This one is for the #swifties! Chimney swifts are a fascinating - but declining - bird species right here in Minnesota. These aerial acrobats spend almost all their time on the wing, hunting insects. Listen for their twittering chatter as they zip across the summer sky, and look for small, dark gray "flying cigars" - a nickname earned from their unique silhouette! They sometimes are confused for bats, but you can tell the difference by looking for the swift’s long, pointed wings. 

Because chimney swifts cannot perch on branches, they rely on their velcro-like claws to cling to rough, vertical surfaces for roosting and nesting. Historically, this was accomplished with the help of massive hollow trees and caves before brick chimneys came along. Now, as chimneys fall out of use or are capped, these birds are losing critical roosting and nesting habitat.

Chimney swift towers - artificial structures which mimic a chimney - provide a crucial lifeline. Our chapter’s tower, near the playground, was built by scouts about 15 years ago, but sat quiet - until the summer of 2024! Swifts finally moved in, using it for nesting (they snap twigs mid-flight and glue them together against the wall in the structure with their sticky saliva) and roosting.

In late summer, swifts gather in massive groups to roost before their long migration to South America. Recently, our caretakers and members have spotted about a dozen swifts diving into the chapter tower at dusk to spend the night. Watching them drop out of the sky into the tower is an incredible sight! If you can’t make it to the chapter at sunset, consider joining a local "Chimney Swift Sit" to catch the show.

Written by Bush Lake Ike and birding extraordinaire, Steph MacPhail

Exciting News from Bush Lake!

We’re thrilled to announce that our chapter has been awarded a $1,410 Adopt-a-Woodland Grant from the Nine Mile Creek Watershed District! These funds will go directly toward restoring the half-acre woodland section just north of the chapter property.

Restoring native habitat takes a village, and this project is a true community effort! Check out our Buckthorn Removal Plan map to see how it all fits together:

• The Chapter Property: Our half-acre restoration area sits at the north end of our grounds.

• East Pond Clearing: A joint effort between the Nine Mile Creek Watershed District, Three Rivers Park District, and the City of Bloomington to clear surrounding buckthorn.

• Neighboring Lands: Local landowners are also tackling invasive species on their adjacent properties!

By working together, we are making a massive impact in restoring native plants, trees, and wildlife habitat across the entire area.

How the Grant Funds Will Be Used

Every dollar of our $1,410 grant is going straight into the ground:

• $500 – Professional contractor services to cut down large-diameter buckthorn

• $230 – Pathfinder II Ready-To-Use Herbicide for targeted stump treatment

• $310 – MNL Buckthorn Replacement Seed Mix (grasses for 1/4 acre)

• $139 – MNL Woodland Seed Mix (1,000 sq. ft.)

• $230 – Native replacement shrubs

Work will commence Oct. 3 in two shifts with a pizza break in the middle:

We need your help to make this happen! Take a moment to sign up for the Buckthorn Bust HERE.

Additional Details: Multi-Year Restoration Plan

Winter 2026

• IKE Volunteers cut buckthorn and treat stumps (TRPD is assisting with the first work day). IKE Volunteers haul and pile brush conveniently for TRPD to burn over the winter.

• IKE Volunteers prep soils where possible to dormant seed a buckthorn suppression mix (grasses only). Prefer right before a snowfall.

Spring–Summer 2027

• IKE Volunteers fence 5 to 10 small 10'×10' plots for shrub or forb establishment. Locations to be field-identified as areas absent of or sparse in existing buckthorn. The Ikes will maintain these areas by hand.

• IKE Volunteers re-cut buckthorn if it gets over 2 to 3 feet tall by mid-summer to prevent it from being too tall to spray in the fall.

Fall 2027

• Contractor conducts a foliar spray when native trees have brown leaves while buckthorn leaves are still green.

Spring–Summer 2028

• IKE Volunteers maintain by hand the 10'×10' plots for shrub or forb establishment areas.

Fall 2028

• Contractor conducts a foliar spray when native trees have brown leaves while buckthorn leaves are still green.

• If possible, TRPD or contractor will burn off grass thatch (TBD).

• IKE Volunteers prep soils where feasible and apply native forb mix and/or native shrubs for re-establishment. A 2028 NMCWD grant may be needed for this additional plug or seed mixture.

Turning Passion into Action: Reflections from the 2026 Izaak Walton League Convention

The Minnesota Division of the Izaak Walton League hosted an outstanding national convention this year. In fact, the final resolution passed during the business meeting was a formal "thank you" from Ikes across the country, recognizing Minnesota Chapters for their warm hospitality and for hosting an engaging and meaningful convention.

