THE MADISON AUDUBON
NEWSLETTER
222 S. Hamilton St. / Madison, WI 53703 / 255-BIRD / http://madisonaudubon.org
May-velous Art and More at MAS’s Annual Art Fair
Our 28th Annual Madison Audubon
Society Art Fair is scheduled for
Saturday, May 1st from 9:30 to 4:30 at
Olbrich Botanical Gardens. It will be a
great day to celebrate the return of
spring, birds, color, warm air and day-
light on May Day in Madison!
Come see the work of more than
120 artists, and enjoy food, the silent
auction, kid's activities, and Audubon's
information booth. Be sure to check
out the Art Fair link on the Madison
Audubon web site
(madisonaudubon.org), where you’ll
find information about the fair, appli-
cations, and links to some of the
artists.
Come on out and enjoy the Art Fair
with your family and friends while
supporting the restoration of natural
habitats and the work of the Madison
Audubon Society!
Field Trips Galore -- Much To See And Do
Saturday, May 1:
Birding Picnic Point
Come join trip leaders Roma Lenehan
and Richard Clark on a trip co-sponsored
by the Friends of the Campus Natural
Areas. Together we will have a pleasant
spring morning of birding on Picnic
Point, one of Madison's birding hot
spots. Trip leader Roma Lenehan has
over 20 years of birding at Picnic Point
and just compiled a Campus Area Bird
Checklist.
With lots of shoreline, open water and
a variety of woods, wetlands and open
areas, Picnic Point is known for its diver-
Fabulous Art Fair Raffle Prizes
Adirondack Wildflowers Luvseat & Table
donated by ReadyWorks
Retail value $425.
Wilderness Systems Pamlico 100 Expedition
kayak donated by Rutabaga.
Retail value $379.
Prairie-Chicken print donated by artist
Jonathan Wilde with framing donated by
Meuer Art and Picture Frame Co.
Retail value $250.
Garden Visions tree with a wren house
and tube feeder donated by
Wild Birds Unlimited.
Retail value $240.
Double CatTails copper birdbath donated
by Chickadee Depot.
Retail value $230.
This is a partial list of prizes available at the upcoming Art Fair. Tickets will be available
for sale through the MAS office and at the Art Fair. Tickets are $2 each or 3 for $5.
Winners need not be present to win.
sity of birds. By May 1, many migrants
may be here, depending on the weather.
On the lake we will look for waterfowl,
gulls and terns; in the marshlands we'll
be looking for blackbirds, wrens, song
and swap 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 1918 Marsh
parking lot across University Bay Drive
from Picnic Point, north of the UW hos-
pital. The trip will last for 2-3 hours with
an opportunity to extend longer. If you
OF THE
MADISON
AUDUBON
SOCIETY
May 2004
Audubon 8x42 Equinox Binoculars
donated by Eagle Optics.
Retail value $230.
Eureka Tetragon 9 four-person tent
donated by Fontana Sports Specialties.
Retail value $180.
Metal art sculpture donated by artist
Ellis Nelson.
Retail value $80.
Backpack donated by REI.
Retail value $50.
Vari-Crafts Niger seed bird feeder
donated by Wild Bird Center.
Retail value $40.
have questions, call Roma Lenehan at
(608) 238-5406.
Sunday, May 2: Bird Banding at
Biocore Prairie Bird Observatory
This spring field trip to the Biocore
Bird Observatory near Picnic Point, from
8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. is an easy one
for birders, and is quite exciting. You
can come early or later in the morning,
stay the full time or just a few minutes,
wander around or become a lifelong vol-
unteer. The Bird Observatory is in its
third year of operation and is staffed
continued on page 2
 Annual Audubon Membership
___New ___Renewal ___Gift
When you receive a renewal notice from
National Audubon use this form to renew and
thereby direct some of your donation to local
causes. Find your expiration date at the top
right corner of your address label.
Name for Membership:
NAME
ADDRESS
CITY/STATE/ZIP+4
PHONE
___$20 special First-year New Member
___$15 Senior or Student – new or renewal
___$35 Renewal
__$40 Double Audubon Membership -
(New or Renew + Gift Membership)
___$15 CAWS newsletter subscription only
(Non-member)
Membership amount $_______
Additional contribution $_______
TOTAL Enclosed/Charged $_______
Please make check payable to:
Madison Audubon Society
Charge my __VISA __Master Card
Name on Card:
CARD #
EXP. DATE
SIGNATURE
___I do NOT wish to receive the
National Audubon magazine.
___Business/Corporate Membership
Please call the MAS office 608/255-2473
This is a Gift Membership from:
NAME
ADDRESS
CITY
STATE/ZIP+4
Z02 7xCH
Mail to: Madison Audubon Society
222 S. Hamilton St., Suite 1
Madison, WI 53703-3201
THE AUDUBON CAWS is published
September through June by:
Madison Audubon Society,
222 S. Hamilton St., Madison, WI 53703,
(608) 255-BIRD (2473).
