Outdoor Wisconsin

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Dan

WE'VE COME OUT TO THE SCHLITZ AUDUBON NATURE CENTER IN MILWAUKEE WHERE FAMILIES CAN ENJOY OUTDOOR AND NATURE-RELATED ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. WE JUST CELEBRATED MOTHER'S DAY, SO A COUPLE OF "YOUNG ONES" HIGHLIGHT THE SHOW. IN JUST A FEW MINUTES, DEB WOLNIAK JOINS ORNITHOLOGIST GREG SEPTON AS HE BANDS A PEREGRINE FALCON CHICK IN SHEBOYGAN. THEN EMMY FINK TAKES HER BABY DAUGHTER LEONA FOR A NATURE HIKE RIGHT HERE AT SCHLITZ AUDUBON NATURE CENTER. BUT FIRST, WE'LL TAKE YOU ON A LAKE MICHIGAN CHARTER FISHING TRIP WITH FISHING BUG CHARTERS OF RACINE. I'M DAN SMALL AND IT'S TIME ONCE AGAIN FOR "OUTDOOR WISCONSIN." SUMMER TO FALL, WINTER TO SPRING FROM GREEN BAY TO WHERE THE ST. CROIX SINGS FROM KETTLE MORAINE TO SUPERIOR'S SHORE OUTDOOR WISCONSIN OUTDOOR WISCONSIN >> WE'RE OUT ON THE FISHING BUG OUT OF RACINE, WISCONSIN, AND I'M OUT TODAY WITH DEAN WARSH AND CURT JANTE. DEAN IS THE BUSINESS MANAGER AND CURT IS THE BUSINESS REP FOR THE INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICAL WORKERS LOCAL 494, AND THEY'RE A SPONSOR OF "OUTDOOR WISCONSIN." YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN WITH US SINCE THE BEGINNING, I THINK. >> PRETTY MUCH. >> AND YOU BOUGHT THIS TRIP AT THE "OUTDOOR WISCONSIN" BANQUET LAST YEAR. >> WE DID, YES. >> WE APPRECIATE THAT, AND YOU DECIDED TO MAKE IT A SPECIAL TRIP. TELL US ABOUT IT. >> YEAH. OUR MEMBERSHIP DECIDED THAT WE SHOULD INVITE FOUR VETERANS TO GO OUT ON THIS, AND JUST A SMALL THANK YOU FOR WHAT THEY'VE DONE FOR US, IT'S THE LEAST THAT WE COULD DO, SO THEY DESERVE IT. >> WELL, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A GREAT TRIP WITH THESE FOUR VETERANS, AND CURT, NOW, YOU GOT SOME SPECIAL LURES I THINK. >> YES. THESE ARE SPECIAL GOOD LUCK LURES FROM IBW494 TO CATCH THE FISH. >> ALL RIGHT. WELL, WE'LL SEE IF CAPTAIN ANGELO CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN, AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE DON'T HAVE ROOM FOR YOU GUYS ON THE BOAT, SO WE'LL HAVE TO PUT YOU ASHORE, BUT WILL YOU BE HERE WHEN WE COME BACK. >> YES, WE WILL. >> ALL RIGHT. WE'LL BRING A LOAD OF FISH BACK, I HOPE, AND WE'LL SEE YOU IN A COUPLE OF HOURS. >> WE LOOK FORWARD TO IT. GOOD LUCK, GUYS. >> LET'S PUSH OFF AND GET SOME FISH. >> VERY GOOD. >> SO I HAD WINDY TODAY, IS THAT GOING TO MAKE MUCH DIFFERENCE? >> IT'S CHANGED OUR CONDITION. THE WINDS ARE UP TO 30 MILES PER HOUR, SO THAT'S GOING TO KEEP US IN THE NEAR SHORE WATER. SOMEBODY THAT'S OUT THERE NOW, SAID IT WARMED UP, SO THAT COULD BE A PROBLEM FOR US. THE DEEP WATER IS PRETTY ROUGH OUT THERE. >> WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN CATCHING? >> IT'S A COMBINATION, BROWN, CHINOOK, COULD BE A COHO, RAIN DOUGH AND THE WATER WAS -- RAINBOW, AND THE WATER WAS COLD ENOUGH, THERE COULD BE A LAKE TROUT IN THERE. WE'LL FIND OUT SHORTLY. IT JUST DEPENDS ON HOW THIS WEATHER HOLDS OUT FOR US. >> THAT WAS CONVENIENT. I SUPPOSE YOU AND THE SAILBOAT. >> RIGHT. OTHERWISE WE WOULD BOTH HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER 20 MINUTES. >> TODAY WE'RE GOING TO BE FISHING WITH DOWN RIGGERS AND DIVERS. THIS IS A SKI, IT'S A PLANING DEVICE