CANCELED - Conservancy Day: Kestrel Boxes – The Difference They Make
2020-05-21 18:30 - 19:30 (America/Chicago) | Kromrey Middle School Room 510, 7009 Donna Drive, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
The May Conservancy Day Program has been canceled due to COVID-19. We are working with the speaker to reschedule for another CD program at a later date.
Pheasant Branch Conservancy has joined the initiative to support the American Kestrel. Over the past forty years American Kestrel numbers have dropped as much as 60% in the Eastern and Midwestern United States. Through a program sponsored by Madison Audubon, two nest boxes were installed in the Conservancy in the fall of 2019. Madison Audubon has been mounting nest boxes on poles for over 25 years and now has 175 boxes in 5 different counties. Learn why these boxes are so very important and how they are monitored by volunteers.
Patrick Ready is an artist and birder living on the west side of Madison. Three years ago he moved there to downsize but couldn’t resist landscaping his yard for birds, bees and butterflies. Last year he retired from Wild Birds Unlimited where he was a back yard nature specialist. A long-time member and volunteer for Madison Audubon he has been monitoring Kestrel boxes for almost 10 years now. Currently he has 23 boxes he manages between Oregon and Mount Horeb. His boxes fledged 31 Kestrel chicks in 2019. Patrick is the current president of the Bluebird Restoration Association of Wisconsin and editor of their newsletter the Wisconsin Bluebird.

Photo credit: Hans Spiecker

Every Conservancy Day is:

Free — thanks to your donations and membership as a Friend
Open to the public
For all ages unless a specific age group is given in the program description
Diverse topics — More than 400 participants each year enjoy topics ranging from wildlife, science, resource management, natural and cultural history and current community issues

Thank you for your generous gifts and participation. You make it possible and you make it great! We welcome you to join us and help spread the word! Mark your calendars for these inspiring and special events the third Thursday of each month, from January through November.

CANCELED - Conservancy Day: The Watershed Chronicles
2020-06-18 18:30 - 19:30 | Parisi Park, 2405 Park St, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
Our June Conservancy Day was going to be a writing workshops with Troy Hess. He led several virtual writing workshops for us in May. Those writing workshops were so popular in May, we decided to continuing the series in June in lieu of this Conservancy Day program.
More information and registration here
________________________________
Please join Troy Hess from On The Yahara Writing Center in a multi-genre writing class to explore ways to express your interests and appreciation for the Yahara watershed. The Yahara watershed encompasses all of the land and waterways that drain to the five Yahara lakes. You will take a look at poetry, memoir and non-fiction sources for inspiration and then begin your own watershed journal-to-writing process. No experience is necessary. This class is inspired by participation in the Yahara Watershed Academy, a citizens’ learning academy dedicated to furthering our knowledge and active concern for the water we live with.
Troy Hess is the founder of On the Yahara Writing Center. He is a Wisconsin native, who has enjoyed nature and the process of writing for as long as he can remember. He volunteers as a Land Restoration Team Leader for the UW Arboretum and blogs about his favorite books, recipes, or travel destinations. On the Yahara is an in-person and online writing center that provides one-on-one writing assistance, as well as group classes on the topics of nature writing, food blogging, sustainability, writing for business, and general writing skills. He is currently teaching an on-line course for the Friends as part of our 25th anniversary celebration, Mary Oliver and the Art of Observation in Nature, and facilitating the continuing on-line book discussion group on The Nature Fix.
RSVPs appreciated but not necessary.
Every Conservancy Day is:

Free — thanks to your donations and membership as a Friend
Open to the public
For all ages unless a specific age group is given in the program description
Diverse topics — More than 400 participants each year enjoy topics ranging from wildlife, science, resource management, natural and cultural history and current community issues

Thank you for your generous gifts and participation. You make it possible and you make it great! We welcome you to join us and help spread the word! Mark your calendars for these inspiring and special events the third Thursday of each month, from January through November.

CANCELED - Conservancy Day: Forest Bathing
2020-07-16 18:30 - 19:30 | Orchid Heights Park, 3960 Valley Ridge Rd, Middleton, WI, 53562
The concept of Forest Bathing, or nature therapy, originated in Japan and has been described as an immersion in the forest atmosphere. It involves slow walks or seated meditation as a means of taking in nature through the senses; primarily sights, sounds, and smells. Practicing forest bathing has shown measurable improvements in both physical and mental health. This presentation will offer information about forest bathing, it’s benefits, and practical suggestions on how to get started.
Beth Bruckbauer is a retired nurse practitioner who worked in the University of Wisconsin system for many years. She has a lifetime love of the outdoors and has spent time hiking in parks and forests throughout the Midwest. In 2019, Beth completed the Master Naturalist Volunteer Certification offered through Pheasant Branch Conservancy, with the goal of learning more about and supporting our natural resources. She developed a presentation on Forest Bathing as part of the course.

