Heckrodt Happenings Blog
Fallen Kingdom: The Plight of the Monarch Butterfly
It wouldn’t be much of a stretch to call the monarch butterfly the most popular butterfly in North America, or even one of the most popular insects in general.…
Nature’s Rest Stops: Migratory Stopovers
Migratory Stopovers in Wisconsin Migratory stopovers in Wisconsin are vital and often overlooked places in a bird’s journey. These are high-risk, high-need periods where birds must rest…
Beyond the Lesson
What It Really Takes to Create a Meaningful Field Trip When most people think about a field trip, they picture a group of students walking…
Through a Naturalist’s Lens
Wildlife Photography as Connection, Calm, and Responsibility Every time I pick up a camera, something inside me shifts. The world slows down. My breathing steadies.…
Heather’s Journey to Heckrodt
With my 27 years of experience as a naturalist at Heckrodt, and 32 total years in the naturalist field, I would like to share with…
Survival in the Sub-Zero: How Plants Brave a Wisconsin Winter
As I sit in my house on this winter day too cold to go to work, listening to the crackle of the fireplace on my…
Let’s Go Leaf Peeping!
Let’s go Leaf Peeping! Did you know that there is actually a technical term for people who travel specifically to see the changing colors of…
What’s the Buzz About Bumblebees?
What’s hairy, black, yellow, maybe a little rusty and sounds like a buzzsaw when it flies by your nose? The bumblebee, of course. Bumblebees showcase…
Spring at Heckrodt: A Season of New Life
One of the things I love most about Heckrodt Wetland Reserve is its thriving wildlife—and every spring, I eagerly await what I like to call…
Spring Jewels of the Reserve
Heckrodt is home to many spring ephemerals, which are wildflowers that bloom before the forest leaf canopy blocks much of the sunlight from reaching the…