Mar 31, 7:00 am Bender Park
Meet in the north parking lot (click link for pin). This lot is dirt when dry and mud when wet. Be prepared. The trails will be muddy too. It’s a big boot day!
Early meet up so we can all make it home for Easter Brunch
Bender Park hotspot list: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L353954?yr=all&m=&rank=mrec
Memorial Day Weekend:
Horicon Marsh Boat Tour
Sunday, May 26 9:00-11:00 am cost $38
Buy your ticket here: https://horiconmarsh.com/tours.php at Blue Heron Landing tours. We can car pool over. Before and/or after boat tour we can check out a few other places in the Marsh. Details to follow.
Migration Tools:
Birdcast uses Doppler radar, eBird and fancy computing to show bird migration. On their page is a Migration Forecast map, Live bird movement map, and a local migration Dashboard. Check it out, plan your week’s birding and know just which days you may need to call in late.
American Woodcock walks:
We will do a woodcock walk in April at Harrington Beach SP date still TBD.
Saturday March 30, Wehr Nature Center, 6:30-8:30pm
Woodcocks, Wood Frogs and Wine. Registration:
https://web2.myvscloud.com/wbwsc/wimilwaukeectywt.wsc/iteminfo.html?Module=AR&FMID=182936771&InterfaceParameter=WebTrac
Wednesday April 3, Cliffside Park Racine 5:30-8:00pm
Join Hoy Audubon a Woodcock walk. Details: https://hoyaudubon.org/event/2024-04-03/
Saturday April 6, Scuppernong Prairie, Hwy N/Wilton Rd. at 7:00pm
https://www.gossbirdclub.org/fieldtrips.html
Wednesday April 10, Schlitz Audubon Nature Club, 6:30-8:00 Registration FULL
Wednesday April 10, Pike River Pathway, Mt Pleasant 5:30-8:00pm
Join Hoy Audubon a Woodcock walk. Details: https://hoyaudubon.org/event/2024-04-10/
Thursday April 17 at Mequon Nature Preserve at 7:00pm
Rain date: Thursday, April 18th
Click here to register: https://ticketstripe.com/woodcockwander-2024
Last Week:
The cold and wind were both present. As we walked around the east side of the Domes we saw two Cooper’s Hawks. We did not see a nest but hoping there is one there. We had a nice walk around the pond where five Red-breasted Mergansers paddled, along the base of a sledding hill to the songs of Cardinals, around the playground and headed back towards the parking lot. On that last leg of the walk we noticed two hunkered down Kildeer in the flooded field just below the south parking lot. Just as Lisa said, “It’s almost like they’re low as if a hawk was around,” a Cooper’s Hawk flew over. The day ended with us huddled near the building to review the list. Warm birding days have to be here soon!
eBird list Mitchell Park: https://ebird.org/checklist/S166160484
Ongoing Bird Walks:
Sundays 8:00am Wisconsin Metro Audubon Society Bird Walk (WMAS)
Wehr Nature Center 9701 W College Ave. No registration required.
Tues 8:00am Menomonee Valley Urban Ecology Center (UEC), 3700 W Pierce St
Wed 8:00am Washington Park Urban Ecology Center (UEC) 4023 W Galena St
Thurs 8:00am Riverside Park Urban Ecology Center (UEC) 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/
Saturdays 7:00am Goss Bird Club bird around Waukesha County. See Field Trip Schedule
Migration Walks starting in April (details later):
Saturdays 8:30 Lake Park Warbler walks start mid-April
Fridays 8:00am Bird walks at Retzer Nature Center walks with Goss Bird Club start April 5
Fridays 7:30am Riveredge Nature Center Bird Walks starting in May
Nearby Bird Clubs to checkout:
Benjamin F. Goss Bird Club meets at Retzer Nature Center.
Hoy Audubon Society meets in Racine
Ozaukee Washington Birding Coalition meets at Riveredge Nature Center, Lac Lawrann in West Bend, Mequon Nature Preserve and Cedarburg Bog
Schlitz Audubon Nature Center Bird Club second Wednesday at 6:30pm
Wisconsin Metro Audubon Society (WMAS), third Wednesday at 7:00pm Wehr Nature Center
Upcoming:
MARCH
Backyard Naturalist Lecture: Bill Mueller on Aerial Insectivores
Friday Mar 29, 9:00-10:00am at Urban Ecology Center
Backyard Naturalist is a series of Friday lectures by local experts coordinated and sponsored by UEC, Urban Ecology Center. Register to join Backyard Naturalists.
