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"Conserve now that the future may live!" |
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League website: dccl.org SUMMER EDITION,2005
VOL. III
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Work hours are a chance for those members interested in receiving what likely will be fifteen pheasants in late August. Those interested in receiving birds need to work 15 or more hours on League projects. Good opportunities are the weekly farm projects completed on Saturday mornings, the Golf Outing, the Open House and two work days on two conservation projects will be offered before the birds are released to those members who are eligible.
These are just a sample of opportunities for the upcoming year:
July Opportunities every Saturday until the birds are released in August and September.
Work Day – Saturday, July 16 - 9:00 Verona Town Hall, 335 North Nine Mound Rd
August Assist with Golf Outing and the Open House.
Work Day at Culver Spring - Saturday, August 20.
Preparing the birds for release and closing the farm – every Saturday.
September Work to close the farm by October
Prepare the area for winter wheat.
Other opportunities will be announced during the year.
The birds have been out of their brooders for over a month and are growing every day. Now is a good time to be involved with cleaning the brooders and assisting with feeding the birds and cleaning their waterers. If Saturdays are not a good day, call a director for things to do mid-week if that is more conducive to your schedule.
The League would like to take a few lines to offer its thanks to members who have done a great job for the League in the past few weeks.
Thanks to Don Sprang for his initiative to build a better mouse trap. He received plans and put together a new watering system for the quail when we first receive them as day- old chicks. His system has appeared to pass the test. The Pheasant Committee will likely decide to place the system in all or some of the remaining brooders next year. Sprang has also been available during the week for many projects, especially with regards to prepping the pens before the birds arrived and chasing down things that were needed.
Jim Lemke was looking for something to do during the week as he would rather spend 4 to 8 hours working on a job(s) to make the trip worth his while. Prairie guru Dave Wilken suggested to Jim he could dig out 59 of our 2*2 prairie plant trays and recess them into the ground to assist in mowing around the individual plants. What a time saver this amounts to. Dave was impressed as we all are in Jim’s initiative.
Last but not least, thanks to Bob Domeck and Ed Brost for their extensive work on the raspberry bushes along the parking lot and above the shed. Quite the treat now as this is prime berry picking and will be for the next few weeks. Goes great with ice cream, too. Both have been active workers on Saturdays at the farm and other League projects.
We still need your help and assistance every Saturday until the birds are released in late August and then the following Saturdays to close the farm. Remember, if Saturday does not work for you, contact a director for other activities during the week that need to be completed. One can always cull the prairie of trash plants, such as the ever-present thistle.
See related flyer for the DCCL Golf Outing at Deer Valley in Barneveld on Friday, July 29. Entry fee remains a very reasonable $55.00 per person. Linda and Keith Waier will chair this event for an eighth successful year. Spots are still available, so hurry and send in your money by Saturday, July 23. The eighteen foursomes will sell out, so be quick. Keep in mind, though: You do not have to be a foursome, as one will be setup for you so that you have the chance to interact with other League members.
See the related flyer and let Linda know soon. As mentioned earlier, we will also find playing partners for those who cannot locate a foursome, so just go ahead and register. Contact Linda Waier at 845-7875 with any questions.
The Open House is Saturday, August 13. The birds should be in full color, and the farm will be in great shape. Your League Board of Directors and members looking to earn work hours will furnish the meal, which will include chicken breasts, burgers, brats, hot dogs, and corn on the cob.
The appetizers of smoked salmon and shrimp went fast last year, and we’ll see what we plan to have available this time. A number of members have brought desserts in the past; feel free to do so again this year. The meal will begin at 11:45, and we will continue to serve until 1:00. Members and their families can come any time that day, but remember the mealtime if you are so inclined. There is no charge for this meal. A can will be available if one chooses to make a donation. Good time to enjoy some camaraderie and see your facility.
The Dane County Conservation League’s kickoff membership meeting will be Sept 27, beginning at 7:30 at the VFW Hall, 133 E. Lakeside St., in Madison.
Traditionally, we have representatives from the DNR discuss any recent rule changes and chronic wasting disease. We will also have a raffle along with mailers for recycling printer cartridges, rather than throwing them in the trash.
Bird release date for all qualifying members will be August 27, beginning at 8:00 AM. Qualifying members are members who are eligible to receive twelve to fifteen pheasants in return for donating work time to various League sanctioned projects. This newsletter announces upcoming activities where members can earn hours, including assisting with the golf outing and Open House and putting in some time on Saturday mornings at the Farm at 2497 Cty J, west of Verona.
