>> WELCOME TO "IN WISCONSIN."
I'M PATTY LOEW.
THIS WEEK THE BRIGHT AND BRASSY
SOUND OF TEENAGE TRUMPETER
ANSEL NORRIS IS GETTING
NATIONAL ATTENTION.
SEE WHAT IT TAKES TO CARE FOR
INJURED AND ORPHANED ANIMALS AT
THE NORTHWOODS WILDLIFE CENTER
IN MINOCQUA.
>> THAT WAS HIT BY A CAR AND
BROUGHT IN A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.
>> WOULD YOU LIKE TO TURN YOUR
BACKYARD INTO A AIRPORT CAFE
FOR MIGRATING BIRDS?
THOSE REPORTS NEXT ON "IN
WISCONSIN."
>> 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, WE'RE ON FOR
YOU.
AND THE ANIMAL DENTISTRY AND
ORAL SURGERY SPECIALISTS OF
MILWAUKEE AND OSHKOSH, A
VETERINARY TEAM WORKING WITH
VETERINARIANS THROUGHOUT
WISCONSIN PROVIDING CARE FOR
ORAL CARE FOR SMALL COMPANION
ANIMALS WITH ADDITIONAL FUNDING
PROVIDED BY BIKE WISCONSIN.
>> WE BEGIN THIS WEEK WITH AN
UPDATE ON A YOUNG MUSICIAN
FEATURED BEFORE.
YOU MAY REMEMBER SEEING ANSEL
NORRIS MORE THAN A YEAR AGO IN
OUR COVERAGE OF THE 2009 FINAL
FORTE PROGRAM WITH THE MADISON
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.
THIS TEENAGER IS MAKING QUITE A
NAME FOR HIMSELF AND AS LIZ
KOERNER REPORTS HE'S MAKING
NEWS ON A NATIONAL SCALE FROM
HIS HOME IN MADISON.
>> ANSEL NORRIS USED TO HAVE
TIME FOR COOL CARS.
>> AUDIS, THOSE ARE MY FAVORITE
CARS.
>> NOW WITH COLLEGE AROUND THE
CORNER MUSIC IS TAKING A FRONT
SEAT IN ANSEL'S LIFE.
[TRUMPET PLAYING]
>> HE JUST WORKS SUPER, SUPER
HARD.
HE DOES STUFF OVER AND OVER
AGAIN.
>> HIS MOTHER GOT ANSEL AND
BROTHER ON THE VIOLIN AT A
YOUNG AGE.
>> HE WASN'T SUITED TO THE
VIOLIN.
I CANCELLED HIS LESSONS.
PIANO WASN'T QUITE RIGHT EITHER
AND HE FOUND THE TRUMPET.
>> THAT DISCOVERY HELPED HIM AT
A CRITICAL POINT IN HIS LIFE.
>> I WASN'T HEADING DOWN THE
BEST PATH AS A SIXTH OR SEVENTH
GRADER.
I WAS HANGING OUT WITH PEOPLE
WHO I CONSIDER TO BE THE WRONG
PEOPLE AT THE TIME.
MUSIC HELPED ME THROUGH THAT.
>> IT HELPS HIM IN OTHER WAYS
AS WELL.
>> IF I EVER FEEL BAD ABOUT
SOMETHING I GO PLAY TRUMPET FOR
A LITTLE WHILE AND IT'S ALL
RIGHT AGAIN.
>> SINCE HE STARTED ON TRUMPET
HE'S HAD TEACHERS WHO BOTH
CHALLENGE AND INSPIRE HIM.
SCOTT ECKEL AT EAST HIGH SCHOOL
IN MADISON IS ONE OF THEM.
**
>> I ASKED HIM WHAT DO YOU
THINK I SHOULD PLAY FOR SOLO
AND ENSEMBLE ME FRESHMAN HERE.
HE GAVE ME THE HAYDN CONCERTO
AND HE SAID YOU CAN IT AND
WILL PLAY IT.
HE INSPIRED ME TO KEEP GOING.
>> ANSEL ALSO GIVES CREDIT TO
HIS TRUMPET TEACHER, JOHN ALEY.
>> HE'S TOTALLY INFLUENCED MY
PLAYING.
HE HAS TOTALLY HELPED ME GET TO
WHERE I AM AND PROBABLY WHERE I
WILL BE.
>> WHEN YOU GET TO THAT DOTTED
QUARTER.
>> ANSEL HAS BEEN WINNING
AWARDS IN COMPETITION AT BOTH
LOCAL AND NATIONAL LEVEL.
