Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy

Conservancy Day: Working Together Toward a Cleaner Energy Future with Leah Samson
2021-09-16 18:30 - 19:30 (America/Chicago) | 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.

Salt Wise Paddle
2021-09-14 18:00 - 20:00 | Marshall Park, 2101 Allen Blvd., Middleton, WI, 53562
Join in some citizen science fun on the water! All ages welcome at these hands-on events. State and local experts will guide inquiry-based investigations into salt concentrations in freshwater. Participants will go home with the tools to support local monitoring efforts.
BYOB (bring your own boat).

REGISTER HERE

CANCELED- Family Walkabout: Summer
2021-08-28 10:00 - 11:00 | Meet at parking lot opposite Gaylord Nelson Road. Google address: 3649 Pheasant Branch Rd, 3649 Pheasant Branch Rd
Even during the lazy days of summer life is busy in the Conservancy! Join a Pheasant Branch Naturalist on August 28 for an hour of exploration. During the Walkabout, we will search for birds and bugs in the tree tops and in the flowers to see what they are up to.
This is a family-friendly event designed especially for children in preschool through 5th grade, with an accompanying adult. Participation will be limited to the first 12 children who register. Adults are not counted. You will be notified by email if you are in the guided group. If registration fills up, join us at 9:55 to meet the naturalists and then set out on your own to explore.

REGISTER HERE

Make a Memory Day: Limited Mobility Day
2021-08-24 10:00 - 12:00 | Orchid Heights Park, 3960 Valley Ridge Rd., Middleton, WI, 53562
Tuesday, August 24, 2021 10:00 am – Noon (rain date is August 25th)

REGISTER FOR LIMITED MOBILITY DAY

This event is designed for seniors with limited mobility and their care givers and partners.
The day will start at the Orchid Heights Park pavilion for a nature talk focused on the human senses and an activity of Forest Bathing/Slow Walks.
Participants will be entertained by local musicians featuring music about Nature. Throughout the program time, there will be opportunities for sensory experiences in the Conservancy led by trained Master Naturalists.
Registration deadline is Wednesday, August 10, 2021
Questions? Contact John Daly (jhdaly@charter.net)

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.

CANCELED Make a Memory: Dementia Friendly Day
2021-08-19 10:00 - 12:00 | Orchid Heights Park, 3960 Valley Ridge Rd., Middleton, WI, 53562
We encourage interested people to come to Limited Mobility Day – Tuesday, August 24, 2021. This event is also dementia-friendly.
Questions? Contact John Daly (jhdaly@charter.net)

WISCONSIN MASTER NATURALIST COURSE 2021
2021-08-06 08:00 - 17:00 | Kromrey Middle School Cafetorium, 7009 Donna Drive, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
The Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy is hosting a Master Naturalist Course in Middleton beginning August 6, 2021. CLICK HERE For Details

25th Anniversary Celebration of the Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy
2021-08-01 17:00 - 20:00 | Capital Brewery Bier Garten, 7734 Terrace Ave, Middleton, WI, 53562
What were you doing in 1995? Here in Middleton, a small group of concerned citizens was busy forming the Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy. These individuals had the foresight to organize and become advocates for this unique natural area. Their meaningful work and legacy are represented in the Friends’ mission statement – “To restore, protect and promote the Pheasant Branch Conservancy and watershed for today and tomorrow.”

We are finally able to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Friends, together and outdoors! This special event will take place on Sunday, August 1, 2021 from 5:00 – 8:00 pm at the Capital Brewery in Middleton. It will be a gathering of members of the Friends and community people of all ages who treasure the Pheasant Branch Conservancy. There will be live music by the popular gypsy jazz group Harmonious Wail and other local musicians, displays about the first 25 years of the Friends, and the opportunity to meet some of our original founders.

There is no charge for admission, though donations are welcome. Food and drinks will be available for sale.

We hope to see you on August 1.

