Sunday, Apr 7 8:00am Lake Park Bistro lot
Rain isn’t coming to later in the day Sunday so let’s bird! Lake Park has enough paved trails that it will be good walking! See you tomorrow!
Lake Park eBird List: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L253234
Check out some of our great local park/photography/birding blogs (please let me know of any others you like!):
Signs of Life in Estabrook Park, https://signsoflifeinestabrookpark.net/reports/
A Wealth of Nature, https://awealthofnature.org/
Window to Wildlife, https://www.windowtowildlife.com/
Jeremy Meyer Photography, https://www.jmeyerphotography.net/
A Weekend of Birding in Two Rivers
Registration for the WSO May Convention ends April 25. Check out the event page for more info. The field trips and talks look great!
https://wsobirds.org/images/pdfs/2024_WSO_Convention_Registration_Information.pdf
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.
Are your windows ready for migration:
Sure, clean them for best views. Then protect them from bird collisions.
A few ways that work:
Quick and Dirty: Color on your windows using tempra or acrylic paint or paint pens. To be effective keep clear window gaps to no more than 2-inch square.
Seasonal: Make an acopian bird saver to hang up during migration
Longer lasting: Adhere bird-saver tape or squares to the outside glass. Or put screens on the outside.
Learn about these and other bird-savers here:
From American Bird Conservancy: https://abcbirds.org/solutions/prevent-home-collisions/
From Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance: https://swibirds.org/prevent-collisions
Next week: How lights out helps migrating birds
American Woodcock walks:
We will do a woodcock walk in April at Harrington Beach SP date still TBD.
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:
As we gathered in the muddy Bender Park north lot, we were treated to the sounds and sight of a flock of Tundra Swans flying northwest. It was a great start to good morning of birding. Brad Bumgardner, Indiana Audubon president and new Oak Creek resident, birds Bender a lot! Like a whole lot, he has over 180 lists for Bender. He took us on a nice loop. In the woods we had Brown Creepers, Golden-Crown Kinglets, Fox Sparrow, and a Swamp Sparrow. Coming along the south side of the fields, we saw many American Robins, Northern Flickers and two Phoebes. Looking down on Lake Michigan, we saw Bufflehead, Mallards, and a Lesser Black-Backed Gull. Tree Swallows, Meadowlarks and Cowbirds flew above us as we made our way back to the lot. It is an excellent park with a variety of habitats! Photo below shows various parking lots and entries to the trails.
eBird list Bender Park: https://ebird.org/checklist/S167170036
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
Fridays 8:00am Bird walks at Retzer Nature Center walks with Goss Bird Club
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 April 27
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:
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.
Harriet Tubman Art and Birding with Nearby Nature
Saturday May 11, 10:00-Noon at Tubman Park Pavilion 4750 N 58th St Milwaukee
We’re celebrating Black Birding week early by installing birdhouses along Wahl Creek in Harriet Tubman park to support urban wildlife. Join us for a bird walk and a paint a free decorative birdhouse to take home, while supplies last.
Free and family friendly. More Details Here.
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 