Birding hotline, 255-BIRM.
Madison Audubon Web Page:
http://madisonaudubon.org
E-mail: masoffice@mailbag.com
E-mail services donated by Berbee
Contribution deadline is May 10 for the
June issue, for which items may be sent to
Abbie Kurtz, 313 Moulton Ct., Madison, WI
53704. abbiejkurtz@yahoo.com
Field Trips continued From page 1
fully by volunteers. We will demonstrate
how birds are netted, banded, measured
and released, and discuss how important
information is gathered for management
and conservation purposes. In early May,
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.
Visitors can accompany us to the nets
and watch us remove birds from nets, or
watch us band and measure the birds at
the mobile station. Bring binoculars to
find the color-marked birds we have for
our foraging studies. We welcome any-
one who would like to take pictures of
the birds in hand and we often let indi-
viduals, especially children, hold and
release the banded birds. We ask visitors
not to talk during the processing of birds
in order to keep the birds calm and our
banders concentrated on data collection.
We cannot let visitors remove or band
birds without training. We ask each visi-
tor to sign our guest book for our
records, and to indicate whether you
would like to be on our email list and/or
volunteer with us. You may bring food
and drink with you, but do not eat or
drink 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.
The easiest way to get to the banding
station is to park at Frautschi Point and
walk south through the woods, keeping
Lake Mendota on your left, onto the
Biocore Prairie. Once at the prairie, fol-
low the trail to your right, then left. You
will see our station at the top of the
prairie. If there are visitors who are not
able to walk, please let us know ahead
of time, and we can arrange to drive you
to the site.
If you have questions, contact Mara
McDonald, mamcdona@facstaff.wisc.edu
or 608-274-2534 before 8:30 p.m., please.
MADISON AUDUBON SOCIETY
President: Joanne Herfel, 241-8009
Vice-president: Debra Weitzel, 836-4051
Goose Pond Resident Naturalists:
Mark and Sue Martin, 635-4160
Editor: Abbie Kurtz, 245-1758
abbiejkurtz@yahoo.com
Graphic design: Mary Liebig
Printed by Roemer Printing
Tuesday, May 4 & Thursday, May 6:
Warbler Walks at the Arboretum
MAS's annual early morning warbler
walks will be held in the UW
Arboretum. This year's trip leaders will
be Chuck Heikkinen and Delia Unson
(May 4), and Levi Wood (May 6). We
will be 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 McCaffrey Drive. Enter the
Arboretum from the east off of Mills
Street. If you enter from the west
(Seminole Hwy.) you will have to walk
from the McKay Center parking area. If
you have questions, call Levi Wood at
277-7959 or email Chuck and Delia at
delia_chuck@tds.net
Friday, May 7:
Evening at Nine Springs
Niels Rattenborg will lead this 2 1/2-
hour birding trip. We will visit one of
the more interesting and often over-
looked birding spots in the Madison area
to search for shorebirds, herons, cranes,
terns, swallows and waterfowl. This area
has good mud flats, marsh and pond
habitat.
Meet at 6:30 p.m. at the E-Way park-
ing lot along the Capitol City Bike Trail
on Moorland Road. Bring a scope if you
have one. This trip will last until
9:00 p.m. or later. If you have questions,
call Niels Rattenborg at 217-4554.
Sunday, May 9: Birds and Blossoms of
Western Dane County
Harriet Irwin will lead a group on a
hike through a beautiful patch of rolling
private terrain in Western Dane County.
While walking through an east-west fac-
ing draw, the group will search for
Cerulean Warblers, Ovenbirds, Acadian
Flycatchers, Wood Thrushes, and
Pileated Woodpeckers. Then the group
will hike through some grasslands and
continued on page 3
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 fac-
ing, to engage in advocacy to preserve
and protect these systems, and to devel-
op and maintain sanctuaries to save and
restore natural habitat.
Field Trips continued From page 2 Saturday, May 15: Passengers are expected to help pay for
Birding Lake Farm Park gas.
look for Clay-Colored and Henslow’s
This trip will begin at 7 a.m. along the Bring binoculars, a hat, sunscreen,
Sparrows and Bobolink. Beyond birds,
shore of Lake Waubesa near the park snack lunch, and a scope if you have
Harriet will also point out the variety of
picnic shelters. The park has lake, one and dress appropriately for the
insects and flora on the properties.
marsh, prairie, woodlands and open weather. It is usually windy at Horicon.
