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Spring, 2020
Upcoming Programs
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Lead-free Fishing 3
Wildflower/Songbird Features
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EEC Donors 4
Benefits of Time Outdoors
4
Geocaching 5
Monarch Update 5
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
The Prairie Country Quarterly
A quarterly newsletter made possible by REAP funding
THE WINNEBAGO COUNTY CONSERVATION BOARD
Did You Know?
Every year, especially in the spring and early summer, we get
calls from well-meaning people wanting to know what they should do
with the little “orphaned” bird or mammal they have just found.
Many people are surprised by our usual answer. We usually tell them
to leave it just where it belongs—in the wild. That’s because young
animals are rarely abandoned by their parents. In almost all cases,
when you see a baby animal alone, the mother is nearby. In nature,
parents need to leave their young occasionally to find food. And
when they do, unlike humans, they usually leave their babies alone.
But, the young animals are usually well-camouflaged for protection
and instinctively know to remain quiet and still while their
parents are gone. Often, it also appears to many people that a
young bird has fallen out of its nest. But, most young birds that
people come across are simply learning how to fly, under the
watchful eye of a nearby parent. No young bird can learn how to fly
by sitting in its nest; that is some-thing it learns quickly after
hopping out of the nest for that very first time. Unfortunately,
many well-meaning people take these birds and either put them back
in their nest or take them home “to save them.” In most cases,
though, the mother is nearby watching over the young bird and, in
too many cases, watching people carry off her offspring. So, when
should you step in? Most wildlife experts recommend that you only
interfere when it is obvious that an animal is injured or in
imminent danger. Simply being “alone” does not qualify. Even then,
it is recommended that you contact a wildlife professional to
retrieve the animal. Very tiny birds that have no feathers and
obviously are not yet learning to fly probably did fall out of
their nest and those birds can gently be returned to their nest.
Also, it is never recommended that you try to raise a young animal
on your own. Not only is it illegal to do so, but only licensed
rehabilitators know the proper nutritional needs of various
wildlife species and know how to raise them. In addition, young
animals often require feeding every 2-4 hours, both day and night—a
schedule that few people are will-ing to keep up for long!
Unfortunately, most young animals usually die under the care of
considerate people who assume they know what’s best for a baby
animal. Finally, it is important to remember that many wild animals
do carry diseases and even the cutest
babies will bite or scratch if they feel threatened. The fact is
that wild animals, even baby animals, belong in the wild. The
parents of these young animals know much better how to take care of
their young than we do and are better equipped to do so. It is
unfortu-nate that many young animals do die before they reach
maturity and many people feel bad about that. But, as cruel as that
may seem to us, it is Mother Nature’s way of ensuring that the
strongest and healthiest young sur-vive to produce strong and
healthy offspring of their own. So, one of the best ways we can
help Mother Nature out is to watch her with wonder—and not
interfere.
“Orphaned Babies” May Not Be Orphaned
Young animals may become imprinted on their “rescuers,”
be-coming dependent upon people forever.
Wild animals can often carry diseases that can be passed on to
you or your pets.
Wild animals do not make good pets. They never totally lose
their wild instincts and can turn on people quickly.
Even if you “successfully” raise a baby animal, it may never be
able to be released because it won’t know how to hunt or survive on
its own.
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Join us for These Fun, Spring Programs! (Please note—All
programs are subject to postponement or cancellation,
depending upon changing Covid-19 restrictions.)
Spring Wildflower Walk—Friday, May 15th Meet at the shelter
house at Pilot Knob State Park at 6:30 PM for a leisurely,
hour-long walk to observe the park’s Spring wildflowers! We may
also see some other signs of Spring such as turtles and songbirds,
or maybe even hear a frog or two. Whatever we see and hear, it will
be a fun spring evening! Spring Stargazing—Friday, May 22nd
If you’re curious about what you’re seeing in the nighttime sky,
meet at the Pilot Knob State Park tower at 9:00 PM for a tour of
the Spring stars and planets! You’ll learn how to identify what
you’re seeing, and you’ll hear fascinating facts about some of the
celestial objects that will be visible. The program will last 45-60
minutes. People should bring along a flashlight for the walk to and
from the tower and star charts will also be available for people to
take home with them.
Spring Blooms Bus Trip—Thursday, May 28th We’re teaming up with
NIACC to offer a day-long bus trip to Reiman Gardens in Ames and
the Botanical Center in Des Moines! What a great way to celebrate
Spring and the coming Summer months! Transportation, admission
fees, a tour of Reiman Gardens, and lunch are all included in the
$89 cost. Supper cost will be on your own. We will pick up and drop
off riders at TSB Bank in Forest City. To register for the trip,
contact NIACC at 641-422-4358 and ask to register to Course #5924.