IN 2009 HE PERFORMED WITH THE
MADISON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AS
PART OF THE FINAL FOR THE A.
>> HE HAS ASPIRATIONS TO BE A
SOLOIST.
WHICH I THINK ARE REMARKABLY
REALISTIC.
**
>> RECENTLY ANSEL WON ADMISSION
TO YOUNG ARTS WEEK IN MIAMI, AN
ALL-EXPENSE PAID COMPETITION
OFFERED BY THE NATIONAL
FOUNDATION FOR ADVANCEMENT IN
THE ARTS.
IT'S OPEN TO 17 AND
18-YEAR-OLDS IN NINE
DISCIPLINES.
**
>> MORE THAN 4,000 APPLIED AND
ONLY 143 GOT IN.
>> THIS WHOLE ORGANIZATION IS
NOT JUST MUSIC PERFORMANCE BUT
IT'S VISUAL AND WRITING AND
DANCE AND ALL THESE MUSICIANS
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER.
LEARN ABOUT EACH OTHER'S
DISCIPLINES, HOW THEY MIGHT
IDENTIFY THEMSELVES WITH THE
TALENT OF THE STUDENTS IN TH
AND IT'S FANTASTIC.
>> YOUNG ARTS WEEK WAS A
WHIRLWIND OF ACTIVITY LIKE A
RECITAL WHERE ANSEL WAS PAIRED
WITH ANOTHER YOUNG ARTIST HE
JUST MET.
>> SHE WAS THIS LITTLE GIRL BUT
HAD SO MUCH POWER.
>> HE ALSO GOT TO SEE OTHER
TEENS PERFORM.
**
>> RIGHT AWAY I WAS STUNNED BY
THE FACT THAT NOBODY WASN'T
AMAZING.
>> DURING THE WEEK ART
PROFESSIONAL GAVE MASTER
CLASSES.
ANSEL T TO ONE BY MICHAEL
TILLTON THOMAS.
THE MUSIC DIRECTOR OF MIAM
NEW WORLD SYMPHONY.
>> IT WAS AMAZING.
HE HAS THIS LEVEL OF THOUGHT.
THE CRITIQUES HE WAS GIVING ME,
THEY MADE SENSE.
>> YOUNG ARTS WEEK ALSO
INCLUDED A COMPETITION, ANSEL
WON TOP HONORS ON HIS TRUMPET
AND A CHECK FOR $10,000.
JOHN AILY SAYS IT'S AN
IMPRESSIVE CREDENTIAL THAT WILL
HELP WITH COLLEGE AUDITIONS.
>> IF I SAW THIS ON HIS RESUME
AND I DIDN'T KNOW HIM, I WOULD
GO OH.
>> WITH HIGH SCHOOL ALMOST
BEHIND HIM AND COLLEGE STRAIGHT
AHEAD, ANSEL IS WELL ON HIS WAY
TO A FUTURE FILLED WITH MUSIC.
>> ON THE DAYS WHERE I HAVE A
REALLY GOOD PERFORMANCE I
COULDN'T FIND ANY QUIBBLES WITH
I'M THE HAPPIEST PERSON IN THE
WORLD.
>> IN ADDITION TO THE $10,000
CASH PRIZE, ANSEL NORRIS WON A
ONE WEEK ARTS RESIDENCY IN NEW
YORK SPONSORED BY THE NATIONAL
FOUNDATION FOR ADVANCEMENT IN
THE ARTS AND THAT'S WHERE HE IS
THIS WEEK.
NORRIS IS ALSO ELIGIBLE FOR A
PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLARSHIP TO BE
ANNOUNCED IN MAY.
WISCONSIN BEERS HAVE WON
NUMEROUS AWARDS AND THE STATE
ENJOYS A GREAT BEER MAKING
TRADITION THANKO SMALL
PART TO THE MANY GERMAN
IMMIGRANTS.
BUT GERMANS AREN'T THE ONLY
ETHNIC GROUP WITH A STORY TO
TELL.
THE NATION'S FIRST
AFRICAN-AMERICAN-OWNED BREWERY
WAS HERE IN WISCONSIN.
WE HAVE THE STORY OF PEOPLES
BREWERY IN OSHKOSH.
>> HE'S KNOWN AS THE REAL BEER
MAN.
OR AT LEAST THAT'S THE NAME OF
HIS COLUMN.
DEVOTED EXCLUSIVELY TO BEER AND
BREWING.
