisonaudubon.org
masoffice@mailbag.com
E-mail services donated by Berbee
2 May 2008
Cherokee Marsh
Important Bird Area
Project
The Wisconsin Important Bird
Areas (IBA) program identifies sites
that provide essential habitat for
birds. The program has nearly 100
approved sites statewide. If you’re
interested in participating in an effort
to nominate Cherokee Marsh and
nearby protected lands in the north
Lake Mendota area as an Important
Bird Area, please contact Jan Axelson
(jan@lvr.com, 241-5828) or Paul
Noeldner (paul_noeldner@hotmail.
com ). For more about the IBA pro-
gram, see www.wisconsinbirds.
org/IBA.
MADISON AUDUBON SOCIETY
President: Stan Druckenmiller
Vice-president: Debra Weitzel
Goose Pond resident managers:
Mark and Sue Martin
Faville Grove Sanctuary managers:
David Musolf, Roger Packard
Editor: Patrick Ready,
pready@tds.net
Graphic design: Patrick Ready
pready@tds.net
CAWS printer: Roemer Printing
Submissions for the June CAWS are due
May 1st.
Madison Audubon Wishlist
We greatly appreciate any
donations, or contributions, for the
following items.
• Office chair in excellent
condition
• Quality binoculars
• Digital (LCD) projector
• Mule utility vehicle
•rider mower or lawn mower in
working condition
• kitchen cabinets
• 30" kitchen stove
• energy efficient refrigerator
 for first, second and third place teams in
terms of bird species listed, and for the
individual who brings in the most money
in pledges.
All you need is $20 to register, $30 if you
plan to bird and attend the dinner. But
hurry, sign up by May 3, or there’s a $5
late registration fee! To register or for

May 10 is MAS Big
Birding Day 2008
Reminder: BBD is coming right up! Join
a team, or form one of your own, and on
Saturday, May 10, between the hours of
4 a.m. and 5 p.m., search the woods, wet-
lands and fields of only one of the seven
counties (Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Iowa,
Jefferson, Richland or Sauk) in the MAS
service area to see how many birds your
team can find!
Anyone can join. You don’t have to be an
experienced birder, and it’s a great way
Graphic/Pat Ready
to introduce young and old alike to a fun
and rewarding outdoor activity.
There’s more: get your family, friends
and neighbors to make a pledge for each
bird species your team finds. It can be
as little or as much as you and the donor
agree upon - 5¢, 50¢, a dollar. If everyone
does this, you’ll be surprised how much
money we can raise, and proceeds go to
support important MAS programs and
activities.
At the end of the day, we’ll meet at the
Imperial Garden Restaurant on the cor-
ner of Allen Boulevard and University
Avenue in Middleton to celebrate the
event. We have some nice prizes too,
more information and answers to your
questions, please contact BBD volunteer
coordinators Chuck Heikkinen and Delia
Unson at (608) 274-4043, or email them
at deliachuck@gmail.com. You can
also get more information and down-
load registration and pledge forms and
rules by visiting our website at www.
madisonaudubon.org. If you’d rather
not bird–although we hope you will–and
just attend the dinner, it’s $15. Again, if
we don’t have your name on the list by
May 3, there’s a $5 surcharge to eat and
celebrate. Contributions are welcome,
too. Some folks who can’t make BBD or
the dinner send a donation anyhow. This
is another way to be part of the day and
know that your donation is helping to
make a difference. Pledges and donations
are tax deductible. Come out and join the
fun. It’s for the birds!

Violinist Creates Art for Worthy Cause

No more notes will be heard from this violin, but the birds soar from its
surface like a Bach cantata, through the artistry and skill of Emily Lutz. Her
finely detailed painting on an abandoned violin is one of ten art works in the
2008 Art of Note collection.
Emily, a senior at James Madison Memorial High
School, Madison, is an avid visual artist and musi-
cian who has been a violinist for the past six years
in the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras. She
recently competed with her fellow orchestra mem-
bers for the privilege of creating an art violin for
this year's Art of Note project. Art of Note, celebrat-
ing its fifth year in 2008, is a fundraising project for
the Youth Orchestras and has attracted artists from
across the country.
