DNR OUTDOOR REPORT FOR 2-12-2019 PART 2

Donations via state tax form are an easy and important way to care for Wisconsin’s endangered species

Contact(s): Drew Feldkirchner, DNR Natural Heritage Conservation, 608-235-3905

MADISON – Wisconsinites have an easy, private and important way to help endangered species in their home state: donate to the Endangered Resources Fund on their Wisconsin income tax form.

“Every donation is matched by the state, doubling donors’ impact for endangered species; such contributions have helped restore bald eagles, trumpeter swans and other species while keeping many of Wisconsin’s rarest species from disappearing,” says Drew Feldkirchner, who leads the DNR Natural Heritage Conservation staff charged with caring for endangered species and State Natural Areas.

“We thank everyone who has donated to the Endangered Resources Fund in past years, and encourage you to donate again in 2019, so we can help other species in need – a gift of any amount is doubled and can make a big difference for endangered species.”

To donate, look for the donation section on your Wisconsin income tax form (or tax preparation software) and fill in a dollar amount. The line differs on different tax forms; for example, the donation section is found on line 35 of Form 1. If you are working with a tax professional, make sure to let them know you want to donate to the Endangered Resources Fund.

Competitive grants and private contributions, including through tax return donations, are responsible for about 20 percent of the annual funding for Wisconsin’s endangered species conservation.

Contributions to the Endangered Resources Fund help pay for things like:

• protecting, restoring and maintaining habitats needed by rare plants and animals;
• locating rare species, so they can be avoided and protected whenever possible, and so we can identify which species need our help the most;
• providing special management to some of our rarest species like protecting nest sites from predators;
• assisting landowners and land managers who wish to restore and maintain habitat for rare species;
• helping landowners, agencies, and industries avoid harm to rare species by working together during the planning stages of their projects.

Feldkirchner invites people to find out about recent efforts and successes in the latest “Field Notes” which highlights some of the program’s work last year and to sign up for periodic email or text updates on endangered species news.

Wisconsin taxpayers who already filed for 2018 can still donate online or by mail. To donate or learn about other ways to help endangered species, search the DNR website, dnr.wi.gov, for keyword “ER.”

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Want to be a rare plant detective? Workshops set for Rare Plant Monitoring Program volunteers

Contact(s): Kevin Doyle, DNR conservation botanist, 608-416-3377

MADISON – Plant lovers and others who enjoy searching for rare plants or “botanizing” can put their passion to work by attending free volunteer training for the Wisconsin Rare Plant Monitoring Program and then helping track down rare plant populations.

Training sessions are set for Cable, Green Bay, Oconomowoc and River Falls in March and April; to see workshop dates and locations and to register, search online for Wisconsin’s Rare Plant Monitoring Program.

Volunteers who complete the training will be sent out this spring and summer to check on some of Wisconsin’s rarest and most beautiful native plants in some of the state’s most pristine places, says Kevin Doyle, who coordinates the Rare Plant Monitoring Program for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Natural Heritage Conservation Program.

“If you already enjoy searching for rare plants or “botanizing,” we invite you to put your effort to a direct conservation benefit,” Doyle says. “Volunteers’ contributions are critical to native plant conservation in Wisconsin.”

The vast majority of these rare plant populations are found on publicly owned or publicly accessible land. The information volunteers collect is provided to property managers and added to the Natural Heritage Inventory, a statutorily required system of collection, storage and management of rare species information. DNR staff use inventory information when developing master plans for state properties and conservation strategies for species and communities and when reviewing proposed projects to ensure they avoid impacts to rare species and in conducting research.

In 2018, citizen scientists trained through DNR’s Rare Plant Monitoring Program and assigned to specific sites collected data on dozens of priority species. In 2017, citizen scientists submitted data on 185 surveys – more information on Wisconsin’s rare plants than all previous years combined. Read the 2017 Rare Plant Monitoring Program report to see what they found.

DNR relies largely on trained volunteers to help find and collect data on rare plant and animal species. Wisconsin has roughly 1,900 native plant species and 16 percent of them are endangered, threatened or special concern species, meaning their populations are low or declining. “Even with the growing number of volunteers, Doyle has been prioritizing rare plant surveys “to steer surveys toward populations where we’re likely to find them and where we can make a difference,” he says.

“Protecting the hundreds of rare plant species and thousands of rare plant populations in Wisconsin is more than any one agency can handle,” Doyle says. “Volunteers make this possible. We’re truly grateful for their help and invite more Wisconsinites to get involved in rare plant conservation by taking the training.”

The Rare Plant Monitoring Program is funded largely by the DNR Endangered Resources Fund. Donate now through your Wisconsin income tax form and your donation is doubled.

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Head to a Nest Box Seminar March 2 at Horicon Marsh and do your part to help Wisconsin’s birds and bats

Contact(s): Liz Herzmann, DNR wildlife conservation educator, 920-387-7893

HORICON, Wis. – Head to the Horicon Mash Education and Visitor Center March 2 for a hands-on look at how to build bird and bat houses.

This event will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. – speakers will discuss everything from bluebird and wood duck houses to new topics, like bats and raptors. This event is free to the public, and all ages are welcome.

Live raptors will be onsite for viewing – planned events are as follows:

• 9 a.m. – Live, Cavity Nesting Raptors: learn about the perfect setup for drawing nesting raptors and see some live birds up close. Presented by Renee Wahlen, Executive Director of Marsh Haven Nature Center;
• 10 a.m. – Wood Ducks: discover the best ways to make your nest boxes pro-duck-tive, presented by Jeff Bahls, President of the Horicon Marsh Bird Club;
• 11 a.m. – Bats: uncover how you can help bats by separating the good boxes from the bad – presented by Erinn Kronebusch, Wisconsin Department of Natural resources assistant wildlife educator; and
• noon – Bluebirds: identify prime bluebird real estate and how to attract mating pairs, too – presented by Pat Ready, President of the Bluebird Restoration Association of Wisconsin.

For those who wish to purchase a bluebird or wood duck box onsite, the Friends of the Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center will provide kits and fully assembled boxes for sale. Donuts and coffee will also be available for purchase.

Classrooms sessions will feature displays from local bird conservation organizations, including Bluebird Restoration Association of Wisconsin, Horicon Marsh Bird Club, Marsh Haven Nature Center, Wood Duck Society, Horicon NWR and Wisconsin DNR.

For more information regarding this event, call 920-387-7893. The Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center is located between Horicon and Mayville on Highway 28. For a detailed list of all Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center special events, please visit the Friends of Horicon Marsh website at www.horiconmarsh.org [EXIT DNR].