Land managers invited to February workshops focusing on stopover habitat for migratory birds
MADISON - Land managers are invited to attend one of three February workshops to learn how to address the threat of stopover habitat loss for migrating songbirds in Wisconsin’s Lake Michigan watershed.
“Every spring and fall, tens of millions of migrating birds sweep through the Great Lakes region on their way to breeding grounds, relying on stopover sites in the state for critical food and shelter,” says Kim Grveles, Wisconsin stopover initiative coordinator for the Department of Natural Resources. “Loss of stopover habitats poses an ongoing threat to the health and stability of migratory bird populations in the Great Lakes region including the Lake Michigan basin of Wisconsin.”
To help address this threat, the Wisconsin Stopover Initiative, a partnership comprised of agencies, private organizations, businesses, and individuals, is offering a one-day workshop called Landscaping for Migratory Birds: A Workshop for Land Managers to teach about Great Lakes stopover sites, what birds migrate through the Lake Michigan basin, how to create or enhance stopover habitat, and other important information for management consideration. There will also be a question and answer session with a panel of experts.
This comprehensive workshop will be offered at three locations and feature keynote speaker and stopover ecology specialist, Dr. Dave Ewert, Senior Conservation Scientist with The Nature Conservancy in Michigan. The dates and locations are:
- Feb. 26 - Sturtevant, DNR Service Center, 8:30 am to 4 p.m.
- Feb. 27 – Belgium, Forest Beach Migratory Preserve, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Feb. 28 – Green Bay, Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
To help offset costs, a $10 registration fee will be charged. The fee includes lunch, break food and take-home materials including fact sheets, brochures, management guides, funding sources, and helpful web links.
Registration forms and payment must be returned to DNR by Feb. 12.
Registration forms are available on the DNR website.
For more information you may view the agendas on the DNR website.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim Grveles, Wisconsin Stopover Initiative Coordinator, 608-264-8594.