The Thursday evening “Restoration for Landowners” program will be an Introduction to the Door County Invasive Species Team and Door County Soil and Water.  Tim Dahl and Jason Miller will discuss programs which will improve habitats for wildlife and birds.  But even after Crossroads’ habitat restoration efforts, we no longer are hearing the enthusiastic morning choruses, and come to think about it, this time of year, we aren’t seeing as many birds either.

One of the Summer Nature Programs this week will feature Fantastic Flyers, a program about migration.

In the “Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behavior,” illustrator / author David Sibley wrote: “Migratory activity is exceptionally strenuous, involving peak energy demands as much as seven to fifteen times greater than the bird would use when resting. These higher energy demands may be expended over periods of continuous flight between two and six days without rest.

“Scientists estimate that an equivalent feat of physical endurance for a human would be to run a 4-minute mile for 80 hours straight.”

He then goes on to describe that display and territorial behavior, courtship, and mate selection, nest building, egg development, and care of the offspring are extremely energy intensive. 

But those activities are winding down. Male birds no longer sing to attract mates and defend territories. The young have fledged. One would think that this would be a nice respite for the birds… a time to relax and chill. But no!

Before migration, depending on species, birds need to replace some or all their worn feathers. Songbirds lose their feathers gradually, so they are never naked, but they have a ragged appearance this time of year and usually remain quiet and well-hidden during the process because they are vulnerable to predation. Also, because feathers provide insulation, birds must use huge amount of energy just to maintain body heat.

Migratory birds are still around, we just don’t notice them quite so much this time of year. But that is no reason to avoid our trails. Our forested trails offer a cool retreat on a warm day, and our summer programming will help you learn as you have fun. For more information please check out our Crossroads calendar or stop by the Collins Learning Center and pick up a printed calendar.

Crossroads at Big Creek Learning Center and Nature Preserve is located at 2041 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay. Crossroads is a 501(c)3 organization committed to offering education, conducting research and land restoration, and providing outdoor experiences to inspire environmental stewardship in learners of all ages and from all backgrounds. We welcome your support. 

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Upcoming Activities

Tuesday, August 6

10:00 – 11:00 am Summer Nature Program – Butterflies

Join our summer naturalist for free family-oriented activity. Butterflies are masters of transformation. Seek our summer butterflies in Crossroads’ gardens, meadows and fields. Nets will be provided. 

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Wednesday, August 7

10:00 – 11:00 am Summer Nature Programs – Fantastic Flyers

Join one of our naturalists for some free family-oriented activities and nature exploration. Suitable for all ages. Learn about bird migration.

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Wednesday, August 7

7:00 pm Door County Environmental Council – Cyanobacterial Blooms and Cladophora Issues

What’s that Green Stuff in the water and on the beaches? Gina LaLiberte is the Statewide Harmful Algal Bloom Coordinator for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. She will be addressing harmful cyanobacterial blooms and Cladophora in Wisconsin and the Door Peninsula. Please join us for this free program at Crossroads at Big Creek or via Zoom.

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Thursday, August 8

5:30 – 7:00 pm Resources for Landowners Series

This summer, Crossroads is hosting the Resources for Landowners lecture series, a speaker series aimed at connecting Door County landowners with the tools and resources available in the county for restoring and managing the natural resources found on their land. This series will highlight and introduce several programs, partners, and organizations landowners can use to support their own restoration efforts.

Tim Dahl and Jason Miller speak on Door County Soil & Water and the Door County Invasive Species Team, their programs and the resources they offer landowners.

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As always, our trails are open all day every day, free of charge. Check the Crossroads website calendar for upcoming events and details.

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