>> YES, BEER IS A COMMON
ELEMENT RUNNING THROUGH MY LIFE.
I CAN'T HELP THAT.
>> HIS NAME IS JIM LUNDSTROM
AND HE IS ALSO THE EDITOR
THE NEWSPAPER, AN ALTERNATIVE
MONTHLY IN CENTRAL AND
NORTHEAST WISCONSIN.
IT'S RUN OUT OF A MENASHA STORE
FRONT.
HIS REAL OFFICE IS A FEW DOORS
DOWN IS WHAT HE'LL TELL YOU.
THE CLUB TAVERN SEEMS LIKE THE
PERFECT PLACE TO SIT DOWN AND
HEAR ONE OF HIS FAVORITE BEER
STORIES.
>> BIGGER THAN BEER BUT
CERTAINLY BEER LED ME TO IT.
>> IT'S A STORY OF CHANGING
TIMES.
AND OF A CITY THAT WASN'T QUITE
READY.
>> IT WAS LARGELY A PART OF
LOCAL HISTORY FORGOTTEN.
>> THE STORY OF PEOPLES BREWERY
IN OSHKOSH.
>> WHAT COULD BE A BETTER NAME
FOR THE FIRST BLACK-OWNED
BREWERY INE COUNTRY, PEOPLES
BREWERY?
>> THEY DIDN'T COME UP WITH THE
NAME.
PEOPLES BREWERY HAD BEEN
OPERATING SINCE 1911 BUT A
GROUP OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN
ENTREPRENEURS FROM MILWAUKEE,
LED MY TED MACK, DID BUY
PEOPLES IN 1970 MAKING IT THE
NATION'S FIRST BLACK-OWNED
BREWERY.
PEOPLES WAS POPULAR IN OSH CASH
BUT THE NEW OWNERHOUGHT THEY
COULD FIND NEW MARKETS.
>> TED MACK CAME IN AND THOUGHT
WELL, I WANT TO KEEP THAT CORE
BASE I WANT TO EXPAND TO
MILWAUKEE WITH THE BLACK
POPULATION THERE, GARY, INDIANA
AND THE U.S. MILITARY.
>> MACK THOUGHT HE COULD SELL
PEOPLES ON U.S. MILITARY BASES
WITH A GOVERNMENT CONTRACT FOR
MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES.
BUT AS HE TRIED TO DEVELOP THAT
MARKET, THE CORE OSHKOSH
CUSTOMER BASE WASN'T TAKING
WELL TO THE OWNERSHIP CHANGE.
>> WITH A PRODUCT THAT IS HELD
WITH SUCH REVERENCE HERE, BEER,
WHICH COMES FROM THIS
GERMAN-AMERICAN TRADITION THE
IDEA OF BLACK OWNERS STRUCK
MANY AS AN ATHEME YEAH.
>> THIS HELPS PAINT A PICTURE
OF WHAT OSHKOSH WAS LIKE AROUND
THE TIME PEOPLES BREWERY
CHANGED HANDS.
IT'S ABOUT BLACK THURSDAY, A
DAY IN 1968 WHEN
AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDENTS,
TIRED OF DISCRIMINATION ON
CAMPUS AND IN THE COMMUNITY,
TOOK OVER THE UNIVERSITY
PRESIDENT'S OFFICE.
>> 1968, LIKE MANY OTHER
COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE
UNITED STATES, OSHKOSH WAS
BEGINNING TO RESIST THE MASSIVE
SOCIAL CHANGES THAT WERE TAKING
PLACE IN THE UNITED STATES.
>> THAT YEAR SEGREGATIONIST
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE GEORGE
WALLACE DREW LARGE CROWDS AT
OSHKOSH.
IT WAS ONLY TWO YEARS LATER
THAT TED MACK BOUGHT PEOPLES
BREWERY AND BE MOVED TO DOWN.
>> A BLACK MANM MILWAUKEE
COMING TO LIVE IN THEIR LILY
WHITE COMMUNITY WITH HIS KIDS,
SENDING THEM TO THE LOCAL
SCHOOL AND TRYING THE MAKE A
DIFFERENCE AND TRYING TO MAKE A
BUSINESS WORK THE FIRST
BLACK-OWNED BREWERY IN THE
NATION.
>> THE RESISTANCE WAS IMMEDIATE.
>> PUBLIC PERCEPTION, THAT WAS
THE 21 WORKERS WERE GOING TO
LOSE THEIR JOBS AND THE
REVOLUTION WAS COMING TO
DOWNTOWN OSHKOSH.
