2012 Like to Hike Pin

Peninsula announces its 2012 program theme: Taking Flight. Monarch tagging, bat watches, and shorebird art will supplement ever-popular trail hikes and campfire sing-alongs. This year’s Like to Hike pin features the monarch butterfly, too. Watch for weekly schedules posted on campground bulletin boards, various media outlets including this website or phone 920-854-5976.

Details forthcoming on the following special events:

Smokey Bear Visits Peninsula Memorial Day Weekend, July 3, Labor Day Weekend, on October 6 at Smokey Bear’s Spook-tacular Forest event

St. Paddy’s Day Campfire Saturday, March 17.

Woodsy Egg Hunt Saturday, April 7.

Earth Work Play Day Friday, April 27. 1- 3 p.m.

Nature Center Volunteer Training Monday, May 21. 9 – 11 a.m.

Free Fishing Weekend Saturday & Sunday, June 2 & 3.

Wisconsin State Parks Open House Sunday, June 3. Park vehicle sticker not required. Complimentary tours of Eagle Bluff Lighthouse.

Talking Tombstones Thursday, June 21. 10 a.m. – 12 Noon. Blossomburg Cemetery.

Fur Trader at the Nature Center Friday, July 13, to Thursday, July 19.

Smokey Bear’s Spook-tacular Forest Saturday, October 6. 5 – 8 p.m. Candlelit trail starts at amphitheater parking lot.

How Fishers Fall in Love & Other Tales of Romance 11 – 11:30 a.m; repeated 1 – 1:30 p.m. Nature Center. Longer days trigger thoughts of finding partners among Peninsula animals like fishers, chickadees, owls and squirrels. This naturalist talk is suitable for all ages and will include fur and skull identification, and how to spot a squirrel nest. Craft: Make a Valentine’s Card from Recycled Holiday Cards Any time, on-your-own, at the Nature Center.

Saturday February 18 Nature Center open 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. No programs scheduled.

Wednesday February 22 Bat Workshop 2 – 3:30 p.m. Gibraltar Town Fire Station. 3496 County Road F, Fish Creek. Peninsula State Park welcomes Bill Mueller of the Western Great Lakes Bird and Bat Observatory for the free workshop. He’ll share information on bat ecology, threats to bats, and invite participants to monitor Door County bats. Learn how to use ANABAT units to record ultrasonic bat calls. Contact Naturalist Kathleen Harris at 920-854-5976. This workshop is supported by AppleCreek Resort, Fish Creek.

Satruday February 25 Nature Center open 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Like to Hike? Tracking the Black Ash Swamp 2 – 3 p.m. Meet at Nature Center. Hike or snowshoe (provide your own snowshoes) Hidden Bluff Trail, then circle a forest wetland looking for turkey, deer and raccoon prints. Counts towards earning your 2012 Like to Hike pin.

Eagle Tower, Eagle Bluff, Eagle Trail, and Eagle Panorama can all be found within the park map. But where can you find the bird itself? Visit Eagle Tower for your best chance at spotting a bald eagle in the park. Eagles often perch atop dead trees along Eagle bluff, scanning the Bay below.

Peninsula is hosting a Bat Monitoring Workshop on Wednesday, February 22, from 2 – 3:30 p.m. Meet at the Gibraltar Town Fire Department at 3496 County Road F. This program is free and open to the public. Bill Mueller of the Western Great Lakes Bird and Bat Observatory is the lead presenter. He’ll share information on bat ecology and biology, threats to bats, the reasons why bat monitoring is becoming important, and will show how to use ANABAT units. Mueller will also be speaking with Gibraltar High School’s Ecology Club the same day.

Participants will have the option of “adopt” a bat monitoring site for 2012, and be part of a state-wide effort to save Wisconsin bats. Monitoring bats is a great family activity, too. You can count bats once a summer, or once a week – all monitoring efforts are worthwhile. Bat monitoring can also fulfill high school graduation service hour requirements.

If you need more information call Naturalist Kathleen Harris at 920-854-5976 or email kathleen.harris@wisconsin.gov

Candlelight Ski - Trail Magic

Volunteers are needed in a variety of areas such as helping with placing and picking up candles along the 1-mile ski trail loop, setting up and cleaning up supplies and the warming shelter, helping greet park visitors and serve light refreshments at the warming shelter, and parking cars/directing guests to the trail.

One of the biggest holes we have is in the parking area. All volunteers are asked to dress warmly and will receive a courtesy pass for their vehicle if they do not have a 2012 vehicle admission pass. A volunteer agreement will need to be completed and there will be forms available at the event or they can be completed at the park office prior to the event.

Please respond to Michelle (kemps99@msn.com) or call Park Headquarters (920-868-3258) and leave a message or email Kelli Bruns (kelli.bruns@wisconsin.gov), Park Superintendent, you are interested in volunteering for the fun winter night out in the park.

