Tryout TV; The Bird House; 215

The following program is brought to you in part by a special grant from the friends of channel 21 incorporated. This is Blueboy we've had him three and a half years he was found inbearable he had been thrown out of the nest by a sparrow this is one of the two one of the birds that survived. He likes the white mealworms the best I've spoiled him all these years offering him white ones. he's been pecked on the head so badly that's why his feathers stick up there. It's really a female bird though We thought he was a male so we called him Blueboy. It's 9:00 Wednesday morning at 9 Edna and Henry are receiving their weekly

shipment of live mealworms bird food for their many residents. [indistinct voice] what you have to do with them This time we ordered. medium worms Then there are so many Tiny ones in there that seem to die and we have all baby birds right now so Since 1966 Henry and Edna have purchased over one million one hundred and twenty seven thousand meal worms these worms are a source of live protein required in some bird diets bluebird babies for example feed on tiny meal worms cut in half with bits

of grapes and formula added other foods in their bird pantry include crickets. high bush cranberries growing nearby. currents And moths caught in Henry's ultraviolet insect trap. Welcome to the bird house this is where we keep most of our patients and this is Pooboy anyone want a white worm Guess he's not very hungry right now. I think there are about 10 birds in here and four waxlings are up on the ledge above the window This is where I spend a great deal of my time cleaning the bird room because of the many birds in here. I feed the birds the first thing in the morning before we have breakfast ourselves

and. Some of them like meat. Others like currents and some like meal worms and help themselves but there are some other birds that I have to feed by hand. I just dropped my white meal worm here for Bluebird. He's been used to having white worms and he prefers them. He just won't come for a brown one. this is or this maze is a real job to clean because of the number of birds here and trying to get in all the corners and so forth. I feed the birds before I had my own breakfast because I can enjoy it more and it gets to be pretty late by the time I have breakfast because these days I get up either six or six thirty or thereabouts The birds are not up But I mean I'll start getting their cages clean. Things like that because some of them are not in the midnight. they're in the pantry.

And. Have to sort worms and find the words for them and that's the most time consuming thing in this house. It seems to me. And. I wipe up any droppings that I didn't get the day before. And the last little bit I do is sleep approaching new. Polls this morning for instance we had an early visitor who brought a purple finch, but it died by noon. The oldest member of our bird family is Robbie who was brought to us. June 2nd 1961 with a broken leg. We had intended to release him in the spring but were advised to keep him over winter. Because he was so tame and there was danger of him being caught by someone on his way south. But Henry mended his leg and he. Was ok. But by spring he had become so. Domesticated. That we

just didn't release him and furthermore he. Caught. each leg in the...each foot in the door, which crippled his feet for life. And therefore, we still have him. Them this year. When Robbie was 14 years old. We had. A big party for him. on the first day of May, which we consider his birthday, and there were 14 people here. It's a difficult thing to clean that room it takes me at least. Two. Hours. And sort of goes on all day I mean this feeding...it isn't only once. And Done the rooms have to be set to the patients. I mean every several days -- at least -- and fed carrots. Birds on perches eating in the house are not as easy to care for as those in the out of doors. Those that come to our winter feeders. Occasionally summer feeding

occurs but when grass heads and berries are frosted over it's our turn to help out. wondering where they came from. And how far they went. The myriad shapes of the snowflakes drift slowly out of the sky, while the pines were virgin on their branches. A sudden gust of wind sending clouds over their fur Earthward. But when nature overdoes it. And lets loose with about a foot of snow The bird story to the feeders. Like this cardinal having lunch on sunflower seeds, or this choosy chickadee looking for a favorite morsel. at the lanterns feeder all the while singing his merry song During one recent year Henry and Edna fed over 3000 pounds of sunflower seed plus a large amount of other grains to their feathered visitors. Coupled with the cost of meal worms crickets ground beef feed supplements vitamins carrots and oatmeal It is no wonder that this wildlife Samaritan

attitude needs Henry's inventive touch to keep it viable. During the fall when the chill helps Jack Frost paint his colors across the prairie scape the autumnal hues cloak momentarily winter's concerns. The ?Keeanids? we're never fooled by falls illusion and for twenty five years they have been the concerned allies of wildlife. What backgrounds have produced such concern interest similar to Henry and Edna's were shared by Lowell Nolan emeritus professor of zoology at the University of Wisconsin who wrote The sun is warm the wind is chill fresh fallen leaves swirl over the hill the milkweeds hold their pods aloft shedding their seeds all silky soft which one by one the winds pick off. It was into this setting at Logies mill that Henry's family moved when he was three years old. His father Henry

