When you have a full-time job it can be really hard to find the energy to get involved as a volunteer for any type of organization, not to mention the energy. But thankfully some people do and in fact they make it possible for most organizations and events to continue. The Ferry Bluff Eagle Council in the Sauk Prairie area is one of those groups and their annual Eagle watching days is one of those events, now in its 35th year, and is coming back this year as both a live and virtual event. It's an opportunity to see up close the bird that has been on the emblems of our nation since its beginning and to understand what makes it so special.
Jennifer Lazendorf is a full-time supervisor in the Accounting department at Compeer Financial Services as well as the co-chair of the Ferry Bluff Eagle Council's Eagle Watching Days committee (Try saying that 10 times fast) and talks about her own passion for birding, the outdoors and helping to make important community events like this one happen.
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 Saturday at the river Art Center.
Rauel LaBreche:
34:14
The first one was 10 o'clock, right? The
Jennifer Lazendorf:
34:15
first one is yeah, 10 o'clock. Okay. Um Is Schlitz Audubon will be doing their live bird of prey show and that will be followed by a question answer all our all of our presentations. We'll have time for questions from the audience. Okay. That will be from 10 to 1115. And then 1130 is David Stokes laughing with the animals. That's a really fun presentation. That's 1130 to 1230. And again, there's gonna be time for for questions and he's, he's great. He gets down in the audience and you know, shows the He has lots of frogs and snakes and all kinds of all kinds of cool, cool animals. sure to show people in the kids. And he'll he'll be taking questions as well.
Rauel LaBreche:
35:04
Kids always have great questions about things like that, too.
Jennifer Lazendorf:
35:08
That's great. We're gonna have a little bit of a lunch break from from 1230 to 130, and then at 130, we're actually going to be having Marge Gibson from the Raptor education group. In previous years, we've had a, we've released a rehabilitated bald eagle at the VFW park this year, because of COVID, and different, you know, different different factors, we're actually going to film, the eagle release. And so we're going to show that film of the eagle relate March, releasing the eagle back over the Wisconsin River, and be able to kind of tell the story of the rehabilitated Eagle. And what happens with that. And we did a similar thing. Last year during our virtual program, we had March, we filmed the eagle release instead of having an in person. Sure. But we'll be showing that film at the river Art Center at at 130. On Saturday, she will be joining us for a q&a. She will actually be joining us virtually from from her location for a q&a. But again, we can take take questions from from the audience.
Rauel LaBreche:
36:32
Sure. Well, I would think that that in some ways would be more advantageous than previously doing it live because I remember those presentations. It was just more difficult to ask questions. Honestly, it was more difficult to hear to because you're an open environment right?
Jennifer Lazendorf:
36:46
It's an open environment and and they were in such large crowds. So it became a challenge to to navigate those those big crowds and have people shout out so so this actually I think was is probably more conducive to having people ask those questions of Marge and she's another just great, great ambassador for bald eagles. And I'm sure she'll talk about lead poisoning many, many of the eagles that she rehabilitates have fallen victim to to lead poisoning, right? So she can speak very authoritatively on that issue.
Rauel LaBreche:
37:23
Now, there was a I think it was I forget gene hunger had talked about a program that very few people council had been really instrumental in to where there were coupons or something available to make it more affordable for hunters to utilize. Is it brass pellets instead of lead pellet? Yes. In that that was much better for the Eagles in general. So I know that's part of the education process.
