New green school yard at Leopold Elementary that includes a rain garden and community vegetable garden.

Leopold Green Schoolyard – Video Tour and Final Update!

For the last 6 years, 1000 Friends has worked with Leopold Elementary School to coordinate actions that would help create a more welcoming schoolyard and alleviate flooding issues on the blacktop. In the last few years, we started the Leopold Green Schoolyard Committee – made up of parents, staff, and community partners that is still […]

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Arboretum trail

Abe’s Arboretum Adventure Series – Final, May 31, 2021

Abe’s Arboretum Adventure – 5.31.2021 TEMPERATURE: 67 degrees F WIND: 7 mph, SSW BIRD SPECIES: 17 (https://ebird.org/checklist/S89397121) My marsh trips have come to a close. Last night, I visited the marsh for the last time this spring – I went at dusk because I wanted to see the last of the marsh that I could […]

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path in the Arboretum

Abe’s Arboretum Adventure Series – May 24, 2021

Abe’s Arboretum Adventure – 5.24.2021 TEMPERATURE: 63 degrees F WIND: 5 mph, S BIRD SPECIES: 29 (https://ebird.org/checklist/S88892064) This past week was likely the wettest we’ve had all spring. Southern Wisconsin has endured a dry spring, which has been tough on some plants and wildlife, but great for my daily birding visits to the marsh. With […]

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Abe and his family watching birds on Gardner Marsh. Photo: Jonathan Lenoch

Abe’s Arboretum Adventure Series – May 17, 2021

Abe’s Arboretum Adventure – 5.17.2021 TEMPERATURE: 59 degrees F WIND: 3 mph, ENE BIRD SPECIES: 40 (https://ebird.org/checklist/S88369638) It was a special week for people associated with my adventure series. First, it was my birthday last week, and I got to celebrate it with a first of year (FOY) blue-winged warbler. As far as birthday birds […]

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Gardner Marsh path

Abe’s Arboretum Adventure – May 10, 2021

Abe’s Arboretum Adventure – 5.10.2021 TEMPERATURE: 43 degrees F WIND: 11 mph, ENE BIRD SPECIES: 37 (https://ebird.org/checklist/S87725310) Leaves have swallowed up the marsh woods, and have made it more difficult to spot birds. The cottonwoods and their leaves are old news, but now most of the wooded area adjacent to the marsh has fully leafed […]

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Gardner marsh path

Abe’s Arboretum Adventure Series – May 3, 2021

Abe’s Arboretum Adventure – 5.3.2021 TEMPERATURE: 61 degrees F WIND: 8 mph, S BIRD SPECIES: 37 (https://ebird.org/checklist/S86997408) Bird migration is upon us. My avian friends have slowly been progressing north since the first red-winged blackbirds and waterfowl arrived in March, but now the onslaught has begun. Since last week I’ve added 15 new species to […]

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