Sunday, Nov 10 8:30am Field south of Linnwood Water Treatment Plant
aka Gun Club Rugby Field at the northern end of Lincoln Memorial Drive
From here we can bird Lake Michigan and along the hedge and fence line, also known as the Magic Hedge. Past sightings include Merlin, Cooper’s Hawk, various sparrows, and the full duck variety on the lake, including the Harlequin Duck photographed by Rita Flores Witowski last Sunday. From here we can go up to Lake Park if we wish
No trails or facilities. Walking across open grassy field.
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!
Owls are Calling. Luck favors the prepared when looking for owls. Learn about where they might be, know their calls and what they’ll be hunting.
– Go on an Owl Prowl – an evening hike to find owls – see dates and locations below
– Listen to Chirp Chat’s Owl episode for tips on finding owls
– Check out our post on finding Short-eared Owls
For additional SE Wisconsin Bird Walks – scroll all the way down!
Last Week:
Cancelled – we’ll try Lynden another time
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)
- Currie Park
- Kern Park
- Little Menomonee River Pkwy #2
- Madison Park
- Maitland Park
- Menomonee River Pkwy 8
- Mitchell Airport Park (called Milwaukee airport in ebird)
- Pulaski (Milwaukee)
- Root River Parkway 18 (no trails)
- St. Martins Park
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 Milwaukee Birders
Location varies – see this week’s location above.
Free walks – open to all levels of birders
Sundays 9:00am (Note new time)
Wisconsin Metro Audubon Society Bird Walk (WMAS)
Wehr Nature Center 9701 W College Ave. Mix of mulched, wooded, grass and boardwalk paths
Mondays 8:00am Estabrook Park
4600 Estabrook Parkway
With Andy of Signs of Life in Estabrook Park, meet in the north parking lot. Mulched and dirt paths, stairs to river path
Tuesdays 8:00am Menomonee Valley
Urban Ecology Center (UEC),
3700 W Pierce St
Mostly paved trails
Wednesdays 8:00am Washington Park
Urban Ecology Center (UEC)
4023 W Galena St
Mostly grass and paved paths
Thursdays 8:00am Riverside Park
Urban Ecology Center (UEC)
1500 E Park Place
Mulched and dirt paths. Stairs to river
Second Saturdays 11:00 am Lake Park Duck Watch
Meet on the east side of Lincoln Memorial Drive between Bradford Beach and Linwood Water Treatment Plant
Third Saturdays 8:00am Schlitz Audubon Nature Center 1111 E Brown Deer Rd, Registration requested https://www.schlitzaudubon.org/calendar/
Check out Chirp Chat episodes by Xcaret Nuñez. It’s 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
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/
December
Owl Prowl for Adults
Friday, December 13, 7:00-9:00 pm. $7-12
Wehr Nature Center
Join a naturalist for an evening out with the owls. An interactive program will highlight the habits and adaptations of our nocturnal neighbors. Then we will walk the trails listening and looking for great-horned and Eastern screech owls.
Fee: $12 per person; $10 for Milwaukee County residents; $7 for Friends of Wehr (FOW) members; $5 parking fee applies for non-FOW members.
Online registration is required two days prior to the program. https://www.wehrnaturecenter.com/event/owl-prowl-for-adults-wehr/
Milwaukee Birders 