Attracting Bluebirds and Other Cavity Nesters to Your Yard
Many spring migrants will soon be returning to our area looking for housing. Learn how to attract a wide variety of cavity-nesting birds to your yard. We will discuss the pros and cons of different nest box styles and cover the basics of where to place them and how to maintain them. This workshop is meant for amateur and experienced bird lovers. Near the end of the program we’ll take a short walk on the bluebird trail to see how boxes should be mounted and placed so dress for the weather.
Ages 12+
This program is free for everyone! Donations are greatly appreciated.
Pre-register by February 28 at 11:55 pm or register at the program if spots are available.
Ozaukee Washington Bird Coalition: The Cedarburg Bog – Formation, Hydrology, Ecology, and Uniqueness
PLEASE NOTE: DUE TO THE INCLEMENT WEATHER, THIS PROGRAM WILL BE VIRTUAL ONLY (not in person)
Presented by Jim Reinartz, president of the Friends of the Cedarburg Bog and former UWM Field Station director. Glaciation of the Cedarburg Bog and UWM Field Station area created pronounced topographic relief in the Bog’s basin and adjacent uplands comparable to that in the Kettle Moraine. The large size and slope of the wetland that developed in the low-lying basin results in a complex pattern of water movement responsible for a mosaic of nearly every major wetland plant community found in Wisconsin. The Cedarburg Bog is regionally unique as the last remaining large wetland with pre-settlement plant communities that were once the dominant wetland types in southeastern Wisconsin.
Ages 12+ | No registration necessary, join on Zoom at the link below.
Ozaukee Washington Bird Coalition: Year-round movements of Rough-legged Hawks wintering in WI
The OWBC is partnering with the Southern WI Bird Alliance to offer this program. From 2021-2022, nine GPS transmitters were attached to wintering Rough-legged Hawks in Wisconsin. Many of these transmitters are still functioning and have provided multiple years of full annual cycle movements. Come learn about the year-round movements of Rough-legged Hawks wintering in the great state of Wisconsin, and how these nine birds fit into the broader Rough-legged Hawk Project that has tracked nearly 200 hawks throughout North America.
Neil Paprocki recently completed his PhD at the University of Idaho studying differential migration in birds. Neil has been a professional ornithologist for 17 years and has been working with Rough-legged Hawks for nearly 15 years.
Ages 12+ | No registration necessary for this virtual presentation on Zoom.
Ozaukee Washington Bird Coalition: New Years Field Trip & Lunch
The Noel J. Cutright Bird Club is inviting all members of Ozaukee Washington Birding Coalition organizations to participate in their annual “Every Bird Is a New Bird” Field Trip to launch your 2025 list! We will begin at 7:30 a.m. at Coal Dock Park in Port Washington and end at noon with lunch (sub sandwiches, chips, cookies and beverages) in the Riveredge Nature Center barn.
Ages 12+ | Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Please RSVP to Carl Schwartz at cschwartz3@wi.rr.com or at 414-416-3272 by Dec 28 or sooner so that we have enough food. Yes — there is such a thing as free lunch! Trip leaders: Carl Schwartz and Joan Sommer
New and experienced birders needed to count birds within a 15 mile circle around Riveredge. Backyard feeder counters needed as well. Help for all or part of the day!
Ozaukee Washington Bird Coalition Owl Prowl at Cedarburg Bog
Join the Cedarburg Bog Owl Prowl team as we search for owls. We will be looking for Barred, Great-Horned, Northern Saw-whet, and Eastern Screech-Owls for sure and maybe a rare species such as Long-eared Owl. There are no guarantees as owls can be fickle; however, we have never struck out when weather conditions are right! Bring binoculars, water, and a small flashlight. We will mostly be owling along Blue Goose Road and possibly St. Augustine Road with a few short forays off these roads into the woods and/or into the Bog itself. We will be standing in place for extended periods of time so dress warmly with good walking shoes or boots. You may want to eat a snack or early dinner before arrival. If there are strong winds, heavy precipitation, and/or severe temperatures, this outing may be postponed. The OWBC will let you know in the afternoon by email if there is a postponement.
