From the DirectorAutumn was an exciting time at Woodland Dunes, with many activities and

programs. In September and October, more than 1,100 school children,along with their teachers and chaperones, took part in environmental educationfield trips. Family education events such as Owlfest, the Enchanted Forest, andthe Amazing Campfire drew more than 500 people, and, fortunately, the weathercooperated for all three. Our volunteer Teacher-Naturalists and others whohelped make these activities possible deserve many thanks indeed.

Karl's Excavating of Manitowoc created a new wetland for us near therecently constructed observation platform in the prairie planting near GoodwinRoad. During that excavation what appeared to be several old stumps lodgedabout three feet beneath the surface were partially uncovered.They may beremnants of our own buried forest, although they are probably less than 5,000years old, the age at which our oldest ridge dunes were formed.We collectedsome of the wood for future examination.The wetland, a tiered scrape, is aboutan acre in size, with three different depths.The deepest is only about three feet,so it it is not likely to have permanent standing water.The goal is to create ashallow wetland for wildlife such as sandpipers, wading birds, and other ani-mals, close to the viewing deck.The wetland was designed by Gary Van Vreedeof the US Fish and Wildlife Service, who also arranged for Karl's to do the exca-vation work.We appreciate this contribution both for our wildlife managementprogram, and for our visitors, who will be able to enjoy watching wildlife therefor years to come.The wetland and viewing platform are about 1/4 mile east ofWoodland Drive, on the north side of Goodwin Road (park in the lot across theroad).

Even though we have installed a solar collector, we have a long way to go tobe energy efficient. Recently an energy audit was done by GreenSky Energeticsand Energy Strategies Consulting Services; they noted that there are many leaksto be caulked and walls and other items to be insulated. I’m sure energy priceswill again climb, and whatever we do to conserve will benefit both nature andour bank account.Volunteer help would be welcomed.

In memory of Helen Dicke-Krivacek, we are developing a nature-based playarea for our young visitors. Our goal is that each component of the play areawill foster either a better understandingof nature, a child’s creativity, or both.We will be working with faculty andstudents from the UW-Madison Schoolof Landscape Architecture on thedesign of the garden, which will bebuilt with donations made in memoryof Helen.We feel this will be a fittingtribute to a wonderful educator andfriend of children.

If you missed the In Wisconsin pro-gram on Wisconsin Public Television,you can view our segment along withothers at their website:www.wpt.org/inwisconsin. Manythanks to Jo Garrett and her crew foran excellent program.

Jim Knickelbine, Executive Director

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Coming Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2New Board Members, Poetry . . . . . . . .3Notes from Nature . . . . . . . . . . . . .4, 5The Toy Mouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 - 8Tree Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8Kidland Dunes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9Birds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10Living Classroom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12Thank You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12, 132008 Members . . . . . . . . . . . . .14, 15Guarantors, Fund Drive . . . . . . . . . . .15

Jeannie Lord with one of the raptors sheshowed at Owlfest 2008

Owlfest 2008Thanks to Woodland Dunes BoardChairman Bob Weinert and his wife,JoAnn, we had a special treat atOwlfest this year. Jeannie Lordbrought her collection of raptors forvisitors to see, and gave two presenta-tions about raptors and their place innature. Because of the overwhelmingpopularity of this display, we haveasked Jeannie to return with her rap-tors next year for Owlfest 2009.

A crew from Wisconsin Public Televisionvisited Woodland Dunes to record oursaw-whet owl banding program and

Owlfest 2008 for In Wisconsin.

Dunesletter • Winter 20082

CCoommiinngg EEvveennttssTo confirm events and register for classes, please call Woodland Dunes, (920) 793-4007.

For information, call (920) 793-4007 or check our website at www.woodlanddunes.com.Unless noted, all events are held at the Nature Center.

Star Gazing 101Friday, December 5 • 6:00 p.m.Members, $1; Non-members, $2

Star and planet locator, $3, or use oursWe hope our favorite superstars willjoin us for an evening of star gazingand hot chocolate. Learn how to use astar and planet locator, then head out-side to practice and to learn abouttelescopes and view the night sky.

Five Buck HootenannySaturday, January 10, 7:00 p.m.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m.Adults, $5; kids under 12, $2

Five Buck Hootenannies, held in theEdna Smith Room of Woodland DunesNature Center, give audiences anentertaining evening program of localand regional folk musicians. Soda andother snacks are available. To learnabout upcoming conerts,check GoldenRing’s concert website: woodland-dunesconcerts.org.

The Snow-Ball Sunday, January 25

11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.Family: $5.00; Individual, $2.50

Join us for a morning of winter fun!Winter games, snowshoe hikes, animaltracking and more. We’re planning tomake Snow-Ball 2009 even more funthan last year.An EcoExplorer Event.

Learn 70 birds Thursdays, January 22 through April 97:00 to 8:00 p.m. • $4 per lesson

Have you always wondered who is flit-ting around the trees or serenadingyou with that beautiful song? Join usfor this series of weekly program andlearn the key shapes, markings, habits,calls and secrets to identifying ourmost common area birds. You’ll learnfive birds per meeting. Registration aweek in advance is appreciated.

Winter Moonlight HikeThursday, February 5 • 6:30 p.m.

Join us for a night-time adventurealong Conifer Trail and learn how thelife of the forest changes when the sungoes down.Whether you make this anearly Valentine’s Day celebration or afamily adventure, with the full moonshining, crisp wintry air and glisteningsnow beneath your feet, you will besurprised at how much fun an eveningstroll can be.Meet at the Nature Center.

Fish Fries4:30 to 8:00 p.m.

Fridays, March 13, April 3, and May 15Join us for a good old-fashioned fishfry and fund-raiser for WoodlandDunes at the American Legion Club,811 Jay St.,Manitowoc.

Uncommon Facts aboutCommon Birds

April 17 • 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.Adults,$5; 12 and under, $3

Active Teacher Naturalists: FreeAward winning wildlife photographer,author and radio show guest StanTekeila has more than twenty years ofexperience in the out-of-doors and asan educator. This family friendlyevening program will have you laugh-ing and learning. A book signing willfollow. (His guide books will be avail-able for purchase in the shop.)

AAeeggoolliiuuss BBiirrdd CClluubbThe Aegolius Bird Club meets at Woodland Dunesthe second Tuesday each month at 7:00 p.m. Theclub also makes field trips each month onSaturdays to places around our area that are richin bird life. Membership is open to anyone inter-ested in birds, but you need not be a member toattend meetings or to participate in field trips.For more information, call John or JulieWoodcock at (920) 683-3878.

Upcoming ScheduleField TripsSunday, January 25, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.Volunteer Work Day: The Snow BallMeet at the Nature Center

Saturday, February 14, 1:00 p.m.Manitowoc-Two Rivers Lakefront: Waterfowl and GullsMeet at the Nature Center

Saturday, March 28, 8:00 a.m.Waterfowl, Cranes & Snipe at Collins andKillsnake Marshes Meet at Hwy 42, JJ, and I-43 Park and Ride

Saturday, April 11, 8:00 a.m. Waterfowl, Songbird Migrants, Goodwin Road Meet at the Woodland Dunes parking lot

MeetingsTuesday, December 9, 7:00 p.m. (2008)Bernie Brouchoud, Environmental Educator,Woodland DunesWorkshop Topic TBA

Tuesday, January 13, 6:00 p.m. (2009)Annual Pot LuckNote: early start

Tuesday, February 10, 7:00 p.m.Terry Paulow, Resident Naturalist of CollinsMarsh: Collins Marsh Happenings

Tuesday, March 10, 7:00 p.m.Joel Trick, Wildlife Biologist with US Fish andWildlife Service, whopping crane migration project and update on Kirtlands warblers inWisconsin

Board member Helen Bleser greets visitors at Owlfest 2008.

Dunesletter • Winter 20083

At The Dunes

Winter InvitationWhen you go

where snowshoes are neededwhere no trail guides the way,

silence in great soft white robesslowly leads

where mysteries lay.

Deep wing imprintsleft with fur tufts invite you

to read snow,conjure stories

of a Cooper’s Hawk seeppowerful and low.

Zigzag rabbit tracks gallopto dense shrubs, here a fox

ran on pads thick and wide,a fur pellet of bones

drops by a tree whereGreat Horned Owls might hide.

When the goldenrod galls nodmutely to close the long

snowshoes day,cool flakes whisper gently near

your flushed cheeks: Come back,whenever you may.

Jean Biegun, 2008Jean recently had poems printed inFox Cry Review and Mobius, the

Poetry Magazine.

Ellen Lewellen joins BoardI’ll never forget the look of wonderon my six-year-old’s face as a live birdwas placed on her palm. It was thefirst time I visited Woodland Dunes. Iwas a guest of TN (Teacher-Naturalist)Ruth Perry on a special Family andFriend day on the Cottonwood Trail.My husband, ophthalmologist Dr. DonLewellen, and I had recently moved toManitowoc.That daughter is now 26,making me realize that I’ve beeninterested in Woodland Dunes for 20years! I started as a TN myself about15 years ago.The initial plan andexcavation for the butterfly gardenwas my son’s Boy Scout Eagle project.