AND LOOK OUT.
>> ALLEN REPP GREW UP IN HIS
FATHER'S BAR AND RUNS IT TODAY.
HE REMEMBERS WHEN PEOPLES JUST
STOPPED SELLING.
>> I THINK THEY WERE THE THIRD
LARGEST DISTRIBUTOR OF TAP BEER
BUT AFTER SO LONG YOU HAD TO
TAKE IT OFF.
LIKE ANYTHING ELSE THAT DOESN'T
MOVE, YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT OFF.
>> NASTY RUMORS SPREAD THAT THE
BEER WAS BEING WATERED DOWN OR
TAMPERED WITH.
THE NEW OWNERS WENT TO GREAT
LENGTHS TO DEMONSTRATE THE BEER
DIDN'T CHANGE.
>> TASTE TESTS EVEN OUT OF
TOWN, THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG
WITH THE PRODUCT.
>> SALES WERE DECLINING IN
OSHKOSH.
THERE WERE DISTRIBUTION
PROBLEMS IN MILWAUKEE AND
GARYY, INDIANA AND THE HOPE FOR
MILITARY CONTRACTS WEREN'T
WORKING OUT.
EVEN WITHOUT ALL THESE PROBLEMS
THE DECK WAS STACKED AGAINST
THEM.
>> IT WAS A TIME WHEN THE BIG
BREWERIES WERE MERGING AND
BUYING UP OTHER PLACES
CONSOLIDATING.
ALL OF THAT KILLED THE
REGIONALS.
IN THE 1970s, THE WORST TIME
EVER.
THEY WERE GONE.
HARDLY ANY LEFT NOW.
>> IN 1972 PEOPLES BREWERY
CEASED OPERATIONS AND SO DID
TWO OTHER WISCONSIN BREWERIES,
POTOSI AND LITHIA.
SOMETHING WAS LOST WHEN EACH
STOPPED MAKING BEER BUT PEOPLES
HAD ALSO MADE HISTORY AND
THAT'S A STORY WORTH
REMEMBERING.
>> THE HISTORY OF BEER, WHAT
COULD BE BETTER?
I DON'T KNOW.
>> IF YOU'D LIKE TO KNOW MORE
ABOUT THE BLACK THURSDAY
PROTESTS AT UW-OSHKOSH YOU CAN
SEE IMAGES AND HEAR THE VOICES
OF THOSE INVOLVED BY GOING TO
OUR WEBSITE AT wpt.org AND THEN
SCROLL DOWN AND CLICK ON "IN
WISCONSIN."
IN OUR NEXT REPORT REVISIT A
PLACE WISCONSIN PUBLIC
TELEVISION FIRST REPORTED ON IN
THE MID 1980s.
AT THE TIME THE NORTHWOODS
WILDLIFE CENTER WAS ONLY SIX
YEARS OLD AND FIGHTING TO
SURVIVE, TREATING AND RELEASING
INJURED WILDLIFE.
"IN WISCONSIN" REPORTER ART
HACKETT SHOWS YOU HOW THE
CENTER TRANSFORMED INTO A
TOURIST ATTRACTION WHILE
SERVING INJURED AND ORPHANED
ANIMALS IN MINOCQUA.
>> MINOCQUA HAS NUMEROUS
ATTRACTIONS FOR VISITORS, LAKES
AND SHOPS COME TO MIND.
BUT PEOPLE COME TO THE
NORTHWOODS FOR NATURE.
SO IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE THAT A
PLACE CALLED THE NORTHWOODS
WILDLIFE CENTER WOULD DRAW
TOURISTS.
>> WE'LL SEE A SNOWY OWL NEXT.
>> EVERY HALF HOUR A GUIDE
WALKS VISITORS THROUGH DISP
OF ANIMALS WHICH ARE RESIDENTS
AT THE CENTER.
>> THE PERMANENT RESIDENT BIRDS
ARE THOSE THATE BEEN
INJURED BADLY ENOUGH THAT
THEY'LL NOT BE ABLE TO BE
RELEASED INTO THE WILD.
THEY GET TO STAY HERE AND BE
PART OF OUR EDUCATION PROGRAM.
PHOENIX HERE IS IMPRINTED ON
HUMANS, WHICH MEANS THAT SHE'S
TOO FAMILIAR WITH PEOPLE.
SHE WAS CONFISCATED IN ALASKA
AND IN THAT SITUATION SHE HAD
BEEN PUT INTO A SMALL CAGE AND
TAKEN OUT OF HER NEST.