Looking Ahead: Canoeing Thorpe Park—Saturday, June 13th We’ll be
working with NIACC once again to offer a canoeing event at Thorpe
Park’s Lake Catherine
from 1:00-2:30 PM! Whether you’re a novice canoer or an
experienced canoer who needs a little refresher course, you’ll
enjoy this fun class! You’ll learn about the equipment used in
canoeing, as well as basic canoeing techniques. Then, you’ll be
able to enjoy a leisurely paddle around Lake Catherine to perfect
your skills! The cost for the class will be $15 and preregistration
is
required by contacting NIACC at 641-422-4358 and asking to
register for Course #5797.
Note—All previously scheduled April programs
have been canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
If any of our programs need to be postponed or canceled due to
weather or coronavirus restrictions, that announcement will run on
KIOW Radio (FM 107.3), on our web site,
on our Facebook page, and on our Twitter feed.
Unless otherwise noted, all programs are free of charge and no
preregistration is needed. For more information, contact Naturalist
Lisa Ralls at (641) 565-3390 or at [email protected].
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Get the Lead Out This Year
Each fall, we hear a lot about hunting with non-lead shot. But,
fishing lead-free can be just as important as hunt-ing lead-free.
That’s because many fish-eating birds such as eagles, loons, and
pelicans pick up lead when they eat fish that have ingested lead
sinkers or jigs. Likewise, water-fowl such as ducks, geese, and
swans regularly pick up lead tackle when
they sift through gravel searching for food or ingest-ing gravel
for grit. Since lead is a very soft metal, it’s easily ground up in
a bird’s gizzard. Normally, birds use small pebbles in their
gizzards to grind up seeds and other foods. Those stones are hard
and don’t wear away easily. But, lead pellets are soft and do wear
down, releasing lead into the bird’s bloodstream. Unfortunately, it
doesn’t take much lead to poison even a large bird. In fact, it
only takes .3 grams of lead to kill a bird as big as a loon. That
means that only one sinker or jig could be lethal. Even birds with
sub-lethal concentrations of lead can experience decreased
fertility or deteriorated health conditions that can lead to
increased starvation and predation. In some locations, up to half
of all loon deaths can be attributed directly to lead poisoning.
Likewise, almost a quarter of all bald eagle deaths are caused by
lead poisoning, much it from fishing tackle. And, those numbers
don’t include the many other birds that are impacted by lead in the
water. Many other countries have had restrictions on lead fishing
tackle for many years. Britain prohibited the use of most lead
sinkers back in 1987 and Canada followed suit ten years later. The
European Union has banned all lead fishing tackle. Here in the
U.S., some states have banned the use of most lead sinkers and the
Fish and Wildlife Service has banned their use in several wildlife
refuges and Yellowstone National Park. But, there is no national
law restricting the use of lead fishing tackle. So, it’s up to each
of us individually to do our part. There are many alternatives to
lead fishing tackle, including tin, tungsten, steel, bismuth, and
glass. Granted, some of these alternatives do cost a little more,
but they do save lives and help to protect our wildlife. Please,
this year, make a concerted effort to protect our wildlife by using
lead-free fishing tackle. It’s an easy thing to do, but it can
really help!
Wildflower Feature—Columbine
During the Spring and early Summer months, a leisurely walk
along a pond or creek will often take you past a
gracefully-drooping, dark pink flower called a Columbine.
Columbines typically grow in shady areas (as do most Spring
wildflowers) and prefer moist soils; thus, you tend to find them
near shady, wet areas. Columbines have a very sweet nectar that’s
found deep in the upturned tips at the base of the flowers. Since
that’s where the nectar is located, it’s very difficult for most
insects to reach it; but pollinators with long tongues (such as
hummingbirds, butter-flies, and moths) do enjoy it! The Native
Americans once believed that if a man crushed Columbine seeds in
his hand, then shook hands with a woman, she would fall in love
with him. Who knows if that works or not, but it’s a lovely story
about a lovely flower! Be sure to look for Columbines once the
weather warms up!
