Northeastern Wisconsin Audubon Society
Randy Korb
P.O. Box 1963
Green Bay, WI 54303
920-884-0466
E-mail: randykorb@hotmail.com
Wetlands near urban areas
tend to be undervalued and underused by local residents.
People often have a reason or a specific activity that
leads them outdoors, for example, hunting, fishing, and
camping. Directing people to wetlands to listen to frogs
and toads gives people a reason to go out after dark.
We think that once people experience frogs at a particular
wetland, even one or two species, and other forms of wildlife,
they will feel a sense of ownership and the habitat will
have more value to them. We didn’t want to write a book
just to inform people about frogs. We felt it important
to encourage people, especially families, to visit wetlands
and experience breeding choruses. Many people identify
or associate with frogs as much through their sounds as
by sight.
We completed a book and
CD that leads Wisconsin families and other residents to
wetlands to see and listen to frogs and toads. Specific
listening sites or frog hotspots in and around major metro
areas (Madison, Milwaukee, Green Bay, Fox Cities) are
identified in the book. The CD of breeding calls produced
by our group allows one to learn all the Wisconsin frog
calls quickly and is a valuable companion to the book.
What do you consider
the key to your success?
The key was the talent and
experience of all the people working on the project.
How would you outline
the steps in organizing your project to advise another
group on a similar project?
Be reasonably sure that
the project will be successful. We had done a similar
project about 10 years previously that went well. Consider
the financial aspects. You don’t want to put your organization
at a financial risk. Set a timeline and stick to it. Things
always take longer than expected.
What have been the effects
of this effort on your organization’s work?
Our board and club consist
mainly of long-time members. There is little new blood.
In part due to publication of the frog book and CD, we
are seeing a shift to involve young people (ages 5 to
18) in environmental causes. I think that our public programs,
banquets, and field trips will be youth-oriented in the
future. The frog book is dedicated to the young people
of Wisconsin and, truly, the future of frogs is in their
hands. And the future of grassroots organizations as well.
How has the project affected
your community?
The project has affected
the Appleton (Fox Cities area) and Green Bay areas more
than Madison and Milwaukee (to date). The book lists many
nature centers and like facilities for people to visit
and many of these offer the book for sale to visitors.
As a result of this book, a new Wisconsin Frogs exhibit
has opened at Mosquito Hill Nature Center in New London
(by Appleton). The back-lit interpretive graphics are
taken directly from the book we produced and the CD plays
as background noise for the display. Frog programs/book
signings took place at a museum, nature center, garden
nursery, and school supplies store. Several schools in
all 4 urban areas booked frog presentations as well. Families
ordered the book after the presentation. The book/CD was
offered at a traditional frog hike offered by the Wisconsin
DNR in Madison. Night hikes were led in the Appleton and
Green Bay areas, too. Frogs, Families, and Fun is the
theme for the Northeastern Wisconsin Audubon banquet this
spring.
We have distributed about
1,300 sets of the book/CD in the state to date. Over 250
public libraries and 100 school libraries have it on shelf.
About 75 retail outlets including bookstores, museums,
zoos, nature centers, and nature stores are offering it
to the public. We hope to increase this number to 200
outlets by summer’s end. Our goal is to sell all 5,000
copies (made possible by the GLAHNF grant) over the next
one to two years.
How many people were
involved?
Initially: 1 / Finally:
30+
Approximately 1,000 hours
total were spent as follows: Layout and design (160 hours),
Correspondence (120 hours), Research (200) Writing (350)
editing (20), travel (50 hours), Printing (18 hours).
Misc. (100).
How was public involvement
motivated and facilitated?
Various herp people around
the state helped identify good frog sites around metro
areas. Other agency people supplied advice and support.
The Audubon board was encouraging to us.
How was public education
a component of your program?
The two main issues with
frogs, population declines and abnormalities, led to related
issues like loss of wetlands, land use, pesticide use,
greenhouse effect, human population growth, etc. Education
is geared to students and teachers through school programs
and teacher workshops. We talked to adult community groups
and offered night hikes and prepared an exhibit at a nature
center.
Primary communication:
Speaker.
What resources were available/acquired/tapped
into?
The total project cost was
about $18,000. Grants covered about one-third of the cost
and came from GLAHNF, Wal-Mart, Inc., NEW Plastics, Inc.
and NEW Audubon, Inc. Revenues from book sales covered
the remaining costs.
What level of media exposure
were you able to obtain and how did it affect your efforts?
Media is just starting with
state newspaper articles. We anticipate exposure on Wisconsin
Public Radio and local radio, too.
Other comments: This
project could be, and probably should be, duplicated elsewhere.
The Minnesota DNR and Minneapolis Audubon representatives
have expressed an interest in duplicating this project.
Northeastern Wisconsin Audubon Society
Randy Korb
P.O. Box 1963
Green Bay, WI 54303
920-884-0466
E-mail: randykorb@hotmail.com