WE USE TO GET THE BAITS OFF THE SIDE OF THE BOAT. IT'S LIKE WATCHING A BOBBER, BUT INSTEAD OF GOING DOWN, IT'S GOING TO GO BACK. THE HIGHESTEST ROD ON THE HOLDER WILL BE THE FIRST ONE OUT AND THE LOWEST ONE IS THE ONE CLOSEST INTO THE BOAT T. IS A DIPSY DIVER HERE AND THESE WILL BE SET OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE BOAT. YOU SEE HOW THAT ROD IS BENT OVER? WHEN A FISH HITS, THEY JUST HAMMER THAT ROD, LASTLY, WE'RE GOING TO BE FISHING WITH DOWN RIGGERS. THIS IS A DOWN RIGGER HERE. AND WE'VE GOT A 10-POUND WEIGHT WE USE TO GET THE BAITS DOWN TO THE DEPTH WE'RE GOING TO FISH. THE FISH IS ON, WE CAN GRAB THE ROD, LEFT HAND ABOVE THE REEL, COMFORTABLE SPOT FORM THE ROD, NICE STEADY RETRIEVE. UNLESS YOU FEEL THAT ROD TIP SLACKING UP, THAT MEANS THE FISH IS COMING AT YOU. THEN YOU WANT TO GO A LITTLE FASTER. OTHERWISE IT'S NICE AND STEADY. ANY QUESTIONS? >> ASSUMING THE ATTENTION HERE IS TO PREVENT ANY SLACK IN THE LINE TO KEEP A TIGHT LINE BETWEEN THE ROD AND THE FISH. >> RIGHT. WE DON'T SET THE HOOK. IF YOU SET THE HOOK, USUALLY YOU'LL RIP THE HOOKS RIGHT OUT OF THE FISH'S MOUTH, BECAUSE WE'RE TROLLING AND MOVING AT THE SAME TIME. >> OK. >> VERY GOOD. >> WELL, DALLAS, YOU WERE IN THE COAST GUARD IN WORLD WAR II, RIGHT? >> RIGHT. >> TELL US ABOUT YOUR SERVICE? >> WELL, I WAS ON A DESTROYER ESCORT, AND WE DID ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE AND COMBAT DUTY, AND WE HIT NUMEROUS PORTS IN AFRICA, ENGLAND, IRELAND, AND FRANCE. I WAS DOWN IN THE BLACK ANGLER KNOWN AS THE SNIPER, DOWN IN THE ENGINE ROOM. THAT'S WHERE MY DUTY STATION WAS. AND WE GOT INTO GENERAL QUARTERS, I WAS A LOADER ON THE AIRCRAFT GUN. WE WERE SURPRISED ON APRIL 1st APRIL 1st, 1944, WHEN GENERAL PORTER WENT OFF AND EVERYBODY SAYS, APRIL FOOLS, AND THEY SAID, NO, THIS IS NO APRIL FOOLS, THE GERMANS ARE COMING AFTER US, AND THEY ATTACKED US IN THE METRO INDIAN SEA. BUT WE TOOK CARE OF THE CONVOY, WE GOT THE CONVOY SAFELY INTO AFRICA, INTO VARIOUS PORTS, AND THEN FROM THERE, I WENT TO RADIO SCHOOL, NOT KNOWING THAT I WAS GETTING MYSELF INTO HOTTER WATERS. THE RADIO PEOPLE WERE ALL BEING PREPARED FOR THE INVASION OF JAPAN. SO I WAS HAPPY WHEN THEY DROPPED THE SECOND BOMB, BECAUSE I WAS TWO WEEKS FROM GRADUATING, AND THEN THE WAR WAS OVER WITH. AND I GOT DISCHARGED IN FEBRUARY OF 1946. >> ALL RIGHT! >> WOW! >> OH, MY ARM. WHAT IS THAT A COJO? >> YEAH. >> JERRY, YOU WERE IN KOREA WHEN IN THE EARLY 1950'S? >> I GOT DRAFTED IN 1951. THEY CUT OUR ORDERS AND I GOT CUT TO AJRS, 8204 ARMY UNIT. THAT WAS PICKUP PICKUP --

INAUDIBLE

Dan

IT WAS KIND OF GORY SOMETIMES, BUT YOU GET OVER IT. >> OH, MAN! >> PULL. >> REEL, REEL, REEL. >> THEN I GOT TRANSFERRED OVER TO HEADQUARTERS, AND I GOT PUT IN THE POSTAL DIVISION, AND WE PICKED UP THE MAIL. FROM THERE, IT WOULD BE DISTRIBUTED TO OTHER UNITS. >> SO YOUR SERVICE WAS HELPING PEOPLE AT HOME COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR SOLDIERS OVERSEAS THEN? >> RIGHT. >> THAT'S AN IMPORTANT JOB. >> AND THEN ALSO, IN THE GRADE REGISTRATION PART OF IT, PICKING THEM UP AND IDENTIFIED, THAT'S WHAT IT WAS. >> AND THAT WAS ON AN IBW SPOON. >> ALL RIGHT. >> NO KIDDING, HUH? >> YEAH. HE JUST GOT OFF ON THE NET, ANOTHER COHO. >> JIM, TELL US ABOUT