Migration continues to ramp up across southern Wisconsin, bringing more birds inching farther north almost daily. The return of sandhill cranes, Canada geese, red-winged blackbirds and American robins have been especially welcome for many bird lovers from Eau Claire to Wausau to Green Bay and southward. Other new arrivals include the first American woodcocks, tree swallows, turkey vultures, eastern bluebirds, song sparrows and American white pelicans.
In rural South Central Wisconsin, many communities are establishing community gardens for their residents. Why? Many people have a desire to get back to nature and grow their own food in a healthy, non-chemical environment but don’t have the space for a garden at their dwelling.
MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced March 2 that fire management crews plan to conduct prescribed burns on DNR properties throughout the state from March 2 through mid-June. These burns take advantage of Wisconsin’s optimal conditions during the spring. Additional prescribed burns will occur in late summer and fall (mid-July through November).
March 11 marks one year since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic.
COVID has led to some interesting proposals. Valley Sentinel recently talked with bar and restaurant owners about a proposed bill would allow establishments with “Class B” liquor licenses to sell mixed drinks and wine by the glass in tamper safe to-go containers to be consumed off the premises.
The February 2021 wolf harvest season closed at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 24. State statute authorizes the DNR to close management zones to harvest following a 24-hour notice based on harvest information. Because of the nature of harvest registration and 24-hour notice, it is possible for harvest quotas to be exceeded.
Greetings from the Upper Sugar River Watershed Association invasive species program! 2020 was a great example of what you can still do online or remotely to protect the environment. Our core of great volunteers and an expanded staff allowed us to keep projects like boat landing outreach, access signage, and clean bait reminders rolling smooth in tough times.
Ready for spring? We have good news for you – in the bird world, it’s underway! Southeast Wisconsin always sees the first migrants, and this year is no exception as the first red-winged blackbirds, killdeer and sandhill cranes have been reported there. American robins overwintered in good numbers, but new migrants are also moving in now. Horned larks, an early migrant of open grasslands and agricultural fields, are also showing well on rural roadsides. Farther north, trumpeter swans are returning to limited areas of open water, and the first bald and golden eagles have begun to wing their way northward overhead.
The swishing and icy-slashing sounds you’ve been hearing over near Hoxie Street in Spring Green just might be the sound of skates gliding over the ice as the Quigley family enjoys their homemade labor of love—a backyard ice rink.
Whether you are fishing an open stream or in a shanty, remember to practice responsible catch and release. It’s important to reduce the stress on a fish after it has been caught.
A prairie grass-lined path showing imprinted tracks in the many inches of snow the Valley has seen recently leading up to the hills of the Spring Green Nature Preserve.