The hike will take place between
field habitats to explore. We'll walk If you have questions, call Levi at
9:00 a.m. and noon and is limited to 15
along the shore looking for warblers, 277-7959.
participants. To register call Harriet Irwin
thrushes, vireos, other passerines, gulls
at (608) 767-2987 and leave a message
and waterfowl on the lake. The second Friday, May 21
including your name and phone number.
half of the trip (9-11 a.m.) will take place Evening at the Middleton Ponds
Bring water and a snack as well as
at the 9 Springs Ponds looking for shore- Niels Rattenborg will lead this 2-hour
appropriate hiking footwear. The trip
birds and waterfowl. birding trip. We will explore Tiedeman's
will only be cancelled if there is a light-
Meet at the #1 park shelter on the east and Stricker's ponds for waterfowl,
ening storm.
end of Libby Rd at 7 a.m. Dress appro- shorebirds, herons, terns, swallows and
priately for weather. Directions: From warblers. These kettle ponds were
Tuesday May 11:
the Beltline (Hwy. 12-18), exit at South formed by glacial ice and are surround-
Warbler Walk at Pheasant Branch
Towne Road, proceed south to ed by a mixture of habitats, making the
Hike Pheasant Branch Conservancy
Moorland Rd., then left on Libby Road to sighting of most Wisconsin birds possi-
with Mike McDowell and Aaron Stutz
Lake Farm County Park on your left. For ble in this unique urban setting.
during the peak of migration. Expect to
more information contact Pat Ready at Meet at 6:30 p.m. along Sweeney Dr.
see warblers, vireos, flycatchers and
608-873-1703. on the south shore of Tiedeman's pond.
other migrants.
Bring a scope if you have one. This trip
Meet at 6:00 a.m. at the Branch Street
Sunday, May 16: will last until 8:30 p.m. or later. If you
Retreat bar parking lot at the corner of
Horicon Birding have questions, call Niels Rattenborg at
Century Avenue and Branch Street. If
Enjoy a spring day birding in Horicon 217-4554.
you have questions, call Aaron Stutz at
Marsh. The trip is scheduled to join DNR
294-9618 or email at agstutz@chorus.net
naturalist Bill Volkert for a walk at 8:300 Saturday, May 22:
a.m. that should last about an hour. He Birding Baxter's Hollow
Tuesday, May 14:
is an enthusiastic fount of knowledge Join us for a birding trip to Baxter's
Evening at Token Creek
about Horicon Marsh and its diverse bird Hollow-one of the most scenic areas in
Ed Saur will lead this evening trip at
life. With 268 species of birds identified the Baraboo Hills. We will search for
Token Creek County Park. He has lived
in the marsh, Horicon is one of the bird- breeding species like Worm-eating
a few miles from this county park in
ing hot spots in Wisconsin. At this time Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush,
northeast Dane County and visited it fre-
of year, in addition to the nesting egrets, Cerulean Warbler, both cuckoos and any
quently for more than 20 years. Ed also
herons and waterfowl, we hope to see migrants passing through.
atlased this park for the Wisconsin
plenty of warblers, vireos, thrushes and The trip will depart from the Copp's
breeding Bird Atlas project for three
other passerines. With luck we will hear parking lot in Middleton at 6:30 a.m. The
years. Though bordered by Hwy 51 and
and maybe even see some of the more trip may last for four hours, so you may
I 90, the park's varied habitat holds
elusive marsh birds, such as rails and want to bring a bag lunch. As always
species such as Northern Oriole, Indigo
wrens. When on Bill Volkert’s one-hour dress appropriately for the weather. If
Bunting, Brown Thrasher, Eastern
tour, we will have his expertise to help you have any questions, contact Aaron
Bluebird, Warbling Vireo and several
us locate and identify as many birds as Stutz at 294-9618 or agstutz@chorus.net
species of flycatchers are possible. At this
we can. We will also be able to ask
time in May a variety of migrant warblers
questions about Horicon Marsh and the Sunday, May 23: International Crane
are also possible, as is a singing Wood
birds found there. After Bill’s tour, we Foundation/Radio Tracking
Thrush.
plan to cruise around the marsh investi- Spend a day at the International Crane
The trip will begin at 6:30 p.m. Token
gating other areas and exploring further Foundation! The trip will start with a
Creek County Park is located in the
for more birds. We may visit a nearby visit to ICF’s Briggsville Sandhill Crane
northeast quadrant of the I 90-94 & Hwy
county park, which is a warbler hot study site followed by a talk about the
51 interchange. It is about 1/2 mile north
spot. It may be mid-afternoon by the long-term banding study. We will arrive
on hwy 51 from I 90-94 or 1/2 mile
time we head back to Madison, so bring early in Briggsville to see the birds com-
south on Hwy 51 from Hwy 19 and just
a snack lunch. ing out of their roost. Next the group
east of the PineCone Restaurant truck
Meet at the East side Cub Food Store will travel to the Crane Foundation and
stop. Brown signs mark the entrance.
parking lot at 7:30 a.m. to carpool to see the birds on-site. After lunch there
Bring binoculars, a field guide and wear
Horicon Marsh. To reach Cub Foods, will be a radio-tracking demonstration
shoes that will keep your feet dry, as
take Hwy 30 east to Hwy 51. Head north and the group can hike the trails and
some trails may be wet. Meet at the
on Hwy 51 and take the first right learn about the decades worth of prairie
parking lot at the first building on the
(Nakoosa Trail), then turn right again restoration activities in the area.
