NW Wisconsin Dark Sky Park Project

09/18/2021

Lights out for migration. Better yet, keep them off.

After a volunteer collected more than 200 dead migratory birds from the sidewalks around the World Trade Center, bird groups in the city called on the complex to dim unnecessary lights at night.

06/27/2021

For more information: https://www.darksky.org/joining-forces-to-protect-the-night-from-light-pollution/

06/26/2021

from the Door County area in Wisconsin

When it comes to dark skies, seeing the light isn’t a good thing Pardon the pun, but astronomer Tom Gwilym wants more people to “see the light” about protecting Door County’s dark skies. And he’s not alone in that effort. Gwilym, vice president of the Door Peninsula Astronomical Society, s...

05/12/2021

This morning shows a large impact from solar activity which could, if sustained, generate some great Northern Lights viewing. Heres your heads up to find a dark place with a dark northern view and if you are lucky enough to live in a remote area, turn out those bright outdoor lights and enjoy the dark sky!! We have a new moon last night so perfect viewing conditions if skies are clear!!!

05/04/2021

Wonderful advice from the stargazers at Mayo Dark Skies!

04/23/2021

Lights out for migrations!!! 🙏

Migration alert! Millions of birds will be flying through night skies this weekend. It should make for fantastic birdwatching in the brightly colored parts of the maps in this image. It's also a critically important time to turn out lights at night, to help migrating birds stay on course and away from deadly window collisions. Learn more at BirdCast: https://birdcast.info/science-to-action/lights-out/

04/16/2021

Thank you Douglas County Foresty! Forestry land makes up the majority of our proposed footprint along the scenic riverway.🌲🌲🌲🌲

04/15/2021

At long last, I am happy to share the proposed footprint of the NW Wisconsin Dark Sky Park (shown as red [DNR lands] and pink [Douglas County managed lands]). Consisting of 28,485 acres, the NE portion being the Douglas County State Wildlife Area (bird sanctuary), Solon Springs/Gordon, traveling SW across the western portion of the St Croix flowage and along the St Croix Riverway where it adjoins to the Namekagon Barrens Wildlife Area west of Minong.

Next steps include submission of this map with supporting letters the public land owning entities and area stakeholders along with sky measurements for the process.

Private landowners adjacent to the public land boundaries have no obligations to this designation.

04/13/2021

I am happy to provide an update that we are getting close to finalizing the proposed perimeter for the first dark sky park in NW Wisconsin. The map will be shared once it has been formalized through Douglas County review, however I can share:

Total acres proposed as included in dark sky park boundary:
28,485 (Douglas County Land: 21,093/WDNR Lands: 7,392 acres)