I can’t imagine life without accessto the natural world. My earliest mem-ories include camping with my family.My grandmother loved teaching meto identify wild flowers and ferns, andmy mother always had her binocularsand bird guide in her knapsack.WhenI was a student at Duke University, Ienjoyed a plant identification courseso much that I considered becominga botany major.When I am volunteer-ing as a TN, all the interesting naturefacts and lore I learn are a bonus.What truly energizes me is the oppor-tunity to pass on my love of nature tostudents.

Today our children Wendy,Amy,and Peter are independent young

adults.They still love to join us forwilderness canoe trips, however, andenjoy hearing updates about ourbackyard wildlife. Between WoodlandDunes programs, I am very involvedwith my church and several bookgroups. My hobbies include quilting,tennis, and getting out on a tandembicycle with my husband, Don.

Ellen Lewellen Ellen became a Woodland DunesBoard Member in summer of 2008.

Tom Kocourek, who recently joinedour Board of Directors, is currentlyserving as Executive Director of BigBrothers Big Sisters of ManitowocCounty.He has held that position forthe past five and a half years.

Outside of family, the two mainpassions for Tom and his wife Betsyhave been children and nature.Thepositive mentoring of children isextremely important to them, espe-cially with respect to protecting, pre-serving and promoting good steward-ship of our natural resources.Theyboth strive to teach children respectfor nature and wildlife of all types. Inhis words,“I personally feel childrenneed to move away from the comput-er and cell phone texting once inawhile and get outdoors.We as adultmentors can have a huge impact ondeveloping outdoor interest in chil-dren if we just take an hour or two aweek to spend with a child. Childrenof today will be the champions ofeverything Woodland Dunes standsfor years down the road.We need towork with them and prepare themfor that challenge.”

Tom also reminds us of the impor-tance of being an outdoor mentor toa child.They have 74 children waitingto meet you at Big Brothers BigSisters.

Tom also serves on theNortheastern Wisconsin Great LakesSport Fishermen Board of Directorsand The Lincoln Park ZoologicalSociety Board of Directors. His wifeBetsy is an enthusiastic volunteer atWoodland Dunes.

Tom Kocourek joins Board

Tom with a young friend

NNootteess ffrroomm NNaattuurree

Dunesletter • Winter 20084

Our wonderful preserve is hometo thousands of species of

wildlife. We are also fortunate tohave a growing collection of educa-tion animals. Some were capturedand are being held for use in ourschool programs, like our frogs andblue-spotted salamanders; some weredonated by people who had keptthem as pets and no longer wantedthem; some were brought herebecause they are threatened orendangered, but can’t be releasedinto the wild. There are now 21 ani-mals in our display room.

The resident that has been withus the longest is the wood turtle,given to us by the DNR. It had beencollected illegally and confiscated bythe Department, who then needed tofind a home for it. Because it hadbeen captive, there was concern thatit had imprinted on people, so couldnot be released into the wild. Nottoo long after we received the woodturtle, someone brought in our firsttiger salamander, found in the south-west part of the county.

Next we were approached abouthousing a turtle which had lived foryears at a local high school. Wecouldn’t identify its species, but even-tually, with the help of veterinarianDr. Chris Katz, we learned it is aReeve’s or Chinese pond turtle, anative of Asia.

A few years ago, while talkingwith DNR, we were asked if wewanted an ornate box turtle, anendangered species which lives inprairie habitat in the southwest partof the state—another animal collect-ed illegally and confiscated. Oncewe had that turtle on display, wewere contacted by several peoplewho owned eastern and three-toedbox turtles they no longer wanted.

Seasonally, we collect and over-winter local species of frogs, typical-ly wood, leopard, Eastern gray tree,and green along with Americantoad. These are viewed in spring,then released, by third graders dur-ing our Amphibmeander program.We also collect blue-spotted sala-

Wildlife inside and out

Atiny, red-leaved seedling, no bigger than yourthumb, popped up next to a low stone wall in my

entry garden.That tiny seedling forced me to rethinkmy entire approach toward choosing garden plants.

Having always lived in old houses, with established gar-dens, I had spent years fighting typical garden thugs: varie-

gated Bishop’s weed (Aegopodium podagraria), creeping bellflower(Campanula rapunculoides), dames’ rocket (Hesperis matronalis) and thelike.As most gardeners know, once these plants get a foothold, it’s all but impos-sible to eradicate them. Some of the things I thought—and said—about the gar-deners who bequeathed them to me are best not repeated.

Over the years, I learned to avoid plants with any hint of being escape-prone in their descriptions (“quickly covers the ground” is always dangerous),turning down friends’ offers of plants that they had “in abundance” and doing allI could to remove existing garden thugs. I worried about this perennial andthat, but blithely planted shrubs and trees that caught my fancy in catalogs andat nurseries. I never thought of shrubs as thugs. But then Jim Knickelbine, dis-cussing efforts to control invasive shrubs in the Woodland Dunes Preserve, men-tioned that Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii) was becoming a seriousproblem.

At first I thought this must be some boring common barberry, planted wide-ly in commercial landscapes.The lovely barberries I had planted, with theirdeep burgundy foliage and pinky new growth, were surely a more refinedspecies, maybe European barberry (Berberis vulgaris). But when I looked in thecollection of plant labels I saved, there it was: Berberis thunbergii ‘BurgundyPygmy.’And to prove it, there was that tiny, red-leaved seeding, nowhere nearthe three tidy little bushes I had planted on the other side of the house.

So ‘Burgundy Pygmy’ came out, and I started thinking harder than everabout my shrub and tree choices. Now they not only had to be attractive, inter-esting and hardy (not always easy for a person with severe zone denial prob-lems), they also had to know their place—and stay in it. I found the WisconsinDNR’s website for invasive plants, both non-native and native,(http://dnr.wi.gov/invasives/plants.asp) and discovered I had a couple of otherpotential problems, like the inconspicuous Helleborine orchid Epipactis helle-borine that I had been so excited to discover. Once I realized it wasn’t a nativeof our woodlands, but a readily-hybridizing native of Eurasia, I removed all thespecimens I found. Like many invasive plants, it produces long, thin rhizomes, soI’ll probably be dealing with it for years to come.

Using a native species or a cultivar of a native species, and checking theDNR website when I have a place open for a new plant, seems to be a goodsolution. Sure, these plants can seed themselves or spread in one way or anoth-er, but they have their own checks and balances in place.And there are stillplenty of appealing choices.To replace barberry ‘Burgandy Pygmy,’ I’m using fra-grant sumac (Rhus aromatica) ‘Low-grow’ which is a lovely, easy to grow plant.It attracts birds and mammals, provides shelter for wildlife, and has pretty redberries. Unlike my barberries, its leaves are only red in the autumn, but it alsodoesn’t have the fierce thorns the barberry has.And I no longer have to worryabout finding my woods full of tiny red-leaved seedlings.

Susan Knorr, Editor

fragrantsumac

Constant vigilance

cont. p 5

NNootteess ffrroomm NNaattuurree

Dunesletter • Winter 2008 5

manders, which are common in ourforest. This year, while doing a sala-mander survey, local teacher JodyHenseler caught a white tadpolewhich eventually matured into a verypale wood frog with pink eyes. Withthis coloration it would be unlikely tosurvive in the wild, so we have keptit and have it on display as our“ghost frog.” It is doing very well incaptivity.

Recently we acquired some newanimals. The Lincoln Park Zoo inManitowoc donated two tiger sala-manders, the largest salamanderspecies found in our area. They jointhe tiger salamander which has beenliving (and hiding) here for sometime. These salamanders, rangingfrom six to nine inches in length, dowell in captivity and make excellenteducation animals since they are notas shy as their terrarium mate. Thesetwo were rescued from a bait shopdealer who had them as larvae buthad no use for them as adults, andwas going to bury them along with anumber of frogs. Other salamandersfrom this rescue found homes at thezoo and at Ledgeview NatureCenter.

The second recent addition is ayoung bull snake, given to us by BobHay of the Wisconsin DNR. Bullsnakes, a species of special concernin Wisconsin, are protected. Theyare harmless and non-venomous, butcan grow to be more than six feet inlength, making them the largestheavy-bodied snake in the state. Thissnake was captive-bred by Bob, andhas been handled and socializedsince birth. As a result, it shouldmake an excellent education animal,and will help ease people’s fearsabout these misunderstood creatures.

Because we have limited space,we do not encourage any donationsof animals.As the collection hasgrown so has the amount of timerequired to care for the animals. Wewould welcome contributions in sup-port of our animal care. Also, caringfor our critters would be a great fam-ily activity—please contact us ifyou’d like to help.

Jim Knickelbine, Director

Tree Splitter

We were amazed to see a pileated woodpecker feeding on our cottagelawn.This usually wary bird normally finds its food in tree trunks in the

forest.This bird remained on the ground for about fifteen minutes, while wewatched it and snapped pictures.

The crow-sized pileated is the largest woodpecker found over most of theUnited States. Its scientific name Dryocopus pileatus means “oak tree splitterwith a cap.” Its pointed red crest is the pileus or cap referred to in the com-mon and scientific names. In the male the forehead and a streak on eachcheek are also red. Our bird, a female, was black in these areas.