SHE NEVER DEVELOPED HER WING
MUSCLES FULLY SO SHE CAN'T FLY
STRONGLY AND SHE CAN'T PICK UP
FOOD AND FLY OFF WITH IT.
>> BETH BURNS IS THE CENTER'S
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
>> MY FATHER STARTED WORKING
HERE IN 1988 SO AFTER SCHOOL I
WOULD COME AND SIT WITH SOME OF
THE ANIMALS WHILE HE WAS
FINISHING UP WORK.
IN 1989 I STARTED GIVING TOURS.
>> BUT EDUCATING AND HOPEFULLY
ENTERTAINING VISITORS IS ONLY
PART OF THE CENTER'S MISSION.
THE CENTER WAS FOUNDED TO CARE
FOR INJURED WILDLIFE AND, IF
POSSIBLE, RETURN THE CRITTERS
TO THEIR NATURAL HABITAT.
THE CENTER WAS START 1979
BY A VETERINARIAN, DR. RORY
FOSTER.
>> RORY FOSTER WAS A
VETERINARIAN AND HE HAD A
VETERINARY CLINIC RIGHT NEXT TO
WHERE THIS BUILDING IS.
HE KEPT GETTING WILD ANIMALS IN
SO HE RECOGNIZED THAT THERE WAS
A NEED FOR THAT.
>> FOSTER DIED IN 1987.
>> THERE ARE STILL SOME
VETERINARIANS THAT GET WILD
ANIMALS AND THEY CALL US NOW.
RORY DECIDED TO START THIS
PLACE AND START CARING FOR THE
WILD ANIMALS.
>> MARTIN IS THE CENTER'S
WILDLIFE REHABILITATOR.
>> THAT ONE WAS HIT BY A CAR.
DIDN'T HAVE MAJOR INJURIES,
JUST BRUISING, A LITTLE
SWELLING ON ONE FOOT SO HIS
RECOVERY WAS PRETTY SHORT HERE
AND ONLY HERE FOR 2 1/2 WEEKS.
THAT WAS A NICE EASY ONE.
WHAT HE'S GOING TO DO IS SIT
AND GET HIS BEARINGS AND DECIDE
WHETHER HE WANTS TO BE.
WHETHER HE HAS A FAMILY HE
WANTS TO GET BACK TO.
>> WE VISITED THE CENTER ONCE
BEFORE IN 1984.
THE CENTER HAS BEEN SPRUCED UP
AND EXPANDED SINCE THEN.
AND THE CENTER ITSELF HAS BEEN
ADOPTED BY PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN
THE AREA.
MUCH OF THE MEAT AND FISH FED
TO THE BIRDS IS DONATED BY
SPORTSMEN AND WOMEN.
WHEN PEOPLE COME TO THE CENTER,
THEY MAINLY SEE BIRDS.
SOME ANIMALS ARE NOT ON DISPLAY
TO THE PUBLIC BECAUSE
REHABILITATIONISTS DON'T WANT
THEM GETTING TOO USED TO HUMANS
BECAUSE THEY'LL SOON BE
RELEASED BACK INTO THE WILD.
THERE ARE BEARS.
MARK TAKES IN THE FOOD AND
LEAVES BEFORE THE BEARS ARE
RELEASED INTO THE FEEDING AREA.
THERE HAVE BEEN LOTS OF BEARS
AT THE CENTER THIS YEAR.
THEY WERE BROUGHT IN BY
VOLUNTEERS AFTER THEY WERE
FOUND BY THE PUBLIC OR BY DNR
WARDENS.
BUT ANIMAL REHABILITATIONIST
MARK NANIOT SAID SOME OF THE
DEER AND BIRDS ARE BROUGHT IN
UNNECESSARILY.
>> ESPECIALLY IN OUR AREA WHERE
WE HAVE A LARGE TOURIST BASE IN
THIS PARTICULAR AREA, PEOPLE
COME UP FOR THE BEAUTY OF THE
LAKES AND THE AREAS BUT
THEY MIGHT BE FROM THE CITY SO
THEY'T REALIZE THAT FOR
EXAMPLE FAWNS ARE LEFT ALONE
FOR A LARGE PART OF THE TIME
WHEN THEY'RE VERY YOUNG BY
THEIR MOTHERS SO THEY SEE THIS
FAWN LAYING THERE BY ITSELF.
DON'T SEE A MOTHER AROUND SO
ASSUME WE HAVE TO TAKE THIS
FAWN AND BRING IT THE
NORTHWOODS WILDLIFE CENTER
BECAUSE IT'S ABANDONED.
