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WCP NEWSVolume 5January 2017WINNEBAGO COUNTY PARKS DEPARTMENT& SUNNYVIEW EXPO CENTERMONTHLY NEWSLETTER2017 is here!5th1967—2017In 1967, the decision was made by the Winnebago CountyBoard of Supervisors to use County property on SunnyviewRoad, which had previously housedWinnebago County Poor Farm the Poor House and Farm, for thecreation of a community park.Winnebago County Poor HouseWinnebago County Community Park today.And therest ishistory!Inside this issue:Spotlight OnCalendar of eventsParks Picks5310Winnebago County Parks Dept.625 E. Cty. Rd. Y #500, Oshkosh WI ure Yourself in Winnebago County Parks!

Page 2WCP NEWSDATE: August 19, 2017 2PM—6PMLOCATION: WINNEBAGO COUNTY COMMUNITY PARK PAVILION501 E CTY RD Y OSHKOSHINFO AT: 920-232-1960, www.co.winnebago.wi.us/parks, FacebookGet Your Groove On with the 5K Fun Run/Walk/Roll!FREE birthday cake!PRIZES for best ‘60’s outfits!MUSIC, FOOD, FUN!Picture Yourself in Winnebago County Parks!

WCP NEWSPage 3SUNNYVIEW EXPO CENTEREvents January 2017Jan. 7—User Group MeetingJan. 14 & 15—Winnegamie Dog Club Dog ShowJan. 20-22—WHBA Home & Outdoor Living ExpoJan. 28—Indoor Rummage SaleWinnebago County Community ParkJanuary 3—8:00 a.m. Shelter reservations for the 2017season begin at the Parks Office. First come, firstserved. Payment by cash or check is due upon reservation of the shelter. All reservations must be made inperson at the Parks Office.For an annual calendar of events, event contact info, and facility rentalinformation go to our website www.co.winnebago.wi.us/parks. All events are subject to changewithout notice. Updates when possible will be posted on our Facebook page. For event specificquestions please contact the promoter of the event.The south entrance to the Winnebago County Community Parkon Snell Road is closed for the season. The north entrance onCounty Y remains open 24/7 with access to the Best FriendsDog Park, ski trail and disc golf parking lots. The south entrancewill re-open around April 1, 2017 weather depending.The Winnebago County Parks info line provides updates on both snowmobile trail andcross country ski trail conditions. Call 920-232-1960 Option #4 for snowmobile trails andOption #5 for cross country ski trails.Picture Yourself in Winnebago County Parks!

Page 4WCP NEWSDon’t have your Raise the Arch Button yet?Put a smile on your face for a good cause. RAISE THE ARCH buttons are available forpurchase at the Winnebago County Parks Office, 625 E. Cty. Rd. Y #500, Oshkosh, Mondaythrough Friday 8am-4:30pm.All proceeds go towards the Raise the Arch project. Call 920-232-1960 for more info or /uploaded-files/raise the arch project.pdfHELP MAKE THIS HAPPEN!

VOLUME 5SpotlightOnPage 5Winter Birding in YourOwn Backyard & Beyonddrink. Even if birds eat snow directly, theirbodies must generate more heat to metabolize that snow and overcome the chill. Aheated bird bath can be critical, and birdswill quickly find and flock to such an easy,convenient, liquid water source in winter.Winter Birds in theBackyardWhat Birds Will Visit Your Backyard in Winter?Updated June 29, 2016. Shelter: Evergreen trees provide great shelter for winter birds, but in areas where deciduous trees have lost their leaves, not asmuch shelter may be available. Birds cantake refuge in hollow trees, but those hideaways may be few and far between. Backyards that offer winter bird shelters such asdense brush piles, roost boxes or yearround bird houses will attract more visitors. Nesting Sites: Bir ds do not br eed in winter, but year-round residents remain in thesame territories and will quickly revisittheir favorite nesting sites when spring arrives. Ensuring that those sites, includingbird houses or bird nesting shelves, remainsafe and suitable can help keep even morebackyard birds around all winter.Novice backyard birders often assume that thereare no birds around to enjoy during the coldestmonths. In fact, there are many beautiful winterbirds that may normally be found only in far northern habitats but that readily visit backyards whenthe snow flies. Backyards can be essential for winter birds and provide necessary food and waterwhen natural resources are at their scarcest.Why Backyards Matter to Winter BirdsIn winter, deep snow and ice can bury foods justwhen birds need more calories to keep warmthrough bitter cold. At the same time, water islocked into frozen ice so birds cannot easily drink.Dropping temperatures can make birds slower andmore vulnerable to illness or predators, and fallenleaves offer less protection to keep winter birdssafe. Fortunately, a bird-friendly backyard can provide for all of a bird's needseven during the coldest months. Food: When insects ar edead or inaccessible to feedingbirds, nectar-producing flowersare long gone and seed suppliesare exhausted, winter backyards can be avital food source. Higher calorie foods suchas suet, peanut butter and nuts are ideal forfeeding winter birds and will attract morespecies to the backyard. Water: While snow and ice ar e both water, frozen water is less helpful to birds because they must expend energy to melt it toCool for Kids!EEK! - Critter Corner Winter Bird poster/index.htmWisconsin's Favorite Winter Birds. Point to and clickon any bird to learn moreabout them and what they'reeating at the feeder.Picture Yourself in Winnebago County Parks!Picture Yourself in Winnebago County Parks!