This new Wisconsin initiative challenges municipalities and their neighbors to protect bird habitat, manage for invasive species that degrade nesting sites, engage citizens in International Migratory Bird Day in May, and educate the public about dangers posed by feral cats.

Bird City status recognizes the importance of Peninsula and Ephraim as a migration corridor, as Wisconsin Great Birding Trail destinations, and as places attractive to eco-tourists. Watch for future announcements about special bird-themed programs planned in 2012.

“The people who fought to establish Peninsula knew it was an irreplaceable landscape,” said Peninsula Naturalist Kathleen Harris, who worked on the Bird City application with the Ephraim Business Council’s Tourism Administrator Rachel Willems and Ephraim Trustee Steve Sauter. “Some of those people were Ephraim residents and along the way they set aside wonderful gems in their own village.”

Though Peninsula State Park safeguards 3,775 acres, Ephraim’s smaller holdings are just as compelling. The Ephraim Preserve at Anderson Pond is a 27-acre Door County Land Trust property. Ephraim resident Susan Peterson has documented 31 nesting species along the site’s ancient beach ridge and wooded bluffs. Another interesting area is the Ephraim Wetlands Preserve located south of the village. A quiet hike through this site’s maze of boardwalks delivers sightings of migrating song sparrows in May, the “teacher-teacher-teacher” sound of the red-eyed vireo, and (if you’re very, very lucky) a glimpse of a different kind of flying jewel, the endangered Hines emerald dragonfly documented here several years ago. This site was saved from development nearly two decades ago. Stumps of slashed cedar trees are still visible.

Of course, it’s the shoreline that residents and visitors can’t get enough of; nor can the birds. It’s a cinch to spot mallards and ring-billed gulls. Bring along binoculars and you’ll see much more. Until Green Bay freezes over, you can also catch a glimpse of buffleheads and goldeneye ducks paddle offshore. Come summer, Bonaparte gulls may stopover in the water across from Wilson’s Restaurant. Killdeer stick around all summer while other shorebirds, such as the least sandpiper, skitter across the sand flats, poking longish bills in search of snails before journeying further north.

“The Ephraim Business Council thanks the Village of Ephraim, Peninsula State Park and community members for their partnership in gaining Bird City designation for Ephraim,” said Willems. “The park is an asset to our community. This designation compliments the diverse offerings of the village and we hope it opens doors to future collaboration.”

To find out more about best places to bird in Peninsula State Park call the Nature Center at 920-854-5976. For directions to birding areas in Ephraim, contact the Ephraim Visitor Information Center at 920-854-4989 or visit www.Ephraim-DoorCounty.com. Bird sightings are routinely posted at the Friends of Peninsula State Park facebook site, too.

Nature Sightings

We already have a couple of interesting nature sightings. Jeff spotted a black (color phase) squirrel. Jeff and Jamey saw a red-tailed hawk, and I heard it. And today Jamey saw a coyote crossing from Green Bay waters towards the woods near the Maintenance Shop.

I’ve been compiling our phenology records. If you’d like to receive them as an attachment, please let me know. Birders: I am especially interested in any documented sightings. Must have a date, and must have been seen in Peninsula.

A few interesting items from 2011 -

• how about that September storm?
• excellent warbler migration – 23 species documented on 5/11
• good year for water snakes
• nice sightings of ring-necked snakes
• two sightings of eastern milk snake
• red headed woodpecker – possible nest along Trail Trampers – need to confirm this
• cuckoos with photos
• cooper’s nest in S Nic pretty much culled songbirds – will coopers hawks return in 2012?
• otters confirmed near Fish Creek, and visiting Pen
• fisher was seen and photographed in the Nicolet Campgrounds;
• blonde color phase of raccoon at Tennison Campground
• many clearwing moths at Scout Garden/NC Meadow in August

… and much more!

Winter Fest February 4

Please volunteer on Saturday, February 4. During the day the Winter Queen will be staffing a children’s game table in Fish Creek, at the big white tent. Volunteers are also welcome to help at the Candlelight Ski. Please contact me if you are able to help, even for just an hour! Thanks.

May Nature Center Host

I am looking to fill in early May at the Nature Center, should you or someone you know be interested in volunteering. Memorial Day Weekend is covered.

New Friends Facebook Site

Friends have established a new facebook site – go to Friends of Peninsula State Park. The centennial facebook site (Peninsula State Park) will be archived this spring. So, please sign up for the new site.

Grants

Thanks to the efforts of former Peninsula ranger John Plume, Friends have received a $500 State Farm grant. Whitetails Unlimited also awarded a grant to the park to repair deer exclosures damaged in the September storm.

Like to Hike

The monarch butterfly will be featured on Peninsula’s 2012 Like to Hike pin. Pins should be available by February.

13 participants joined for an adventure along the Niagara Escarpment Snowshoe Trail on New Year’s Day. Forest ecology and history were  featured on this walk led by Park Naturalist Kathleen Harris.

This moderate 1.25-mile trail included an ascent up a low bluff, and complimentary hot cocoa was served at the start.