NOT REALIZING THE MOTHER IS
STAYING AWAY FROM THE FAWNS TO
NOT DRAW ATTENTION TO IT.
SOMETIMES PEOPLE ARE VERY
UNDERSTANDING AND OTHER TIMES
THEY THINK THEY KNOW WHAT'S
BEST AND THEY THINK YOU'RE
TELLING THEM THE WRONG THING
AND THEY'RE JUST GOING TO BRING
IT IN ANYWAY.
>> WILDLIFE BELONGS TO THE
STATE AND THE DEPARTMENT OF
NATURAL RESOURCES FORBIDS
PEOPLE FROM HOLDING IT CAPTIVE.
IN 2004 ADMINISTRATIVE RULES
ALLOWED PLACES AS THE
NORTHWOODS WILDLIFE CENTER TO
OBTAIN LICENSES.
WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE IT A
PROFESSION.
GET PEOPLE OUT THERE BETTER
TRAINED AND BE MORE AWARE OF
DISEASES, EDUCATE THE PUBLIC
AND DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THE
ANIMAL.
>> THE NORTHWOODS WILDLIFE
CENTER IS A NON-PROFIT
ORGANIZATION AND TAKES
DONATIONS FOR TOURS.
MUCH OF ITS MONEY COMES FROM
PEOPLE WHO SPONSOR THE ANIMALS.
SPRING IS A BUSY TIME FOR
WILDLIFE CENTERS TREATING
ORPHANED ANIMALS.
IT IS ALSO MIGRATION TIME WHEN
MILLIONS OF NEOTROPICAL SONG
BIRDS MAKE THEIR WAY NORTH.
THEY'RE HUNGRY, VERY HUNGRY AND
THEIR NEXT DINNER RESERVATION
MAY BE IN YOUR BACKYARD.
"IN WISCONSIN" REPORTER JO
GARRETT SHOWS YOU HOW TO
PREPARE A FEAST FOR YOUR
FEATHERED FRIENDS IN LA CROSSE.
>> SO MUCH DEPENDS ON DINNER.
THIS IS THE CITY OF LA CROSSE,
ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.
IT HAS LONG BEEN A WAY STATION
FOR TRAVELERS, NATIVE RICANS
PASSED BY THESE CLIFFS FOLLOWED
BY FRH FUR TRADERS AND
MISSISSIPPI RIVERBOATS.
AND EVERY YEAR FOREVER THESE
GUYS HAVE MADE THEIR WAY UP THE
RIVER.
THIS IS A BLACK AND WHITE
WARBLER, A NEOTROPICAL MIGRANT.
ONE OF HUNDREDS OF BIRD SPECIES
THAT BREED HERE IN NORTH
AMERICA AND WINTER BACK IN
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA.
TWICE A YEAR THEY MIGRATE BY
THE MILLIONS THROUGH THIS
MISSISSIPPI RIVER CORRIDOR AND
ALONG THE WAY, THEY NEED DINNER.
>> WE'RE ACTUALLY IN THE HEART
OF LA CROSSE ABOUT FOUR BLOCKS
FROM THE UNIVERSITY AND THIS IS
MY BACKYARD.
>> THIS IS GREG THOMPSON.
THOMPSON WORKS FOR THE
WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL
RESOURCES.
HE AND HIS WIFE, MARY, HAVE ON
THEIR OWN TRAVELED THE WORLD
LEADING BIRD WATCHING TRIPS TO
AVIAN WONDER SPOTS LIKE PANAMA.
>> IT'S REALLY THE THRILL OF
THE CHASE AND SEEING THE STUFF.
>> TOMSON IS DEDICATED TO THE
CONSERVATION OF THESE BIRDS
SOME OF WHICH ARE IN TERRIBLE
DECLINE.
AND OUTSIDE OF HIS HOME IN LA
CROSSE IN A SOMEWHAT SMALL
YARD, HE'S PLANTED A BIT OF A
SOLUTION.
HE'S PLANTED A WAY STATION.
>> THIS YARD IS LESS THAN 2/10
ACRE AND WE HAVE IT CRAMMED
WALL TO WALL WITH FLOWERS AND
FLOWERING SHRUBS AND TREES BUT
WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS MAKE
IT A LITTLE BIT OF A WILD PLACE
IN THE MIDST OF A REALLY TAMED,
STERILIZED, OVERMANICURED AREA,
RESIDENTIAL LA CROSSE.