YOUR SERVICE, YOU WERE IN VIETNAM. >> YEAH. IN 1968, APRIL, I GOT DRAFTED, TOOK MY BASIC TRAINING IN FORT CAMPBELL, KENTUCKY, AND THEN WENT TO ADVANCED INFANTRY TRAINING IN FORT LEWIS, WASHINGTON, AND GOT MY PAPERS TO GO TO VIETNAM. WHEN WE FIRST GOT INTO THE COUNTRY, PEOPLE LIKE TO SCARE YOU A LITTLE BIT, THEY CALLED IT THE BLOODY RED ONE, USUALLY KNOWN AS THE BIG RED ONE AND THAT WAS OUR PATCH. >> WHAT WERE YOUR ASSIGNMENTS THERE, WHEN YOU WERE IN VIETNAM? >> WELL, FOR INFANTRY, WE WOULD -- THEY WOULD PUT US ON CHOPPERS AND GO OUT INTO THE JUNGLE, BASICALLY TO DO PATROLS, AND TRY TO FIND VIETNAMESE. >> DID YOU SEE ACTION? >> YES. I DID. SO I WAS IN COUNTRY A LITTLE OVER SIX MONTHS, AND THEN FINISHED MY TOUR IN FORT ORANGE, CALIFORNIA, IN A BASIC TRAINING COMPANY, HELPING TO TRAIN THE NEXT GROUP OF PEOPLE. >> AND THAT ONE PUT UP A GOOD FIGHT. >> HE DID. BUT I WON. >> YOU DID. ABSOLUTELY. WELL, LET'S PUT HIM IN THE BOX. >> LET'S PUT HIM AWAY. >> IT'S A LITTLE BIGGER FISH. >> I ASKED YOU FOR A BIGGER ONE. >> I THINK YOU GOT ONE, SCOTT. >> ALL RIGHT. >> ALL OF A SUDDEN. NOTHING FOR A WHILE, AND BOOM BOOM. >> KEEP REELING. >> COULD BE A SHARK. >> SCOTT, YOU WERE IRAN? >> I WAS IN THE FIRST GULF WAR, CORRECT. I WAS A CRASH RESCUE FIREFIGHTER FOR THE AIR FORCE. SO I WAS PART OF A RAPID RESPONSE TEAM, BASICALLY. ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD ON A MOMENT'S NOTICE SITUATION, WE WERE INVOLVED PRETTY MUCH FROM THE START, AND WE GOT A PHONE CALL ON A FRIDAY AND SAID BY MONDAY MORNING, YOU'RE GOING TO BE AT YOUR NEW BASE, READY TO WORK TYPE SITUATION. I'M CONSIDERED A SERVICE DISABLED VET. I WAS ACTUALLY INJURED IN THE FIRST GULF WAR, IN AN AIRCRAFT EXPLOSION. SO I WAS IN FOR ABOUT TEN YEARS TOTAL, BUT THE LAST THREE YEARS OF MY SERVICE WERE IN AND OUT OF VARIOUS MILITARY HOSPITALS AND THEN THEY DECIDED THAT I WAS NO LONGER CAPABLE OF STAYING IN, AND I WAS DISCHARGED. >> SCOTT, SINCE YOU CAME BACK, NOW, YOU'RE AN IBEW MEMBER. >> I AM. >> YOU'RE WORKING WITH VETERANS. >> I AM. I STARTED WITH THE IBEW AS AN ELECTRICIAN, I TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE VARIOUS PROGRAMS AND EDUCATIONAL POSSIBILITIES THEY HAD. AND EVENTUALLY, I WORKED MY WAY UP TO BEING A WISCONSIN LICENSED MASTER ELECTRICIAN. IN 2010, I STARTED VETERANS ELECTRIC, AND SO WE ARE THE ONLY, AS FAR AS I KNOW, THE ONLY SERVICE DISABLED VETERAN OWNED ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN. AND I ALSO EMPLOY SOME VETERAN ELECTRICIANS IN MY COMPANY. >> ALL RIGHT. >> GOT HIM! >> THERE WE GO. >> ANOTHER BROWN. >> YEAH. ANOTHER BROWN. GOOD JOB. >> WELL, GUYS, YOU HAVE A GOOD TIME? >> OH, YEAH. >> CAUGHT A FEW FISH AND YOU KNOW WHAT, JERRY CAUGHT THAT COHO, ON AN IBEW SPOON. >> GOOD. >> ALL RIGHT! >> SO THANK YOU GUYS FOR PURCHASING THIS TRIP AT OUR BANQUET AND LINING UP THE FOUR VETERANS SO WE COULD HAVE A GREAT DAY ON THE WATER. >> AND THANK YOU VETERANS FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR US. >> THANK YOU. WE'VE ENJOYED OURSELVES. >> ANGELO, YOU AND DALE GOT US IN TO FISH ABANDONS AS ALWAYS, YOU DO A GREAT JOB. >> THANK YOU. YOU GUYS WERE GREAT AND I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> AND NOW, SOME GOOD EATING AHEAD. >> VERY. >> GRILLING TIME!

