Red Bird and the Bear - Fall/Winter LbNA #71010
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Add Location| Owner: | Hollyberry1
  |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Sep 27, 2021 |
| Location: | Wehr Nature Center |
| City: | Franklin |
| County: | Milwaukee |
| State: | Wisconsin |
| Boxes: | 0 |
| Found by: | Angel Winks |
|---|---|
| Last found: | Aug 17, 2019 |
| Status: | OFFFF |
| Last edited: | Sep 29, 2021 |
Red Bird & the Bear – Fall/Winter
In memory of DiAnn Stasik
Red Bird and the Bear adventures begin at Wehr Nature Center. You may find our center's information at www.friendsofwehr.org Happy trails!
Once there was a Winnebago (Ho-Chunk) Indian boy named Red Bird, who was named after Wanig-suchka, which means “red bird”. Red Bird and his pinto pony Loomis scouted the wild lands of Wehr Nature Center hundreds of years ago to find useful plants and animals for his tribe. That was the way of the world back then. First Nation people were strong folks who survived the cold and snows of Wisconsin winter and the challenges of finding enough food. Many years have passed since Grandfather Red Bird hunted the bear here at Wehr Nature Center. Wild bears are not found here any longer. There are still many exciting and beautiful things to find and places to explore on our trails!
From the front desk of Wehr Nature Center exit through the north door and take a look at our interpretive map sign. Familiarize yourself with the trails or consult the trail map available at the front desk. This treasure hunt shouldn’t take more than an hour. This fall/winter letterbox hike is the easy 1.5 mile Lake Loop. It is the yellow trail you see on the map.
Walk east around the center until you see the stone owl sculpture near the play space. Follow the paver path to the wood chipped trail and then find the yellow trail markers down to the Yellow Lake Loop. This is the trail where you may see some of the wildlife that makes Wehr Nature Center and Whitnall Park home. White-tailed deer, wild turkey, songbirds, rabbits and squirrels live here year round. Cross the yellow trail to follow the detour trail in front of you to the bird blind. Quietly hike a few hundred feet until you see a structure that has windows facing over Mallard Lake. From here you may view the lake without being seen. Are there any feathered friends on the lake? Fall migration brings sometimes surprising visitors to Mallard Lake.
Next to the bird blind on the southwest side, over the fence and very close to the water is a huge pile of sticks and branches. An animal drug those sticks up and put them in a jumbled pile. The lodge is piled high with branches to keep predators out and the creatures that built it inside and safe from harm. Guess which animal created it?
Make your way back to the main yellow trail and take a right to continue the loop along Mallard Lake keeping the lake on your right. Look along the trail for fall colors, purple and white of early fall flowers, red of red osier dogwood branches, highbush cranberries, and perhaps even a red bird. To your left along the fence line you will find a patch of faded purple coneflower – recognizable by its spiky seed head which is very important food for birds that winter at Wehr.
You are headed toward the waterfall – spectacular at any time of year. By now you may hear the sound of falling water. Is it frozen yet?
Turn away from the waterfall and retrace your steps. Veer right to head north on the Red Grasslands Trail/Yellow Lake Loop. Soon the yellow trail turns away from the red trail to the right. Stay on the yellow trail to walk around Mallard Lake and the waterfall stream. You’ll be hiking along the bottom of the prairie. As you enter the woods this trail becomes more sheltered from the wind and weather. Be sure to look for signs of animals in the snow or mud along the trail. See any tracks? Along the trail you will find a bench made by a thoughtful forester. That was one mighty tree!
As the trail winds around to the south you’ll follow Golf Course Road south over the bridge. How amazing that the water in this creek will eventually reach the water of Lake Michigan! Continue south along the river headed “upstream”. It’s possible to catch glimpses of the creek to your right as you hike. Soon you will hear the waterfall again and this time you’ll get to see it from below!
Follow the shoreline with the lake on your right. Can you hear any birds? Notice the numerous large willow trees at the lake edge? A willow trees roots search for water. These trees love soil that remains wet much of the year. Some of these grizzled giants are still living though they don’t have many branches left. Guess how old they are. They were probably here when bears roamed Wehr Nature Center grounds.
After walking through more lowland forest you will come to a large open area on your left where you can see the Golf Clubhouse. During snowy winters there may be dogsled rides offered there. There may be adventurous people sledding down this hill. Looking at the lake, do you see any islands? How many islands are there in Mallard Lake?
The trail turns to gravel and toward the west - there may not be any trail markers visible for some time. No worries - you cannot get lost as long as you stay in between the golf course and the lake. Cross Warbler Bridge. The sound of trickling water attracts birds and usually songbirds can be heard here – even in winter.
Keep travelling along the boardwalk to the “gathering place” underneath the evergreen hemlock trees. Are there any small cones still attached to the branches? Maybe you’ll catch a glimpse of red squirrel here.
Continue north on the accessible boardwalk and find another former giant willow lying in the lake next to the pier. As you walk up the slight incline you’ll be following the blue woodland trail to the amphitheater. You are behind Wehr Nature Center.