Every Conservancy Day is:

Free — thanks to your donations and membership as a Friend
Open to the public
For all ages unless a specific age group is given in the program description
Diverse topics — More than 400 participants each year enjoy topics ranging from wildlife, science, resource management, natural and cultural history and current community issues

Thank you for your generous gifts and participation. You make it possible and you make it great! We welcome you to join us and help spread the word! Mark your calendars for these inspiring and special events the third Thursday of each month, from January through November.
photo credit: Jonah Westrich

CANCELED - Conservancy Day: Tagging Monarch Butterflies
2020-08-20 18:30 - 19:30 | Virtual Event, The instructor will send along a Zoom link two days in advance., WI
August Conservancy Day Canceled (8/17/2020)

Our August Conservancy Day has been cancelled due to the coronavirus situation in Dane County. We thank you for your interest.
Please consider attending a talk sponsored by Madison Audubon on Dragonflies and Damselflies being held live on Facebook on Tuesday evening, August 18, at 7:00 pm as an alternative.

You can learn about the wide diversity and amazing lifestyle of dragon- and damselflies with Dan Jackson. Dan will share the life cycle of these creatures, most common species in southern Wisconsin, and some fascinating tidbits about these ferocious predators.
Dan is a naturalist and a past President and the current Treasurer of both the Wisconsin Dragonfly Society and the Coulee Region Audubon Society. He grew up near LaCrosse and has lived in southwest Wisconsin for 25 years. He is a record reviewer for the Wisconsin Odonata Survey, BugGuide.net, Odonata Central (the Odonata survey of the Dragonfly Society of the Americas), and eBird.
Evenings with Audubon presentations are typically held in person during spring and fall, but they are bringing it to you online this year! To tune in live, visit Madison Audubon’s Facebook page on August 18, 7:00pm and wait for the live feed to start. Can’t attend live? No worries, they will post a link to the recording on their website afterwards.

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Help us tag monarch butterflies in the Conservancy! Monarch tagging starts nationwide on the first official day of monarch migration, close to the middle of August. Citizens across the country will tag monarchs as they migrate south to Mexico. When a tagged butterfly is recaptured elsewhere along its migratory route, the tagger will be notified about where and when it was found, by whom, and how many miles it traveled.
Diane Dempsey is a naturalist who has worked in the area for the past 23 years. You may have met her at the U.W. Arboretum or Pheasant Branch Conservancy or had her as an instructor if you were a student in the Middleton-Cross Plains school district. She is a native of Chicago and received her Master’s Degree from Northern Illinois University where she focused on aquatic insects. She is an instructor with the U.W. Extension Master Naturalist Program. She has been an active volunteer with Project Monarch Watch since 2012.
RSVPs appreciated but not necessary.
Every Conservancy Day is:

Free — thanks to your donations and membership as a Friend
Open to the public
For all ages unless a specific age group is given in the program description
Diverse topics — More than 400 participants each year enjoy topics ranging from wildlife, science, resource management, natural and cultural history and current community issues

Thank you for your generous gifts and participation. You make it possible and you make it great! We welcome you to join us and help spread the word! Mark your calendars for these inspiring and special events the third Thursday of each month, from January through November.
Photo credit: Thomas Stringfellow

Conservancy Day: Bird Collision Corps: Working to Reduce Bird-Window Strikes
2020-09-17 18:30 - 19:30 | Virtual Conservancy Day
Access the recording of this Conservancy Day Program: YouTube channel
Birds and windows are not a good combination, and as a result, hundreds of millions of birds die each year in the US alone as a result of window collisions. Madison Audubon, UW-Madison, and the Dane County Wildlife Center have worked with volunteer citizen scientists since 2018 to study this problem at a local scale in Madison, focused primarily on the UW-Madison campus but with strong programs at other locations. One such location is Kromrey Middle School, where students from Clark Street Community School conduct surveys along the side of Kromrey that abuts Pheasant Branch Creek Corridor. You will learn about the Bird Collision Corps program, and the benefits of such work to birds, buildings, and building inhabitants. This presentation is being offered in partnership with Madison Audubon Society.
Brenna Marsicek is the director of communications and outreach at Madison Audubon, and coordinates the Bird Collision Corps program as part of that work. She has lived in Madison for over 10 years, is a bird fan, plant nerd, and insect nut. She has degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in geography, international studies, and environmental studies, has been a Master Gardener in two states, is a wife to a sports-loving data scientist, and mom to two young children who spend most of their time barefooted and digging in the dirt.
Every Conservancy Day is:

Free — thanks to your donations and membership as a Friend
Open to the public
For all ages unless a specific age group is given in the program description
Diverse topics — More than 400 participants each year enjoy topics ranging from wildlife, science, resource management, natural and cultural history and current community issues

Mark your calendars for these inspiring and special events the third Thursday of each month, from January through November.
Photo: Bird specimens collected by volunteers in the Bird Collision Corps give a snapshot of the diversity and magnitude of the bird-window collision problem at a local scale. Credit: Madison Audubon Society.

