Dane County Conservation League (DCCL)

Time 2021-01-08 12:04:11

Web Name: Dane County Conservation League (DCCL)

WebSite: http://www.dccl.org

ID:160604

Keywords:

County,Dane,Conservation,

Description:

Did you know that the League is the second oldest conservation group in the State of Wisconsin? If you are concerned about the future of Dane County’s natural heritage, you will want to attend the Dane County Conservation League’s 21st annual fundraiser banquet. Proceeds from the event support educational scholarships, local DNR wildlife habitat projects, purchase of trout stream bank easements, prairie chicken recovery efforts, the raising of pheasants, and the construction of Blue Bird, Wren, Wood Duck, and Bat Houses The DCCL Board made some major decisions at its December 15 regular meeting regarding League business in 2021. All of the changes have been brought about by the effects of COVID-19, of course. 1. All membership dues for 2021 are waived. If you were a member in 2020, you will be a member in 3. All current board members will have their terms extended for one year. Officers will also be the same. 5. We will probably operate the pheasant farm as usual, but a further decision will be made in the next 6. Monthly membership meetings probably won’t resume until next fall. The board meets the 3rd Many members ask every year after the farm closes, “How did things go at the farm this year?” Usually they are wondering if most of the birds survived to maturity. But there are other measurements of success at the farm, too. The farm was successful this year in bringing DCCL members together during a difficult year in our state and nation. Members could come to the farm and get some fresh air, help with the work and forget about the world’s problems for a couple of hours. It was a successful year for members to get to know each other better and share knowledge and some great stories of past hunting and fishing experiences. It was a successful year for some members who learned job skills from other members who are skilled craftsmen or professionals. It was a successful year for a couple of teen-agers, Izzy Wink and Riley Pharo, who learned that the experience of taking a one ounce chick and raising it to be a beautiful mature bird that takes flight and cackles when released can be priceless. Hopefully, more young people like these two will participate in the future. We need them. It was a successful year for the great prairie we have at the farm that was started many years ago by Dave Wilken and burned each spring by the Brinkmann family to maintain its beauty. It would be difficult to mention all the people who helped make the farm successful and we thank everyone who contributed. But, a few should be mentioned such as Dave Ford , John Klingbiel and Dave Esser who all worked on special projects to improve and maintain the brooders, pens and water systems so that we had good bird survival. Oh, but what about the success of the birds themselves you ask? Yes, it was successful. About 35 members received birds for working at the farm or on other DCCL projects. Birds were given to Dane County Pheasants Forever Chapter as in-kind payment for labor to use at their mentored hunt event. Gary Jackson of Marshall runs an annual mentored hunt and a hunt for some handicapped folks so the League donated birds for those events. There were bird sales totaling nearly $2200 that helped offset expenses a little bit, and some birds were released on public land near Paoli. We also need to thank the weasels for staying away and allowing us to have a successful year. Will we have a successful 2021? That depends on you. Hope to see you next year. MORE BLUEBIRD HOUSES INSTALLED A few DCCL members under the leadership of Jerry Paffenroth recently set up about 15 bluebird houses on some county land just off Oncken Road near Gov. Nelson State Park. We thank Jerry for all of the work he has done in leading many bluebird and wood duck nesting structure projects over the years. DCCL DONATES CAPS FOR HUNTER SAFETY Again this year the League has donated blaze orange caps to be given to students of the DCCL Hunter Safety Class. The caps have the wording “DCCL Hunter Safety” imprinted on them. Thanks to Ray Anderson and all of the other volunteers who teach the classes. NO MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS ARE SCHEDULED DUE TO COVID-19 FUTURE MEETING SITE The Board held its July meeting at the Deer Creek Sportsman’s Club near Mt. Vernon. We will hold all future Board meetings there at least through the end of the year. The Board meets the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 7p.m. and members are always welcome. It is not clear if we will be able to hold general membership meetings this fall or not due to COVID-19 restrictions. We will keep you informed. DANE COUNTY PHEASANTS FOREVER GROUP LENDS A HAND On Saturday, July 11, a hard working group of volunteers from Dane County PF came to the pheasant farm and cleaned out the brooders which they have done for several years now. In exchange the League donates some birds for the annual Learn to Hunt event held in the fall. Thanks to all PF folks who helped do one of the nastiest jobs of the year. We need Your Likes ON Facebook!! We are trying to get a E-Newsletter going and by liking our Facebook page we can make sure you are kept up to date with all the latest events. DCCL E-NEWSLETTER All Family members are welcome to join in on the fun!! Volunteer at least 10 or 15 hours on DCCL projects. Paid 2021 membership DCCL Application PDF Your Bird can be picked up in Late August. All Left over birds are sold to the Public Bat House Project. In April we initiated our first bat house project successfully with the help of many members at the farm cutting the pieces, staining, and painting them . We built 20 nursery bat houses and 10 single bat houses. Collaborating with the DNR Heather Kaarakka, a bat biologist, and Darren Marsh, director of the Dane County Parks who picked specific sites; we installed four bat stations at four county parks. Installation took about 6 hours, and those sites are: Yahara Heights, Token Creek Park, Babcock Park, and the Lower Mud Lake Natural Area. Two bat houses are also installed at the farm. We still have some nursery and single houses for sale for anyone interested. Nursery houses are $20 and single houses are $10. As a conservation league our highest priority is to help preserve threatened or endangered species. Bats in Wisconsin have seen a huge reduction in population due to White Nose Syndrome (WNS). Our recourse is to help supply summer habitat for bats on city, county, and private land to help them recover. With growing interest, continuation for bat houses next year requests should be done in March with site selection by April whether citizen, private club(s), city, county, or state. New Go wild DNR Website To Purchase a license, permit or register you kill. Need a place to hunt this fall? Want to know where the pheasants are stocked each week? or even find a parking lot. check out this great hunting tool. http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/lands/fflight.html Membership meeting are starting in September Board meetings are the third Tuesday of the month at 7:00pm. Membership meetings are the fourth Tuesday at 7:00pm. With Guest Speaker To discuss farm issues and conservation efforts. Everyone is Welcome to join us. All Meetings are held at the VFW Hall, 133 E. Lakeside St.(off John Nolen drive). in Madison.

TAGS:County Dane Conservation 

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