Friends of Urban Nature (FUN) Bird and Nature Adventure: Summer Tree Phenology
2021-07-24 13:30 - 15:00 | 2500 Park Lawn Place ( meet at creek corridor trailhead), 2500 Park Lawn Place, Middleton, WI, 53562
Saturday July 24, 1:30 – 3:00pm

No registration required

Join Naturalist and Tree Expert Sean Gere for a free, fun, family friendly, guided outing to enjoy the beautiful trees in the Creek Corridor! Use an app like Seek to help you identify some trees by taking a picture of leaves.

See the FUN webpage, http://tinyurl.com/MadisonFunAdventures, for Fun Facts and Activities about Native Trees and Tree ID!
Monthly Bird and Nature Adventures on the 4th Saturday in Pheasant Branch Conservancy are co-sponsored by Madison FUN partners Madison Audubon and the Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy. These are welcoming, family friendly, educational, no registration required and no pets. See Madison Audubon and FOPBC webpages for more activities!

Post your pictures and comments on our FaceBook and Instagram pages!

Meeting Place: 2500 Park Lawn Place (meet at creek corridor trail head)
See the Map

Contact 608-698-0104 for information about FUN Bird and Nature Adventures.

ALL-IN: The Pheasant Branch Conservancy Watershed: What it is and Why it is Important
2021-07-19 08:30 - 10:00 | Dane County Parking Lot, 4864 Pheasant Branch Road, Middleton, Wisconsin, 53562
Join us July 19th from 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM for this summer’s ALL-IN (Active Lifelong Learners in Nature) program!
Active senior adults are invited to join us on a walk to learn the ancient and current story of the Pheasant Branch Conservancy watershed, why it is important to the quality of the water that flows into our lakes, and how we can work together to improve and preserve it.
Participants will meet at the county parking lot on Pheasant Branch Road near Fredericks Hill. Presentations will be shared along a walk of about a half mile. Participants may join naturalists for the remaining mile or so to complete the full loop around the prairie bordering Fredricks Hill, if desired.
STARTING LOCATION: Dane County Parking Lot for the Conservancy. 4864 Pheasant Branch Road.
ENDING LOCATION: Acker property boundary north of Fredricks Hill
Map of the Hike
Registration is limited to 20 participants. We will keep a waitlist.

REGISTER HERE

Rain date is July 20th.

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.

FRIENDS OF URBAN NATURE (FUN) BIRD AND NATURE ADVENTURE: PRAIRIE PLANT ID
2021-06-26 13:30 - 15:00 | Dane County Parking Lot, 4864 Pheasant Branch Road, Middleton, Wisconsin, 53562
No registration required

Join Master Naturalist, Deb Weitzel, for a free, fun, family-friendly outing to enjoy beautiful prairie plants of all shapes and sizes! Download and learn how to use the SEEK App see if you can identify some prairie plants and learn more about them.

Post your pictures and comments on our FaceBook and Instagram pages!

Monthly Bird and Nature Adventures on the 4th Saturday in Pheasant Branch Conservancy 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 for more activities.

Meeting Place: Dane County Parking Lot- 4864 Pheasant Branch Road
See the Map

Contact 608-698-0104 for information about FUN Bird and Nature Adventures.

Nature writing class- Blue Iris
2021-06-18 12:00 - 13:30 | Dane County Parking Lot, 4864 Pheasant Branch Road, Middleton, Wisconsin, 53562
Blue Iris: from Mary Oliver and the Art of Observation Series
These writing workshops are held in partnership with Troy Hess, the founder of On the Yahara Writing Center. We hope to include and engage interested participants of all ages and encourage an intergenerational approach for our Pheasant Branch Conservancy education outreach. These workshops are free and are funded by the Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy as part of our 25th Anniversary celebration.
Let’s continue our discussion of Mary Oliver poetry out on the Pheasant Branch Trail! Blue Iris is a special selection of poetry and “essays on the beauty and wonder of plants. The poet considers roses, of course, as well as poppies and peonies; lilies and morning glories; the thick-bodied black oak and the fragrant white pine; the tall sunflowers and the slender bean.” For the first class, we will primarily work through Blue Iris selections and discuss themes; for the second, please bring your own poem or favorite from collection to read.
A common reading will be sent out before each session. This is the second of two classes in the Blue Iris session.
Workshops will meet in person at the Dane County Parking lot: 4864 Pheasant Branch Road
If regulations for outdoor gatherings change, a Zoom link will be sent out two days before the class.
PREREGISTRATION REQUIRED, REGISTER HERE.