Jennifer Lazendorf:
37:51
So Jean Jean, I was the former president of the board of the very bluff equal Council and Jeb bars took over for him. And again, if Jeb was here, he could talk more with more knowledge. We do Yep, that is that is one of the other programs that variable of equal counsel does is to offer a $10 coupon or discount on that non lead ammunition and that's available through different places where you're purchasing ammunition and I would have to I thought about that I believe it I believe it's ace. So that offers that coupon sure for for the non lead termination and and that is something that very bluff ego Council sponsors is to offset that cost to encourage people to to use non lead emotion because it really has such a negative impact on what was
Rauel LaBreche:
38:54
one of the reasons why the population had diminished so greatly it was because of the number of them were coming down lead poisoning was one that was one of
Jennifer Lazendorf:
39:02
the you know it it's something that continues to be an issue because you know Eagles will eat carrion, they eat deer, right so when a deer get shot with lead ammunition and you know people don't realize that it actually it does spread it's not just that bullet hole it does actually spread you know Eagles eat that right sick. I believe that the main the main thing that really brought eagles to the brink of extinction was DDT. Okay, way back
Rauel LaBreche:
39:40
so that
Jennifer Lazendorf:
39:42
then that impacted their shells
Rauel LaBreche:
39:46
or Yeah, the the eagle egg shells Yeah,
Jennifer Lazendorf:
39:50
the Eagles and many many other bird species.
Rauel LaBreche:
39:54
They were so thin and fragile that the Eagles
Jennifer Lazendorf:
39:57
Yeah, the they were their nest would fail, weren't able to have offspring. But you know, fortunately that is a that issue was resolved was well yeah, it was resolved and I identified so and, and eagles have made a fantastic comeback. It's just an amazing, amazing comeback and over the past 30 years and things like the roost count and other counts have really, you know, in the nest counts Eagles Eagles have had just an amazing turnaround I would encourage anyone to go out to the fairy bluff eco Council website there's there's much more information
Rauel LaBreche:
40:47
there's there's still a live view of an existing Eagle Nest. I thought there was one of those two at one point. Do you know offhand if that's still something that's offered through the website?
Jennifer Lazendorf:
40:58
I don't think that's something that's offered through ferry bluffs website, which I'll say is fair bluff, eco council.org Okay, sorry. Thank you for a fee are why not? You know, very like the boat not very
Rauel LaBreche:
41:11
like the mythical Tinkerbell.
Jennifer Lazendorf:
41:14
Um, so yeah, fairy fairy bluff Eagle council.org that does have our Eagle day schedule and much more information. Um, I I don't believe there's a a webcam. So that way you're thinking, oh, yeah, bluff. But there are a number of different webcams available for eagles and many other types of birds, casseroles and spray. And I think a Google search would probably get you on a different different sorry.
Rauel LaBreche:
41:49
So you have the release them that's happening and that's partly video partly live and then after that,
Jennifer Lazendorf:
41:55
after that, we're gonna have our second bird of prey show with Schlitz Audubon. And that's, that's at 3pm That'll be our our last show with the river Art Center. If you can't make it out to join us here in the sock berry area, we will be live streaming those, okay. And again, you can it's it's very bluff, equal counsels YouTube channel, but you can get to that YouTube channel from this from the website.
Rauel LaBreche:
42:18
Okay. So sort of a blended presentation.
Jennifer Lazendorf:
42:22
Yeah, we're doing a bit of a hybrid event this year. You know, and then there's there's off also going to be some some other things going on the trip Museum, okay. Right here in in Prairie du SAC, which was right across from the Overlook. They're actually one of the the co sponsors of the event along with the variable of equal Council, the Sauk Prairie Area Chamber of Commerce, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, along with the trip are the CO hosts for the bald eagle watching Days, and the trip will be open. And they will be showing on their big screen all day. A couple of films that we did last year as part of our virtual programming. One of those is bald eagles in Native American cultures, which is hosted in and done by art and Dawn Sharone, who are you know, members of Wisconsin, Native American tribes and do a wonderful, wonderful program and they they have also been part of our programming for many years at bald eagle watching Days. The other film that they're going to be showing is old ape, which is it's old Eva, Civil War Eagle. And that is done by the look we're family had you know that's part of their family history is old Dave so they filmed their presentation last year. And so we have those films available and they're gonna be showing those at the trip trip museum all day long. I think each of them is about you know, half hour to an hour long and and
Rauel LaBreche:
44:14
there's quite a big bird selection there too.
