Land Conservation is Bird Conservation: Celebrating Kemper Woods and Dr. Kemper’s Legacy
At 101 years old, Dr. Charles Kemper is not only a centenarian but also a philanthropist and environmental advocate. On a beautiful day in September, Chippewa County Land Conservancy invited members of the community to celebrate and explore Kemper Woods with its benefactor. The Land Trust Days event included a nature hike and scavenger hunt and attendees had a chance to meet the man behind the woods while learning about the preserve.
We often don’t hear about the remarkable human stories behind the properties the Conservancy protects. Kemper Woods is a perfect example. Originally from Baltimore Maryland, Dr. Kemper’s story dates back to 1948 when he settled in Chippewa Falls and went on to practice family medicine for many years. He regarded himself as a “country doctor,” which is hard to imagine in the hustle and bustle of the region today. As an avid bird watcher and animal lover, caring for wildlife became Doc Kemper’s second job. He regularly made house calls to his human patients, but frequently animal patients would also benefit from his in-home care.
As part of his love for all things wild, Dr. Kemper went on to band tens of thousands of wild birds at Kemper Woods, gaining him the nickname the “birdman.” Watching him gently but nimbly place the miniature metal bands on the birds’ tiny legs was nothing less than extraordinary. Working with the US Department of Fish and Wildlife, his efforts are legendary, and his study and documentation of the activities of migratory birds are invaluable. In the past 10 years, land trusts and bird conservation groups united in their effort to protect birds in the Land Trust Bird Conservation Initiative. Doc Kemper was ahead of his time. Land conservation and bird conservation go hand in hand at Kemper Woods.
From 1951-1960 Dr. Kemper contributed articles on native animal species for the Chippewa Herald-Telegram and in 2011 bound these articles into a book entitled Birds of Chippewa County, a fascinating read. For more on Dr. Kemper’s life, check out this article in Wisconsin Life Magazine.
It wasn’t an easy undertaking when, in 2006, Dr. Kemper presented the idea of preserving his 80 acre woodland to Dan Masterpole and Mike Dahlby of the Chippewa County Land Conservation Department. With help from Chippewa County Land Conservancy, grants from the Chippewa County Stewardship program and the Wisconsin Knowles/Nelson Stewardship program, and donations from community members, local businesses, and other conservation organizations, the necessary funds were raised. These supporters are listed on a commemorative plaque at the entrance to the property highlighting the community’s validation of Dr. Kemper’s dream.
If you haven’t done so, take a hike through Kemper Woods. The trails will have you disappearing into a hidden world of towering trees and lush ferns that carry you beyond the busy world we live in. As you reconnect with nature your visit will express the gratitude we have to Dr. Kemper for his gift of Kemper Woods and his commitment to the natural world.