LAUGHTER

Dan

>> THAT WAS ANOTHER GREAT OUTING, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE WE GOT TO KNOW THE VETERANS AND A LITTLE OF WHAT THEY WENT THROUGH DURING WAR TIME AND AFTER. WE THANK THEM ALL FOR THEIR SERVICE. ANOTHER SPECIAL PART ABOUT DOING THIS SHOW FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS IS THAT FROM TIME TO TIME WE GET TO RECONNECT WITH OLD FRIENDS AND TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT WHAT THEY'VE BEEN UP TO. ORNITHOLOGIST GREG SEPTON HAS BEEN DIRECTING THE URBAN PEREGRINE FALCON RECOVERY PROJECT FOR NEARLY 30 YEARS. OVER THAT TIME, HE HAS BANDED MORE THAN 700 WILD-HATCHED PEREGRINE CHICKS, INCLUDING SEVERAL THAT WE HAVE FEATURED ON "OUTDOOR WISCONSIN." LAST SUMMER, DEB WOLNIAK JOINED GREG AT THE EDGEWATER GENERATING STATION IN SHEBOYGAN AS HE BANDED ONE MORE PEREGRINE CHICK WITH THE HELP OF BIOLOGY STUDENTS FROM SHEBOYGAN FALLS HIGH SCHOOL. >> PEREGRINES WERE NEVER REALLY COMMON. I MEAN, HISTORICALLY, EVEN BEFORE DDT, BEFORE THEIR NUMBERS WERE DECIMATED, WE PROBABLY ONLY HAD 20 TO 30 PAIRS MAX NESTING IN THE STATE. IF WE HAD LEFT PEREGRINE RECOVERY SOLELY TO THE OCCUPATION OF HISTORICAL NEST SITES, WE WOULD BE IN DEEP TROUBLE. 50% OF THE PEREGRINES PRODUCED IN WISCONSIN ARE PRODUCED AT POWER PLANS, COAL AND GAS, GENERALLY LOCATED ALONG SHORE LINES, WHERE THERE'S RIVERS OR LAKES LIKE LAKE MICHIGAN. THEY USE THE WATER FOR COOLING AND THE PEREGRINES HUNT THE SHORELINE. FROM A SECURITY STANDPOINT, NO ONE BOTHERS THEM. THE NEST BOX IS UP ON THE TOP OF THE ROOF, NOBODY CAN HARASS THE BIRDS AND THEY DO VERY, VERY WELL. THE BIRD IS STILL LISTED AS ENDANGERED IN WISCONSIN. THEY'VE BEEN TAKEN OFF THE FEDERAL ENDANGERED LIST AND THE REASON THEY'RE STILL ON ITS ENDANGERED LIST IN WISCONSIN, IS THEY'RE ALMOST 100% DEPENDENT UPON MAN'S GOODWILL. MY NAME IS GREG SEPTON, I WORK WITH PEREGRINE FALCONS IN WISCONSIN, AS A MANAGER AND RESEARCHER, AND I BAND YOUNG EVERY SPRING IN THE STATE. I'VE BANDED PROBABLY, OH, OVER 850 PEREGRINES, AN I'VE NEVER LOST ONE. I'VE NEVER HAD ONE INJURED AND NEVER LOST ONE. >> PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND HOW MAGNIFICENT THE BIRDS ARE. FASTEST CREATURES ON EARTH. I'M MARK SMITH, MAINTENANCE MANAGER AT THE EDGEWATER GENERATING STATION IN WISCONSIN FOR ALLIANT ENERGY AND TODAY WE'RE GOING TO BE BANDING OUR BABY FALCON, AND TO HELP US, WE HAVE THE SHEBOYGAN FALLS HIGH SCHOOL FALCONS BIOLOGY STUDENTS COMING OUT HERE TO JOIN WITH US. >> BEFORE WE GET STARTED, I'LL GIVE YOU GUYS A RUNDOWN OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO HERE THIS MORNING. WE'RE GOING TO BE BANDING THESE YOUNG FALCON. WE ONLY HAD ONE YOUNG PRODUCED THIS YEAR AND ETRENNE WE DO THIS, WE LEAK TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENS TO THE BIRDS IN THEIR LIFETIMES, DOCUMENT WHERE THEIR YOUNG GO, AND GIVES US A BETTER IDEA OF HOW TO MANAGE THE MIDWESTERN POPULATION. IF WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENS TO THE BIRDS, WE CAN