>> IN THE MIDST OF LA CROSSE
THIS LITTLE WILD SPACE HAS
SERVED AS A ROADSIDE CAFETERIA
TO A VAST ARRAY OF WINGED
TRAVELERS.
>> WE'VE SEEN BALTIMORE
ORIOLES, BROWN THRASHERS,
WARBLERS, TENNESSEE WARBLERS,
YELLOW WARBLERS, COMMON YELLOW
THROATS.
THEY'RE STOPPING HERE TO REFUEL
EVER SO BRIEFLY AND THEN
THEY'RE OFF.
>> THEY NEED TO REFUEL.
MIGRATING NEO-TROPS LIKE THIS
ONE HAVE ALREADY TRAVELED
THOUSANDS OF MILES WITH PERHAPS
HUNDREDS MORE TO GO.
THEY NEED TO TOUCHDOWN AND GRAB
A BLUE PLATE SPECIAL.
AN AVIAN ENERGY BAR.
SOMETHING LIKE THIS CHOKECHERRY
PACKED WITH FRUIT.
>> YOU CAN SEE IT'S AN EARLY
SPRING FLOWERING SHRUB THAT
WILL GET NICE CLUSTERS OF
BERRIES ON THE END THAT THE
BIRDS WILL LIKE A LOT.
WHAT I TRY TO DO ISALLY
PLANT SHRUBS AND TREES AND
FLOWERS THAT PROVIDE BENEFITS
FOR BOTH WILDLIFE AND THEN
INSECTS AS WELL.
>> BECAUSE TO FEED THESE BIRDS
YOU MUST FEED THE INSECTS.
WHICH IN TURN FEEDS THE BIRDS.
>> HERE IS A LITTLE BEE ON THE
TIP OF THIS CHOKECHERRY RIGHT
NOW.
SOMETHING WILL COME ALONG AND
PROBABLY SNAP IT UP AND EAT IT.
>> SOME THING WILL SNAP UP THE
BEE AND SOMETHING IS GOING TO
GO FOR THE SECOND COURSE, THE
BEE LARVAE.
>> FLIES AND BEES WILL COME IN
AND BUTTERFLIES AND LAY EGGS ON
THE THINGS.
THE LARVA WILL BE OUT THERE.
GREAT FOOD FOR BIRDS.
THIS IS ALL NATIVE PLANTS
BASICALLY NATIVE PLANTS.
SPECIES CALLED CULVERS ROOT,
BERGAMOT, NEW ENGLAND ASTOR AND
A HOST OF OTHER THINGS TO
BENEFIT BUGS.
WHEN THIS IS BLOSSOMING AND AT
ITS PEEK, THIS PLACE IS A
NECTAR FACTORY.
>> CHECK OUT THE LAWN.
>> WHAT I WANO POINT OUT
HERE IS THAT THIS IS JUST
FILLED WITH WEEDS AND SO WE'VE
GOT CLOVD WE'VE GOT
CHICKWEED AND WE'VE GOT
PLANTAIN AND DANDELIONS.
I DON'T MAKE AN EFFORT TO GET
RID OF ANY OF THEM.
THE REASON I DON'T IS BECAUSE
MONOTYPIC DENSE TURF GRASS IS A
BIOLOGICAL DESERT.
YOU WANT TO PROVIDE PLANTS THAT
BUGS FEED ON AND THOSE IN TURN
FEED BIRDS.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO
ACCOMPLISH HERE.
>> EVEN THE DREADED DANDELION
IS ON THE DINNER MENU.
HE ALWAYS LEAVES A FEW.
>> IT'S AMAZING.
THE GOLD FINCHES COME IN AND
EAT THE DANDELION HEADPLANT THEID TO
MAKE IT WORTHWHILE FOR WILD
LIE. IT IS REALLY EASY AND FUN.
IT TAKES A LITTLE TIME TO SEE
IT COME TO MATURITY AND TO SEE
THE BIRDS RESPOND, JACKPOT,
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.
>> AS IF ON CUE, MINUTES LATER
WE HIT THE JACKPOT WHILE
THOMPSON WAS DESCRIBING THIS
NATIVE PLANT, THE VIRGINIA BLUE
BELL.
>> HARD FOR A BEE TO GET IN
HERE.
HUMMINGBIRDS CAN ACCESS IT WITH
THE LONGER BILL AND TONGUE AND
IT PROVIDES AN INSTANT SOURCE
OF HIGH ENERGY FOOD FOR THEM.
THEY NEED TO HAVE IT.
