Last Week

Thirteen birders started at the Wehr bird feeders, counting Wild Turkeys, Mourning Doves, and one Yellow-rumped Warbler. We set out around the lake counterclockwise. Our crunching on the snow made it difficult to hear birds so we stopped frequently to look and listen. And it is good we did, as we heard a Belted Kingfisher’s rattle as it flew over the pond. At about the same time a juvenile Bald Eagle flew over. There were several pairs of Downy Woodpeckers moving together around tree tops. There were also Northern Cardinals, Blue Jays, White-breasted Nuthatches, and Dark-eyed Juncos.
As we neared the building, a mature Bald Eagle was flying high above us. And we finally heard and spotted a Tufted Titmouse. Once inside the building and watching the feeders, we saw Pine Siskins, Easter Bluebirds, the butterbutt again, and TWO Tufted Titmouse flew in. In total 28 species, Thanks Wehr for great birding

eBird list (Thanks John!): https://ebird.org/checklist/S297574175

Have a birding event to share? email us on the Contact Page

february

Become a Citizen Scientist: Great Backyard Bird Count
Thursday, February 5, 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm at Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
Free, Registration required Details: https://www.schlitzaudubon.org/event/become-a-citizen-scientist-great-backyard-bird-count/

Women and Girls in Science, including a BIPOC Birding Table
February 7, 11:00-2:00 at the King Community Center
Details: https://www.wehrnaturecenter.com/event/women-and-girls-in-science/

Guided Bird Hike: Lake Michigan Shoreline
Sunday, February 8, Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
Details and registration: https://www.schlitzaudubon.org/event/guided-bird-hike-lake-michigan-shoreline/

Beyond Our Sense: Bank Swallows
Wednesday, Feb 11 at Schlitz Audubon Bird Club Meeting
Screening plus Q&A with the director. Registration and details HERE

Saving the Dark movie and Discussion
Thursday, Feb 12, 6:00pm Village of Shorewood Meeting Room (below library)
Sponsored by Village of Shorewood Environmental Committee. Details HERE

Out of the Fire and Into the Smoke
Thursday, Feb 12, 7:00pm
Online talk by Dr Olivia Sanderfoot on the effects of wildfire smoke on avian health and populations. Details and registration HERE

Wisconsin’s Winter Finches
Saturday, February 14, Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
Details and registration: https://www.schlitzaudubon.org/event/wisconsins-winter-finches/

Birding in Angola
Wednesday, Feb 18. 7:00pm Zoom only but hosted by Riveredge Nature Center
Jan Hansen, the former Green Bay Wild Birds Unlimited owner who recently retired as leader of Otus Asio Tours, was among the leaders in birds reported to eBird in 2025, sighting more than 20% of the world’s 10,733 species. Some 441 were from Angola, where he will take us this night
via Zoom from his home in North Carolina.
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88433914199?pwd=1TOAptOSeWpKg1f8N1UoCvDvas551Y.1
Meeting ID: 884 3391 4199
Passcode: 661842

Follow the Flock: Tracking the Epic Migration of North American Cranes
Thursday, Feb 19. 11:00am sponsored by International Crane Foundation
Webinar. Details HERE

Carpool Winter Birding
Saturday, Feb 21 7:30am meetup at Coal Dock Park, Port Washington
In search of overwintering birds and rarities in Ozaukee, Sheboygan, and Washington Counties.
No signup required. Trip leaders: Carl Schwartz (you can contact him at cschwartz3@wi.rr.com or 414-416-3272) and Joan Sommer.

Literary Hike: Courage of Birds by Pete Dunne
Sunday, February 22
Details and registration: https://www.schlitzaudubon.org/event/literary-hike-courage-of-birds-by-pete-dunne/

Winter Break at Havenwoods
Saturday, Feb 28

MARCH

ExpressScape  Workshop: Next Steps with Native Plants
Thursday March 5, at Urban Ecology Center – Washington Park
Program by Lake Michigan Bird Observatory connects participants with expert native plant designers for one-on-one conversations and site-specific guidance. Attendees receive a brief personalized landscape plan to help guide their next steps. Registration required; spots are limited
Register by Feb. 26: https://lmbo.questionpro.com/mke2026

Introduction to Bird Language
Saturdays Mar 7 & 14 at Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
Details and Registration HERE

Guided Bird Hike: Early Spring Migrants
Sunday, March 15 at Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
Details and registration HERE

WIngs Volunteer Training
Monday, March 16th 5:30 – 6:30 PM at Urban Ecology Center
Becoming a new volunteer or returning for the 2026 spring season of WINGS monitoring? This training is a good chance to restock your supplies, meet other volunteers, ask questions, and hear any changes or updates to the protocols. Learn more about the WIngs program here.

Birds & Stars: Navigation at Night
Wednesday, March 25th 7-8:30 PM at Urban Ecology Center
This relaxed evening lecture explores how birds navigate using stars, landscapes, and Earth’s magnetic field. We’ll take a fascinating look at migration, night skies, and the science that guides birds across incredible distances. Join the UEC Research Team (me) and guest presenter Bob Bonadurer, Daniel M. Soref Planetarium Director, for a short indoor presentation followed by an outdoor exploration of the night sky, where we’ll look for the same navigational clues birds rely on to find their way. Register here.

Understanding Bird Populations and How They Change
Thursdays Mar 26-Apr 23 at UW Field Station
Details and Registration HERE

** Follow Bird City Milwaukee on Facebook! for event announcements

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 !

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.

MILWAUKEE COUNTY PARKS : February 1-7

• Alcott
• Baran
• Honey Creek Pkwy #5
• Kosciusko Park
• Menomonee River Pkwy 7, 8
• Pulaski (Milwaukee and Cudahy)

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

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

• Berg Property – free – address S102W33451 CTH LO should get you there or very close. It’s just west of Mukwonago so you could do them both in one trip!
• Fox Brook Park- fee or pass- looking for 4 shared surveys
• Minooka Park (pass or daily fee)- looking for 3 shared surveys in Feb
• Mukwonago Park (pass or daily fee) – looking for 6 shared surveys
• Nagawaukee Park- (pass or daily fee) – looking for 7 shared surveys
• Ryan Park (pass or daily fee) – looking for 6 shared surveys
• Ashippun Lake – Waukesha County- (free)- looking for 6 shared surveys
• New Berlin Trail (free)- 6 shared surveys needed