ELIMINATE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS. IF WE KNOW WHERE THEY GO, WE CAN MANAGE THE POPULATION ON A RANGEWIDE CAME, RATHER THAN LOCALLY. CLOSE THAT THERE. >> BY COVERING THEIR FACE LIKE THAT, IT'S LIKE BLINDERS ON A HORSE, THEY CAN'T SEE WHAT'S GOING ON, SO IT HELPS CALM THEM DOWN A LITTLE BIT. WHAT I'M GOING TO HAVE YOU DO, I'M GOING TO HAVE YOU TAKE YOUR LEFT HAND, PUT YOUR INDEX FINGER JUST LIKE THAT AND HOLD IT JUST LIKE THAT. HOLD IT FIRMLY. DON'T WANT TO HURT THE BIRD. THE FEMALES ARE A THIRD LARGER THAN THE MALES ON ALL OF YOUR BIRDS OF PREY. I HAVE TWO LARGER BANDS FOR THE LARGER FEMALES, THE SMALLER BANDS FOR THE SMALLER MALES. WE ALWAYS WAIT TILL THE YOUNG ARE ABOUT 20, 22 DAYS OF AGE, FOR BANDING, SO WE MAKE SURE WE CAN SEX THEM, GET THE RIGHT SIZE BAND ON THEM. WE USE TWO TYPES OF BAND, A COLOR BAND THAT HAS LARGE ENGRAVED NUMBERS AND LETTERS THAT WE CAN READ WITH SPOTTING SCOPES, WEB CAMS TODAY AS WELL AS CAMERAS AND BINOCULARS, SO THESE ARE THE ONES THAT ALLOW US TO TRACK THEM. WE ALSO USE A FEDERAL BAND OR A GOVERNMENT BAND, A SILVER BAND, THAT'S BY LAW THE BANDS WE HAVE TO USE. AFTER I'VE DONE BANDING, THE BIRD, I'LL TAKE A SMALL BLOOD SAMPLE, WE USE THIS FOR AS A D.N.A. FINGERPRINT. WE HAVE OVER 4,000 D.N.A. SAMPLES AT THE UNIVERSITY. WE ARCHIVE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA. IT'S PROBABLY THE LARGEST D.N.A. ARCHIVE OF ANY SPECIES ON THE PLANET. WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS SINCE THE LATE 1980'S. TO BE ABLE TO GO BACK IN HISTORY AND LOOK AT AN ARCHIVE LIKE THAT, AND HAVE THAT AVAILABLE AS A RESOURCE BASE, TO DO RESEARCH FROM, IS INCREDIBLE. I MEAN, THAT'S ALMOST UNHEARD OF TODAY. SO THAT'S WHAT IT'S FOR, IT'S LIKE HAVING A MUSEUM OR A LIBRARY THAT YOU CAN GO BACK BACK TO, TO GET INFORMATION -- TO GO BACK TO, TO GET INFORMATION FROM AND IN THIS CASE IT'S D.N.A. I NEED TO HAVE A NAME FOR THE BANDING DATA. DO YOU GUYS HAVE A NAME? >> NAOMI. >> THAT SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD NAME. I'M GOING TO TAKE THEM OUT AGAIN WHEN I CLEAN THIS UP A BIT. TAKE SOME PICTURES OF THEM IF YOU WOULD LIKE. >> WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN WITH OUR FALCONS, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE OUR FALCONS CONTINUE TO BE HAPPY AND HEALTHY AN CONTINUE TO BREED HERE IN OUR FACILITY. I'D LOVE TO SEE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS CONTINUE TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS. FOR A BIOLOGY STUDENT, TO COME HERE, IT'S AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY TO BE THIS CLOSE TO ONE OF THESE APEX RAPTORS. AND -- SO IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY HOPEFULLY FOR US TO IMPACT YOUNG PEOPLE'S LIVES, AND TO DO SO IN A WAY THAT'S UNIQUE. IT WOULD BE A GOOD RING TONE FOR YOUR PHONE. >> WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE FAMILIAR CON BANDING TODAY? >> I THOUGHT IT WAS PRETTY COOL TO BE HONEST. IT WAS A GOOD EXPERIENCE TO COME HERE AND LOOK AT A BABY