Sunday, May 31 8:00-10:30
County Grounds Park
Meet at the parking lot off (way off) 87th St
County Grounds Park/Sanctuary Woods/Forest Exploration Center
Spanning Swan Boulevard just north of Watertown Plank Rd. These three park runs together, yet have separate eBird locations. In the winter, these are good locations for owls and Rough-legged Hawks. Other times of the year, the usual variety of woodpeckers, cuckoos, songbirds and raptors can be found here. The combination of wide expanses over the retention pond area and the woods on the south side make for an interesting walk. The Forest Exploration Center has accessible trails, and self-guided nature trail with signage.
** If you are doing the UPAF ride this Sunday, remember to bring binoculars to look for the Kelp Gull, and it is an excellent view of Milwaukee from up there
Website: Forest Exploration Center: https://www.forestexplorationcenter.org/
eBird: County Grounds/Sanctuary Woods, Forest Exploration Center
Trails: County Grounds dirt paths through fields and woods. Gravel path around top of retention area.
Forest Exploration Center has fully accessible paths. Sanctuary Woods are narrow paths through woods and shrubs.
Restrooms: None. There are restaurants on Watertown Plank Rd. On northwest side of Swan Rd is Hansen Golf Course with bathrooms in the Club House seasonally available.
Map: https://county.milwaukee.gov/files/county/parks-department/Park-Maps/CountyGrounds-Recovered2.pdf
Join us! Walks are always free and always fun . Open to all levels of birders
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Nearly every morning, there is a
FREE Bird Walk in Milwaukee
Milwaukee Birding News
Birds and Brews PM. Tomorrow! Thursday 5:30 at Estabrook Park Beer Garden. Join us for an hour-long bird walk at 5:30 before returning to the beer garden.
Friends of Havenwoods Birdathon. Join us on Saturday, June 13 for a Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin Birdathon. We will find as many species as we can at Havenwoods State Forest between 8:00 am and Noon.
Ways to participate:
1. Bird with us! All levels welcome! Come for as short or as long a time as you can. We will have a group of bird walkers and a sitting group. All abilities welcome. And no fundraising required, but please join the team at https://charity.pledgeit.org/WIBirdathon2026/teams/Havenwoods-Thrashers
OR
2. Donate to the bird team, Join and/or donate at: https://charity.pledgeit.org/WIBirdathon2026/teams/Havenwoods-Thrashers Funds raised by the team are split between the Friends of Havenwoods and the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin’s Bird Protection Fund.
OR
3. Both! Bird with us AND donate. Whichever way, hope to see you Saturday June 13 at Havenwoods State Forest
Funds raised by the team are split between the Friends of Havenwoods and the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin’s Bird Protection Fund.
Already watching a nest that has plastic strips in it? NestWatch Cornell wants to know more. A new program is tracking the species, location, and outcome of nests with plastic. Learn more and decide if you can help, https://nestwatch.org/blog/join-our-new-study-on-plastics-in-bird-nests/
May is Here! Migration Madness! Birding every day! Check out all the bird walks, talks, field trips, and social events below.
Check our list of free weekly bird walks in the Milwaukee-area
Last Week
After an hour rain delay, we had a great turnout of birds and birders. About 18 birders started the morning counting and identifying the warblers in the trees behind the shelter. From there, we made our way across to the evergreens, which were slow that day. A walk along the mountain bike path was more fruitful. We heard or spotted Warbling Vireos, Indigo Buntings, Northern Cardinals, and a couple of woodpeckers. One highlight of the trail was an active Cooper’s Hawk nest. While studying that nest, a Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher was noticed building a nest nearby. We continued along the single-track path, looking up for birds and down for trilliums. Jill looked up and spotted a grey morph Eastern Screech owl in a hole! Great find!
From there, we crossed the road to take a path through the woods and returned to the parking area along the bluff edge. In that area, we heard and saw an Olive-sided Flycatcher, more warblers, and an Acadian Flycatcher (only heard). The walk ended with some additional excitement. As we were doing the list by the shelter a Connecticut Warbler was heard in the shrub layer. By sound it was clear the bird was moving about in there, however it was never seen. Fifty-three species! The lesson: Always go birding!