Emily's violin and the entire Art of Note collection
can be viewed at a number of locations in Madison
leading up to June 5, when the art will be raffled
at The Madison Club. The collection can be seen at
University Bookstore at Hilldale March 31-April 12;
University of Wisconsin Hospital Surgery Waiting
Room April 7-30; Goodman's Jewelers April 14-26;
and Grace Chosy Gallery May 2-31, where the public
is invited to a reception on May 2. Details about the "Prairie Grouse," print by Princeton Poly-
exhibitions, raffle ticket sales locations, and auction chrome Press of John James Audubon's
original art, unframed, image size 24-1/2" x
items, including a Prairie Grouse Audubon print con- 34-1/2". "Prairie Grouse" is unique to other
tributed by Princeton Audubon Prints, can be found Audubon drawings, as all elements (birds,
at artofnote.org. background, flora) were composed by the artist
himself in about 1824, near the Great Lakes.

The Audubon CAWS 3 May 2008

Fun Spring Field Trips
For Everyone!
Field trip descriptions are posted
on the Madison Audubon website
(madisonaudubon.org).
For all field trips we recommend that
you bring: binoculars, field guide,
hat, sunscreen, insect repellant,
drinking water, a snack (or lunch),
and a portable spotting scope if you
have one. Wear sturdy shoes and
dress appropriately for the habitat
and weather.
Trip leaders and contact information
for questions appear at the end of
each field trip description.
Thur. May 1: Warbler Walk at Pheasant
Branch
Join us for the first of MAS’s early
morning warbler walks. We will be looking
for migrating warblers as well as vireos,
thrushes, tanagers and whatever else flies
by. Meet at 6:00 a.m.and park at the dead-
end that leads up to Parisi Park near where
Park Lawn St. meets Park St., Middleton.
Mike McDowell (608) 850-4122 or
mmcdowell@tds.net, and Kim Benton.
Sun. May 4: Warbler Walk at Olin-
Turville Park
On a warbler walk at Turville Point
you can expect to see warblers and other
migrant songbirds along the western
edge of Lake Monona. Meet at 6:00 a.m. at
Olin-Turville Park in the parking lot closer
to the stop light on Olin Ave. (near the
woods). The trip will last about two hours.
Charlotte Blotz (608) 236-4224.
Sun. May 4: Early Butterflies & Flowers of
Spring Green Preserve
Learn about the rare plant communities and
butterflies at The Nature Conservancy’s Spring
Green Preserve. Plant communities include
sand prairie, dry bluff prairie, black oak bar-
rens, and oak woodlands. At this time, the
Olympia Marble butterfly should be flying.
Other possibilities include American Lady,
Red Admiral, Juniper Hairstreak, and early
Monarchs.
We will also look for migratory birds such as
meadowlarks, Vesper, Grasshopper, and Lark
Sparrows. There is always something interest-
ing to see at this preserve, such as prickly pear
cactus and a host of insects, including a variety
of tiger beetles. Early spring flowers, such as
buttercup, bird’s-foot violet, and rock-cress
should be in bloom.
Wear foot gear appropriate for walking
among cacti. Bring close-focusing binoculars
The Audubon Caws
if you have them. Meet at the Spring Green
Preserve parking lot at 10:00 a.m. From inter-
section of Hwys. 14 and 23 near Spring Green,
go north on Hwy. 23 for one-half mile and turn
right (east) on Jones Rd. After three-quarters of
a mile, turn left (north) on the dirt access road
to the preserve parking lot (it’s just past fire
number E5196A). Expect the trip to last until
1:00 p.m.
Co-sponsors: The Prairie Enthusiasts and
Southern Wisconsin Butterfly Assn. Rich
Henderson (608) 845-7065 (home) or tpe.
rhenderson@tds.net and Ann Thering
(608) 836-1097 or therannc@yahoo.com
Weekday, May TBA: Finding Frosted Elfins
(butterflies)
All five species of Wisconsin Elfins are tiny
and elusive, but none rarer than the State-
Threatened Frosted Elfin. On this short-notice
field trip, we will travel to Jackson Co. where
Scott Swengel, who has more than 20 years of
experience monitoring butterflies in Wisconsin,
will show participants the best ways to search
for these butterflies.
Pre-registration Required. Those interested
please email Ann Thering at therannc@
yahoo.com to be placed on a Frosted Elfin
field trip alert email list. Only one or two days
notice will be given, by email. This all-day
trip will be on one of the following weekdays
(Monday through Friday but Thursday and
Friday are less likely): May 5-8, 12-16, or
May 19-21. The field trip will include at least
4 miles of walking. Other possible butterfly
species include: Olympia Marble, Karner
Blue, Gorgone Checkerspot, Cobweb Skipper,
Dusted Skipper, other Elfins, etc.
