Sunday, Oct 27 -note later time – 8:30am
Lac Lawrann Nature Conservancy
300 Schmidt Road West Bend
Heading to the great northwest this week. Lac Lawrann Nature Conservancy is just outside of West Bend. From their website: “Lac Lawrann Conservancy has 4 miles of trails that lead hikers through deciduous woodlands to kettles, kames, an esker, as well as to ponds, wetlands, prairie, and a red pine plantation.”
Trail conditions: Mown paths, mulch and some boardwalk
Facilities: Restrooms
Open to all levels, Free
Recent EBird for this location: HERE
Milwaukee Birding News:
Duck Watch is Coming. Starting November 9 and continuing for second Saturdays until March. Duck Watch meets along north end of Lincoln Memorial Drive at 11:00am. Look for the scopes and shivering birders. Stop by!
From Audubon Society:
Your vote is important, and can shape the future. The best way to protect birds and the places they need is to make sure that you vote on or before Election Day on Tuesday, November 5, 2024—and inspire your friends to do the same. More HERE
For additional SE Wisconsin Bird Walks – scroll all the way down!
Last Week:
Lakeshore State Park in the fall can be really cold with a stiff wind off the lake, but not on Sunday. It was beautiful. We started with a few ducks, some Mallards, Canada Geese, and about 70 Coots. Also diving around in there were Hooded Mergansers, Pied-bill Grebes, and a Greater Scaup. Along the eastern edge of the parks, there were a number of sparrows hopping around in the rocks and the grasses. Among them were White-throateds, White Crowned, Savannahs, and a Grasshopper Sparrow. Continuing around the north end of the park and back along Summerfest Grounds we were able to see Golden-crowned Kinglets, Orange-crowned Warblers, Butterbutts and a Palm. Note: Wednesday 10/23 a Harris Sparrow popped up there too.
Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S199863406
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 and availability on the ebird hotspots tool. Please track your time spent! At the end of the year WMAS provides hours to the county. Follow Wisconsin Metro Audubon on Facebook for their weekly park posts.
Milwaukee Parks that need birding this week (Click on the triangle if you don’t see this week’s list)
- Alcott Park
- Armour Park
- Barnard Park
- Currie Park
- Dineen Park
- Doyne Park (last time on the list for the year)
- Franklin Savanna (last time on the list for the year)
- Gordon Park
- Johnstone Park
- Juneau (south)
- Kern Park
- Kohl Park (east of 76th)
- Koscziusko Park
- Menomonee River Pkwy 3,8
- Milwaukee River Pkwy #1,2,3 (last time on the list for the year)
- Mitchell Blvd Park
- Pulaski (Cudahy)
- Pulaski (Milwaukee)
- Root River Parkway 15,16,18 (no trails)
- Servite Park (last time on the list for the year)
- St. Martins Park
- WI Ave Park (last time on the list for the year)
- Wyrick Park
- Zablocki Park (last time on the list for the year)
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 (Changes to 9:00 from November to March)
Wisconsin Metro Audubon Society Bird Walk (WMAS)
Wehr Nature Center 9701 W College Ave. No registration required.
Sundays 8:00am Milwaukee Birders
Location varies – see this week’s location above.
Free walks – open to all levels of birders
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
BIPOC Birding Club chapters in Madison and Milwaukee
Hoy Audubon Society meets in Racine
Ozaukee Washington Birding Coalition meets second Wednesdays at Riveredge Nature Center, Lac Lawrann in West Bend, Mequon Nature Preserve or Cedarburg Bog – check their Facebook page for updates
Schlitz Audubon Nature Center Bird Club second Wednesday at 6:30pm
Wisconsin Metro Audubon Society (WMAS), third Wednesday at 7:00pm Wehr Nature Center
Wisconsin Society for Ornithology statewide birding organization with field trips around the state and advocating state wide for conservation of birds and bird habitat
Join one or more of the above bird clubs – Support local birding
Upcoming Area Bird walks:
Have a birding event to share? Let me know, email us on the Contact Page
Walks listed are FREE unless noted. Please register if requested
October
Wisconsin Neonic Forum
Wednesday, Oct 30 9:00-4:30 Fee $40
UW Discovery Center/Building, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 330 North Orchard St.
The potential impacts of neonicotinoid pesticides (neonics) on bird species and populations (indirect and direct) are concerning. A detailed schedule of the presentations included in this event is shown at the web link below.
Neonicotinoids, or neonics, are one of the most widely used insecticides in Wisconsin and applied to millions of acres of agricultural and urban land each year. This forum will address benefits and risks associated with the use of these pesticides. As you will see from the agenda (which can be found on the registration site), we are bringing in several national speakers as well as Wisconsin’s own experts, all of whom will share information on neonics, their use, and potential impact on a wide range of species and ecosystems.
