>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO "IN
WISCONSIN."
I'M PATTY LOEW.
THIS WEEK TREK THROUGH THIS
MENOMINEE COUNTY FOREST AND FIND
OUT WHY, EVEN THOUGH IT'S
REGULARLY LOGGED, IT CONTAINS
MORE TREES NOW THAN IT DID 100
YEARS AGO.
DISCOVER HOW LAID-OFF PAPER MILL
WORKERS ARE FINDING NEW LIFE
THROUGH RENEWABLE INDUSTRIES.
AND MEET A PICKY PLATTEVILLE
PAIR WHO ARE A LITTLE NUTTY
ABOUT THEIR HARVEST.
WE'LL ALSO TAKE YOU OUT IN THE
PRE-DAWN DARKNESS WHEN BIRDERS
USE THEIR EARS TO COUNT THE
INVISIBLE BIRDS, IN WISCONSIN.
>> WASHINGTON MAY BE INFUSING
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS WITH BIG
CASH, BUT HERE IN WISCONSIN, THE
BIG ECONOMIC CONCERN IS JOBS.
OUR STATE IN PARTICULAR, IS
COMING TO GRIPS WITH TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF LOST MANUFACTURING
JOBS DURING THE LAST EIGHT
YEARS.
FREDERICA FREYBERG REPORTS ON
JUST WHAT THE PRESIDENTIAL
CANDIDATES SAY THEY'D DO TO HELP
AND HOW SOME FORMER PAPER MILL
WORKERS IN CENTRAL WISCONSIN ARE
TRAINING TO ENTER THE WORLD OF
"GREEN."
TWO DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS.
THAT'S WHEN THE ASSEMBLY LINE AT
GENERAL MOTORS IN JANESVILLE
SHUTS DOWN FOR GOOD.
PUTTING MORE THAN 2,500 WORKERS
OUT OF A JOB.
THE AUTO INDUSTRY HAS TAKEN THE
HIT MOST RECENTLY.
BUT MASS LAY-OFFS IN
MANUFACUTRING OF ALL SORTS HAVE
BECOME PART OF WISCONSIN'S
ECONOMIC LANDSCAPE OVER THE LAST
SEVERAL YEARS.
100,000 SUCH JOBS LOST SINCE THE
YEAR 2,000.
THE QUESTION IS WHAT THE
CANDIDATES FOR PRESIDENT WOULD
DO ABOUT IT?
BECAUSE IT'S NOT EXPECTED TO GET
BETTER BEFORE IT GETS WORSE.
FOR EXAMPLE, WISCONSIN'S ONCE
MIGHTY PAPER INDUSTRY IS
CONTRACTING LIKE A SWEATER IN
THE DRYER.
IN THE LAST DECADE ELEVEN MILLS
HAVE CLOSED OR CONSOLIDATED.
THREE IN THE LAST YEAR.
WITH THE CLOSURES, THE LOSS OF
NEARLY 17,000 JOBS.
>> EVERYBODY HAD ANTICIPATED
MAYBE A MACHINE SHUTTING DOWN OR
A DEPARTMENT SHUTTING DOWN.
WHEN THEY CAME OUT WITH THE
WHOLE MILL SHUTTING DOWN, IT WAS
A BIG SURPRISE TO EVERYBODY.
>> KURT HEINEN'S SUPRISE CAME
CHRISTMAS TIME LAST YEAR WHEN
THIS PORT EDWARDS PAPER MILL
ANNOUNCED IT WOULD CLOSE TAKING
500 JOBS WITH IT.
>> MY UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE IS
LESS THAN HALF OF WHAT I WAS
MAKING EVERY MONTH.
SO IT'S TOUGH.
YOU GOT TO MAKE A LOT OF CUTS
AND YOU HAVE TO SACRIFICE FOR A
COUPLE YEARS.
>> TOUGH TIMES, PERHAPS LIKE
NONE THIS GENERATION HAS SEEN,
CALL FOR NEW IDEAS ACCORDING TO
WISCONSIN'S FORMER STATE
ECONOMIST.
>> IT'S TROUBLING TO ME AS A
GRANDFATHER AND AS A FATHER, I
THINK -- I HATE TO SAY THIS, BUT
I MAY HAVE LIVED THROUGH THE
GOLDEN AGE OF WISCONSIN, UNLESS
WE DO SOMETHING ELSE ENTIRELY
DIFFERENT WITH OUR INVESTMENTS
AND WHAT WE DO AS A STATE.
