In person, Thursday evenings, March 26, 2026 – April 23, 2026, 7:00 – 8:30 pm.

Instructor:

William Mueller is the Director Emeritus of the Lake Michigan Bird Observatory. He most recently served on the Wisconsin Bird Conservation Partnership’s Steering Committee and was the co-chair of its Issues Committee. He has had many other leadership roles in bird conservation projects, including serving as Conservation Chair of the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology (2002 – 2012), co-founder of the Midwest Migration Network, as co-chair of the Midwest Aerial Insectivore Working Group, and as Project Coordinator for the Milwaukee BIOME Project.

The Course:

In less than a single human lifetime, 2.9 billion breeding adult birds have been lost from the United States and Canada, across every ecosystem, and including some of the most abundant and familiar bird species. In this course we will examine how we determine the abundance and distribution of different bird species, for both bird populations in Wisconsin and at the national and international level. State and federal monitoring programs will also be discussed. We will also consider how bird populations have changed, what species are currently “at-risk” and why, and how monitoring programs can be used in management and conservation. We will also review the many organizations that work on studying bird populations. There will be a brief test (optional) during the final class period.

Recommended materials:

• Please bring a laptop or tablet to the first class.
• Class handouts will be provided at the first class. Online readings will be given weekly, but there are no required books.
• No lodging, accommodations, nor food will be provided.

Workshop fee:

$80.00. Available for 0.8 CEU. Not offered for college credit.

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Registration is for this event in now closed.  Check back next year for a virtual event!

The post Understanding Bird Populations & How They Change appeared first on Field Station.

We will also be setting up telescopes to travel to a variety of nebulas, star clusters, and galaxies with a focus on understanding the vast distances needed to travel to them. Our visible universe is huge and it’s our hope that you will be able to see the stars and constellations in more of a three-dimensional way than ever before.

Unfortunately, we do not have a planetary line up that evening, but Saturn should be in a good position for viewing, and that is one of our favorite planets to see.

The post FOCB Event: Astronomy in the Bog appeared first on Field Station.

The post FOCB Event: Spring Migrant Bird Walk appeared first on Field Station.

Join us at the Cedarburg Bog for a special event where you’ll have the chance to learn about the distinct characteristics of each turtle species, their behavior, and their important role in the ecosystem. You’ll also gain insight into the challenges turtles face and discover how we can all contribute to their protection and conservation.

Come celebrate World Turtle Day with us and Waukesha County Land Conservancy’s Land Management Director, Helen Holtz, at The 51���� Field Station located at the Cedarburg Bog. Let’s work together to ensure the survival of these incredible creatures!

The post FOCB Event: Turtles of Wisconsin appeared first on Field Station.

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Friday, May 29, 9:00am–6:00pm
Saturday, May 30, 8:00am–3:00pm

Instructor:

Dr. Keir Wefferling is Curator of the Fewless Herbarium at the Cofrin Center for Biodiversity (CCB), UW Green Bay, and an Assistant Professor of Biology where he’s been since fall of 2020.  Previous to his current position Keir worked on systematics and cytogeography of ferns and flowering plants at UC Berkeley (postdoctoral research fellow) and at UW-Milwaukee (BSc. and PhD).

The Course:

This course offers an introduction to the ecology and identification of mosses and liverworts found in peat-accumulating wetlands in Wisconsin. We will focus on species found along the Cedarburg Bog boardwalk, but the instructor will bring additional specimens from other sites in the region to examine as interest and time allow. Some prior knowledge of general botanical terms and life cycles will be useful, but not essential to getting a lot out of the course. The course will comprise short lectures, slow walks (for observation, field ID, and sample collection) along the boardwalk and trails, and time at the microscope using technical dichotomous keys and practicing terminology. 

