Bird & Nature Blog
A clutch of the latest stories from Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance
A few dedicated seed collectors gathered at Goose Pond for the final volunteer effort of the season. We were looking for New England asters (NEAs) and white baptisia. Both are important for pollinators with New England asters being one of my favorites. A late bloomer, it and showy goldenrod are the flowers that give our migrating monarchs the nutritional boost they need before flying south.
Photo by Tom Koerner/USFWS
Stiff goldenrod was one of the plant seeds we collected. Collecting goldenrods occasions a goldenrod identification seminar that Graham and Emma conduct for the volunteers — the many species of goldenrod look similar and one species is on the “avoid” list. We certainly want to collect whatever the desired species is but we also have to avoid Canada goldenrod.
Photo by Graham Steinhauer/SoWBA
Seed collecting is one of the most important management activities on Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance’s lands, and volunteers always play an essential role, making sure that we have enough variety and amount of seeds to re-create and bolster our prairies, wetlands, and savannas. Many people are passionate about birds, bumblebees, badgers or other lovable creatures, and it's important to remember that they simply do not exist without the strong scaffold of diverse plant communities which support them.
Photo by Graham Steinhauer/SoWBA
The seed bonanza continues at Goose Pond. Seven volunteers answered the call. With Graham, Emma, Calla, and Sayre—the latter two being expert seed collectors hired to help this fall—eleven of us took to the field. With each seed collecting session, we're assembling the components of new or improved prairies at Goose Pond and some partners' lands. Analogous perhaps to kids in a Lego store.
Photo by Peter Gorman
Our recent heat wave prompted an urgent request from Graham and Emma at Goose Pond. The culver's root seed had matured much more quickly than expected and needed to be collected.
This is a seed well worth collecting. With its white plume of a blossom, culver's root is one of the most lovely and graceful plants on the prairie. Some pollinators love it including the federally-endangered Rusty Patched Bumble Bee.
Photo by Graham Steinhauer