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.

Wednesday Walkabout: Terrific Trees
2021-06-16 09:00 - 10:30 | Highland Way Entrance- Bock Forest, 5672 Highland Way, Middleton, WI, 53562
A guided walkabout, an art project, a story…
Join a Pheasant Branch Naturalist for a Terrific Tree experience in the Bock Forest. This series is designed for children in preschool through fifth grade, with an accompanying adult. Space is limited to the first 10 children who register for each session, so sign up soon! (We will keep a wait list.)
Meeting Place: Bock Forest- Highland Way Entrance 5672 Highland Way MAP
Arrival time: 8:45 am

REGISTER HERE

Nature writing class- Blue Iris
2021-06-11 12:00 - 13:30 | Dane County Parking Lot, 4864 Pheasant Branch Road, Middleton, Wisconsin, 53562
Blue Iris: from Mary Oliver and the Art of Observation Series
These writing workshops are held in partnership with Troy Hess, the founder of On the Yahara Writing Center. We hope to include and engage interested participants of all ages and encourage an intergenerational approach for our Pheasant Branch Conservancy education outreach. These workshops are free and are funded by the Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy as part of our 25th Anniversary celebration.
Let’s continue our discussion of Mary Oliver poetry out on the Pheasant Branch Trail! Blue Iris is a special selection of poetry and “essays on the beauty and wonder of plants. The poet considers roses, of course, as well as poppies and peonies; lilies and morning glories; the thick-bodied black oak and the fragrant white pine; the tall sunflowers and the slender bean.” For the first class, we will primarily work through Blue Iris selections and discuss themes; for the second, please bring your own poem or favorite from collection to read.
A common reading will be sent out before each session. This is the first of two classes in the Blue Iris session.
Workshops will meet in person at the Dane County Parking lot: 4864 Pheasant Branch Road
If regulations for outdoor gatherings change, a Zoom link will be sent out two days before the class.
PREREGISTRATION REQUIRED, REGISTER HERE.

ECO-POETRY AS HEALING ART
2021-06-01 10:00 - 23:30 | Dane County Parking Lot, 4864 Pheasant Branch Road, Middleton, Wisconsin, 53562
These writing workshops are held in partnership with Troy Hess, the founder of On the Yahara Writing Center. We hope to include and engage interested participants of all ages and encourage an intergenerational approach for our Pheasant Branch Conservancy education outreach. These workshops are free and are funded by the Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy as part of our 25th Anniversary celebration.

“The Great Work, based on the story of life’s unfolding, moves us away from a preoccupation with the self into the larger ecological self of the Earth Community. This movement has deep implications for our psychological healing, awakening in us a sense of both awe and belonging.” – K. Lauren de Boer, “Healing and the Great Work,” from Ecotherapy: Healing with Nature in Mind.
For this two-part class we will use the quote above as inspiration to consider ways of finding spiritual practice in the process of understanding and writing eco-centric poetry. An eco-spiritual practice will often have to do with experiencing the natural world first-hand, observing it in relation to self, and then creating as a natural act in itself that allows us to restore our connection to place, self, the earth. We will supplement our reading with Trebbe Johnson’s Radical Joy for Hard Times.
A common reading will be sent out before each session. This is the second of two classes in the Eco-poetry session.
Workshops will meet in person at the Dane County Parking lot: 4864 Pheasant Branch Road
If regulations for outdoor gatherings change, a Zoom link will be sent out two days before the class.

Preregistration required, register here.

Eco-poetry as Healing Art
2021-05-25 10:00 - 23:30 | Dane County Parking Lot, 4864 Pheasant Branch Road, Middleton, Wisconsin, 53562
These writing workshops are held in partnership with Troy Hess, the founder of On the Yahara Writing Center. We hope to include and engage interested participants of all ages and encourage an intergenerational approach for our Pheasant Branch Conservancy education outreach. These workshops are free and are funded by the Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy as part of our 25th Anniversary celebration.