Conservancy Day: The Green Schools of Middleton and Cross Plains
2020-10-15 18:30 - 19:30 | Virtual Conservancy Day
Access the recording of this Conservancy Day Program: Video on YouTube channel or FaceBook link
To tune in live, visit the Friends Facebook page on October 15, 6:30 CT and wait for the live feed to start. No Facebook account needed. Can’t attend live? Not a problem. We will post links to the recordings here afterwards.
Did you know that four of our schools and the district as a whole have won the prestigious Green Ribbon Award from the US Department of Education? Did you know that the construction of the elementary school at Pope Farm and renovations to the high school will embrace technology and building practices that reduce the impact of these schools on the environment? Did you know that Pope Farm elementary school will take things a step further and make sustainability a guiding principle at the school? Join us to learn about everything the school district is doing to make our schools greener. Learn how this saves our tax dollars every year and provides for an enriched learning environment for all students at these schools.
The speaker is Perry Hibner, Director of Communications for the Middleton Cross Plains Area School District.
Every Conservancy Day is:

Free — thanks to your donations and membership as a Friend
Open to the public
For all ages unless a specific age group is given in the program description
Diverse topics — More than 400 participants each year enjoy topics ranging from wildlife, science, resource management, natural and cultural history and current community issues

Mark your calendars for these inspiring and special events the third Thursday of each month, from January through November.

Conservancy Day: Mammoths to Muskets: 13,000+ Years of Human History Around Pheasant Branch Conservancy
2020-11-19 18:30 - 19:30 | Virtual Conservancy Day
Access the recording of this Conservancy Day Program: YouTube channel or FaceBook link
This presentation will focus on human history that has occurred and archaeology that has been discovered around the Conservancy and greater Madison area. The presenter, Ryan L. Howell, will summarize the ancient Native American history in this area dating back beyond the last Ice Age, the historical presence of the Ho-Chunk from ancient to modern times, and the initially early arrival of Europeans during the Fur Trade era of the 1600-1800’s. Specific archaeological sites that represent these periods located around and nearby Pheasant Branch Conservancy will be discussed and relevant archaeological artifacts typical of those sites will be shown.
Speaker Biography:
Ryan J. Howell, M.A., RPA, WAS, has done field archaeology and conducted archaeological research in Wisconsin for more than 25 years. He currently works as a DoD archaeologist for the U.S. Army and lives in Middleton, WI. He received his B.A in Archaeology/Anthropology from the University of Wyoming and his Master’s at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1998. He has worked doing archaeology in private-commercial, tribal and government sectors throughout the Upper Midwest, with former employers as diverse as the U.S Army, the Mississippi Valley Archaeology Center (MVAC) and the Prairie Island M’dewankanton Dakota.
His hobbies include giving educational talks to school groups, making and hunting with stone tools, and running a 2,500 member Facebook group named “Wisconsin Archaeological Artifacts” that focuses on public education about archaeology, artifacts and tribal issues in Wisconsin.
His archaeological research interests include both the pre-contact and historic contact eras of Wisconsin history, with specific published articles focused on the Archaic, Woodland and Fur Trade eras. In Dane County, his work has focused on burial mound sites, Ho-Chunk Nation villages and 1810’s fur trade posts many of which can be found within a handful of miles from the Pheasant Branch Conservancy.
Conservancy Day programs are moving online and there is no need to register in advance. Please join us on the third Thursday of each month from 6:30 to 7:30 pm live on our Facebook page. No Facebook account is needed.
Every Conservancy Day is:

Free — thanks to your donations and membership as a Friend
Open to the public
For all ages unless a specific age group is given in the program description
Diverse topics — More than 400 participants each year enjoy topics ranging from wildlife, science, resource management, natural and cultural history and current community issues

Mark your calendars for these inspiring and special events the third Thursday of each month, from January through November.

Conservancy Day: Dane County's Climate Action Plan
2021-01-21 18:30 - 19:30 | Virtual Conservancy Day
Climate change is a global issue with local impacts—like the 2018 floods that devastated some parts of Dane County. If you are curious about what’s happening to address climate change locally or if you want to know what you can do, join us on January 21! Dane County Executive Joe Parisi will talk about the county’s clean energy and climate efforts and Kathy Kuntz, Director of the Office of Energy & Climate Change, will talk about the County’s climate action plan, including various ways you can get involved in local efforts to address a global challenge.
Bios:
Joe Parisi has called Dane County home his entire life. He sought out public service as a way to give back to a community that has given so much to him. Joe was first elected as County Executive in 2011 after 6 years in the State Assembly and 8 years as Dane County Clerk.
Kathy Kuntz is the Director of the Office of Energy & Climate Change. Kathy has almost 30 years of experience helping businesses and residents adopt sustainable practices. Prior to joining Dane County, Kathy led a nonprofit called Cool Choices and before that she led Focus on Energy, Wisconsin’s statewide energy efficiency and renewable energy program.
Conservancy Day programs are virtual. To tune in live, visit the Friends Facebook page and wait for the live feed to start. No Facebook account needed. Can’t attend live? Not a problem. We will post links to the recordings on our YouTube channel, Facebook page and here afterwards.
Every Conservancy Day is:

Free — thanks to your donations and membership as a Friend
Open to the public
For all ages unless a specific age group is given in the program description
Diverse topics — More than 400 participants each year enjoy topics ranging from wildlife, science, resource management, natural and cultural history and current community issues

Mark your calendars for these inspiring and special events the third Thursday of each month, from January through November.