Kletzsch Park eBird: https://ebird.org/checklist/S345586071
pic Chris Pom
pic Judith Huf
Upcoming Bird Talks & walks:
Have a birding event to share? email us on the Contact Page
MAY
Spring Bird Walks at Riveredge Nature Center
Fridays May 1 – May 29
Details HERE
Birds and Brews at Estabrook Park
Thursday, May 28 5:30pm
Meet at north end of Beer Garden
Bird Banding Basics Workshop at Riveredge Nature Center
Friday and Saturday, May 29-30
Details and registration HERE
Birding at Honey Creek Preserve with Wisconsin Society for Ornithology
Saturday, May 30
Bird Banding and bird walks (one even starts early enough for the dawn chorus)
Registration and details HERE
JUNE
Feedback Session on Veteran’s Park Lagoon
Thursday, June 4, 5:30-7:00 pm
Milwaukee Sailing Center
Public feedback session on proposed changes to Veteran’s Park lagoon. We can show up and speak to the importance of the bird habitat. Details HERE
Birding the Northern Kettle Moraine with Wisconsin Society for Ornithology
Saturday, June 6
Learn where to go and what to see up there
Details and registration HERE
Birding the Southern Kettle Moraine with Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
Wednesday, June 10
Details and registration HERE
Birds, Whales and Polar Bears in Churchill, Manitoba
Wednesday, June 10, 7:00 pm
in person @ Lac Lawrann Nature Preserve and via Zoom
Horicon Marsh Bird Club leaders Jeff and Suzanne Bahls share the story of their trip to Churchill, Manitoba,
Polar Bear capital of the world. They paddled with Beluga Whales and saw Polar Bears and sub-arctic birds. An
amazing combination of wildlife, scenery, native culture and small town feel.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85174584120?pwd=MH4guDTJgMdDh1X9bIqENNez10UEY5.1
ID: 851 7458 4120
Passcode: 835413
Stroll with a Naturalist: Nesting Birds at Riveredge Nature Center
Thursday, June 10
Details HERE
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Fox River Park South with Goss Bird Club
Saturday, June 13
Details HERE
Milwaukee Public Museum’s Bioblitz at Wehr Nature Center
Saturday, June 13
Details HERE
Guided Bird Hike Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
Sunday, June 14
Details and Registration HERE
Nesting Types and Strategies Seminar at Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
Tuesday, June 16
Details and registration HERE
Field Illustration for Birders at Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
Saturday, June 20
Details and registration HERE
Stroll with a Naturalist: Bird Songsters at Riveredge Nature Center
Thursday, June 25
Details HERE
Kanow Park + Rock River Jefferson with Goss Bird Club
Saturday, June 20
Details HERE
** Follow Bird City Milwaukee on Facebook!
Check out Milwaukee Birders on Facebook and Instagram for event announcements
Check out Chirp Chat episodes by Xcaret Nuñez. It’s all about birding Milwaukee area on WUWM 89.7 last Wednesday of the month
List of Milwaukee area BIRD CLUBS !
Milwaukee parks that need birding this week
The county needs eBird records throughout the year for every park and natural area. Every week there are priority parks needing eBird lists. A park could be a priority because no surveys have been done for that week. Alternatively, it could be prioritized because there are surveys, but MKE Parks suspect more species might reside there than previously identified.
We can help MKE Parks! Pick a priority park, go bird, eBird it and note time spent there.
MILWAUKEE COUNTY PARKS : May 1-31
- Currie Park
- Dineen Park
- Dretzka Park
- Franklin Savanna (if you haven’t been and need access help contact Colleen at 414-379-6741)
- Grootemat Nature Preserve
- Kern Park
- Little Menomonee River Pkwy 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
- Menomonee River Parkway 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
- Milwaukee River Pkwy 1, 3, 5
- Oak Creek Pkwy 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12 (north and south) 13, 14 (for 12- no trails and for 13, there is no trail, and be VERY careful of property lines as private property is to both sides)
- Root River Pkwy 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 15, 16, 18 (no trails for 15, 16, 18)
Based on the needs spreadsheet from MKE Parks, Wisconsin Metro Audubon Society (Thanks Colleen!) curates suggested locations based on accessibility to the property and availability on the ebird hotspots tool. Please track your time spent! At the end of the year WMAS provides hours to the county.
Follow Wisconsin Metro Audubon on Facebook for their weekly park posts.
Note- even if it’s already been birded this week, going another day or even a different time of day helps. The parks department wants a number of surveys for each park. Birding more than once in a week is very helpful!
Find a park and a park map: https://county.milwaukee.gov/EN/Parks/Explore/Find-a-Park
Wisconsin Metro Audubon is also birding for Waukesha Parks…
Bird where you can and share your ebird list with their ebird account: WaukeshaCountyBirding. A Waukesha County Park pass is needed for a number of these locations. To purchase passes visit:
https://wiwaukeshacountyweb.myvscloud.com/…/splash.html#
Note that seniors (60+) can purchase annual park passes for only $20!
March bird surveys needed at these locations- all are ebird hotspots
- Fox Bend Park- free- looking for 5 shared surveys (enter via Big Bend Park or St Martins Woods SNA)
- Fox Brook Park- daily fee or pass- needs 1 shared survey
- Mukwonago Park (pass or daily fee) – looking for 1 shared survey
- Ashippun Lake – Waukesha County- (free)- looking for 4 shared surveys
- Ashippun River Greenway- free- needs 6 shared surveys
- Pewaukee River Greenway- free- 3 surveys needed
- Nagawaukee Boat Launch- boat pass or daily fee- needs 2 shared surveys