Songbird Feature— Rose-breasted Grosbeak
During the first week in May, we usually see the return of one
of Iowa’s most colorful birds—the Rose-breasted Grosbeak! Male
Grosbeaks are easy to identify by their black head and back, white
front, and bright red patch on their chest. The females are not as
brightly colored and
actually look like very large sparrows. Fortunately for us,
Grosbeaks love to visit backyard feeders! They especially like
sunflower and safflower seeds, but also enjoy nuts and berries, as
well. They also like just about any kind of feeder. Rose-breasted
Grosbeaks are neotropical migrants, a group of birds that nest
here, but spend their winters in the tropics. Grosbeaks, winter
from central Mexico down through Central America and into
northwestern South America. That’s a long migration! And they make
it twice a year! So, when you see them this Spring, welcome them
back, maybe with some tasty seeds!
The Prairie Country Quarterly Page 3
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Page 4
Thank You to Our Donors!
The following people have contributed to our Environmental
Education Center Capital Campaign so far in 2020 (along with their
current donation level): Susan Schoning (Bald Eagle) Steve and
Kathy Iverson (Sandhill Crane) (In Memory of Don Grotewold) Kyle
and Mara Frerichs (Goldfinch) John and Lisa Ralls (Goldfinch) City
of Rake (Bluebird) Ted Gassman (Bluebird) Anonymous (Chickadee). We
want to thank everyone for all of the support we have received for
this project! In fact, last fall we topped the $1 million mark in
fundraising! Because of this support, we were able to begin dirt
work and site prepa-ration and we hope to accept construction bids
this summer! Although we are close to our $1.2 million goal, we
still have a ways to go. So, please consider donating, if you
haven’t already. You can find information about the Center, and how
you can help, by going to our web site at www.winnebagoccb.com.
The Benefits of Getting Outdoors
During our Covid-19 isolation, many of us have gotten a little
stir crazy indoors. So, many people (especially parents that
suddenly find themselves at home with their kids all day) have
chosen to get outside more for exercise and mental health. Getting
outdoors has proven to be a great way for families to spend quality
time together (always practicing social distancing, of course).
But, besides the obvious cure for cabin fever, spending time
outdoors has some unique benefits for kids!
According to the National Wildlife Federation, kids can gain the
following advantages by spending time outdoors: 1) Stronger bones
and lower cancer risk...Extra sunlight helps kids produce more
Vitamin D which helps to strengthen their bones and reduces their
cancer risk. 2) Trimmer and healthier kids...An hour of play a day
can ward off obesity and diabetes. 3) Improved eyesight...Studies
have found that kids who spend time outdoors often have better
eyesight. 4) Less depression and hyperactivity...Spending time in a
natural setting (even just a tree-lined street) can soothe children
and reduce the need for certain medications. 5) Longer attention
spans...Kids who spend more time outside, and less time
staring at a screen, tend to have longer attention spans and
more overall patience. 6) Better at making friends...When kids play
outside with each other , they make fr iends and improve their
“people skills.” 7) More creativity...Kids who play outdoors find
ways to use their imaginations and become more creative. 8) Less
“acting out”...When kids get outdoors and away from screens, they
tend to become less violent. 9) Better grades at school...When kids
are healthier , both physically and mentally, they get better
grades. 10) A longer and healthier life...Kids that are not
sedentary, and maintain a healthy weight into adult-hood, can live
3-5 years longer. Of course, adults can also enjoy these benefits
of spending more time outdoors. So, once this pandemic is over, and
things get back to relative normality, we hope that you will
continue to enjoy spending time outdoors. And, if you have kids, we
hope that you’ll continue to make family memories outdoors!
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Page 5 The Prairie Country Quarterly
Geocaching—A Great Way to Enjoy Spring
If you’re looking for a fun, family-oriented activity to enjoy
this Spring, consider heading outdoors to do a little geocaching!
Geocaching can be a great way to get outdoors, get a little
exercise, explore a new area, and enjoy some quality family time
together. Geocaching is an outdoor activity that uses a GPS
receiver to find something that someone else has hidden. It’s
literally a high-tech scavenger hunt! Geocaching can be traced back
to May 3, 2000, when “selective availability” was removed from the
satellites the government had been using for navigation. That meant
that, at that moment, all of those satellites were suddenly
available for ordinary people to use. It’s hard to believe that
civilian use of GPS has only been around for 20 years, but one of
the first uses of it was for geocaching! Geocaching is conducted
through a web site (geocaching.com) where people can list the
coordinates of geocaches they have hidden and other people can then
access those coordinates to find the caches. Originally, before the
era of smart phones, people had to get the coordinates off the web
site, then use portable, hand-held GPS units to actually find the
caches. Today, geocaching is much easier! Simply by downloading and
opening up the geocaching.com app on your smart phone, you can
locate nearby geocaches and your phone’s GPS can lead you right to
them! So, what exactly is a geocache and what do you do when you
find one? Usually, a geocache is a small container of some sort
that contains little trinkets. When you find one, you can take
something from it, as long as you trade for something else that you
brought along. Of course, you don’t have to trade anything, if you
don’t want to; for many people, the fun is just in the search!