Conservancy Day: Prairies
2021-02-18 18:30 - 19:30 | Virtual Conservancy Day
Prairies are an important part of our landscape in Middleton and southern Wisconsin. They are so important that Dane County is creating a platinum prairie in the new 160 acre addition to the Conservancy. Learn more about our local prairies in this presentation by Rob Schubert, the Land Manager for Pheasant Branch Conservancy. Rob will discuss the types of prairies found in our area, prairie ecology, restored prairies and prairie gardens for the home landscape.
Conservancy Day programs are virtual. To tune in live, visit the Friends Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy- YouTube Channel and wait for the live feed to start. No account needed. Can’t attend live? Not a problem. We will post the recording on our YouTube channel and provide links here and on our Facebook page afterwards.
Every Conservancy Day is:

Free — thanks to your donations and membership as a Friend
Open to the public
For all ages unless a specific age group is given in the program description
Diverse topics — More than 400 participants each year enjoy topics ranging from wildlife, science, resource management, natural and cultural history and current community issues

Mark your calendars for these inspiring and special events the third Thursday of each month, from January through November.

Conservancy Day: Kestrel Boxes – The Difference They Make
2021-03-18 18:30 - 19:30 | Virtual Conservancy Day
Conservancy Day programs are virtual events- PLEASE REGISTER .
Speaker will be Patrick Ready, Madison Audubon volunteer and kestrel box manager.
Pheasant Branch Conservancy has joined the initiative to support the American Kestrel. Over the past forty years American Kestrel numbers have dropped as much as 60% in the Eastern and Midwestern United States. Through a program sponsored by Madison Audubon, two nest boxes were installed in the Conservancy in the fall of 2019. Madison Audubon has been mounting nest boxes on poles for over 25 years and now has 175 boxes in 5 different counties. Learn why these boxes are so very important and how they are monitored by volunteers.
Biography:
Patrick Ready is an artist and birder living on the west side of Madison. Four years ago he moved there to downsize but couldn’t resist landscaping his yard for birds, bees and butterflies. Two years ago he retired from Wild Birds Unlimited where he was a backyard nature specialist. A long-time member and volunteer for Madison Audubon he has been monitoring Kestrel boxes for almost 10 years now. Currently he has 23 boxes he manages between Oregon and Mount Horeb. His boxes fledged 31 Kestrel chicks in 2019. Patrick is the current president of the Bluebird Restoration Association of Wisconsin and editor of their newsletter the Wisconsin Bluebird.
Conservancy Day programs are virtual. To tune in live, please register for the zoom link HERE. Can’t attend live? Not a problem. We will post links to the recordings on our YouTube channel, Facebook page and here afterwards.
Every Conservancy Day is:

Free — thanks to your donations and membership as a Friend
Open to the public
For all ages unless a specific age group is given in the program description
Diverse topics — More than 400 participants each year enjoy topics ranging from wildlife, science, resource management, natural and cultural history and current community issues

Mark your calendars for these inspiring and special events the third Thursday of each month, from January through November.

Conservancy Day: Pheasant Branch Conservancy Prairie Birds: Now and Future
2021-04-15 18:30 - 19:30 | Virtual Conservancy Day
Conservancy Day programs are virtual events- PLEASE REGISTER .
Speakers will be Deborah Turski and Sherry Caves, Master Naturalists and project managers.
How are prairie birds doing in the Conservancy? Local birders had noticed a decline in the numbers of at least eight species in the Conservancy since 2009. Janet Kane, mentoring for PBC’s Wisconsin Master Naturalist (WIMN) program, engaged Sherry Caves and Deb Turski to evaluate past data and make plans to gather future data to determine the status of these birds in the Conservancy. A pilot survey in 2019 informed development of a five-year monitoring plan, which will also monitor changes related to the Acker addition. This was started in 2020 with a larger team of volunteers recording data from scheduled birdwalks into the online eBird program. Join us to learn about this project, what the data indicates, and how it may impact restoration planning.
Biography: Janet Kane is a long-time volunteer with the Friends. In addition to being a faculty member of the Friends’ WIMN program, she has made many contributions to the Friends’ restoration and education programs and served on ad hoc committees addressing special issues in the Conservancy.
Deb Turski is a 2019 graduate of the Friends’ WIMN program. Inspired by her love of birds and birding, she is active in conservation advocacy and citizen science through the Friends and many other organizations.
Conservancy Day programs are Virtual. Please register for the zoom link HERE.
Can’t attend live? Not a problem. We will post links to the recordings on our YouTube Channel, Facebook page and here afterwards.
Every Conservancy Day is:

Free — thanks to your donations and membership as a Friend
Open to the public
For all ages unless a specific age group is given in the program description
Diverse topics — More than 400 participants each year enjoy topics ranging from wildlife, science, resource management, natural and cultural history and current community issues

Mark your calendars for these inspiring and special events the third Thursday of each month, from January through November.