Originally the pileated woodpecker was a bird of extensive mature forests.Asthe forests of the eastern United States were cleared, the bird became morescarce. In the early twentieth century it was believed to be in danger ofextinction. In the 1920s and 30s, as trees began to grow back in parts of thecut-over forests, the pileated woodpecker staged a comeback. It apparentlyadapted to living in second-growth forests. It is now fairly common in theoak forest region of the southeastern United States. It is less common in themixed forests of the northeastern states, southern Canada, the northernRocky Mountains, and along the Pacific coast. It is absent from the treelessplains and desert areas.

The principal food of pileated woodpeckers is carpenter ants, which theyextract from deep in the heartwood of trees and logs.They chip out largerectangular holes to reach the ants.They also eat wood-boring beetles,moths, mosquitoes, and other insects. In fruiting season, they consumeacorns, beech nuts, and such fruits as cherries, wild grapes, and poison ivyberries.

During courtship male and female pileated woodpeckers display to eachother by bobbing their heads, spreading their wings, and raising their crests.Both sexes excavate the nest cavity. It is usually about eight inches in diame-ter, ten to twenty-four inches deep, and fifteen to eighty-five feet above theground.The entrance is oval, about three-and-one-half inches wide.The threeto five eggs are laid on a layer of chips at the bottom of the cavity.The eggshatch in about eighteen days and the young leavethe nest about twenty-eight days later.

The presence of pileated woodpeckers can bedetected by the holes they make when feeding.Sometimes their calls can be heard, especiallyduring courtship.The common call is a loudflicker-like series “kuk-kuk-kuk-kuk-. . . .” thatrises in pitch at the beginning and drops at theend.They also make similar single notes. Duringcourtship they drum on resonant wood.Theirdistinctive drumming is loud and slow at first andrapidly speeds up and drops in volume. Seeingone can be difficult because they are quite secre-tive.Any sighting of a pileated woodpecker is amemorable and awe-inspiring experience.

John Woodcock, Volunteer

The Toy Mouse

Dunesletter • Winter 20086

Woodland Dunes’Assistant Director, Susan Knorr, and Ioften discuss the relative merits of her handsome

Norwegian Forest Cat,Thor, and my beautiful white Persian,Dickens. I maintain that Dickens is a more refined cat thanThor, but admit I may be short on objectivity.Armed onlywith authors’ license, I will present the case for Dickens’excellent qualities, possibly with a jaded eye.

The story began when our son Charles visited us lastChristmas and brought his cat Ian (a shelter cat) alongbecause Ian is diabetic, and needed insulin twice daily.Worried about how Dickens would react to an unfamiliarcat, we made every effort to keep the two cats apart in fearthat the furniture and other household pieces would bemarked, or the cats themselves would be scared to death.These efforts were like keeping water from running down-hill: as each dam collapsed, the cats got closer together.Finally, on the last day of the visit, they were nose to nose,each holding his ground, yet acknowledging the territorialrights of the other. Much to our surprise and pleasure, allthat happened was a face to face staring contest.Albeituncomfortable, it was anti-climactic.

Just before Charles made his final trip to the car,Dickens disappeared, only to return a moment later with hismost prized possession, a toy mouse tethered by a string toa stick. He presented the toy to Ian.When Ian did not imme-diately respond to this gesture, Dickens nudged the mouseuntil it was within several inches of Ian’s nose, attemptingto bring it to his notice. It is very difficult not to interpretDickens’ gift giving as extending friendship to another cat,unusual in an animal that is not usually known for this kindof social behavior or adaptiveness. Obviously (to me)Dickens is a superior cat.

Animal behavior is often seen through the human per-spective (anthropomorphism).This approach would havebeen expected to change in the late ‘20s and ‘30s when twoGerman biologists, Konrad Lorenz and Niko Tinbergen stud-ied behavior from the perspective of the animal, looking atthe benefit that a specific behavior brings to the survival ofthat animal.Their 1931 work, The Theory of InstinctualBehaviors, suggested that behavior, like other features of

the individual, including structural and physiological fea-tures, is part of an animal’s survival strategy. Before theirwork, researchers explained animal behaviors, such as thepurr of a cat, as an extension of what we humans thoughtthe animal was experiencing.An example of an anthropo-morphic explanation for the purr of a cat is we think theypurr when they are contented. Perhaps this is because wealso “purr” when we are contented.

The post-theory explanation is much less simplistic,since cats purr even when they have been severely wound-ed or when they are very ill, behavior not consistent withthe state of being contented.We now know that the purr of the cat is a complex form of communication that helps itdeal with whatever it is experiencing, whether it is beingpetted, or is distressed by a ring worm infection, or is justlicking its paws.

Dogs puzzle biologists as well. Explaining even a seem-ingly obvious behavior, such as a dog lifting its leg to mark afire hydrant, turned out to be a difficult task that led FrankBeach, a behavioral biologist, on a life-long journey of dis-covery and frustration.About all that he was able to con-clude from his years of work was that the dogs’ leg-liftingbehavior was in response to an androgen such as testos-terone (one of the male sex hormones). He deduced thisfrom the fact that when female dogs were treated with anandrogen, some would also lift their leg to salute an objectabout to be marked.And, conversely, when male dogs werecastrated, some still lifted their leg.This suggested to Frankthat the leg lifting behavior was complex, and not answeredsolely in terms of hormone effects alone.

Today, studies of animal behavior occur in almost everyscientific discipline including Behavioral Ecology, Learning,Animal Cognition and Social Behavior.We are just beginningto understand how individuals interact, not just with othersof similar or dissimilar species, but with their environmentas well.

About catsIt’s always necessary to be careful about using cats as examples of behavior.They are difficult subjects for research reasons, having been domesticated dif-ferently from almost all other animals (see Jared Diamond’s Guns, Germs, andSteel for a description). The relationship between cat and owner is morechild:mother than subordinate:leader. The vocalizations between cat and ownerare identical to that of kitten and mother in which the kitten vocalizes its needsto the parent. They often have their own agenda and quickly learn the strate-gies of the researcher and how to manipulate the researcher. Thus, interpreta-tion of cats’ behavior can become fuzzy at best.

This was made clear to biologists when they attempted to determine if catscould see color. Even though the visual system of the cat was shown to be simi-lar to our color vision system, cats always behaved as if they could not see thecolor blue and were color blind. It wasn’t until the 1970s that a researcherfinally revealed that cats do indeed, perceive light in the blue end of the spec-trum and have the trichromic (based on three kinds of color cones) color visionsystem just like humans. Cats have always been playing games with us, both inreal life and in the imaginary world of our own making.

Dickens (left) presents Ian with a favorite toy mouse. cont. page 7

7Dunesletter • Winter 2008

Behavioral Ecology (genes and environmental factors)

Many different kinds of animalsincluding insects, fish and birds havebeen used to understand behavioralecology. Niko Tinbergen used insectssuch as the digger wasp in the devel-opment of the concept of fixedaction patterns.These stereotypedbehaviors result from a specific stimu-lus called a sign stimulus.The studyexamined how the digger wasp wasable to locate its nest using visualcues called the sign stimulus. Movingvisual markers, such as stones orspruce cones (the sign stimulus),from the nest entrance and placingthem elsewhere caused the wasp tolook in the wrong place, even thoughthe entrance was not disturbed orchanged in any other way.This sug-gested to Niko that the wasp usesvery limited information in makingdecisions important to finding thingssuch as its home.

Another of Niko's’ experimentsused a small fresh-water fish calledthe three-spined stickleback. Henoticed that the fish became excitedwhen a red vehicle passing by out-doors was visible to the fish. It wasquickly determined that red objectswere the sign stimulus for aggressivebehavior, and played an importantrole in sexual behavior as well.

An interesting interpretation ofNiko's’ work was used by the Dean ofWomen at Washington StateUniversity. Even though she had leftthe position the year before I arrived,her influence was still felt.Accordingto the rules she had instituted, femalestudents could not wear red becauseshe believed the color excited theimpressionable male students.

Fixed action patterns and theiraccompanying sign stimuli needed tobe clarified in order to be understoodby the non-scientific community.Unfortunately, when scientists reporta discovery to the general public, they aren’t always as careful asthey should be to explain the detailsof their work and how it can beapplied.

LearningLearned behaviors are interesting intheir complexity, often involving ani-mals we believe to be unlikely todemonstrate this kind of interaction,e.g., a bird.A gull in Aberdeen,Scotland, discovered that packages ofCheese Doritos contain tasty treats,and has learned how to get thesetreats. It enters the store where thesetreats are found by waiting patientlyoutside the store for the automaticdoor to open.When the opportunitypresents itself, the gull calmly walksinto the store, snatches a package ofDoritos from the rack and makes ahasty retreat. Once outside, the gullopens the package.The treats areenjoyed not only by the thief gull, butother gulls waiting in the area.