This year's theme—"Get It Done: Turning Passion into Action"—captured both the history of our League and the challenges before us. Passion is where conservation begins. Action is what changes the world.

The timing of the convention made that message especially meaningful. With smoke filling the sky, record-setting heat, and wildfires burning in our beloved Boundary Waters, attendees were reminded that the work of conservation is as urgent as ever. Throughout the convention, speakers explored issues ranging from data centers and commercial agriculture to U.S. Forest Service budget cuts and nitrate contamination, while discussions centered on protecting public lands, restoring habitat, and safeguarding clean water.

For chapter member Krissy Anderson, those conversations revealed a common thread.

"It was great being around so many nature minded people at the national convention, and it was interesting to listen to the various speakers. Speaker topics included data centers, commercial agriculture, U.S. Forest Service budget cuts, and nitrate contamination. My three main takeaways after listening to the speakers were 1.) Focusing on clean and adequate water levels are two overarching topics that can unite Ikes, communities, and people to solve many of our current environmental issues. 2.) Partnership is the key to resolving our issues. 3.) Utilizing and valuing both the knowledge of our elders and the energy of our youth. Lastly, while talking to other attendees I was reminded of just how amazing our chapter is. The location of our five acre peninsula is incredible for so many reasons. And the many nice and nature minded people make it an amazing place to spend time and to carry out our Izaak Walton League mission."

Clean water emerged as one of the convention's defining priorities. Across presentations and discussions, Ikes agreed that in 2026, every American—and every person—deserves access to clean drinking water and lakes, rivers, and streams that are safe for fishing, paddling, swimming, and recreation.

But beyond the educational sessions, the convention also reminded attendees that the League's greatest strength is its people.

As chapter member Doug Claycomb reflected:

"This convention reinforced a sense of pride in being a Minnesota Ike.

I was particularly impressed by the contributions of two remarkable Minnesotans. Mayor Tim Busse offered >350 participants a warm welcome to Bloomington and Rep. Betty McCollum gave an inspiring address, rousing attendees in defense of the environment and the need to engage in political action for conservation.

I did a lot of socializing. I enjoyed making new friends from other states, specifically Virginia and Maryland, where I lived in my younger years, finding connections and common experiences."

There is no question that the challenges ahead are significant. Protecting our waters, restoring habitat, and conserving public lands will require dedication, partnerships, and a willingness to roll up our sleeves. Fortunately, that's exactly what Ikes have been doing for more than a century.

Whether your contribution is big or small, there's a place for you in this work. As the convention reminded us, conservation isn't powered by passion alone—it succeeds when people turn that passion into action.

Tony and Denise are gearing up for a fun and rewarding volunteer season this fall—and they hope you'll join them!

In addition to tackling projects on our own property, we'll also be caring for about a half-acre of woodland just north of the chapter through the TRPD Adopt-a-Woodland program, in partnership with NMCWD and the City of Bloomington. All of this was prompted by one of our youngest members advocacy efforts and your signatures on her petition! Thanks Fall Owens!

Here's the exciting part: our efforts will connect with an ambitious 10-acre buckthorn removal project taking place over the next three years along the East Pond. Together, we'll be helping restore a much larger natural area for everyone to enjoy.

There will be a role for everyone, no matter how you'd like to pitch in. Help cut and haul buckthorn, lend a hand wherever it's needed, or even bring your musical talents to keep the energy high while everyone works. It's going to be a big job—but if you know Tony and Denise, you know they'll make sure it's a lot of fun, too!

Watch for volunteer work dates coming this fall. We can't wait to see you there!

We experienced another successful year at Bush Lake. We extend our sincere appreciation to all members and community volunteers whose contributions made this possible. Below is a summary of our activities, outreach efforts, and programs for the year.

We began the year with a bang by hiring Tony and Denise Brough as our new Chapter caretakers. Tony and Denise succeeded the Erdmanns after their 15 years of service. The Broughs are only the third caretakers in over 25 years. The transition from the Erdmanns to Broughs presented an opportunity to fix up the Caretakers’ cottage. The folks who led hiring the Broughs and improving the cottage will be recognized during our award ceremony.

In January, several Board members attended the Annual IKE Division meeting at the nearby Minnesota Valley Chapter. A highlight of the meeting was when our own Jill Crafton was reelected to a National Director position. During the month, a lot of tree work was done on the Chapter grounds. Special thanks to Tony who hauled multiple wheelbarrows of wood chips to cover our nature trails.

In February we held the annual Wood Duck Days on Normandale Lake and Bush Lake. We have around 40 wood duck houses we monitor and maintain on these two lakes. Join us again this winter after the ice thickens.

