Crossroads at Big Creek will launch the 2025 Fish Tales Lecture Series on Thursday, January 23rd, at 7:00 PM with the program “Opportunities and Challenges of Restoring Native Prey Fishes to the Great Lakes.” Then, on Tuesday, January 25th, at 6:30 PM, The Door County Master Gardener Association and Wild Ones-Door Peninsula will kick off their popular lecture series with the program “Going Wild in Door County Parks.”
Fish Tales, an educational program of Crossroads at Big Creek offered in collaboration with the Door County Library and supported by Healthy Water Door County, is dedicated to “sharing the science of the Great Lakes Fisheries."
So we are privileged to host Dr. David “Bo” Bunnel, Director of Coregonine Science at the Great Lakes Science Center, U.S. Geological Service in Ann Arbor. Dr. Bunnel oversees the science efforts to inform Coregonine restoration across the Great Lakes, including the planning and evaluation steps. Dr. Bunnel provides the science to aid in the restoration of native whitefish and cisco to state and tribal management agencies across the Great Lakes basin.
Coregonine is a diverse group of fish (including ciscoes) in the salmon family. As many as 11 species once occurred in the Great Lakes. Locals may know them as lake herring or chubs and remember when they were abundant in Lake Michigan.
However, according to the United States Geologic Survey website, “ciscoes declined dramatically between the 1920s and 1970s, due to overfishing, invasive species, and habitat loss. At least two species are now extinct, and several species no longer occur in several lakes. The whitefish have been more resilient but have been undergoing their own declines in the past 20 years."
Dr. Bunnel will share the results of ongoing research from several collaborating universities, agencies, and tribes and will discuss developing the framework to restore native cisco species in the Great Lakes.
The in-person presentation will be held in the Collins Learning Center at Crossroads. To participate via Zoom or Facebook live, go to http://doorcountylibrary.org/event and go to January 23 for the link.
On Tuesday, at 6:30, Door County Parks Manager Tim Kazmierczak will present “Going Wild in Door County Parks,” the first program in the 2025 Door County Master Gardener/ Wild Ones Lecture Series. Tim Kazmierczak will discuss several environmental-friendly projects, including prairie installations, bat research, tree planting, and revamping lights at boat launches to increase dark skies. Refreshments and a Q&A session will be offered.
With all of the media hype about the planets being aligned in January, many folks will be frustrated and disappointed to realize that in Wisconsin, only Mars, Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn will be visible to the naked eye. But seeing them or images of them, it is hard to comprehend the differences in their sizes. So, this week’s Saturday Science will be offered in collaboration with the Door Peninsula Astronomical Society. “The Planets in Comparison” –a hands-on activity to show the amazing scale of our Solar System. This program is geared toward elementary students, but learners of all ages are welcome.
Thursday, January 23
7:00 Fish Tales Lecture “Opportunities and Challenges of Restoring Native Prey Fishes to the Great Lakes”
Dr. David “Bo” Bunnel, Director of the Coregonine Science at the Great Lakes Science Center, U.S. Geological Service in Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, will dive into developing the framework to restore native cisco species in the Great Lakes. Free and open to the public. Sponsored by Healthy Water Door County. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan Sturgeon Bay
To participate via Zoom or Facebook live, go to http://doorcountylibrary.org/event and go to January 23 for the link.]
Saturday, January 25
2:00 Saturday Science: Planets in Comparison
Participants will compare the sizes of the planets with a hands-on demo and short video. This weekly family program is intended for elementary students, but learners of all ages are welcome. It is offered in collaboration with the Door Peninsula Astronomical Society. Meet at the Collins Learning Center. Registration is not required. It is free and open to the public. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay.
Monday, January 27
1:30 Lecture What is a Wetland
This presentation explores the various wetlands found in Wisconsin and explains why they are so important for about an hour. Registration is not required. It is free and open to the public. Meet in the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan Sturgeon Bay.
Tuesday, January 28 6:30 The Door County Master Gardener and Wild Ones Lecture: “Going Wild In Door County Parks”
Tim Kazmierczak, Director of the Door County Parks will talk about native plant installations and other environmental projects planned for the parks and trails.. Sponsored by Door County Master Gardeners and Wild Ones – Door Peninsula, Meet at the Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay. 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay.