WCP NEWSPage 6 Song sparrowsTufted titmiceWhite-breasted nuthatchesThe exact species of winter backyard birds willWhite-crowned sparrowsvary depending on range, geography and habitat.White-throated sparrowsThese 40 species are those most likely to be foundWhite-winged crossbillsin snowy backyards throughout the United StatesWild turkeysand Canada. Some are common backyard birdsYellowyear-round and others are only winter visitors.rumpedStill other species have regular irruptions and maywarblersbe common one year and absent the next.These are not theonly backyard American crowsbirds that might American goldfinchesappear in winter, American robinsbut they are quite American tree sparrowscommon within Anna's hummingbirdstheir respective Black-capped chickadeesranges. If a back Bohemian waxwingsyard meets their Carolina chickadeesneeds, they are Cedar waxwingslikely to be win Common redpollster visitors. Cooper's hawks Dark-eyed juncosWhere Other Birds Go Downy woodpeckersFor many backyard birders, their favorite species European starlingssuch as tanagers, hummingbirds, warblers or ori Evening grosbeaksoles - are conspicuously absent in winter. These Golden-crowned kingletsand many other birds are migratory, and in winter Hairy woodpeckersthey travel hundreds or even thousands of miles to Hoary redpollsmilder climates or rich tropical regions that can House finchessupport many birds with ease. While the journey House sparrowscan be difficult and migrating birds face manythreats along the way, these birds will return in the Mourning dovesspring to revisit their breeding grounds and raise Northern cardinalstheir next generation. We may miss them in win Northern mockingbirdster, but even when the snow flies, many great Pine grosbeaksbirds are still flying around the backyard! Pine siskins Purple fincheswww.pbase.com/jtrick/wisconsin birds&page all Red-bellied woodpeckersIF THESE BIRDS CAN BE SEEN IN YOUR Red-breasted nuthatchesBACKYARD, IMAGINE WHAT A WALK IN Red crossbillsA NATURE PRESERVE OR ALONG A REC Rock pigeonsREATIONAL TRAIL WILL BRING! Sharp-shinned hawks Snow buntingsTop 40 Winter Backyard Birds (U.S. andCanada)Picture Yourself in Winnebago County Parks!

WCP NEWSPage 7****WARNING ****Please be aware that, due tocircumstances beyond the Parks Department’s control,the regular plowing and/or salting of the north entranceway and road going into the Community Park will no longer be a certainty either during or within 24 hours followinga snow or ice storm. Consequently, users of the dog parkare advised to employ their best judgement in decidingwhether the possibility of poor road conditions within theCommunity Park warrants the risk of visiting the facilities.***Due to liability reasons, the Parks Department is not permitted to assist infreeing vehicles stuck in the snow. Further, note that owners are allowed only24 hours to remove their vehicle from the park or be subject to ticketing thereafter.***Boat launch improvement proBOAT LAUNCH PERMIT TOTALSALES FOR 2016TYPE OF STICKERTOTALOF STICKERS SOLD3 County183 Year1683 Year Non-Resident1003 Year Senior155Annual347AnnualNon-ResidentAnnual Senior340jects planned for 2017 include:Lots and lots of lots. We’re looking to re-seal, re-stripe, and repairsome of the launch area parkinglots this summer. The WinnebagoCounty Highway Department willbe getting in to do the work astheir schedule allows. So you’ll beseeing some big orange trucks atthe launches.219Picture Yourself in Winnebago County Parks!

WCP NEWSPage 8‘THE CUT’From theDirector’s ChairAnyone standing in the middle of the Community Parkor on a pier at any of the department's seven boatlandings during January or February would, upon firstimpression, be apt to think that perhaps the Parkscrew goes into hibernation during this time ofyear. Without the green lawns, vehicle traffic, people and activities that enliven these settings, the winterbackdrop creates the perception that the switch hasbeen turned off as far as park operations go and thateverything has is to be left frozen in place for the timebeing until the snow clears and warm weather returns. However, such a perception is far from realityas members of the Parks crew actually step-uptheir work pace and attempt to addressthe multitude of tasks that must be completed in orderto make the new year a success.The following list provides an overview of some of theactivities that the Parks crew engages in during thewinter months:* Large and small equipment repairs;* Tree care involving an endless amount of pruningand tree removal throughout the 1,200 acre park system;* Restoration of existing signage as well as assemblyof replacement units;* Replenishing of lumber, hardware and equipment parts inventories;* Grooming of cross-country ski trails;* Repair and painting of interior walls and fixtures;and,* Fence and gate repairs.In adding context to the amount of time that is available for the crew to complete the above tasks, the twoParks Caretakers have only four months within whichto address the work before entering into a wholly different spring - summer routine. Without the availability ofthe four months, and the interim period it allowsfor Parks operations to "get caught up", it would beimpossible for the department to maintain thehigh degree of quality in what it offers in the way ofits parks grounds and facilities.Regards,* Snow plowing and salting activities as well as fillingof potholes;* Repair and painting of over 200 picnic tables andbenches;This and That—The 2017 boat launch parking permits will have green lettering, just incase you’re purchasing a new vehicle and want it to match your launchpermit. :).good to know!Picture Yourself in Winnebago County Parks!