2022 has been incredible!
As the end of the year approaches, we have so much to celebrate. Thanks to the support of our members, volunteers, and partners, Madison Audubon has been part of many delightful memories this year, full of wonder and awe.
Here are a few of our favorites:
Roman leads birders during Celebrating Black Birders Week: A Day at the Zoo on June 4, 2022 (photo by Kaitlin Svabek/Madison Audubon).
“The Black Birders Week celebration at Henry Vilas Zoo was truly a monumental event. We had almost a hundred birders and led a truly unique experience for the attendees. The highlight for me was then seven-year-old Roman leading a group of 20+ birders through the zoo locating amazing birds. The Magnolia Warbler was one of the birds of the day, and of course it was spotted by Roman.”—Dexter Patterson, board of directors
A photo of a delicate White-fringed Orchid in summer 2022 (photo by Drew Harry/Madison Audubon).
“This summer, while doing sweeps through Tillotson Prairie on a dreary and rainy day, one of our interns found a White-fringed Orchid—the first one we've found in a restoration at Faville Grove Sanctuary. The hooting and hollering that ensued brightened up the day, and a group of nearby visitors even heard the commotion.”—Drew Harry, Faville Grove Sanctuary land steward
Kids hold tiny white American Kestrel fledglings during banding at Goose Pond Sanctuary on June 28, 2022 (photo by Carolyn Byers/Madison Audubon).
“There are so many good memories to choose from. One of my favorites was taking the Vera Court kids kestrel banding at Goose Pond. I loved watching how each child reacted to holding a baby kestrel. Some were so serious and focused on absorbing all of the details of the chick. Others were just bursting with joy! Our weekly visits with kids lay the foundation for nature-love, but moments like this solidify it.”—Carolyn Byers, director of education
Canoes and kayaks weave through water filled with big, green lotus leaves on the evening of August 14, 2022 (photo by Brenna Marsicek/Madison Audubon).
“On a late August evening, Brenna and I co-led a paddling field trip at Cherokee Marsh jointly with the BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin. The trip combined three of my favorite things in the world: birds, wetlands, and paddling, so I expected to be inspired. But what I loved most about this adventure was the joy expressed by participants, some of whom had never been in a canoe and many of whom had never tried birding by boat. In an evening packed with highlights, I will not forget the scene of our caravan of kayaks and canoes wending our way back through a magical ‘field’ of lotus flowers, swallows flitting overhead, and the sun (behind clouds!) setting on our adventure.”—Becky Abel, director of philanthropy
Volunteers work together to tag a monarch butterfly at Goose Pond Sanctuary on September 7, 2022 (photo by Kaitlin Svabek/Madison Audubon).
“My favorite moment was monarch tagging at Goose Pond. Though the weather was a bit suspect and not many monarchs were out, we got a really nice tour of the area and learned its history from Mark Martin. That was very interesting and made the event still so worthwhile in addition to the great information on monarchs.”—Jeff Galligan, board of directors
“Earth, Sky, Water” community art installation created by Ho-Chunk families in partnership with Melanie Tallmadge-Sainz and Little Eagle Arts Foundation (Madison Audubon photo).
“A few staff had the honor of visiting Maa Wákąčąk (formerly known as Badger Ammunition Plant) at the invitation of our friends from the Ho-Chunk Nation. The visit followed on the heels of Madison Audubon staff reading Patty Loew’s Indian Nations of Wisconsin, learning more about Ho-Chunk culture and their experiences after white settlers arrived. I was inspired and humbled by the Ho-Chunk’s connection to the land, their efforts to restore habitats and cultural practices there, and the work of Little Eagle Arts Foundation and partners to create art on the landscape. It further deepened my respect for the Ho-Chunk as well as renewed my motivation to work in harmony with the natural world.”
—Brenna Marsicek, director of communications and outreach
“LOOK! A worm!” A child holds up a discovery at the Vera Court Neighborhood Center to show Mickenzee in autumn 2022 (photo by Carolyn Byers/Madison Audubon).
“Graduating college and starting my dream job a few months later has me wanting to celebrate every single day! One of my very favorite moments since starting at Madison Audubon was taking the kids from the Vera Court Neighborhood Center on a nature walk when one pulls me aside and says, ‘These days with you are my favorite.’ It really made me feel like I’m in the right place.”—Mickenzee Okon, educator
Madison Audubon staff members participate in the Great Wisconsin Birdathon on May 24, 2022 (photo by Brenna Marsicek/Madison Audubon).
“There are way too many individual moments to pick out just one to highlight! But I’ll say this: there were a lot of amazing, joyful, meaningful, heart-filling, serious, or just downright funny moments we experienced this year—and underlying all of it was a sea of wonderful people. Of all the years I’ve been with Madison Audubon, 2022 was easily the busiest. And all that we were able to accomplish was due to the tremendous energy, passion, support, and enthusiasm that the Madison Audubon team and especially our members made possible. I’m proud of what we were able to accomplish together and look forward to an even brighter 2023!”
—Matt Reetz, executive director
We’d love to hear your favorite moments from this year—comment to share them below!
Cover image: a hand holds a pale feather with the blue sky and clouds in the background (photo by Nathan Flick/Creative Commons).
