LMBO Free Webinar Series: Help Birds, Pollinators and Your Community

Each month we will be hosting one or two webinars on how to make your corner of the world better for your feathered, winged, and aquatic neighbors. Check back for more details on upcoming programs.

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Meeting ID: 252 979 415 748

Passcode: E9LiZF

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All webinars are 7 - 8 PM CST.

May 15, 2024: Beyond the Bird Feeder: Birdscaping in the Midwest

Presenter: Mariette Nowak, author of the book, "Birdscaping in the Midwest, a Guide to Gardening with Native Plants to Attract Birds”

Description: Learn how to increase the variety of birds in your yard by growing native plants offering birds their natural habitat and a yearlong smorgasbord of berries, nuts, seeds, and insects. Gardeners and native plant enthusiasts can play a vital role in restoring and preserving native communities that support not only birds, but also other wildlife including butterflies, bees, and bats.

Mariette Nowak is the author of the book, “Birdscaping in the Midwest, a Guide to Gardening with Native Plants to Attract Birds” She served as director of the Wehr Nature Center in Milwaukee County for 18 years. She is active with the Wild Ones native landscaping organization and the founder and president of the Wild Ones Kettle Moraine Chapter. An avid birder, Mariette is a past board member of the Wisconsin Society of Ornithology and a current member of the Ben Goss Bird Club.

June 26, 2024: The Importance of Prescribed Burns

Presenter: Scott Fulton, past president of The Prairie Enthusiasts

Description: Prior to European settlement, frequent low-intensity fires, set for thousands of years by the indigenous people, created a mosaic patchwork of parklike and remarkably biodiverse prairies, savannas, wetlands, and open woodlands. European settlement brought major changes, ultimately including almost complete suppression of fire on the land. This has resulted in the widespread closing of forest canopies and the replacement of sun-loving, fire-tolerant species with shade-tolerant, fire-sensitive plants. In recent decades, conservation land managers increasingly use prescribed fire as a tool to at least partially restore fire-dependent natural communities. This talk will discuss the ecological effects of this type of fire on the land as well as the general principles of how prescribed fire is conducted safely and effectively.

Scott Fulton is the immediate past president of The Prairie Enthusiasts and has been a volunteer with the organization for 20+ years. He loves prescribed burns and is burn crew training instructor and a member of the Wisconsin Prescribed Fire Council. A retired biotechnology entrepreneur, Scott is an enthusiastic birder and botanist as well as a Wisconsin Master Naturalist instructor. He is also currently an elder student at the Leech Lake Tribal College in Minnesota, studying Ojibwe language and culture.

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PAST WEBINARS

Watch past webinars here!

April 24, 2024: Agroforestry at Riveredge Nature Center: Changing monocultural cornfields into novel diverse woody native systems.

Presenter: Matt Smith, Research and Conservation Director, Riveredge Nature Center

Description: The addition of 100 new acres of fields and forest has afforded Riveredge the opportunity to convert traditional row crop agricultural production into something more diverse and native. Hear from Matt Smith, Research and Conservation Director, on the Silvopasture Project on their newly acquired Sandhill Lake Wildlife Reserve. Matt will discuss their overall agroforestry goals, field planting layout, plant care and maintenance, wildlife monitoring/recruitment, individual crop biographies/uses, and scalable ways to grow natives on your own property.

March 27, 2024: The Forgotten Layer

Presenter: Danielle Bell, Owner Native Roots, LLC

Description: Shrubs play a vital role in all landscapes. Yet they are so easily excluded from our urban designs. This talk will explain the importance of the shrub layer for birds to provide food sources and nesting sites. We will highlight the best native shrubs to include in your native landscape design plan.

February 28, 2024: Recovering a declining songbird: 25-years of Golden-winged Warbler research and conservation

Presenter: Amber Roth, Assistant Professor of Forest Wildlife Management School of Forest Resources and Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Conservation Biology

Description: Dr. Amber Roth began studying Golden-winged Warbler in 1998 as a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin. Little did she know then that this was the beginning of a long journey of research, monitoring, and conservation to aid this rapidly declining migratory forest species. Today she is leading a team of researchers to understand the factors driving Golden-winged Warbler distribution and demographics in order to improve interventions to recover the species.

January 24, 2024: Raptors in Southeastern Wisconsin

Presenter: William Mueller, Director Emeritus, Lake Michigan Bird Observatory

Description: Join us to learn about the raptors we see in migration at the Forest Beach raptor watch and in our region. We will talk about how to identify them, how their population numbers compare across years, and some ideas of how that may be changing.

Bio: Bill Mueller is Director Emeritus of the Lake Michigan Bird Observatory; he retired in 2019. Bill has held many roles in avian ecology and conservation, including Conservation Chair of WSO from 2000-2010, member of the WI Bird Conservation Partnership, co-founder of the Midwest Migration Network, working on migratory seaducks, aerial insectivores, the Wisconsin Breeding Bird Atlas, the development of the MOTUS wildlife tracking system in Wisconsin, and stopover ecology of birds in Wisconsin’s largest urban area.