Please bring close-focusing binoculars if you
have them. (Several extra pairs of binoculars
are available for use.) Also, bring a bag lunch
and plenty of water. A hat, long pants and shirt
sleeves are recommended, and sturdy hiking
boots.
Meet in Jackson Co. at 11 a.m. at the corner of
West Bauer Road and Brockway Road. From
the intersection of I-94 and Hwy. 54 in Black
River Falls, go east on Hwy. 54 approximately
five miles to Brockway Road. Turn right on
Brockway and drive 2.5 miles south to West
Bauer Road. This area is about 2-1/2 hours
northwest of Madison.
Tue. May 6: Warbler Walk at the Arboretum
This is one of a handful of annual early
morning warbler walks to be held in the UW
Arboretum, looking for migrating warblers
as well as vireos, thrushes, tanagers and
whatever else flies by. Meet at 6:00 a.m. in the
Arboretum at the Wingra/Galistel Woods
parking lot along Arboretum Dr. Enter the
Arboretum from the east off Mills St. If you
enter from the west (Seminole Hwy.) you will
have to walk from the McKay Center parking
area. John Feith john@caculo.com, (608) 445-
7375 and Jim Berkelman.
4 May 2008
Thur. May 8: Warbler Walk at the
Arboretum
See May 6 Warbler Walk field trip. Levi
Wood (608) 277-7959.
Fri. May 9: Birding Quarry Park
We’ll be on the lookout for a variety
of spring migrants, primarily but not
exclusively warblers, amidst the inner-city
greenery of Quarry Park in Madison. Meet
at 7:00 a.m. at the base of Rocky Ledge
Ln., a narrow dead-end street just off the
intersection of Eugenia Ave. and Stevens
St. Park along those or other nearby
neighborhood streets: there’s no room
for parking on Rocky Ledge itself. Allen
Fitchen (608) 238-6816.
Fri. May 9: Evening Birding at Nine Springs
We will visit one of the more interesting
and often overlooked birding spots in the
Madison area to search for shorebirds,
herons, cranes, terns, swallows and
waterfowl. This area typically has good
mud flats, marsh and pond habitat. Meet
at 6:30 p.m. at the E-Way parking lot along
the Capitol City Bike Trail on Moorland
Rd. Bring a scope if you have one. This
trip may last until 9:00 p.m. or later.
Steve Thiessen (608) 873-3323 and Dan
Doeppers.
Sat. May 10: Big Birding Day
See article, Page 3.
Tue. May 13 and Thur. May 15:
Warbler Walk at Pheasant Branch 
Join us for one of MAS’s early morning
warbler walks. We’ll look for migrating
warblers as well as vireos, thrushes,
tanagers and whatever else flies by. Meet
at 6:00 a.m. and park at the dead-end that
leads up to Parisi Park near where Park
Lawn St. meets Park St. in Middleton.
May 13: Aaron Stutz (608) 294-9618
or agstutz@sbcglobal.net, and Mike
McDowell.
May 15: Aaron Stutz and Jesse Peterson.
Thur. May 15: Evening at Token Creek 
Though bordered by Hwy. 51 and I-90,
Token Creek County Park’s varied habitat
holds species such as Baltimore Oriole,
Indigo Bunting, Brown Thrasher, Eastern
Bluebird, Warbling Vireo and several
species of flycatchers. A variety of migrant
warblers are also possible. Trip leader Ed
Saur has lived in northeast Dane County
and visited the park frequently for more
than 20 years. He atlased the park for the
Wisconsin Breeding Bird Atlas Project for
three years.
The trip begins at 6:30 p.m. Token Creek
Co. Park is in the northeast quadrant of the
I-90-94 and Hwy. 51 interchange. It’s about
a half-mile north on Hwy.51 from I-90-94
or one-half mile south on Hwy. 51 from
Hwy. 19 and just east of the Pine Cone
Restaurant truck stop. Brown signs mark
the entrance. Wear shoes that will keep
your feet dry, as some trails may be wet.
Meet at the parking lot at the first building
on the right. Ed Saur (608) 846-4482 or
ejsaur@aol.com.
