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Events for April 2025 › Public Programs

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Calendar of Events

Calendar of Events
Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	19
20	21	22	23	24	25	26 Bird & Nature Adventures Get Kids Outside: Spring Wildflower & Bird Hike
27	28 “Into the Wind, Above the Clouds,” an author visit by Diane Ballweg	29	30

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We’re so glad to see this pair strutting through

We’re so glad to see this pair strutting through the prairie!
In spring, sandhill cranes migrate north to their breeding grounds and paired cranes tend to return to the same nesting site each year. Typically mating for life, sandhill cranes usually start breeding around the age of four, and young birds that aren’t quite ready to breed hang out in groups, called bachelor flocks.
In Wisconsin, breeding sandhill cranes return in early March and select grassy nesting sites near open water. By mid-May, crane colts are already hatching, ready to leave the nest for short adventures just 8 hours later. They will stay close to their parents for 9 to 10 months, following them south during the fall migration. Fledglings then separate from their parents on the return migration north, at the end of winter.
This year has been a difficult year for sandhill cranes because of bird flu. It’s estimated that 2,700 sandhill cranes died of bird flu in Indiana on their return migration north. Not only is this incredibly sad, it’s also concerning for other bird species that share a habitat with sandhill cranes, including the endangered whooping crane.
Video: Stephanie Briand, Aldo Leopold Nature Center
#PhenologyFriday #SandhillCranes #WIEnviroEd #NatureIsEverywhere #NatureIsForEveryone #EveryBodyOutside

Big thanks to J&R Aquatic Animal Rescue (JRAAR) fo

Big thanks to J&R Aquatic Animal Rescue (JRAAR) for hosting an exotic pet surrender event at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center last month!
A total of 31 animals were surrendered, including fish, turtles, a chinchilla, a tortoise, and a bearded dragon, allowing JRAAR to provide safe and responsible rehoming options for these animals.
The event also reached over 58K people on social media, spreading awareness of responsible exotic animal ownership and the importance of not releasing unwanted pets into the wild.
Questions regarding the Exotic Pet Surrender or about future JRAAR events can be directed to John Moyles of J&R Aquatic Animal Rescue. He can be reached at adoptions@jraar.org. The Aldo Leopold Nature Center is proud to partner with JRAAR to host an annual surrender event.
Photos: J&R Aquatic Animal Rescue
#ThankfulThursday #WIEnviroEd #NatureIsEverywhere #NatureIsForEveryone #EveryBodyOutside @jr_aquatic_animal_rescue

Thank you to all the volunteers who donate their i

Thank you to all the volunteers who donate their invaluable time and energy to us on a regular basis!
We are so grateful for their dedication helping our organization nurture children, get people outside, and foster an appreciation of the natural world in our community. Volunteers are essential, as they bring a diversity of skills and experience while increasing possibility, especially when resources are limited.
Earlier this week, Ms. Kaitlin, our volunteer coordinator, organized a volunteer appreciation event. She shared a story from Fred Rogers (aka Mr. Rogers), who wrote about how he was upset seeing world events in the news. His mother told him, "When you feel that way, look for the helpers. There are always people trying to help."
So true! Everyday, we are incredibly grateful for our volunteers as THEY are the people we can see who help to make things better.
Volunteers uplift our organization and we cannot be more grateful for their invaluable contributions!
Photo: Stephanie Briand, Aldo Leopold Nature Center
#ThankfulThursday #VolunteerAppreciation #WIEnviroEd #NatureIsEverywhere #NatureIsForEveryone #EveryBodyOutside

Aldo Leopold Nature Center is at Aldo Leopold Nature Center.

10 hours ago

We’re so glad to see this pair strutting through the prairie!In spring, sandhill cranes migrate north to their breeding grounds and paired cranes tend to return to the same nesting site each year. Typically mating for life, sandhill cranes usually start breeding around the age of four, and young birds that aren’t quite ready to breed hang out in groups, called bachelor flocks. In Wisconsin, breeding sandhill cranes return in early March and select grassy nesting sites near open water. By mid-May, crane colts are already hatching, ready to leave the nest for short adventures just 8 hours later. They will stay close to their parents for 9 to 10 months, following them south during the fall migration. Fledglings then separate from their parents on the return migration north, at the end of winter.This year has been a difficult year for sandhill cranes because of bird flu. It’s estimated that 2,700 sandhill cranes died of bird flu in Indiana on their return migration north. Not only is this incredibly sad, it’s also concerning for other bird species that share a habitat with sandhill cranes, including the endangered whooping crane.Video: Stephanie Briand, Aldo Leopold Nature Center #PhenologyFriday #SandhillCranes #WIEnviroEd #NatureIsEverywhere #NatureIsForEveryone #EveryBodyOutside ...

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Aldo Leopold Nature Center

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330 Femrite Drive
Monona, WI 53716

Phone: (608) 221-0404
Fax: (608) 709-1611

alnc@aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org

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Saturday and Sunday: 10am to 2pm

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