Head to Horicon Marsh March 5 for a nest box seminar
HORICON, Wis. - The Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center will hold a
nest box seminar Saturday, March 5 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. - head to the
marsh and learn more about nest boxes and their role in conservation.
Participants will get hands-on training, including how to properly place and
maintain nest boxes and decide which type of box are right for different
yard-types and bird species.
This year, the nest box seminar will focus on Wood Ducks and Bluebirds,
Wisconsin's most popular cavity nesters. Purple Martins, a species of
Special Concern in Wisconsin, will also be featured - humans currently
provide nearly all nesting sites inhabited by this species.
The Great Crested Flycatcher, a common large woodland flycatcher, will be
the focus of an additional informational session. These birds spend most of
their time high in the leafy canopy within deciduous woods. Listeners will
learn their distinctive call learn to watch for these birds on high, exposed
perches or in flight.
Bluebird nest box kits will be available from Friends of Horicon Marsh
Education and Visitor Center for $12. You can assemble your nest box onsite
with help from volunteers or take your kit home to make - this seminar is a
great activity for kids of all ages.
This year's seminar schedule is as follows:
* 9:30 a.m. - Steve Sample, Vice-President of the Bluebird
Restoration Association of Wisconsin, will give a talk on Bluebirds and nest
boxes, including best practice methods, site selection and box selection.
* 10:45 a.m. - Ike Kumrow, a charter member of the Wisconsin Purple
Martin association, will present "Purple Matins are Humans' Best Friends."
Kumrow has been hosting Purple Martins for 68 years.
* 12:45 p.m. - Liz Herzmann, DNR Wildlife Conservation Educator,
will teach participants about the Great Crested Flycatcher.
* 1:45 p.m. - Jeff Bahls, President of the Horicon Marsh Bird Club
and board member of the Wood Duck Society, will discuss Wood Ducks. Topics
will include some exciting new nesting biology research, new duckling jump
video and photos, and tips regarding how to make nest boxes pro"duck"tive.
Displays from the Horicon Marsh Bird Club, Horicon Marsh State Wildlife
Area, Bluebird Restoration Association of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Purple Martin
Association, Wood Duck Society will also be featured, with volunteers
present to answer questions about native cavity birds. Some small food items
will be available for purchase.
The Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor
Center<http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/lands/wildlifeareas/horicon/education.html>
is located between Horicon, Wis. and Mayville, Wis. on Hwy. 28. For a
detailed list of all Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center special
events, please visit the Friends of Horicon Marsh website at
www.horiconmarsh.org<http://www.horiconmarsh.org/>. For more information
regarding Horicon Marsh education programs, contact Liz Herzmann, DNR
educator, at 920-387-7893.