right. For questions, call Ed at 846-4482
into the Cub Foods parking lot. continued on page 4
or email ejsaur@aol.com
Field Trips continued From page 3
To tour the Briggsville site, meet the
group at 5:15 a.m. at the East Side Cub
Foods (4141 Nakoosa Trail). For those
that would like to start the trip later in
the day, meet the group at the
International Crane Foundation’s main
parking lot on Shady Lane Road at
10:15 a.m. If you have any questions,
contact Anne Lacey at 608-356-9462
ext. 146 or visit www.savingcranes.org
Friday, May 28:
Evening at Pheasant Branch
Mike McDowell and Tom Bernthal will
lead an evening warbler walk to be held
at Pheasant Branch Conservancy 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.
Tom Bernthal, DNR wetland ecologist
and Board member of the Friends of
Pheasant Branch, will point out parts of
the water system that feeds the springs,
marsh and Lake Mendota, and describe
recent wetland and water quality restora-
tion work in the Conservancy.
The Dane County parcel of Pheasant
Branch Conservancy is reached by dri-
ving 1.5 miles north on Pheasant Branch
Road from Century Avenue in Middleton.
It is the 3rd parking lot on the right for
the conservancy after you pass the
Conservancy Condominiums. Meet at
6:00 p.m. If you have questions, please
contact Mike McDowell at 850-4122.
Saturday, May 29: Rare Dragonflies &
Ecology of Quincy Bluff
Visit one of southern Wisconsin’s
largest blocks of intact dry forest. This
trip will take us through black oak and
jack pine woods, along ancient sand
ridges and dunes and through a variety
of wetlands. The area is also dotted with
castellate sandstone buttes such as Lone
Rock. The panoramic view from this
bluff is a must. Some of the open wet-
lands are unique to central WI and sup-
port an unusual dragonfly fauna. Bill
Smith, DNR zoologist, will assist in locat-
ing some rare and endangered species
such as the ringed boghaunter and the
warpaint emerald. Steve Richter, TNC,
will discuss how burning is restoring the
savanna. Roy Wittwer will talk about the
natural history and land management at
the preserve. Notable sightings may
include red-shouldered hawks, ravens,
red-headed woodpecker, rare lepi-
dopterans, and a number of herps.
Wear sturdy footgear for scrambling
up rocks and bring shoes that can get
wet. Also please bring water and a
lunch. To carpool, meet at 7:30 am from
the Park-n-Ride at the intersection of
I-90/94 and V just west of Deforest. Or
take I-90/94 west to Portage, then north
on I-39 to State Highway 16. Go west on
Highway 16 to its junction with
Highway 13. Take 13 north from
Wisconsin Dells to County Hwy H.
Drive west on H for 2.5 miles. Turn
north (right) onto 16th Ave., then west
(left) onto Evergreen Ave., then north
(right) onto 16th Drive. Continue 2.2
miles to a TNC parking lot on the right
(east) side of the road. The trip is limit-
ed to 15 people. Call Dawn Hinebaugh
608-266-5243 or 441-0063 to sign up or
Bill Smith 608-220-4192, if you have
questions.
Sunday, May 30:
Janesville’s Cook Arboretum
The Cook Arboretum is one of the
premier birding spots in Rock County. It
contains a variety of habitat types,
including bottomland forest, riparian for-
est, scrub, field, and conifers. Several
forest-interior species are found at the
arboretum, including nesting
Hooded and Cerulean warblers, Wood
Thrush, Ovenbird, Yellow-throated
Vireo, and Tufted Titmouse. Warbler
diversity is excellent, with over 20 war-
bler 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 cardio-
vascular workout.
We will meet at 7:30 a.m. at the park-
ing lot at the end of the drive. From
Madison: Take Hwy 14 south through
Evansville. Before Janesville, take
County Rd H south (right) 1 mile to
County Rd A. Take County Rd A east
(left) about 3 miles. The arboretum is on
the left side, at Austin Road, 1 mile
before Janesville. Travel time will be
approximately 40 minutes from Madison
Beltline.
From I-90 and through Janesville:
Take Interstate 90 to Hwy 26 (Milton
Ave) interchange. Take Hwy 26 into
Janesville to Hwy 14. Take Hwy 14 west
(right) 5 miles to Hwy 51. Take Hwy 51
south (left) 4 miles to Memorial Drive.
Take Memorial Drive west (right) to the
edge of town. Memorial Drive becomes
County Rd A. The arboretum is on the
right, just outside the city limits. If you
have questions, contact Tom Klubertanz
at tklubert@uwc.edu or 608-758-6553.
Saturday, June 5:
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, and
Henslow's Sparrow. Trip leader John
Romano has birded extensively here and
knows the breeding birds of this park
very well, as he has done Breeding Bird
Atlas work in Governor Dodge.
