Naturalist Notes

February 2018

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The temperatures have remained relatively stable, which means solid ice in the lagoon that is perfect for ice fishing. Waterfowl, however, do not share the same enthusiasm for ice cover. They are warmer and closer to their food source when they stay in open water areas during Wisconsin’s winters. The open water area under the bridge is a popular spot for waterfowl to congregate, especially since Lake Michigan is currently at 51% ice cover.

If you look closely at the waterfowl around the park, you will see 4 main species: Goldeneye, Mallard, Greater Scaup and Lesser Scaup (the scaups are also known as Bluebills).

Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)

Males: Black head with a white spot near the bill; black back with white sides

Female: Brown head with gray back and wings; black bill with yellow at the tip

Both: Bright yellow eyes; white patch on wings

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

Males: Dark, iridescent green head with yellow bill; gray body with black tail

Females: Mottled brown body with orange and brown bill

Both: Blue patch on their wing with a white border

Greater Scaup (Aythya marila)

Males: Black head with green iridescence; dark grey/black tail, grey/white body

Females: Dark brown head; brown body; white base on bill

Both: Rounded head; blue-grey bill with a black tip

Lesser Scaup (Aytha affinis)

Males: Black head with purple iridescence; dark grey/black tail; grey/white body slightly darker than Greater Scaup

Females: Dark brown head and body with slight mottling; white base on bill

Both: Small peak/tuft on top of head; smaller than Greater Scaups

We’d love to see your photos! Share your photos of the park, or of your catch, with us on our facebook page, or email them to Angela.Vickio@wisconsin.gov. We are getting close to spring, so make sure to check our website or our facebook page often for upcoming events!

Naturalist Notes

January 2018

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The weather has gotten colder, and that means ice in the lagoon! Lakeshore State Park has had a busy ice fishing season, with multiple ice shanties up each day, and fishermen setting up tip-ups hoping to catch panfish and Brown Trout. Some have even still been successful in catching lingering Salmon near the harbor.

Stay safe on the ice! The lagoon can be highly variable due to its connection with Lake Michigan. This means that before venturing out, make sure you are doing so safely.
• Notify family/friends when and where you will be fishing, or better yet, bring a friend along!
• Check to make sure ice is at least 5-7” thick, and check ice thickness as you walk
• Look for clear ice, which is generally stronger than ice with bubbles or snow
• Carry ice picks or ice claws with you
• Have your cell phone in a waterproof case or bag
• Have a plan in case you fall through the ice. The DNR has ice fishing tips and other safety recommendations at http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/fishing/icefishing/index.html.

Free Fishing Weekend is coming up January 20th-21st and we will be celebrating at the park by handing out recipes, fish rulers, fish wildcards, and brochures. No license is required for free fishing weekends, but regulation catch lengths do apply.

Fishermen, we’d love to see your catch! Share your photos with us on our facebook page, or email them to Angela.Vickio@wisconsin.gov. If you’re strolling through the park, keep a look out for the red foxes, they have become more active during the day as the temperatures remain cool. We also have a variety of waterfowl and other migratory birds passing through. The Snowy Owl in the photos below was attempting to catch himself a Scaup, according to park visitor Greg Osborne, who was able to observe and photograph the owl earlier this month.

 

Naturalist Notes

December 2017

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Did you know that Lakeshore State Park is part of the Lake Michigan Flyway? The Lake Michigan Flyway is a subset of the Mississippi-Great Lakes Flyway, which describes common migratory patterns found in bird species. During Winter months, the seeds provided by the park’s prairies provide a reliable source of food and shelter for the birds’ long journeys.

While walking through the Park this winter, keep a keen eye out for differences in the bird population. Often times, migratory birds are only here for a couple weeks as a stopover in their travels. In early December, we have had some sightings of Western Grebe (whose native range is normally along the Pacific Coast), and of the Snowy Owl.

The Snowy Owl migration this year is expected to be twice the population of the last irruption a couple years ago. By November 29^th, the DNR reported an estimated 105 Snowy Owls spanning across 44 counties. This is the largest number by this date in the last 8 years, partly due to their early arrival. A map of the sightings can be found on eBird’s website. eBird is provided by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, with assistance of organizations such as the Wisconsin Society of Ornithology. The map of the Snowy Owl sightings in particular can be found here: https://goo.gl/jVpu9J

It is truly a treat to see these rare, transient birds, but please keep in mind that they have quite a journey ahead of them. Please do not try to make contact with them, and keep your distance as to not stress them out. Allow them to get their rest, eat up, and prepare for the next leg of their journey.