>> NOW FOR THAT SOMETHING
ENTIRELY DIFFERENT FROM MID
STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE.
>> THIS IS PROBABLY THE WEAKEST.
>> MIDSTATE TECH IS SYNONYMOUS
WITH MAKING PAPER.
900 JOBS HAVE BEEN LOST THIS
YEAR.
>> WE'VE LOST THOUSANDS OF JOBS
AT THE PAPER MILLS.
OUR CONCERN AS A COLLEGE AND
WITHIN OUR ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP
HERE IS LET'S MAKE CERTAIN WE'RE
HELPING THEM RETOOL IN SOMETHING
THAT WILL BE HERE INDEFINITELY.
>> THAT BLACK SURFACE WILL
ABSORB THAT SILVER --
>> SO THIS PAST FALL, MID START
STARTED WISCONSIN'S FIRST
TWO-YEAR TECHNICAL DEGREE
PROGRAM IN RENEWABLE ENERGY.
>> WE'RE NOT TRAINING
BIO-REFINERY PEOPLE TO MAKE
BIO-DIESEL IN THEIR GARAGE!
WE'RE TRAINING THEM TO MAKE
MILLIONS OF GALLONS OF BIO-FUELS
AT A PRODUCTION FACILITY.
THE BOTTOM LINE, IT'S DIFFICULT
FOR US TO PRODUCE FUELS FROM A
PRIMARY COMMODITY.
SO IF WE CAN FOCUS ON SWITCH
GRASS AND CELLULOSE AND THE
PARTS OF TREE THAT WE DON'T MAKE
INTO BOARD AND PAPER AND THAT
TYPE OF THING THAT WILL BE AN
ENORMOUS SOURCE FOR US.
>> FOCUSSING ON RENEWING,
STUDENTS ENROLLED AT MIDSTATE
INCLUDE WORKERS THAT LOST THEIR
JOB.
>> WHERE DID IT LEAVE YOU?
>> CONFUSED AT FIRST.
NOT SURE WHAT I WANTED TO DO,
GET A JOB.
GO TO SCHOOL.
>> BUT WHEN JIM LEARNED ABOUT
THE NEW PROGRAM TRAINING FOR
GREEN INDUSTRY JOBS, HE SIGNED
UP FOR CLASS.
>> WE'RE LOOKING AT THE
POSSIBILITY OF BETWEEN 35,000
AND 50,000 NEW JOBS BEING
CREATED OVER THE NEXT 3-5 YEARS
IN WISCONSIN IN THE GREEN
INDUSTRY.
>> FOR JOB CREATION AND
STABILIZATION, THE CANDIDATES
FOR PRESIDENT ALSO FAVOR GREEN
INDUSTRY JOBS.
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE BARACK
OBAMA HAS MORE SPECIFICITY THAN
JOHN McCAIN.
OBAMA SAID HE WOULD INVEST $150
BILLION OVER TEN YEARS TO
ADVANCED BIO FUELS AND RENEWABLE
ENERGY.
HE SAID HE WOULD DEVELOP AND
DEPLOY CLEAN COAL TECHNOLOGY AND
WOULD INVEST IN GREEN TECHNOLOGY
TRAINING FOR THE MANUFACTURING
WORK FORCE.
JOHN McCAIN SAYS HE WOULD COMMIT
$2 BILLION TO ADVANCING CLEAN
COAL TECHNOLOGIES AND WANTS TO
BUILD 45 NEW NUCLEAR POWER
PLANTS.
HE WOULD PUT IN PLACE
UNSPECIFIED PERMANENT TAX
CREDITS TO PROMOTE WIND, HYDRO
AND SOLAR POWER AND WOULD
ENCOURAGE BATTERY OPERATED
VEHICLES.
>> ECONOMIC EXPERT, TERRY
LUDEMAN, SAYS GREEN IS GOOD, BUT
NOT THE GOLDEN TICKET.
>> WE'RE NOT ALL GOING INTO
BIOFUELS.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO ALL WORK IN
GREEN INDUSTRIES.
>> WHAT HE DOES SEE AS KEY IS
TRADE POLICY.