Conservancy Day: When Things Happen
2021-05-20 18:30 - 19:30 | Virtual Conservancy Day
Speaker will be Randy Hoffman, Author of When Things Happen: A Guide to Natural Events in Wisconsin
Randy Hoffman will present how his book When Things Happen came to be. Discussion of how the book fills an information gap in a person’s nature experience highlights the talk. Exploration of the innumerable benefits of nature experiences provides the background for the book. The talk will conclude with examples from the local area regarding where to experience nature’s bounty.
Bio: Randy Hoffman is a retired DNR Ecologist. He spent nearly thirty years of government service working for the State Natural Areas Program. He is also the author of Wisconsin’s Natural communities and the primary contributor to Wisconsin’s Important Bird Areas. Randy lives with his wife in Waunakee, volunteers doing prairie restoration and enjoys nature adventures.

REGISTER HERE

Conservancy Day programs are virtual. Can’t attend live? Not a problem. We will post a link to the recording on our YouTube channel, following the event.
Every Conservancy Day is:

Free — thanks to your donations and membership as a Friend
Open to the public
For all ages unless a specific age group is given in the program description
Diverse topics — More than 400 participants each year enjoy topics ranging from wildlife, science, resource management, natural and cultural history and current community issues

Mark your calendars for these inspiring and special events the third Thursday of each month, from January through November.

Conservancy Day: Exploring Nature With a Camera
2021-06-17 18:30 - 19:30 | Orchid Heights Park, 3960 Valley Ridge Rd, Middleton, WI, 53562
Thursday June 17th, 6:30-7:30
This Conservancy Day will be in person. Meet at the Orchid Heights Park Pavilion.
Have you ever had a wonderful meal at a friend’s house and said that the meal was so delicious the chef must have used an expensive set of pots and pans. Probably not. More likely, the meal was savored and the experience was fondly remembered. The same thing can happen when trying to capture a memorable moment outdoors. Fancy equipment is not required to make such a photo. In this workshop, we will explore techniques for creating a photo memory of the moment. We will think in terms of insects, plants and the larger landscape. There will not be time to delve into wildlife photography.
Participants will bring a photographic tool (cell phone, point and shoot, multi-lens camera) and be able to turn it on and take a picture. We will be walking short distances.
John Kalson is an experienced amateur photographer who savors the close observation of things in nature aided by the camera in his hands. He uses a number of techniques to create a photograph that closely captures the vision and emotion of his experiences. He uses a variety of equipment – cell phone, point and shoot cameras, interchangeable lens cameras, and cameras modified for infrared. Using photography, John works with a number of local non-profit organizations. His work has been exhibited by the Wisconsin State Journal, the UW Ophthalmology Department, Holy Wisdom Monastery, Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts and Sciences and the River Arts Center in Sauk Prairie.
Click Here to view a gallery of photos made by exploring with a camera. John invites you to view other galleries of his work on the site as well.
Can’t attend live? Not a problem. We will post links to the recordings on our YouTube channel, Facebook page and here afterwards.
Every Conservancy Day is:

Free — thanks to your donations and membership as a Friend
Open to the public
For all ages unless a specific age group is given in the program description
Diverse topics — More than 400 participants each year enjoy topics ranging from wildlife, science, resource management, natural and cultural history and current community issues

Mark your calendars for these inspiring and special events the third Thursday of each month, from January through November.

Conservancy Day: Wonder Outside the Lines with Colleen Robinson
2021-07-15 18:30 - 19:30 | Dane County Parking Lot, 4864 Pheasant Branch Road, Middleton, Wisconsin, 53562
Thursday July 15th, 6:30-7:30 pm
Join Colleen Robinson from Nature’s Good Company, LLC for a guided mindful outdoor experience. We will gently explore the benefits of getting outside and going within. Mindful movement and guided sensory awareness in nature is proven to reduce stress hormones in our bodies, decrease blood pressure, and improve immune response. Nature’s impacts don’t stop with each of us though. When we embody the felt sense of a reawakened connection to the natural world, we broaden our perspectives, have more capacity for compassion and creativity, care better for our communities, and become more effective environmental stewards. Come on more than a nature hike…let yourself be guided.
Biography:
Colleen was born and raised in Madison, WI on land that is in deep relationship with Ho-Chunk people. An environmental educator by training, Colleen was the education program coordinator for the Friends for 14 years, ran forest health program communications at the WI DNR for 10 years, and now is Communications Manager for the national non-profit Forest Stewards Guild. She’s held a life-long core value of helping people meaningfully connect with and acknowledge their connection with nature. Though her career has been aligned with that core value, something has always been missing. Her new business fills the gap and Colleen feels called to guide for the sake of the environment, herself, everyone she loves, and everyone sharing this planet.
Meeting Place: Dane County parking lot on 4864 Pheasant Branch Road MAP.
Registration required.

