Sunday, Sept 14 at 8:00am. Lakeshore State Park
500 N Harbor Drive
Meet at the south end (red arrow on pic). One of Wisconsin’s newest state parks, Lakeshore sits on the edge of downtown. The lagoon by Summerfest grounds often has a number of ducks. The short grass prairies host a number of birds. The shrubs and trees have lots of birdy visitors. In the summer, there are nesting Purple Martins, Eastern Bluebirds and Tree Swallows in the boxes. A great place to bird in any season
Website: Friends of Lakeshore State Park https://friendslsp.org/
eBird site: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L386716
Trails: Paved sidewalks, no elevation change.
Restrooms: PortaPotty available, Discovery World restrooms open after 9:00am
Park Map: Map
CHIMNEY SWIFT NIGHT OUT THURSDAY!
It’s that time! Chimney Swifts are here!! Come see what the hype is all about!
Join Wisconsin Metro Audubon Society and Milwaukee Birders at
Thursday, Sept 11 at 6:45pm
Meet at the maintenance shed. Enter via the gatehouse on Bluemound Rd. Follow the orange highlighted roads around to the swift location. We will be standing or sitting along the roads in the cemetery.
Event updates on Wisconsin Metro Audubon Society’s Facebook page
Bring a lawn chair, and enjoy the show!
FREE! All Welcome!
Learn more about Chimney Swifts
Join us! Walks are free and open to all levels of birders
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:
Fall Native Plant Sales
Saturday Sept 20 from 9-1pm Urban Ecology Center, Menomonee Valley 3700 W Pierce
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
For additional SE Wisconsin Bird Walks – scroll all the way down!
Last Week:
From John Kaspar: It was sunny with temps in the upper 40s when our enthusiastic group of 11 birders arrived at Jackson Park on Sunday morning. We started out on the northwest shore of the lagoon, where we saw both green and great blue herons, along with a quartet of double-breasted cormorants perched on a dead tree next to the larger island.
As we began walking around the lagoon, we found a few tall, leafy trees next to the park pavilion which were filled with warblers, most of them high up in the tree tops (this included at least 10 Tennessee warblers). While some of the birders were focused on warblers, others in the group watched a spotted sandpiper do a low-altitude fly-by along the north shore of the lagoon. We also got a much better look at the green heron, which moved to the north side of the smaller island.
When we got to the east side of the lagoon, there was a pair of northern waterthrushes (one seen and another heard) down on the bank of the Kinnickinnic River. We ended up with eight different warbler species for the morning.
We made it all the way around the lagoon and eventually ended our morning with a walk through a section of the woods at the northwest corner of the park. Our group ended up with 35 total species, which included Cooper’s and red-tailed hawks, as well as a turkey vulture, all three of which were seen while we were reviewing our checklist in the soccer field at the end of the count.
Dennis Miller
Dennis Miller
John Kaspar
John Kaspar
John Kaspar
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 with Milwaukee Birders. 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 always open and Discovery World restrooms after 9:00. All ages and abilities welcome.
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),
Please register: https://www.urbanecologycenter.org/calendar?
3700 W Pierce St
Mostly paved trails. Restrooms available
Wednesdays 8:00am Washington Park
Urban Ecology Center (UEC)
Please register: https://www.urbanecologycenter.org/calendar?
4023 W Galena St
Mostly grass and paved paths. Restrooms available
Thursdays 8:00am Riverside Park
Urban Ecology Center (UEC)
Please register: https://www.urbanecologycenter.org/calendar?
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 Saturdays 8:30-10:30 Havenwoods
6141 N Hopkins St, Milwaukee
Join Milwaukee Birders at Havenwoods. 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
List of Milwaukee area BIRD CLUBS !
Upcoming Area Bird Talks & walks Registration and fees:
Have a birding event to share? email us on the Contact Page
September
“The Mystery of Migration” by Bill Volkert
Sponsored by MNP and the Ozaukee Washington Birding Coalition
Wednesday, September 10 at 7:00pm at Mequon Nature Preserve and via Zoom
One of the most fascinating aspects of the lives of birds is their ability to migrate thousands of miles as they follow the changing seasons. This presentation will explore the annual migration of birds, their seasonal phenology, and explore recent studies that reveal more information and instill greater wonder over the phenomenon of bird migration. Birds not only come and go with the seasons, but they do so in the same order every year. This program will provide an insight into why birds migrate and the orderly succession of species that arrive in Wisconsin each spring.
Details and In-Person Registration: https://ticketstripe.com/TheMysteryofMigration
Virtual Registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/3vHnyivzQTWROz7kSbrnUA
Bird Banding Demonstration
Saturday, Sept. 13 at Mequon Nature Preserve
Have you ever wondered how birds are studied? While birds are relatively easy to observe in the natural world, there is only so much that can be seen through a pair of your favorite binoculars. Bird banding allows for an up-close look at individuals and species and gives a glimpse into breeding, migration, age, and health that would otherwise be difficult to study from afar. Join licensed master banders and MNP staff as they demonstrate songbird capturing and banding techniques and how birds are examined and what that information can tell us. Get an up-close look at species utilizing MNP for breeding and migration stop over.