Here is the website with more information about the event, schedule, presenters, and how to register:
https://www.cleanwisconsin.org/support/events/wisconsin-neonic-forum/
This event will be hosted by Trout Unlimited, Clean Wisconsin, the River Alliance of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Tribal Conservation Advisory Council, the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, the Black Earth Creek Watershed Association, UW-Extension, the WI Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, and the WI Department of Natural Resources.
Clean Wisconsin has graciously agreed to share their registration site (shown above) on which you can register for the event. When purchasing a registration ticket, please select your ticket quantity and then click “Donate Via” using your preferred method. By clicking this option, paying $40, and entering your contact information, you will be fully registered for the conference. Breaks and lunch are included with the registration fee.
We are limited by the size of the venue to 300 attendees, so we are urging folks to register early—the deadline for registration is October 20.
November
Xtreme Raptor Day at Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
Saturday, Nov 2 10:00-2:00 Registration and tickets required
This unique event is held throughout the grounds and offers unforgettable encounters! You will meet our resident raptors up close – including owls, hawks, falcons, and eagles. We’ll be introducing two American Kestrels, the most recent members to join our program: Saxon, a male, and Freyja, a female. Learn about each species including their lifestyle habits and habitats. Stations throughout the Center will provide interactive and educational experiences for you and your guests. Learn about conservation, how to nurture and support birds around your own home, and enjoy bird-themed crafts and activities. Sign up to have your picture taken with your favorite raptor! This special event supports our Raptor Program and the resident birds in our care.
Milwaukee Freaks Bird and Botany Bird Hike
Sunday Nov 3 8:30-10:00
Lynden Sculpture Gardens 2145 W Brown Deer Rd
Join us for the last bird hike of the year! We’ll be getting early access to the sculpture garden and get to hike with one of Lynden’s Land Stewardship Managers, Esther! Follow event HERE
All experience levels welcome. Bring your binoculars, bird apps and books!
Exploring the Urban Ecology Center Menomonee Valley with BIPOC Birding Club
Sunday, November 10 9:00-10:30
Urban Ecology Center, Menomonee Valley 3700 West Pierce Street, Milwaukee
We will meet inside the center where Yesenia Villanueva Rodriguez will take us on a short tour of the building (about 30 mins). Then we’ll head outside to explore the beautiful Three Bridges Park. We’ll walk along secondary trails and parts of the Hank Aaron State Trail as we search for birds. Secondary trails are narrower than typical hiking trails and are gravel or soil-paved. We’ll be back at the center by 10:30 where Yesenia invites us to stay a bit longer to explore the building and/or grab a cup of coffee!
As always, birders of all skill levels are welcome and we have child- and adult-sized binoculars available for those who’d like to borrow a pair!
Details https://www.bipocbirdingclub.org/events/urban-ecology-center-mv-2024
Motus in Wisconsin: A Big Leap in Wildlife Tracking with Jacob Woulf, coordinator for Lake Michigan Bird Observatory MOTUS with Ozaukee-Washington Birding Coalition at Mequon Nature Preserve
Wednesday November 13 7:00-8:30pm
The Motus Wildlife Tracking System uses small radio tags and receiving stations to detect animals (primarily birds) as they move across the landscape. Hybrid live and Zoom program at Mequon Nature Preserve
Owl Prowl at the Cedarburg Bog with Ozaukee-Washington Birding Coalition
Friday, Nov 15 5:30-7:30pm
Join the Cedarburg Bog Owl Prowl team of veteran birders and prowl the Bog for owls. We will be looking for Barred, Great-Horned, Northern Saw-whet, and Eastern Screech-Owls for sure and maybe a rare species such as Long-eared Owl. Bring binoculars, water, and a small flashlight. Dress for the weather. If weather conditions are not conducive for owl viewing, this outing might be postponed. We will let you know in the afternoon by email if there is a postponement. Not recommended for children younger than ten.
Registration Required see HERE. Attendance Cap: 20
Raptor Banding at Cedar Grove Ornithological Research Station
November 20th, 7:00 to 8:00 PM
Wisconsin Metro Audubon Society at Wehr Nature Center
The western shore of Lake Michigan has long been known to concentrate birds of prey during their annual southward migration each fall. To study this movement scientists established Cedar Grove Ornithological Research Station (CGORS), the longest continuous raptor banding operation in North America, to band migrating raptors and track long-term avian migratory trends. Station banding director Danny Erickson will discuss the history of CGORS, WI raptor identification and banding, and the collaborative work the station does s to our knowledge of these charismatic birds and the conservation of raptor populations. Erickson is a field biologist from Milwaukee who studies raptor movement and population trends through banding. Since 2021, he has overseen the count and banding operations at CGORS each fall. He is currently a MSc student at UW-Green Bay studying novel disease in migrating Sharp-shinned Hawks.
Website: https://cgors.org/
Milwaukee Birders 