Go inside, our letterbox is located at the front desk and contains our stamp and logbook. Don’t forget to leave us a note about your adventure or take a selfie and post it to social media #wehrnaturecenter!
Until next time – thank you for visiting and best healthy wishes!
Hike length: 1-2 miles
In memory of DiAnn Stasik
Red Bird and the Bear adventures begin at Wehr Nature Center. You may find our center's information at www.friendsofwehr.org Happy trails!
Once there was a Winnebago (Ho-Chunk) Indian boy named Red Bird, who was named after Wanig-suchka, which means “red bird”. Red Bird and his pinto pony Loomis scouted the wild lands of Wehr Nature Center hundreds of years ago to find useful plants and animals for his tribe. That was the way of the world back then. First Nation people were strong folks who survived the cold and snows of Wisconsin winter and the challenges of finding enough food. Many years have passed since Grandfather Red Bird hunted the bear here at Wehr Nature Center. Wild bears are not found here any longer. There are still many exciting and beautiful things to find and places to explore on our trails!
From the front desk of Wehr Nature Center exit through the north door and take a look at our interpretive map sign. Familiarize yourself with the trails or consult the trail map available at the front desk. This treasure hunt shouldn’t take more than an hour. This fall/winter letterbox hike is the easy 1.5 mile Lake Loop. It is the yellow trail you see on the map.
Walk east around the center until you see the stone owl sculpture near the play space. Follow the paver path to the wood chipped trail and then find the yellow trail markers down to the Yellow Lake Loop. This is the trail where you may see some of the wildlife that makes Wehr Nature Center and Whitnall Park home. White-tailed deer, wild turkey, songbirds, rabbits and squirrels live here year round. Cross the yellow trail to follow the detour trail in front of you to the bird blind. Quietly hike a few hundred feet until you see a structure that has windows facing over Mallard Lake. From here you may view the lake without being seen. Are there any feathered friends on the lake? Fall migration brings sometimes surprising visitors to Mallard Lake.
Next to the bird blind on the southwest side, over the fence and very close to the water is a huge pile of sticks and branches. An animal drug those sticks up and put them in a jumbled pile. The lodge is piled high with branches to keep predators out and the creatures that built it inside and safe from harm. Guess which animal created it?
Make your way back to the main yellow trail and take a right to continue the loop along Mallard Lake keeping the lake on your right. Look along the trail for fall colors, purple and white of early fall flowers, red of red osier dogwood branches, highbush cranberries, and perhaps even a red bird. To your left along the fence line you will find a patch of faded purple coneflower – recognizable by its spiky seed head which is very important food for birds that winter at Wehr.
You are headed toward the waterfall – spectacular at any time of year. By now you may hear the sound of falling water. Is it frozen yet?
Turn away from the waterfall and retrace your steps. Veer right to head north on the Red Grasslands Trail/Yellow Lake Loop. Soon the yellow trail turns away from the red trail to the right. Stay on the yellow trail to walk around Mallard Lake and the waterfall stream. You’ll be hiking along the bottom of the prairie. As you enter the woods this trail becomes more sheltered from the wind and weather. Be sure to look for signs of animals in the snow or mud along the trail. See any tracks? Along the trail you will find a bench made by a thoughtful forester. That was one mighty tree!
As the trail winds around to the south you’ll follow Golf Course Road south over the bridge. How amazing that the water in this creek will eventually reach the water of Lake Michigan! Continue south along the river headed “upstream”. It’s possible to catch glimpses of the creek to your right as you hike. Soon you will hear the waterfall again and this time you’ll get to see it from below!
Follow the shoreline with the lake on your right. Can you hear any birds? Notice the numerous large willow trees at the lake edge? A willow trees roots search for water. These trees love soil that remains wet much of the year. Some of these grizzled giants are still living though they don’t have many branches left. Guess how old they are. They were probably here when bears roamed Wehr Nature Center grounds.
After walking through more lowland forest you will come to a large open area on your left where you can see the Golf Clubhouse. During snowy winters there may be dogsled rides offered there. There may be adventurous people sledding down this hill. Looking at the lake, do you see any islands? How many islands are there in Mallard Lake?
The trail turns to gravel and toward the west - there may not be any trail markers visible for some time. No worries - you cannot get lost as long as you stay in between the golf course and the lake. Cross Warbler Bridge. The sound of trickling water attracts birds and usually songbirds can be heard here – even in winter.
Keep travelling along the boardwalk to the “gathering place” underneath the evergreen hemlock trees. Are there any small cones still attached to the branches? Maybe you’ll catch a glimpse of red squirrel here.
Continue north on the accessible boardwalk and find another former giant willow lying in the lake next to the pier. As you walk up the slight incline you’ll be following the blue woodland trail to the amphitheater. You are behind Wehr Nature Center.
Go inside, our letterbox is located at the front desk and contains our stamp and logbook. Don’t forget to leave us a note about your adventure or take a selfie and post it to social media #wehrnaturecenter!
Until next time – thank you for visiting and best healthy wishes!
Hike length: 1-2 miles