Naturalist Notes

November 2017

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The changes in temperature mean changes for us here at Lakeshore State Park. The seeds on our prairie plants have started to drop, and will be ready to undergo cold-stratification. Cold stratification is an important step for nearly all of our native plants in Wisconsin, as it allows the plants to survive through our cold winters. We won’t see any flowering for a while, but the dew, frost, and snow can make for some beautiful views on the dried flowers!

You have probably noticed some extra splashing going on in the water basin in the last month. The colder temperatures are also an indicator to Lake, Rainbow, Brown and BrookTrout, Coho and Chinook (King)Salmon that they need to begin spawning. They frequently can be seen leaping out of the water as they move toward shallower areas of the basin and search for gravel beds to lay eggs/sperm on. After spawning, the majority of the adults die and may be seen on our pebble beach area where the gulls will feed upon them.

Lake Trout were one of the original inhabitants of the Laurentian Great Lakes and have had enormous population declines in the last century. Historically, they were the top predator in Lake Michigan prior to the introduction of Salmon. In the mid-1990s, their population levels dropped dramatically due to overfishing. From the 1950s to the 1960s, they were the prime target for Sea Lamprey, an invasive, eel-like fish that parasitically bores into the sides of its prey. Since 1960, Sea Lamprey has been managed by the WDNR using lampricides in their spawning streams. This measure has been largely successful, and with the addition of Lake Trout breeding and spawning programs, the Lake Trout species are starting to rebound, with many new wild-breeding populations found since 2013.

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Lakeshore State Park
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Naturalist Notes

October 2017

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Fall has officially arrived at Lakeshore State Park, and our plants are beginning to seed. While there may only be a few forbs (flowering plants) left, the park remains beautiful as the wind can be seen sweeping through the drying grasses. Insects and birds are starting to make preparations for the colder weather, and are migrating through or scavenging for seeds, a primary source of food for winter months in the Park.

The beginning part of fall is prime viewing time for the Aster family of lowers (genus: Symphyotrichum). These can be seen throughout all prairie areas of the Park.

The Double Crested Cormorants have made their way south, with only a few lingering behind into October. New migratory birds this month include the American Coot (Fulica americana), American Pelican (Pelcanus erythrorhynchos) Common Yellowthroat Warbler (Geothlypis triches), and Black Bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) in winter plumage. Watch carefully for new species coming through they normally only stay for up to 2 weeks before their fall migration is done!

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Lakeshore State Park
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Naturalist Notes

September 2017

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As summer comes to an end and fall begins, our native warm-season grasses can be seen swaying in the wind. These grasses provide many ecological benefits to the park. While they may not attract as many pollinators as our prairie forbs, they are, undoubtedly, an equally important asset to the Park.

• Habitat: During warmer months, these grasses provide excellent nesting sites form small mammals and birds. The cover of their long blades provide an excellent buffer between animals and the cold winters we experience here atthe park. Some of the grasses can remain upright, even with a foot of snow on top!
• Protection: The tall grasses also provide a hiding place for young animals and insects. It is estimated that the establishment of a tallgrass prairie can increase the bird life of the area by 10x!
• Food: The blades, roots, and seeds provide food for a variety of wildlife. Walking past the prairies, you are bound to hear many insects and birds that are attracted to this food source.

• Erosion Prevention: The deep roots help to keep the soil in place, especially when we experience the gusty lakefront winds. A single acre of tall grass prairie can have up to 24,000lbs of roots!
• Nutrient Cycling: The roots of these native warm-season grasses die off and decompose, returningnutrients to that soil during winter. The grasses rely on seeds dropped in early fall to re-emerge in spring. This is unlike short cool-season grasses which maintain their roots throughout winter (the grass in your front lawn is a cool-season grass).

We have some exciting events happening at the Park this month and we’d love to have you here! In addition to our usual events, we have our 10th Anniversary Beach Bonfire on September 20th (7-9pm) and SturgeonFest on September 30th (11am-3pm; sponsor a sturgeon to release yourself at SturgeonFest.org!)

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Lakeshore State Park

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources