By Paul Noeldner
Friends of Urban Nature
Our birds of the month for April and May are the Bald Eagles nesting at several locations around Madison, including Warner Park, Cherokee Marsh and the UW Arboretum. The presence of these magnificent birds is a tribute to good laws protecting birds and to public support for preserving nature in urban areas.
Please enjoy viewing and photographing eagle nests from a respectful and federally required distance of at least 300 feet. Visit the Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance at swibirds.org to learn about the Eagle Watch program with volunteers who help monitor and protect eagle nests.
Planning is underway for the new Hartmeyer Roth Park behind the old Oscar Mayer building at North Sherman Avenue and Roth Street. The Friends of Hartmeyer Natural Area are asking the public and area organizations to ask alders to support preserving and restoring the entire remaining 15-acre half of the 30-acre ecologically and historically important Hartmeyer wetland natural area as a Conservation Park for passive recreation, similar to the small but ecologically and historically important eight-acre Kettle Pond Conservation Park on Madison’s near west side.
Demetral Park, only a couple blocks away, already provides an off-leash dog park and large areas with active recreation facilities. The nearest existing Conservation Park on the Northside is 3 miles away, adjacent to wealthier suburban neighborhoods. Give lower income near east and north side neighborhood residents, schools and children their own nearby small Conservation Park with beautiful nature, birds and wildlife to enjoy and learn about within easy walking and biking distance. This will also help respect and honor the Native American mound and history at the park.
Earth Week is coming up. Take the Earth Day Challenge with City of Madison Parks and help clean up a park in your neighborhood on Saturday, April 25, 10 am–12 noon. Sign up at cityofmadison.com/parks/events by selecting a park where you will help with trash pickup, raking, weeding and removing sticks. Trash bags and gloves will be provided.