Another bird story, this time fromEngland, involves the learned behav-ior of another bird snitch: the GreatTit.The Great Tit is similar to ourBlack-capped Chickadee, but has beenshown to be even more resourcefulin its antics. During the era of homedelivery of milk, bottles of milkremained unattended until fetchedfrom the doorstep.The Great Titseized the opportunity that was pre-sented by the delay between thedelivery of the milk and its pick-up,and learned how to pry off the bottlecap. Because the bottle’s neck wasnarrow, the bird was able to sip only asmall amount of cream from the verytop of the bottle.The bird’s solutionto this problem was to drop stonesinto the milk bottle.The problem ofthe cream thievery was solved onlywhen home delivery of milk ceased.

One of the most poignant studiesof learned behaviors came from thepioneer work of Konrad Lorenz. Hiswork demonstrated the concept ofimprinting. He showed that goslingsof the Graylag goose, a common barn-yard animal, bonded to the first thingthat they saw upon hatching.Thisbecame their “mother.” Konrad playedthis role to perfection—he was oftenpictured walking through the Germancountryside with the train of imprint-ed goslings following closely behind(above left). Many variations of thisstudy have been reported, each with amother figure leading the pack.

Animal CognitionAnimal cognition is the behavior orbehaviors demonstrating that the ani-mal understands something about theenvironment and uses this under-standing to solve the problem. If achimp is presented with a bunch ofbananas hanging from a string in themiddle of the room, the chimp usesthe resources in the room to securethe treasure.This is accomplished bystacking boxes that have been placedin the room, but away from where thebananas are hanging (left).This “logic”of animal cognition was extendedone step further in the 1982 chil-dren’s film, The Secret of NIMH.The

Konrad Lorenz and his goslings

cont. page 8

Dunesletter • Winter 20088

story was based on a study that hadbeen done through funding providedby the National Institute of MentalHealth (NIMH).The study used thelab rat, a favorite research animal,. Itshowed that rats were not only capa-ble of solving the problems presentedby the researchers, but the solutioncould be accomplished only byrecruiting other rats in order to com-plete the task. Before this study, it wasthought that only humans were capa-ble of such behaviors. Perhaps this isthe real “secret” of NIMH.

Social behavior andSociobiology

E. O.Wilson,William Hamilton andseveral other biologists are creditedwith theorizing that certain socialbehaviors are inherited and thereforehave been subjected to selectivemechanisms driven by the evolution-ary process.This concept is acceptedand appreciated by the scientific community because it helps us under-stand behaviors that are otherwiseimpossible to explain.

This is perhaps best illustrated bythe behavior called altruism. Many ofthe social behaviors we observe obvi-ously benefit the individual whoengages in the behavior.This kind ofinteraction often appears to be selfishto the observer.Altruistic behaviorsseem to benefit only the recipientbecause the one that initiates thebehavior usually loses something in

the process. How can self sacrifice fitinto our model of natural selectionwhen the other individual gets theprize?

For example, when a honey beestings an intruder, its life is lostbecause the stinger that becomesimbedded in the victim includes partof the bee’s digestive system.To com-plicate the story further, the loss ofthe worker bee’s life seems almostinconsequential because the workerbee does not reproduce.That is thejob of the Queen bee, and only theQueen bee. By sacrificing its life, theworker bee increases the likelihoodthat the genetic makeup of its Queen,from which it came, will be pre-served.The Queen bee will then, in alllikelihood, replace the worker thathas lost its life in the defense of thehive, and the life of the entire hivewill be preserved.This is similar inmany respects to the defense systemused by our own body, when a whiteblood cell sacrifices its life by attack-ing a foreign body.This sacrifice, how-ever, increases the likelihood that youwill survive the infection even thoughsome of your cells have been sacri-ficed in the defense response.

I’m still wondering if Dickensreally did present a gift to Ian toextend his friendship. Or was I justcaught up in the moment, seeing areflection of self, and what I thoughtfriends do in the process of bonding?The interpretation is left to you, thereader.

Chuck Sontag Professor Emeritus, UW-Manitowoc

Much of the evolutionary theory that providedthe basis for these interpretations of socialbehaviors was the work of the British biologistWilliam Hamilton. However, when Hamiltonbegan his work as a grad student, he wasinformed by his graduate advisors that his workwas not of PhD quality. Breakthrough ideas arenot always met with immediate acceptance evenin the scientific community. And, when E. O.Wilson’s book, Sociobiology: The New Synthesiswas published in 1975, the work was criticizedby some of the leading evolutionary biologists,including E. O. Wilson’s colleague at Harvard,Steven J. Gould.

Rolling AcresNative Landscape Nursery, LLC

Native Trees • Wildflowers • Rain Gardens • Ponds and Waterfalls • Gardens • Beds • WallsCustom Design and Installation • Wisconsin Naturalist Consultation

2513 Humpty Dumpty Road, Reedsville, WI 54230 • 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday - Saturday

or by appointment 1-877-205-9817 (toll-free) http://home.earthlink.net/~ranlnjmsnative/

James Seiler

Tree SalesWoodland Dunes’ annual tree andshrub sale (held in conjunction withCamp TaPaWinga) is a fund-raiser thatoffers land owners the opportunity tobuy plants in reasonable quantities(trees in bundles of 25, shrubs in bun-dles of ten).The species sold arenatives, plants that will provide foodand cover for wildlife.They are welladapted to local soils and climate.

Order forms will be sent inJanuary. If you ordered trees or shrubslast year, you should receive one. Ifnot, and you wish to be on our mail-ing list, please call Woodland Dunes at(920) 793-4007or emailsknorr@woodlanddunes.com.

In the ShopAs the holiday season nears, remem-ber you can find special gifts fornature lovers in our shop.We also recommend gift memberships toWoodland Dunes: introduce friends toan organization they’ll enjoy whilecontributing to land preservation andenvironmental education.

Donation OptionThe Pension Protection Act of2006 extends the QualifiedCharitable Distributions optionthrough Dec 31, 2009. The provi-sion allows individuals over 701/2 and older to exclude qualifiedcharitable distributions of up to$100,000 from their grossincome. Donors should contacttheir tax consultants for details.

Dunesletter • Winter 2008 9

KKiiddllaanndd DDuunneessAA DDuunneesslleetttteerr ppaaggee jjuusstt ffoorr kkiiddss!! bbyy BBeelliinnddaa aanndd TTeerreessaa ZZoolllleerr

Snowflake Studies...Try It!During the winter it can be quite difficult to find any-thing in nature that is easily observable exceptsnow. So why not liven up your nature journal withsome studies on wintry precipitation?

Find a black piece of construction paper or dark-colored fleece (such as a glove, winter hat or otheraccessory) and bring it outside while it is activelysnowing.Try to catch some of the flurries on the paperor fleece and take time to study them.You can observe them better withthe aid of a magnifying glass.As long as you can see their crystalline struc-tures, sketch as much as you can into your nature journal.Temperature per-mitting, you might find that taking snapshots of the snowflakes works betterfor you.Also, try going out during different kinds of snowfalls to get smallerand bigger flakes. Even if you don't want to record their details, this is a fas-cinating outdoor activity anytime there's snow coming down!

When I was six or seven years old,our family frequently drove down tothe Chicago suburbs to visit mygrandparents, often staying two or sodays at their house on a single trip. Ifondly recall being one of the firstpeople to wake up, tiptoe down thestairs, and walk into the family roomserenaded by the subtle relaxing coosof the pet mourning dove, Ivory, whowas kept in a black little cage.

Her name was especially fitting forher heavenly appearance. Being afemale, her neck and breast didn't dis-play the same pink iridescent glowthat the male dove sports. However,her light brown feathers seemed, tome, almost airy and even white to acertain extent, like the ivory keys of apiano.

Had I seen Ivory flying freely (and Iam not aware that she was ever let

Phantoms of the ForestIn all probability, you will never seea bobcat in the wild.You can, how-ever, be aware of what they looklike and why these “ghosts” are soelusive.

Bobcats are about twice as big as acommon house cat, but they arenot to be confused with the lynx,which is larger than the bobcat. Inthe early 1900s they were huntedextensively because they were con-sidered a threat to livestock.This isincorrect—only rarely do bobcatseat sick or injured deer. Generallythey prefer snowshoe hares andoccasionally mice or birds.

Did you know . . .

Bobcats rarely have a “catfight”because they mark their territoriesand respect others’ boundaries.

Bobcats generally only move at twi-light, which is why it is so specialto even get a glimpse of one.

These felines have specially markedtannish grey coats to help themblend in with the woods.

Be sure to keep a lookout for these“phantoms of the forest.”

Rename the Animals!Pick one of the Wisconsin species list-ed below and find out a little moreabout it. Can you come up with a dif-ferent name based on what you learnof it? (See the mourning dove storyfor an example.)

Great Horned OwlBlack-Capped ChickadeeDeer MiceHigh Bush CranberriesSnow Flea

Just make sure you remember thereal names!

Sources: Birds of Wisconsin Field Guide, by Stan Tekeila;Wild Wisconsin Notebook, by James Buchholz. www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/index.htm

out of her cage), I may have detectedthe crisp, whistling sound of the windskirting through her smooth wingfeathers.Yet all I heard was her call.The contented quality of her cooing,which enchanted me so much (andstill does), has been taken by manyexperts as being distinctly mournful;thus this bird is officially known asthe mourning dove.

