May 1st??????

Lake Level Monitoring

Spoke to Bobbie a couple days ago about the monitoring of the lake level. We started in 2010. Here's a link to the Discovery Center page that describes the program. After the level is installed this spring, I'll post the water level on the blog.

Lake Level Monitoring -- Discovery Center

Original Lake Level Monitoring information sheet -- This is an old link that shows the process of installing the gauge and reading the levels. I think you should be able to zoom in on the print and make it easier to read.

Ice Out 2019

All the ice went out last night, April 25, and here's a picture from this morning. You can see how high the water level is this year. I usually mow lawn down as far as the birch tree and light pole.

Birch Lake Association 2019 Annual Meeting

Here's the information for the annual meeting this spring . . .

Birch Lake Association

Annual Meeting

Saturday, May 25

Winchester Town Hall

Hwy W

8:30 AM

Sign in & Coffee

Meet & Greet

Renew Your Membership

9:00 AM

Guest Speaker -- Alan Schwoegler

30 Year Loon Ranger for Loon Watch

a Program of the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute

Sharing his knowledge of loons their ecology and best practices for

living with loons on our lake.

Business meeting to follow.

If you google "Loon Watch", you can see their website and get some more information before the meeting.

Bobcat

I was listening to WPR yesterday and the wildlife guy was talking about bobcats. A couple weeks ago one walked through our backyard. It was pretty early in the day. By the time I got my camera ready, it was already in the woods and the pictures weren't very clear.

Ann Marie said she had a picture from their trail cam. So here's a picture from the 24th that she sent to me.

 

Even more snow . . .

Too early for this stuff . . .

Birch Lake History Book Presentation

If you missed the talk at the Winchester Library, you still have a chance to hear about the history of Birch Lake.

There will be a presentation at the Presque Isle Library on August 31 at 11 AM.

Birch Lake Picnic September 3, 2018

Just a quick reminder --

Birch Lake Association Picnic
Sunday, September 2, 2018
Noon to 3 PM (eating at 12:30)
Winchester Town Park


If you're planning on attending, please RSVP Bobbie either by email or by phone listed on the most recent newsletter.

If you'd like to help set up, please arrive by 11:15.

Birch Lake History Talk

 Just a quick reminder --

The authors of the Birch Lake history book will be doing at talk at the Winchester Library on Thursday, July 19, at 4 PM. There will be extra copies of the book if you need one.

Hope to see you there!

Courtesy No-Wake Zone

Due to the recent rains and the resulting high water levels, we ask, as a courtesy, that you maintain the lake as a "no wake" zone to prevent shoreline erosion and further damage to docks and equipment and watercraft on piers.

We'll keep monitoring the level and inform you of any changes.

Heavy Rains and Water Levels

The heavy rains didn't bypass Birch Lake this past weekend. Our rain gauge showed a total of 7" from Friday through Sunday. We've been tracking the lake level for the Discovery Center since 2010. The only time the water level was higher was when they installed the gauge in May 2014.

If you can't make it up here to check out your dock or boat, you may want to contact a neighbor on the lake and ask them to take a look.

Winchester Library Display & Talk

Stopped at the Winchester Library yesterday to get a picture of the Town of Winchester model that Chuck Peters has donated to the library. He's finishing off putting it together and Betty has asked him to do a talk when it's all done.

He started working on the model when they still lived on the Birch Lake.

Mark the date:  July 19, 4 PM

Winchester Public Library

The authors of the Birch Lake history book will be doing a presentation at the library. If you need a copy or need extra copies while you're up north there are some available at the library and I've got some at home.

Backyard Visitor

Just a note to keep watch when you go out and keep an eye on your pets. This big guy was in our back yard last night.

Update:

He came back on Saturday night. He must have been pretty angry -- knocked the top off the bird bath because there was no seed to eat.

Open Water Sunset 2018

Here's a picture of the first open water sunset of 2018.

The Ice is Going Out!!!

Yes!!! Here's a picture from earlier this afternoon. Now the ice is really dark and the wind is really starting to break up the remaining ice.

Lake Pictures

Ann Marie sent some pictures from her time kayaking around the lake. Thanks for sending them to me.

Birch Lake Bear

Just heard yesterday about a really big bear hanging out on W. Birch Lake Rd. It has done some damage over there. 

We have some on E. Birch Lake Rd too but haven't gotten any damage reports.

Remember to bring in your bird feeders and hummingbird food and don't keep your garbage outside. The first year we moved up we had it stored in the pole building but left the door open. Not a good move . . .

Loons and White Deer

Here are a few pictures from John and Anne when they were out on the lake on Sunday. The loons are really keeping a good eye on their baby.

They also got a picture of the white deer walking down the shoreline. Thanks for sending the pictures.

New CBCW Landing Sign

As part of the grant for our Birch Lake Study, we have acquired a new sign at the Birch Lake boat landing. It will promote awareness of the need to keep our lake clean and invasive free. On the back of the sign there is a box that holds forms and pamphlets to help our Clean Boat Clean Water volunteers inform visitors to our lake. Thanks go to Tom Kocim and Jay Woolf for installing the sign.

Moms & Babies

This is always a fun time of year. Fall is beautiful with the changing leaf color but it's hard to beat the moms and babies of spring.

Loon Nest

Got an email from Bobbi last night -- There's a loon nesting on the island. Please be careful when you're near the island. 

We've got other loon platforms on the lake. Haven't heard if there are nest there or not but steer clear of those platforms too. Thanks to Hal and John for getting those platforms in place again.

Wisconsin Clean Boats Clean Waters

Bobbie shared this video from the Wisconsin DNR on the procedure for cleaning boats. She contacted Jim Dick in the Office of Communication/WDNR and received permission for us to post it on the Birch Lake Blog.

Here is the text that accompanies the video clip:

This video "walks through the step-by-step process of taking the aquatic invasive species prevention steps. Before you leave the boat landing, it is important to remember to take these steps: INSPECT boats, trailers, and equipment."

Ice "almost" out

The ice went out so quickly today. There's still a little left along out shoreline but it looks like most of the lake is open.

Happy Snowman

Bobbie shared this cute picture she took of Jay and Helyn's snowman --

From 60 to snow in a week and a half . . .

The first snowfall of 2016 came last night. Seems like it's too soon after the nice weather we've had this fall.

Birch Lake Apple Robbers

For most of the summer we've been trying to figure out what was going after the apple trees. Every morning we'd pick up the apples -- some partially eaten, some just on the ground. We tried bird netting, aluminum pans hanging from the branches, short strings of bells and nothing seemed to stop the nightly invasion.

Joe got his camera set up in the right place a few nights ago. Looks like we have a few raccoons in the neighborhood.

Birch Lake History Book

The history book is back from the printer and it's great! John, Carolyn and Polly did a terrific job. It's filled with pictures, maps and stories from around the lake. The copies are selling for $29.95. You can contact Carolyn or Polly at the email addresses listed on the newsletter or you can send an email to birchlakehistory (at) gmail.com and someone will contact you.

Birch Lake History Book

The history book should be in tomorrow - Sept 2. You can contact Carolyn or Polly to get a copy. Their contact information is in the last newsletter or you can get it from the directory.

Can't wait to see it!