BELIEVING IN ENVIRONMENTAL AND
LABOR STANDARDS WITH OUR TRADING
PARTNERS MUST BE HELD TO A
HIGHER STANDARD.
FOR ITS PART, THE PAPER INDUSTRY
IN WISCONSIN HAS CITED LOW
PRICED IMPORTED PAINER FROM
CHINA AS ONE REASON FOR PLANT
CLOSINGS.
>> THEY'RE SHIPPING OUR JOBS
OVERSEAS.
THERE'S NO WAY TO STOP.
>> THAT'S HOW MANY WORKERS SEE
IT.
THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES SEE
TRADE AND JOB PROTECTION THIS
WAY.
JOHN McCAIN IS A FULL-OUT TREE
TRADE ADVOCATE AND WOULD TAKE
THE CORPORATE FROM 10% TO 25% TO
SPUR JOB GROWTH.
BARACK OBAMA WOULD REOPEN THE
NORTH AMERICAN FREE TRADE
AGREEMENT TO TOUGHEN
ENVIRONMENTAL AND LABOR
STANDARDS AND SAYS HE WOULD ALSO
CLOSE TAX LOOP HOLES FOR
COMPANIES THAT SHIP JOBS
OVERSEAS.
AS FOR IMMEDIATE HELP TO
DISPLACED AND JOBLESS WORKERS,
BOTH JOHN McCAIN AND BARACK
OBAMA WOULD SUSPEND THE TAX ON
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS AND OBAMA
WOULD EXTEND THE BENEFITS.
>> THE AIR WILL HIT THIS
DIVERTER AND FLOW AROUND HERE.
>> THE VERY PEOPLE IN NEED OF
THAT EXTRA HELP BECAUSE THEY
LOST THEIR JOBS WISH THEY
WEREN'T IN THAT BOAT.
BUT SOME ARE WORKING TO MAKE A
LASTING CHANGE.
A SWITCH TO GREEN.
>> DO YOU FEEL THAT THIS WILL BE
AN INDUSTRY THAT WILL AFFORD YOU
MORE SECURITY?
>> YES.
>> MORE SECURITY.
NEW JOBS.
THINGS NOBODY COULD DISPUTE THAT
WISCONSIN WITH ITS ERODING
MANUFACTURING BASE COULD USE
MORE OF.
>> YOU CAN WATCH ALL OF OUR
PRESIDENTIAL ISSUE REPORTS IN
THE NEW, "IN WISCONSIN ELECTION
2008" SPECIAL, WHICH AIRS ON THE
WISCONSIN CHANNEL, THIS FRIDAY,
OCTOBER 31ST AT 8:00 PM.
OUR ELECTION SPECIAL IS ALSO
STREAMED ON WISCONSINVOTE.ORG.
THE SITE ALSO FEATURES THE "HERE
AND NOW ELECTION 2008" SPECIAL,
WHICH EXAMINES HOW MAJOR ISSUES
IN WISCONSIN MAY BE AFFECTED,
DEPENDING ON IF THE DEMOCRATS OR
REPUBLICANS WIN CONTROL OF OUR
STATE LEGISLATURE.
AGAIN, YOU CAN FIND BOTH
ELECTION SPECIALS STREAMED AT
WISCONSINVOTE.ORG, AND DON'T
FORGET THAT ON ELECTION NIGHT,
YOU CAN GET STATE AND NATIONAL
ELECTION RESULTS AT
WISCONSINVOTE.
AS FREDERICA EXPLAINED IN OUR
LAST REPORT, PAPER MILLS IN
CENTRAL WISCONSIN HAVE SUFFERED.
BUT THERE IS A SAWMILL IN
MENOMINEE COUNTY THAT HAS SEEN A
CENTURY OF GREAT SUCCESS.
REPORTER ANDY SOTH TAKES US
THERE.
*
>> THE SECRET TO RUNNING A
SUCCESSFUL SAW MILL LIES IN
MAKING THE MOST OF EVERY LOG.
FOR STARTERS, EACH PIECE IS
ASSESSED ON ARRIVAL.
EACH LOG IS TRACKED AS IT
TRAVELS THROUGH THE MILL AND THE
PERCENTAGE YIELD OF THE DAY'S
RUN POSTED FOR ALL TO SEE.
THAT'S NOT THE ONLY MESSAGE ON
THE BOARD.
>> IN THE MENOMINEE LANGUAGE,
THAT MEANS HAVE A NICE DAY.
