Central Wisconsin
August 8 through 17, 2002
Based at Stevens Point in Portage County Wisconsin Shelley Hight and I spent 10 days exploring the countryside of Central Wisconsin. Although quite warm by anyone's standards the Heat wave here at home was not particularly missed as we plied the many waters and meadows of Wisconsin.
The best Odonate of the trip was this Portage County record Russet-tipped Clubtail Stylurus Plagiatus.
Found August 11th perching in the mid morning sun on forbes along a railroad embankment near the Wisconsin River.
The Eastern Prairie of central Wisconsin is best observed in the Buena Vista Grasslands maintained as Prairie Chicken Habitat by the Wisconsin Dept of Natural Resources. Although August is not a great season to be observing Prairie Chickens the fields of Liatris held my first ever Regal Fritillary. I am indebted to NABA member Mike Reese for guiding me for the day through several counties observing many great butterflies.
Liatris filled prairie Meadow (above) and Regal Fritillary (Below)
August 14, 2002 Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (1)
Cabbage White
Clouded Sulphur (1000s)
Orange Sulphur
Eastern Tailed-Blue
Aphrodite Fritillary (4)
Regal Fritillary (1)
Meadow Fritillary (20+)
Northern Crescent (100+)
Gorgone Checkerspot (10+)
Eastern Comma (3)
Red-spotted Admiral (2)
Viceroy (2)
Common Wood-Nymph (6)
Monarch (20+)
Silver-spotted Skipper (3)
Least Skipper (10+)
Portage, Marquette, and Waushara Co., WI (D Small, M Reese)
Regal Fritillary
Gorgone Checkerspots were the second highlight of my day with Mike Reese. While Clouded Sulphurs by the thousands puddled at every moist patch of earth on the dry prairie
The willow covered dikes at the George Mead Wildlife Management Area were home to many songbirds as well as a Bronze Copper Butterfly which is only the second specimen I've ever seen.
Bronze Copper
Shelley and I want to thank the hospitality of Eric Anderson who spent a day guiding Shelley and I around the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge. Leonard's Skipper, Great Egrets, Wandering Glider, and a Leopard frog
Below Whooping Crane pens where a flock of these stately birds are being raised by biologists from the USFWS and USGS who will use several ultralight aircraft to train the flock and guide them to their wintering grounds in Texas.
Wolf Dung from a group of Gray Wolves living on the refuge
Provide a feeding station for Monarchs and Crescents
White-tailed deer were abundant wherever we traveled in Central Wisconsin
The presence of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in Wisconsin and the death of 3 hunters believed to have been infected by venison served at a game feed has created a great deal of anxiety from all corners. Thousands of deer have been ordered killed in an effort to control this potentially deadly disease.
Cooking fish not venison!
Thanks to Shelley for making the trip great fun and to Viney and Dave for their hospitality and everyone with putting up with my early morning hours...
Regal Fritillary Buena Vista Grassland Wisconsin