Should the mourning dove berenamed? Gathering from all the qual-ities I observed in my grandparents'pet Ivory, I would say it should benamed the “Ethereal Dove.” Or possi-bly, the “Sweet Dove.”You know, sweetlike Dove chocolate. Mmm.

If you want to try making up differentnames for animals like I did, try theKids' Corner!

Does A Mourning Dove Really Mourn?

10 Dunesletter • Winter 2008

BBiirrddss

Banding ActivitiesThis year 335 individual birds of 38species were banded, mostly duringSeptember and October.

Wild birds and banding areexplained to hundreds of first gradersduring the sensory awarenessCottonwood Trail program.The boysand girls have the experience ofreleasing the banded birds.When thisfall activity ends, the nets used forcapturing the songbirds are kept inplace but are only opened after darkas saw-whet owls begin their annualsouthward migration.

The many volunteers involvedwith the owl-banding project experi-enced quite a few nights of southerlywinds.These conditions keep most ofthe migrating owls away from theLake Michigan area.With favorablenorthwest winds, the owls are direct-ed from northwestern Wisconsintowards the lake, then southwardthrough our area.

By the time (mid-November) thewinds became northwesterly, themajority of the owls had alreadymoved southward, probably throughthe center of the state.

Thursday, November 20, was thelast night the nets were opened.All ofthe nets were removed one daybefore the deer gun season opened.This is a necessary safety precautionthat will always be in place.

This year we banded 107 saw-whet owls.We look forward to the2009 banding season.

Bernie Brouchoud, Environmental Educator

Bird banding at Woodland DunesBirds banded in 2008

Saw-whet Owl . . . . . . . . . . . . . .107White-crowned Sparrow . . . . . . .26Hermit Thrush . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24White-throated Sparrow . . . . . . . .22Swainson’s Thrush . . . . . . . . . . . .17Black-capped Chickadee . . . . . . .18Gray Catbird . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10Gray-cheeked Thrush . . . . . . . . . . .9Song Sparrow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8Magnolia Warbler . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8Ruby-crowned Kinglet . . . . . . . . . .7Ovenbird . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5Red-eyed Vireo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5Lincoln’s Sparrow . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5Swamp Sparrow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5Dark-eyed Junco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4American Redstart . . . . . . . . . . . . .4Northern Waterthrush . . . . . . . . . .4Western Palm Warbler . . . . . . . . . .4Blackpoll Warbler . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4Golden-crowned Kinglet . . . . . . . .5American Robin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5Common Yellowthroat . . . . . . . . . .3Connecticut Warbler . . . . . . . . . . .3Northern Cardinal . . . . . . . . . . . . .3Orange-crowned Warbler . . . . . . . .3American Tree Sparrow . . . . . . . . .4House Wren . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2Yellow-rumped Warbler . . . . . . . . .2Cooper’s Hawk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1Downy Woodpecker . . . . . . . . . . . .1Veery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1Philadelphia Vireo . . . . . . . . . . . . .1Black and White Warbler . . . . . . . .1Indigo Bunting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1Tennessee Warbler . . . . . . . . . . . . .1Winter Wren . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1Fox Sparrow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

38 Species • 335 Individuals

Betsy Blitz-Kocourek offers a friendlyadventure to visitors who entered theEnchanted Forest, held at Woodland

Dunes on November 1.

Thanks to our Volunteers . . .Thank you to everyone who partici-pated in our recent environmentaleducation events: the EnchantedForest, Owling 101, and The ForestAround Us.

Enchanted ForestGeri “Batty” BerkovitzJim “Spider” KnorrDarcy “Foxy”VaronaAl “The Wizard” KlucklinskiKevin “Snakeman” KeinholzLou Ann “Tall Tree” GraySusie “Skunkie” PolkBetsy “Fortune Teller” Blitz–KocourekFran “Tree Truths” BrinkmanJoan “Peter Pan” HansonLucy “Meow” ZeldenrustSue and Cinnamon from WOWNick and Casey”Vrom-vrom”Vorron

Owling 101, The Forest Around UsJennifer BalmaLou Ann GrayEllen LewellenJoan HansonMary OzarowiczSusie PolkBetsy Blitz-KocourekGeri BerkovitzFran Brinkman

Thank you

Winter Bird CountsWinter Bird Counts will be held onDecember 20 (SW) and 21 (SE) andon January 3 (NW) and 4 (NE). Formore information, please come tothe Bird Club meeting at WoodlandDunes on Tuesday, December 9 at7:00 p.m. or call Woodland Dunes at(920) 793-4007.

Adopt an OwlFor $25 you can adopta saw-whet owlcaught and banded atWoodland Dunes.Funds raised fromthis program willsupport the mis-sion of WoodlandDunes. Please call fordetails.

Dunesletter • Winter 2008 11

What is a Teacher-NaturalistThe term Teacher-Naturalist wascoined almost 30 years ago todescribe the volunteers who helpdeliver educational programs atWoodland Dunes.TNs work with chil-dren and teachers to make their expe-rience at Woodland Dunes meaningfuland memorable.A TN has an inquisi-tiveness and appreciation for the nat-ural world and an interest in helpingother people learn about and care forthis planet.

How to become a TNWe always have room for more volun-teers.This is a wonderful time to jointhe group. If you are interested injoining the teacher naturalist pro-gram, please contact me atkellye@woodlanddunes.com or (920) 793-4007.

A new training programNow, besides the other benefits ofbeing a teacher-naturalist (see below),new and existing TNs will have theopportunity to take part in a specialtraining program.A series of classesthat cover both the natural historyand ecology of this area and effectiveteaching strategies will start this com-ing January.Along with each program,

participants will receive field guides,hand outs, and books to supplementtheir learning. Best of all,TNs whocommit to volunteering forty hoursthrough a combination of participat-ing in the class series, attending train-ing sessions and teaching will receivethe exclusive Woodland Dunes TNwind breaker.

In return, all we ask is that youlearn and feel more comfortableteaching groups and, of course, con-tinue dedicating your time and talentsto Woodland Dunes.How to participateCurrent TN’s and those who sign upto be TNs will be mailed or emailedinformation about the dates and timesfor classes in the program series.(Current TNs should let me knowthey will be participating in this newtraining program. Please contact meat (920) 793-4007 or kellye@woodlanddunes.com. )

Kelly Eskew, Education CoordinatorWoodland Dunes education programs aresupported by grants from The WestFoundation, FPL Energy Point BeachNuclear Plant, Dominion and the DominionFoundation, LNRP, Kallies Charitable Trust,the Jane and Arthur Stangel Fund, KohlerFoundation and Waste Management.

Winter Fun at the DunesJust because the temperature is drop-ping doesn’t mean you have to droponto the couch.Take yourself andyour family on an adventure toWoodland Dunes Nature Center.Atour indoor activity center you canlearn about bird nests and tracking,use our track stencil set or even makeyour own plaster casts to take home.We also offer seven miles of trails toexplore and snowshoes you can usefree.

Winter is a great time to explore.Animal tracks are easily found alongthe trail and, with the green of springand summer gone, you will be sur-prised at how many animal homesand bird nests are revealed.

Top Ten Reasons To Be A TN10 It will help you stay young, foot loose and fancy free.9 You will have a great excuse to spend time outside.8 You will meet other interesting, motivated people.7 Your wardrobe will be enhanced by beautiful Woodland Dunes attire

(including a remarkable lime-green sweatshirt if you volunteer for the Amphibmeander program).

6 You will be able to impress your friends and family with your knowledge of local flora and fauna.

5 You will be keeping your brain healthy through actively learning and helping others to learn.

4 You will have fun! 3 You care about the future of this planet.2 You will be making a difference in the lives of young people.1 You get to hang out with the Woodland Dunes staff—enough said!

Adventure Backpacks

LLiivviinngg CCllaassssrroooomm

TN training programThis special series of educational pro-grams will start in January of 2009.Programs will be offered monthly.Following are classes that havealready been scheduled or are beingconsidered.

First Aid • Teaching Strategies in the OutdoorsEducational Philosophy 101Tree Identification and Forest EcologyWetland Ecology • Mushrooms and LichensBasic Botany and Newcomb's Field GuideAmphibians and ReptilesEthnobotany: local plants and their usesEntomology • Invasive SpeciesInvertebrates’ adaptations to winterSpiders • Small MammalsStream Ecology • Climate ChangeBirding 101History and Ecology of Woodland Dunes

The goal of this program series is tohelp strengthen both teaching knowl-edge and naturalist knowledge.Our appreciation and gratitude forthe people who help us with the edu-cation programs goes beyond words.We could not put on the high qualityeducational programs we do withoutthe help of dedicated volunteers.

Education Series for Teacher Naturalists unveiled!Thanks to a generous donation from Dominion and the Dominion Foundation, and supporting funds fromWaste Management, we are taking a major step forward in our educational training programs for TeacherNaturalists. Although they are a varied group, a common thread connects them: a love of learning. This newprogram will increase their knowledge and be a reward for their dedicated service. As their knowledge grows,so will their impact on the students they teach. We see it as a win-win situation.

