October, 2021 Have you seen the new turtle mural above the storm drain at Vilas Park? It features two of Lake Wingra’s favorite creatures to spot: the snapping and painted turtle. The new turtle mural, located across from the tennis court parking lot near Lake Wingra in Vilas Park, was made possible by Dane County’s …
Lake Wingra Monitoring Volunteers Update – April 17, 2019 Birds migrating north are beginning to stop over in Lake Wingra. We recently had the fun of watching a flock of migrating Bonparte’s Gulls diving into the lake to catch fish (Figure 1). Most of the time they were feeding in the pool below the dam …
by Liz McBride Photos by Liz McBride and David Thompson Spring through fall, native plants beautify our gardens and provide food for birds and insects. But even in the dead of winter, they lighten the heart and feed the hungry. Stripped of leaves and petals, native plants add form, texture, and even color to the …
Native Plants Add Winter Interest to Your Garden Read More »
by Grace Graham, WI Master Naturalist Volunteer for UW-Madison Arboretum Just as we are experiencing the transformation to winter, the lakes around us are facing their own seasonal changes. During spring and fall, the water column experiences a process called turnover, the mixing of water from different depths, and a redistribution of oxygen and nutrients. …
Under the Ice: How Organisms Survive Lake Wingra in Winter Read More »
By Hannah Buscemi The common bladderwort is an aquatic plant native to the Northern hemisphere, and it can be found in Wisconsin and Lake Wingra. In fact, out of all the Madison area Lakes, this includes Mendota, Monona, Waubesa, Kegonsa, Lower & Upper Mud Lake, and the Yahara River, Lake Wingra was the only one to …
Meet Your Local Aquatic Plant: The Common Bladderwort Read More »
May 29,2018 By Roger Bannerman Recent warm weather has produced water temperatures in Lake Wingra that are the same as a swimming pool! At all depths the temperature of the water is around 80 degrees Fahrenheit. A temperature that can refresh on a hot day. Only 3 weeks ago it was a more stimulating 67 …
High Temperatures and Clarity Make Wingra Waters Inviting Read More »
Move out of the way April Showers, May showers are en vogue now! All this rain can make it difficult to get outside with your family on a regular basis. Here’s a fun activity to get your kids outside and help them feel empowered in making stormwater management decisions around your home. Put on your …
In the library, a monarch butterfly rested on a small boy’s hand. Suddenly it fluttered upward—zig-zagging over bookshelves toward a window. Four squealing children ran to where it landed on a windowsill. Catalina approached, coaxing it onto her fingertip. Her eyes flashed with uncertainty, bravery, and wonder. A big smile appeared. “Look what I caught! …
Monarchs for Kids in 2017—Connecting with Mexico Read More »
Last Thursday evening was the last Science Thursday of the season at Wingra Boats. Susan and David presented about Monarch butterflies and Milkweed plants to an enthusiastic group of kids and their parents. After talking about butterflies, their life cycle and why they are threatened we got to the fun part, David has been raising …
