Summer Notes

Wildflower, Butterfly, Bat, & Bird Walks  We're pleased to offer some new events! In addition to our regular first-Sunday-of-the-month walk (August 3 at 1:30)  in the North Unit of Cherokee Marsh city conservation park, this August we'll also have a Wednesday morning butterfly walk at Yahara Heights County Park and two Friday evening bat walks in the Cherokee Park neighborhood park. The Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance is offering birding events in our parks in September, as well. And, seed collecting with Dane County Parks is revving up. Find upcoming events on the website home page.

We urgently need more volunteers for aquatic invasive species Snapshot Day on August 9. In the past, we've surveyed about 10–12 sites, but this year we are trying to survey 24 sites. It's fun, interesting, and makes a real contribution to protecting our Wisconsin waters. Training provided; expert on hand. Find more details below under Events & Volunteering or here.

Two little girls hold up pipe-cleaner caterpillars they've made

Sheila Leary & Linda Malkin stand at Friends of Cherokee Marsh info table at Butterfly Action Day

Linda Malkin helps children attach antennae to their caterpillar creations

Friends board members Linda Malkin and Sheila Leary staffed a table at Butterfly Action Day at Olbrich Botanical Gardens on August 1. We educated visitors young and old about the importance of specialized host plants for caterpillars. Kids also enjoyed making pipe-cleaner caterpillars.

The Feminist Bird Club co-hosted a beginning birding outing with Madison Public Library at the Cherokee Marsh North Unit in July. The group saw more than 30 species, including fledglings of Willow Flycatchers, Marsh Wrens, and Sedge Wrens being fed by their parents.

Did you know that Birding Backpacks are available at every Madison Public Library location and through the Dane County Library Service's Bookmobile? You're never far from a free loan of binoculars.

The Madison Public Library (Lakeview branch) also partnered with the Friends of Cherokee Marsh in July for a conservation workday with volunteers led by the Friends' Jan Axelson and MPL's 2025 naturalist-in-residence Andrea Debbink. 

Dane County Parks are celebrating their 90th year! The Dane County Park System is the largest county park system in the state and is a leader in land restoration, environmental education, and outdoor recreation.Learn about the planned October celebration.