FALCON. >> THAT'S RIGHT. >> WERE YOU SURPRISED AT HOW SMALL THE FALCON WAS? >> YEAH. I ACTUALLY THOUGHT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN BIGGER, BUT IT WAS REALLY SMALL AND I SAID IT WAS REALLY GOOD TO SEE AN ACTUAL FALCON. >> IT'S A SURPRISE TO SEE THEM COME OUT OF THE NEST. DID YOU THINK THINK THAT WAS THE COLOR OF THE FALCON OR DID YOU HAVE ANY IDEA? >> NO, I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE HAIRLESS AND SMALLER TOO. >> YOU NEED INDIVIDUALS AT EACH SITE THAT ARE -- THAT HAVE SOME PASSION FOR THE BIRDS, THAT CARE ABOUT THEM. THIS IS PART OF THE WORLD THAT WE BUILT AND THESE PEREGRINES HAVE ADAPTED TO IT AND IT'S -- I MEAN, THEY WERE HERE HISTORICALLY, THERE'S NO REASON THEY SHOULDN'T BE HERE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. >> THANKS TO THE HARD WORK OF GREG SEPTON AND VOLUNTEER COOPERATORS AROUND WISCONSIN, THE PEREGRINE FALCON HAS MADE A GRADUAL COMEBACK OVER THE LAST THREE DECADES. THE BIRDS ARE STILL ENDANGERED, HERE IN WISCONSIN, BUT NOW THEY CAN BE FOUND NESTING IN CITIES ALONG LAKE MICHIGAN AND AT NUMEROUS WILD SITES ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER, AS WELL AS AT SOME INLANDS SITES. YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT PEREGRINE FALCONS AND OTHER RAPTORS HERE AT SCHLITZ AUDUBON NATURE CENTER, WHERE THERE ARE PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, AND IT'S NEVER TOO EARLY TO START INTRODUCING KIDS TO NATURE AND WILD THINGS. THAT'S WHAT OUR SEGMENT PRODUCER EMMY FINK IS DOING. SHE BROUGHT HER YOUNG DAUGHTER LEONA HERE FOR A PROGRAM CALLED "AUDUBON BABIES" AIMED AT KIDS AGED SIX MONTHS TO TWO YEARS. >> HERE AT AUDUBON NATURE CENTER, WE HAVE A PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY FOR CHILDREN, AGES SIX MONTHS TO 24 MONTHS. >> WELCOME TO AUDUBON BABIES. >> IT WAS STARTED ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO. ACTUALLY, PARENTS APPROACHED US SAYING WE WOULD REALLY LOVE FOR YOU TO DO THIS PROGRAM. IT'S BECOME A BIT OF A TRAVELING PROGRAM. >> WE ARE GOING TO GET READY TO GET OUTSIDE AND GET ON THE TRAILS AND SEE WHAT WE CAN FIND. >> WE MOVE AROUND THE BUILDING, JUST AS WE MOVE AROUND OUTSIDE. >> LEONA, LOOK AT THE TURKEY. >> IT'S REALLY SET UP SO THAT CHILDREN CAN INTERACT WITH NATURE. >> DO YOU WANT TO FEEL SOME CATTAILS? OH, THEY'RE REALLY SOFT. >> VERY NICE. >> THE CHILDREN WILL SPEND TIME ONE-ON-ONE WITH WHOEVER THEY COME WITH, SO THEY GET THAT SPECIAL BONDING TIME WITH THEIR@ THEIR -- GROWNUPS. THEY'LL SPEND TIME WITH EACH OTHER. PARENTS CAN TALK ABOUT ISSUES THAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH AS NEW PARENTS OF YOUNG CHILDREN. BUT THEY'RE ALL UNITED BY THEIR LOVE OF BEING OUTSIDE. >> >> TODAY WAS ACTUALLY OUR FIRST CLASS FOR AUDUBON BABIES, BUT WE'VE BEEN COMING TO SOME OF THEIR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, HAND IN HAND PROGRAMS, WITH MY SON FOR A KNEW YEARS AND JUST REALLY ENJOYING ALL OF THEIR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR YOUNG KIDS, IT'S SOMETHING MY KIDS LOVE TO BE OUTSIDE AND WE ENJOYx COMING HERE TO SUPPORT THAT. >> I STARTED COMING TO AUDUBON BABIES WHEN MY SON HENRY WHO IS 4 1/2 NOW, HE WAS PROBABLY SIX MONTHS OLD. I REMEMBER, IT WAS SUCH A SPECIAL THING TO DO WITH HIM AND HAPPY TO FINALLY BE DOING IT WITH HER. >> AND OUR RAVINE GOES DOWN,O DOWN, DOWN, DOWN THE HILL, ALL THE WAY TO LAKE MICHIGAN.