Sunday, Apr 14 8:00am Humboldt Park,
Pin https://maps.app.goo.gl/Eb1VNmtJx6tHRpFb6
Park on Park Rd between the playground and lagoon, yellow highlight. We can head around the lagoon and hope we get lucky and see the typically southern White-winged Dove. The Milwaukee Marathon finishes there on Saturday so we may be picking up water cups as we walk.
Located in Bayview, Humboldt Park founded in 1890, now covers 73-acres. The lagoon was dug in 1893 and is currently undergoing a restoration. If we were evening birders we could take advantage of their beer garden or jazz concerts.
Humboldt Park eBird list: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L1460089
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 outdoor lights ready for migration:
Birds are attracted to more lit areas. At the worst, this can lead them to a window collision or entering an urban area where there is no food or safe landing spot. At the least, the lights can pull the birds off their migration course using up valuable days and energy.
Guidelines for everyone from Birdcast:
Turn off non-essential lights from 11 PM until 6 AM during critical migration periods.
- Turn off or dim lobby and atrium lights.
- Turn off or dim interior home lighting, or draw blinds to prevent light escaping.
- Turn off decorative landscape lighting.
- Turn off lights before leaving the home or office.
- Be sure outside lights are aimed down and well shielded.
- Install motion sensors on outside lights to minimize use.
Birdcast Lights Out Campaign: https://birdcast.info/science-to-action/lights-out/#:~:text=You%20Can%20Help%20Keep%20Birds,proceed%20with%20their%20migratory%20journeys.
American Woodcock walks:
We will do a woodcock walk in April at Harrington Beach SP date still TBD.
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:
With a break in the rain, we headed out to Lake Park. And what a great morning it was. While gathering in the parking lot we saw Tree Swallows swooping over the golf course and Marilyn pointed out a lone loon flying overhead. From the Bistro lot we headed south to the Wolcott statue and lion bridge and began hearing and seeing our first few Golden-Crowned Kinglets. We ended the day with 27. At the south ravine we also saw Northern Flickers, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers and a flock of Cormorants fly over. Behind the Bistro, we scanned lake Michigan finding Buffleheads and Red-breasted Mergansers. An added bonus (ha!) to the House Sparrows and House Finches that have claimed the building was a flock of Cedar Waxwings. On the new bridge we spotted more Kinglets. Between the Locust St bridge and bird feeders, out additional birds were Brown Creepers, more kinglets and more sapsuckers and more flickers. Two male Eastern Towhees scratched around in the duff and debris under the feeder. Jeff and Kathy stayed over there and got looks at a Fox Sparrow and Ruby-crowned Kinglet as well. The rest of returned to our cars. On the way we were treated to two Phoebes on the lawn bowling fence.
eBird list Lake Park: https://ebird.org/checklist/S167541619
pic Donna Miller
pic Jeff Bentoff
pic Jeff Bentoff
Ongoing Bird Walks:
Sundays 8:00am Wisconsin Metro Audubon Society Bird Walk (WMAS)
Wehr Nature Center 9701 W College Ave. No registration required.
Second Sundays 10:00-11:30am The Art of Birding with Chuck Stebelton at Lynden Sculpture Gardens will run April through August. Register for walks HERE by the Friday before
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
Saturdays 8:30 Lake Park Warbler walks start April 20 through end of May
Check out Chirp Chat episodes, all about birding Milwaukee
Upcoming:
Migration Walks starting in May(details later):
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
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 