THE MADISON AUDUBON
Newsletter
222 S. Hamilton St. • Madison, WI 53703 • 255-BIRD • http://madisonaudubon.org
Silent
Conversations
with Eastern Wood
Warblers
Wood warblers are the jewels of the
avian world. They are also barom-
eters of their respective habitats, their
numbers mirroring the overall health
and balance of the Americas.
One rarely finds these beauties at
the window feeder, save the occasion-
al Pine, Yellow, or Yellow-rumped
Warbler. Forays into their specialized
habitats are necessary to locate and
observe them.
Laurie Smaglick Johnson will share her
intimate photographs of wood warblers on
Nov. 15.
Madison Audubon is a chapter of the National Audubon Society
Free Public Program
What: Laurie Smaglick Johnson: a photo
journey into the lives of wood
warblers
When: Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2005
7 p.m.—Refreshments
7:30 p.m.—Program
Where: NEW LOCATION!
Room 108, Plant Sciences,
1575 Linden Dr.,
behind the greenhouses at
Babcock and Linden.
Note: watch for detour signs
or see the construction map at:
http://www2.fpm.wisc.edu/trans/
Maintenance/ConstructionMap.
pdf
Parking: Lot 40 on Babcock Drive, west
of Plant Sciences, free after
4:30 p.m.
A trip itself, however, does not
guarantee an encounter. Recognizing
their songs and calls, knowing when
to expect them, identifying their
microhabitat needs, interpreting
clues they leave, and invoking infi-
nite patience are necessary to begin
to understand and appreciate these
special creatures with which we share
the earth. Only by honing these skills
and developing this discipline might
you begin to have your own…”Silent
Conversations with Eastern Wood
Warblers.”
Join us for an intimate photo-
graphic journey into the lives of the
38 species of warblers that migrate
continued on page 2
of the
Madison
Audubon
Society
November 2005
Prairies Jubilee!
By Dorothy Haines, with additions
by Dave Drapac
Madison Audubon Society volunteers
and event-goers accepted Mother
Nature’s administration of “tough
love” at Prairies Jubilee! 2005 and
adapted to a two-inch deluge from
the skies to carry out an interesting
program of events and displays on
September 25. While the untimely
downpour washed away some out-
door activities, the offerings in the
Public Events building provided
ample visual, educational, audio and
gustatory attractions. Even indoors,
the weather continued to make its
presence known. A bolt of lightning,
which struck a nearby utility pole
and sent a flash of light into the kitch-
en, wasn’t enough to frighten away
the kitchen crew, who recovered suf-
ficiently to serve up a tasty picnic
lunch.
The Wisconsin Herpetological
Society’s extensive display of tor-
toises, turtles, snakes and lizards —
mostly confined to cages — attracted
much attention. Viewers “oohed” and
“aahed” at the beautiful colorations
as they watched attendants Ed Stone
and Terri Malizewski-Kane bring the
animals out in the open for display
on their arms. Two large tree snakes
— positioned in some overhead
branches — were very much alive.
The Nature Photo Contest bright-
ened one corner of the Events build-
ing with a beautiful display of 31
nature photographs. (See the box on
continued on page 4
 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
PHONE
EMAIL
___$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
PHONE
EMAIL
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
Birding hotline, 255-BIRM.
Madison Audubon Web Page:
http://madisonaudubon.org
Email: masoffice@mailbag.com
Email services donated by Berbee
Contribution deadline is Nov. 1 for Dec.
issue, for which items may be sent to
Michael Becker, caws.editor@gmail.com
The Audubon Caws
Audubon Members - Renewal Instructions
When? Please renew when your renewal date is within a couple months,
or when you receive a renewal reminder from National Audubon. You can
check your CAWS address label for your renewal date (e.g. DEC05). This
makes renewals simpler, and in the long run it will help cut down on paper.
How? Renew your Audubon membership through Madison Audubon
by using the Membership Form in the CAWS or on the web at
http://madisonaudubon.org. Renewing through Madison Audubon directs
some of your contribution to efforts that benefit you locally, such as Madison
Audubon’s large habitat and prairie restorations!
Bonus! Please check Double Audubon Membership when you renew. This
includes an Audubon Gift Membership for only $5 more! What a great
opportunity to introduce Audubon to a friend, relative, student, work buddy,
neighbor, or teacher! Thank you for helping Double Audubon Membership,
one member at a time!
continued from page 1 and still makes her home in Racine
County, Wisconsin.
through the Americas east of the
Great Plains. Laurie Smaglick You are invited to join our speaker,
Johnson’s unique photographs offer MAS board members and friends at
us glimpses of feeding activities like the pre-program dinner at Paisan’s
drinking, foraging, stalking, eating Restaurant beginning at 5:15 p.m.
and extending the crop. See nest Please call the office at (608) 255-BIRD
building and feathers puffed out (255-2473) if you have questions.
against the cold. Watch the birds
attempt to intimidate with open Next meeting: January 17, 2006
beak, raised crest and spread tails.
See them singing to attract a mate or
simply watch them taking off, flying,
landing, walking and hopping.
Bathing, preening, shaking and
wing stretching are everyday activi-
ties to keep feathers healthy, but what
does it mean when the bird droops
its wings or cocks its tail pertly up or
down?
Laurie Smaglick Johnson is an elec-
trical engineer and businesswoman
by education and career experience;
a scientist by thought process; and a
conservationist at heart. Her love of
birds, the environment and photog-
