Outreach

Nero after a long day of teaching - freshly bathed and eating his favorite food.

Today, I returned from an overnight outreach. We went to Morris, MN for a program where all the 5th graders in the county come to a wildlife area to see lots of different nature related presentations. The Audubon Center, brought 3 birds to do 5 X 25 minute programs.

After the long drive, sleeping in a hotel with the birds and a full day of teaching, I felt a bit like Nero looks. Ready to go home, have a good dinner and take a shower. Another outreach done and one fantastic picture of Nero :)

Biography of a Germ

Awhile ago, I bought a bunch of clearance books online. One that I was really excited to read was Arno Karlen's Biography of a Germ. I am sad to say, that this book wasn't what I expected. Perhaps, I was thinking it would be mainly about the life of the bacteria that cause lyme disease and what it does to humans. It started out talking about the history of biography; something that is of very little interest to me. Next, was a biology lesson about shapes of bacteria before moving on to a bit about the germ and its many defenses that confuse our immune systems.

Even though I was disappointed in this book, I did learn a few things about this small germ. The bacteria is found world wide and lyme disease wasn't identified until in the United States until the mid-1970's. Ticks were not confirmed at the transmitter for another decade. The real kick in the teeth is that our current lifestyles is creating the ideal habitat for ticks and this bacteria. Even today, much is speculated about the bacteria and its life cycle but very little is confirmed.

Wildlife

Here are a few of the fun wildlife sightings and photographs that I have taken this past week.

Something found dinner....

Sandhill Cranes! If I had to guess, its a pair and their offspring

Taking off when I got too close!

Not quite wildlife, but this Lake Sturgeon is the newest member of the teaching staff at the center.

Newsletter

Me and Isis, a female American Kestrel

Check out the latest edition of The Audubon Center of the North Woods newsletter, in particular page 2. Another intern and I wrote an article about migration of the captive species we have on site. audubon-center.org/Fall2010

The World Without Us

I recently finished reading The World Without Us by Alan Weisman. It was interesting to contemplate what would happen if all humans suddenly disappeared. How long would our presence be on Earth? Some things, like New York City's subway system and paintings, would be destroyed in a few years without humans to maintain them. Other things, like the waste from our nuclear experiments, would likely be around as long as the planet. The radio waves we broadcast would be fragmented, but around indefinitely.

Little scary to think that long after we are gone we will still be impacting the planet. That is something that no other species can say. Nature however is resourceful. It wouldn't take long for animals to begin to rebound and domesticated animals to disappear. Perhaps, one of the greatest predators that humans have introduced is the humble house cat. Long after humans and domestic dogs are gone, feral cats will continue to wreck havoc on the bird population. The only we can say for certain is that after humans are extinct, life on this planet will go on. Probably in forms we have never dreamed of. 

Hawk Ridge

Overlooking Lake Superior first thing in the morning

As the weather starts to change, migration starts. Here in Minnesota is one of the top raptor migration sites in North America - Hawk Ridge (hawkridge.org). Due to several factors, thousands of raptors pass over this ridge on the way south due each year. The first factor is the numerous thermals that are formed on a nice sunny day. This allows the raptors to soar and glide south rather than flap the whole way. The second factor is Lake Superior. Birds of prey generally won't fly over large bodies of water. These, along with a few other factors, funnel a large number of birds from Canada over this single ridge.

First year Sharp-shinned Hawk

The key to Hawk Ridge is weather. If the weather is rainy, you might as well stay home since the birds are not going to be moving. On nice sunny days, you get a respectable number of birds migrating though. The best weather for raptor migration is the first sunny day following a couple rainy days. On those days, you can see tens of thousands.

Broad-winged Hawk

Today was a good day to be at hawk ridge. After a few showers early in the morning, the clouds started to break up and thermals started to form. We started our raptor watch with a tour of the banding station. While we were there, they caught and banded 3 Sharp-shinned Hawks. Others, narrowly escaped the net. It was a treat to see all the action. Many of the birds they band are first years. They are still figuring out how to hunt and therefore tend to be a bit hungry. Because of this, they are more likely to be attracted to the lure used to bring them down to the net.

When we returned to the top of the ridge, the action in the sky was just getting underway. In the hour and a half or so that we were there we probably saw several hundred raptors. Our species included: American Kestrel, Broad-winged Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk and a Turkey Vulture.

Not a bad morning!

Banning State Park

Today, I went to Banning State Park with a couple of the interns. We did the Quarry Loop Trail which is about a 2 mile walk. Along the trail are remnants of buildings that were built when there was a quarry. The sandstone found in the area was chiseled down into blocks for buildings.

 Kettle River

Ring Neck Snake

While we were walking, we came across a snake. I am not a huge fan of snakes usually but this guy was really still and let us take a bunch of pictures. I had not seen one of these in the wild before but the yellow band around the neck made it easy to identify. When I got home, the geek in me looked up some information about the species. This non-venomous snake is found in wet forests along the eastern border of Minnesota. It also turns out that these snakes are usually nocturnal. I guess that explains why the guy was a bit slow on moving!  It also means that I was lucky to have spotted one in the wild!!

First Signs of Fall

There are signs of fall all around. Schools are back in session and returning to the Audubon Center. Leaves are starting to change. Birds are migrating. Where did my summer go?

Leaves changing color

Maple leaf changing color

Today, I left work mid-afternoon and took a hour walk around the property and brought my camera. Saw a bunch of dragonflies and frogs (gray tree frogs, spring peepers, and wood frogs). I also saw a couple garter snakes and woodpeckers.I was also surprised to see so many of the leaves starting to change color already! It was a nice relaxing hike where I cleared my mind a bit and I got some fun photos.

Dragonfly

Tree Frog resting on Milkweed

Fun bug on milkweed

For those of you keeping track, today was the 22nd day in a row that I worked at least a half day. When people ask me about the birds at the center, I always tell them that they are permanently injured and non-releasable. Lately, I have been feeling like the permanently injured, non-releasable intern. I am tired and starting to get a bit antsy. The good news is I have tomorrow off and will be heading off site. YAY!

Training and Other Happenings

I have been rather busy the past few weeks. The new interns have arrived and we have had several groups on site. My time has been split between working in the barn, helping to train the newbies and working with the groups that are on-site.

Last week, there was an Elderhostel group on-site. I drove a the group for a day and got to tour two local museums: The Hinckley Fire Museum and the North West Company Fur Post. For me it was a bit of a treat because it broke up my normal work routine and I hadn't been to either yet. Spending the day with a group of seniors is always interesting. I think I told my life story about a dozen times but had a good time. I also got to talk about cranes for a few minutes when we drove by 4 in a corn field!

 Ricing demonstration at the Fur Post

Hinckley Fire Memorial

In addition to the groups on site, I have been getting to know the six new interns. All but one is from the midwest (not a lot of diversity this year). The other is from Cameroon. It is interesting getting used to all the new noises and faces in the house. During work hours, I have been helping train the new folks in on classes and team building exercises.

A majority of the education team doing team building!

Myself, Jess and Jane on the course!

Besides working a TON of hours, nothing else much has been happening. I am looking forward to everybody getting settled in and gearing up for the upcoming school year!