March 30 (Saturday)
Columbia County field trip in search of migratory waterfowl
Organized by the Noel J. Cutright Bird Club. Carpooling at 7 a.m. from Park & Ride on CR-P, just north of Hwy. 60 and east of Hwy. 45 in Jackson. THIS MEETUP SPOT IS A CHANGE FROM PREVIOUS DISCUSSIONS
No signup required.
Trip Leader: Carl Schwartz; you can contact him at cschwartz3@wi.rr.com or 414-416-3272
APRIL
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 – Still a few spaces left!
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/
April 13 (Saturday) 7 a.m. to noon
Pike Lake/ Hartford Area Field Trip (Washington County)
Organized by the Noel J. Cutright Bird Club. Caravan/carpooling after meeting up at the Jackson Park & Ride (on CR-P, just north of Hwy. 60) at 7 a.m. We usually check out Big Cedar Lake, Wildlife Drive and some flooded fields before exploring northeast corner of Pike Lake.
No signup required.
Trip Leader: Carl Schwartz; you can contact him at cschwartz3@wi.rr.comor 414-416-3272
WINGS – Bird Window Collision Monitoring
April 15- May 31, Run by UEC
Training provided by Urban Ecology Center. At training, sign up for mornings to monitor two downtown buildings. It takes 30-45 minutes for a team of two volunteers and begins at dawn. It is important data collection. Learn more about the program here and fill out our interest form (for new volunteers).
Mead Wildlife Area with Wisconsin Society for Ornithology
Saturday, April 20
Car caravan and light walking. Hoped for birds are Greater-Prairie Chickens. Expected birds include Lapland Longspurs, waterfowl, sparrows, and Yellow-rump Warblers. Registration required: https://wsobirds.org/birding-events/eventdetail/22178/17%7C25/george-w-mead-wildlife-area?filter_reset=1
April 24 (Wednesday) at 7 p.m.
“Identifying Warblers” by noted artist, field guide illustrator andWSO field trip leader Tom Schultz.
Hybrid live and Zoom program at Riveredge Nature Center.
Schultz is well known as an artist and birding field guide illustrator for nearly 40 years. His work has been published in the National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, the Peterson Field Guide to the Warblers of North America, and numerous other publications.
(No registration required for in-person.)
To join Zoom meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82652046966?pwd=3wQFemubCxmHO1j7XHEHyr6XkKtPDW.1
Meeting ID: 826 5204 6966
Passcode: 789029
Lights Out! author reading
Saturday, April 27 10:00-11:00am at Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
Free, Registration required, Family event children welcome
Join us to hear author Jessica Stremer read her book Lights Out! Based on the real-life Lights Out movement, this inspirational picture book shows how even the smallest of actions, like flipping a switch, can make a big difference in helping migrating birds. Our event includes a reading followed by a book signing and a craft. Books will be available for purchase at this event courtesy of Boswell Book Company. Registration and info here: https://www.schlitzaudubon.org/event/story-time-with-jessica-stremer-author-of-lights-out/
May
Brew City Bird Fest
May 10-17, 2024 Urban Ecology Center and other sites around the city
Celebrate spring migration with Urban Ecology Center at the Brew City Birding Festival Friday May 10th to Friday May 17th. We’ll have bird themed lectures, field trips, and other events all week including bird art night, Wingspan game night, and of course, the return of our popular Horicon Marsh field trip! Kick it all off with our 12th Annual Green Birding Challenge on Saturday May 11th. Compete to see the most species without using fossil fuels or bring the family for some Fledgling Fun! Registration links coming soon.
Wisconsin Society for Ornithology Annual Convention
May 17-19 in Two Rivers
Talks, Keynote on Climate Change and Birds, and field trips
Details and registration info here, https://wsobirds.org/what-we-do/annual-convention
Milwaukee Birders 