Meet to carpool and leave at 6:00 a.m.
in front of the Home Depot located 1/4
mile south of the Beltline off of Verona
Rd. A State of Wisconsin Parks sticker is
necessary to enter the park. We should
return around noon. If you have any
questions about the trip, please call John
Romano at 238-6039.
Sunday, June 6:
Canoe Red Cedar Lake
Libby Zimmerman, an experienced
wetland ecologist, will lead this canoe
trip around Red Cedar Lake, near
Cambridge. She and her late husband,
Jim Zimmerman, have enjoyed a week-
end home here for many years. While
Libby tells us about the ecology and his-
tory of the lake, we hope to see marsh
birds such as herons, bitterns, black
terns and maybe yellow-headed black-
birds. We will walk on a bog mat, so
bring foot gear that can get wet (not
bare feet). Attach bow or stern rope to
your canoe to tie it when stopped.
Bring your own canoe, midday snack
or lunch and dress appropriately for the
weather. The canoe trip will last about
four hours. Libby has invited those who
wish to stay to eat their snack or lunch
at her place after canoeing and she will
provide cold drinks.
Meet Libby at 8:00 a.m. at the boat
landing on the northeast shore of Red
continued on page 5
Field Trips continued From page 4
Cedar Lake just south of Hwy. 12.
Highway 12 will be closed all summer,
so we hope you can approach as fol-
lows: Take Hwy. 12-18 east to
Cambridge, then take 18 east where it
splits off (by Piggly Wiggly at the Road
Closed sign). About 2 miles east of this
intersection, look for County A. Turn
right (south) and follow to 12. Turn left,
go about 1/8 mile east on 12, then right
into the public boat landing at Red
Cedar Lake (no sign?). Check the write-
up on this field trip at
madisonaudubon.org or the hotline
255-BIRM for any updates on road con-
struction and access. Please call Libby at
(608) 423-4047 if you are coming on the
trip so she can match paddlers. Also call
if you need a canoe or paddling partner
or if the weather is questionable.
Lapinski-Kitze Prairie Fund Established
Madison Audubon Society has
received a wonderful donation and
commitment from members Dr. Elsie
M. Lapinski and Dr. Lois K. Smithies.
In the tradition of other members who
truly care about their legacy of loving
nature and providing for it through
their important gifts, Elsie and Lois,
friends since college days, want to do
something special for bird and land
conservation here in Wisconsin. They
have decided they would like to help
purchase additional lands at Goose
Pond to connect some of the parcels
Madison Audubon already owns in
order to make a larger contiguous
prairie.
While the first $50,000 they donated
in February will go towards finishing
payments on our loan on the Western
Prairie Addition, it also will be the ini-
tiation of the Lapinski/Kitze (Lois’s
maiden name) Prairie Fund. They
intend to periodically add to the Fund
and have named Madison Audubon
Society in their wills. A substantial gift
will result, so that many more acres
can be purchased around Goose Pond
in the future.
In their words, “To be able to con-
tribute to the restoration and preserva-
tion of our native prairies is both a ful-
fillment of a dream and a privilege.”
Thank you Elsie and Lois for your
wonderful example of true land stew-
ardship and caring for our environ-
ment. Your generosity is so gratefully
appreciated by the membership and
by all the prairie birds and critters.
You have provided a high standard for
the rest of us to follow and set an
exemplary example for us all.

The Quad 30 Campaign – For the Birds!

by Noel Cutright, President, WI Society for Ornithology
During June 2004, I will attempt to
do what many birders are telling me is
impossible – conduct 30 N. American
Breeding Bird Surveys (BBS) in 30
days in 4 states to celebrate my more
than 30 years of running BBS's and to
raise $30,000 for bird conservation. As
President of the Wisconsin Society for
Ornithology (WSO) and a
Coordinating Council member of the
Wisconsin Bird Conservation Initiative
(WBCI), it is apparent to me that we
need more funding for bird conserva-
tion in the Midwest and to support
long-term bird monitoring programs
like the BBS.
To do this, I have 30 established
BBS routes assigned to me in
Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and
Wisconsin. The BBS program, coordi-
nated by the U.S. Geological Survey,
has been on-going since 1966. I have
been doing BBS routes for more than
30 years, and this Campaign is helping
me celebrate this achievement,
although starting each route around
4:30 a.m. seems like a strange way to
celebrate, even to me.
ALL of the money raised through
donations from parties in Wisconsin
will go toward funding Wisconsin’s
Important Bird Areas (IBA) program,
which is an international initiative
being spearheaded in Wisconsin by
the WBCI. The IBA program will iden-
tify, help protect, and monitor habitats
in Wisconsin that are critical for bird
breeding, migrating, and wintering.
Those who pledge can choose a flat
fee or select from a variety of pledge
opportunities (per species in WI or on
all routes, for each route in WI or total
routes completed, or a customized
pledge). Data from the 5 WI BBS
routes show that 115 species can be
expected. For all 30 routes, 179
species can be hoped for. Routes can
be adopted for $100; those wishing to
ride along on a BBS can do so for
$100. Campaign progress can be moni-
tored through a website that is being
developed and via email to those who
contribute. Extensive media coverage
for this effort will be sought.