The Board’s Strategic Planning session took place in March. Many initiatives are complete, while others still require additional time and funding. Also in March, two Bush Lake Water Quality Input Sessions were conducted by Nine Mile Creek Watershed District. One session was here in our lodge for our members. The other was at Richardson Nature Center for area residents. The takeaway is that Bush Lake is a beautiful resilient lake but not immune to human pressures.

In April, we tabled at the Richardson Nature Center's Spring Scavenger Hunt, where we shared information about our Chapter and promoted the importance of pollinator gardens. On Earth Day, we made Bush Lake a little better by cleaning up trash and litter around the lake. 28 adults and 10 kids participated. As always, we found way too much trash! You can help Bush Lake by picking up litter when you see it, leaving single use plastic at home, and checking the beach and grounds before you leave to make sure you and others leave only footprints. Finally in April, our Chapter became a proud sponsor of the Tod Pod. Tod Pod is a free playgroup for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers who are accompanied by caregivers. They are celebrating their 5th birthday party this Saturday, September 20, 9-noon at Moir Park. 150 to 200 children are expected to attend with their families. You are all welcome to join them.

Saturday May 13th was a busy day at the chapter. The day began very early with a migratory bird watch, led by member, Stephanie MacPhail. After that we held our annual Chapter Spring clean-up, new member orientation and potluck. Before we rolled up our sleeves and got to work, a special presentation was done. Vienna Volante was awarded Judge John W. Tobin Chapter Volunteer Appreciation Award. The Tobin is an annual national award recognizing an outstanding member.

In June, we once again partnered with the Bloomington Optimists for the annual Bloomington Kids' Fishing Fair. This is a great event that brings in many kids and families for a fun morning of fishing on Bush Lake. Our focus is not only getting kids outdoors fishing, but also raising awareness and getting people to '"Get the Lead Out" by replacing their lead tackle with non-toxic alternatives. Also, in June some of our members volunteered with Nine Mile Creek’s Electrofishing survey as part of Nine Mile’s study of Bush Lake. The study is a good reminder for us all to take The Lake Pledge. It’s a fun, free way to partner with Hennepin County to demonstrate our commitment to keeping Bush Lake free of new Aquatic Invasive Species or AIS.

The IWLA National Convention was held in Green Bay, Wisconsin, in July. Our Chapter was represented at the convention by Jill Crafton, our Board Treasurer and National Director. At the convention our Chapter received the 2025 IWLA National Defenders Chapter Achievement Award. The League's 2026 convention will be in Minneapolis.

Over the summer we resurfaced the dock. Paul Erdmann held weekly plant posse work. A new martin house was put up. Tony made several beautiful new benches (with more to come) and made plaques on two sections of our nature trails, to honor our last two caretakers, the Erdmanns and Gregg Thompson.

Our upcoming events include:

Chapter Fall Clean Up- Saturday, October 25, 10 am-Noon

Buckthorn Bust-, Saturday, November 15, 1pm-3pm

Christmas Bird Count- December TBD

Thank you to all our members for making this year a great success! We sincerely appreciate your contributions that make our conservation organization a strong one.

Since 2017 we have been giving out awards to our members and others for their outstanding contributions to the Chapter and conservation. Below is a list of the awards, the award winners, and their contributions for 2023-2025. To view the awardees from 2017-2022, Click Here. 

Bush Lake Chapter IWLA Awards 2025

1) Chapter Volunteer of the Year Award- for member with outstanding contributions to the chapter in 2025

Gregg Thompson, Esau Underhillwood, and Paul Raymaker- Many people helped with the caretaker position transition, but these three did the most. Gregg and Esau spent countless hours fixing, repairing, and improving the cabin for the new caretakers. Paul lead our efforts for finding the new caretakers- posting the position, finding candidates, scheduling interviews, and keeping our caretaker committee on track.

These three helped the former caretakers, Paul and Liz in numerous ways over the years and with their departure as caretakers. They have also assisted Tony and Denise as they figure out the role and get familiar with the Chapter. Kudos to Gregg, Esau, and Paul for their awesome work!

2) Gordy Bratsch Award- This award is named after our old neighbor, Gordy Bratsch, who was the “unofficial caretaker”- he was committed to keeping Bush Lake clean and the Chapter running smoothly. This award is given to a member that contributes to the chapter and the environment, year after year.

Matt Jones is a neighbor of the Chapter, a long-time member, and also serves on our board of directors. Matt can always be counted on for volunteer events and is generous with his time in keeping an eye on the Chapter, especially when the caretakers are away. He’s assisted with lodge rentals, general upkeep and gives us all peace of mind with his vigilance. He also cares deeply about the lake and surrounding park lands and works to keep them great. Thanks Matt for always going the extra mile. (Matt couldn’t be with us today, but we are honored to have his wife Lisa, another great advocate for the Chapter and lake, accept the award in his honor).