Lodging Accommodations & Food:

The workshop fee does not include overnight accommodations. However, tent camping space on the property is available at no charge. Participants wishing to stay overnight in our Farmhouse may reserve a bed in a shared space at a cost of $20 per night. Bed space is limited so be sure to reserve early. Alternatively, the Saukville Field Station can also provide you with a list of nearby places to stay. An optional catered lunch is provided at cost for an additional charge and will include vegetarian and gluten free options. Meal plan should be ordered at the time your registration is submitted. Contact fieldstn@uwm.edu for more information.

Workshop fee:

$140. Available for 1.4 CEU. Not offered for college credit.

Useful materials to bring:

• hand lens,
• mm scale
• rain gear
• footwear suitable for wetlands and hiking
• field press or some other way to carry specimens
• Please be prepared to take notes in the field, even if it is raining.
• You are welcome to bring bryophytes collected from your local area to the workshop to identify.

Registration:

Registration is now open! using a credit card. For other payment options please contact sceinfo@uwm.edu.

The post Peatland Bryophyte Ecology and Identification appeared first on Field Station.

Friday, June 5, 2026, 9:00am–6:00pm
Saturday, June 6, 2026, 8:00am–3:00pm

Instructor:

Kathy DeVries
Kathy is a Milwaukee artist, natural science illustrator and educator who combines her love of nature journaling and fiber arts. She is a Wisconsin Master Naturalist with a science communication background who celebrates and educates the public about the creatures, botanicals, and landscapes of the Great Lakes region.

Kathy is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design Natural Science Illustration Program and working with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources as a Rare Plant Monitor and the Milwaukee Public Museum on the zoology collection. Kathy had a successful thirty-plus year career as a healthcare medical science marketing and communications executive.  She is a member of the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators, and Wisconsin Visual Artists.

The Course:

Take a break, slow down, and get curious about the everyday wonder and beauty around you. Explore the practice of Nature Journaling with Kathy DeVries, Wisconsin Master Naturalist, by collecting and recording your observations, questions, and explanations in a notebook. This two-day workshop is taught through interactive exercises both in and outdoors covering fundamentals of observation with word, numbers, and pictures. Our journaling discoveries will include plant, animal, and insect specimens in our Wisconsin ecosystem. We’ll explore new methods of asking questions, note taking, and notebook page layouts.  You do not need to be an artist or a naturalist to begin nature journaling. The workshop includes a complimentary nature journal kit to get started. Just bring your enthusiasm and curiosity!

Lodging Accommodations & Food:

The workshop fee does not include overnight accommodations. However, tent space on the property is available at no charge. Participants wishing to stay overnight in our Farmhouse may reserve a bed in a shared space at a cost of $20 per night. Bed space is limited so be sure to reserve early. The Station can also provide you with a list of nearby establishments to stay. An optional catered lunch is provided at cost for an additional charge and will include vegetarian and gluten free options. Meal plan should be ordered at the time your registration is submitted. Contact fieldstn@uwm.edu for more information.

Workshop fee:

$80. Available for 1.4 CEU. Not offered for college credit.

Useful materials to bring to the field session:

• water bottle
• sunscreen
• bug spray and head net
• footwear suitable for wetlands and hiking
• Please be prepared to take notes in the field, even if it is raining.

Registration:

Registration is now open! using a credit card. For other payment options please contact sceinfo@uwm.edu.

The post Nature Journaling appeared first on Field Station.

Friday, June 12, 9:00am–6:00pm
Saturday, June 13, 8:00am–3:00pm

Instructor:

Dr. Anton Reznicek, Curator Emeritus of Vascular Plants, University of Michigan Herbarium, has studied Cyperaceae, especially Carex throughout North America and in the tropics, and has a special interest in the Great Lakes region.

The Course:

Identification of sedges, especially Carex, will stress not only keying skills, but using ecological and vegetative characters to identify species and species groups. In addition to identification, we will explore the importance of sedges in a variety of different communities and gain an appreciation of the dynamics of some of the communities and the role of sedges in these dynamics.