@ >> WHEN THE PROGRAM STARTED, WE ACTUALLY -- WE HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE ASK, WELL, WHY, WHY DO YOU WANT TO DO A PROGRAM FOR SUCH YOUNG CHILDREN. IT SEEMS KIND OF UNUSUAL TO TAKE BABIES OUT IN THE WOODS AND HAVE THEM CRAWLING THROUGH THE MUD. >> WE'RE HIKING THROUGH OUR FIELD OF WILD LEEKS. >> EVERYTHING AROUND YOU IS SUCH A SENSORY EXPERIENCE. >> DO YOU WANT TO TASTE THAT. >> YOU SEE THESE LITTLE CHILDREN LEARNING TO WALK AN THEY'RE WALKING ON THESE UNSTABLE SURFACES, GOING FROM WOOD CHIPS TO GRASS TO MUD AND THEIR COORDINATION AND THEIR BALANCE REALLY COMES IN TO PLAY THERE. THEY'RE WORKING ON THOSE SKILLS ALL THE TIME. >> WHEN THEY'RE REALLY FOCUSED ON THAT TINY MILLIPEDE, THEIR BRAINS ARE WORKING AN FOCUSING IN, SO IT'S FANTASTIC FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT. >> LOOK AT THAT LONG BODY. >> I'M AMAZED. THE VERY FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL BACK IN SEPTEMBER, A 3 1/2-YEAR-OLD CAME HOME AND TOLD ME ABOUT MIGRATION AND MET MORE FOE CIES AND PRONOUNCED THE WORDS CORRECTLY AND TAUGHT ME THINGS AT THE DINNER TABLE THAT MY HUSBAND AND I DON'T KNOW AND IT'S REALLY UNIQUE TO HAVE THIS KIND OF PROGRAM HERE. GETTING ALL THOSE CONNECTIONS FORMING IN THE BRAIN. THERE'S ALWAYS SOUNDS AROUND YOU, THERE'S JUST SO MUCH TO TAKE IN, SO THAT'S REALLY EXCITING. >> THERE, YOU MADE IT? DO YOU WANT TO MAKE A WHISTLE TOO? OH MY GOSH I HEARD YOUR WHISTLE. >> THE YOUNGER YOU START, THE MORE THOSE BRAIN CONNECTIONS ARE44 FORMING. I THINK THE CHILD IS GOING TO DEVELOP INCREDIBLE CONFIDENCE AND ALSO, JUST FANTASTIC FINE AND GROSS MOTOR COORDINATION WHEN THEY'RE OUT HERE. >> THIS IS SKYWALKER, WHO IS OUR RED TAIL HAWK AND THIS IS ONLY HIS SECOND DAY OUT HERE AND HE SEEMS TO BE DOING REALLY WELL. >> ALL THE SITES THAT YOU'RE SEEING ARE A SPECIAL BONDING TIME BETWEEN THE MOTHER AND THE CHILD. JUST STARTING, I MEAN, STARTING SO YOUNG, WITH JUST BEING OUTSIDE AND GETTING AN APPRECIATION FOR NATURE. I THINK THAT REALLY SETS THEM UP TO HAVE THAT APPRECIATION FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES HOPEFULLY.@@ >> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE LOVE IS JUST TAKING THE KIDS OUT IN ALL SEASONS, THEY'LL STOMP IN THE PUDDLES WHEN THE SPRING RAINS COME. IN THE WINTER, IF WE'VE GOT VERY YOUNG CHILDREN, WE'LL PUT THEM ON SLEDS AND WE WILL DRAG THEM THROUGH THE WOODS ON THEIR SLEDS AND THEY'LL LOOK UP AND SEE ALL THE FROSTY TREES. IN ADDITION TO HAVE OUR PRAIRIES AN PONDS, WE'RE ON THE BLUFF HERE, SO WE CAN SIT HERE AND LOOK OUT AND SEE THE WATER. WE CAN GET DOWN AND EXPLORE ON THE BEACH. >> HE LOVES BEING OUT