September 13, 2023: From Farm to Forest: Ecological Restoration of the Mequon Nature Preserve

Presenter: Nick Gall, Ecological Restoration Manager, Mequon Nature Preserve

August 9, 2023: Avian Wildlife Rehabilitation: Common Causes of Injury in the Urban Environment

Presenter: Crystal Sharlow-Schaefer, Wildlife Director and Philanthropic Advisor, Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, Wisconsin Humane Society

Description: Learn about the work of the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center at the Wisconsin Humane Society, as well as the top causes of injury seen in wild birds at one of the busiest and certainly most urban wildlife rehabilitation centers in Wisconsin.

July 12, 2023: Urban Cowbird: Efforts to Better Understand Birds in Milwaukee

Presenter: Timothy Vargo, Manager of Research and Community Science, Urban Ecology Center

Description: Milwaukee's Urban Ecology Center strives to connect people in cities to nature and to each other, and much of this is achieved through bird monitoring, research, and conservation. Join Tim Vargo, Manager of Research and Community Science, as he relates stories of urban ornithology that are in the making by a collaboration of professional and community scientists.

June 14, 2023: ROOT: Restoring Our Outdoors Together

Presenter: Michaela Rosenthal, Manager of Land Stewardship, Urban Ecology Center.

Description: Join us to learn about urban ecological restoration and the impact it is having on birds and arthropods of all kinds (especially pollinators) in the three urban parks managed by the Urban Ecology Center.

May 10, 2023: Invasive Woody Plants: a Threat to Wildlife, the Environment, and People

Presenter: Mark Renz, Treasurer for Invasive Plants Association of Wisconsin (IPAW ) and Professor and Weed Specialist at UW-Madison's Renz Lab

April 12, 2023: Talk to the Experts - A Roundtable Discussion

Presenters: Ben French, VP of Propagation and Product Development - Johnson's Nursery, Inc., Nick Gall, Ecological Restoration Manager - Mequon Nature Center, Robert Kaleta, Land Manager - River Revitalization Foundation

Description: Join us for a discussion about native plants! Three local native plant experts will give short presentations about how they work with native plants and then the rest of the time is open for all of your questions.

March 22, 2023: Top Native Plants for Birds

Presenter: Jenn Phillips-Vanderberg, Director, Lake Michigan Bird Observatory

Description: Learn about great plants for birds and how to incorporate them into your yard. Bring your questions!

March 8, 2023: The Pollinator Patch Program: Root-Pike WIN's mission for clean water and healthy habitats

Presenters: Kristine Heuser, Stormwater Resource Consultant, Pollinator Patch Program Manager

Description: The Root-Pike Watershed Initiative Network (Root-Pike WIN) is a non-profit located in Kenosha, WI dedicated to restoring, protecting, and sustaining the impaired watersheds of the Root-Pike basin. Join Kristi Heuser, Pollinator Patch Program Manager & Stormwater Consultant, to learn more about the issues with stormwater runoff and how native plants are a solution for helping water quality and endangered pollinator populations. This presentation will focus on how Root-Pike WIN’s Pollinator Patch Program is being implemented at local schools, businesses, churches, and private residences to help keep our water clean and conserve pollinator populations, with a special focus on the Rusty-Patched Bumblebee. If you have an interest in watershed health, conservation, environmental education, or learning how to transform your yard into a pollinator paradise, this presentation is for you!

February 8, 2023: The Cranes of Wisconsin

Presenters: Stephanie M. Schmidt, Whooping Crane Outreach Coordinator for the International Crane Foundation

Description: The International Crane Foundation (ICF), headquartered in Baraboo, Wisconsin, is committed to conserving all 15 species of cranes worldwide and the watersheds, ecosystems, and flyways they depend on. This work includes safeguarding the future of the Sandhill Crane and the endangered Whooping Crane who seasonally call Wisconsin home. In this webinar, presented by ICF, you will learn how to identify Sandhill Cranes and Whooping Cranes by sight and sound, and explore the historic decline of Sandhill Cranes and Whooping Cranes, the legislation that aids in their protection, the reintroduction program that brought Whooping Cranes back to the eastern United States, and opportunities to advocate for the cranes of Wisconsin as they face increasing threats of poaching, habitat loss, and human-wildlife conflicts.

November 9, 2022: Eagle-eyed Citizen Science: Bald Eagle Nest Watch

Presenters: Brenna Marsicek, Madison Audubon director of communications and outreach, and Drew Cashman, volunteer with Madison Audubon and the inspiration behind the Bald Eagle Nest Watch program.

Description: Through the tremendous power of on-the-ground volunteers, the Bald Eagle Nest Watch program has gathered important information about the health, productivity, and nesting success of over 100 Bald Eagle nests in Wisconsin. Join in for this online presentation to learn more about Bald Eagle nesting ecology, what the volunteers look for, how the program is expanding, and how to get involved!