Sat. May 17: Birding Horicon Marsh
With 268 species of birds identified in the
marsh, Horicon is one of the birding hot spots
in Wisconsin. At this time of year, in addition
to the nesting egrets, herons and waterfowl,
we hope to see plenty of warblers, vireos,
thrushes and other passerines. With luck we
will hear and maybe even see some of the
more elusive marsh birds, such as rails and
wrens. It may be mid-afternoon by the time
we head back to Madison, so bring a lunch. It
is usually windy at Horicon.
To carpool, meet at the East side Cub Food
Store parking lot at 7:30 a.m. Reach Cub Foods
via Hwy. 30 east to Hwy. 51. Go north on Hwy.
51 and take the first right (Nakoosa Tr.) and
turn right again into the Cub Foods parking
lot. Passengers are expected to help pay for
gas. Levi Wood (608) 277-7959.
Sat. May 17: Jefferson/Dodge County Bird
Walk – NEW!
The second monthly walk for this new group
will be led by experienced birders from 9:00
a.m. to noon at Dorothy Carnes Park (Rose
Lake) in Jefferson County near Fort Atkinson.
Meet in the parking lot and bird the park
trails. For details, please visit http://www.
theropod.org/walks.html where you can also
sign up to receive e-mail notices and ensure
you’re alerted to any last minute changes due
to weather or other circumstances. At the web-
site you’ll also find maps and information on
how to get to the walk site.
Saturday & Sunday, May 17- 18: Bog
Butterflies of Northern Wisconsin
This joint trip of MAS and the Southern
Wis Butterfly Assn. will concentrate on locat-
ing the five early season bog species at Riley
Lake Wildlife Area in Price County. All were
seen there last May. These include the Freija
Fritillary, Frigga Fritillary, Red-disk Alpine,
Jutta Arctic, and the Brown Elfin. They are all
listed on the DNR web page of rare bog but-
terflies. Another dozen species of interest are
possible on this trip.
Wear footgear appropriate for walking in
the boggy habitat. Last year it was cool in the
morning and ice was still on the water at 9:30
a.m. so it could be a little chilly. Bring close-
focusing binoculars, water and a lunch. (Some
extra binoculars are available but call the
leader to reserve a pair.)
We will meet in Price Co. at the corner of
Hwy. 70 and Hemlock Rd. at approximately
10:30 a.m. on Saturday the 17th. (This spot
is located 25 miles west of the intersection of
Hwy. 70 and 51 in Minocqua. Alternatively,
the spot is located 15 miles east of the intersec-
tion of Hwy 70 and 13 in Fifield.) The bog is
approximately 240 miles from Madison. This
trip will continue on Sunday for anyone stay-
The Audubon Caws
ing over. (Call Mike for information on motels
in Park Falls. Reserve early!)
Pre-registration is required for this trip
to allow us to contact you concerning any
bad weather cancellation. Mike Reese at
(920) 787-2341 (home) or
mikereese@wisconsinbutterflies.org.
Sun. May 18: Birding at Picnic Point 
We anticipate a pleasant spring morning
of birding on Picnic Point, one of
Madison’s birding hot spots. With lots
of shoreline, open water and a variety of
woods, wetlands and open areas, Picnic
Point is known for its diversity of birds.
On the lake we will look for waterfowl,
gulls and terns. In the marshlands we’ll be
looking for blackbirds, wrens, and Song
Sparrows and Swamp Sparrows. In the
woodlands we’ll look for woodpeckers,
thrushes, orioles, vireos and early
warblers. And in the fields and gardens
we’ll look for grassland sparrows.
Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the circular 1918
Marsh parking lot across University Bay
Dr. from Picnic Point, north of the UW
hospital. The trip will last for 2-3 hours
with an opportunity to extend longer.
Cosponsor: Friends of the Lakeshore
Nature Preserve. Dan Doeppers (608) 255-
3013 and Peter Fissel.
Sun. May 18: Birding at Zeloski Marsh
The marsh has become a major stopover
for shorebirds during migration. During
2007, 24 species were seen there. It is also a
major stopover for waterfowl and wading
birds. We will walk a mile and a half on
gravel trails to reach excellent shorebird
and waterfowl viewing areas. For a
description of Zeloski Marsh see the MAS
(Sanctuaries) web page or the article by
Nolan Kollath in the Dec. 2007 CAWS.