“The Great Work, based on the story of life’s unfolding, moves us away from a preoccupation with the self into the larger ecological self of the Earth Community. This movement has deep implications for our psychological healing, awakening in us a sense of both awe and belonging.” – K. Lauren de Boer, “Healing and the Great Work,” from Ecotherapy: Healing with Nature in Mind.
For this two-part class we will use the quote above as inspiration to consider ways of finding spiritual practice in the process of understanding and writing eco-centric poetry. An eco-spiritual practice will often have to do with experiencing the natural world first-hand, observing it in relation to self, and then creating as a natural act in itself that allows us to restore our connection to place, self, the earth. We will supplement our reading with Trebbe Johnson’s Radical Joy for Hard Times.
A common reading will be sent out before each session. This is the first of two classes in the Eco-poetry session.
Workshops will meet in person at the Dane County Parking lot: 4864 Pheasant Branch Road
If regulations for outdoor gatherings change, a Zoom link will be sent out two days before the class.

Preregistration required, register here.

The Month of Maying
2021-05-22 13:30 - 15:00
Birds do it, bees do it, even educated fleas do it, let’s do it, let’s fall in love! Join Master Naturalist Alex Singer for a free outing to enjoy Spring birds, bugs, flowers, and the burst of life occurring around us.
This is a family-friendly outing welcoming everyone. Masks and social distancing are required.
No registration necessary. Please leave pets at home.
Meet on Park Street in Middleton at the east entrance to the Creek Corridor MAP HERE
Monthly Bird and Nature Adventures in the Conservancy are co-sponsored by Madison Friends of Urban Nature (FUN), Madison Audubon and The Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy. See their websites and FaceBook pages for more activities! Contact 608-698-0104 with questions.
Explore the Conservancy on your own by taking a healthy nature walk any time this month to observe and enjoy The Month of Maying. Do you hear a Song Sparrow? Can you spot a Bluebird by a Bluebird Box?

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.

Spring Walkabout: Take a Closer Look!
2021-05-01 10:00 - 11:00 | Dane County Parking Lot, 4864 Pheasant Branch Road, Middleton, Wisconsin, 53562
What hidden treasures can you find in the Pheasant Branch landscape? Spring offers the delight of new life and marvelous discoveries!
Join a Pheasant Branch Naturalist for a Walkabout through the prairie to the bubbling springs. We will search for budding trees, early plants, and evidence of creatures moving about.
This Walkabout is designed especially for children in preschool through 5th grade, with an accompanying adult.
Registration is required as space is limited to 12 children and their accompanying adults. Adults are not counted. Masks must be worn and 6-foot distancing is expected.

Saturday, May 1
10:00 – 11:00 am
Arrival time: 9:45
We will depart for the Walkabout promptly at 10:00.
Meeting Place: Dane County Parking Lot, 4864 Pheasant Branch Road, Middleton.

Weather: We plan to proceed, rain or shine. Lightning or thunder means the event is canceled.

PLEASE REGISTER USING THIS LINK

Please email our Education Coordinator, Anne Boucher, at education@pheasantbranch.org if you have any questions or need to change your registration.

"Winter Morning Walks" Nature Writing Class
2021-04-26 10:30 - 12:00 | Virtual Meeting, Email office@pheasantbranch.org to request call-in info, Middleton, WI
These writing workshops are held in partnership with Troy Hess, the founder of On the Yahara Writing Center. We hope to include and engage interested participants of all ages and encourage an intergenerational approach for our Pheasant Branch Conservancy education outreach. These workshops are free and are funded by the Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy as part of our 25th Anniversary celebration.
The Winter Morning Walks nature writing class is inspired by the poetry collection by the same name written by former U.S. Poet Laureate Ted Kooser. These casually observed poems are called ‘postcards’ to a friend and offer readers a very approachable form of poetry to read and consider for our own written observations as we take our local walks this winter.
This class will be approached as a sequence of observation and writing. Our hope is that you are able to draw from your most recent visits to the Pheasant Branch Conservancy or other hikes. We might take writer’s notes, make phenological observations, even take pictures, then we’ll talk about ways to assemble our experiences as nature journal entries in poetry form discussed from the book.
For a final project, we might create our own ‘postcard’ and share them with others or submit them for publishing in an upcoming newsletter. No need to purchase the Winter Morning Walks book. All reading will be offered as part of the class.
Participants will meet via zoom.
Preregistration required, register here.

