Sunday, Sept 8 8:00am Sheridan Park 4800 S Lake Dr, Cudahy
Meet near the pond. A pond with sheltering evergreens and wood edges on top the bluff make this a very good stopping point for migrating birds.
EBird: HERE
Wisconsin Metro Audubon and Milwaukee Birders are having a pop-up:
Swift Night Out this Friday, Sept 6 at 7:00pm
Shorecrest Hotel Chimney
Meet at the corner of Prospect and Irving
It is the eastside – parking is scarce, the sidewalk is busy. and we’ll be standing the whole time. Will it be worth the hassle? YES! Monday night 700 swifts entered the roost between 7:25 and 8:00pm
On map yellow highlights are viewing area, Red circle is chimney. Street parking possible if you are lucky. If not lucky, park along Lincoln Memorial Drive or McKinley Marina and walk up Lafayette Hill, google estimates 8-10 minutes
Fall migration is in progress. Lake Park Fall Warbler Walks this Saturday. See details below
Nighthawk migration explored in a Paul Smith article in JSonline
Input on Milwaukee County Park Trail expansion requested. You know all those places you bushwhack through to bird? This is the chance to request a trail.
Input page HERE
Interested in all things outside – Join Backyard Naturalists with UEC
The Backyard Naturalist community grew out of the pandemic in 2020. When they said it wasn’t safe for us to gather together, we decided to explore the green spaces that are nearest and dearest to us – our backyards – together in a virtual space. Even though we are now back to exploring our local green spaces together, this virtual community is still going strong more than 4 years later.Each week we take a shared virtual learning journey through our backyards – the animals (opossums, squirrels, cardinals), the plants (grass, trees, flowers), the microscopic community, (algae, bacteria, tardigrades) and the nonliving parts (soil, rocks, weather). Sometimes we venture inside our house to look at the stories told by the critters living with us (spiders, centipedes) or on us (gut biomes, mites). And sometimes we look up to the heavens that our connected to our backyards as we explore planets or stars or galaxies.
Anyone can join us! We meet every Friday morning, rain or shine, even the day after Thanksgiving. To learn more please contact Tim Vargo tvargo@urbanecologycenter.org or visit our website https://www.urbanecologycenter.org/programs-and-events/backyard-naturalists
Confusing fall warbler help https://www.audubon.org/news/how-recognize-six-warblers-their-fall-feathers
Request for help documenting bird window collisions
Route walkers are needed for one morning a week through Oct 31 Documentation of a problem in the first step in solving it!
UEC coordinates a monitoring program during spring and fall migration. There is a route around Northwestern Mutual Life & US Bank buildings downtown and another route at UW-Milwaukee. Contact Amanda, atokuyama@urbanecologycenter.org or Tim, tvargo@urbanecologycenter.org at UEC for more information, training and route assignment.
For additional SE Wisconsin Bird Walks – scroll all the way down!
Last Week:
Fun birds at Doctor’s Park last week. A couple mixed warbler flocks kept us busy on our Blackpoll vs Bay Breasted IDs. The Golden-winged was an easy identification. Two Red-Headed Woodpeckers gave us great looks as they flew between and picked at broken branch sites.
The lake was very rough, not even gulls bobbing out there. In the upper field we were surrounded by a thousand dragonflies. It was really incredible!
Other standouts were a Scarlet Tanager and Great Egret fly by.
eBird List: https://ebird.org/checklist/S193938006
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 (Thanks Colleen!) 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. Follow Wisconsin Metro Audubon on Facebook for their weekly park posts. Click on the triangle to see this week’s list.
Milwaukee Parks that need birding this week
- Alcott Park
- Cambridge Woods
- Chippewa Park
- Currie Park
- Dineen Park
- Doyne Park
- Franklin Savanna- note this had tall grass, chest height a couple of weeks ago. Entry may be difficult.
- Gordon Park
- Madison Park
- Melody View Preserve
- Menomonee River Pkwy #3,8
- Milwaukee River Pkwy #5
- Oak Creek Pkwy # 3,4,5,6,14,15 -some don’t have trails
- Oakwood-Fitzsimmons Woods- see note at end of list about this
- Pulaski (Cudahy)
- Root River Parkway #6,7, 8, 16,17 and the one called Root River Woods in ebird. Note some of these do not have trails
- Servite Park
- Southwood Glen
- Wyrick Park
- Zablocki Park
- For Oakwood-Fitzsimmons Woods: park at the golf course. You can walk the perimeter of the woods that are east of the practice area (don’t go into the driving range area though). Head north along the wooded edge, and then follow the asphalt trail for a bit and you will come to some grass trails that are mowed to the east of the course. Follow those as far as they go. Record in ebird as Oakwood golf course but in checklist comments mention Fitzsimmons Woods.
