February 2019 Meeting: Greater Sandhill Cranes with Stan Temple

What Have We Done to Deserve All These Cranes?

For the first Uplands Garden Club meeting of 2019, Stan Temple, Professor Emeritus in Conservation, UW-Madison, once again accepted an invitation to speak to our group, this time on the ever-growing numbers of Greater Sandhill Cranes. His presentation gave a fascinating history of how these birds have staged a comeback after coming close to extinction  Stan reviewed their remarkable recovery, described their migratory behavior and discussed some recent controversies such as crane hunting.

Stan had presented at a previous garden club meeting on Phenology and the Passenger Pigeon. As Senior Fellow at the Aldo Leopold Foundation, Stan and the topic of Sand Hill Cranes came highly recommended by Garden Club members Bill and Jayne Wisler who had the pleasure of participating in an event last Fall in which Stan spoke on cranes at the Aldo Leopold Foundation site in Baraboo Wisconsin. He guided the group on a trail walk and explored the Shack. An inspiring speaker, perhaps some of us will want to learn more and partake in this event at the Aldo Leopold Foundation next fall.

February 2015 Meeting: The Passenger Pigeon's Extinction

The February meeting got 2015 off to a great start. Guest speaker, Stanley Temple, was entertaining and educational and left us with much to think about.


Dr. Temple gave a presentation on the extinction of the Passenger Pigeon one hundred years ago. From the most numerous bird in North America (3-5 billion) to GONE in 50 years! This extinction was a catalyst for the Conservation Movement.

For 32 years Stan Temple occupied the faculty position once held by Aldo Leopold. He and his students have worked on endangered species problems in 21 different countries, and have helped save some of the world's rarest and most endangered species, especially birds. He has long been interested in Passenger Pigeon, having analyzed historical records for the species that were first assembled by A. W. Schorger for his 1955 book on the life history and ecology of the species.

2014 marked the 100th anniversary of the passenger pigeon's extinction, and commemorative events took place throughout the year. Stan gave 102 presentations on the pigeon in 20 states and one province last year! His presentation explores the ecology and life history of the passenger pigeon and other extinct and endangered birds, current extinction crises, endangered species recovery, human relationship with wildlife, and sustainable use of biological resources.

Stanley Temple to Speak at Uplands Garden Club

Stanley A Temple, 

Beers-Bascom Professor Emeritus in Conservation, UW-Madison and 

Senior Fellow, Aldo Leopold Foundation 

The Passenger Pigeon's Extinction: 

Lessons from the Past for a Sustainable Future

Uplands Garden Club Meeting

February 4, 2015, 7pm 

Stonefield Apartments, Dodgeville, WI. 

See our Meetings Tab for directions to Stonefield. 

Non-members welcome.

For 32 years Stan Temple occupied the faculty position once held by Aldo Leopold. He and his students have worked on endangered species problems in 21 different countries, and have helped save some of the world's rarest and most endangered species, especially birds. He has long been interested in Passenger Pigeon, having analyzed historical records for the species that were first assembled by A. W. Schorger for his 1955 book on the life history and ecology of the species. 2014 marked the 100th anniversary of the passenger pigeon's extinction, and commemorative events took place throughout the year. Stan gave 102 presentations on the pigeon in 20 states and one province last year! His presentation explores the ecology and life history of the passenger pigeon and other extinct and endangered birds, current extinction crises, endangered species recovery, human relationship with wildlife, and sustainable use of biological resources.