3) Public Good Award- Award given to non-profit, city or public staff or elected officials for their outstanding contributions to water quality, conservation, and the environment.

Joshua J. Kerber, M.S., Research Scientist, Indoor Air Unit, Minnesota Department of Health.

Josh was integral in helping the Chapter figure out the complex radon issue in the Caretaker’s cabin. He came to the Chapter numerous times, identifying the issues and then helping to make it safe for the caretakers (and guests and members that use the guest restroom). Josh goes above and beyond in helping people understand radon and how to mitigate it. Josh also helped the Erdmanns with radon at their new home in East Bloomington. We appreciate Josh’s commitment to public service and his efforts to make the air we breathe healthier!

4) Bush Lake Commitment to Conservation Award- Given to an individual or organization inside or outside the organization that has contributed to restoration, habitat, and conservation in Minnesota.

Jon Pletcher is the owner and manager of Wild Birds Unlimited, a wonderful wild bird store in Eden Prairie. He’s also a former member, and we hope with this award we can lure him back! Jon has assisted the Chapter through the years with various bird conservation efforts. He’s provided technical assistance with our bird habitat structures and has also donated bird houses and other related items to the Chapter and to Chapter members as give-aways and prizes. This spring, Jon donated a portion of our new purple martin house (you can see over there), something that was really needed as our old one was old- and in disrepair. Jon also helped Tony put together and install the new martin house, a not easy task.

At his store, Jon helps countless customers make sure they are doing the right thing, the right way, for our avian friends. We thank Jon for his Commitment to Conservation!

5) Youth Conservation Award- Awarded to youth for their outstanding contributions to the Chapter, conservation, or the environment.

Catelin Barnwell is extremely passionate and has a strong sense of affection towards our Chapter and Bush Lake. This is revealing through her actions of coming an hour early before her guests to make sure the grounds look great. Interacting with her, you immediately see enthusiastic engagement on what she loves about this Chapter, and she participates in more than just the minimum volunteer events throughout the years. She even jumped right away into the frigid lake early this Spring to get one aluminum can sitting around 5 ft deep. Catelin definitely has an obsession, in a healthy sense, of kayaking and exploring our favorite lake. Keep up the great work Catelin!

Bush Lake Chapter IWLA Awards 2024

1) Chapter Volunteer of the Year Award- for member with outstanding contributions to the chapter in 2024

Krissy Anderson is a new member and in just a few short months she has become one of our best! At new member orientation, Krissy heard about Paul’s plans for a new turtle raft to be put in the pond, something he has been wanting to do, but hasn’t been able to find the time. Krissy offered to take this on, and with the help from her husband Dave and a couple of other Chapter volunteers, a new turtle/wildlife raft was out on East Bay Pond in short order! Krissy has also helped manage invasive plants at the Chapter, and recently helped clean up after storm damage. Krissy enjoys taking the trail around the Chapter and sharing her nature observations. An honorable mention goes to Dave, Krissy’s husband. Dave also helped with the turtle raft, and Dave and Krissy volunteered at the UMN Starry Trek event in August, where they went out to look for starry stonewort and other Aquatic Invasive Species. Members that are always quick and willing to lend a hand, that what makes for a strong Izaak Walton League Chapter. Thank you, Krissy!

2) Gordy Bratsch Award- This award is named after our old neighbor, Gordy Bratsch, who was the “unofficial caretaker”- he was committed to keeping Bush Lake clean and the Chapter running smoothly. This award is given to a member that contributes to the chapter and the environment, year after year.

Lee Ann Landstrom is a long-time member that is always sure to fulfill her Chapter volunteer requirements but is also involved with the Minnesota River Valley Audubon Chapter (MRVAC), where she currently serves as a Director at Large, and Environmental Action & Conservation Chair. Lee Ann can’t always make it to our volunteer events, but she is sure to reach out to Paul and ask how she can help out. For several years this was pulling abundant sweet clover around the lake, and, this year, she sat and watched for chimney swifts coming and going from our chimney swift tower to get photo documentation, which she got! At MRVAC, she wears many hats, but a big one is managing their grant program, giving grants to non-profits, schools and governmental organizations for projects that benefit wildlife and promote environmental awareness, education, and advocacy. One such fortunate recipient of a MRVAC grant was the Jefferson High School Earth Corps, where grant funds were used for native plants for their Unity Garden. And of course, Lee Ann volunteered and helped with the garden. This year’s Gordy Bratsch Award goes to Lee Ann Landstrom!