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 FREE 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/
Check out Chirp Chat episodes all about birding Milwaukee area on WUWM last Wednesday of the month
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 second Wednesdays at Riveredge Nature Center, Lac Lawrann in West Bend, Mequon Nature Preserve or 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
Join one or more of the above bird clubs – Support local birding
Upcoming:
Have a birding event to share? Let me know, share on the Contact Page
Walks listed are FREE unless noted. Please register if requested
AUGUST
Fall Warbler Walks at Lake Park
Saturdays, Aug 23 – Sept 28 at 8:30
Meet at the feeders just south of the playground. See map left. Park in the playground lot (enter off Lincoln Memorial Drive) or on Locust Street in the park (entering off Lake Drive)
SEPTEMBER
WSO Field Trip: Green Bay for Fall Warblers
Saturday, Sept 7. Registration Required
Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary offers good habitat for a nice assortment of migrating warblers. Several vireos (including Philadelphia) are often found, as well as various flycatchers, thrushes, etc. The lagoons provide a variety of ducks, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Green Heron, and Belted Kingfisher. Much of the morning will be spent on foot, so wear good walking shoes. Depending on conditions, we may also car caravan to visit other sites in the Green Bay area, and hope to find an assortment of shorebirds.
Milwaukee Freaks Bird and Botany Walk
Sunday, Sept 8 9:00am at Havenwoods State Forest
Hey, summer has been so very busy but let’s get these bird walks back together in time for the fall migration season! Please invite any friends who may be interested. Bring binoculars if you have them, otherwise, I have a couple of spares to share! All experience levels welcome! Feel good about yourself! Get up early and spend some time outdoors at the only urban state forest in WI!
It’s recommended to download the Merlin App to help with bird id, etc:
A Lesson in Fall Bird Identification by Mary Holleback and Carl Schwartz
Sept. 11 (Wednesday) at 7 p.m.
Hybrid live and Zoom program at Riveredge Nature Center; no registration required.
Are you baffled by confusing fall warblers? Do lbsb’s (little brown shorebirds) have you stumped? Would you like to impress other birders with your knowledge of hawk identification while watching them stream by the platform at Forest Beach Migratory Preserve? Then this program is for you. Mary Holleback, naturalist and citizen science manager at Riveredge, and Carl Schwartz, program coordinator for the Cutright Bird Club, will share some tips and tricks to help you ID some of Wisconsin’s most challenging fall migrants.
Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86162255800?pwd=8PxuvmS7vPOJ0xqnQJjtGh3DLeapH9.1
Class at Cedarburg Bog: Understanding Bird Populations and How They Change,
Thursdays 6:00-7:30pm, September 12 – October 17, 2024
Cedarburg Bog
Fall Big Sit with WI Metro Audubon
Saturday, Sept 14 7:00-11:00am at Wehr Nature Center
To celebrate World Migratory Bird Day and inspire a curiosity for birding, Wehr Nature Center is partnering with Wisconsin Metro Audubon Society (WMAS) to host a “Big Sit.” Observe, meet experts, and enjoy a morning of listening and observing birds by both sight and sound all from the convenience of one stationary location. Birders of all ages, abilities, and levels are welcome to discover birds during migration at the South Pier (not the white one). Binoculars will be on hand for visitors to try. No experience necessary. We will share an on-going list of the birds observed and post results on eBird.org as well as www.bigsit.org. Questions contact Pat Fojut at ptfojut@gmail.com
Nature Book and Magazine Swap
followed by Rehabilitating Wisconsin Wildlife with Marty, founder of Wanakia Wildlife – WMAS Monthly Meeting
Wednesday Sept 18, 6:30-7:00pm and 7:00-8:30pm
Swap: Join us for our first ever book and magazine swap! Bring your nature-oriented books and magazines to exchange. Doors open at 6:30, and stay for our 7:00 program “Rehabilitation & Release of Native Animals with Wanakia Wildlife Center”. Free!
Talk : Marty will present information about the program and we will meet Animal Ambassadors to become aware of wildlife issues and ways we can help support wildlife. Wisconsin Metro Audubon will make a donation to Wanakia Wildlife and we encourage members and visitors to help support wildlife rehabilitation. Website: https://wanakia.org/
In-person and available online with pre-registration at this link.
https://us02web.zoom.us/…/tZEqfu-rrTwjH9MATj…
Fall Migratory Birding Series with Nearby Nature
Saturday Sept 21 from 10:00am-Noon
Harriet Tubman Park 4750 N 48th St Milwaukee 53218
There will be one more birding day: October 19
Let’s gather together for an exciting event as our feathered friends gear up for their winter journey. Nearby Nature Milwaukee and Milwaukee County Parks are teaming up to bring the beauty of birdwatching right to your doorstep. Enjoy engaging birding education, arts and crafts activities, and more—all for FREE! Register here!