Jennifer Lazendorf:
44:17
They do have I believe the state's largest a bird collection there at the trip Museum and they also have some wonderful historical displays about the the area.
Rauel LaBreche:
44:29
So that seems a little live events and but they're still viewing available. Are you doing with their bus rides too? At one point are
Jennifer Lazendorf:
44:37
we in the past? We have been bus rides. We you know, obviously last year, we didn't have an in person event at all this year with the uncertainty around COVID. We were not offering the bus tours this year. But something that we started last year and that we continue to offer is A there's a self guided tour that we offer an app that you can go to the very Buffy Council website and download this app for your phone. And there are a couple of different tours that you can do at any time on your own to kind of go out and explore some of the different areas or some of the different sites in the area where you can see bald eagles because they don't just go away after they don't. They don't just go away. No, it's not just the Eagles are not just here. This one weekend. We
Rauel LaBreche:
45:34
go one solid weekend.
Jennifer Lazendorf:
45:36
That's right. That's right. Nope, they're here. They're here every day. Oh, you know,
Rauel LaBreche:
45:43
it's pretty much like November ish through March ish.
Jennifer Lazendorf:
45:46
Yeah. You know, this time of year, you're starting to see them. You know, and again, Jeb could speak more knowledge about this, but some of them are local eagles that stay all year. You know, we have nesting eagles, we have eagles that are here year round. But then this time of year, we also get migrating eagles who come come from went further north where the waters frozen. They don't you know, they they come a little farther south where there's more open water. We're very fortunate to have the Alliant Energy Center dam here in Peru to sack which the water is stays open doesn't doesn't freeze around the dam. So that's that's why Eagles congregate. I should point out that the Alliant Alliant Energy is our event sponsor. So they've been wonderful sponsors every year, along with other local Sure. Organizations that are local organizations and businesses that really help allow us to put on this this, this wonderful event we couldn't do without the support of the local economy. So we really encourage everyone to come out and and visit all these local businesses and enjoy the Sauk Prairie area.
Rauel LaBreche:
47:08
Well, one of them, just to call out to one I know personally, it's jaybird Cafe, which used to be a blue spoon that's reopened now, just recently, they have a wonderful river road that I know we regularly see people early in the day. Go have some coffee and a nice breakfast and watch for eagles. Oh,
Jennifer Lazendorf:
47:26
yeah, they have a they have a really nice space there where you can it's just overlooking the river. And a number of the businesses right along Water Street, you know, it's called Water Street because it follows the river and there are a number of businesses and that overlook the river. I myself that come here, we were not open to the public in that way. But I'm spoiled. I'm spoiled, able to work in a place that overlooks the river and, and overlooks the dam. So
Rauel LaBreche:
47:55
and there are like you said the dam was a particularly good place because we've always been open and there's but we need to warn people too about some equal behavior issues that are of concern as well. Right. There skittishness I guess,
Jennifer Lazendorf:
48:10
yeah, that's, uh, thank you for bringing that up. That is, you know, we encourage people to especially like at the at the dam you can pull, there's a parking lot there and you can you know, Elian allows people to drive down there and get right up close to the river, there's a boat launch there during the Eagle Days and during winter, encourage people to view the Eagles from the safety of their car. Because Eagles really do get get skittish around people. And it's, it's really tempting when they're perched in trees that are right over your head to get out and really get up and look at them. But they they are a bit skittish, and they will get nervous are on people and that will cause them to to fly. And during this year, or during during the winter, they're really trying to conserve their energy and they can burn, it takes a lot of energy to fly. So to fly across the river to fly down river where it's you know, where they feel safe. And to be doing that over and over again, because people keep pulling up and keep getting out of their cars can really burn a lot of energy. So we try to limit the impact that we as humans have on the Eagles and maintain a safe different distance and keep them comfortable so that you're not scared and so that we can just enjoy them without impacting them too much.
