A beautiful autumn landscape in NW Wisconsin (photo gallery… click for more photos)

Early morning on the sedge marsh

Swan fly-by on Southwest Dike Cutoff Had a nice start to the day today with the annual midwest crane count this morning. My location had several mated pairs of cranes. Driving the back trail through the sedge marsh is always a delight. A pair of trumpeter swans flew in while I took a short walk. … Continue reading Early morning on the sedge marsh →

Early morning on the sedge marsh

Another Great Ricing Season Underway

I’ve been out on the wild rice beds near my home in Grantsburg, WI for a few evenings this past week and all day today. The harvest has been pretty good so far, and my partners and I have gathered somewhere around 80 lbs of raw rice through today. Maybe more, but I am not … Continue reading Another Great Ricing Season Underway →

Late Winter on Phantom Lake

I took a walk one recent afternoon and saw some interesting early signs that spring is not too far off! There was a small pool of open water along the shore where dozens (maybe hundreds?) of tiny bullheads and a couple larger ones were hanging out. A pair of Trumpeter swans flew in just before … Continue reading Late Winter on Phantom Lake →

Wolf Sign on a Winter Walk

It was a beautiful sunny day today, perfect for a winter walk. The snow is too deep for my short-legged companion Annie to accompany me on an off-road snowshoe hike, so I took advantage of the marvelous gravel roadways on Crex Meadows, not far from home and blessedly unplowed after the latest 3-4 inch snowfall … Continue reading Wolf Sign on a Winter Walk →

Crex Crane Tour

Every fall thousands of Greater Sandhill Cranes gather near Grantsburg Wisconsin to beef up in preparation for their annual southward migration to the warmth of the U.S. Gulf Coast. And every fall, hundreds of folks visit the area to view the cranes for themselves. I had the opportunity last week to lead a group of … Continue reading Crex Crane Tour →