Project: Statewide Wildlife Areas
By Mike Alaimo, Lead Adopt A Wildlife Area (AWA) Program Volunteer
For those that have not heard yet, our AWA teams have been grounded under the current Wisconsin COVID-19 restrictions, but there is the ability to work solo or with immediate household family members. This is part of the Safer at Home directive that now applies to all work on Wisconsin’s state lands. Some projects, like Purple Loosestrife Beetle raising this year have be cancelled statewide due to its non-essential status for social interaction. DNR staff are working out of homes and are not in the field as much as they would like to be.
Well, the birds and wetlands do not seem to be heeding these directives, and nature is still in its spring upswing. What can a person do when furloughed, not able to use the family computer as his wife is working on it for her job, the kids are in virtual school, shopping is fraught with people not following the simplest guidelines like wearing masks, etc… ? Cut down willows is the response.
Before: stands of willow on the Wildlife Area
On a very October-ish day in April, I was distracted heavily by the constant fly-by’s of teal, woodies, mallards, wigeon, gadwalls, pelicans and, of course, geese. A northwest wind howled and blew the willow on my piles around like tumbleweed. But, I got out, worked a job aiding the DNR where they are champing at the bit for field time, and I helped put a dent in a nagging willow tree line on the marsh edge.
There is still some more work to do that should be completed by the time this article is published, but it was satisfying to say the least to see bright white stumps of willow. The only ones upset with the endeavor were the redwings who lost their high perches in the marsh!
After the clearing
If you get the chance, help out where you can, introduce the family to volunteerism, stay safe, and hang in there!