Meet at the DNR parking lot at the end
of Alley Rd. at 9:00 a.m. (about 45 min.
from the west side of Madison). Alley Rd.
is on Jefferson Co. S (west of Lake Mills),
south of Co. B and north of Co. A. The
Glacial Drumlin Trail is nearby and is
excellent for warbler watching at this time
of the year, so make a day of it if you can.
Picnic facilities are at nearby Korth Park
and Lake Mills is nearby for food. Nolan
Kollath, nkollath@charter.net or (920) 648-
3842.
Sat. May 24: Birding Glacial Drumlin Trail
We will use the Glacial Drumlin Trail
to stay high and dry within the Lake
Mills Wildlife Area as we pass through
tamarack swamp, shrub-carr marsh, and
lake habitats. The primary focus will
be migrating warblers which tend to
concentrate at our destination because it
is good feeding habitat adjacent to a large
lake. Warblers commonly seen at this time
of year are: Magnolia, Nashville, Wilson’s,
Tennessee, Chestnut-sided, Black-throated
5 May 2008
Green, Canada, Bay-breasted, and
Northern Waterthrush. Less common
species seen here include Blackburnian,
Northern Parula, Blue-winged, Golden-
winged, Pine, and Blackpoll. Resident
birds include: Yellow Warbler, Common
Yellowthroat, Veery, Swamp Sparrow, and
WillowFlycatchers.
Meet at the Elm Point Rd. entrance to
Korth Park at 9:00 a.m. (45 min. from the
west side of Madison). Elm Point Rd. is
on Jefferson Co. S (west of Lake Mills),
south of Co. B and north of Co. A. Do
not take the main Korth Park entrance.
If you are late just follow the park trail
to the Glacial Drumlin Trail and turn left
to find us. Zeloski Marsh is nearby and
offers excellent shorebird watching at this
time of year, so make a day of it if you can.
Picnic facilities are at Korth Park and Lake
Mills is nearby for food. Nolan Kollath,
nkollath@charter.net or (920) 648-3842.
Sat. May 24: Bird Banding Biocore Prairie
Bird Observatory
This easy spring field trip near Picnic
Point runs from 8:00 a.m. until noon.
Come early or later in the morning, stay
the full time or just a few minutes, wander
around or become a lifelong volunteer. See
how birds are netted, banded, measured
and released, and discuss how important
information is gathered for management
and conservation purposes.
You can expect to see Indigo Buntings,
Baltimore Orioles, American Goldfinches,
possibly Wilson’s Warbler, and a variety
of other migrating birds in the hand. You
can accompany bird banders to the nets
and observe how they remove birds, band
them, and measure the birds at the mobile
station.
If you bring along food and drink, do not
eat while handling birds as they may carry
infectious agents. Bring insect repellent.
You are free to stay as long as you wish,
to wander the restored prairie, or to bird
Picnic Point.
To get to the banding station, take Lake
Mendota Dr. and park at Frautschi Point. 
Walk south through the woods, keeping
Lake Mendota on your left, onto the
Biocore Prairie. At the prairie, follow the
trail to your right, then left. The banding
station  (a/k/a picnic table) is at the top
of the prairie. Visitors not able to walk are
asked to contact the trip leader ahead of
time for permission to drive you to the
site. Mara McDonald, mamcdona@wisc.
edu or (608) 274-2534 before 8:30 p.m.,
please.
Sun. May 25: Birding at Baxter’s Hollow
Baxter’s Hollow is one of the most
scenic areas in the Baraboo Hills. We will
search for breeding species like Worm-
eating Warbler, Mourning, Cerulean and
Hooded Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush,
both cuckoos and any migrants passing
through. The trip will depart from the
Copp’s parking lot (6800 Century Ave.) in
Middleton at 6:30 a.m. and may last for
four hours. Aaron Stutz (608) 294-9618 or
agstutz@sbcglobal.net.
Thur. May 29: Evening at Pheasant
Branch
Enjoy an evening warbler walk at
Pheasant Branch Conservancy, Middleton,
on the Dane County parcel.  Migrating
spring warblers, vireos and thrushes
will be the focus of our search, but we’ll
probably find other interesting birds
and sights. To reach the Dane County
parcel drive one and a half miles north on
Pheasant Branch Rd. from Century Ave.
Go to the third conservancy parking lot on
the right after you pass the Conservancy
Condominiums. Meet at 6:00 p.m.  Mike
McDowell (608) 850-4122 or mmcdowell@
tds.net.