3) Public Good Award- Award given to non-profit, city or public staff or elected officials for their outstanding contributions to water quality, conservation, and/or the environment.

A) City of Bloomington Solid Waste Program - This award is to recognize the solid waste Bloomington staff for the amazing progress in reducing landfill contributions and putting programs in place that incentivize residents to reduce their footprint. Their efforts started with organized collection- reducing the number of trucks moving through our neighborhoods, making them safer and less polluted, saving wear and tear on roads, and more. Next, they implemented organics drop off sites, and soon after, Bloomington residents were able to have curbside organics recycling. Soon after this, the City and Solid Waste Program studied our “dump all your junk on the curb once a year”- also known as curbside clean up, and found that more than 1/3 of these items put on the curb could be recycled or reused. Their solution- a multifaceted program that combined the previous and popular curbside pickup program with a series of new initiatives aimed at reusing items previously thrown in the landfill. Our City is leading the way in Minnesota on solid waste, and the city now has a goal of recycling or composting 75% of the waste generated in the city by 2030. The City Solid Waste Program is led by Laura Horner- special kudos to her! One of this year’s Public Good Awards goes to the City of Bloomington Solid Waste Program.

B) A member of our chapter, Representative Steve Elkins has worked since the mid-1990’s creating safe, sustainable, efficient transportation solutions: so that everyday people (schoolchildren, workers, disabled, elders, economically disadvantaged, everybody) can get where they need to go safely and efficiently while reducing their carbon footprint through active modes of transportation (walking, cycling).

Here are four points essential to understanding the problem that Steve has worked so long to address and the success he has had which are good for all of us.

1. Climate change mitigation starts with reducing carbon emissions.

2. In Minnesota, any realistic effort to reduce carbon emissions must place transportation front and center. According to MnDOT: “Transportation is the top source of carbon pollution in Minnesota and the United States. Land use patterns and unsafe, inconvenient alternatives make driving alone the most convenient choice for many Minnesotans. Cars in Minnesota are mostly powered by fossil fuels, which emit carbon pollution and other air pollutants.”

3. The personal automobile is the least sustainable--but most popular--mode of transportation in Minnesota. The automobile not only produces emissions—from the tailpipe or, in the case of e-cars, at the powerhouse—but it also requires large swaths of our landscape be paved thereby producing runoff and urban heat island, encourages urban sprawl, creates barriers and risks the personal safety of pedestrians and cyclists.

4. One of the biggest obstacles keeping people from switching from their automobiles to sustainable, active modes of transportation—walking, cycling—is safety. Quite frankly, automobiles preclude the emergence of other modes of transportation by their limiting their access and threatening their safety. In order to get people to choose sustainable climate-friendly modes of transportation, the safety issue must be addressed.

One of Steve’s recent legislative successes is the Bill Dooley Bicycle Safety Act, named after a Black Minnesotan who dedicated much of his life to making cycling accessible to diverse communities. This bill, carried by Steve, put Minnesota at the leading edge of bicycle, and pedestrian safety—especially for children and their safe routes to school. Signed into law by Gov. Tim Walz, now we have:

• Bicycle safety programs in schools
• Two new bike routes added to the state network
• A revived citizens advisory board for non-motorized transportation
• Federal transportation funds directed specifically to non-motorized transportation and to the safe routes to school program
• The “Idaho stop” which allows cyclists to proceed through stop signs without the requirement to come to a complete stop.
• Rules establishing the space motorists must yield to cyclists on roadways.

By making “active” transportation safer with the Bill Dooley Bicycle Safety Act, Steve is helping Minnesotans (especially our youngest) make the sustainable choice to switch to active modes of transportation. In addition to the immediate mitigation of carbon emissions, this legislation makes neighborhoods safer, the air and water cleaner, the natural areas quieter, and make it safer for all of us to enjoy outdoor activities. Thank you, Steve. Keep up the good work!

4) Bush Lake Commitment to Conservation Award- Given to an individual or organization inside or outside the organization that has contributed to restoration, habitat, and conservation in Minnesota.

Julia Bohnen serves as a researcher at the Restoration Ecology & Invasion Biology Department at the Larkin Lab at the University of Minnesota. She manages the Ecological Restoration training program and invasive Phragmites surveillance, control, and research efforts. The University’s Invasive Phragmites program is likely our state’s most successful invasive species Early Detection and Rapid Response Program, taking invasive phragmites head on, finding and removing populations of this species before it becomes widespread. Non-native phragmites is a very large, aggressive grass that has taken over many square miles of shoreland and wetland in other areas of the world. If only we had a program like this for all of our invasive species! The Ecological Restoration training program has trained hundreds of practitioners who are now out in the field restoring land and water and protecting our states biodiversity for years to come. This year’s Bush Lake Commitment to Conservation Award goes to Julia Bohnen, and we thank her for her dedication and excellent work protecting our natural resources.