REGISTER HERE

Registration is limited to 15 participants. If a waitlist fills to capacity, we may offer another session. No prior mindfulness experience necessary. Little travel involved in this program, participants will stay close to the starting location.
Every Conservancy Day is:

Free — thanks to your donations and membership as a Friend
Open to the public
For all ages unless a specific age group is given in the program description
Diverse topics — More than 400 participants each year enjoy topics ranging from wildlife, science, resource management, natural and cultural history and current community issues

Mark your calendars for these inspiring and special events the third Thursday of each month, from January through November.

Conservancy Day: Fungi Underfoot and Overhead with Andrea Gargas
2021-08-19 18:30 - 19:30 | Orchid Heights Park, 3960 Valley Ridge Rd, Middleton, WI, 53562
Neither plants nor animals, members of the fascinating Fungal kingdom are pervasive partners and recyclers in the natural landscape. This walk and talk will provide a new perspective on the visible and microscopic fungi that associate with native species in ways beneficial and/or pathogenic. Bring a hand lens or magnifying glass if you have one, and any questions you’ve always wanted to ask.
Biography:
Andrea Gargas is a mycologist who studies the evolution and relationships of fungal species based on their DNA sequences. She discovered that fungi have taken up the lichen lifestyle several times, and recently described a new fungal species that causes Bat White Nose Syndrome. She has written a Phenology Calendar sponsored by FOPB since 2008. Visit Andrea’s website: Symbiology.com

RSVP: Please RSVP to conservancyday@pheasantbranch.org

Every Conservancy Day is:

Free — thanks to your donations and membership as a Friend
Open to the public
For all ages unless a specific age group is given in the program description
Diverse topics — More than 400 participants each year enjoy topics ranging from wildlife, science, resource management, natural and cultural history and current community issues

Mark your calendars for these inspiring and special events the third Thursday of each month, from January through November.

Conservancy Day: Working Together Toward a Cleaner Energy Future with Leah Samson
2021-09-16 18:30 - 19:30 | Virtual Conservancy Day
Virtual Event please register below.
Did you know that Madison Gas and Electric (MGE) has clean energy projects in Middleton and throughout Wisconsin? Join us as MGE’s Leah Samson talks us through your community energy company’s wind, solar and battery storage projects, and shares information on how MGE is working with customers to reduce our collective energy use, electrify transportation and achieve net-zero carbon electricity.
Biography:
Leah Samson has worked at MGE for 3 years helping residential customers understand their energy use, educating how to make their home energy efficiency and answering any other residential related questions. She has a Mechanical Engineering degree from the UW-Madison. She previously owned Madison Environmental Group, a sustainability consulting firm and worked at Placon in several positions during her 8 years there.
Registration required.

REGISTER HERE FOR VIRTUAL EVENT

Every Conservancy Day is:

Free — thanks to your donations and membership as a Friend
Open to the public
For all ages unless a specific age group is given in the program description
Diverse topics — More than 400 participants each year enjoy topics ranging from wildlife, science, resource management, natural and cultural history and current community issues

Mark your calendars for these inspiring and special events the third Thursday of each month, from January through November.

Conservancy Day: Eagle-Eyed Citizen Science: Bald Eagle Nest Watch With Drew Cashman
2021-10-21 18:30 - 19:30 | Virtual Conservancy Day
Photo credit: Gail Smith
Virtual Event Please register below.
Through the tremendous power of on-the-ground volunteers, the Bald Eagle Nest Watch program has gathered important information about the health, productivity, and nesting success of approximately 100 Bald Eagle nests in Wisconsin in 2021. Join us on zoom to learn more about what these volunteers look for, and some highlights of the nesting season!
Bio: Drew Cashman is a volunteer with Madison Audubon, and the inspiration behind the Bald Eagle Nest Watch Program. Drew moved to Wisconsin in 2017, after living in and participating in a BENW program in New York and Colorado, and approached Madison Audubon about launching a similar program shortly after. He is a dad of 3 young boys, and helps run the BENW program each year. Both his kids and the program are growing like weeds! Drew enjoys hiking, birding, and spending time with his “eaglets”.
Registration required.

REGISTER HERE for ZOOM EVENT

Every Conservancy Day is:

Free — thanks to your donations and membership as a Friend
Open to the public
For all ages unless a specific age group is given in the program description
Diverse topics — More than 400 participants each year enjoy topics ranging from wildlife, science, resource management, natural and cultural history and current community issues

Mark your calendars for these inspiring and special events the third Thursday of each month, from January through November.

