The Exhilaration of Eagles: Jennifer Lazendorf

Show Transcript

Announcer: 0:04

Welcome to frame of reference informed intelligent conversations about the issues and challenges facing everyone in today's world, in depth interviews with salt counties, leaders and professionals to help you expand and inform your frame of reference brought to you by the max FM digital network. Now, here's your host, Rauel LaBreche.

Rauel LaBreche:

 0:26

Well, welcome to another edition of frame of reference saw County's only That's right, only podcasts that covers all kinds of topics, from environmental topics to business topics to social comp topics with leaders in the Sauk County area, which the people we talked with, I tried to have folks that really know what they're talking about, but are more importantly, that are passionate about what we talked about so that we can hopefully inform our listeners with the things that brought them to their positions. And hopefully that helps people out there to find their own passions, and maybe your passions will coincide with today's guests. So I'm sitting across the table from Jennifer lassen, Dorf, good German name for our area, right, lots of Germans. And Jennifer is the co chair of the bald eagle, the very bluff bald eagle watching Days Committee, which is a good organization in the community, those of you that don't know, the Sauk Prairie area, we were one of the first areas to really promote the preservation and the caretaking of bald eagles, because we have sort of a natural roosting place and a natural viewing place for them. And that eagle watching day's event that happens every year here in separate area is a tremendously successful event and a tremendously popular event with many, many people. So Jennifer graciously agreed to come in and talk about that a bit. But thanks, Jennifer, thanks for coming down and talking with us really appreciate you taking the time. You're you're a professional that works in our area, and for you to take time out of your busy schedule to come talk with us is wonderful, wonderful. So thank you. So Jennifer, talk to us. Tell us about yourself what, what, what you, you know, you work at comp your financial time, right? And what's your position there?

Jennifer Lazendorf:

 2:22

I am a team leader of loan accounting and copier financial, I've been there about six years. And it's been a great experience working there. And working in the area. I chose to work there because I wanted to work with local farmers in the local area. And it's been a very rewarding experience to to work there.

Rauel LaBreche:

 2:45

Do you have a farming background yourself?

Jennifer Lazendorf:

 2:47

I do not do not in my previous positions, I had worked with some local vendors, I was in a retail environment. And I worked with some local vendors and local farmers getting their products on the shelves. And I found a great deal of meaning in that. And I ended up as an adult going back to school and getting my accounting degree to pursue that line of occupation and actually washed up to come here because I shouldn't say washed out but ended up becoming through a vendor that I had worked with who had a very positive experience with his loans that come here, okay. And it's been great, I really, I really enjoy it. I enjoyed the people. And I think we're doing really important work there.

Rauel LaBreche:

 3:35

Yeah, it is really rewarding, isn't it to be a part of something that is making a big difference in people's lives. You know, I talk with friends of mine that one of the frustrations they have with their career is they just don't feel like they're making a difference in anything. So I'm happy for you that you found that that's, that's one of the things that drove me honestly, to do this podcast, I was looking for other ways to to have that kind of impact in people's lives where that if nothing else, he caused him to kind of think about, well, I need help work and I go for help. Right. So would you would you say that there were things in that career that made you perhaps you gravitate towards Eagle watching days or in the preservation of eagles? back maybe that's what we should start with is talk about that. Can you tell us anything more about your, your movement towards working with the fairy bluff Eagle Council? Oh, sure.

Jennifer Lazendorf:

 4:31

You know, I would say that actually predates my, my career as an accountant. I mentioned that I I sort of went back as an adult and studied accounting and that was through, you know, other jobs that I had, you know, discovering a real facility with numbers and an enjoyment of doing that, that kind of work and being a value within that that type of work. But my love of the hour Doors and nature and birds. predates that by many, many years since I was since I was a kid, I always loved the outdoors. And birdwatching is something I got on to fairly fairly young and you know, didn't didn't pursue that as a career in any way. I didn't didn't study biology, but I've just always had a connection to the outdoors and hiking and canoeing and things like that. And specifically bird watching, I do a lot of birdwatching,

Rauel LaBreche:

 5:28

should you have a favorite bird.

