Sunday, Jan 12, 2025: Lakeshore State Park 8:30-10:00m
Meet at the south entrance, parking on the road near the Milwaukee Pierhead Lighthouse. We will be birding Lakeshore State Park the second Sunday of every month in 2025
Walking on paved surfaces maybe some uneven, grassy paths. No restrooms.
Will be cold and possibly icy. Dress appropriately and use your best judgement on attending.
eBird: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L386716
Subscribe! Each week you’ll receive an email with where we’ll be birding next. Posts may go to your “Social” folder if using gmail.
Milwaukee Birding News:
Too cold for a bird walk? Most of our nature centers have bird feeders outside their buildings. For the price of admission or parking, one can bird while sipping coffee in a warm building.
The Knowles Nelson Stewardship Program is looking for citizen support. The Stewardship Program that has protected Lion’s Den Gorge and given funds to the Oak Leaf and Hank Aaron State Trails among other properties in the state has more to do. Learn more about the program and send a virtual postcard to Wisconsin lawmakers expressing your gratitude and support for Knowles-Nelson.
For additional SE Wisconsin Bird Walks – scroll all the way down!
Last Week:
Four of us froze at Dretzka last week and saw some birds. Know who is even crazier than birders? Disc golfers – their parking lot was full!
The advice to follow edges and water held true even though the water was frozen. We saw numerous American Goldfinch and Dark-eyed Juncos picking at seeds on the ice near the pond edge. Farther up on the pond, there was a bush with at least 40 House Finch – a charm of them. Helen checked everyone – not a Purple Finch or Redpoll among them. We had the fun of meeting up a few times with two Red-Tail Hawks as they also explored the property. Besides the disc golfers and hawks, it was clear there have been some busy Beavers there as well.
eBird List: https://ebird.org/checklist/S208132593
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 no surveys have been done for that week. Alternatively, it could be prioritized because there are surveys, but MKE Parks suspect more species might reside 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)
- Dretzka Park
- Gordon Park
- Madison Park
- Honey Creek Pkwy 5
- Milwaukee River Pkwy 1
- Root River Pkwy 3, 4, 6, 8, 14 (no trails for 14)
- Zablocki 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 even a different time of day helps. The parks department wants a number of surveys for each park. Birding more than once in a week is very helpful!
Ongoing FREE Bird Walks:
Sundays 8:30am Milwaukee Birders
Location varies – see this week’s location above.
Free walks – open to all levels of birders
Sundays 9:00am (Note winter time)
Wisconsin Metro Audubon Society Bird Walk (WMAS)
Wehr Nature Center 9701 W College Ave. Mix of mulched, wooded, grass and boardwalk paths
NEW** Mondays 8:00am Estabrook Park
4600 Estabrook Parkway
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
NEW** Second and fourth Fridays 8:30am for January 10 and 24 at Kelly Senior Center in Warnimont Park,
6100 S Lake Dr, Cudahy
Meet-up by the Senior Center. A mix of paved and grassy trails. Mostly flat. Parking also available at Warnimont Dog Park immediately south of Kelly Senior Center
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 89.7 last Wednesday of the month
See a list of nearby bird clubs
Upcoming Area Bird Talks & walks:
Have a birding event to share? Let me know, email us on the Contact Page
january
WSO Lakefront Field Trip
Sunday, Jan 12, Pre-registration required
Starts in Milwaukee and works its way north along the lakefront ending in Port Washington. Frequent stops to scope the lake for diving ducks and gulls.
Pre-registration required: https://wsobirds.org/birding-events/eventdetail/22207/17%7C25/milwaukee-lakefront-birding?filter_reset=1
Identifying Winter Ducks
Saturday, January 12 $$
Schlitz Audubon Nature Center, Pre-registration required
During winter, Lake Michigan’s shorelines are abundant with waterfowl of all shapes and sizes. Many of these are ducks from far north in Canada who descend deep into the “south” to spend winter here. In this program, you will learn which ducks are here, plus other visiting birds, and understand their unique attributes for winter survival. Details and pre-registration HERE
Forest Home Cemetery with Wisconsin Metro Audubon Society
Saturday, Jan 18 $$
Pre-registration & advance payment required
Experience the serene beauty of winter while exploring the diverse birdlife of Forest Home Cemetery & Arboretum. Bundle up and join Wisconsin Metro Audubon Society bird guides for a leisurely 1.5- to 2-mile walk through the historic cemetery and arboretum this January. Details HERE
Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1126316957339?aff=oddtdtcreator
Feather Friends Hike
Sunday, January 26
Hartland Marsh
Celebrate National Environmental Education Day with a Feathered Friends Hike!
Join the owners of Wild Birds Unlimited-Brookfield and Wild Birds Unlimited-Delafield with the Waukesha County Land Conservancy for a special guided hike to celebrate the Feathered Fundraiser! Throughout the month of January, a percentage of the proceeds from the Wild Birds Unlimited stores will be donated to support the protection and care of vital bird habitats, ensuring a brighter future for our feathered friends.
Details: https://www.facebook.com/share/1CpGNitYAE/
Wisconsin Academy: Birds and Beyond: Birds and Climate Science
Sunday, January 26 Free
Beaver Creek Reserve near Eau Claire, Pre-registration required
Join Davin Lopez, an endangered species biologist with the Department of Natural Resources since 2005, to learn what birds can teach us about the impacts of climate change. Davin will discuss overall climate change trends in Wisconsin, along with how these trends are impacting birds, ecosystems, and people. In-person and virtual options, Details and Registration HERE
February
Get Ready for the Great Backyard Bird Count
Thursday, Feb 6 Free
Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
A virtual program of the images and sounds of local birds to help you identify some expected species in our area and discuss techniques to encourage birds to visit our backyard.
Details: https://www.schlitzaudubon.org/event/get-ready-for-the-great-backyard-bird-count-2/
Riveredge Bird Club Field Trip
Saturday, February 15
A lake front field trip for gulls, ducks, and more!
Details: https://riveredgenaturecenter.org/event/bird-club-field-trip-in-ozaukee-sheboygan-washington-counties/
Milwaukee Birders 