Class Schedule:

Discussion, individual study in the lab, or social activities are available Friday evening.

Friday

• 9:00AM: Introduction to sedge evolution and diversity; Introduction to the Cedarburg Bog. Trip to the end of the bog boardwalk to look at wetland Sedges in the field.
• 1:00PM Lunch at the Field Station.
• 1:30-6:00PM: Study/identification of sedges in the lab, both plants you have brought and ones I have brought as examples of structural diversity. Practice with keys using your own preferred books.

Saturday

• 8:00AM: Introduction to Sedge ecology. Trip to the Riveredge Nature Center (https://www.riveredgenaturecenter.org/) to look at woodland Sedges in the field.
• 1:00PM Lunch at the Field Station.
• 1:30-3:00PM: Study/identification of sedges in the lab, both your own plants and ones I have brought as examples of structural diversity. Practice with keys using your own preferred books.

Useful materials to bring:

• hand lens
• mm scale
• rain gear
• foot wear suitable for wetlands and hiking
• field press or some other way to carry specimens
• Please be prepared to take notes in the field, even if it is raining.

A recommended key to the sedges is: Michigan Flora, Part I, Gymnosperms and Monocots. E. G. Voss.  1972.  Available for $19.00 plus shipping from the University of Michigan Herbarium, 3600 Varsity Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48108, 734-615-6200.

An alternative and complementary guide to the sedges is the new Field Manual of Michigan Flora, A. A. Reznicek and E. G. Voss, 2012.  This new field manual is an update to the three volume Michigan Flora, but does not include illustrations. Available at amazon.com or bookstores.

For �䲹�������only, there is a great Field Guide to Wisconsin Sedges , Andrew L. Hipp. 2008. University of Wisconsin Press. You are welcome to bring sedges collected from your local area to the workshop to identify.

Lodging Accommodations & Food:

The workshop fee does not include overnight accommodations. However, tent camping space on the property is available at no charge. Participants wishing to stay overnight in our Farmhouse may reserve a bed in a shared space at a cost of $20 per night. Bed space is limited so be sure to reserve early. Alternatively, the Saukville Field Station can also provide you with a list of nearby places to stay. An optional catered lunch is provided at cost for an additional charge and will include vegetarian and gluten free options. Meal plan should be ordered at the time your registration is submitted. Contact fieldstn@uwm.edu for more information.

Workshop �ڱ��:��

$175. Not offered for college credit, 1.4 CEU

Registration:

Registration for this workshop is now CLOSED for 2026.  Please contact fieldstn@uwm.edu to be added to the waitlist.

The post Sedges: Identification and Ecology appeared first on Field Station.

Friday, August 7, 2026, 9:00am–6:00pm
Saturday, August 8, 2026, 8:00am–3:00pm

Instructor:

Sarah Kelly Hansen
Sarah is a Milwaukee based artist and an avid wanderer of Wisconsin’s woodlands. Hansen holds a BFA from the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design (MIAD), where she also teaches as an Adjunct Instructor. She has continued her artistic development through the Milan Mastery Program. Working in oil and mixed media, Hansen creates paintings inspired by botanical forms and sunlit environments. Her work sits between representation and abstraction, where recognizable blooms soften into expressive shapes and color. Her paintings have been exhibited at the Museum of Wisconsin Art (MOWA), in galleries across the United States and Canada, and are held in private collections around the world.

The Course:

Step into the meadows and forests of the field station for a hands-on watercolor experience. In this workshop, you’ll explore the colors, textures, and light of the natural world, translating what you see and feel onto paper. Guided techniques and imaginative prompts will help you capture the essence of things like wildflowers, leaves, and sunlight. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to refine your skills, you’ll take home not just your own watercolor creations, but also a deeper connection to the patterns, energy, and beauty of the wild spaces around you.