Dunesletter • Winter 200812

TThhaannkk YYoouuLLiibbrraarryy

The library goes back almost to thebeginning of Woodland Dunes

Nature Center. In December, 1977, aDunesletter article announcing theacquisition of the “century old farm-house” which became the RahmlowMarsh Haus states that “one of the[upstairs] rooms will serve as . . . alibrary-reading room.” (The librarywas the room in the northeast cornerof the second floor, which nowserves as an office; the reading roomwas the room to the west.) Sixmonths later, library shelves had beenbuilt “to store an accumulation ofbooks and periodicals.” More shelveswere promised in the library andreading room, both of which hadbeen carpeted. Just as is the casetoday, many of the books were donat-ed by members.

In March, 1980, the Dunesletterindicates that the library “looks muchcleaner than it did a year ago” withthe addition of bookends, and a starton the sorting and boxing of periodi-cals, including the newsletters thatwere exchanged with other naturecenters.The next year requests forvolunteers included the need for alibrarian.Although no names aregiven, apparently somebody volun-teered to do some library work,because by December, 1981, BernieBrouchoud indicated in his “ProgressReport” that all books in the libraryhad been cataloged.A few monthslater, organization of a collection ofphotos and bird pictures was noted.

In 1990, Joyce Amato was incharge of the library, and was workingon filing a collection of pamphlets.Joyce was assisted by volunteer LoisHoeft, who was filing pertinent pic-tures and articles removed from themany donated magazines.

In 1991, when the addition to theMarsh Haus was being completed,plans were made to convert the read-ing room into a library, because thecorner room was to be used as anobservation room overlooking themarsh.Volunteers continued to

We are grateful to Grace Congregational Church, TwoRivers, for making their lovely facility available.

VolunteersChefs: Tom Tittl, Maria Birch, Jim Hess, Ruth KlossDecorations, service coordination: Ruth KlossKitchen help: Nancy Moltani, Donna Langman,

Geri Berkovitz, Kelly EskewOrientation: Barbee Lester, Jim Lester,

Kim SteckmesserClean-up: Barbee Lester, Donna Langman,

Kent Langman, Don DeBruyn, Geri Berkovitz, Kelly Eskew, Jim Knorr

Substitute speaker: Jim KnickelbineThanks also to our clean-up and wait staff: Josiah

Slieger, Angela Slieger and Jordan Schwartz.

DonationsJames and Mary Jo Hoftiezer, Saxon HomesteadCreamery, Walter Vogl, Pastor Kim and Fay Henning,Louise Tickel, Mary Madison, Dave and Reneé Evans

Food donationsSaxon Homestead Creamery, Pine River Dairy,Festival Food, Tom TittlSilent AuctionAcquisitions: Lucy ZeldenrustDonations:Colleen AnsbaughBank First NationalJean BiegunCarreaux du NordMarci ChatenkaMark ChetenkaCrystal PathwaysDon DeBruynJames DolanBob GahlMary Jo HofteizerSusan KnorrJack KrcmaLaDeDa Books

HHiissttoorryy ooff tthhee WWooooddllaanndd DDuunneess LLiibbrraarryy Winnie Smith Dinnerupdate files of pamphlets, pictures,and articles, while the book collectionremained packed in boxes until 1993when Bernie announced that the newlibrary looked great, with all of thenew shelving in place and bookslabeled and ready for use.

Lois Hoeft, who had worked inthe library beginning in 1990,remained as a volunteer for over 16years. For many years she was assistedby volunteers Grace Boeder and GeriBerkovitz.They cataloged andprocessed the collection, amountingat that time to more than 2,200books, as well as organizing the pam-phlet, photo, and magazine article/pic-ture files. In 2006, Lois and Graceretired due to health concerns.Atabout the same time, the second floorroom was needed for classroomand/or office space, so the library wasmoved to a first floor location, mak-ing it easily accessible to users.During the move an inventory wasconducted, and, because of space con-siderations, the collection was weed-ed, with the remaining materialreflecting more closely the mission ofWoodland Dunes. Many of the dis-carded books have been sold in thegift shop on a used book cart.

The library received a donation ofa used computer, and the catalog hasbeen converted from cards to thecomputer, with a printed version byauthor, title, and subject available forpublic use.Weeding and reorganiza-tion of the pamphlet, article, and pic-ture files has recently been complet-ed, although due to lack of libraryspace, these files are still located onthe second floor.

Next time you stop to visit thelibrary, remember that it’s availablebecause people had the foresight toplan it, the generosity to donate muchof the collection, and the devotion toput in all the time required to main-tain it, for over 30 years!

Darlene Waterstreet, Volunteer Librarian

Donna LangmanAlex MurtaughSusan MurtaughSaxon HomesteadCreameryChuck SontagStumpjacksJerry TremblyBarb Tyron Unique Flying OjectsBev VarekaBarb VorronBob WeinertLucy Zeldenrust

Owlfest supportJoAnn and Bob Weinert: sponsorship of the Jeannie

Lord raptor programBrowns of Two Rivers: supplied and served foodAurora Health: $250 sponsorshipCrystal Pathways: $35 sponsorshipFricke Printing: Owlfest postersWilfert Farms: pumpkinsPick & Save: $10 toward food for OwlfestCopps: $20 toward food for Owlfest

Dunesletter • Winter 2008 13

TThhaannkk YYoouu

GrantsDominion and Dominion Foundation granted us$5,600 for our new Teacher Naturalist training pro-gram (see page 11). The WDNR granted us $1831 administered by the Manitowoc County Lakes Association and coordinatedby Tom Ward to educate about aquatic invasives.

Matching GiftsDominion Foundation, through its Matching GiftProgram, donated $350 to match gifts from RonGroth and Lloyd SchmittKenneth Evers donated $500 to be matched by WPSStarbucks’ Make Your Mark volunteer program donated $1,000 to match 352 hours of time donat-ed by a Starbucks team led by Katie HalstromThank you for your donations

Timothy and Chris Hamburg: $100 for owl banding netsRichard Larson: the solar heating systemDarcy Varona: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle

(library book)Ron Groth and Leslie Henshew: prairie seedBev Vareka: a screen and tripodDan Blitz: digital camera and Hubble (library book)In appreciation of Todd Brandt: bag printingVirgina Brandt: bag printingBob Hay: a captive-bred bull snakeLincoln Park Zoo: two tiger salamandersKevin Keinholz: a GPS unitWOW: display unitsGail Asche: paver bricks

Thank you for your timeGerry Sisel: buying parts and fixing the lawn mowerKarl’s Excavating of Manitowoc: creating a

depression in the prairie for a sedge meadowCoralee de’Jong: selling plants for the Butterfly

Garden at Farmer’s MarketRoy and Nick Sheeter: building the canoe launchSteinie Water Gardens: winterizing the pondCraig & Gary Kohls, Gordy Mueller:

maintaining our drivewayMemorials

Darlene Waterstreet donated Swampwalkers Journaland True Green Kids to the library in memory ofHelen Dicke-Krivacek.Gary and Chris Blimel donated a digital camera, caseand memory card in memory of Dorothy Blimel.Roger K. Drape in memory of Marie Drape

Welcome New MembersGayle Asche • Susan Carlson • Oscar DickLaurie Hall • Joan Jass • Rachel KeeseeRuth and Steve KlossStephanie and Andrew ShumwayDebbie and James Vandenhouten

The following reflect gifts, donations and memberships received through November 22, 2008.

Dick and Patricia AldersonShirley and Joshua AndrewsMike and Mary Ann BeahonTom and Audrey BeanNancy and Emil BegleyJim and Joyce Beth BergerDon and Helen BleserJohn and Deborah BoehnerBetty Jean BoudaPat and Fred BrandenburgBernie and Lyn BrouchoudHenry and Alice BurkhardtCraig and Alicia CairnsMichael CantyJim (Kurtz’s Inc.) ChristensenCool City Garden ClubSylvia and Alton CorbanWilliam and Suzanne CrouchChristine CroyCatherine and Ken DaumTom and Leslie DellasTom and Beth DickinsonThomas DrillNorval and Jean DvorakPaul and Lois DyerKay EggersCindy EwingAl and Dee FaunslauRonald and Donna FeestRobert and Judy FerryEllen FluckMichael and Jenene GareySue GerosoJoanne HadyJean HaefnerTom and Shirley HaugJeanne, Bill, Amanda

and Donny HeinsohnBob and Marilyn HendricksonGrace HessLois HoeftKristine HunstadJames and Denise HunterJames and Catherine Huss

Roddy JebavyMargaret JuchniewichDr. Harold and Nancy JustKelly and Kris KellerMr. and Mrs. Cyril E. KleinElizabeth KocourekWilliam KriegerJanet Krivacek and Randy GageDonna LangmanRobert and Lew Ann LawhornLouise LeRoyJim and Barbee LesterCarol LilleyKathryn LindsayRita LondoJean and Wayne MachutBetty and Keith MartinElayne MartinJames and Mary MatthewsStephanie and David McConnellDavid and Teresa McCrearyMary and Brian MCLeanDolly McNultyJean McNultyKaye and Paul MichaelsHelen B. MuellerJoseph Musacchia and Cathy ParkerPat MorseJohn NillesCarol A. NystromModesta OlsonRichard and Roberta OttMary OzarowiczMichael and Sherry ParrNancy and Donovan PerkinsCharles and Carol PerryJane PerryLarry and Kathy PetersonRichard and Ann PiehlJean and Thomas Pitner-Rees, Jr.Winifred A. PlanticoElizabeth PolitoLorraine PritzlLynne and Ric Prucha