>> IT'S IN THE MENOMINEE
LANGUAGE BECAUSE THIS IS THE
MENOMINEE RESERVATION.
THE SAW MILL IS OWNED AND BEEN
OPERATED BY MENOMINEE TRIBAL
ENTERPRISES FOR 100 YEARS.
>> THE BLOCKS ARE MADE FROM
MENOMINEE FOREST WOOD.
>> AN ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATED IN
OCTOBER 2008.
THAT MEANS FOR A CENTURY, MTE
HAS PROVIDED A PAYCHECK FOR
MENOMINEE MILL WORKERS, A WAY OF
LIFE FOR MENOMINEE LUMBERMEN AND
A ECONOMIC BASE FOR THE
MENOMINEE COMMUNITY.
BUT WHAT MAY BE MOST REMARKABLE
ABOUT MENOMINEE TRIBAL
ENTERPRISES' 100 YEARS IS THAT
THE MILL REMAINS SURROUNDED BY
TREES.
THE ENTIRE RESERVATION IS ONE OF
THE MOST DENSELY FORESTS PARTS
OF WISCONSIN.
THERE'S MORE TREES TODAY THAN
BEFORE THE MILL WAS BUILT.
>> AT THAT TIME WE HAD 1.3
BILLION FEET OF TIMBER ON OUR
RESERVATION.
WE NOW HAVE 1.7 -- OVER 1.7
BILLION FEET.
>> MANY COMPANIES CREDIT THE
FOUNDER OR CEO OF THE SUCCESS.
AT MTE, IT'S CHIEF OSHKOSH.
IN THE 70s, HE WANTED TO CUT
EFFECTIVELY AND SUSTAINABLELY
MOVING FROM EAST TO WEST.
>> WHEN YOU REACH THE EDGE OF
THE RESERVATION, TURN AND CUT
FROM THE SETTING SUN TO THE
RISING SUN AND THEY WILL LAST
FOREVER.
>> AND THEY HAVE LASTED.
WHEN THE OTHER GREAT FORESTS OF
WISCONSIN WERE STRIPPED BARE,
THIS FOREST REMAINED.
BUT NOT BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN LEFT
ALONE.
>> AT FIRST GLANCE, IT LOOKS
LIKE A FOREST THAT HASN'T BEEN
MANAGED.
IT'S ANYTHING BUT THAT.
IT'S A MANAGERED FOREST.
>> MARSHALL KNOWS.
HE'S MANAGED THE FOREST FOR
YEARS.
HIS STAFF DETERMINES THE TIME TO
HARVEST EACH TREE AND TELLS THE
LOGGERS HOW IT SHOULD BE DONE.
>> THE THINGS THAT WE DO IS
INTELLIGENT TIMBERING.
WE DON'T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS.
BUT ONE OF THE IMPORTANT THINGS
IS TO KEEP ALL THE PIECES.
WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP ALL THE
PIECES OF THE FOREST TOGETHER.
>> THE SUM OF ALL THOSE PIECES
IS MORE THAN SIMPLY TIMBER FOR
THE MILL.
>> THE OTHER THING WE GET, WE
SEE A COUPLE GUYS AHEAD OF US
GOING FISHING.
A UNIQUE PLACE IMPORTANT
FISHING.
JUST SCENIC DRIVES FOR THE
TRIBAL MEMBERS.
BUT IT IS PART OF THEIR
ANCESTRIAL LANDS.
I THINK SEEING THE FOREST AND
SEEING IT HELD INTACT I THINK
HAS ENABLED THE MENOMINEE TO
MAINTAIN THEIR CULTURAL
IDENTITY.
>> AN IDENTITY EXPRESSED IN
SIMPLE WAYS LIKE HAVE A NICE DAY
IN THE MENOMINEE LANGUAGE OR
MORE GRAND, LIKE WHEN THE MILL
WAS HONORED AT THE ANNUAL
POW-WOW.
>> IN 1908, WE STARTED THE
CHAIN.
THIS IS THE FIRST 100 YEARS.
>> THE MILL HAS ALREADY BEEN
HONORED WITH A TROPHY CASE WORTH
OF NATIONAL AWARDS FOR ITS GREEN
BUSINESS PRACTICES.
AND VISITORS FROM ALL OVER THE
WORLD COME TO STUDY THEIR
METHODS.
