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Daily Bread, Nature, Wisconsin

Daily Bread for 7.13.25: Big Manitou Falls

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Good morning. Sunday in Whitewater will be cloudy with a high of 79. Sunrise is 5:28 and sunset is 8:32, for 15 hours, 4 minutes of daytime. The moon is a waning gibbous with 92.1 percent of its visible disk illuminated. Held during the summer of 1956, the Dartmouth workshop is the first conference on artificial intelligence. Big…

Animals, Birds, Conservation, Daily Bread, Environment, Insects, Nature, Plants, Wisconsin

Daily Bread for 6.24.25: Prairies & Pollinators

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Good morning. Tuesday in Whitewater will be cloudy with a high of 84. Sunrise is 5:17 and sunset is 8:37, for 15 hours, 20 minutes of daytime. The moon is a waning crescent with 1.2 percent of its visible disk illuminated. On this day in 1812, Napoleon’s Grande Armée crosses the Neman river beginning the invasion of Russia. An interlude for…

Birds, Daily Bread, Nature

Daily Bread for 5.8.25: Midwest Migration is Underway

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Good morning. Thursday in Whitewater will be sunny with a high of 69. Sunrise is 5:39 and sunset is 8:03, for 14 hours, 24 minutes of daytime. The moon is a waxing gibbous with 85.1 percent of its visible disk illuminated. On this day in 1945, the German Instrument of Surrender signed at Berlin-Karlshorst comes into effect. Midwest migration…

Birds, Conservation, Daily Bread, Good Ideas, Nature, Wisconsin

Daily Bread for 4.23.25: Mark Your Calendars for Fat Bird Week (Yes, Wisconsin Has a Fat Bird Week)

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Good morning.

Wednesday in Whitewater will see scattered afternoon showers with a high of 70. Sunrise is 6:00 and sunset is 7:46, for 13 hours, 47 minutes of daytime. The moon is a waning crescent with 23.9 percent of its visible disk illuminated.

On this day in 1985, Coca-Cola changes its formula and releases New Coke. The response is overwhelmingly negative, and the original formula is back on the market in less than three months.

Something happy today, as though a palate cleanser in difficult times. Wisconsin’s Second Fat Bird Week is approaching. The Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin will hold Fat Bird Week from May 2nd to May 9th:

Let’s celebrate our chunky native birds and learn how to help them! Every day from May 2nd to May 9th you’ll get the chance to vote for your favorite bulbous bird.

How does voting work?

Our 8 chubby contestants compete in a single elimination, bracket-style tournament.

The first round of voting will open at 9am CST on Friday, May 2nd and voting will remain open for 48 hours. The second round of voting will open at 9am CST on Sunday, May 4th and remain open for 24 hours. The following rounds will open at 9am CST and last 24 hours until the final round on Friday, May 9th. The winner will be announced on Monday, May 12th.

Receive daily reminders to vote by signing up for the Bird News You Can Use email list. You’ll also be the first to find out who won Fat Bird Week!

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In the world of birds, a fat bird is a healthy bird. Fat acts as a great lightweight source of energy for these important pollinators. Many of our favorite native Wisconsin species are also migratory birds and can pack on 50-100% of their body weight to store up enough energy for their long journey. For our non-migratory chonkers, they are able to fluff out their feathers during the winter months to stay warm.

Fat, healthy birds benefit our environment in a variety of ways. As key pollinators, birds disperse seeds, pollinate plants, and help manage pests in farmlands and forests. Birds also have significant mental health benefits for humans and support Wisconsin’s $2.6 billion wildlife watching economy. Known as “canaries in the coal mine,” birds can alert both people and wildlife to unhealthy conditions, too. What are the four biggest ways you can help?

See the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin website for more information about their good work.

Here’s the 2024 winner:

Heavy dust storm sweeps across state in northern Mexico:

A massive dust storm rolled through northern Mexico on Saturday, leading to health concerns and road closings. The storm hit Chihuahua, a state in northern Mexico largely covered by desert, across from New Mexico and Texas. At least a dozen municipalities were affected, but no casualties were reported.

Animals, Daily Bread, Faraway Places, Nature

Daily Bread for 4.12.25: Taming Pythons in Thailand

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Good morning.

Saturday in Whitewater will be mostly sunny with a high of 45. Sunrise is 6:17 and sunset is 7:34, for 13 hours, 16 minutes of daytime. The moon is full this evening.

On this day in 1776, with the Halifax Resolves, the North Carolina Provincial Congress authorizes its Congressional delegation to vote for independence from Britain.

The real White Lotus in Thailand, Four Seasons Koh Samui, and Anantara Mai Khao Villas aren’t just stunning backdrops for HBO’s hit series — they’re home to Nok, a real-life sustainability manager protecting endangered sea turtles, giant monitor lizards, and native birds. As The White Lotus Season 3 wraps, we uncover the wild side of these luxury resorts and meet the woman fighting to preserve paradise behind the scenes.

Fox takes a drink:

Agriculture, Culture, Daily Bread, Nature, Wisconsin

Daily Bread for 3.29.25: Three Wisconsin Generations Tap Maple Trees

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Good morning.

Saturday in Whitewater will be cloudy with a high of 68. Sunrise is 6:41 and sunset is 7:18, for 12 hours, 36 minutes of daytime. The moon is new with none of its visible disk illuminated.

On this day in 1999, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closes above the 10,000 mark (10,006.78) for the first time, during the height of the dot-com bubble.

Three generations tap maple trees during Saint Patrick’s season:

Each Saint Patrick’s Day weekend, generations of the O’Brien clan gather in the family’s maple grove to tap the sap, cook the syrup and enjoy each other’s company. The family’s creation of combination sap shed and gathering space ensures their family tradition will go on for many generations.

James Webb Space Telescope captures a ‘cosmic tornado’:

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) captured an amazing video of the outflow Herbig-Haro 49/50 (HH 49/50), a newborn star.

Birds, Climate, Daily Bread, Nature, Wisconsin

Daily Bread for 3.8.25: Warmer Wisconsin Winters Changing Ancient Sport of Falconry

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Good morning.

Saturday in Whitewater will be sunny with a high of 48. Sunrise is 6:18 and sunset is 5:53, for 11 hours, 35 minutes of daytime. The moon is a waxing gibbous with 70.9 percent of its visible disk illuminated.

On this day in 1983, while addressing a convention of Evangelicals, Ronald Reagan labels the Soviet Union an “evil empire.” (It was, and the Russian Federation still is.)

Warmer Wisconsin Winters Changing Ancient Sport of Falconry:

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