All donations are tax deductible as
the non-profit Wisconsin Society for
Ornithology will administer the Quad
30 fund. I thank you, and the birds of
Wisconsin thank you, for supporting
bird conservation activities. For more
information or to send a pledge,
please contact me at
noel.cutright@we-energies.com

Lawns and Gutters Tour Arriving Soon

Don't forget the Better Lawns and Gutters Tour on June 20. The tour will
offer opportunities to see and learn about beautiful and environmentally
friendly yards. Watch the June CAWS issue for details.
 Proposed Transmission Line Routes Threaten Faville Grove Sanctuary
The Madison Audubon board recently
learned of plans by the American
Transmission Company (ATC) to install a
new 138 kilovolt transmission line in
northwestern Jefferson County that
would be part of the so-called “Jefferson
County Electric Reliability Project.” ATC
has proposed four possible routes, three
of which would directly impact MAS’s
Faville Grove Sanctuary.
In response to this threat, the MAS
board of directors voted unanimously to
oppose any route that would run within
the project area of the sanctuary, includ-
ing the proposed routes through the
Faville Grove Sanctuary Update
We did eventually finish planting last
fall’s 40-acre wetland restoration on the
Brandt tract (that we first hoped to plant
and complete on November 11)! At last
report, with parts of the site alternately
too wet, too icy, or too dry and wind-
blown to plant, there were still six one-
half acre quadrants to go, plus some
species (i.e., marsh marigold, bur reed,
tufted loosestrife, sensitive fern, turtle-
head, arrowhead, and bulb-bearing water
hemlock, among others) that we held
back to broadcast individually in the
wettest locations. As the snow and ice
retreated, volunteers made a number of
early mornings forays to the site to cast
seed before the morning sun could melt
the frozen ground and make it too slop-
py to walk on. During a wet snowstorm
on the morning of March 18, after anoth-
er seeding episode, we pulled all of the
flags and cones marking the quadrants,
and finally, on March 21 the very last of
the Brandt restoration seed was on the
ground. In addition, on March 19, with
eastern meadow larks singing from the
2002 restoration, we helped Jefferson
County Parks Department personnel pre-
pare seed mixtures to plant mechanically
15 acres at Korth Park on the western
shore of Rock Lake. One field was plant-
ed that day and the remaining plot on
the following Monday.
Subsequent snow, rain, sunshine and
night time freezing temperatures were
just what those seeds needed to snuggle
into the damp earth and begin their
process of stratification and germination.
Meanwhile, spring was showing itself in
and around the Faville Grove Sanctuary.
Sandhill cranes and red-winged black-
birds both arrived before the end of
February. Turkey vultures and eastern
bluebirds were back by mid-March, great
floodplain of the Crawfish River, along
County Trunk G, and along State
Highway 89. These proposed routes
present unacceptable costs to wildlife, to
esthetics and public enjoyment, and to
society generally. Any high-voltage trans-
mission facility along these routes would
severely compromise MAS’s cooperative
efforts to restore and protect a large and
diverse landscape of grasslands, wet-
lands, and moraines in the Faville Grove
area, where Aldo Leopold undertook a
major effort to reconnect people with
the land. Furthermore, these proposed
routes would, in all likelihood, forever
blue herons and woodcocks on the 18th,
followed by eastern phoebes on the 21st
and tree swallows on the 29th. Chorus
frogs were in strong voice on March 24,
joined by spring peepers two days later.
The boy scout troop that erected 25 bird
houses in the sanctuary last spring got
them all cleaned out in early March and
reported that 2003 produced14 tree swal-
low, 2 bluebird, 2 house wren, and 2
white-footed deer mouse nests. Neighbor
Ohne Raasch cleaned out and invento-
ried his nearly 200 wood duck nest
boxes in and around the sanctuary, and
installed three new houses in the
Tillotson wetland restoration adjacent to
the Crawfish River, just in time for the
ducks’ return.
Early Friday, March 26 after nearly an
inch of rain the night before, we went
down to Brandt to check out the water
situation. As we imagined it would be,
the restoration site was a patchwork of
puddles, ponds, and small lakes. Three
acres in the northeast corner were com-
pletely underwater with a number of
Canada geese swimming about. The site
is successfully preventing runoff and
replenishing groundwater. From there we
went further down Prairie Lane toward
the river to the site of our 34-acre 2002
wetland restoration and seeding. When
we got out of the truck and started into
the field of annual foxtail to see just how
much water was there, perhaps a thou-
sand mallards flushed in front of us. And
then, in successive waves of wings, hun-
dreds and hundreds more lifted into the
sky until there were better than five thou-
sand airborne mallards over the prairie.