Sr. built a grain mill from new material and salvage parts bought. From his uncle. Who had the misfortune of having the original 100 year old mill collapse. His mother Christine was a mainstay during these early trying years. During the hundred or more years of the mills existence their earthen dike had settled so that a heavy rain would cause the pond to overflow. To bring this back to a safe level required several thousand yards of dirt. Being the kind of person that would rather use his head than his arms and back. To design and build a power shovel for loading the fill. In the first world war a flour shortage developed. Soon it seemed as though every family in Sauk City and Prairie de Sac have turned their gardens into wheat patches. For it wasn't long before his brothers and he were grinding 24 hours a day. Henry got an idea later. Instead of the farmer coming to the mill.

Why not go to the farmer with a portable grinder. He then designed and built the first routed portable mill. In the United States. Returning to each farmer every two weeks. In 1943, he discovered the charms of a lovely, gracious, young lady. A former high school classmate by the name of Edna Marquard. And he married. After these early years of togetherness which involved them in flower gardening and watching nearby birds. He turned his inventive mind to designing machinery for making bird feeders for themselves and their friends. Like Henry, Edna was born in Sauk City Wisconsin. And since 1900. the daughter of Emma and August Marquardt. Her father became a druggist at the age of 17. In 1913 he sold a drug business then, with some other men started the present Farmers and Citizens Bank. She's often been reminded by older. Friends that she was a timid soul when a

child a lower brother was just the opposite. Did she ever learned to rollerskate on a prized first wooden skates brought to town. by a man from Milwaukee. Oh no. So how could she if she just sat on the wooden sidewalk with the skates fastened to her shoes. And I did however spend many hours playing behind her house along the river bank. But did she ever learn to swim. Oh no for she never ventured into water over her knees. But in recent years when Henry Kanig was courting her he somehow got her to go canoeing with him on the lake above the power dam. He had no idea how much she feared this experience. Thinking back to earlier years Edna, had been ambitious enough in teaching elementary school following normal school training at White Water Inn Later learned how to transcribe Braille. Then she furthered her hobby of Rose Garden with Henry's help. Mourning Doves sunning themselves and Robins finding earthworms were often seen nearby. Finally. A cardinal in the shrubbery attracted her attention. So Henry made a windowsill feeder to

satisfy her desire to feed him. It was in 1949 that they started feeding the birds daily and have never stopped. Henry still continues to build a suet and lantern style feeders in his workshop. [sounds] Henry knows that someday the grim reaper will visit and is aware that all this homemade Rube Goldberg style machinery will be just so much junk unless there was a trained successor. Martin Roody, the Stockbridge science teacher has learned to operate the machines the lantern feeder is assembled around the aluminum tube. The base of the feeder has rubber grommets in the seat openings to protect the bird's eyes so they don't freeze onto the metal. Henry had a little trouble explaining this next machine. functions. [Henry]: I guess I was trying to think of something really common.

A little wedge on a spring that forces the wire away from the back plate. Making room for the next corner. And as it turns further, this next wedge that slides back and forth The spring tension pushes it out far enough to make room for the wire to fit onto the next part. [music] [Narrator]: The square shooter operated by water pressure trims the strips to required size. With a 10 inch toilet on the same water line flushes upstairs progress is holding this contraption is really a forming press for shaping the roofs and sub floor. The feeder is completed with roof set in place. The preassembled doors spring