Jennifer Lazendorf:

 5:31

I mean, I always like to say my favorite bird is the one I haven't seen yet. So we know whatever I'm looking for, you know, if I, if I, if I go out to see something specific and get to see that that's a joy, but it's, it's kind of my, my happy place just to get out and take myself away from the cares of the world and really focus on the outdoors. And it's, you know, I think birding is a, it's a lifelong learning, you know, hobby. So as, as, as much time as I am able to put into it and spend on it. I know, I will never be a full expert, you know, as much expertise as I might learn and gain, there's always more to learn. There's always that next type of thing, whether it's, you know, habitat or vocalizations, or there's just biology, there's, there's so much to learn.

Rauel LaBreche:

 6:28

Yeah, that's a fascinating thing in and of itself, isn't it? How birds are able to vocalize so differently from one another, you know, everything to the parakeets and the, you know, larger birds that are able to imitate human speech and learn quite a few words, you know, you just you, I find that fascinating that there can be so much difference there. So I would think that alone is something to spend a lifetime. In fact, that's the only thing I was thinking of is Isn't this area, somewhat unique in that the size of it? A relative the proportionate of like, really, really top notch ornithologists, I mean, that we, if I remember, right, there are at least one or two people that had some international recognition, or at least national recognition in terms of their skill level and expertise. Susan, has that been your experience?

Jennifer Lazendorf:

 7:16

My experience is that Wisconsin has a wonderful group of of, you know, ornithologist biologists and just burgers in general. And it does seem very heavily weighed in with experts and, and people you know, who are recognized in their fields, like, you know, I have, I've lived in Wisconsin about 20 years. And I, I have had wonderful experiences and in all of the different organizations that I've learned with and people that I've met, and there are just a number of different citizen science opportunities, wonderful organizations in Wisconsin. It does seem to be it does seem to be a wonderful place for for birding,

Rauel LaBreche:

 8:04

it does seem to that the birders that I've met, at least yourself included, tend to be so passionate and desire to share what they know, too. You know, it's, it's pretty easy to get a birder to a point where they're very passionate, you know, they just kind of get worked out quickly. And I, I've always wondered, you know, what is it about that realm that inspires people so much? Do you have you thought about that? I mean, what is it that you love bird watching? Obviously, you have as a little kid, were there people in your life early on that had that same kind of passion and kind of transfused you with it, if you will? Or

Jennifer Lazendorf:

 8:43

not, you know, not, not individuals. I mean, I grew up, you know, before the internet, before social media and, and the ease of reaching out and connecting with other people that had those, you know, shared your interests, but certainly, I read books, you know, Roger Tory Peterson and Ken Kaufman, there's just wonderful resources books out there that kind of sparked that interest in me, okay. Um, I do find that burgers and, you know, again, most of my experience, recent experience has been in Wisconsin, but birders do tend to be very generous and I think it comes out of that enthusiasm. And when when you have that passion and enthusiasm you want to share it with other people. It's not it's it's not a you know, people talk about competitive birding and listing and, you know, getting the biggest list and things like that. And while that can certainly lead to, you know, some some negative, negative emotions and not everyone is as generous but I think that I think that even within those types of competitions, people want to help you they want to they want you to see the the bird that they're seeing. And my experience has been overwhelmingly positive with the community and and the, the different types of people that get into it and the reasons they get into it and there's really a, a huge variety of you know, there's people that just the, the pandemic really brought out a lot of new birders, good people are trapped inside and nothing to do but look outside their window. So I think that, that expanded our community. So you, you have a lot of new birders who are just learning and then so many expert birders and sure people really are just very, very generous and wanting to share of this of this passion. Sure,

Rauel LaBreche:

 10:48

sure. Do you, you know, as you are well aware, I try to talk about some favorite things in the opening parts of our podcast, do you have a favorite place that you like to go to or a favorite place that you think for? For your own kinds of viewing that has worked really well for you? And you tend to I think a bit of like, favorite places we'd like to retreat to or that kind of thing? Is there any

Jennifer Lazendorf:

 11:11

you know, I mentioned any anytime I'm I'm outside hiking, there's it's kind of kind of my happy place I can remove myself from the cares of the world. But I think you know, Devil's Lake is is a wonderful place to go and get up on those bluffs and can see turkey vultures and eagles and, and waterfowl there. Gov DoD is another fantastic place to just to hike and a lot of different you know, areas there's woods and water and sure wonderful place.