IN FACT, I JUST HEARD THE
HUMMER CHIP BACK HERE.
IT WON'T BE COMING INTO THESE.
WE'RE TOO CLOSE.
THERE IT IS.
IT COMES INTO THE HUMMING BIRD
FEEDER.
THIS IS SO COOL.
HERE IS AD THAT SPENT THE
WINTER IN CENTRAL AMERICA.
SOMEHOW IN A MIRACULOUS FLIGHROSS THE GU
MEXICO.
THIS IS A BIRD THAT WEIGHS LESS
THAN A DIME, FLEW NON-STOP
ACROSS THE GULF OF MEXICO AND
FLEW ALL THE WAY THROUGH EVERY
HAZARD TO GET TO OUR BACKYARD.
IT'S FEEDING AND NESTING HERE
BECAUSE WE'VE CREATED A
BACKYARD THAT'S GOOD FOR IT.
>> IT IS A FOUR-STAR AVIAN
DINER.
>> RESTAURANT THOMPSON.
>> THAT'S VERY FANCY.
DO YOU HAVE RESERVATIONS?
>> YOU'RE ALWAYS WELCOME.
COME ON OVER.
>> IF YOU'D LIKE TO SEE WHAT TO
PLANT IN YOUR BACKYARD TO HELP
MIGRATING BIRDS GO TO OUR
WEBSITE wpt.org AND SCROLL DOWN
AND CLICK ON "IN WISCONSIN."
WE ALSO WANTED TO MENTION A
DOCUMENTARY PROJECT IN THE
WORKS CALLED "OUR BIRDS"
REPORTS ON WISCONSIN'S
MIGRATORY BIRDS IN PANAMA AND
COSTA RICA.
WATCH FOR THAT IN THE SPRING OF
2011.
A THREAT TO THE UW ARBORETUM.
AN EARTH ROOM PROBLEM UP NORTH
AND THE ELUSIVE RHINELANDER
HODAG ARE SOME OF THE REPORTS
ON THE NEXT EDITION OF "IN
WISCONSIN."
>> THE UW ARBORETUM IN MADISON
IS FIGHTING A DOWNHILL BATTLE
BECAUSE IT'S AT THE BOTTOM OF
THIS URBAN WATERSHED AND STORM
WATER FLOWS FREELY ACROSS ITS
BORDERS.
>> THIS ONE MIGHT BE SORT OF
THE ULTIMATE STORM WATER PLANT
POTENTIALLY AND WE'LL FIND OUT
FROM THE RESEARCH.
>> I'M LIZ KOERNER.
I'LL SHOW YOU HOW THEY HOPE TO
CLEAN UP THE WATER USING NATIVE
PLANTS.
>> WISCONSIN IS UNDER ATTACK.
THIS IS JO GARRETT.
FIND OUT HOW EARTH WORMS COULD
BE CHANGING WISCONSIN'S
NORTHWOODS, LITERALLY RIGHT
UNDER OUR FEET.
>> WE HAVE WHAT WE THINK MAY BE
A HODAG SIGHTING.
>> OH MY GOODNESS, WONDERFUL.
>> IT'S AN ACTUAL PHOTOGRAPH.
>> I'M ART HACKETT IN
RHINELANDER AND I HAVE THE REAL
STORY BEHIND THE HODAG.
>> HODAG OR NOT A HODAG?
>> THAT'S A HODAG, DEFINITELY.
>> DEFINITELY A HODAG.
NEXT THURSDAY AT 7:00, THE FULL
REPORT ON OUR STATEWIDE NEWS
MAGAZINE PROGRAM "IN
WISCONSIN," RIGHT HERE ON
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.
FINALLY THIS WEEK THE BEAUTIFUL
RUSH CREEK.
OWNED BY THE DNR IT WAS
DESIGNATED A STATE NATURAL AREA
IN 1981.
ENJOY THE VIEW AND HAVE A GREAT
WEEK "IN WISCONSIN."
>> 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, WE'RE ON FOR
YOU.
AND THE ANIMAL DENTISTRY AND
ORAL SURGERY SPECIALISTS OF
MILWAUKEE AND OSHKOSH, A
VETERINARY TEAM WORKING WITH
PET OWNERS AND FAMILY
VETERINARIANS THROUGHOUT
WISCONSIN PROVIDING CARE FOR
ORAL DISEASE ANDAL
PROBLEMS OF SMALL COMPANION
ANIMALS WITH ADDITIONAL FUNDING
PROVIDED BY BIKE WISCONSIN.