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!

Invasive Terrestrial Plants of Wisconsin

The Invasive Plants Association of Wisconsin defines an invasive plant as "one that invades native plant communities and impacts those native communities by displacing or replacing native vegetation." They are "plants out of place" in forests, prairies, and along roadsides. They lack the natural controls found in their native locations and soon spread and take over native plants with the assistance of wind, deep underground runners, or animals carrying their seeds as they move through habitats.

The various terrestrial invasive species have made their way to the roads that follow the shoreline of Birch Lake. West Birch Lake Road has been affected more so than East Birch Lake Road. Property Owners can help prevent the spread of these invasive terrestrial plants by removing them from their property especially along the road-side edge.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources offers a free on-line PDF version of their Field Guide to Terrestrial Invasive Plants of Wisconsin at http://goo.gl/0fRiiP. 

Bobbie put together some information about the invasives found along East and West Birch Lake Rd.

You can see the information by clicking on the "Pages" to the right.

She's Back!!

The snapper is back. She was up by our mailbox a couple of days ago -- digging holes and laying eggs.

The Loons Are Back

Just in case you had any question -- the loons have been back for at least a week. I walked out on the dock the other day and one of them popped up --

Ice Out 2016

Here's a picture I took last night when we got home from a fish fry. There's still a little ice on the other side of the lake but this shoreline is pretty well cleared out.

This morning I woke up with the dog staring at me wondering how I could sleep through all the "noise". I'd left the window open and the ducks and geese on the lake were so loud. I think I even heard a loon. Here's a picture of just a few that were directly in front of our house.

National Invasive Species Awareness Week

Catherine Higley, Vilas County Invasive Species Coordinator, sent the following email --


"It's Invasive Species Awareness Week!

Linking economics and ecology is becoming ever more important in the world of conservation - check out this article on Invasive Species and economics from The Wildlife Society: 

Economics of Invasive Species Management"


The Wildlife Society has some other interesting articles if you go to their home page.

Iron County Native Plant Sale

I received an email about the Iron County Native Plant sale.You don't have to be an Iron
County resident and you can pick up your plants in either Hurley or Mercer. Proceeds go to
children's education programs.

Iron County Plant Sale -- Here's a link to their main webpage. When you get there you can
go to the their Plant Sale Brochure to get more details.

Fall 2016 Newsletter

If you've signed up to get your newsletter delivered via email, be sure to check your inbox It was sent out a couple days ago.

Those who get the newsletter delivered via mail should have it soon.

A white deer is back --

I didn't get a picture but there's at least one white deer back. She was in the front yard a couple evenings ago.