5) Youth Conservation Award- Awarded to youth for their outstanding contributions to the Chapter, conservation, or the environment.

Felix Malcolm-Manzoni is a remarkable young leader whose passion for environmental stewardship and community education is truly inspiring. At just 13 years old, Felix has made significant strides in promoting soil health and ecological awareness. He began this journey at the age of 9 as a volunteer on the Linden Hills abandoned trolley path healthy soil demonstration site, not only helping regenerate the land but also educating others about the importance of healthy soil and mycorrhizal fungi as a keynote speaker at numerous youth workshops and community events.

Felix's commitment extends beyond his local community. For the past three years he has represented the Land Stewardship Project (LSP) at the Department of Agriculture’s “Dig It” exhibit, putting in long hours and captivating audiences with his knowledge and enthusiasm. In the winter of 2023, he showcased regenerative landscaping and native plants at the Minnesota Science Museum. His role as a Southwest community education instructor during the pandemic, his musical performance at the Linden Hills Festival presenting the song he wrote about healthy soil when he was 10 years old, and his efforts in transitioning gardens to support pollinators highlight his innovative approach to environmental advocacy. With upcoming roles in the world premiere of "Seniorita Mariposa" that opens September 19th about the journey of a Monarch butterfly from Canada to Mexico and continued work as a youth environmentalist such as visiting the Boundary Waters each summer and speaking to elementary school classes, Felix exemplifies the spirit of ecological leadership and dedication. This year’s Bush Lake Youth Conservation Award goes to Felix Malcolm Manzoni. Felix, thank you- and keep up the great work!

Bush Lake Chapter IWLA Awards 2023

1) Chapter Volunteer of the Year Award- for member with outstanding contributions to the chapter in 2023

This year’s Chapter Volunteer of the Year Award goes to Glenn Corliss- John Crampton stole/recruited Glenn from the Minnesota Valley Chapter. We don’t think Glenn has missed a volunteer event in the 3 years he’s been a member. He has a can-do attitude, is quick to lend a hand, and is a great guy to work with. We know that Glenn stays busy with other volunteering too, so we appreciate his dedication to the Ikes and our Chapter. Thanks Glenn!

2) Gordy Bratsch Award- This award is named after our old neighbor, Gordy Bratsch, who was the “unofficial caretaker”- he was committed to keeping Bush Lake clean and the Chapter running smoothly. This award is given to a member that contributes to the chapter and the environment, year after year.

It is fitting that we give this year’s Gordy Bratsch award to Steve Dale, as Steve was also neighbors with Gordy, and could probably share some stories! Steve is our neighbor up the road and has been for many years. Steve always donates food and drink for our events that help sustain our volunteers. He can always be counted on to support our mission and our conservation programs. Steve is also a great neighbor of the lake and has a very large native prairie and shoreline buffer that is maintained, so it can thrive and provide habitat for pollinators and other wildlife, while protecting water quality in the lake. Steve is kept busy with his two young grandsons that live next door to him, along with his daughter Katie and her husband Patrick. Thanks for being a great member and neighbor, Steve!

3) Public Good Award- Award given to non-profit, city or public staff or elected officials for their outstanding contributions to water quality, conservation, and the environment.

This year’s Public Good Award goes to the Friends of Minnetonka Parks. This is recently formed group has already done tremendous work restoring public parks in Minnetonka and advocating for wildlife habitat and conservation, and educating the public on these important topics. They have been able to build community support and engage many volunteers in restoring public land in Minnetonka. I encourage you to check out their cool website where they restoration resources, volunteer events, and more. The Bush Lake Chapter would like to thank the Friends of Minnetonka Parks for their incredible efforts in restoring and preserving public lands for people and wildlife alike.

4) Bush Lake Commitment to Conservation Award- Given to an individual or organization inside or outside the organization that has contributed to restoration, habitat, and conservation in Minnesota.

This year’s Bush Lake Commitment to Conservation Award goes to Dan Shaw.  Dan is the go to guy for all things restoration ecology in Minnesota. Many of the practices and restoration methods we have used on our Chapter property, Dan had something to do with.