Useful materials to bring:

• field clothing
• sturdy hiking boots (Boots for wet and muddy areas are strongly suggested.)
• rain gear
• water bottle
• insect and tick repellent could be helpful, especially a head net

Lodging Accommodations & Food:

The workshop fee does not include overnight accommodations. However, tent camping space on the property is available at no charge. Participants wishing to stay overnight in our Farmhouse may reserve a bed in a shared space at a cost of $20 per night. Bed space is limited so be sure to reserve early. Alternatively, the Saukville Field Station can also provide you with a list of nearby places to stay. An optional catered lunch is provided at cost for an additional charge and will include vegetarian and gluten free options. Meal plan should be ordered at the time your registration is submitted. Contact fieldstn@uwm.edu for more information.

Workshop fee:

$135. Available for 1.4 CEU. Not offered for college credit.
Course fee includes sketch book, graphite pencil and travel set of basic watercolors and brush.

Registration:

Registration is now open! using a credit card. For other payment options please contact sceinfo@uwm.edu.

The post Painting the Wild with Watercolor appeared first on Field Station.

Friday, August 21, 2026, 9:00am–6:00pm
Saturday, August 22, 2026, 8:00am–3:00pm

Instructor:

Dr Robert Pillsbury, Emeritus professor of Biology at UW-Oshkosh. Dr. Pillsbury has taught Biology for 23 years, with a focus on aquatic biology, primarily Freshwater Phycology (the study of algae), Limnology, Rivers Lakes and Wetlands, and Biostatistics. He holds a PhD from Bowling Green State University, where he focused on factors influencing the structure of benthic algal communities in acid lakes.

The Course:

Are you interested in aquatic biology? Get to know a whole new world!! This field class will teach participants to: 1) sample algae by taking field trips to some interesting aquatic habitats, 2) identify algae (useful skill for many aquatic positions), 3) learn the characteristics of ecology of major algal groups, 4) learn how to use algae to assess environmental problems, and 5) learn how to make permanent slides for your collection.

This course will look at the taxonomy and ecology of Mid-west algae with an emphasis on some important nuisance taxa. The lecture component of the class will cover the distinctions of the major algal groups and their role in the ecosystems. In the field component of the class, we will visit a variety of local aquatic habitats to learn collections techniques. And back in the lab we will examine our sample using proper microscope techniques and identify our collected specimens with the use of taxonomic keys. Microscopes, collecting equipment, reference books and taxonomic keys will be provided to the students.

Class Schedule:

Friday 9 am – 6 pm & Saturday 8 am – 3 pm. Discussion, individual study in the lab, or social activities are available Friday evening.

Useful materials to bring:

• field clothing, including sturdy hiking boots
• rain gear
• tick and insect repellent
• old shoes, rubber boots, waders, etc. We will be spending about half our time outside collecting algae so be prepared to have footwear that will allow you to wade up to your shins.
• Reference guides will be provided for your use, but if you already have some algae identification guides and want to learn specifically how to use them more efficiently, please consider bringing them. If you are looking for a good, general, easy to use book for learning the algae, consider getting “How to Know the Freshwater Algae” by G.W. Prescott.

Lodging Accommodations & Food:

The workshop fee does not include overnight accommodations. However, tent camping space on the property is available at no charge. Participants wishing to stay overnight in our Farmhouse may reserve a bed in a shared space at a cost of $20 per night. Bed space is limited so be sure to reserve early. Alternatively, the Saukville Field Station can also provide you with a list of nearby places to stay. An optional catered lunch is provided at cost for an additional charge and will include vegetarian and gluten free options. Meal plan should be ordered at the time your registration is submitted. Contact fieldstn@uwm.edu for more information

Workshop �ڱ��:��

$140. Not offered for college credit, 1.4 CEU

Registration:

Registration is now open! using a credit card. For other payment options please contact sceinfo@uwm.edu.

The post Survey of Wisconsin’s Algae appeared first on Field Station.