Rauel LaBreche:

 11:47

On all the birds that you're looking or maybe looking for have different kinds of habitat. Sure.

Jennifer Lazendorf:

 11:52

Yeah, yeah, the different habitats, I certainly go to different places for different habitats. I try and get out to, you know, like Michigan a couple times a year to see what's out there. You get a we get a lot of wonderful birds that migrate through that quite often. You only see typically on either coasts, but there's always, always a few that kind of sneak through the middle of the country and during migration and, and hit our Great Lakes because we're so privileged to have I think, Wisconsin we have, we've got two great lakes in the Mississippi River. So I think we're just we're spoiled for wonderful habitats and flyway. So

Rauel LaBreche:

 12:29

on Wisconsin River, right close to home here is Oh, yeah, great habitat, particularly for eagles.

Jennifer Lazendorf:

 12:34

Yeah, yeah, you know, I live I live right down the river. I live in spring green, so and that, that part of the reason that I relocated to spring green about 15 years ago or the, you know, lower Wisconsin River away area, okay. Was was for the river because I enjoy kayaking and canoeing, ochre, and

Rauel LaBreche:

 12:58

all you really earn outdoors. Just so are there. Do you find that you mentioned that you're being outside is just a good happy place, if you will? Is there a favorite experience or you know, I think even into our childhoods, that there's like this kind of favorite thing that happened or, you know, an anecdote or, you know, a remembrance that whenever you come back to it, it's a sort of a Oh, yeah, that was so great. Do you were there any experiences within birdwatching that that you kind of look to to, were kind of defining moments are you know, that kind of thing?

Jennifer Lazendorf:

 13:38

I not not necessarily birdwatching specifically. But you know, when I was a kid, my family did a lot of camping, we had an old pop up camper, and, you know, we kind of I grew up in central New York around the Syracuse area. You know, my mom kind of dragged us all over the eastern seaboard and camped a great deal and so we spent you know, spring breaks and summers in like Cape Cod and, you know, kind of exploring the ocean and poking at the jellyfish and different you know, the hermit crabs and different things that you see along the, along the ocean. And then also, I would say we I do have a very specific memory of camping and visiting the Chincoteague and acity islands off Virginia, okay. And they have they have wild ponies that live on those islands and I think a couple times a year the Park Service or, or someone in charge there will actually herd them up and they swim them from one island to another four I think that that services and things like that, but it's it's a big, big kind of attraction in that area. So the the wild ponies of Chincoteague and nasty guy. Lynn made a huge impression on me as a little kid, I thought that was just just fascinating that you have these kind of amazing wild creatures living in this really interesting area that wouldn't necessarily expect it to see them. Right.

Rauel LaBreche:

 15:16

And being able to be preserved in sounds like a natural habitat for them. Right? So do we move them you think to like, increase their food sources or give the food sources that they are eating a chance to kind of regenerate? Or

Jennifer Lazendorf:

 15:30

I think they I think they manage them to keep their, you know, population to a certain level so that they're sustainable. And I haven't I haven't looked into it in a long time. But I do remember that, that being just such an amazing experiences, you know, 10 or 12 year old?

Rauel LaBreche:

 15:47

Yeah, yeah, that one I know. I just love experience I have with friends of mine that had horses and having a sister who was just a horse fanatic, and yet we lived in Milwaukee, so she never really had a chance to be around horses much but there's a there's something so majestic about horses ponies there. You know, you talk with people that get kind of entranced with them almost. And, you know, it's kind of put it out there with dogs in terms of relationships that people have, although it's a very different one from horses for what I understand. So anyways, folks, we were talking with Jennifer Laz, and lands and Dorf, I had to look quickly, because I wasn't going to remember Jennifer Eisenberg, who is the co chair of the fairy bluff eek bald eagle watching Days committee. So that's a long title to remember. So we can talk a little bit about fairy bluff legal counsel and we have another guest who may be joining us Jeff Barton, who's actually kind of an off he's an officer very blunt legal counsel,

Jennifer Lazendorf:

 16:51

is the President of fair bluff legal counsel.