William and Karen RajkiCraig and Colleen RamquistCatherine RidenbaughSE Area Leadership Team RSCHenry and Edith RusboldtKathleen and Robert SchaapPat, Jeff, Bob and Dick SchmidtCarol SchwantesFlorence ShekowskiBlossom SkrivanieOliver and Lynn SkrivanieBrenda and Donald SmithPeg and Gary SmithCharles and Marilyn SontagScott and Barbara StebnitzArliene Lemere StroudMr and Mrs David SwobodaMary Kipping and

Russ SyversonAvis TaddyCathleen Torke and the family

of Charles M. Webster Sr.Donald and Cheryl TumblinTwo Rivers Womens ClubBarbara and James Van LanenBeverly and Joseph VarekaJerry and Pat VondranMarion and Pat WeaverRobert and Jo Ann WeinertCarole WeldCathy and Randy WestfallJennifer and Peg WilkeJohn and Julie WoodcockNed and Verna ZanderBill and Nan Webster

Corrections:Kurtz’s Pub and Deli islocated at 1410Washington, Two Rivers.

Hamann Construction’swebsite iswww.hamann.com

Helen Dicke-Krivicek MemorialsThe following people and organizations made donations in memory ofWoodland Dunes founding member Helen Dicke-Krivacek.The funds will beused to create a nature playground for children at the Woodland Dunes NatureCenter on Hawthorne Drive.Watch for updates on design and construction ofthis playground in the coming year.

Dunesletter • Winter 200814

22000088 MMeemmbbeerrssJean AbreuPhyllis AhlbornWillard AllenJoyce AmatoAmvets Post 99Andercraft WoodsShirley AndersonScott and Angie AnhaltMichael J. ArendtGayle AscheRichard and Elizabeth AuchterAllen and Debra AugustineJudith BaduraBill and Barb BahnflethMarion BahrBob and Margaret BaileyPaul Baker and Marjorie PriesHerman BalabanJohn and Jennifer BalmaDr. Robert and Donna BandtSylvia BarbarichBarca Auto, LLCThomas and Virginia BareDavid and Angela BarkerNancy Barker and

Todd KroscherScott BarnerJulee Lyn BarnettBarbara BartelsonRichard and Nancy BartolEric BaryenbruchMark and Sara BashawPat BastRichard and Sally BaugnietTom and Audrey BeanKenneth and Winifred BeckHarold and Fran BeckmanWayne and Mary Ellen BeebeDavid and Brenda BehnkeJohn, Lorrie and Heidi BeimbornWarren BelongerJaneth BennettM.J.McNulty BergerDr. John and Betty BestJoyce BethRoy and LaVerne BethTim, Debbie and Jonathon BeyerPaul and Jean BiegunCatherine and Rosalee BleserJohn BleserGary and Christine BlimelGrace BoederSusan D. BoettgerTom and April BolingWayne and Lynne BolleRobert and Deborah BonkPaul F. BourilChip BourilVirginia BrandtDale and Judith BrasserReggie and Kim BraultNed and Janet BreuerRobert and Therese BreyFran BrinkmanRosie and Dorothy BugsOran and Ruth BushmanButh Floor Covering:

Gary and Nina Buth

Gerald and Nancy ButhSusan CarlsonEdward F. CarmoDorothe CasavantJohn Cashman and

Mary GovierGerald CenskyPat and Mike ChermakKen CherneyVernon ChildsPatrick ChristelRobert W. ChristianJana CiardoDan CichantekTheresa CislerPhyllis ClemensonGeorge and Betty CloseCathy ColeRon and Nancy CrabbChristine CroyJack CulleyDavid and Mary Ann CunninghamDavid and Patricia D’AoustKen and Catherine DaumJeff and Mari DawsonScottie Dayton and

Diane SmithKenneth DelsmanWayne DenfeldMrs. Walter DennisRobert DernlanEllie and Bob DeublerOscar DickGloria H. DicksonBrooks and Mary Kay DodsonJudith DoerflerPatrick DowneyKurt and Marlene DrammRoger and Winnie DrapeDonna DrexlerGary and Mary DrohmanMarty and Nancy DruryMary Ann DuebnerJoy and Dan DuenoRichard DuvalleNorval and Jean DvorakSusan EckardtHazel EisenmannMary and Reinoud EliasHolly EngellandJudy EnglebertLynn and Lonnie ErdmannDave and Judy EskewKelly Eskew and Casey VorronLisa EstabrookKen EversRon and Donna FeestBetty FinkKen and Mickey FletcherEllen FluckDale and Melanie FolzDaniel and Barbara ForbesMary FordneyKenneth FosterGail FoxMyvanwy FranzEthel Frieder

Tom FunkMark and Joanne GaedtkeDr. Robert GahlKathleen and Jerry GalasMichael and Jenene GareyGlenn and Janet GatermanMary Lou GatesShirley and Ben GeimerLloyd and Appie GeraldsonSteve and Carol GibsonFrederick Giesler, Sr.Barbara and Donald GilmoreDoug GnadtCheryl GorsuchMary GraczykDan and Pat GrayHenry and Lou Ann GrayPatrick GrayWalt and Joanna GregorskiShirley Griffen and Michael HeinleRon Groth and Leslie HanshewWilliam T. GruenbaumCarol and Bill GruetzmacherGlenn and Margaret GrumannJean HaefnerBette HalbergLaurie HallTom HallettJim and Jane HamannTimothy and Chris HamburgVernon and Eunice HansenFawn and Courtney HansenJim and Sandy HansenDr. Peter HansenBiff and Sheila HansenRobert and Carol HansenGlen and Joan HansonHenry and Peg HarderJane HarkerKevin and Charlene HartlaubRudolph and Geraldine HartlaubDoris HartmanConnie HassmerTom and Shirley HaugSalome HauptElmer C. HavlinekHawkins, Ash, Baptie and Co.LLPAmy HealeyLyle HeideMichael and Laurie HeierDave HeiliDale HeinenRobert and Joan HeinzenLinda HelfRob and Jody HenselerKathryn T. HermanJeffrey HildebrandtLois L. HoeftBill and Traci HoeltkeDr. James and

Mary Jo HoftiezerJim and Barb HolschbachRay HolschbachErik HoyerMary R. HronekMark and Sally HunnerLinda Hunter

Sally Hyde and Cheri WilcoxIrene IhlenfeldCharles and Ruth Ann IndestadAndrew D. JacobsonFaye JaeckelDon and Dolores JandaJim JanskyJoan JassJane Jentz-ReyersonRobert and Ruth JomeLuke and Catharine JoskiPeg and Dan JuchniewichJohn and Berniece JungInez JurgensDr. Eleazar and Genia KadileWolf and Betty KannegiesserDr. Barb KarlsAl and Theresa KearnyRachel KeeseeMary and Bill KeilDavid and Karen KinnamonCathy A. KlacknerRuth and Steve KlossRonald KlunkBeverly KneeboneJudith KnickelbineMary KnickelbineJames and Susan KnorrDebra KnudsenBarbara KochKaren KoebelRobert KoenigMel and Margaret Becker-KoeppeCraig KohlsGary KohlsRosemary KonitzerCraig and Lona KowalskiByron and Ramona KowitzWayne and Dorothy KrallPamela and William C. Krieger IIAnna KrowiorzDale and Mary KruegerJack and Marie KubitzTherese KudickKurtz’sTina and Jeff KvitekDennis and Linda LarsonWanda and Robert LeClairTim LeighAnna M. LeikerLaMae LemkuilCourt and Marce LeonardCharles and Sue LewisGeoffrey and Carla LibanJim and Sue LutherJim and Diane LutzConstance LutzMargaret LutzeNic LyonsJudith Mac KoveMary MadisonMike and Patty MaherGene and Kathy MandManitowoc Public LibraryMichael and Mary MaplesJohn and Vickey MarquardtPatty Marquardt

