Wonderful Wetlands!

This May is the 21st Annual American Wetlands Month!  American Wetlands Month was created to celebrate the vital importance of wetlands and to educate about the value of wetlands as a natural resource.

As you may know, wetlands, the collective term for marshes, swamps, bogs, and similar areas found in generally flat vegetated areas, provide a vital link between water and land. Wetlands provide critical fish and wildlife habitat; help regulate water levels within watersheds; improve water quality; reduce flood and storm damages; and support hunting, fishing, and other recreational activities.

Unfortunately, today more than half of America's original wetlands have been destroyed-- drained and converted to farmland, filled for housing developments and industrial facilities, or used to dispose of household and industrial waste! Help protect our remaining wetlands by celebrating American Wetlands Month!


Here are some ideas to help you and your family celebrate:

• Learn about wetlands. Click here to see some wetlands Fact Sheets from the EPA.
  
• Explore a wetland near you! Click here to learn more! 
  
• Become a member of Wisconsin Wetlands Association.
  
•  Encourage your youngster to enter the River of Words Watershed Themed International Art and Poetry Contest.  The contest is open to students ages 5 through 19 anywhere in the world and the grand prize an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., to attend the awards ceremony at the Library of Congress.  See some of last year's winning submissions below!
  
  

  

  A round moon rises
  in the dark sky.
  The white bunny
  with brown ears
  is searching
  through the cold snow
  for his covered burrow.
  Seven yellow stars
  lead him home.

Goodness Goslings!

We have a large gaggle of goslings this spring at our Monona Campus!  At last count we had more than ten! 

Did you know …

• Unlike most birds, goslings don’t recognize their own kind. If mother isn’t there for them to see, they will bond to whoever will take care of them.  
• Goslings leave the nest within 24 hours of hatching to take their first dip in the water.
• Gosling’s fluffy down feathers help keep them afloat. 
• The average life span of a Canada goose is 10-25 years but there are reports of geese living to be 30+ plus years of age in the wild.
• Researchers have determined that Canada Geese have a sophisticated level of communication with around 13 different calls ranging from warnings, contentment, loud greeting and alarm calls to the low clucks and murmurs of feeding geese.

To learn more about Canada Geese, check out this website with goose facts and activitiesyour youngster will enjoy!

Or, check out Grady the Goose by Denise Brennan-Nelson from your local library or bookstore!  The book features beautiful illustrations by Artist Michael Glenn Monroe and a great informative section with geese facts to keep your young bird lover engaged and learning!