What a thrill to see the sky over the
Crawfish Prairie once again filled with
waterfowl - and what an incentive to
press on with our restorations!
foreclose the possibility of recreating an
unbroken expanse of grasslands in
southeast Wisconsin large enough to
sustain populations of greater prairie
chickens and other threatened and
endangered grassland plants and ani-
mals.
MAS compiled and delivered to ATC a
comprehensive five-page letter, which
states and substantiates Audubon’s posi-
tion in this matter. The full text of that
letter can be read on the MAS website at:
http://madisonaudubon.org/audubon/ale
rts/ATCletter.htm
Become Involved
with MAS!
Administrative Assistant
Position
Madison Audubon Society is
seeking a part time Administrative
Assistant to manage the office and
provide administrative support for
fund raising and program activities.
Desirable skills include:
• Excellent organizational skills
• Financial management &
bookkeeping
• Proficiency in computer
networking and file transferring
• Pleasant manner with the public
For details call the MAS office
255-2473. Submit a one page cover
letter and resume with references
to the Madison Audubon Society,
222 S Hamilton St. Suite 1,
Madison, WI 53703. Deadline for
submission is May 31.
Volunteer wanted to oversee
monthly CAWS mailing
The newsletter is mailed the first
Friday of the month except for July
and August.
These are the volunteer’s duties:
• Pick up CAWS at McGinn
Bindary.
• Call mailers together.
• Sort labels and prepare mailing
forms for Post Office.
• Oversee labeling at a volunteer’s
house.
• Deliver labeled CAWS to the
Main Post Office Bulk Mail
center.

Kampen Prairie Wetland – Chorus Frogs
The two-acre wetland within the 40-
acre Kampen Prairie never looked so
good! This wetland has a 30-acre water-
shed of which 20 acres are in restored
prairie. We observed this wetland basin
for about 20 years and it rarely held
water. When it did hold water, it was
only for a couple of weeks.
In the late 1990’s, MAS acquired the
parcel and began restoring prairie. Jeff
Nania, Wisconsin Waterfowl Association
Executive Director, coordinated the
Kampen Prairie wetland restoration. Jeff
thought that the wetland function could
be restored by removal of soil sediment
from the wetland basin. This restoration
would help provide a larger amount of
standing water for longer periods. About
160 dump truck loads of sediment were
removed. The soil was trucked out by a
neighbor who used it in projects that
required high quality topsoil. Much of
the soil eroded in the past 100 years from
the hillside to the south that has been
restored to prairie and prairie sod is
again building prairie soil.
This year the combination of sediment
removal, frozen ground, and water result-
ed in a beautiful two-acre prairie wet-
land. The shallow wetland
warms up early and pro-
vides puddle ducks with
invertebrates along with
seeds such as bidens. One
day in late March 18 mal-
lards, 5 blue-winged teal
and 4 green-winged teal
were observed as they were
busy feeding.
The nearest wetland to
the Kampen Prairie wetland
is about one half mile away
and Goose Pond is about
three quarters mile away.
June Tuesday Work
Nights At Goose Pond
Volunteers are needed to assist with
weedy species removal on work nights
every Tuesday in June starting at
6:30 p.m. Work will concentrate on
prairie management at Goose Pond and
the UW Agricultural Station prairie rem-
nant. This is a great way to learn prairie
species.
Dress in long sleeves, long pants,
gloves and sturdy shoes. Cold refresh-
ments will be served. As always, these
work nights may be cancelled because of
rain. Call Mark or Sue at 635-4160 if you
need more information.
We were surprised to hear a few chorus
frogs calling from the Kampen Prairie
wetland in late March.
We have been conducting frog surveys
since the early 1980’s for DNR and annu-
ally survey Goose Pond. Six frog species
have been found at Goose Pond. Last
year, Goose Pond along with surround-
ing wetlands was dry in early spring.
Chorus frogs were first heard on May 11,
2003 after significant rainfall. We are not
sure how many young survived last year
due to dry conditions.
This year, chorus frogs are very com-
mon in Goose Pond and in our restored
wetlands. In past years, most of the cho-
rus frogs were usually only found around
the edge of the pond where there was
vegetation and shallow water. This
spring, there is abundant smartweed
stems and chorus frogs are calling from
throughout the pond.
We were very surprised and pleased to
see that many chorus frogs survived the
drought conditions and that some made
a long journey for a little frog to our wet-
land restorations. Hopefully we will have
good rainfall this spring so the tadpoles
will survive.
Donations Flower
MY OWN VISION
Norma Kolthoff
GIFTS IN MEMORY OF A PERSON
In Memory of Susan Connell-Magee
Dan & Deb Weidert
In Memory of Alice Getschman
Lynne & Peter Weil
GIFTS IN HONOR OF A PERSON
In Honor of Heidi Wilde and
Kennedy Gilchrist
Sylvia Marek & Bill Grimm
YES, I want to make
Madison Audubon Society’s
vision a reality. Here is my
contribution to the Wildlife
Sanctuaries Campaign.