AND GETTING DIRTY AND EXPLORING AND GETTING INTO EVERYTHING. >> DO YOU WANT TO HOLD WITH YOUR HANDS? OPEN YOUR HAND UP. >> WE ALWAYS SAY THAT THE LAKE REFLECTS WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE CHILDREN'S DAY AS WELL, SO WHEN THE LAKE IS VERY CALM, YOU'LL LOOK AROUND AND SEE THE KIDS ARE STORM AND ON DAYS IT'S STORMY AND THERE'S BIG WAVES, THE KIDS ARE USUALLY A LITTLE MORE JUMPY, SO IT'S REALLY NUN TO SEE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CHILDREN WHO COME HERE AND WHAT'S HAPPENING OUT THERE ON THE WATER. HERE FOR THE AUDUBON BABIES PROGRAM, OUR GOAL IS FOR THEM TO THEN COME BACK WHEN THEY GET A LITTLE OLDER AND DO OUR HAND IN HAND PROGRAM, WHICH THEY CAN DO WITH AN ADULT, AND THEN STARTING AT THE AGE OF THREE, THEY CAN COME TO OUR PRESCHOOL. WE ACTUALLY HAVE A PRESCHOOL HERE ON SITE. BY THE TIME THEY ARE ENTERING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, NATURE IS SUCH A PART OF THEIR LIVES. THEY TAKE COMFORT IN BEING OUTSIDE. SO THEY'RE REALLY GETTING THIS INCREDIBLE SENSORY EXPERIENCE. THEY'RE ALSO DEVELOPING WHAT WE HOPE IS A LIFELONG LOVE OF NATURE. GOODBYE EVERYONE GOODBYE EVERYONE WE HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON >> THANKS FOR COMING AND HELPING ME FIND ALL OF NATURE'S FRIENDS OUTSIDE. >> WE HAD A GOOD TIME TODAY, DIDN'T WE? YOU WERE A REALLY GOOD GIRL AND NOW SHE'S AN OFFICIAL AUDUBON BABY. FROM THE SCHLITZ AUDUBON NATURE CENTER, WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME. >> AND A BELATED HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO YOU, EMMY. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON PROGRAMS HERE AT SCHLITZ AUDUBON AND THIS WEEK'S OTHER FEATURES, LOG ON TO WWW.MPTV.ORG AND CLICK ON "OUTDOOR WISCONSIN," OR VISIT THE "OUTDOOR WISCONSIN" FACEBOOK PAGE. WELL, NEXT TIME I'LL FLY FISH FOR SMALLMOUTHS ON THE WISCONSIN RIVER WITH GUIDE RON BAREFIELD AND TRY A VINTAGE DUCK HUNT ON HORICON MARSH WITH BRYAN MUCHE. AND JEFF KELM LOOKS AT THE CONSTRUCTION OF SOME PENS TO HELP YOUNG CHINOOK SALMON TRANSITION FROM THE HATCHERY TO LAKE MICHIGAN.j SAYING GOODBYE FROM SCHLITZ<< AUDUBON NATURE CENTER IN MILWAUKEE COUNTY, I'M DAN SMALL. GET OUTDOORS THIS MONTH AND JOIN US AGAIN NEXT TIME FOR "OUTDOOR WISCONSIN." FLASH OF A WHITE-TAIL MOVIN' THROUGH THE PINE THE LONG VOWEL OF THE OWL IN THE EVENING LOON ON THE LAKE, A MUSKIE ON THE LINE OUTDOOR WISCONSIN FREE YOURSELF LIKE AN EAGLE IN THE AIR FEED YOURSELF LIKE A BEAR IN THE BLACKBERRY LIKE A HAWK, PERCH AND STARE OUTDOOR WISCONSIN WHEN THE WORKIN' LIFE IS WAY TOO MUCH WHEN YOU'RE IN TOO DEEP AND WAY OUT OF TOUCH LACE UP YOUR BOOTS, GET OUT OF TOWN TAKE A WALK IN THE WILD OR SIT DOWN AND LISTEN LISTEN TO THE SOUNDS OF THE CRITTERS OF THE NIGHT TO THE WIND IN THE LEAVES AND THE LITTLE RIVER RUN COYOTE BROTHER HOWLIN' IN FULL MOONLIGHT OUTDOOR WISCONSIN HIKE, FISH, HUNT, CAMP, SAIL, CANOE SKI, PHOTOGRAPH, LAUGH, DO WHAT YOU WANT TO STICK YOUR NOSE WHERE THE WILD ROSE GROWS OUTDOOR WISCONSIN OUTDOOR WISCONSIN