Sunday, Mar 23, 8:30am Bender Park 4503 E Ryan Rd
Meet in the dirt parking lot by the red arrow. Bender is a great park with a variety of habitats: wooded trails, some creek beds, grasy fields and a trail along the bluff for great Lake Michigan views.
eBird: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L353954
Dirt, grass and rock trails through woods and fields
No restrooms
All birding levels welcome!
PLAN AHEAD: Saturday March 29 Evening Woodcock Walk at Harrington Beach
Seasonal bird walks and field trips are picking up Scroll down to see March birding opportunities. Have one you want shared? Send me an email, donnaozomiller@gmail.com
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:
Birding is increasing as a hobby even while the number of birds continues to decline. We can help.
Protect and improve habitat – adopt a greenspace or volunteer with a park
Reduce threats to birds – see ABC Seven Simple Actions
Educate and Engage more birders The more people enjoying birds, the more likely they are to protect our environment
Think long-term sustainability for yourself and your community.
Like promoting birding? We are looking for a list of birders to email when requests come for help leading a park/community bird walk, hosting a table about birding at community fairs or helping out at birding events. Email Donna, donnaozomiller@gmail.com or Katie, kfisher8689@gmail.com
Report dead birds to WI DNR. As we know Avian flu is spreading through duck flocks and other species. Help DNR track the virus by reporting.
From WI DNR website:
Help monitor the health of Wisconsin’s wildlife by reporting your sightings of sick or dead wildlife to the DNR. To report a sick or dead wild bird, please use this survey form: Sick or Dead Bird Reporting Form. You can also contact the Wildlife Switchboard to report a sick or dead wild mammal or wild bird by emailing DNRWildlifeSwitchboard@wisconsin.gov or calling 608-267-0866. You will need to leave a message for the switchboard staff. In your message, please include:
- the number of animals
- the species (such as a raccoon or Canada goose)
- if they were sick or dead
- the specific location where you saw them, including the county
- your contact information
Observations of five or more sick or dead wild birds or three or more sick or dead wild mammals in one area are of particular interest. The DNR keeps track of all reports of sick and dead wildlife, but staff will determine on a case-by-case basis whether samples need to be collected for each event.
For additional SE Wisconsin Bird Walks – scroll all the way down!
Last Week:
It was snowy, windy, and cold. The trails were slippery and binoculars were tucked behind coat zippers. There have been better weather days. Heading north on the trail, we did not see or hear much as we kept our heads tucked against the wind. Near the north end of the trail, Andy spotted a Great Horned Owl. Great to see one of his regulars on Signs of Life at Estabrook Park. Farther south on the river by the trail up to the U-Park lot an Eastern Phoebe flew to the east side of the river. A first of the year for a couple of us!
Artist: Tom Queoff
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 8:00am
Wisconsin Metro Audubon Society Bird Walk (WMAS)
Wehr Nature Center 9701 W College Ave. Mix of mulched, wooded, grass and boardwalk paths. Follow WMAS on Facebook for additional walk announcements
Mondays 8:00am Estabrook Park
4600 Estabrook Parkway
Meet in the north parking lot. Mulched and dirt paths, stairs to river path which can be muddy. Portapotty
Tuesdays 8:00am Menomonee Valley
Urban Ecology Center (UEC),
3700 W Pierce St
Mostly paved trails. Restrooms available
Wednesdays 8:00am Washington Park
Urban Ecology Center (UEC)
4023 W Galena St
Mostly grass and paved paths. Restrooms available
Thursdays 8:00am Riverside Park
Urban Ecology Center (UEC)
1500 E Park Place
Mulched and dirt paths. Stairs to river path which can be muddy. Restrooms available
Fridays 8:30am Warnimont Park,
6100 S Lake Dr, Cudahy
Meet-up by the Kelly Senior Center parking lot. A mix of paved and grassy trails that go through woods, fields and along the bluff for lake views. Mostly flat. Parking also available at Warnimont Dog Park immediately south of Kelly Senior Center. Seasonal bathrooms
Second Sundays 8:30-10:00am Birding at Lakeshore State Park. Meet at the south park entrance. See Friends of LSSP for details. Walking on paved surfaces, maybe some uneven, grassy paths but can avoid those. Portapotty and Discovery World restrooms after 9:00. All ages and abilities welcome.