BUT WHAT MAY BE THE HARDEST TO
TEACH THAT THE FOREST IS THE
MENOMINEE PEOPLE.
>> THE FOREST IS KIND OF THE
BODY.
THE WATER CAN BE VIEWED AS THE
BLOOD GOING THROUGH THE VEINS.
I THINK THERE IS THAT
RELATIONSHIP.
I THINK MOST MENOMINEES THAT IN
THEIR HEARTS.
>> TREES ALSO PLAY A LARGE ROLE
IN THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE
FEATURED IN OUR NEXT REPORT.
REPORTER LIZ KOERNER TAKES US TO
PLATTEVILLE WHERE A FATHER AND
SON HAVE A YEARLY RITUAL THAT
HAS THEM COMBING THROUGH AND
SUBSEQUENTLY CREATING LOCAL
FORESTS.
>> BRANDON, IF I COULD GET YOU
TO START PUTTING THE PICKERS IN
THE TRAILER AND I'LL SHUT THE
GARAGE DOOR.
>> ROGER LANGE AND HIS SON
BRANDON WOULD NOT BE INSULTED IF
YOU CALLED THEM A LITTLE NUTTY.
>> WANT ONE OR TWO
>> TWO.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> IN FACT, THEY HAVE AN AUTUMN
RITUAL THAT ALL BUT GUARANTEES
THAT THE LANGE FAMILY NAME AND
THE WORD 'NUTS' ARE USED IN THE
SAME SENTENCE.
>> LOOKS LIKE THERE'S QUITE A
BIT OF SEED HERE.
>> EVERY YEAR THE LANGES COLLECT
NUTS LIKE ACORNS ON LAWNS AROUND
TOWN USING THESE FUNNY-LOOKING
MACHINES.
PUSHING PAST EACH OTHER WITH
THEIR PICKERS AT TIMES THEY
APPEAR TO BE DANCING A DUET.
>> BRANDON SAYS THERE'S A GOOD
REASON WHY HE HELPS HIS DAD
EVERY YEAR.
>> FUN.
>> THIS ANNUAL FATHER-SON
ADVENTURE GOT STARTED 11 YEARS
AGO WHEN BRANDON WAS ONLY 2.
AT THAT AGE HE WASN'T MUCH HELP
BUT THINGS HAVE CERTAINLY
CHANGED OVER THE YEARS.
>> MY HELPER, HE'S PRETTY AH,
PRETTY AH INVALUABLE.
I MEAN HE'S, HE'S A GOOD HARD
WORKER.
>> AND HARD WORK IS WHAT IT'S
ALL ABOUT.
BRANDON AND HIS FATHER START THE
NUT PICKING SEASON IN
MID-AUGUST, COLLECTING THEIR
FIRST CROP UNDER BUR OAK TREES.
>> THIS IS BUR OAK.
IT'S AN ACORN FROM THE BUR OAK
TREE.
>> IT HAS LITTLE CURLIES ON THE
END AND THE SEED IS ACTUALLY --
THE CAP IS ATTACHED TO THE SEED.
THAT'S HOW YOU NORMALLY SEE IT.
>> I GO BACK TO THE SAME TREE
EVERY YEAR BECAUSE THAT'S THE
FIRST TREE THAT DROPS.
>> AFTER THE BUR OAK HARVEST THE
LANGES MOVE ON TO WHITE OAK,
FOLLOWED BY RED OAK, AND GATHER
A LITTLE BUTTERNUT AND SHAGBARK
HICKORY ALONG THE WAY.
THEY SELL MOST OF THE NUTS TO
THE DNR'S WILSON STATE NURSERY
IN BOSCOBEL AND EARN $25 TO $35
A BUSHEL.
ROGER ALREADY HAS A FULL-TIME
JOB SO THE CASH FOR COLLECTING
NUTS IS A BONUS.
BRANDON SAID HE'S SAVING FOR
COLLEGE AND A TRUCK.
YOU CAN PROBABLY GUESS WHICH
COMES FIRST.
>> TRUCK.
>> BUT THEIR WORK ISN'T DONE
WHEN THEY PACK UP AND HEAD HOME.
THAT'S WHEN THESE PICKERS GET
PICKY.
>> THEY HAND-SORT THE BUR OAK
ACORNS AND PICK OUT THE TRASH.