raphy have come together to provide
others with intimate glimpses into
the lives of the birds with whom we
share this earth. She was born, raised
MADISON AUDUBON SOCIETY The mission of the Madison Audubon
President: Joanne Herfel, 241-8009 Society is to educate our members and
Vice-president: Debra Weitzel, 836-4051 the public about the natural world and
Goose Pond Resident Naturalists: the threats that natural systems are fac-
Mark and Sue Martin, 635-4160 ing, to engage in advocacy to preserve
Editor: Michael Becker, 265-9484 and protect these systems, and to devel-
caws.editor@gmail.com
op and maintain sanctuaries to save and
Graphic design: Ann Thering restore natural habitat.
Printed by Roemer Printing
2 November 2005
One Million Dollar
Wildlife Habitat Grant
Approved
Madison Audubon Society has
received notice from the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service that a $1 mil-
lion grant has been awarded under
the North American Wetlands
Conservation Act. Ten partners will
participate in Phase 3 of the “South-
central Wisconsin Prairie Pothole
Initiative,” and will match federal
dollars at a ratio of 2.8 to 1, for a total
investment in wildlife habitat of near-
ly $4 million.
Habitat protection and restoration
is critical in south-central Wisconsin,
where the human population is grow-
ing faster than in any other region
of the state. Between 1990 and 2000,
Dane County added more than 59,000
people, equal to three communities
the size of Sun Prairie. Columbia
County added almost 7,500 people, or
another DeForest. Over the decade,
both counties grew by 16% while
Wisconsin’s total population grew by
9.6%.
Wetland and grassland birds will
benefit from the project, with addi-
tional areas for foraging, nesting and
migratory stopovers. People, too, will
benefit from project activities that will
improve surface and groundwater
quality, help reduce damaging floods,
develop economically important rec-
reation areas and enhance aesthetics.
Madison Audubon Society is the
project officer and will coordinate
the grant. Partners are the Wisconsin
Department of Natural Resources,
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Dane
County Parks, Ducks Unlimited,
Natural Heritage Land Trust,
Wisconsin Waterfowl Association,
Pheasants Forever, The Nature
Conservancy and private landown-
ers. Special thanks go to Becky
Rudolph and Michelle Cipiti who
coordinated preparation of the grant
request with help from other part-
ners.
The goal of the Phase 3 grant is
to protect and restore 3,057 acres of
wetlands and 1,199 acres of associ-
ated uplands, for a total of 4,256
acres. Combined with the two previ-
ous phases of the grant, a total of $3
The Audubon Caws
million in federal funds matched by
nearly $9 million in partner invest-
ments will be used to protect and/or
restore 14,000 acres of wildlife habi-
tat in Columbia, Dane, Green Lake,
Jefferson, Marquette, Rock, Walworth
and Waushara counties and the east-
ern edges of Adams and Sauk coun-
ties.
Volunteer Corner
As many of you know from first-
hand experience, Madison Audubon
Society’s activities, habitat restora-
tions, events, field trips and general
operations are made possible through
the collaboration between a few
part-time staff and a few hundred
volunteers. To keep in touch as we
continue grow in both size and range
of programs offered to our members
and community, we have begun a
monthly volunteer e-newsletter. Each
month volunteer coordinator David
Drapac sends out an email with a
list of current volunteer opportuni-
ties. If you would like to be added to
this email list, please contact Dave at
masdave@mailbag.com.
As a sneak preview, one of our
big volunteer evenings is coming
up on December 1. This will be the
mailing party for Madison Audubon
Society’s special sanctuaries newslet-
ter—a report from our sanctuaries
managers and an appeal for support
for our ongoing habitat restorations.
If you would like to help at the mail-
ing party please mark your calendar
for Thursday, December 1, at 5 p.m.
and contact Dave at the office at (608)
255-2473. The mailing will be held at
Deb and Bob Weitzel’s house, 6602
Whittlesey Rd. in Middleton, phone
number (608) 836-4051. Free pizza
will be provided for all!
3 November 2005
Madison Audubon
Welcomes New
Counties, More Members
Please join Madison Audubon Society
in giving a hearty welcome to new
members from Iowa, Richland and
Sauk counties!
A review of membership ZIP codes
revealed that large areas of these
counties were not represented by any
Audubon chapter. With agreement
from other chapters and National
Audubon, the “missing ZIPs” have
been officially added to MAS. We are
happy to welcome about 168 new
members, and their families, who
were already members of National
Audubon but not a chapter. They will
now receive the MAS newsletter and
enjoy many opportunities to partici-
pate in chapter events, meetings, field
trips and volunteer activities.
These new counties also open up
exciting opportunities for MAS to get
involved west of Madison in major
efforts toward birding habitat and
prairie restoration in the Military
Ridge area and other ecologically
important areas along the lower
Wisconsin River. Madison Audubon
will help support these initiatives
with contributions and volunteer
help from MAS members. New
members from Iowa, Richland, and
Sauk counties are encouraged to help
MAS develop contacts with local
government agencies, environmental
groups, schools, businesses, fisher-
men, farmers and landowners.
We expect many more new mem-
bers from this area due to its strong
environmental heritage and leader-
ship. Madison Audubon’s environ-
mental mission is much stronger with
the addition of these new counties
and new members!
Prairies Jubilee!
continued from page 1