Conservancy Day: Are You Salt Wise? Pheasant Branch Creek Needs You to Be! with Allison Madison
2021-11-18 18:30 - 19:30 | Virtual Conservancy Day
Virtual Event- Please register below
Pheasant Branch Creek is one of four waterbodies in Dane County, and over 40 waterbodies across Wisconsin, that are impaired by high chloride concentrations. Learn about the various contributors – it’s not just road salt, what’s being done to protect the creek, and how you can get involved.
Bio:
Allison Madison is the first-ever staff person at Wisconsin Salt Wise. Since assuming her role in June 2020, she has spearheaded statewide collaboration around salt reduction. Allison has 10+ years of experience in science and sustainability education in both formal and informal settings from the Appalachian mountains to Olympic National Park, classrooms in inner-city Milwaukee to the ponderosa pine forests of Colorado’s Front Range. Allison graduated from St. Olaf College and has a joint MS. in Environment and Resources and Soil Science from the University of Wisconsin. She’s passionate about protecting Wisconsin’s freshwater resources and celebrating their beauty by paddling, swimming, skiing, etc.
Registration required.

REGISTER HERE FOR VIRTUAL EVENT

Every Conservancy Day is:

Free — thanks to your donations and membership as a Friend
Open to the public
For all ages unless a specific age group is given in the program description
Diverse topics — More than 400 participants each year enjoy topics ranging from wildlife, science, resource management, natural and cultural history and current community issues

Mark your calendars for these inspiring and special events the third Thursday of each month, from January through November.

Conservancy Day: Wolf Conservation in Wisconsin: From Endangered Species to Hunted Species
2022-01-20 18:30 - 19:30 | Virtual Conservancy Day
Virtual Event Thursday January 20- Please register below
Join us on Zoom for a science-based discussion about the policy issues surrounding wolves in Wisconsin with experts from Wisconsin’s Green Fire. Wisconsin’s Green Fire supports the conservancy legacy of the state by promoting science-based management of Wisconsin’s Natural Resources. Learn how this organization is involved with Wisconsin Wolves and about the current issues, legislation and politics surrounding wolves in our state.
Presenters: Fred Clark- Executive Director of Wisconsin’s Green Fire and Adrian Wydeven- Certified Wildlife Biologist- Wisconsin’s Green Fire
Bios: Fred Clark joins Green Fire as the Executive Director from a 30-year career in Wisconsin conservation. Fred was previously the director of The Forest Stewards Guild – a national organization dedicated to sustainable forestry and forest science. He has worked as a forest ecologist for Wisconsin Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, as a forester for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and as a consulting forester and owner of a forestry contracting business. Fred received a B.S. from Michigan State University in 1985, and an M.S. in Forest Science from the University of Wisconsin – Madison in 1992.
Adrian Wydeven obtained a BS degree in Biology and Wildlife Management at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 1976, and a MS degree in Wildlife Ecology from Iowa State University at Ames in 1979. In 1982 he returned to Wisconsin to work for the Department of Natural Resources as a wildlife manager in Oshkosh, Appleton, and Shawano 1982-1990. From 1990-2013 Adrian moved to Park Falls, heading up the state wolf recovery and management programs and other programs on non-game wildlife in northern Wisconsin. In February 2013, he began to work as a Forest Wildlife Specialist, promoting forest management practices that enhanced or protected habitat for various forest wildlife species working closely with foresters, land agencies and landowners. Adrian retired from the DNR on January 3, 2015. He worked part-time as coordinator of the Timber Wolf Alliance with the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute (SOEI) at Northland College in Ashland, WI, from September 2015 through June 2017. He continues to volunteer as the Chair of the Timber Wolf Alliance Advisory Council, and does contract with the SOEI for workshops and talks; does volunteer wolf, bird, bat surveys, and Snapshot camera surveys for WDNR; and is active as a volunteer with Wisconsin Green Fire where he co-chairs the Wildlife Working Group.
Registration required

REGISTER HERE FOR VIRTUAL EVENT

Mark your calendars for these inspiring and special events the third Wednesday of each month, from January through November 2022.
Every Conservancy Day is:

Free — thanks to your donations and membership as a Friend
Open to the public
For all ages unless a specific age group is given in the program description
Diverse topics — More than 400 participants each year enjoy topics ranging from wildlife, science, resource management, natural and cultural history and current community issues

SEPTEMBER CONSERVANCY DAY- UTILIZING DRONE IMAGING
2022-09-21 18:30 - 19:30 | Middleton Public Library, 7425 Hubbard Ave, Middleton, WI, 53562
Conservancy Day Event!
Wednesday September 21 6:30-7:30 PM
Middleton Public Library
Full details HERE

JANUARY CONSERVANCY DAY- WORKING TOGETHER TOWARD A CLEANER ENERGY FUTURE
2023-01-18 18:00 - 19:00 | Middleton Public Library, 7425 Hubbard Ave, Middleton, WI, 53562
Full Program Details Here

Conservancy Day: Madison Audubon Society: Accessibility in Birding
2023-05-17 18:30 - 20:00 | Middleton Public Library, 7425 Hubbard Ave, Middleton, WI, 53562
Full details and registration HERE

