Last Week

Lakeshore State Park never disappoints. Three Bald Eagles, several Redheads and Red-Breasted Mergansers, and one each of Long-tailed Duck, Field Sparrow and American Kestrel. As we expected for February, it was windy and cold! Despite the cold, twenty-two birders came out. We took a counter-clockwise route starting north along the lake, over the bridge for a quick peek at the native shrub border, then south along Henry Maier Festival Park’s edge. The American Kestrel perched along the south facing hill behind the amphitheater, while the Field Sparrow hopped around in the southeastern tip of the short-grass prairie. The Bald Eagles were on the ice and in the sky. Any open water was crammed with Goldeneye, Greater Scaup, Mallards, Red-breasted Mergansers, several Redheads, and a few Buffleheads.

eBird list (Thanks John!): https://ebird.org/checklist/S299032035
Pics by Dave Wenstrup
clockwise: Birders at Lakeshore State Park; Long-tailed Duck; Gull escorting Bald Eagle away from Lakeshore State Park; and, Redhead ducks, Greater Scaup, and Goldeneye

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

february

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/

Tips and Tools for Starting Birding
Tuesday, Feb 24, 6:00pm
Frank L. Weyenberg Library of Mequon/Thiensville
Details: https://flwlib.events.mylibrary.digital/event?id=286471

Winter Break at Havenwoods
Saturday, Feb 28 from 12-3:00pm
Details https://www.winterbreakmke.com/

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

Opening The Door to A New Chapter with Dan Scheiman, The Ridges Sanctuary
Wednesday, Mar 11 at 7:00pm
in person at Mequon Nature Preserve and via Zoom
In 2023, Dan and Samantha Scheiman moved from Arkansas to Door County, renowned for its nature and outdoor opportunities. Dan works at The Ridges Sanctuary, a land trust that focuses on preservation, education, and research. The Ridges protects some 2,000 acres that harbor a rare ridge-and-swale system, 29 native orchids, and federally threatened and endangered species. Dan
will talk about the county, The Ridges, and his ongoing pursuit of birds, butterflies, orchids, and more. Dr. Scheiman is the Visitor Engagement Specialist at The Ridges Sanctuary. Previously, he worked for the National Audubon Society at the Little Rock (Arkansas) Audubon Center. He was vice president of his Audubon chapter and an eBird reviewer. Dan has a B.S. from Cornell
University, an M.S. from Eastern Illinois University, and a Ph.D. from Purdue University.
Register: https://ticketstripe.com/TheRidgesSanctuary
To join meeting via Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Qfancx7zSmCC1cXp1O8eEA

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

Field Trip: Columbia/Dane counties in search of early migrants
Saturday, March 29, 7:00am meet up
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

** 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