Deb and Bill MarshEarl and Carol MartinLouise MarumMarie MasiakDon and Helen MasseyMaster Gardeners: Manitowoc Thomas and Betty MatejkaSteve and Denise MauerRobert McCrackenDon and June McLeanGerald J. MeisterDavid MetzgerGrace MeyerBarbara J. MillerGordy MillerRandall MillerJim and Susie MillerJeanie and Don Miller Jane MingariMona MoenErnest MoldenhauerFrank and Sherry MoonCarol MooreJames Morrow, Sr.K. Patricia MorseJoretta MountfordRichard and Lorene MozinskiShirley MrotekGreg MuellerJoseph and Barbara MuenchMary Claire MullinsJeanne and Tony MunzPhilip and Susan MurtaughErwin NaidlNature’s Own GardenersBob and Cathy NelsonJeannie NeuserDave NickelsJames and Mary Jane NickelsDan NiquetteKay NookerKatherine S. NordeenCarol NystromTammy O’ConnorTom and Sue O’ConnorBonnie O’LeskeRuss and Linda OlpModesta OlsonElizabeth OlsonJeff OrloppJudy OrloppCharles and Shirley OswaldRoberta and Richard OttLorrie OttoGermaine OwensDavid and Mary OzarowiczBarry PankratzJerry and Donna PanoshTerry Paulow and Patti HayesEleanor PeterikMarilyn PfefferKim and Keith PhilippiCharles PhilippsDave PhilippsRick and Sharon PhilippsEugene Piette

and Kathryn Smith

Winifred PlanticoJune PlatzWilliam and Patty PohlmanSusan PolkRaymond PollenVictor and Marilyn PonceCharles and Marjean PountainBrian PowellNorb and Rita PritzlJim and Carolyn RabataPaula RadlBob and Shelly RandersonConnie RandolphEdward RappeCharles RasmussenJeff RasmussenScott RasmussenVicki L.RatsackCharlie Ratigan

and Jennifer HoganDr. Tom

and Judy RauschenbergerEvelyn Reddin-FoddenReedsville Lions ClubDavid and Barbara ReinboldElias and Mary ReinoudJames E. RettmanRoger and Janice RezachekChandler and Eleanor RobbinsRockea Hunting ClubBruce and Beth RobinsonMick and Joyce RollandBetty and Bob RosinskyKaren RotterHenry and Edith RusboldtTom and Susan RusboldtMarilyn SaduskeTim and Ann SalutzGene and Vicki SandvigMary SavageEsther SchaafJack, Charlene and

Dakota SchausJoy SchausNancy Scheer JagemannJim SchepperAnthony SchererBarrett ScherffGerald SchickDr. Phyllis Schippers and

Dr. Tim MaatmanHerbert and Dorothy SchmalzNorman E. SchmeichelBetty SchneiderCharles SchnellEllen SchellEliz and Tom SchimanJoan and Paul SchmidCharles and Pauline SchroederDale and Edie SchroederKay SchroederTim and Karen SchroederLorraine SchuetteDoug SchultzDr. Russell SchwindtDavid and Genevieve SeefeldtJim and Renee Seiler

cont. page 15

Dunesletter • Winter 2008 15

I wish to support Woodland Dunes with the following donation:

$10 $25 $50 $100 $200 other

Name (please print) Phone

Address

City State Zip

Please make checks payable to Woodland Dues and return this form with yourdonation to: Woodland Dunes, PO Box 486, Two Rivers, WI 54241-0486

WWooooddllaanndd DDuunneess FFuunndd DDrriivveeIt’s the time of the year for giving and receiving.We hope you will consider all the benefits of giving to Woodland Dunes.For our part in the equation, we can promise you that any gifts we receive will be used with the utmost care.Throughoutthe past year, we have been telling you about our activities at Woodland Dunes. Our efforts focus on land preservation andenvironmental education, but the effects spread out into the community, enriching it in many ways.Yet no matter howmuch we do, we always see opportunities to do more. Once again, we are asking you, our members and friends, to make itpossible for us to carry out our mission, making our community a better place for everyone.

Please invest in your future by supporting Woodland Dunes.

GGuuaarraannttoorrss aanndd FFuunndd DDrriivvee

Lawrence and Catherine ShallueDonald and Joyce SheahanAnn ShebestaNick SheeterFlorence ShekoskiDiane ShimekAndrew

and Stephanie ShumwayLucy SierackiRobert and Janet SilvaPaul and Bonnie SimonsGerald SiselJarod SiselJohn and Teresa SiselRobert SiselBen and Alice SkatrudJack SkidmoreAnthony and

Elizabeth Phillips-SmithJoe and Dolores SobiechMike and Joan SoensJoel SomervilleChuck and Marilyn SontagConnie Specht and Kim KettnerGabriella Spencer

and Shaun McMonigalFlorence SpindlerWinifred SpringDorr St. Clair and

Andrew HerzogMary Jo and John StangelRonda StanzelRoy Stark

GuarantorsJean AbreuHelen and Don BleserHenry BurgerMrs. Lois BushConservation Education Inc.Mrs. Nancy DaltonDr. and Mrs. Donald J. De BruynMr. James G. DufekMichael and Christine DunnDave and Renee EvansMarion H. GieseckeWarren and Marjorie HolmesMark and Sally HunnerNancy and Harold JustSue KarrmannHenry and Barbara KatzKevin Kienholz and Darcy VaronaJim and Sue KnickelbineTom and Betsy Blitz KocourekDr. and Mrs. E.M. KrivacekMr. and Mrs. Armond KueterDr. John and Charlotte LarsenJim and Barbee LesterThomas and MaryAnn NeusesAudrey NiquetteRobert and Grace PeppardRuth Perry

Mr. and Mrs. Tom ReesLloyd SchmittMerrie Starr and Gregory ScheuerEdgar C. and Judith F. StuntzMrs. Louise TrickelJoseph and Beverly VarekaWalter VoglGloria WallaceRobert and Jo Ann WeinertSteve and Gail WinterJohn and Julie WoodcockLucy Zeldenrust

Fund Drive since August 26 2008John and Jennifer BalmaGrace BoederSusan BoetgerRobert and Deborah BonkReggie and Kim BraultDonald and Dolores JandaDebra KnudsenKay NookerRaymond PollenPaul and Carol SteinbrecherMarilyn A. SweetmanSteve and Vicki TaddyJack and Joanne TroupNan and Bill Webster

Candy StaufferMark and Jean SteckerJim and Amy SteffenCalvin and Joyce SteinPaul and Carol SteinbrecherJulie SteltzHelen StephaniElizabeth SterrenburgCathy StevensSarah StollPhilipp and Karin StraznyFloyd and Pauline StrohfeldtKenneth StroufMarion StrzyzewskiDoris StueckJim and Pat SzymczykSteve and Vickie TaddyFlorence TeteakJanice TetzlaffArlie and Michael TheeJerome and Susan TheysGary ThielbarBill and Joanne ThompsonThomas TittlLeah TompsonJohn and Cathleen TorkeWilliam R. TorrisonDr. and Mrs. Joseph TraderRichard and Barbara TringaliBill and Candy TrochilJack and Joanne TroupeGreg and Ann UnertlJanette VanBramerDebbie Vandenhouten

Lynn and Barbara VandevortBarbara VorronRichard and Joan WaakPeter and Ellen WagnerTom and Paula WardCarolyn WashburnDarlene WaterstreetWaverly Inn - Patty and FranBill and Nan WebsterCharles WebsterChuck and Melanie WebsterJohn and Gina WelchCarol WeldDon and Darlene WellnerBob WelnetzJim WelnetzDan and Carol WerginCarol WestphalDiane M. WickPat WiegertRev. Melvin WierzbickiWild Ones Natural LandscapersHoward and Betty WilsmannBrent and Riggs WilsonBarbara WolfRoger Wykes Patricia A. ZahorikKen ZemanJill L.Ehmke-ZimmerJacob ZippererRobert ZochEleanor ZoerbJoseph and Stacy Zoller

We apologize for any errors or omissions in this issue. Please let us know, and we will print a correction in the next issue of The Dunesletter.

cont.from page 15

WWooooddllaanndd DDuunneess

BBeeccoommee aa mmeemmbbeerr!!NameAddressCityState ZipPhoneEmail

c $25 Individualc $35 Familyc $50 Patronc $100 Contributor

Guarantorsc $250 Conservatorc $500 Benefactorc $1,000 Stewardc $5,000 Guardian

Please send this form and your tax-deductible donation to WoodlandDunes today.

HHeeaaddqquuaarrtteerrss aannddNNaattuurree SShhoopp

Hwy. 310 west of Two Rivers

HHoouurrssMonday - Friday: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday:Summer • 9 a.m. to noon

Winter • by appt. or for eventsHiking trails open year round

PPhhoonnee ((992200)) 779933--44000077woodlanddunes@lakefield.net

www.woodlanddunes.com

SSTTAAFFFFExecutive Director: Jim Knickelbine

Assistant Director: Susan KnorrEducation Coordinator: Kelly Eskew

Administrative Assistant: Geri BerkovitzEnvironmental Educator: Bernie Brouchoud

The Dunesletter is published quarterly by Woodland DunesNature Center and Preserve, Inc. ISBN 1933-8961

Susan Knorr, Editor

BBooaarrdd ooff DDiirreeccttoorrssOfficers

Bob WeinertChairman

Don DeBruynVice Chairman

Troy ChristiansenTreasurer

Lyn BrouchoudSecretary

Board MembersHelen BleserRobert Gahl

Tom KocourekDonna LangmanEllen LewellenRick Philipps

Charles Sontag Beverly Vareka

John Woodcock Lucy Zeldenrust

WWooooddllaanndd DDuunneess NNaattuurree CCeenntteerrP.O.Box 486Two Rivers,WI 54241-0486woodlanddunes.com

RREETTUURRNNSSEERRVVIICCEERREEQQUUEESSTTEEDD

NonprofitOrganizationU.S. Postage

PAIDManitowoc, WI

54220Permit No. 448