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…
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.…
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…
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…
Wetlands are Wonderlands!
Wetlands are Wonderlands! Wetlands are more than just squishy mud and a place with a lot of water. Wetlands are important for plants, animals, and…
Animal Love Languages
From elaborate dances of birds to the songs of the frogs. The Animal Kingdom is the stage for some of the most bizarre and beautiful…
2024 through the eyes of a Naturalist
2024, a year we won’t forget at the Reserve. It always amazing to me how much six individuals can do in one year. I can…