Questions? Contact: Nick Gall, Ecological Restoration Manager
Mequon Nature Preserve Office: (262) 242-8055
THIS EVENT HAS LIMITED OPENINGS AND REQUIRES REGISTRATION
Event Registration: https://ticketstripe.com/BirdBandingDemo2025
Raptor Ambassadors: A Behind-the-Scenes Workshop
Saturday, September 13 at Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
Spend a day at our private Raptor Facility. Lindsay Focht, Raptor & Animal Ambassador Director, will introduce you to each raptor ambassador while we discuss the daily management of the birds, build enrichment for them, and learn what it takes to care for these magnificent animals. You will have the exhilarating experience of closely interacting with our star birds. Come prepared to get dirty and be amazed!
Details and registration: https://www.schlitzaudubon.org/event/raptor-behind-the-scenes-workshop/?mc_cid=6a8de928ab&mc_eid=ecc276900b
The Art of Birding at Lynden Sculpture Garden
Sunday, September 14
Join poet and Wisconsin Master Naturalist volunteer Chuck Stebelton on the second Sunday of each month to bird by eye and ear with a focus on the life histories of wild birds. We’ll watch for seasonal migrants and resident bird species and seek out the best bird habitats to identify as many species as we can. Please dress for the weather and plan to walk in varied terrain. Bring your binoculars and field guides if you have them; no previous birding experience required.
Details and registration: https://www.lyndensculpturegarden.org/calendar/2025-09-14?mini=calendar%2F2025-09
“Kill Your Lawn: Crime Pays but Botany Doesn’t” at Wehr Nature Center
Thursday, Sept 18 from 7:30-9:30
$20 donation requested
Joey Santore will present on lawn-killing, horticultural atrocities, and modern horticulture’s disconnection from biological and ecological reality.
FYI: this program is for adults only. Adult humor is part of Joey’s educational style, for a sample see any of his social media channels including Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. As Joey describes himself, “A Low-Brow, Crass Approach to Plant Ecology & Evolution as muttered by a Misanthropic Chicago Italian.”
Details and Registration: HERE
Jaegerfest in Superior, Wisconsin
Friday-Sunday Sept 19-21 with Wisconsin Society for Ornithology
Free and drop-in. Three days of lots of scopes and very experienced birders at Wisconsin Point looking for migrating gulls, terns and jaegers! The area around the beach is great habitat for migrating songbirds and raptors as well.
Details HERE
Flight Day at Discovery World
Sunday, Sept 21 from 10:00-3:00pm
Flight aerodynamics, engineering, and the OG flyers – Birds with Wisconsin Society for Ornithology (WSO)!
Details: https://discoveryworld.org/calendar-of-events/flight-day/
Urban Bird Hike Afternoon at Lakeshore State Park
Sunday, Sept 21 4:00-5:00pm
Free! All ages and abilities are welcome.
Meet at the south entrance park sign.
Details: Event details
Sept 26 The Birds
Friday, September 26 at 7:00pm
Free Friday Night Flicks at Lake Park Concert Stage
Understanding Threats to Birds with Dr Peter Marra
Tuesday, Sept 30 from 7:00-8:30pm at Mequon Nature Preserve
Free. Join us for a powerful and thought-provoking talk with ornithologist and author Dr. Peter Marra as he explores the major threats facing birds today including one of the most significan yet often overlooked: domestic cats. Discover the key factors behind bird population declines and, most importantly, practical steps we can each take to help safegaurd their future.
Sponsored Friends of Cedarburg Bog, Lake Michigan Bird Observatory, Mequon Nature Preserve, Noel Cutright Bird Club, and Wisconsin Society for Ornithology
Details and registration: https://ticketstripe.com/ThreatstoBirds
** 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 priority park, go bird, eBird it and note time spent there.
For September 8-14
- Armour Park
- Franklin Savanna
- Kinnickinic Parkway
- Little Menomonee River 2 (no trail)
- Madison Park
- Menomonee River Pkwy 5, 8
- Oak Creek Pkwy 3, 6, 9, 10
- Rawson Park
- Root River Pkwy 1, 8
Based on the needs spreadsheet from MKE Parks, 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
Wisconsin Metro Audubon is also birding for Waukesha Parks…
Bird where you can and share your ebird list with their ebird account: WaukeshaCountyBirding
SEPTEMBER bird surveys needed at these locations- all are ebird hotspots
- Berg Property – free – address S102W33451 CTH LO should get you there or very close.
- Menomonee Park (pass or daily fee)
- 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! Free
- Mukwonago Park (pass or daily permit fee required- note they have camping!)
- Muskego Park (pass or daily permit- note they have camping!)
- Ryan Park
Milwaukee Birders 