>> WEEDS, TRYINGS, STICKS.
ANYTHING THAT LOOKS LIKE IT'S
JUNK.
>> A LOT OF THE STUFF WILL GO
DOWN THROUGH THE MESH.
THAT'S WHY I'M DOING THIS.
>> WHITE OAK AND RED OAK ACORNS
ARE EASIER TO SORT THAN BUR OAK.
THEY SHOVEL IT INTO WATER.
>> EVERYTHING WITH AIR IN IT
WILL FLOAT.
WE'LL SEE HOW WELL IT DID.
LOOKS LIKE IT WILL STILL NEED A
LITTLE BIT OF TOUCH-UP ON IT.
>> AFTER THE LANGES DELIVER THE
NUTS TO THE DNR, THEY'RE PLANTED
IN THE STATE'S TREE NURSERY.
WHEN THE TREES ARE 2-3 YEARS
OLD, THE DNR SELLS THEM TO THE
PUBLIC.
ROGER AND BRANDON SHOW THE
EVIDENCE OF THEIR HARD WORK IN A
PLANTATION DOWN THE ROAD.
THE DNR ESTIMATES ABOUT A
MILLION TREES ARE GROWING OUT OF
THE LANGE'S SEED-SELECTING
BUSINESS.
>> GIVES YOU A WARM FUZZY
FEELING LIKE I PROVIDED A LOT OF
SEED TO THE STATE.
IT'S A SERVICE THAT -- WHO ELSE
IS GOING TO GET IT DONE, YOU
KNOW?
>> ROGER LANGE TELLS US THAT THE
WHITE OAK ACORNS PAY THE BEST.
THE DNR ESTIMATES THAT THERE ARE
ABOUT 6-8 OTHER COLLECTORS LIKE
THE LANGES THAT DO THIS AS A
FAIRLY SERIOUS SIDE LINE TO
THEIR REGULAR JOBS.
YOU CLEARLY HAVE TO BE
PASSIONATE ABOUT NUTS LIKE THE
LANGES TO ENJOY THE PICKY WORK
THEY DO.
THE PEOPLE IN OUR NEXT REPORT
ARE JUST AS PASSIONATE.
BUT INSTEAD OF LOOKING TO THE
GROUND, THEY'RE GAZING AT THE
SKY.
OR SHOULD WE SAY, LISTENING TO
WHAT IS IN THE SKY.
REPORTER JOANNE GARRETT TAKES US
OUT INTO A JEFFERSON COUNTY
MARSH DURING THE PREDAWN HOURS
TO EXPLAIN.
>> IT'S A WISCONSIN TRADITION.
IT'S A WONDERFUL EARLY BIRD
ADVENTURE.
>> THERE'S A CRANE.
>> WHERE?
>> FLYING.
SEE IT?
>> YES.
YES.
RIGHT THERE.
OKAY.
MARK THAT IN THAT QUADRANT.
>> IT'S THE CRANE COUNT.
THE ANNUAL MIDWEST CRANE COUNT.
>> THERE'S ONE.
>> WHERE?
>> OVER THERE.
>> ONCE A YEAR ON A SATURDAY IN
APRIL, FOR TWO CRACK-OF-DAWN
HOURS, 5:30 TO 7:30 A.M., THEY
COUNT.
>> YOU JUST HEARD ONE,
>> YEP.
>> GREAT.
WE'VE GOT THREE SO FAR.
>> YEP.
>> THEY COUNT SANDHILL CRANES.
BINOCULARS FIRST WENT UP ON THIS
BIRD BACK IN 1976 IN COLUMBIA
COUNTY.
THAT COUNT WAS SPONSORED BY THE
INTERNATIONAL CRANE FOUNDATION.
NOW THE COUNT HAS BEEN EXPANDED
TO INVOLVE MORE THAN 3,000
VOLUNTEERS IN 100 COUNTIES IN
FIVE STATES.
>> I'M WAKING UP.
>> THIS EARLY MORNING IN
JEFFERSON COUNTY, VOLUNTEERS
HALLIE HENNING AND HER MOM JOIN
LONG TIME FRIEND DIANE WALDER OF
MADISON AND HER NEPHEW.
THEY WERE ASSIGNED TO ZELOWSKI
MARSH.
>> THAT WAS PROMISED A LONG TIME
AGO.