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
MArch
Birds of Spring by Chuck Hagner presented by Wisconsin Metro Audubon Society
Wednesday, Mar 19 at Wehr Nature Center
Time and details: https://wisconsinmetroaudubonsociety.org/programs/
WSO Field Trip: Dane and Columbia County
Saturday, March 22
Car caravan to flooded fields and ponds looking for migrating ducks, geese and other water birds. Registration and trip details: https://wsobirds.org/what-we-do/field-trips/eventdetail/22216/-/dane-columbia-county
Columbia/Dane County field trip in search of early migrants
Saturday, March 29 7:00am Ozaukee-Washington Birding Coalition
Tour ponds and flooded fields in this very productive area. A wide variety of water birds, shorebirds, migrant passerines and others are possible (i.e.: swans, Greater White-fronted & Ross’s Geese, pipits, longspurs, sparrows, etc.).Carpooling at 7 a.m. from park & ride lot at Highway 33 and I-41.
No signup required.
Trip Leader: Carl Schwartz; you can contact him at cschwartz3@wi.rr.com or 414-416-3272
Woodcocks, Wood Frogs, and Wine
Saturday, March 29 at Wehr Nature Center
Title says it all – adults only. Registration and fee details: https://www.wehrnaturecenter.com/event/woodcocks-wood-frogs-and-wine/
Birding Exploration: Migration
Sunday, March 30 at Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
Details https://www.schlitzaudubon.org/event/migration-birding-exploration/
April
Discussion with Chirp Chat’s Xcaret Nuñez
Wednesday, April 9 at Riveredge Nature Center
Join in person or by zoom as Chirp Chat producer, Xcaret Nuñez, will share with us some of her favorite interviews with Wisconsin birders. Topics they’ve explored include why bird names matter, the Mississippi Flyway, spark birds and so much more. Details HERE
Pike Lake/ Hartford Area Field Trip (Washington County)
Saturday, April 12, 7:00am to noon Ozaukee-Washington Birding Coalition
Led by members of the Noel J. Cutright Bird Club. Caravan/carpooling after meeting up at the Jackson Park & Ride (on CR-P, just north of Hwy. 60) at 7 a.m. We usually check out Big Cedar Lake, Wildlife Drive and some flooded fields before exploring the northeast corner of Pike Lake.
No signup required.
Trip Leader: Carl Schwartz; you can contact him at cschwartz3@wi.rr.com or 414-416-3272
Woodcock Wander through the Mequon Nature Preserve
Wednesday, April 16 evening
Join local bird expert and Wild Birds Unlimited-Mequon owner, Dan Panetti, on a stroll in search of the American Woodcock — a secretive species most easily found when engaged in wild aerial courtship displays. Although woodcock technically are a “shorebird,’ they typically are found in woodlands, forest openings, and ephemeral ponds. The diverse habitats of the Mequon Nature Preserve make this an ideal location for observing them. This program has room for 30 participants. Registration: https://ticketstripe.com/woodcockwander2025
Birding Beyond the Bird Feeder: Bird ID
Saturday, April 19 at Wehr Nature Center
The migrants are coming! Learn basic bird identification using behavior, field marks, shape, and more, then test your new skills on a hike. Details and registration: https://www.wehrnaturecenter.com/event/birding-beyond-the-feeder-bird-id/
** Follow Bird City Milwaukee on Facebook!
Milwaukee parks that need birding this week
The county needs eBird records throughout the year for every park and natural area. Every week there are priority parks needing eBird lists. 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.
We can help MKE Parks! Pick a park, go bird, eBird it and note time spent there.
- FOR MARCH 15-21
- Dineen Park
- Riverton Meadows Park
- Little Menomonee River Pkwy 2- note- this is real bushwhacking. There are no trails and it may be getting swampy.
- Pulaski (Cudahy)
- Southwood Glen (if it’s a school day let the office know you are doing a survey, they are very nice)
Based on the spreadsheet MKE Parks 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.
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!
Find a park and a park map: https://county.milwaukee.gov/EN/Parks/Explore/Find-a-Park
Milwaukee Birders 