Sat. May 31: Janesville’s Cook Arboretum  travel.) A limited number of people and canoes
Cook Arboretum, one of the premier
birding spots in Rock County, offers a
variety of habitats, including bottomland
forest, riparian forest, scrub, field, and
conifers. Several forest-interior species are
found there, including nesting Hooded
and Cerulean warblers, Wood Thrush,
Ovenbird, Yellow-throated Vireo, and
Tufted Titmouse. Warbler diversity is
excellent, with over 20 species expected in
late May. Relative rarities found at the site
in past years include Kentucky Warbler,
Black-throated Blue Warbler, White-
eyed Vireo, both cuckoos, and Bobolink.
The trails are well-groomed, but the
terrain is rugged. Be prepared for a good
cardiovascular workout.
We will meet at 7:30 a.m. at the parking lot
at the end of the drive.
From Madison: Take Hwy. 14 south
through Evansville. Before Janesville, take
Co. Rd. H south (right) 1 mi. to Co. Rd .A.
Take Co. Rd. A east (left) about 3 mi.. The
arboretum is on the left side, at Austin
Rd., 1 mi. before Janesville. Travel time is
approximately 40 min. from the Madison
Beltline. From I-90 and through Janesville:
Take I-90 to Hwy.26 (Milton Ave)
interchange. Take Hwy. 26 into Janesville
to Hwy. 14. Take Hwy. 14 west (right) 5 mi.
to Hwy. 51. Take Hwy. 51 south (left) 4 mi.
to Memorial Dr. Take Memorial Dr. west
(right) to the edge of town. Memorial Dr.
becomes Co. Rd. A. The arboretum is on
the right, just outside the city limits. Tom
Klubertanz, tklubert@uwc.edu or (608)
758-6553.
Sunday, June 1:  Canoeing the Sugar River
This is a unique opportunity to see the
inside of one of the premier birding areas of
southern Wisconsin.  We will be canoeing the
Sugar River, with leader Quentin Yoerger, in
the Avon Bottoms State Wildlife area to find
The Audubon Caws
birds of the flood-plain forest. Expect to see
Prothonotary Warblers, Yellow-billed Cuckoos,
Red-shouldered Hawk and other unusual
birds. This trip is for experienced canoeists as
we will need to get around obstacles and so
will be getting in and out of our canoes. (The
water is relatively shallow.) Bring your own
canoe, insect repellant, a lunch, water and bin-
oculars. The trip will take us across the border
into Illinois and last about 5 hours. (Those who
would like a shorter 2 hour trip can take out at
the Nelson Road landing.)
Meet at the Beloit Newark Road boat land-
ing at 7:30 a.m. Directions: From Madison take
Hwy 14 south to the intersection with 138 near
Oregon. Exit to the right and go west about
1/5 mile. Turn left (south) onto MM. Follow
this road straight south as it becomes Hwy
104/County T, past Brodhead until Hwy. 81
is crossed, then continue south on T another
2 miles and turn left onto Beloit Newark Rd.
Travel east for 1 mile and stop at the boat land-
ing and parking lot. (Allow at least 45 min. for
can go on this trip so call the leader, Quentin
Yoerger, at (608) 882-6078 to reserve space. Or
email at harrierqman@gmail.com
Sunday, June 1:  Birding Governor Dodge
State Park
Come join us when we bird in the 5,000 acre
Governor Dodge State Park in the driftless
area of southwest Wisconsin near Dodgeville.
Bird species seen on some recent field trips to
Governor Dodge include Bell’s Vireo, Yellow-
breasted Chat, Hooded Warbler, Acadian
Flycatcher, Orchard Oriole, Henslow’s and
Clay-Colored Sparrow. Trip Leader John
Romano has birded extensively here and
MAS "Rally for Raptors"
Banquet Highlights Left: Marge Gibson holds up her
6 May 2008
conducted the Breeding Bird Atlas work in
Governor Dodge.
Meet to carpool and leave at 6:00 a.m. in front
of the Home Depot located one quarter mile
south of the Beltline off Verona Rd. A state of
Wisconsin (day) park sticker is necessary to
enter the park. We should return around noon.
John Romano (608) 238-6039.