>> THEY WERE GUIDED BY VETERAN
BIRDERS, KOLLATH AND ED
GRUNDER OF LAKE MILLS.
THE DAY STARTS BEFORE DAWN WITH
A QUICK CLASS IN CRANE CALLS.
>> HERE'S SANDHILL CRANE.
>> YOU HEAR THE TWO DIFFERENT
TONES THERE?
THAT'S A UNISON CALL.
>> THAT MEANS THEY'RE CALLING
BACK AND FORTH IN.
>> THEY'RE RIGHT TOGETHER.
THEY'RE DOING IT RIGHT TOGETHER.
IT'S A PAIR.
>> IT MIGHTEEM A LITTLE DARK
TO BE BIRD WATCHING.
>> HEAR THE DIFFERENT TONES UP
AND DOWN?
THAT'S NOT ONE CRANE.
THAT'S TWO CRANES.
>> BUT VETERAN BIRD WATCHERS
LIKE KOLLATH DON'T NEED TO SEE
THE BIRDS.
>> YOU HEAR THAT?
>> THEY I.D. PRIMARILY BY CALL.
>> THAT IS ONE.
>> THAT IS?
>> YEAH.
RIGHT THERE.
>> I'LL BE DARN.
>> IT'S A MATTER OF LISTENING AS
MUCH AS WATCHING.
LISTEN TO THIS.
>> WHAT DO YOU HEAR RIGHT NOW?
>> I HEAR SONG SPARROWS.
I'M HEARING BLACK BIRDS.
I'M HEAR CRACKLES BEHIND ME.
THAT'S THE SONG SPARROW AGAIN.
KILLDEER.
>> WHICH IS WHY SOUND, THE CALL,
THE SONGS OF THE SANDHILLS ARE
USED IN ADDITION TO SIGHTINGS TO
COUNT THE BIRDS.
>> HAD A UNISON CALLING UP THERE
TWICE --
>> IT'S LIKE THREE TIMES.
>> AND I GOT A CALL HERE.
>> DEVIN IS GETTING GOOD.
>> OF COURSE, CRANES FLY.
SO HOW DO YOU COUNT THEM?
AND COUNT THEM ONLY ONCE?
THE VOLUNTEERS KNOW IF THEY HEAR
THE CRANE OR IF THEY SEE THEM.
THEY NOTE THE TIME AND THE
DIRECTION THE CRANE IS FLYING TO
EACH OF THEIR ASSIGNED
QUADRANTS.
THE PROCESS IS NOT COMPLETELY
PRECISE.
BUT IT DOES GIVE A PICTURE OF
THE POPULATION OF THIS AMAZING
BIRD.
>> ONCE YOU HEAR THE CALL OF THE
SANDHILL CRANE, IT'S JUST --
IT'S IN YOUR BLOOD.
>> SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT
EVERY SPRING, HEARING THE FIRST
CRANE.
IT'S VERY EXCITING.
THE HARBINGER OF SPRING.
>> WHEN I WAS A KID, I DIDN'T
SEE THEM.
THEY WERE HUNTED CLOSE TO
EXTINCTI
EXTINCTION.
I THINK I WAS IN MY 30s BEFORE I
SAW MY FIRST ONE.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS.
I WAS A BIRD WATCHERS.
I HEARD THE CALL AND I DIDN'T
KNOW WHAT IT WAS.
>> IT'S INCREDIBLE THAT COME
BACKS ARE A SUCCESS STORY.
THE SANDHILL CRANE COUNT HAD
DWINDLED.
IT'S INCREDIBLE HOW THEY HAVE
COME BACK.
>> THIS BIRD WAS NEARLY GONE IN
THE 1930s.
IT'S ESTIMATED THAT WISCONSIN
HAD JUST 25 NESTING PAIR.
WITH THE RIGHT HABITAT, IT'S
TAKEN OFF.
THE MOST RECENT COUNT WAS OVER
13,000 IN WISCONSIN.
HABITAT MATTERS.
THIS PLACE, ZELOWSKI MARSH IS A
TESTAMENT TO THAT.
>> WE'RE LOOKING AT THE
INCREDIBLE RESTORATION AND
PROGRESS.
IT WAS A WETLAND IN THE EARLY
40s.
IT WAS DRAINED AND TURNED INTO A
MUCK FARM BY THE ZELOWSKI
FAMILY.