locked with a rod over the glass panels and the squirrel guard added. When all the ground was snow as white, the merry snow bird comes and hops about with great delight to find the scattered crumbs. I'm glad he seems to get to eat. A piece of cake or bread. He wears no shoes upon his feet nor hat upon his head. But happiest is he I know because no cage with bars keeps him from walking on the snow. imprinting it with stars. While Henry feeds myriad forms in the wild and they can be found caring for starved or injured birds throughout the year. Feeding four baby Baltimore Orioles all brought on the same day takes great patience. Their constant crying was hard on the ear. After their release, they were fed outside for several weeks. [music] Feathered

jewels of the bird world, Audobon called them hummingbirds. One of the 318 species found in the Western Hemisphere is no bigger than a dime. This is the Cuban variety. In Wisconsin, the ruby throated hummingbird is the common form, and Edna has cared for several. Equally resplendent. It is the Scarlet tanager a

Very young Robin needs lots of attention. When a parent is killed with a gun or caught by a cat, the upbringing falls upon the mate. When the mate dies, then they find themself caring for more than one young. Providing it on a heating pad when apparently dead and cold. Morning doves are fed by regurgitation. Junior causes mother to release food stored in the crop at the upper end of the digestive tract. This device substitutes for mothers Bill I haven't always been able to keep our wild friends healthy. In 1975, many birds died at the feeders in our yard and padding, and we were greatly distressed. So we had disinfected our feeding areas. When so

many died, we didn't know what to do and called upon our old friend Professor Joseph Hickey of the University of Wisconsin Wildlife Ecology Department. When I got Mr. Koenig's message, I got in touch with our department of veterinary science the capital of information on our campus. With respect to wildlife diseases and there Dr. Thomas Yule was a man that. We had run down that the problem that she had now the problem that she had this was salmonella as I understand it that's right. There are a number of diseases that could break out in bird banding stations all over by and large they occur rather rather rarely. Now it...would the average homeowner for example experience any problem with their feeders as far as I know not. There's a little bit of botulism that is broken out of some of our feeders. It's a different

type than we humans get. That's fortunate. But the birdbaths themselves have picked up some minor diseases I suppose but not nothing serious. That's good to know. Now you said Bird banders. Are any of your close relations involved with bird banding by chance. Well my wife is a bird Bander in my family. And I am just. Her. Unpaid helper. She bands bluejays in considerable numbers something over 2000 having been color banded here in Madison by her. And between the two of us we got the Koenigs involved in this particular. pursuit of knowledge. Now the system is that you get a series of colored bands or rather a series of aluminum bands from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service who gives you a permit. You've got to have a permit then? Oh very much so, and it's a very difficult permit to get. I see.

And then, the Koenigs went ahead and and began to band the birds that came into their feeders. I knew that they had a lot of birds coming to the feeders that's why I wanted to Edna to do this but I did not know it was going to be such an actually exhausting operation Now you mentioned your wife did 2000 perhaps bluejays about how long has it taken to get 2000 bluejays banded? That has taken about 25 years. Now, how long did it take Henry and Edna to really get started and what did they work with? Well, As I recall John They caught something like thirteen hundred purple finches in a matter of about six weeks. Wow. And I don't know where the birds came from; it must be something of a world's record. And they weren't banding just purple finches oh no they were there were banding Grosbeaks and Goldfinches and of course Blue Jays turning up and chickadees and so on.

Well was this ever documented? Did this...was this written down someplace? Well they filled out forms and turned them into fish and wildlife service and I suppose some of their birds were finally recovered on migration or within the areas that were to the south. So Madison Audubon Society and Wisconsin Society of Ornithology they must have had quite a few records coming in all of a sudden. Well I think the trouble there was that this. Proliferation of birds coming into the banders operation was so great that the Koenigs were physically unable to carry it out. So they they they got out of the bird banding business, and they're back now in the role of good Samaritans. So now with this bird banding though they still have the remnants of this trapping. I understand Henry had made a rope type arrangement to a draw sleeve in a window where he could bring the birds in and humanely band them and then release? Oh yes. All of this. Henry's been quite the inventor. Now with all of the work that they have done how have they fit in with

