Category Archives: Volunteer

Refuge staff would greatly appreciate your assistance with the following projects

May

1. Plant native trees and shrubs on the new islands near Brownsville. 3-4 days. Mid to late May; project date depends on river level. 6 people.

2. Heron colony counts. Late May; project date depends on river level. 4 people.

3. Reed canary grass study. On-going. 2 people.

a. Vegetation surveys in May and July/August. 4-6 days each time.

June

1. Bald eagle nest surveys; production counts. Throughout May/early June; project date depends on river level. 1-2 people.

2. Collect Purple Loosestrife control beetles and release. 2-3 days; collect in Winona, MN, release in lower Pool 8. Early June. 2-4 people.

3. June 4^th: lower Pool 8 clean-up with Mississippi River Wild.

4. Follow-up on heron colony counts. Early to mid-June. 4 people.

5. Map locations of invasive crown vetch from boat. Mid-June. 2 people.

6. Map locations of invasive Japanese bamboo (knotweed). Mid-June. 2 people.

7. Goose banding with Wisconsin DNR. Late June. 6 people.

May – October

1. Post signs along Refuge boundary. Unlimited. On-going. 1-2 people.

2. Reed canary grass study. On-going. 2 people.

a. Vegetation surveys in May and July/August. 4-6 days each time.

b. Well checks once a month

July

1. Survey past beetle release sites to determine presence and effect on purple loosestrife plants. 2 days. 1-2 people.

2. Seed collection for prairie restoration – multiple days, depending on which species are ready for collection.

3. Aquatic vegetation sampling. 6 days. 2 people

August

1. Wild celery sampling survey on Lake Onalaska. Early August. 1 day. 10 people.

2. Seed collection for prairie – multiple days, depending on which species are ready for collection.

September

1. Waterfowl banding with Wisconsin DNR. Late August and early September. 6 days. 6 people.

October

1. Deploy buoys marking the boundaries of the Lake Onalaska Voluntary Waterfowl Avoidance Area and Goose Island. 2 days. 2 people.

October – November

1. Contact visitors at Brownsville Overlook during peak waterfowl migration – answer questions/provide information about migration, swans, and island building. Weekends 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. 2 people.

2. Hunter bag checks and possibly avian influenza sampling. 2 days. 12 people.

Thanks in advance!

Contact Paula Ogden-Muse with questions and to sign-up for projects:

Paula_Ogden-Muse@fws.gov and 608-783-8403 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 608-783-8403 end_of_the_skype_highlighting