The minimum time necessary to qualify is fifteen hours, and they must be logged before August 27. By having a mass roundup, we allow the birds to be “rounded up” as few times as possible. This helps protect the condition of the birds. Hours worked are posted at the farm and will be updated every other week thereafter. Just so you know, once fifteen work hours have been attained, your time will only show fifteen hours, even though a number of our members have hundreds of hours on various League activities. Check on a Saturday morning if you are uncertain where you stand for time.
Appropriate crates are to be used. New, reasonably priced ones can be purchased on the Internet; check our website. We will also have a few to lend, with a possible rental or deposit. Members will likely be entitled to fifteen birds, eight hens and seven roosters. This aids in our mission for preservation. We will sell an allotted number of birds prior to the release date for those members and nonmembers interested in purchasing birds. Roosters will be $9.50, with $8.00 for hens.
Quail are available now for $4.00 each and are available on most Saturdays. They sold out fast last year. There is no limit on quantity.
Members will need a dog training or stocking permit. You may request this form from your local conservation warden, or a copy can be picked up at the farm before the release date. Birds for human consumption do not require a permit. Human consumption birds will all be hens.
On July 16 the Capital Water Trails is having a workday to clear out a portion of the Sugar River. Volunteers from the DCCL who wish to participate in this endeavor should meet me (Cathy Matts) at the Verona Town Hall, 335 N Nine Mound Road at 9 a.m. There are no skills required for this workday; but suggest that you wear clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty. Also bring along with you work gloves, eye protection, knee boots or waders if you have some. If you have a canoe or kayak, you’re welcome to bring it along. Capital Water Trails provides all equipment needed for the work. They will also provide drinking water.
Members can participate in any of their workdays to get credit from the League. Their website is linked on ours to find out what their schedule is.
Let’s show them what a great volunteer organization we have by having a great turnout. See you all on the 16th.
The DCCL has participated in the Yahara Lake cleanup for many years. The League has cleaned up the Yahara River from Lake Mendota to Lake Monona. Included are the fishing piers and a breakwater at the Tenney Park locks. We picked up on both sides of the Yahara River. This year we gathered up twelve bags of trash including a pewter jewelry box; (no carp this year)!! We had eight hard working members who were rewarded with 2005 Take-A-Stake in the Lakes t-shirts. We spent the morning picking up trash and, along the way, several people thanks us for our efforts.
A big THANK YOU for everyone who helped in this worthwhile project.
PRAIRIE WORK
People looking for hours midweek may want to consider working on the League’s prairie located at the farm at 2497 County J, west of Verona. Some members would like to work 4-8 hours during the week, and this is one activity that would make that possible.
One can cull the prairie of at least four plants: curly dock, two types of thistle, and Queen Anne’s lace. Please bring pruning shears and gloves. We try to either pull up the roots of some of the plants and/or cut others. The plants should be placed in garbage bags, as this prevents seeds from falling back onto the prairie and then be disposed of away from the prairie. Their removal eliminates the potential for any seeds to rejuvenate next spring. However, it does not mean we remove every plant as some usually make it past our watchful eyes.
For the curly dock all that needs to be done is to cut the head off with the seeds. Place it in a garbage bag and dispose of away from the prairie. Queen Anne’s lace is pullable, especially if we have had recent rains, and can be left where pulled. The thistle we would like to remove are the ones that have the green leaves, both on top and the underside. The good thistle is the one with a white underside to the leaf. See the paragraph below describing the boxes of the various plants if one is not sure what Queen Anne’s lace is.
The prairie is in beautiful shape, though, and color is beginning to pop. A real sight to behold, one that we can all treasure as members, so please consider helping, as more hands make light work.
Have you ever wondered what prairie plants make up a prairie? Prairie chairperson Dave Wilken has identified fifty-nine plants we have in our prairie. He has done this with fifty-nine 2*2-foot boxes running along the south edge of the prairie. Each plant is identified with a laminated card. This has to be one of the few prairies in southern Wisconsin where plants are identified right next to the prairie.
For those members who have not seen your prairie yet, now is a great time to stop by.
Dave Wilken asks that if any members are interested in working with him on the prairie during the year, contact him at 767-3830 or 222-1794.