page 4 for a list of winners, and see

the overall winning photo on the
back page).
In the theater area, Sara Schmidt
of the Beaver Creek Reserve enthusi-
astically described a citizen-science
program called “Nature Mapping.”
Those who attended her presentation
were impressed with this developing
program and are now trained to mon-
itor and report wildlife throughout
Wisconsin. More information can be
obtained on the web at http://www.
wisnatmap.org. Plans are being made
by MAS to offer training for partici-
pation.
The Jubilee atmosphere in the
Public Events building was enhanced
with live music in the afternoon. Scott
Weber entertained on the violin, and
the Dirt Floor Collective trio livened
up the sounds.
Lisa Kivirist and John Ivanko of
Inn Serendipity recounted the story
of their lifestyle change from the fast
pace of Chicago to a more sustainable
existence at a rural bed and breakfast
and organic farm in Browntown, Wis.
Organically fed, renewably powered
and self determined, John and Lisa
were an inspiration to all who joined
in this presentation.
Meanwhile, back at Goose Pond,
the barn sheltered volunteers until
early afternoon as rain soaked every-
thing that was not under cover. The
outdoor children’s activities could not
proceed because of the soaked condi-
tions in the prairie, but the indoor
attractions carried on with activities
provided by Paul Noeldner. The flint
knapping demonstration by Gary
Eldred moved indoors, while the hay
wagon, with its carefully placed hay
bale benches, sat soaking up the rain
in the parking lot. But a volunteer
crew went on cleaning prairie seeds
that had been collected in preparation
for planting later in the fall.
The rain finally ceased in the early
afternoon, and speaker Lynn Hanson
walked with his audience through
the prairie to talk about natural life in
the area over the past 3,000 years. He
showed the large granite rock he had
discovered, which had been mini-
Lynn Hanson, far right, discusses natural life at Goose Pond over the past 3,000 years. Photo by
Susan Slapnick
mally chiseled and placed to face the
point of sunset at the winter solstice
by some ancient peoples. He set his
audience to thinking about how this
prairie had been appreciated and
kept by those who walked this way
before.
Thanks again to all of our volun-
teers for braving the weather and
spending part of your Sunday at the
Public Events building and Goose
Photo Contest Winners
Thank you to everyone who par-
ticipated in the Nature Photography
Contest, as well as judges Chris
Spencer, Daryl Sherman and David
Peterson. Mark Gibbens was award-
ed Best in Exhibit for his photo-
graph titled “Sandhill Crane—Late
Afternoon.” Here are the rest of the
winners by category:
Wildflowers
1st Place—Mary D. Roestel, “Last
Year’s Cattail”
2nd Place—Tom Portle, “Canada Wild
Rye with Echinacea”
Animals
1st Place—Ann Thering, “Black
Swallowtail on Rattlesnake Master”
Pond. Also, thanks to all those on the
Prairies Jubilee! committee who
worked behind the scenes to organize
a full schedule of interesting vendors,
speakers and activities. We couldn’t
have done it without you.
For more details and photos about
Prairies Jubilee! 2005 and Lynn
Hanson’s talk, please check out the
MAS website at http://madison-
audubon.org.
2nd Place—Richard Oberle, “Regal
Fritillary on Rough Blazingstar (Open
Wings)”
General Scenic
1st Place—Kelly Mitchell, “Fall 2004”
2nd Place—Mary D. Roestel,
“Windblown”
Birds
1st Place—Mark Gibbens, “Sandhill
Crane—Late Afternoon”
2nd Place—Mark Gibbens, “Red
Bellied Woodpecker”
All of the winning photos can be
found on the Madison Audubon web-
site at http://madisonaudubon.org/
audubon/photocontest/index.html.

