EVENTS

Up to a billion birds die every year in the US after hitting windows, and almost half of those happen at homes. The good news is that there are easy and affordable solutions! During this presentation Brenna Maricek will share some science behind why birds hit windows, and provide recommendations on ways to address problem windows at home to make them more bird-safe.

Brenna Marsicek is the director of outreach with Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance. She is coordinator of the Madison, WI-based Bird Collision Corps. Brenna is passionate about helping home-owners, businesses, and communities become more bird-safe and informed about the issue of bird-window collisions. 

Do you want to make an impact on biodiversity and improve the natural environment? You can start that change in your own backyard!

Join Dubuque Conservation and Wild Ones of Jo Daviess County to learn how you can turn your passion for nature into protecting it. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting out, these presentations are for all levels of experience.

Kaytlan Moeller, of Dubuque Conservation, will give a presentation on Mowing to Monarchs. The M2M program provides accessible training, information and an experience base to guide urban and suburban homeowners in successfully adding high-value native plants into their yards. 

There will also be a presentation by Wild Ones Native Plants of Jo Daviess County. Wild Ones is a national organization with local chapters to encourage individuals and the community to support native plants and wildlife.  Learn what we do, and what you can do, to help make your yard and the community become more environmentally sustainable. For those that are interested, we will discuss how to start a Wild Ones chapter in your community!

This program is free and does not require reservations. If you have questions, please contact Wild Ones of Jo Daviess County.

These tours will be led by Cory Ritterbusch, Consultant, Prairie Works and Emily Lubcke, Natural Resources Coordinator, The Galena Territory Association.

We will begin at a Galena Territory Homeowner’s yard to see four prairies in various stages of development. Witness the wonderful prairie plants as we are led on a guided tour by the experts.

Following the yard tour, it's just a short walk or drive to a nearby remnant prairie and oak savanna restoration. You can see the restoration under varying patterns. Cory Ritterbusch has been doing restoration here since 1999 and Emily Lubcke since 2008. You can see their work and learn how it has evolved over time.

A five dollar donation per person is requested for this tour when you arrive. Wild Ones members are free. To register, or for questions, please contact us at: [email protected]

Recycling woody debris like fallen twigs, branches, and logs is foundational to nurturing a healthy garden ecosystem. Keeping woody debris onsite fosters the development of fungal and invertebrate communities to build soil, and creates habitat for birds and insects, while saving labor and resources involved with material hauling. Join Erin Presley, horticulturist at Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison, WI, as we outline easy and attractive ways to save and re-incorporate your garden’s precious woody debris.

Erin Presley earned a bachelor’s degree in Horticulture from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and began working at Olbrich Botanic Gardens in 2014, where she manages the Herb, Woodland, and Pond Gardens. Her interests include native woodland plantings, sedges, low-maintenance and drought-tolerant gardening styles, recycling woody debris, and all things related to herbs, vegetables, and cooking.  Erin collaborates with herb societies, master gardeners, and local community organizations. Erin is the 2021 inaugural winner of the American Public Gardens Association's Gerry Donnelly Future Leaders award, and has appeared on the nationally syndicated podcast Cultivating Place and Wisconsin Public Radio’s Garden Talk and is a contributor for Fine Gardening magazine.