On behalf of the Madison Audubon Society, Mark Martin sent a thank you for the League’s contribution this year to the Society’s efforts to acquire additional land around Goose Lake.
1944 Dane Conservation League
Board of Directors Dane County Conservation League meeting held at Elks Club on December 17, 1943. Present: Dr. Oscar Meng, President; P.W.Cyr, First Vice President; Dora M. Newcomb, Secretary; John Hobbins, Treasurer; Directors: Al Reque, Paul Bernard, Clarence Femrite, John Langer, Fred Starry, Chandler Kemp, Elmer Kemp, Al Christenson and Joe Martin. A sample card to be used for the 1944 membership card was presented and discussed. This card had a large pheasant; and Joe Martin discussed that the card could have other symbols like a fish, a tree, a pheasant and a duck… one in each corner of the card. (Origin of our current DCCL membership card).
P.W.Cyr suggested that the words “This is to certify that” be inserted ahead of the name space. Several other changes were discussed and the general opinion was that we should have a plate made for the League that would make an attractive membership card for 1944 and could be used in future years. Attention was called to the necessity of putting some numbers with the new application for membership. Al Reque was named President for 1944.
The Board of Director’s for the Dane County Conservation League recently wrote a letter of support for the City of Middleton’s application for the “Water Quality Improvement Assistance Grant”. We believe Middleton’s proposed project should be funded for the following reasons:
q This will be a pilot project for the City of Middleton to continue improvement of the water quality that enters the Lake Mendota watershed.
q It will be an efficient, cost-effective treatment of urban stormwater runoff.
q It will be complete by the end of 2005
q It will provide educational opportunities to residents/businesses that directly impact this watershed.
q It is located along a bike trail which will provide education to residents and non-residents regarding this water quality improvement project.
Based on the Scholarship Committee recommendations, the League awarded four scholarships to high school students who are interested in a major related to work/education in conservation. We hope our support to these individuals will allow for them to support our membership, and future generations. Awardees were:
Tim Barman – Graduated from Waunakee
West High School. Future plan is to attend
The UW-Stevens Point, majoring in Natural
Resources and Resource Management.
Emily Dunn – Graduated from Madison East High School.
Future plans are to attend
MacAlester College, St. Paul, MN, majoring
in Environmental Studies and then pursue
a career as an environmental lawyer.
Sam Harnet – Graduated from Middleton
High School. Future plans are to attend
Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH, majoring
in Environmental Studies.
Jeremy Herman – Graduated from Marshall
High School. Future plan is to attend UW-
Stevens Point majoring in forestry.
Our best to each of the scholarship winners.
Every Saturday is a workday at the Farm. Come for all morning, or for a couple of hours.
July Every Saturday – Farm & Prairie Work Days at the Farm.
July 16 League work day announced with Capitol City Water Trails. See related
Story in this newsletter.
July 19 Board of Directors meeting at VFW Hall.
July 29 Golf Outing at Deer Valley, Barneveld – See enclosed flyer.
August 1 Fall turkey hunting applications due. Also deadline to apply for goose hunting
Permits for the Collins and Horicon zones.
August 13 Open House –Mark the date for a nice feed, plus the birds should begin showing
Some good color.
August 16 Board of Directors Meeting at VFW Hall.
August 20 Work day at 9 a.m.; meet at Verona Town Hall. See related story in this newsletter.
August 27 Bird release date.
Sept 4/11 Bird Sales
Sept 20 Board of Directors Meeting at VFW Hall
Sept 27 Membership Meeting – DNR Update
October 1 Farm closing date.
All membership meetings are held at the VFW Hall, 133 E Lakeside St., Madison, beginning at 7:30.
Board meetings are also held at the VFW Hall, but begin at 7:00 a.m. Members are welcome to attend.
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The DCCL Newsletter is published quarterly, winter, spring, summer and fall. The Dane County Conservation League is a non-profit volunteer organization. Our purpose is to enhance the education and habitat conservation of its membership and to enhance the natural resources in Dane County and the State of Wisconsin. The DCCL was established in 1933.
Manuscripts and photographs are welcome and may be forwarded to the address below:
Dane County Conservation League
PO Box 444039
Madison WI 53744
Please notify us of any address or name change, or, “god forbid” typos, additions or deletions by sending to the address listed above. Submit articles for the DCCL Newsletter by the first week of the month.