Rauel LaBreche:
49:36
Well, I mean, any fisherman will tell you that catching a fish is a big deal sometimes. Especially in the winter. So you know imagine that that was your livelihood and you was made the difference between whether or not you live and die and whether or not your family lives and dies and eagles are in that situation which is part of the reason why they end up eating carrion too, right it's it's something that supplements when they can't catch a fish for whatever reason. So
Jennifer Lazendorf:
49:59
that's a exactly right that, you know, eagles are primarily fish eaters. That's, you know, that's what they what they hunt and what they prefer, I guess, but they're opportunistic, they will take advantage of carrion, or you know, small mammals, they will, they will hunt and
Rauel LaBreche:
50:19
not unlike human beings were around a little opportunistic as well. So what else? Is there anything else? Jennifer, you know, I keep? i This is a tough question. I know, but what would you say to someone that, you know, just, you know, he goes, Hey, is there? Is there something that, you know, you think is a reason why, why we should care why, why this is important.
Jennifer Lazendorf:
50:42
You know, I think eagles, it's easy, it's kind of easy to carry about care about eagles, because they're, they're so big, and they're so spectacular, and they're hard to miss, right? I would say cranes are kind of the same way you drive by and you see these cranes, and it's, it's amazing. But they're, they're just one element within the greater ecology. I think that I think it's, I think it's all important, I think if you're protecting Eagle habitat, if people get excited about protecting eagles, you're also protecting the river, and you're protecting the other organisms, that it's all intertwined. So, you know, I think that that bears mentioning, and being aware of that, you know, eagles can be a kind of a gateway into, into learning more about the environment, the importance of protecting the, the environment and our local area. And, you know, we are, we are so lucky to live in this area where eagles are abundant, and they're such a wonderful story of, of what we can protect by making these changes that allow them to come back. And if we do, we can do it with eagles, then maybe we can do it with, with other creatures, and other parts of the natural world that are that are threatened by, you know, things like you know, deforestation and pollution and climate change, and all of these things, I think you have to be you have to be hopeful. And I think eagles are, are such a great example of what can be done,
Rauel LaBreche:
52:30
right, when people care to do something. Right. So which is a it's interesting, meaning that some of the greatest environmentalists and advocates for environmentalism have been astronauts, you know, people that go up and see the fragility of our Earth and, you know, realize that very thin layer of atmosphere that, you know, sustains us in the, you know, the perfect distance between us in the sun and you know, all of the things that are aware of as scientists and but then also become profoundly aware of seeing the planet in the way that they see it. And I think in some ways, eagles can be a same similar kind of doorway, right? They're just that sort of thing, that light bulb goes off, and you're like, Oh, my God, you know, what can I do? You know, I can't change the behavior of politicians beyond my vote, you know, my vote, and vote so people like me, I guess, but you know, we, each of us can make a difference. Just if it were, you know, staying in your car, instead of getting out of your car to get that perfect picture. If you prevent an eagle from having to expend energy, you might actually help that eagle stay alive this winter, right. So
Jennifer Lazendorf:
53:37
switching to non lead bullets, or non lead sinkers, you know, with, you know, if you're a fisher person,
Rauel LaBreche:
53:45
sure, sure. Any parting words of wisdom or encouragement that you would have to a burger like yourself or to someone thinking about coming down or even just watching the broadcast of things on Facebook,
Jennifer Lazendorf:
53:59
I would just encourage I hope everyone can come out and join us if you can't join us in the soccer area. Check out our virtual or live stream, it will be available if you're not able to watch it during the live stream we will have that available on YouTube afterwards. We have some of last year's programming still available if you want to go out and see that or see some of the you know previous Eagle releases are there on the fair bluff Eagle councils,
Rauel LaBreche:
54:27
YouTube channel movies that are at the trip what are those available as well?