The Audubon Caws 4 November 2005

PJ! Raffle Winners
Thank you to everyone who partici-
pated in the Prairies Jubilee! raffle.
The items and winners were:

• Padauk and cork trivet, donated by

Dean and Kathleen Graber & family,
Graber Woodworking LLC, goes to
Dot Havens

• Cheese board, donated by Dean

and Kathleen Graber & family,
Graber Woodworking LLC, goes to
Erik Seelbinder

• Nectar and mealworm bird feeder,

donated by Wild Bird Center, goes to Everyone was smiling after the rain let up. Photo by Susan Slapnick
Ed Saur

• REI backpack, donated by REI, goes

to Patricia Becker
Some lovely
• Radian 450 tripod, donated by art was on
Eagle Optics, goes to Dawn Thistle display,
including
these native
• One night stay at Inn Serendipity,
plant etch-
donated by B&B owners Lisa Kivirist
ings. Photo
and John Ivanko, goes to Pat Ready by Susan
Slapnick
• High Sierra Drench hydration
pack, donated by Fontana Sports
Specialties, goes to Nancy Heiden

• Denali 60 mm spotting scope,

donated by Eagle Optics, goes to
Susan Slapnick

• Metal sculpture, donated by artist

Ellis Nelson, goes to Sue Morris

• The grand prize, a 24×36” original

oil painting by artist Jonathan Wilde
titled “Ever Alert,” with framing The 2 inches of
donated by Meuer Art & Picture rain chased folks
inside for part of
Frame Co., goes to the lucky Sue
the day but did
Kernats
not slow down
the celebration.
Thanks again to each of the donors Photo by Susan
and raffle entrants for your generous Slapnick
contribution.

The Audubon Caws 5 November 2005

Prairies Jubilee!
Photos by Susan Slapnick

Our steadfast kitchen crew served up a delicious lunch despite the occasional
lightning strike.

Thanks to all who volunteered at Prairies Jubilee! 2005.

Scott Weber and his violins prepare for their show.

Volunteers steadfastly clean seeds through the morning Our first annual nature photography show was a wonderful success.
downpour at Prairies Jubilee!