For the Board of Water and Soil Resources and the State of Minnesota, Dan is the Senior Ecologist and Vegetation Specialist. He also teaches ecology courses at the University of Minnesota. He has written and illustrated several ecology-focused publications. He has helped to create and coordinate numerous conservation programs, focusing on native vegetation, invasive species management, pollinator habitat, habitat-friendly solar, water management and climate resiliency. He has taught many students who you can now find working as professionals in the field, restoring land and water throughout the state. One of Dan’s most recent and most successful programs is Lawns to Legumes, which encourages Minnesotans to provide pollinator habitat in their own backyards. Dan is a legend in the conservation and botany world in Minnesota.  We are all better off, and our cherished natural resources are much better off, thanks to Dan, his hard work, and his commitment to conservation.

5) Youth Conservation Award- Awarded to youth for their outstanding contributions to the Chapter, conservation, or the environment.

This year’s Youth Conservation Award goes to Camille Morton. Camille is a freshman at Purdue University. She is the founding President of the Minnesota River Valley’s Green Crew. She currently serves on the Minnesota Valley’s Board of Directors. She co- chaired a committee for the Minnesota Division and was appointed as Minnesota Valley Chapter’s representative to the Minnesota Division Board.

Camille was one of three Green Crew members who attended this summer’s national convention in Nebraska. In her presentation, she challenged attendees to add youth to their chapter, state and national leadership teams.

For outstanding character, dedication and volunteer leadership, Camille truly deserves the 2023 Bush Lake Izaak Walton League Youth Conservation Award.

Report by Steph MacPhail

Global Big Day is a yearly event put on by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, where birdwatchers from all over the world team up to see how many different bird species they can spot in just one day.

The 2nd Annual Big Day at Bush Lake Izaak Walton was on May 10th, 2025. We had four participants and although migration wasn't cooperating as I hoped it would have, some warblers put on a good show for us and fun was had by all! 50 bird species were found on the property between 8 and 10 a.m. on the 10th, down from the 58 species recorded last year (see earlier blog post).  Check out the full list of species documented in 2025 below.

1. Canada Goose
2. Trumpeter Swan
3. Wood Duck
4. Mallard
5. Mourning Dove
6. Chimney Swift
7. Killdeer
8. Spotted Sandpiper
9. Ring-billed Gull
10. Common Loon
11. Double-crested Cormorant
12. Green Heron
13. Great Egret
14. Great Blue Heron
15. Red-tailed Hawk
16. Red-bellied Woodpecker
17. Downy Woodpecker
18. Northern Flicker
19. Least Flycatcher
20. Eastern Phoebe
21. Great Crested Flycatcher
22. Eastern Kingbird
23. Yellow-throated Vireo
24. Warbling Vireo
25. Blue Jay
26. American Crow
27. Black-capped Chickadee
28. Tree Swallow
29. Barn Swallow
30. White-breasted Nuthatch
31. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
32. Northern House Wren
33. American Robin
34. American Goldfinch
35. White-throated Sparrow
36. Song Sparrow
37. Baltimore Oriole
38. Red-winged Blackbird
39. Brown-headed Cowbird
40. Common Grackle
41. Golden-winged Warbler
42. Tennessee Warbler
43. Nashville Warbler
44. Common Yellowthroat
45. American Redstart
46. Magnolia Warbler
47. Yellow Warbler
48. Palm Warbler
49. Yellow-rumped Warbler
50. Northern Cardinal

We had another great year on Bush Lake, many thanks to all our members and volunteers from the community that makes it all possible. Here is a brief recap of our activities, outreach and programs this year.

We started the year at the Richardson Nature Center Ice Harvesting Day teaching folks about how to use less salt in winter to protect our waters. We followed this with our annual Wood Duck Days on Normandale Lake and Bush Lake. We have around 40 wood duck houses we monitor and maintain on these two lakes. Join us again this winter after the ice thickens.

In March, we tabled at the Richardson Nature Center's Spring Scavenger Hunt, where we shared information about our Chapter and promoted the importance of pollinator gardens.

In April, on Earth Day, we made Bush Lake a little better by cleaning up trash and litter around the lake. As always, we found way too much trash! You can help Bush Lake by picking up litter when you see it, leaving single use plastic at home, and checking the beach and grounds before you leave to make sure you and others leave only footprints. Also in April, our Board Treasurer, Vicki Bonk, was awarded the Judge John W. Tobin Award. The Tobin Award goes to League members whose outstanding volunteer contributions make a difference. Not only is Vicki our Board secretary, but is an incredible advocate for native plants, pollinators and other wildlife. In May, we held our Chapter Spring Clean Up and new member orientation and potluck.

In June, we once again partnered with the Bloomington Optimists for the annual Bloomington Kids' Fishing Fair. This is a great event that brings in many kids and families for a fun morning of fishing on Bush Lake. Our focus is not only getting kids outdoors fishing, but also raising awareness and getting people to '"Get the Lead Out" by replacing their lead tackle with non-toxic alternatives.

