Retzer Nature Center, 8:30
S14 W28167 Madison St, Waukesha, WI 53188

Part of the Waukesha County park system, however no park pass needed. There are a fantastic variety of habitats here. A fen that attracts flycatchers. A large field with Bobolinks, Dickcissels, and Henslow’s Sparrows in the summer. A meandering creek goes through the woods. And, there is a pond and prairie area. We’ve seen cuckoos, Orchard Orioles, and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks here. 

Website: https://www.waukeshacounty.gov/parks-and-land-use/parks-and-recreation/retzer-nature-center/
eBird site: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L301097
Trails: Grass, mulch, and dirt paths. Quite a bit of up and down. The parking lot is near the top of a hill. Nearly all trails have a slope. 
Restrooms: Available near the parking lot and in the nature center when open.

Join us! Walks are free and open to all levels of birders

Coming up: Humboldt Park

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:

ACTION: Birds need quality habitat and lots of it (so do we!) For over 30 years the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program funding has allowed the purchase and maintenance of land for all to use – like Lion’s Den. The Knowles-Nelson Land Stewardship Program needs our support right now to secure funding in this budget cycle. Email your state representatives, how-to here: https://knowlesnelson.org/june-16-knowles-nelson-at-critical-risk/

Kelp Gull. A mega rarity has landed in Milwaukee. It’s generally found at the other end of the world. Details on the species and viewing tips at https://ebird.org/atlaswi/news/kelp-gull-nesting-in-wisconsin-viewing-information

All About Native Plants. There is still time to add native plants to your garden or even as potted plants for a patio. Learn more about the why, how and that plants:

Save Our Songbirds – a Wisconsin coalition has native plant info and webinars
Add plants for birds: https://www.sossaveoursongbirds.org/add-plants-for-birds
Next webinar: Porch Prairies (great article too!)

What to do about invasive plants? Invasive Species Awareness Day, June 21 at Havenwoods State Forest

Wisconsin Society for Ornithology’s Beyond the Birdfeeder: Creating a Bird-friendly Yard with Native Wisconsin Plants

Learn to recognize native plants. Native Plant Walk with Birdtopia at Mequon Nature Preserve

Join Wild Ones. Find a local chapter for advice and support in natural gardening with native plants in your area.

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 numerous sick or dead birds on their website: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/WildlifeHabitat/wildlifehealth

eBird: https://ebird.org/checklist/S250680041

Ongoing FREE GUIDED Bird Walks:

Sundays Milwaukee Birders
Location and time 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

Second Sundays 8:00-10:00am 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.

Second Saturdays 8:30-10:30 Havenwoods
6141 N Hopkins St, Milwaukee
State park sticker NOT needed. Meet in front of the building (Restrooms available). Binoculars available to borrow. Flat trails go along gravel, wood, grass and mulched paths. Walk wind through grassland, woods, along shrubby borders and to a pond. Really nice variety of birds. https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/havenwoods

Third Saturdays, 8:00-9:15 Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
1111 E Brown Deer Rd, Bayside
Loop through woods, grasslands and around Mystery Lake for a variety of habitats. Free, registration required 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

FIND A BIRD CLUB !

Milwaukee parks that need birding this week-SCROLL DOWN

Upcoming Area Bird Talks & walks Registration and fees:

Have a birding event to share? Let me know, email us on the Contact Page

JUNE

Milwaukee Migration Madness: Bird Walks!
Friday, June 20
Walk with Restoring Lands: A Wisconsin Land Trust (formerly River Revitalization Foundation and Ozaukee-Washington Land Trust) Details HERE

Invasive Species Day at Havenwoods State Forest
Saturday, June 21
Birders know birds need LOTS of caterpillars, and the best way to grow caterpillars is on native plants. Invasives crowd out our insect supporting native plants. Find out more about identifying, removing and controlling invasive plants.
Details HERE

Bird Walk at Lincoln Creek with Lake Michigan Bird Observatory
Wednesday, June 25
Celebrate Lincoln Creek with an entire week of free, fun and rewarding activities for the whole family! Details: https://nearbynaturemke.org/lincoln-creek-week-celebration/

Stroll with a Naturalist: Bird Nests
Thursday, June 26 at Riveredge Nature Center
Details: https://riveredgenaturecenter.org/event/stroll-with-a-naturalist-nesting-birds-3/

Schlitz Audubon Bird Hike: Summer Residents
Saturday, June 21
Details and registration: https://www.schlitzaudubon.org/event/audubon-bird-hike-summer-residents/

30’s and Birdies at Urban Ecology Center
Thursday, June 26
Watch Urban Ecology Center calendar for details

Birding Exploration: Nesting Strategies
Saturday, June 29 at Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
Details and registration: https://www.schlitzaudubon.org/event/birding-exploration-nesting-strategies/

july

Restoring Michigan’s Black Tern Webinar by Audubon Great Lakes
Tuesday, July 1 Lunch Webinar
Seen the Black Terns at Horicon Marsh? Learn more about them. Registration: https://gl.audubon.org/events/restoring-michigan%E2%80%99s-black-tern-population-michigan%E2%80%99s-most-mysterious-marsh-dweller

** Follow Bird City Milwaukee on Facebook!

Milwaukee Parks that NEED Birding

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.

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

And our Waukesha Parks…

Share your ebird list with their ebird account: WaukeshaCountyBirding

JUNE bird surveys needed at these locations- all are ebird hotspots

• Berg Property – free – parking is a small parking area in front of a locked gate, just a bit east of the Rainbow Springs natural area parking lot, just before a driveway for a home. The address S102W33451 CTH LO should get you there or very close.
• Ashippun Lake (at the boat launch, no fee required)
• Fox Brook Park (pass or daily permit required)
• Ice Age Trail- Monches segment
• Monches County Park (pass or daily fee)
• Naga-Waukee Park (pass or daily permit fee required)
• New Berlin Recreation Trail – bike path from Greenfield Park to Waukesha!
• Mukwonago Park (pass or daily permit fee required)
• Ryan Park (pass or daily fee)

Info about the Waukesha surveys:
– Track time spent (separately from milwaukee); we will report to the county at year end
– Please use the breeding behavior codes in ebird if you note breeding behaviors
– if you are interested in specific birds they are targeting at the locations (based on suitable habitat or other factors) please contact Colleen at +14143796741 (call or text)- give me your email and I’ll share more information with you.