Lake Wingra Monitoring Volunteers Update – April 19, 2019 For the last three days, a flock of Red Breasted Mergansers have stopped on our lake to rest and feed (Figure 1 and featured image above). We saw them diving in the lake to catch fish – their most common source of food. They winter in
What other Wingra visitors are enjoying this weather? Read More »
The American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus), occasionally affectionately called the hop toad, is one of the most common species of toads in North America. Each of its three subspecies are commonly found in the prairies and wetlands in the Northeastern quadrant of the United States and Canada. Lake Wingra, a perfectly damp environment for the American
Meet Your Local Toad Read More »
Lake Wingra Monitoring Volunteers Update – April 17, 2019 Birds migrating north are beginning to stop over in Lake Wingra. We recently had the fun of watching a flock of migrating Bonparte’s Gulls diving into the lake to catch fish (Figure 1). Most of the time they were feeding in the pool below the dam
Migrating Birds Visit Wingra Read More »
Lake Wingra Monitoring Volunteers Update – April 10, 2019 The ice is gone (March 28), but the water is too cold for your Lake Wingra monitoring volunteers to venture into the middle of the lake. Instead we have been walking along the shore to look for signs of spring. Most exciting right now is the
Lake Wingra is Open and Muskies! Read More »
Allison Martinson Madison, WI 53705allison@aemartinson.comwww.aemartinson.comFacebook: Allison for District 19 What does Lake Wingra mean to you? Last year, I participated in the Duck Dash on Lake Wingra in my first 10K & Kayak event. Having before only seen the beauty of the lake from the beaches near the Henry Vilas Zoo, I greatly appreciated being out
District 19 Alder Candidate Questions Read More »
In the right season joggers, bikers, walkers, other self-locomotors, and even animals enjoy bright displays of native plants along the Southwest Path. Many undoubtedly enjoy the scenery and take it for granted. The Southwest Path did not always have these gorgeous views and prairies! Since 2001 volunteers have passionately transformed these weed beds into beautiful
How is the Southwest Path More Than Just a Path? Read More »
The Friends of Lake Wingra asked each candidate five questions about their connection to Lake Wingra, District 13’s unique environmental challenges, their approach to watershed management, and strategies to understand and represent Lake Wingra’s needs. Candidates Tag Evers info@tagevers.comwww.tagevers.comFacebook: Tag EversTwitter: @TagEvers What does Lake Wingra mean to you?Lake Wingra is the reason I moved to this neighborhood.
Madison Alder District 13 Q&A Read More »
by Liz McBride Photos by Liz McBride and David Thompson Spring through fall, native plants beautify our gardens and provide food for birds and insects. But even in the dead of winter, they lighten the heart and feed the hungry. Stripped of leaves and petals, native plants add form, texture, and even color to the
Native Plants Add Winter Interest to Your Garden Read More »
By Roger Bannerman Every Fall the leaves accumulating in our residential streets contribute to making Lake Wingra turn green in the summer. Rain water running through the fallen leaves can release nutrients, such as phosphorus and carry it to the lake. If the leaves are left on the street for the few weeks of the
How Brown Leaves Help Turn Lake Wingra Green Read More »
The Department of Natural Resources has a new and improved rain garden manual for your use! Rain Gardens: A Guide for Homeowners and Landscapers, the new manual, discusses the three main steps to designing a rain garden for your home: Step 1 – sizing and siting, Step 2 – constructing, and Step 3 – Planting
A Statewide Accomplishment: A New DNR Rain Garden Manual Read More »
A lot has happened around our watershed this year, both on the surface and behind the scenes. What new things are you most excited about? We completed our second year of frog and toad citizen science monitoring! Our volunteers heard six different species. See when we heard them and how it compares to last year
Big Changes in 2018: Friends of Lake Wingra Year in Review Read More »
by Grace Graham, WI Master Naturalist Volunteer for UW-Madison Arboretum Just as we are experiencing the transformation to winter, the lakes around us are facing their own seasonal changes. During spring and fall, the water column experiences a process called turnover, the mixing of water from different depths, and a redistribution of oxygen and nutrients.
Under the Ice: How Organisms Survive Lake Wingra in Winter Read More »