Saturday, June 7:  Birds of Devil’s Lake and
Baxter’s Hollow
Join us for a morning of scouring the south-
ern half of Devil’s Lake State Park to look for
nesting bird species including Veery, Pileated
Woodpecker, Yellow-throated Vireo, Acadian
Flycatcher, Scarlet Tanager, Blue-winged
Warbler, plus possible Cerulean and Worm-
eating Warblers. In all, we’ll probably find
50-60 species. We will extend the trip to include
Baxter’s Hollow if time permits. The leaders,
Chuck Heikkinen and Delia Unson, are inti-
mately acquainted with this area covering it for
the Wisconsin Breeding Bird Atlas, (they found
117 possible nesting species). Please note that
a (day) state park sticker is required to park at
Devil’s Lake. Wear sturdy walking shoes, and
bring water and insect repellent. Since we will
be there until about noon or even later, you
might want to bring a sack lunch.
Meet at the Middleton Park and Ride to
carpool and leave at 6:00 a.m. (From Hwy.
12 at Middleton take Exit 249 (Parmenter
St.) to the Park and Ride. OR, meet us at
6:45 a.m. in the parking area for the boat
landing on the southwest shore of Devil’s
Lake. If you have questions, call Chuck
or Delia at 274-4043 or email them at
deliachuck@gmail.com
Western Red-tail Hawk for all to see.
Below: "Little Bit", a Saw-whet owl
stole the show perched inside his log
house. Below left: Deb Weitzel pres-
ents Dorothy Haines with the James
Zimmerman Award for
Excellence in Environmental
Education and Communication.
Photos by Pat Ready
Canines on the Empire Prairie
By Mark and Sue Foote-Martin
We learned recently that a timber wolf was hit and killed by a vehicle on
Special Gifts
I wish to help make Madison
the Interstate on March 14, about three miles from Goose Pond. We never Audubon’s vision a reality.
thought that timber wolves would pass through the Empire Prairie again.
This event sent Mark to search out an early book written about pioneering [ ] Acre-Maker, $2,500 or more can pur-
families of the Empire Prairie, where Goose Pond Sanctuary is located. chase and restore one acre of land
The Prairie and its People was published in 1956 by the UW Agricultural
Experiment Station to document the story of Wisconsin’s Empire Prairie. [ ]H
 alf-Acre-Maker, $1,250-$2,499
Quoting from the section on prairie wildlife: “foxes, rabbits, and wolves [ ]Q
 uarter-Acre-Maker, $625-$1,249
were common. (To ‘keep the wolf from the door’ was literally a task of the [ ] Adopt-an-Acre, $100 a year for three
early settler.) There were two kinds of wolves, the big black timber wolf and years ($300 total). Here is my first
the smaller gray prairie wolf. It was practically impossible to keep small installment.
stock of any kind until the wolves had been exterminated. Hunger drove the
beasts to recklessness. They came near the cabins where the settlers could [ ] Nest Egg, $50 a year for three years
easily shoot them. During the night their wild barking and yelping could be ($150 total). Here is my first install-
heard from all directions creating excitement among the dogs.” ment.
“In 1847, young John Caldwell, seventeen years of age, earned his first [ ]M
 y Own Vision, a donation of $_____
money by taking a spade, walking all day without dinner and digging to
uncover a nest of wolf cubs. For the seven cubs he received a bounty warrant My name ________________________________
for fourteen dollars, or eleven dollars in cash. With this money he bought
Address _________________________________
two yearling steer calves.”
When we moved to Goose Pond in 1979 the only canine present was the City_____________________________________
red fox which was common. In the 1980s, coyotes (referred to as “small
State_____ ZIP___________
gray prairie wolf or brush wolves” in the book) returned and increased
in numbers. As coyote numbers increased, the red fox population greatly I want my gift to recognize another:
declined. If red fox do not leave a coyote territory they can be killed by the
larger coyote. For a number of years in the 1990s we did not see a red fox or [ ] In memory of ______________________
fox tracks. [ ] In honor of ________________________
Coyote tracks are common in the prairie restorations and at night their
yelping and howling create excitement among our dogs. One night in March, Please send notification of this gift to:
coyotes were howling near the house and Hunter, our male golden retriever, Name ________________________________
decided to howl loudly instead of barking back at them as he usually does.