Spring Birds and Bluebirds
2021-04-24 13:30 - 15:00
Join Sylvia Marek for a bird walk in the Creek Corridor of the Conservancy. Bring your binoculars! See if you can hear or spot yellow-rumped warblers, ruby crowned kinglets, and other spring migratory songbirds.
This is a family-friendly outing. It is limited to the first 20 people who arrive. Masks and social distancing are required.
Meet on Park Street in Middleton at the east entrance to the Creek Corridor. This is a location change from the one posted by FUN-Madison on its announcements and posters. See the Updated MAP and Starting Point.
1:30 to 3:00 on Saturday April 24, 2021
Contact education@pheasantbranch.org if you have any questions.
This is a Bird and Nature Adventure sponsored by the Friends of Urban Nature (FUN) – Madison.

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.

"Winter Morning Walks" Nature Writing Class
2021-04-12 10:30 - 12:00 | Virtual Event, The instructor will send along a Zoom link two days in advance., WI
These writing workshops are held in partnership with Troy Hess, the founder of On the Yahara Writing Center. We hope to include and engage interested participants of all ages and encourage an intergenerational approach for our Pheasant Branch Conservancy education outreach. These workshops are free and are funded by the Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy as part of our 25th Anniversary celebration.
The Winter Morning Walks nature writing class is inspired by the poetry collection by the same name written by former U.S. Poet Laureate Ted Kooser. These casually observed poems are called ‘postcards’ to a friend and offer readers a very approachable form of poetry to read and consider for our own written observations as we take our local walks this winter.
This class will be approached as a sequence of observation and writing. Our hope is that you are able to draw from your most recent visits to the Pheasant Branch Conservancy or other hikes. We might take take writer’s notes, make phenological observations, even take pictures, then we’ll talk about ways to assemble our experiences as nature journal entries in poetry form discussed from the book.
For a final project, we might create our own ‘postcard’ and share them with others or submit them for publishing in an upcoming newsletter. No need to purchase the Winter Morning Walks book. All reading will be offered as part of the class.
Participants will meet via zoom.
Preregistration required, register here.

"Winter Morning Walks" Nature Writing Class
2021-03-29 10:30 - 12:00, 2021-03-15 10:30 - 12:00 | Virtual Event, The instructor will send along a Zoom link two days in advance., WI

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.

WINTER WALKABOUT AT PHEASANT BRANCH CONSERVANCY
2021-03-13 10:00 - 11:00 | Orchid Heights Park, 3960 Valley Ridge Rd, Middleton, WI, 53562
JOIN US FOR A WINTER WALKABOUT AT PHEASANT BRANCH CONSERVANCY!
Register for a Naturalist-led family walk, or plan to pick up a photo-based “scavenger hunt” to use independently. Winter is a marvelous time to hike as we can see many signs of creatures that live at the Conservancy such as bird nests, animal prints, animal droppings, chewed stalks of plants and Goldenrod galls.
SATURDAY, MARCH 13th- 10:00-11:00 am
Arrival time: 9:45. We will depart for the Walkabout promptly at 10:00.
Meeting Place: Shelter Building, Orchid Heights Park, 3960 Valley Ridge Road, Middleton.
Registration is required as space is limited to 12 people; masks must be worn on the group walk and 6-foot distancing is expected. All ages are welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Register HERE.
Please email our Education Coordinator, Anne Boucher, at education@pheasantbranch.org if you have any questions or need to change your registration.

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.