Rauel LaBreche:

 16:53

So we're hoping Jeff will be able to join us and jump sorry, why I'm just doing it today. Maybe I need more coffee or something. We'll be right back here after hearing word from our sponsors to talk more about Eagle watching Days and eagles in general and hope to stay with us. frame of reference. When the north winds blow you need to be able to fight back whether it's with warm clothing and accessories from Carhartt and muck boots, heaters for your milkhouse or den, every kind of salt and ice melt you might need to fight the nastiest storms as well as snow tires and batteries are when Mother Nature plays hardball and winter warriors that Macfarlanes will get you back in front of that cozy fire in no time flat Macfarlanes one block south of highway Trovit 72 Carolina street wear service well, we're back here at frame of reference. WR PQ 99 Seven Max FM's digital network. My guest today is Jennifer Lassen Dorf, who is one of the co chairs of the organization in the area here, that very bluff Eagle Council. But they also have a number of different committees. And Jennifer is the co chair of the eagle watching bald eagle watching dates Committee, which is a special event that happens here every year. Right. Jennifer, tell us about that this year and 2022 wouldn't see event happening and how would people get to it if they wanted to come on down for

Jennifer Lazendorf:

 18:26

it? Sure. This year actually is the 35th anniversary of the sock prairie bald eagle watching Days. Okay, so we're pretty, pretty excited. It's as easy as that long standing event.

Rauel LaBreche:

 18:39

I just celebrated my 45th wedding anniversary. So I can tell you that's an exciting one.

Jennifer Lazendorf:

 18:46

So yeah, we are excited to welcome people back to the Sauk Prairie area, okay to view bald eagles. Last year, we did because of the pandemic we did go fully virtual and had a number of presentations. We actually spread it out over several weekends and we can live stream some some presentations from the river Art Center. And that was a great experience. And we actually had viewers from all over the world. Yeah, and many, many states across the country and Canada. And that was that was a really great experience and we kind of learned from that and this year. We We are excited to welcome people back to the area and we will be offering live Eagle viewing from the Overlook here in on Water Street or in curry de sac. The dates are Saturday and Sunday, January 15 and 1620 22. In addition to that eagle viewing that we encourage people to come out and see our eagles. We will also be having some presentations that people can attend that's at the river Art Center branches off of the High School in in soccer. And the three main presentations that we're offering are, we will have be having the Schlitz Audubon. They're out of Milwaukee area. And they're going to be coming in and offering a live raptor program. So they will have a bald eagle on some other raptors that they'll bring. And,

Rauel LaBreche:

 20:25

and that's an ongoing thing, right, that live live raptor program has been part of the event for a number of years, hasn't it? Yes.

Jennifer Lazendorf:

 20:31

Yeah. The we we bring them back every year. Because they do a fantastic job, right. They're wonderful at their wonderful educational mission and introducing us to the birds. And we'll have a question and answer session so people can ask questions of them. Sure. So we're really excited to have them back on the stage, there's, they're actually going to be doing two presentations, they're gonna both start and end our presentations on Saturday, the 15th. The first one's at 10am. And then the second one will be at 3pm. I remember,

Rauel LaBreche:

 21:09

this would be 30 ish years ago, when we first moved to the community in 1990. And when our daughter got to, I want to say she was probably eight or nine, we brought her and my son who at that point was like three, down to one of the Raptor programs and the kids that come to that it's just so wonderful to see their response to it because eagles are so huge in comparison. And you know, you can't get a perspective of that when you if you haven't seen them up close. And then some of the other birds, I think there were some hawks that were a part of their presentation, and just really gives you a deep appreciation for how special these birds are. And it kudos to you guys for figuring out how, how meaningful that can be. And then we're bringing in the Schlitz Audubon Center, because that is they are one of the foremost experts or organizations in the country really, for that, that kind of thing. So

Jennifer Lazendorf:

 22:08

yeah, they really, they do a wonderful job. And they have a number of different birds that they have rehabilitated or acquired from different different areas. I think in in many cases, these are birds that sustained an injury and cannot be released back out into the wild. So they use them for educational purposes. And they have a number of different Raptors so they can bring them in and they use them to explain the differences between eagles and hawks and falcons and show, you know, show you things like they're wingspans, and they really, they really are amazing to see them up close, you don't necessarily appreciate how big an eagle is or how big a hawk is. Until you see them sitting on sitting on someone's arm. See them fly a little bit. It's, it's a it's a it's an amazing experience we'll learn

Rauel LaBreche:

 23:03

through like specialized features that some of them have that differentiate them from other like I think like the wings and how some of the Falcons are really have, you know, been designed, if you will to you know, really fly it at you know, tremendous speeds surely cases.

Jennifer Lazendorf:

 23:18

Yeah, there's there's adaptations with each of the different types of birds for their habitat. You know, some some hawks will have like the exhibitors will have a long tail which helps them fly through woods. So like it helps them steer around trees. As opposed to something like a red tail hawk, which is a beauty Oh, which is more built for soaring. So they they really have different different features and and slips does a great job of helping to point those out. And as you said, like the Falcons are kind of built for speed. So they have wings that are shaped for that

Rauel LaBreche:

 23:57

are some of them better at like riding on the thermals I may remember reading, reading and hearing about that, and not really understanding how the birds are able to really efficiently and economically fly without wasting a lot of energy by just that ability to ride the thermal currents up and down from from the earth is that is that a specialized feature as well or most of them

Jennifer Lazendorf:

 24:18

I think a lot of different hawks and other birds as well will utilize those thermals. It really as you said it's a really efficient way to to fly especially during like migration. Little catch a thermal any, any place that there's exposed land that the sun hits it and heats it heats it up and will create those sort of updrafts. And birds can fly in and catch those and just sort of ride those thermal Circle, circle up into the way up into the air and that will get them a lot of height so that they can, you know, fly off and cover a lot of miles and you know, there there are places I'm thinking of like hawks ridge and Duluth, Minnesota, which is a wonderful place to visit. They have a that's a wonderful, wonderful place to go and see Hawk migration because it's right at the edge of Lake Superior. So, you know, the Hawks, hawks specifically, you know, a lot of raptors don't necessarily want to fly across the Great Lakes. So they'll they'll hit the lake and they kind of go around the edge and like that's an area where it's right at the tip. And there's kind of those explosive exposed bluffs and, and rocks that will will heat up and they can catch those updrafts. And we will see sometimes hundreds of hawks, their point Pele and Michigan, I believe, there's different different places, there's, you know, Hawk Mountain in New Jersey, okay? Different hoc watching areas where you see this, where you see hundreds and hundreds of hawks that will kind of they call it a kettle, we all gather together and ride the thermals up and during migration to spool macular site

Rauel LaBreche:

 26:10

is another fascinating thing to the whole idea of migration. And, you know, how do birds find their way, you know, always makes me think about okay, so what is it one of the theories, they have some sort of adaptation in their skulls, that it has a magnetic capability within it that allows them to sort of detect where they are in reference to the North Pole? And, wow, that would be kind of cool, if that is true, to be true that their brain actually, it's just another sense, essentially, you know, maybe that's why some people can always tell which way they're going. And other people like me are lost constantly. Right? So

Jennifer Lazendorf:

 26:51

I think, you know, that's something that's, that's not known completely. I think that's one of those areas of science, where they're, they're continuing to learn how birds do navigating, you know, so, perhaps navigate by the stars, but, you know, for that as well, that the, the magnetic

Rauel LaBreche:

 27:09

flux of the earth. Yeah,

Jennifer Lazendorf:

 27:11

they kind of have that built in because, you know, when it's stormy or cloudy, how then how do they know? Right? But it's, it's, it's amazing to think about, isn't it? Yeah.

Rauel LaBreche:

 27:22

So how did you come to appreciate eagles in particular, was that just because you became aware of the fair bluff eco Council and thought I want to be a part of that or was there you know, any kind of a where you knew, and I really need to do that. That sounds really cool.

