Cancelled –
We were joining Milwaukee Freaks Bird and Botany Club. They have cancelled due to impending rain. We do not have permission to be at Lynden. Stay tuned for next week’s plans – Join WMAS at Wehr if you want to brave the rain!
Sunday, Nov 3, 8:30am (Time change: Clocks set back one hour)
Lynden Sculpture Gardens
2145 W Brown Deer Rd
Lynden Sculpture Gardens have birds, a pond, a beautiful American Elm tree and sculptures. We will have the pleasure of joining the Milwaukee Freaks Bird and Botany Club on their hike. Recent Cackling Goose sighting there!
Recent EBird for this location: HERE
Milwaukee Birding News:
Looking for a new weekly bird walk? Starting in November, there will be Monday morning bird walks with Andy of Signs of Life in Estabrook Park . Meet in the north parking lot, aka the beer garden lot, at 8:00am. He can’t promise an Osprey or a GHO every time, but there will be plenty of other good bird sightings!
Are you student in the sciences with a paper and looking for a place to present? Scroll down and register for the upcoming Student Research Symposium at Riveredge Nature Center
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. Early voting through Friday Nov 1. More HERE
For additional SE Wisconsin Bird Walks – scroll all the way down!
Last Week:
Nine of us headed up to West Bend to walk Lac Lawrann. The sky was blue, winds near zero, and the temps were perfect in the high 40s to 50s. We took the Lake Loop trail, running along the west side of Lac Lawrann. The first stop was to puzzle at the Bird Cemetery sign. It turns out it commemorates an actual bird cemetery kept by Lawrence and Ann Maurin of birds they found and those they cared for. As we came upon the lake we caused about a dozen Killdeer to hop up for short flights. A Wilson’s Snipe was among them. We continued towards Rainbow Lake on the Railroad Spur Trail and eventually went on the boardwalk portion of the Rainbow Lake Trail. Here we saw a few Downy Woodpeckers in the cattails, a Swamp Sparrow, a Winter Wren, a Great Blue Heron, and a few other species. We backtracked and then crossed over to the Pine Plantation Trail, An uphill brought us to the top of a prairie. We walked a little ways down the Royal Oaks Trail seeing about a dozen Dark-eyed Juncos before turning back. We returned to the parking lot on the eastern Lake Loop Trail. We enjoyed the birds we saw. But the fall colors on the tree and under our shoes stole the show. It is beautiful up there. Next year, we’ll try to get there when more leaves are still on the trees.
Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S200538406
pic Jeff Bentoff
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 9:00am (Note new time)
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
Mondays 8:00am Estabrook Park 4600 Estabrook Parkway
With Andy of Signs of Life in Estabrook Park, meet in north/beer garden parking lot
Tuesdays 8:00am Menomonee Valley Urban Ecology Center (UEC),
3700 W Pierce St
Wednesdays 8:00am Washington Park Urban Ecology Center (UEC)
4023 W Galena St
Thursdays 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
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!
Student Research Symposium at Riveredge Nature Center
Saturday Nov 9 8:00-4:00pm
Registration required $7 Details HERE
Want to submit a research project? You have until Nov 4 to send in an abstract, details HERE
We are excited to showcase new academic talent! Uncover insights into the natural world and support the next generation of scholars by attending the Student Research Symposium on November 9th. Undergraduate and graduate students from colleges and universities in our region will present their research with posters and oral presentations. Come for all or part of the day. The day includes a keynote from a distinguished speaker and a catered lunch.
“Adventures in Studying the Diversity of Life,”
Dr. Gary S. Casper, Director of Biodiversity Programs, Mequon Nature Preserve
There will be cash prizes up to $300 awarded for the best oral and poster presentations. This year, we’ve increased the award pool, creating more chances to win! Plus, all student presenters will receive a Riveredge Membership just for participating!
Student Presenter: $15 – Register by November 4th to have your abstract considered
Supporter registration by November 3: $5
Supporter registration after November 3: $7
Children under 12: free (must be accompanied by an adult)
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 