We wondered what the coyotes thought might be in our house? Address _________________________________
In the spring, red fox prey on pheasant and duck nests and frequently kill City _____________________________________
the nesting hens. Coyotes prey more on small mammals and rabbits than
ground nesting birds. Now instead of having 3-4 pairs of red fox there may State__________ ZIP____________
be just a single pair of coyotes. The shift from red fox to coyotes benefits
ground nesting birds and might help explain the increase in pheasant [ ]P
 lease do not acknowledge my gift in
numbers. In the past 10 years red foxes are again present but in low numbers. Madison Audubon CAWS
In 1979, there were a few timber wolves in northern Wisconsin and
Please make checks payable to:
we believed they would probably be lucky to survive up north. Their
Madison Audubon Society
populations have increased and wolf packs now roam the central forests. Sue Mail to: Madison Audubon Society, 222 S.
once saw a pack of nine wolves while watching whooping cranes at Necedah Hamilton Street, Suite 1, Madison, WI 53703
National Wildlife Refuge. We wonder if that lone wolf found by the Interstate
Gift is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
had spent some time on our prairies, where his ancestors once thrived and Madison Audubon Society’s financial statement is
hunted near the early settlers. available upon request.

Donations received in March

2008
MY OWN VISION
Roger Buffett
Elizabeth Messershmidt
Eldon Newcomb

GIFTS IN HONOR OF A PERSON

In Honor of Jerry Martin
Red fox/Pat Ready Frank Cerk
The Audubon Caws 7 May 2008
 Madison Audubon Society, Inc.
Stan Druckenmiller, President
222 S. Hamilton St. Suite #1
Madison, WI 53703
32nd Annual Art Fair
Banquet Raffle Winners
Felt Designer Cruiser Surf City 3-speed donated by Williamson Bikes and
Fitness. Winner: Shirley Ellis of Cambridge.
Limited edition print “Turtle Sunday 3” donated by artist Janet Flynn
and framing donated by Meuer Art and Picture Frame Co. Winner: Lisa
Schaefer of Stoughton.
5 hours of interior design by Casa Nuova Interior Design. Winner: Karen
Miller of Madison
Prairie Seasons wall quilt donated by Gloria Welniak. Winner: Clay and
Cammie Templeton of Sun Prairie.
Vortex Impact 70 mm spotting scope donated by Eagle Optics. Winner:
Jane Dennis and Bill Brooks of Madison.
Nikon Travelite V 10x25 CF binoculars donated by Fontana Sports
Specialties. Winner: B. David of New Glarus.
$75 gift certificate donated by Wild Birds Unlimited. Winner: N. Johnson
of Madison.
Fabric art piece created and donated by Leah Evans. Winner: Myra
Crawford of Baraboo.
Bat house donated by Marty Evanson. Winner: Linda Bather of Madison.
Rachel Fon limited edition print “Beauty Stands Alone” donated by artist.
Winner: Mary Young of Madison.
$50 REI gift certificate for gear rental donated by REI. Winner: Carla
Wright of Cross Plains.
Framed original photograph donated by Pat Ready of Readyworks.
Winner: Ann Freiwald of Madison.
see page 1
Welcome spring!
Remember the Madison Audubon Art Fair!
Saturday, May 3 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Olbrich Botanical Gardens
3330 Atwood Ave., Madison
Birdscaping in the Midwest: A Guide to Gardening with Native Plants to
Attract Birds by Mariette Nowak, donated by Itchy Cat Press (3 books)
at $27 each. Winners: Eugene Woehler of Madison, Barb Smith of Lake
Mills and Joan Curtin of Madison.
$25 gift certificate, t-shirt and grocery tote bag from recycled materials
donated by Williamson Street Grocery Co-op. Winner: Kerry Martin of
Madison.
$25 gift certificate donated by Orange Tree Imports. Winner: Rose
Boucher of Madison.
Bird feeder donated by Northside True Value. Winner: Paul Rasmussen of
Madison.
Signed copy of Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv. Winner: Gail
Moede Rogall of Madison.
Water efficient shower heads donated by Ann Freiwald (2 shower heads).
Winners: Ted Thousand of Sauk City and James Clum of Fitchburg.
$10 gift certificate donated by Silly Yak Bakery and Bread Barn (5
certificates). Winners: Gretchen Hils of Monona, Shirley Ellis of
Cambridge, Arthur Miller of Juneau, Cheryl Radl of Madison and Rose
Boucher of Madison.
Bike accessories donated by Budget Bicycle. Winner: Brian Alme of
Monona.