The Audubon Caws 6 November 2005

Field Trips
Editor’s Note: When planning your
field trip participation, please keep in
mind that the following schedule is
compiled several weeks before reach-
ing your mailbox. Times or meeting
locations might be altered or new
trips might be scheduled and take
place before CAWS arrives at your
home. I therefore encourage you
to visit the field trips section of the
MAS website regularly to check for
updates
Saturday, Nov. 5: Lake Michigan
Birding
Join us as we bird Lake Michigan and
its shoreline. This trip is timed to
coincide with the migration of hawks
and waterfowl through Milwaukee
and Ozaukee Counties. We will
be scoping the lake for specialties
like Surf, Black and White-Winged
Scoters, Long-tailed Duck, Harlequin
Duck and Red-Throated Loon. If the
weather cooperates we will have
excellent views of migrant hawks
from some of the lakeside bluffs.
Unusual raptors seen from the hawk
watch in past years include: Merlin,
Peregrine Falcon, Rough-Legged
Hawk and Goshawk. Be sure to dress
for the weather and pack a lunch.
Bring a scope if you have one. A high
ratio of scopes to people will make
this trip more enjoyable for everyone.
We will meet to carpool in the
middle of the parking lot of the east
side Cub Foods. From Hwy. 30 take
Hwy. 51 (Stoughton Rd.) North to
Nakoosa Trail, turn right and proceed
east to Cub Foods. We will carpool
and leave at 6:30 a.m. We will return
to Cub foods between 4:30 and 6 p.m.
If you have questions, call Aaron at
(608) 294-9618 or send an email to
agstutz@chorus.net.
Saturday, Dec. 3: Madison Lakes
Birding
As winter sets in, ponds and smaller
lakes of south-central Wisconsin
freeze, causing migrating birds to
become concentrated on Madison’s
large lakes, which remain open lon-
ger. Al Shea, expert birder and long
time MAS field trip leader, will lead
us in observing waterfowl, gulls and
The Audubon Caws
winter birds. This trip has produced
some unusual birds in the past,
including Red-throated Loons, so
don’t miss it!
We will carpool and leave at 7:30
a.m. from the middle of UW Parking
Lot 60 at the north end of Walnut St.,
near University Bay. The trip will last
about four hours. Bring a scope if you
have one and dress warmly. If you
have questions, call Al Shea at (608)
825-6232.
Donations received
September 3 through
October 3
ACRE MAKER
In Memory of Gaylord Nelson, an
inspiring and visionary leader
Jerry and Jill Martin
HALF-ACRE MAKER
Thomas S. Kemp Foundation
MY OWN VISION
Barbara Jenkin
Lynn Persson
GIFTS IN MEMORY OF A PERSON
In Memory of June Born
Greg, Thomas, and David
Mitchell
Barbara and Richard Woroch
In Memory of Josephine Hanson
Friends and Family of Josephine
Hanson
OUR THANKS
Thanks to the vendors, donors, and
volunteers who helped out with this
year’s Prairies Jubilee!
7 November 2005
YES, I want to make Madison
Audubon Society’s vision a
reality. Here is my contribu-
tion 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
sanctuaries 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
Acknowledgment 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 pav-
ing 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 Non-profit organization
222 S. Hamilton St. Suite #1 U.S. Postage Paid
Madison, WI 53703 Permit No. 1831
Madison, Wisconsin
Return Service Requested

Christmas Bird Counts:

A Christmas Tradition
11/05
The 2005 holiday season will mark Is it time to renew your membership?
the 106th year of Christmas Bird See form on page 2 and help MAS.
Counts, truly one of America’s
“Christmas” traditions. Last year
birders across the U.S. and beyond
surveyed 2,022 count circles and
tallied 69,901,741 birds. If this isn’t
already part of your holiday tradi-
tion, why not consider setting aside
some time this year to participate in
one or more of these fun and impor-
tant counts?
Counts may take place on any day
from December 14 through January
5, and coordinators will be setting
the date of their counts soon. The
largest counts, such as Madison’s,
usually occur on the first Saturday
during the period, which will be
December 17 this year. Other counts
in the Madison area include Baraboo,
Mt. Horeb, Poynette, Sauk City and
Waterloo. Dates and coordinators
MAS Calendar at a Glance
for these counts will be listed in the
December CAWS and on the MAS
website. Saturday, Nov. 5—Lake Michigan Birding
Altogether, nearly 100 counts take
place across Wisconsin. To find out Saturday, Dec. 3—Madison Lakes Birding
if there is one near you, please check
the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology Between Dec. 14 and Jan. 5 (date to be announced)—Christmas Bird Counts
website (www.uwgb.edu/birds/
wso), which includes a statewide
map along with coordinators and
dates for each count. Please be sure
to check with the coordinator, as the Mark Gibbensʼ “Sandhill
count dates listed as of early October Crane—Late Afternoon”
were still from 2004! won Best in Exhibit at the
Prairies Jubilee! Nature
Photo Contest and first in
the bird category. See the
photo in full color on the
MAS website at http://madi-
sonaudubon.org/audubon/
photocontest/index.html.
612 W. Main St., Also see story on Page 4.
Suite 303
Madison, WI 53703
(608) 256-1066