Jennifer Lazendorf:

 27:40

You know, I, having been a birdwatcher for many years, I, I, I found you know, and just enjoying the outdoors I wanted, I wanted to be be a little more involved and to give back to my community and get back to participate in some of these citizen science opportunities. So I started searching around and and became involved in some different organizations, there's River Valley birders, which is is fairly informal Bird Club around the spring green area. The more the more I birdwatch, and the more I get out there, the more people I meet and find out about opportunities. So you know what Wisconsin Society of Ornithology has was a wonderful organization. They offer a lot of field trips, I've met a lot of them. A lot of people through that I don't I want one of my neighbors actually for that that I work with the other than I bird with in the river valley birders asked me to help her with some Eagle roofs counts. So in the wintertime, bald eagles roost communally. So you will get dozens sometimes hundreds of of bald eagles that will all gather together at night, in certain areas, certain trees. And the fairy bluff eco Council actually sponsors those roost counts. So my friend of mine who was she was coordinating the Lone Rock roost at that time, invited me to come out and and help her account account every two weeks between December and February. And that was really enjoyable. You get to watch you know, you go out just a couple hours before dusk and you watch like I said, dozens or hundreds of birds fly into this, you know, into this single area. And they search up in the trees and you can hear him chittering and talking back and forth and it's pretty yeah yeah, it's it's funny when you When you see something on TV or, you know, an eagle shows an eagle on TV or in a movie, and here's this majestic that is not an eagle that is almost always a call of a red tailed hawk. It just sounds more majestic. I think he goes themselves actually have kind of a high pitched a high pitched

Rauel LaBreche:

 30:25

Is it like a Warhol? It's,

Jennifer Lazendorf:

 30:27

um, it's just it's just higher pitched and not as not as majestic, I guess for better benefit the image? Or, you know, for TV? Yeah, but, but they do they chitter back and forth and talk to each other. And that's it's fun to to get to hear them. So through that I, when my friend sort of retired from doing account, I took over the coordination of the Lone Rock roost. Okay, so I've been doing that for a few years now coordinating, coordinating those counts, okay. And the fairy bluff eco Council, as I said, sponsors those they have about there's about 15 roosts that they monitor every, every year, okay, um, through different volunteers. And then Jeb Carson, who we spoke about is one of the people who pulls all that information together. And it goes into a database. They've been doing it for many years to track Eagle populations. Along the lower Wisconsin River, Roy, okay. And so that is how I kind of got involved with the ferry bluff Eagle Council. A few years ago, Jeb called me up and asked if I'd like to serve on the board. And I did and joined the board. And that time also took over or became co chair of the bald eagle watching Days. My co chair is named John Keith, he's been doing this for John, he's been doing this for quite a while. And he is I couldn't do it. I couldn't do it without him. i At some point, I'm probably gonna have to do with how long he's going to be the chair. But

Rauel LaBreche:

 32:10

well, he's retired. So he's got much more time.

Jennifer Lazendorf:

 32:12

He does a wonderful job he. He is He is instrumental at securing our sponsorships. And, yes, he knows a lot of people in the area. And he's a he's a wonderful man. And then we have several other people on the committee who also do things like manager, our Facebook page, and with our advertising. We've got Stephanie at the very Chamber of Commerce, who helps with a lot of our advertising and promotion, and our graphic design stuff, our brochures, right? So it's really it's really a group effort. I certainly couldn't. I feel like I do very, very little I sort of coordinate all these people. Most Wonderful stuff to make this event happen.

Rauel LaBreche:

 33:01

Make sure the right hand knows what the left hand is doing. That's me. We're very excited

Jennifer Lazendorf:

 33:06

to want to get back to this a little bit. We're also having at the river Art Center, our presentations are all just on that Saturday, the 15th Okay, we're gonna have Eagle viewing from the Overlook. We'll have volunteers on Saturday and Sunday, but the presentations are only on Saturday. So aside from Schlitz, we're also happy to welcome back. David Stokes. He is another wonderful presenter who we have back many, many times. We have back every year he does a fantastic program. It's it's a it's a different program every year, but he does live animal program and he this year, it's called laughing with the animals. So he's a wonderful, especially for children and young children. He's very, very interactive and very engaging presenter that we're very happy to have back and he's going to be doing his presentation at

11:

 34:08

30am on Sa