After finding a cache, though, you can go back to the web site (or
app) and log your find. You can also read other people’s logs about
that cache. What makes geocaching so much fun is that you can make
it as easy or as challenging as you want, because each cache is
listed with a difficulty rating. If you want to find an easy “park
and grab” cache, you can. But, if you want to find a more
challenging cache that requires a long hike down a park trail, you
can do that, too. However you want to do it, geocaching takes you
to places you’ve never been before and encourages you to explore!
And, be sure to get your family and friends to go along with you so
you can all enjoy a little exercise and fresh air together! If
you’d like more information about geocaching, go to the
geocaching.com web site and learn more about it. After all, you
can’t go wrong with a fun, outdoor activity that requires no
previous skill and only a smart phone. If you think it’s something
you’d like to try, just create a free account, download the app,
and you’re good to go! Then, get out there and do some exploring
this Spring!
Monarch Butterfly Update
Unfortunately, the news from Mexico this winter was not good.
The overwintering Monarch butterfly population covered a mere 7
acres this past winter, down 53% from the year before. (The amount
of overwintering land that the Monarch population occu-pies is used
by scientists as an indication of population size.) Although there
were fewer butterflies overwintering in Mexico, the population
appeared to be almost exactly what it has been, on average, for the
past decade. Nonetheless, the results were
disappointing after a promising report from the winter of
2018-2019. Scientists say, though, that these statistics can vary
greatly from year to year due to weather conditions. They stress
that habitat is still the key to long-term Monarch population
recovery and essential if Monarchs are going to continue to
rebound. They recommend that people continue to create Monarch
habitat so that the population can continue to grow, even after
disappointing years such as this one.
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Don’t Forget to Check Out Our Website!
We want to remind everyone of our web site! It contains WCCB
news, a listing of all of our parks and wildlife areas, a listing
of upcoming programs, and a lot of other information. You can even
read this newsletter there or download a cabin reservation form.
So, check us out at www.winnebagoccb.com! Be sure to also “like” us
our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter !
Winnebago County Conservation Board
Your Winnebago County Conservation Board Director Robert
Schwartz ([email protected]) Naturalist Lisa Ralls
([email protected]) Natural Resource Manager Rick Lillie
([email protected]) Board Members Julie Hagenson, Thompson
Nancy Helm, Forest City Mike Korth, Forest City Tim Missal, Forest
City Jeff Schmidt, Leland
Phone: (641) 565-3390
Web Site: www.winnebagoccb.com
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PAID Forest City, IA 50436
PERMIT #50
Address Service Requested
Thorpe Park
34496 110th Avenue Forest City, IA 50436
“The Prairie Country Quarterly” is published, free of charge,
four times a year. Anyone wishing
to be on our mailing list need only send their name and address
to our office listed below. Or, if you let us know your email
address, we can email it to you, if you’d rather have an electronic
ver-
sion. The public is also invited to attend our board meetings
which are held at our Thorpe Park office the second Monday of each
month,
beginning at 8:00 A.M.
The Winnebago County Conservation Board Thorpe Park
34496 110th Avenue Forest City, IA 50436
Phone: (641)565-3390
Web Site: www.winnebagoccb.com
The WCCB, in the provision of services and facilities to the
public, does not discriminate
against anyone on the basis of race, color, sex, creed, national
origin, or handicap. If anyone
believes that he or she has been subjected to such
discrimination, he or she may file a complaint
with the WCCB at the address above, or with the Office of Equal
Opportunity, U.S. Department of
the Interior, Washington, D.C., 20240.
Enjoy a relaxing stay at the
Lake Catherine Cabin!
(Please note the new rates…)
$77.00/night on Fri. and Sat. and
$61.00/night during the week
Reserve your stay at
www.winnebagoccb.com
Free Fishing Days—June 5th-7th Iowa residents will not need a
fishing license to fish in Iowa the first weekend of June! So, grab
a fishing pole and enjoy a little time outdoors!
The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is
to go outside;
somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens,
nature and God…
Because only then does one feel that all is as it should
be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst
the simple beauty of nature. I firmly believe that
nature brings solace in all troubles. —Anne Frank