IT WAS MINT AND ONIONS THAT WERE
GROWING HERE FOR YEARS.
AND THEN IN 2005, IT WAS
PURCHASED BY THE MADISON
AUTOBAHN SOCIETY.
>> AND THE SOCIETY SET INTO
MOTION THIS CURRENT DAY
RESTORATION.
DRAINS WERE CLOSED.
BASINS FILLED AND THE MARSHLAND
RETURNED.
SO DID THE WILDLIFE.
>> IT'S JUST BEEN INCREDIBLE.
>> PRERESTORATION.
THEY COUNTED 30 BIRD SPECIES OUT
HERE.
THOSE NUMBERS HAVE SOARED.
>> IN 2007, IT WAS THE FIRST
YEAR POST RESTORATION.
WE DID WEAKLY BIRD COUNTS OUT
HERE.
CAME UP WITH 169 SPECIES.
>> IT'S A PARADISE.
>> IT'S A BIG WATER PARK FOR
BIRDS.
>> A PARADISE FOR WILDLIFE AND
WILDLIFE WATCHERS LIKE MYSELF.
>> A PARADISE REBORN AND READY
FOR THE NEXT GENERATION TO TAKE
UP THE BINOCULARS.
HALLIE PROVIDES THE FINAL
NUMBERS.
>> TODAY WE SAW 22 TOTAL CRANES.
AND THEN LAST YEAR WE SAW 18.
SO WE BEAT THE NEW RECORD BY
FOUR.
LAST YEAR, THERE WAS FIVE PAIRS
AND THIS YEAR THERE'S SEVEN.
IT'S EXCITING.
>> ZELOWSKI MARSH IS PART OF THE
SOUTHERN SAVANAH LEG OF THE
GREAT WISCONSIN BIRDING AND
NATURE TRAIL.
JOANNE GARRETT IS PRODUCING A
NEW, HOUR-LONG SPECIAL ON THE
TRAIL, THAT WILL AIR ON
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION IN
MAY OF 2009.
IN THE MEANTIME, YOU CAN WATCH
OTHER REPORTS THAT FEATURE STOPS
ALONG THE BIRD TRAIL, BY GOING
TO OUR WEB SITE AT WPT.ORG/IN
WISCONSIN.
ONCE THERE, YOU'LL ALSO FIND
INFO ABOUT SIGNING UP TO
PARTICIPATE IN NEXT YEAR'S
SANDHILL CRANE COUNT.
AND THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR THIS
WEEK.
JOIN US NEXT TIME WHEN WE'LL
EXPLAIN HOW PEOPLE SUFFERING
FROM COMPLICATIONS DUE TO
DIABETES ARE FINDING SWEET
RELIEF IN A SUBSTANCE FOUND IN
YOUR SUPERMARKET.
WE'LL HOP A TRAIN TO VIEW A BEVY
OF BIRDS IN A VERY INACCESSIBLE
FLOOD-PLAIN FOREST.
AND WE'LL SHOW YOU HOW VETERANS
FROM THE NORTHERN PART OF OUR
STATE ARE GETTING LONG OVER-DUE
RECOGNITION.
THAT'S NEXT WEEK.
IN THE MEANTIME, WE LEAVE YOU
WITH A HIKE UP TO THE HIGHEST
POINT IN WISCONSIN.
IT'S TIMM'S HILL IN PRICE
COUNTY.
ENJOY AND FOR "IN WISCONSIN,"
I'M PATTY LOEW.
SEE YOU NEXT TIME.
>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR "IN
WISCONSIN" IS PROVIDED BY THE
PEOPLE OF ALLIANT ENERGY, WHO
BRING SAFE, RELIABLE AND
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY ENERGY
TO KEEP HOMES, NEIGHBORHOODS AND
LIFE IN WISCONSIN RUNNING
SMOOTHLY.
ALLIANT ENERGY, OFFERING ENERGY
SAVING IDEAS ON THE WEB.
AND, THE ANIMAL DENTAL CENTER OF
MILWAUKEE AND OSHKOSH.
A VETERINARY SPECIALIST WORKING
WITH PET OWNERS AND FAMILY
VETERINARIANS THROUGHOUT
WISCONSIN, PROVIDING CARE FOR
ORAL DISEASE AND DENTAL PROBLEMS
OF SMALL COMPANION ANIMALS.