October 19, 2022: Wisconsin Salt Wise - The Ecosystem Impacts of Road Salt Use

Description: Once salt goes down, it doesn’t go away. Salt levels are rising up in lakes, streams, and drinking water across the country. Harm to native freshwater organisms can occur at both the species and ecosystem levels lowering rates of growth and reproduction through osmotic stress, reductions in food source, and altered biogeochemistry. We’ll break down the science of freshwater salinization and build up the case for smarter salting in your communities.

September 7, 2022: EAB (Emerald Ash Borer) Recovery and Mitigation in the Lakeshore

Presenter: Jim Kettler, Director of Projects, Lakeshore Natural Resources Partnership

Description: The Emerald Ash Borer or EAB has decimated forests in southeastern Wisconsin counties, and is now impacting the northern counties along the Lake Michigan coastline. LNRP launched a collaborative effort with the Sheboygan Rotary club with the Restoration of Our Trees Sheboygan or ROOTS.

The project builds on state and FS grants, ongoing projects, and established relationships with local governments, state and federal agencies, and nonprofit partners. Project sites are strategically selected to maximize water quality benefits within the Great Lakes watershed, by targeting the restoration of canopy cover on a diverse array of landscapes including public parklands, priority wetlands, and riparian habitats.

The presentation will showcase the private-public partnership and demonstrate the urgency of addressing the impact of EAB.

August 10, 2022: Avian Vision, Window Collisions, and How You Can Save Birds

Presenter: Bryan Lenz, American Bird Conservancy, Glass Collision Manager, and Bird City Americas Director

Description: Join us for a presentation by American Bird Conservancy’s Dr. Bryan Lenz to discuss the scale of the window collision problem, how birds see the world, the science behind collisions solutions, and what you can do to keep your windows from killing birds.

Bio

As Collisions Campaign Manager, Bryan’s goal is to reduce the collision threat that the built environment, especially glass, poses to birds. To be successful, Bryan has to work on numerous fronts, including research, design, legislation, building code, education, outreach, and marketing. The target audience includes just about everyone - elected officials, private citizens, public employees, architects, corporations, universities, and anyone else who has the power to influence the design of new buildings or the operation of existing buildings (including homes).

Bryan joined ABC after working as the Director of the community conservation program Bird City Wisconsin and as the Chief Scientist at the Western Great Lakes Bird & Bat Observatory. He has also played a critical role in the development of the Midwest Migration Network.

July 12, 2022: Understanding the Hazards Birds Face

Presenter: Marge Gibson, Co-Executive Director, Raptor Education Group Inc (REGI)

Description: The list of hazards is long ... toxins, lead poisoning, fishing line entanglement, fungal and bacterial infections at feeders or feeding stations, illegal shootings, and more. We can all work to make the world a safer place for birds. Join Marge Gibson to learn what role we can play.

May 11, 2022: The Importance of Green Infrastructure

Presenter: Chris Schultz, Senior Project Manager, MMSD

Description: You can help improve water and air quality, reduce the risk of sewer problems, beautify your neighborhood, and “green” your corner of the world by adopting a simple practice or two! Join us to learn how you can help protect our rivers and lakes by managing water where it falls on your property. Chris Schultz from the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) will give an overview of green infrastructure strategies that can be applied to residential properties as well as services and resources that are available from MMSD and Fresh Coast Guardians.

April 13, 2022: Personalizing Your Yard with Natives

Presenters: Danielle Bell, Owner, Native Roots; Jill Kunsmann, Observatory board member, Jenn Phillips-Vanderberg, Western Great Lakes Bird and Bat Observatory

Description: Join this round-table discussion to learn the inside story on the gardening challenges and personal interests native plants can address in our yards. Whether it is a special growing condition, a desire to attract butterflies and birds, or simply discovering some really cool “must-have” plant; you can count on an energetic conversation from our four presenters. Are you just getting started with native plants? Danielle Bell, owner of “Native Roots,” and one of our Neighborhood Habitat Improvement Project (NHIP) partners, will be on hand to share helpful information on site analysis and the location of beds. Bring your questions!

March 9, 2022: Beyond the Flower Bed - Gardening with Native Trees and Shrubs

Presenter: Erik Desotelle

Description: Don't have time to maintain flower beds? Shrubs and trees may be the answer. Many of our native shrubs/trees; in addition to being great for the birds, butterflies, and pollinators; provide a showy display of blooms, great fall color, and bring four-season interest to your yard. Learn about some must-have native plants that can be great alternatives to the common lilac, burning bush, and barberry. There is a great native shrub/tree for just about any type of soil, sun, or moisture condition. Bring your questions and let Erik Desotelle, native plant expert from our partner organization, Johnson's Nursery, inspire you.

February 9, 2022: Bird Coloration

Presenter: Jenn Phillips-Vanderberg, Western Great Lakes Bird and Bat Observatory

Description: To shake off the muted tones of winter, Jenn will be presenting about bird coloration. This will include the mechanisms animals use to produce color, how diet affects color, why birds are the color they are, and mysteries that scientists still don’t understand. You’ll learn why many males are flashier than females (but not all!), why it seems like there are only females of some species in the fall, and what colors of common Wisconsin species are “telling” their conspecifics. Bring all your questions about bird colors. With your help, we can have a fun start to our webinar series.