Sunday May 5 7:30am Grant Park Beach by the Oak Creek Outlet for a quick peek at the beach.
Then move north to Warnimont Park area, parking at the Kelly Senior Center to explore feeders and trails.
The beach is worth checking as the flocks of American Avocets were first seen there. Helen caught the pictures below when they landed at Bradford Beach.
Pics: Helen Bolgrien
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.
Found a baby bird or injured bird? The WI DNR has put together a key to determine what you can do to help the bird:
https://p.widencdn.net/0bb8mx/birdkey
Avoid window collisions with decals from Humane Society. The Wisconsin Humane Society received a generous donation from Jeff Rusinow to sell nine window clings for $3. Details and order link
Green Birding Challenge with Urban Ecology Center
Biking and birding is a great combination. Katie and Donna are interested in being on a team. Who else? We can have more than one team. If you are interested, let us know on this form and we will coordinate team formation and meet-ups.
Teams limited to 4 people. Registration closes May 5. More details HERE.
Each team can choose their challenge option:
Soaring Eagle Challenge: Starts at 6 AM; 5 hours of birding
Rockin’ Robin Challenge: Starts at 8 AM; 3 hours of birding
Last Week:
A small and hearty group met at a cold and windy Harrington Beach State Park for an American Woodcock walk.
eBird list Harrington Beach State Park: https://ebird.org/checklist/S169556605
Milwaukee parks that need birding this week
The county tracks every parkland and records to see if there are surveys recorded on eBird. Every year they identify priority parks by week. A park could be a priority because there are no surveys done in that week; or because there are surveys but they think there may be more species there than previously identified.
Based on the spreadsheet they create, Wisconsin Metro Audubon Society curates suggested locations based on accessibility to the property (some of the parkway locations are difficult to access) and availability on the ebird hotspots tool. Click on the triangle to see this week’s list.
Milwaukee Parks that need birding this week
- Alcott Park
- Armour Park
- Barnard Park
- Currie Park
- Doyne Park
- Franklin Savanna (check for ticks afterwards)
- Madison Park
- Melody View Preserve
- Oak Creek Pkwy #1 (called Oak Creek Parkway Trail in ebird)
- Root River Pkwy #10 (10 is called Root River Parkway in Ebird and best way to access is near the first disc golf tee at the Milwaukee County Sports Complex. There is a trail that goes along the creek. It is currently very wet in places, rubber boots recommended)
- Southwood Glen
- Wyrick Park
- Zablocki Park
Please track your time spent! At the end of the year WMAS provides hours to the county. Find a park and a park map: https://county.milwaukee.gov/EN/Parks/Explore/Find-a-Park
Note- even if it’s already been birded this week, going another day (or a different time of day) helps. The parks department has a number of surveys it wants for each park, so birding more than once this week is very helpful!
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 7:30am Riveredge Nature Center Migration Bird Walks in May
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 – Next event Saturday at Monches Woods
Saturdays 8:30 Lake Park Warbler walks run April 20 through end of May
Check out Chirp Chat episodes all about birding Milwaukee
Migration Walks starting in May(details later):
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:
Have a birding event to share? Let me know, share on the Contact Page
May
UWM Field Station at Cedarburg Bog starting in May. Click on class link for more information and to register:
- Introduction to Bird Song, Thursdays 6:00-7:30pm, May 02 – June 06, 2024
- Field Herpetology: Amphibians and Reptiles of Wisconsin, May 31-June 01, 2024
- Sedges of Wisconsin, June 07-08, 2024
- Experiences in Great Lakes Ethnobotany, June 28-29, 2024
- Frolic, Fetch & Sketch, July 26-27, 2024
- Got Algae? Algal Diversity of the Kettle Moraine, August 02-03, 2024
- Wetland Delineation, August 09-10, 2024
- Restoring Upland Plant Communities, August 23-24, 2024
- Understanding Bird Populations and How They Change,
Thursdays 6:00-7:30pm, September 12 – October 17, 2024
Lion’s Den Gorge field trip (Ozaukee County)
May 3 (Friday), 7 a.m. to noon
Led by members of the Noel J. Cutright Bird Club, this field trip concentrates on the Lion’s Den Gorge Nature Preserve, a 73-acre public park located adjacent to Lake Michigan south of Port Washington. The address is 511 High Bluff Dr., Grafton. The preserve, to whose preservation the bird club was one of the first donors, offers a variety of habitats in a major migration corridor.