the Madison Audubon Society. Well the Koenig's give talks before other Madison Audubon Society from time to time. That's right Henry's been quite a photographer himself hasn't he? Sure sure. In fact as I recall they even put some of their work on magnetic stripe with Super 8 footage and Henry of course has taken voluminous slides that he's used to illustrate their books, so it's all been a good good session. What about the National Audubon Society have...I know that the Vinces in Eagle area have been working with predators birds of prey. In fact I believe that a recent article. And people going there. A recent article appeared in the Milwaukee Journal. Is there anybody that can help with this Good Samaritan thing has National Audubon of the Schlitz Nature Center? And you're on the board of national. Do you recall anybody else that might be able...

A organize statewide or national. Good Samaritan service for wildlife. There are just certain people that have the patience and the other goodwill to undertake a major job Dr. Fran Hamerstrom of Plainfield, Wisconsin is one who works with the Hawks. My good friend Mr. Morty Nelson out of Boise Idaho has something like 19 convalescent hawks when I visited him some years ago. And so that with this somebody like Larry Langucci who just happens to come upon an owl that has fallen out of the nest. This is something unusual. And here again he would probably need a special authorization to work with the owl. But he's done a magnificent job with this particular bird of prey. Well John, I would emphasize that if people find the baby birds. On the sidewalk or on their lawn they should put them in a bush

but not try to get them into the house and try to take care of them that way let them be found by their parents. What the niche that the Koenig's fill I think in our society is that they have made their home available as a hospital full of injured birds. So by putting a bird perhaps that's been injured even if it's in just a shoe box to recover if it's not a large bird of prey and just letting it get its wind back so to speak of its head against the window. This is important rather than to mother it to death. That's true. Yes. I see. Now Larry who we're seeing in the film of course is working at Forest Products laboratory and he needed to have some extra help and suggestions such as the Hamerstroms were able to get...give and also as far as your department were able to give. You know Professor Hickie as we look at the world of wildlife ecology and environmental study then. It sometimes becomes necessary to share with Golden Agers their

reflections and the reflections we need to share with Edna and hers being on the future of the bird house. [music] The future of the bird house causes a feeling of sadness with a need. For visitors and wondered what they would do with injured birds if they could no longer bring them here. It's hard for me to give an answer. But we do intend and hope to carry on just as long as possible. I can't visualize life or the years to come without a bird house to take in the helpless, the orphans, and the injured ones. My only reason for wishing to be ageless and to live forever is to care for every permanent patient we have until its lifetime is finished. Of course as soon as birds are ready to go, We release them. But there are others too handicapped or unable to fly.

The permanent residents Wouldn't fit into any other. or new pattern of living for a bird is an outstanding creature of habit. Things must never be different or they're unhappy, upset, and confused. The same daily routine must continue. Birds are even conscious of the Clothes and colors one wears. These days no coats or hats should be worn in the house not even by myself. We know that no one lives. Forever. But can suddenly be snatched away. If I became hopelessly ill. I couldn't rest a moment without thinking of the birds. Therefore. I would appreciate the assurance. That I could take them with me if that were possible and permitted. For it would be the humane thing to do for the bird's sake. The three and a half year old handicapped Oriole is afraid of people. And even of Henry at close range. And the ten and a half year old cliff Swallow unable to

fly. as sensitive or he's blind in one eye. our 14 and a half. Your old robin recently became blind in one eye. But these three birds sing in season. And so I would like to be closely surrounded by all the remaining precious friends of many years, And take them with me at the time of my departure. Knowing they would be forever safe for a long time. Of course one never knows which of us will be gone first. It would be difficult to carry on without him. He's the one to do the humane thing and puts badly injured birds to sleep. If Henry were left alone. Many birds would be more than he could care for. Because they need constant daily attention. The present 19 are a full time job for me. But some will definitely be ready for release in spring. In 1975, over 1100

people have come to see the birds. I'd like to think. And hope that through visiting us someone somewhere somehow will consider giving up part of their time to follow this most interesting fascinating and rewarding hobby. The preceding program was brought to you in part by a special grant from the friends of channel 21 incorporated.