Ozaukee Washington Bird Coalition Motus in WI at MNP & on Zoom
“Motus in Wisconsin: A Big Leap in Wildlife Tracking” by Jacob Woulf , Motus coordinator for Lake Michigan Bird Observatory
The Motus Wildlife Tracking System is a collaborative research effort that uses small radio tags and receiving stations to detect animals (primarily birds) as they move across the landscape. Unlike GPS transmitters that give precise location data, Motus tags emit a radio signal that can only be detected within a short distance (~9miles) of a Motus tower. Many organisms that carry Motus tags are not large enough for a GPS transmitter; Motus tags are also significantly less expensive than GPS transmitters. Because of their limited detection range, Motus towers must be strategically placed. Lake Michigan Bird Observatory (LMBO) received a large grant to construct 16 Motus stations along the western shore of Lake Michigan and also is working on a buildout of stations moving westward across the state.
Woulf graduated from UW-Green Bay in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in animal biology and in 2022 with a master’s degree in environmental science and policy. While there he tracked movements of American White Pelicans and Double-crested Cormorants during the breeding season; he was hired by LMBO to help expand the Motus network in Wisconsin.
We are excited to showcase new academic talent! Uncover insights into the natural world and support the next generation of scholars by attending the Student Research Symposium on November 9th. Undergraduate and graduate students from colleges and universities in our region will present their research with posters and oral presentations. The day includes a keynote from a distinguished speaker and a catered lunch. Come for all or part of the day.
There will becash prizes up to $300 awarded for the best oral and poster presentations. This year, we’ve increased the award pool, creating more chances to win! Plus, all student presenters will receive a Riveredge Membership just for participating!
Student Presenter: $15 – Register by November 4th to have your abstract considered Supporter registration by November 3: $5 Supporter registration after November 3: $7 Children under 12: free (must be accompanied by an adult)
We invite college students to submit an abstract of a current research project to present in oral or poster form at our Student Research Symposium. This year’s theme is “Signals, Systems, and Seasons.” Submissions are welcome in the categories of biology, environmental science, chemistry, geology, and other sciences, but also in the humanities, arts, and other disciplines where research intersects with the overall theme. Judging and prize information coming soon! To apply, register using the button above and submit the following to Jana Gedymin at jgedymin@riveredge.us. There will becash prizes up to $300 awarded for the best oral and poster presentations. This year, we’ve increased the award pool, creating more chances to win! Plus, all presenters will receive a Riveredge Membership just for participating! DEADLINE: November 4th!
-Email subject line: RNC Abstract 2024_[your last name] -250-500 word description of your research -Name / pronouns -School, major / focus -Indicate graduate /undergraduate level -Working title for presentation -Preference for oral presentation (12 minutes) or poster
“Adventures in Studying the Diversity of Life,” Dr. Gary S. Casper, Director of Biodiversity Programs, Mequon Nature Preserve
About Dr. Casper: Dr. Gary S. Casper was involved with the initial creation of the Mequon Nature Preserve (MNP) through the Ozaukee Washington Land Trust, and continues to direct wildlife studies at MNP. He has over 40 years’ experience in wildlife ecology and biodiversity studies. After 20 years at the Milwaukee Public Museum, he has continued to focus on wildlife conservation in the western Great Lakes region through the UWM Field Station, Great Lakes Ecological Services, and local land trusts. Gary has over 100 publications; his latest book is Field Guide to the Amphibian Eggs and Larvae of the Western Great Lakes.
Gary participates in many ecological restoration projects and biodiversity studies in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan. His team invented the concept of Species of Local Conservation Interest in order to identify biodiversity at risk on local landscapes. He runs biodiversity programs for the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, land trusts, and private land owners, and has developed protocols for surveying crayfish, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds that are in widespread use. Gary has pioneered the use of automated bioacoustic systems for monitoring wildlife. Gary enjoys recreating in the Kettle Moraine landscapes.
We’re happy to help answer them! Give Riveredge’s Research Manager, Jana Gedymin, a call at 262-375-2715 or contact her by email at jgedymin@riveredge.us
Ozaukee Washington Bird Coalition Owls- Fact or Fiction at Riveredge & on Zoom
“Owls – Fact or Fiction?” with Mary Holleback & Dan Wundrock What’s a group of owls called? How far away can an owl see at night? How do they find their prey? Just how good is their hearing? Learn some fun trivia about a variety of Wisconsin’s most secretive night time avian predators. You might even find out “who cooks for you” or whoooooo’s the earliest nester in the state!
This program is offered in-person and virtually. If joining in person, meet at Riveredge. The presentation will be held in the barn. Zoom link is found below!
Ages 18+. Free to attend. No pre-registration required.
