8:30am Milwaukee Pierhead Lighthouse and Lakeshore State Park.
Park down by the lighthouse
We’ll be on the lookout for ducks around the lighthouse, then sparrows, pipits and gulls in Lakeshore SP
Check out upcoming events – there are some new ones!
Milwaukee Bird Trivia Night! Think you know birds? Want to get together and play happy hour bird trivia? At Wantable Cafe in February or March. Prizes. Drinks for purchase.
DATE COMING SOON!
Bird from your window, the Great Backyard Bird Count is Feb 16-19. Bird your yard and eBird it on those 4 days. This provides a valuable point count of winter birds. Learn more here: https://www.birdcount.org/
Last Week:
No Walk
Ongoing Bird Walks:
Second Saturday (Nov-March) 11:00am Duck Watch on Lincoln Memorial Drive -east side heading north of Bradford Beach up the hill -yellow highlighted area. Look for all the people and scopes.
Sundays 9:00am Wisconsin Metro Audubon Society Bird Walk
Wehr Nature Center 9701 W College Ave. No registration required.
Tues 8:00am Urban Ecology Center, Menomonee Valley 3700 W Pierce St
Wed 8:00am Urban Ecology Center Washington Park 4023 W Galena St
Thurs 8:00am Urban Ecology Center Riverside Park 1500 E Park Place
Third Saturdays 8:00am Schlitz Audubon Nature Center 1111 E Brown Deer Rd, Registration required, https://www.schlitzaudubon.org/event/saturday-morning-bird-walk-15/
Upcoming:
WSO Buena Vista Marsh Field Trip – Winter Birds
Saturday, Feb 10
Register here: https://wsobirds.org/birding-events/eventdetail/22175/17%7C25/buena-vista-marsh-winter-birds?filter_reset=1
Meet-up details after registration. Caravan by car through the Buena Vista Marsh. Possible birds include Northern Shrike, Rough-Legged Hawks, variety of Woodpeckers, Snow Buntings, Redpolls, Lapland Longspurs, Juncos, variety of owls, and always possible, rarely sighted Greater Prairie Chickens. Last year’s trip report: https://wsobirds.org/about-wso/news/1885-buena-vista-field-trip-2023-feb-11
“OUR SWALLOWS ARE IN TROUBLE” with Ozaukee Washington Birding Coalition
Feb. 14 (Wednesday) at 7 p.m.
Aerial Insectivores in Wisconsin and the Upper Midwest — Ecology and Changing Populations by Bill Mueller, director emeritus, Lake Michigan Bird Observatory
There is growing concern about the apparent population decline of many “aerial insectivores” – those species that feed on their insect prey in flight. These species belong to several avian orders and families that include swallows and martins, Chimney Swifts, some forest flycatchers, plus nightjars such as whip-poor-wills and nighthawks. In this presentation, Bill will primarily focus on three of the swallows found across the Upper Midwest: Purple Martin, Bank Swallow and Barn Swallow. Mueller is an ornithologist and conservation biologist,
Hybrid live and Zoom program at Riveredge Nature Center; no registration required.
To join Zoom meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89709885811?pwd=wWr592l3KpdDTTzxxHTG0IF5KTph7M.1
Meeting ID: 897 0988 5811 Passcode: 719624
Field Trip: Carpool caravan in Ozaukee, Sheboygan and Washington Counties
Feb. 17 (Saturday) at 7 a.m. with Ozaukee Washington Birding Coalition
In search of overwintering birds and rarities, we’ll begin at 7 a.m. at Coal Dock Park in Port Washington; no signup required.
Riveredge Birding Series
February 17th: Raptor ID Class (with Cedar Grove Ornithological Research Station) https://www.riveredgenaturecenter.org/event/raptors-of-wisconsin/
March 2nd: Bluebirds and other Cavity Nesters Workshop
Two part series (with Jeff Bahls, president of Horicon Marsh Bird Club):
March 5th: Duck ID Workshop at Riveredge https://www.riveredgenaturecenter.org/event/ducks-of-wisconsin-field-identification-workshop/2024-03-05/
March 9th: Duck ID Field Trip at Horicon Marsh https://www.riveredgenaturecenter.org/event/ducks-of-wisconsin-field-identification-workshop/2024-03-09/
April 8-14
WI NRF Field Trip: Birding the Texas Coast during Migration
Always wanted to see thousands of migrants in one spot? This is the trip for you!
ACT FAST Registration closes Feb 8
https://www.wisconservation.org/travel-birding-texas/
ps Let us know if you are interested, we can connect you with others who are also interested
Book a spot in a bird blind to watch Sharp-tailed Grouse mating dance.
April and May
Book through Namekagon Wildlife Barrens.. View dates are April and May on Sundays, Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays
https://www.namekagonbarrens.org/2024/01/12/the-2024-viewing-blind-reservation-schedule-is-open-on-the-friends-of-the-namekagon-barrens-wildlife-area-website/
Greater Prairie Chicken Mating Dance Viewing at Buena Vista Grasslands
April
Booking will be available through UW Stevens Point. Watch here for more info:
https://www3.uwsp.edu/wildlife/pchicken/Pages/viewing.aspx