CONSERVANCY DAY: ACKER FARM RESTORATION UPDATE
2023-07-19 18:00 - 20:00 | Middleton Public Library, 7425 Hubbard Ave, Middleton, WI, 53562
Details and registration HERE

CONSERVANCY DAY: Updating Wisconsin's Wolf Management Plan
2023-09-20 18:00 - 19:30 | Middleton Public Library, 7425 Hubbard Ave, Middleton, WI, 53562
Join Randy Johnson, large carnivore specialist for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, for a discussion on all things wolves in Wisconsin. In this talk, Randy will focus on the recent efforts to update the state’s wolf management plan, including a summary of the plan’s key elements.
Join Randy Johnson, large carnivore specialist for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, for a discussion on all things wolves in Wisconsin. In this talk, Randy will focus on the recent efforts to update the state’s wolf management plan, including a summary of the plan’s key elements and ultimately what it all means for Wisconsinites and for wolves.

Register Here

Friends of Urban Nature (FUN) Bird and Nature Adventure: Insect Superpowers
2023-09-23 13:30 - 15:00 | 4864 Pheasant Branch Road, Middleton, WI 53562
Join Master Naturalist Marjorie Rhine for a free fun family friendly guided walk to learn all about insects.
Location: Pheasant Branch Homestead Parking Lot 4864 Pheasant Branch Road
This is a free, welcoming, diverse, educational, fun and family friendly program.
Post your pictures and comments on our FaceBook and Instagram pages!
Monthly Guided Bird and Nature Adventures are on the 4th Saturday of each month at 1:30 in Pheasant Branch Conservancy. These events are co-sponsored by Madison FUN partners, Madison Audubon and the Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy. See the FUN webpage, and the Madison Audubon Webpage and FOPBC Webpage for more activities.
Contact 608-698-0104 for information about FUN Bird and Nature Adventures.

Conservancy day- Spring flowers & folklore
2023-11-15 18:00 - 19:30 | Middleton Public Library, 7425 Hubbard Ave, Middleton, WI, 53562
Wednesday, November 15, at 6:00pm
Location: Middleton Public Library- In the downstairs Archer Room
Imagine 75+ years ago a walk in the woods and pasture with your grandfather sharing stories about the wildflowers and stories of his youth.
Wayne Pauly spent 43 years as Dane County naturalist and restoration ecologist for the county parks, working with thousands of school children and adults restoring 800 acres of prairie and savanna woodlands.

REGISTER HERE

Conservancy Days: Citizen Science Water Monitoring in Pheasant Branch Watershed
2024-03-21 18:00 - 20:00 | Middleton Public Library, 7425 Hubbard Ave, Middleton, WI, 53562
Learn about the Community Water Monitoring Network (CWMN) and the volunteer monitoring efforts that are happening in the Pheasant Branch Conservancy on Thursday, March 21 at 6pm.
Held at the Middleton Public Library this event is presented by:

Helen Schlimm, Center for Limnology at UW-Madison
Herb Garn, retired Professional Hydrologist from U. S Geological Survey, and Co-chair of Watershed Committee, Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy
Rick Eilertson, Consulting Engineer and Watershed Committee member, Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy

Register for a seat at midlibrary.org/events.

Conservancy Days: Birding by Ear with Tim Hansel
2024-05-16 18:00 - 19:30 | Middleton Public Library, 7425 Hubbard Ave, Middleton, WI, 53562
Join us for an immersive birding experience as we explore the world of birding by ear. In this presentation, you’ll learn how to identify bird species by their unique songs and calls. Delve into the fascinating melodies of our feathered friends, discovering the stories behind their vocalizations and the secrets they hold about their habitats and behaviors. Whether you’re a seasoned birder or new to the world of birdwatching, this auditory adventure will deepen your appreciation for the avian wonders that surround us.
Timothy Hansel is the education coordinator for the Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy, an avid birder, and photographer. He is also a Wisconsin Master Naturalist and serves as a Wisconsin Master Naturalist instructor for The Prairie Enthusiasts. With a Ph.D. in philosophy, Timothy has 16 years of teaching experience, focusing on topics such as environmental ethics and critical thinking.
Registration required—sign up at midlibrary.org/events.
Conservancy Days occur at 6pm on the third Thursday of the month at the Middleton Public Library, 7425 Hubbard Ave.

Conservancy Days: New Development and Runoff Issues for Pheasant Branch Conservancy with Amanda Niebur
2024-07-18 18:00 - 19:30 | Middleton Public Library, 7425 Hubbard Ave, Middleton, WI, 53562
Conservancy Days occur at 6pm on the third Thursday of the month at the Middleton Public Library, 7425 Hubbard Ave.
Registration required—sign up at midlibrary.org/events.

Conservancy Days: Raptor Demonstration with Hoo’s Woods Raptor Center
2024-09-19 18:00 - 19:30 | Middleton Public Library, 7425 Hubbard Ave, Middleton, WI, 53562