The IWLA National Convention was held in Maryland in July. Our Chapter was represented at the convention by Jill Crafton, our Board Treasurer and National Director. The League's 2025 convention will be held in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

In August, we hosted a Reptiles and Amphibians program. Attendees learned all about turtles, tortoises, frogs, toads, lizards and more. We saw rescued turtles and a snake then toured our property to hear about our turtle and wildlife conservation work. We found a baby snapping turtle which was safely returned to the lake!

Throughout the year, we encouraged our members and Bush Lake residents and users to Take the Pledge to protect Bush Lake from Aquatic Invasive Species. Lake Pledge is a set of short, entertaining videos showing how to protect our lake from Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS). AIS can impact swimming, paddling, fishing and aesthetics and cause irreparable damage to the lake ecosystem.  Thank you to everyone that took the pledge.  If you haven't yet, it is not too late: Lake Pledge 

We were also elated to have had chimney swifts and purple martins nesting at the Chapter for the first time, in modern times.  Stay tuned to a future newsletter for more info on these cool birds that need our help. 

Thank you to all our members for making this year a great success! We sincerely appreciate your contributions that make our conservation organization a strong one.

Many Birds Observed at Our First World Migratory Bird Day (2024)

Humans were sparse, but birds were abundant for our first World Migratory Bird Day on May 11th!  Global Big Day is a yearly event put on by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, where birdwatchers from all over the world team up to see how many different bird species they can spot in just one day. This year's spring event was on May 11th, right about peak time for migration in Minnesota. Our birding team observed 58 different species of birds at the Chapter during the event, and many of them were nesting!  Check out the full list and some great photos below. 

Special thanks to Paul Raymaker for taking photos, and Steph MacPhail and her birding team for creating this event and for counting so many birds! Steph observed a total of 78 species of birds around the Bush Lake area- now that is a Big Day!

Birds Need Your Help

Much of the work we do here at the Chapter is "for the birds."  From removing invasive plants, planting native plants, putting up bird houses and maintaining them, putting decals on windows to prevent bird strikes and working to Get the Lead Out of hunting and fishing- our conservation efforts help wild birds.  

You can help too!

• Make your windows safer- day and night. Up to 1 billion birds are estimated to die each year after hitting windows in the USA and Canada. At night, close your blinds and limit outdoor lights
• Keep cats indoors! Predation by domestic cats is the number-one direct, human-caused threat to birds in the United States and Canada.
• Reduce your lawn, plant native plants.
• Build a birdhouse and monitor and maintain it. Avoid buying cheap junky ones from big box stores as they don't last long and may even harm wildlife.
• Avoid pesticides, fertilizers, and chemicals is your yard and garden. This helps water quality too!
• Get the Lead Out of Fishing and Hunting (use non-toxic alternatives)
• Do not use poison to control rodents
• Drink bird friendly-certified shade-grown coffee
• If you feed birds, keep those feeders and bird baths clean!  
• Volunteer at/Donate to the Raptor Center, Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, or other great organizations (such as the Bush Lake Chapter!). 

Species Observed (* indicates nesting)

Baltimore Oriole

Spotted Sandpiper

Palm Warbler

Tree Swallow*

Common Loon

Double-crested Cormorant

Eastern Kingbird

Yellow Warbler

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Blue Jay

Mallard

Brown-headed Cowbird

Great Egret

Wood Duck

Song Sparrow

Great-crested Flycatcher

Red-tailed Hawk

Eastern Bluebird*

House Wren

Red-winged Blackbird

Pileated Woodpecker

Wilson's Warbler

Eastern Phoebe*

Canada Goose

Mourning Dove

American Goldfinch

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Yellow-throated Vireo

American Redstart

Downy Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Hooded Merganser

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Scarlet Tanager

Chimney Swift

Warbling Vireo

American Robin*

Ring-billed Gull

Northern Flicker

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Killdeer

House Finch

Magnolia Warbler

Chipping Sparrow

Barn Swallow

Tennessee Warbler

Bald Eagle

Black-capped Chickadee

Yellow-rumped Warbler

White-breasted Nuthatch

Northern Cardinal

American Crow

Common Yellowthroat

Trumpeter Swan

Least Flycatcher

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

White-throated Sparrow

Barred owl

Photos from the event below: Eastern bluebird eggs in one of our houses, a Scarlet tanager, , Great egret soars over East Bay Pond, a tree swallow on its house, Steph and her team look and listen for birds, 

Vicki's April 2024 Update- "A Soft Landings Planting Beneath Keystone Tree- Connecting Habitat Neighbor to Neighbor" can be found by opening this PDF.

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