Jennifer Lazendorf:
54:31
Those were part of last year's programming. So yeah, if you go out and look at last year's programming, you will be able to see those as well, you know, along with the question and answer sessions that we had. So that's all kind of out there. And I you know, I would enter encourage everyone to go out and, you know, explore not just the website, but just our area and our state. Again, there's so many wonderful organizations and wonderful natural areas that you can visit in our state. I hope everyone can come out for Eagle Days. If you can't go out to your state parks and community parks, and enjoy the nature, you know, nature and the outside world and really wherever you live, see the birds you know, one of the things I love about birding and is that birds are everywhere, every, you know, whether it's a city or a forest or a desert, or the middle of the ocean, you know, they're, they're birds everywhere. I think that once you start to pay attention and notice these things, you know, that's when your whole world sort of opens up to what, what is out there? Sure.
Rauel LaBreche:
55:34
Well, I would think regardless of where you are in the country, there's probably a burger organization or an oral pathology organization of some sort that you could participate in and
Jennifer Lazendorf:
55:44
yeah, there's wonderful wonderful Audubon chapters everywhere you go that offer field trips and like I said, the Birding community is very generous with their time we you know, we love to share our knowledge and get people excited about birds and you know, the that's how change happens. So that's how we end up saving species
Rauel LaBreche:
56:05
Sure. Never underestimate the power of a small passionate group to change the world in fact they are the only thing that ever has right Margaret needs wonderful saying so while I'm the other benefit is you join with birds of a feather flock together right? So Jennifer, thank you so much for joining me My guest has been Jennifer lot your I have the wrong lesson Northlands in dark lands in dark Goodness gracious I hid it underneath one of my pieces of equipment here but Jennifer Ladson North is the co chair of the fairy bluff bald eagle watching Days committee thank you for sharing so much of your information with us and best of luck I hope the the event is just wonderfully attended both virtually and in person. So the river Art Center I should mention is a fairly large facility too so depending on the crowd there is an opportunity to socially distance or or geographically distance I don't like that term socially distance for people but geographically distance from others so it's a live feed out in the other areas to other registers, Nick put something out on the screen like in the lobby areas and stuff.
Jennifer Lazendorf:
57:14
You know, not Not to my knowledge, okay. We will be we will be yeah, like I said live streaming out to the Okay, YouTube, so people
Rauel LaBreche:
57:23
could watch it on their phones, even if they want, they could
Jennifer Lazendorf:
57:27
they can stand in the lobby and if that works,
Rauel LaBreche:
57:31
technology. So Jennifer, thanks so much for joining me. Thank you so much for having been wonderful talking with you and getting to know you. So I will take another quick break to hear a word from my sponsor and wrap up this additional frame of reference here on 99. Seven Max FM's digital network
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57:52
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Rauel LaBreche:
58:21
Talking with Jennifer and seeing up close her passion for bald eagles and other natural resources made me want to rush to the internet and learn more about this grand and beautiful bird of prey that soars majestically through the skies of Sauk Prairie. The eagle became the national bird because it was chosen to be on the Great Seal designed by Charles Thompson, who was a member of one of three teams assigned to the task of developing an emblem for our young nation in the late 18th century. The idea of using an eagle in fact, was not even wholeheartedly supported by all of our founding fathers. Ben Franklin once wrote, The turkey is a much more respectable bird. But Thompson realized that the eagle is an emblem with a very long history in heraldry. Two of the three committees designing the seal included the eagle in some form, although not specifically mentioned by Thompson, clearly the American eagle on the Great Seal represents liberty and freedom themes that were central to all three preliminary designs. Thompson underscored how the imagery symbolizes independence by explaining that the shield is born on the breast of an American Eagle without any other supporters to denote that the United States of America ought to rely on their own virtue. So then, to me, that begs the question of just what are those virtues? Are they things like grit, individualism, merit, pride in our country? Or are they the things that brought our ancestors to this country? I hope, inspiration and opportunity. It strikes me that our individual frame of reference determines how we see ourselves and how we look at eagles. I hope and pray that we can all focus on the virtues that draw us together as a nation in the coming years. A nation or house divided cannot stand and an eagle with either one or both of its wings. torn off. cannot fly. Stay well
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