No signup required.
Trip Leaders: Joan Sommer and Carl Schwartz; you can contact Carl at cschwartz3@wi.rr.com or 414-416-3272
WSO White River Marsh Field Trip
Saturday May 4, Dawn to noon
Starts with the beautiful dawn chorus across the marsh. Easy walking along paved road. Sign-ups end soon, register at https://wsobirds.org/birding-events/eventdetail/22179/17%7C25/white-river-marsh?filter_reset=1
Birding Beyond the Feeder – Bird I.D.
Saturday May 4 8:00-12:00 at Wehr Nature Center
What was that bird that just flew by? Learn basic bird identification using behavior, field marks, shape, and more, then test your new skills on a hike. Binocular and field guide/bird app information included. Bonus pre-class hike at 7 am. Accessible options available; contact carol.howard@milwaukeecountywi.gov or 414-425-8550. Ages 13 and older.
Fees: $20 per person; $17 for Milwaukee County residents; $15 for Friends of Wehr members
Reservations guarantee a space. Walk-ins are welcome as space allows.
Information for participants: Dress for the weather, held rain or shine. Bring binoculars or borrow ours.
$5 parking applies to non-members.
“Nocturnal Bird Call Identification” by Sam Corbo
Hybrid live and Zoom program at Mequon Nature Preserve
May 8 (Wednesday) at 7:00 pm
Sam will discuss his experiences recording nocturnal migration over his Shorewood home over the last three years (and counting). Incredible numbers of regular migrants have been joined by true rarities, including several Wisconsin review species, as well as some tantalizing mysteries that remain unidentified for now. He plans to not only share what has turned out to be quite an adventure, but also provide a tutorial for anyone interested in wading into the NFC (night flight call) world.
To register for in-person https://ticketstripe.com/NocturnalBirdCalls2024
To join Zoom meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcufypqDIjHNzu3GaR0dN9_vbkw07hsMb4
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 on Wednesday, Wingspan game night Monday, Bird Trivia at Gathering Space on Thursday, and of course, the return of our popular Horicon Marsh field trip! [Note: All activities have a fee and require registration, see detailed list link below]
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!
Featured Speaker: Tiffany Kersten on doing a Big Year and elevating women birders. She leads birding tours, completed a big year, trains for American Ninja Warrior and advocates for safety on the trail in birding. Should be a great talk!
Lots of details for the week’s events
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.
Birding Seminary Woods with Wisconsin Metro Audubon Society
Saturday, May 11 8:00-10:00am
As part of World Migratory Bird Day, Bill Holton will be leading a walk at Seminary Woods on Saturday May 11th at 8 AM. We will meet in the parking lot behind the Archdiocese of Milwaukee at 3501 S Lake Dr. This has been a very popular resting spot for birds heading further north.
Big Sit for Global Big Day
Saturday May 11 7:00am start at Wehr Nature Center
It’s BIG! Over 51,000 birders + 201 countries = 7673 species last year in the world’s largest bird count and research project. Join naturalists at Wehr or bird anywhere for as short or long as you want and record your sightings in eBird. Accessible options available; contact carol.howard@milwaukeecountywi.gov or 414-425-8550.
The hike at Wehr will be rain or shine. Bring your own binoculars or borrow ours.
No fee or registration
Wisconsin Society for Ornithology Annual Convention
May 17-19 in Two Rivers
Talks on Gull Id, Scientific Illustration, Aquatic Insect Emergence and Birds, as well as a Keynote on Climate Change and Birds. Plus lots of birding opportunities!
Details and registration info here, https://wsobirds.org/what-we-do/annual-convention
Birding Forest Home Cemetery with Wisconsin Metro Audubon Society
Saturday, May 25 8:00am
Join Rita Wiskowski for a walk through beautiful and historic Forest Home Cemetery as we look for migrating and resident birds. We will meet at 8 AM on Saturday May 25th outside the main office (near the corner of 27th & Layton Blvd). Extra binoculars will be available so this is the perfect event to bring those new birders in your life!
Milwaukee Birders 