Raptor ID Workshop
Saturday, Sept 21 9:00-12:00pm, Schlitz Audubon Nature Center $40/$55
Have you ever wondered what kind of hawk is visiting your backyard? Or who is that mystery silhouette, soaring hundreds of feet overhead is? Join Raptor Educator, Cheyenne Smith, to learn the fundamentals of identifying Wisconsin raptors! With a visit from several of our raptor ambassadors, the first half of this workshop will offer an interactive exploration of birding principles, highlighting variations across raptor species to help you identify birds in the wild. During the second half, we’ll take a hike to put our newly learned skills to practice – at the height of fall migration, no less! Registration Required HERE
Exploring Urban Ecology Center Menomonee Valley
Sept 22, 11:00-1:00pm, Urban Ecology Center Menomonee Valley
Details to follow
Site here: https://www.bipocbirdingclub.org/events/urban-ecology-center-mv-2024
October
The “Big Sit” at Forest Beach Migratory Preserve
Oct 6 (Sunday) Starting at 6:30 a.m.
The Noel J. Cutright Bird Club, in cooperation with the Lake Michigan Bird Observatory and OWBC, will host its annual “Big Sit!” at Forest Beach Migratory Preserve, five miles north of Port Washington, on Sunday, Oct. 6. The count will begin at 6:30 a.m. on the Bill Cowart Memorial Hawk Watch Platform on the northeast corner of the preserve. The Sit’s 17-foot circle is on the perfectly-sized hawk watch platform at Forest Beach Migratory Preserve (4970 Country Club Rd., Port Washington). Since 2007, birders have recorded a total of 266 species at Forest Beach. Join us for a half-hour, or a half-day! And there will be donuts for the early birders. Questions: contact Carl Schwartz @ cschwartz3@wi.rr.com
WSO Field Trip: Harrington Beach Hawk Watch
10/6/24 or10/13/23 depending on weather conditions.
Registration Required
We begin our birding near the lower beach parking area of Harrington Beach State Park, initially checking the trees and lawn area for sparrows, warblers, kinglets, Hermit Thrushes, finches, etc. After an hour or so, the group will take a hike on some of the park’s roads or trails to look for additional species, and check the lake for waterfowl, gulls, loons and grebes. This park lies adjacent to Lake Michigan, which can help serve as a channel for migrants, including raptors, which can fly over in good numbers on days when migration conditions are conducive – usually meaning strong northwest or west winds. Please note that there is a state park entrance fee.
Later in the morning we may also venture south to Forest Beach Migratory Preserve and check for additional species at that site. Often our visit to that site coincides with their Big Sit event, and we may hike down to their hawk watch platform to join their bird count.
Trip registration opens on September 6, 2024.
“Facts, Fiction and Fun Stories about Owls” by Mary Holleback and Dan Wundrock
Oct. 9 (Wednesday), 7 p.m.
Hybrid live and Zoom program at Riveredge Nature Center; no registration required.
What’s a group of owls called?
How far away can an owl see at night?
How do they find their prey?
Just how good is their hearing?
Learn some fun trivia about a variety of Wisconsin’s most secretive night time avian predators. You might even find out “who cooks for you” or whoooooo’s the earliest nester in the state!
Mary is the naturalist and citizen science manager at Riveredge, serving as the onsite sturgeon project manager and director of the “Testing the Waters” high school water quality monitoring program. She holds a BA in conservation biology and an MS in curriculum and instruction from UW-Milwaukee.
Having done his undergrad and graduate work in biology, Dan spent the first 10 years of his career as a high school biology and special education teacher. He then spent the next 25+ years heading up science-based research and distribution companies. Dan brought his unique outdoor skills to Riveredge in 2012 as an environmental educator. He has spent numerous years researching and photographing birds in remote habitats of Lapland, Iceland, Newfoundland and Labrador and Alaska. Most recently he and three others traveled into a remote area of the Salonga National Park in Congo. While there they studied bonobos in an effort to ensure the survival of these endangered great apes as part of the Bonobo & Congo Biodiversity Initiative.
To join Zoom meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81623192214?pwd=zOa73Mmft0cnIW0V9LYKIbp80EKJ4B.1
Meeting ID: 816 2319 2214
Passcode: 258434
World Migratory Bird Day
Saturday, Oct 12 at 8:00 am
Free guided bird walks at parks around Milwaukee – List of parks coming soon!
Families and beginners welcome! Start learning about the birds in a park near you!
Since 1983, a spring and fall World Migratory Bird Day have been celebrated to highlight the need to protect the resources, habitats and flyways of migratory birds. This year’s theme is that protecting insects in protecting birds.
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Milwaukee Birders 