[ ] Acre Maker. $2,000 or more to buy
and restore another acre of land.
[ ] Half-Acre Maker. $1000-$1999.
[ ] Quarter-Acre Maker. $500-$999.
[ ] Adopt An Acre. I pledge $100 a year
for three years ($300 total) toward
Goose Pond restoration.
Here is my first installment.
[ ] Nest Egg. I pledge $50 a year for three
years($150 total). Here is my first
installment.
[ ] My Own Vision. $ ____ to help as
much as possible.
[ ] My Gift. $ ____ for MAS Program
Support (I.E. Education & Newsletter)
Direct my gift to:
[ ] Where it will help the most
[ ] Endowment fund to restore and main-
tain the sanctuaries
[ ] Land acquisition at Faville Grove
[ ] Land acquisition at Goose Pond
[ ] MAS Program Support
Name
Address
In Memory of
In Honor of
For Gifts Honoring Another: Send
Acknowledgement to:
Name
Address
Contributions will be acknowledged near
the Madison Information Board at Goose
Pond as follows: $1,000 or more-name to
appear on a permanent plaque; $250-
$999-name to appear on engraved paving
brick.
[ ] Do not acknowledge in Madison
Audubon Society Newsletter
Make checks payable to:
Madison Audubon Society
Mail to: Madison Audubon Society,
222 S. Hamilton Street, Suite #1,
Madison, WI 53703
Gift is tax deductible to the extent
allowed by law. Madison Audubon
Society’s financial statement is available
upon request.
 Madison Audubon Society, Inc.
Joanne Herfel, President
222 S. Hamilton St. Suite #1
Madison, WI 53703
Need a little something special for
your favorite mother (Mother Earth,
mom, your mother-in-law, yourself)?
Come to MAS’s annual art fair!
See page 1
Membership Matters - We're Off and Running!
Your local Madison Audubon's "Renew
Audubon" initiative is off and running!
This is a big Thank You to the Madison
Audubon members who have started
using the membership form in the CAWS
and on the web at
http://madisonaudubon.org to renew
your memberships. Use this form instead
of the reminder from National Audubon.
From now on, all Madison Audubon
members are asked to please check your
CAWS mailing label and use the form in
the CAWS or on the web when it's time
to renew, or when you get a reminder
from National Audubon. Send it to
Madison Audubon, and we take care of
your National Audubon renewal for you.
As your membership chair, I am espe-
cially aware how lucky we are to have
such an active and involved local
Audubon chapter. Our many members,
great volunteers and local staff are the
engine that drives the prairie restorations,
environmental initiatives, and public
events we all appreciate and enjoy. This
engine is truly "Off and Running"! It was
a good reminder to sit at the Madison
Audubon membership table at
CanoeCopia, Rutabaga's yearly canoe,
kayak and 'everything outdoors' expo.
Madison Audubon featured a live presen-
tation of hawk and owls, an Osprey plat-
form ready for installation, and informa-
tion about our very large recent prairie
additions. Many people stopped by who
were from other areas of Wisconsin and
Illinois. They all wanted to know how to
get in touch with an Audubon chapter in
their area that had such neat things going
on! So even if you're a Madison Audubon
member who doesn't have time to partici-
pate in all the local activities, rest assured
that your membership contribution is
going a long way to make Madison
Audubon an active and effective chapter
working for you and for the environment.
p.s. - "Double Audubon Membership"
is a new opportunity in your CAWS
newsletter membership form (this is a
correction from last month). Check
Double Audubon Membership with any
New or Renewed membership and give
someone a full year of Gift Membership
for just 5 bucks!
Thank You for Being Part of It!
1321 E. Mifflin St.
Madison, WI 53703
(608) 256-1066
Non-profit organization
U.S. Postage Paid
Permit No. 1831
Madison, Wisconsin
5/04
MAS Calendar at a Glance
Saturday, May 1: MAS Annual Art Fair
Saturday, May 1: Birding Picnic Point
Sunday, May 2: Bird Banding at Biocore
Prairie Bird Observatory
Tuesday, May 4 & Thursday, May 6:
Warbler Walks at the Arboretum
Friday, May 7: Evening at Nine Springs
Sunday, May 9: Birds and Blossoms of
Western Dane County
Tuesday May 11:
Warbler Walk at Pheasant Branch
Tuesday, May 14: Evening at Token Creek
Saturday, May 15: Birding Lake Farm Park
Sunday, May 16: Horicon Birding
Friday, May 21:
Evening at the Middleton Ponds
Saturday, May 22: Birding Baxter's Hollow
Sunday, May 23: International Crane
Foundation/Radio Tracking
Friday, May 28: Evening at Pheasant Branch
Saturday, May 29:
Rare Dragonflies & Ecology of Quincy Bluff
Sunday, May 30:
Janesville’s Cook Arboretum
Saturday, June 5:
Birding Governor Dodge State Park
Sunday, June 6: Canoe Red Cedar Lake