Sunday, May 17 8:00-10:30
4400 Estabrook Drive, meet in Beer Garden Parking Lot
Estabrook Park runs along the east side of the Milwaukee River from Hampton Ave to Capitol Drive. The river is a tremendous draw for birds and other wildlife. The river banks and bluff have many big, old trees for woodpeckers as well as lots of shrubby cover for thrushes. A small pond in the center of the park hosts ducks and herons. Bubbler Talk on WUWM Lake Effect on the Mining and Geological History of Estabrook Park
Mid-June through end of October, there is a Sunday Farmers’ Market at south end of the park road
Website: https://www.visitmilwaukee.org/listing/estabrook-park/3038/
EBird site: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L385009
Trails: Some paved trails on top the bluffs. Grass, mulch and mud in many spots. Stairs to river, mostly uneven and stone. There is a sloped rough paved path to the river at the very north end.. River trail narrow, muddy and uneven.
Restrooms: PortaPotty, Bathrooms at Beer Garden during serving hours, and at south end of the park
Park Map: https://county.milwaukee.gov/files/county/parks-department/Park-Maps/Estabrook1.pdf
Join us! Walks are always free and always fun . Open to all levels of birders
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Nearly every morning, there is a
FREE Bird Walk in Milwaukee
Milwaukee Birding News
Friends of Havenwoods Birdathon. Join us on Saturday, June 13 for a Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin Birdathon. We will find as many species as we can at Havenwoods State Forest between 8:00 am and Noon.
Ways to participate:
1. Bird with us! All levels welcome! Come for as short or as long a time as you can. We will have a group of bird walkers and a sitting group. All abilities welcome. And no fundraising required, but please join the team at the link below
OR
2. Donate to the bird team, Join and/or donate at: https://charity.pledgeit.org/WIBirdathon2026/teams/Havenwoods-Thrashers
OR
3. Both! Bird with us AND donate. Whichever way, hope to see you Saturday June 13 at Havenwoods State Forest
Funds raised by the team are split between the Friends of Havenwoods and the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin’s Bird Protection Fund.
Birds and Brews PM. Join us for an hour-long bird walk before returning to the beer garden.
Birds and Brews AM. Too early for beer. We’ll have a bird walk and finish up at a coffee shop. May 19 will be the first one. Details to follow.
May is Here! Migration Madness! Birding every day! Check out all the bird walks, talks, field trips, and social events below.
Check our list of free weekly bird walks in the Milwaukee-area
Last Week
Saturday, we had a bird talk and walk at Havenwoods State Forest. We were really lucky with the birds! Our group was so big we split into two groups. Both groups saw the American Kestrels. The group with Donna had great looks at a Sora in the marsh area on the southeast side of the park before seeing a Yellow Warbler and hearing a Warbling Vireo. The other group stayed on the orange/purple trail crossing Lincoln Creek and heading northwest through the grasses. They had an Indigo Bunting, Eastern Meadowlarks and another look at American Kestrels. We met up near the ponds seeing Baltimore and Orchard Orioles before heading back to the building. To choose trees from the Lake Michigan Bird Observatory. Thanks for a great World Migratory Bird Day Celebration, Havenwoods!
Havenwoods eBird: https://ebird.org/checklist/S335898613
pic Chris Pom
pic Dave Wenstrup
Chris Pom
pic Dave Wenstrup
On Sunday we headed south of the city to Sheridan Park. Report of a White-eyed Vireo a little walk north on the Oak Leaf Trail determined our starting direction. We did not find the White-eyed, however there were enough other beauties to keep us looking up! Highlights: Orchard Orioles, Baltimore Orioles, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, and a Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Warblers spotted included Yellow, Yellow-rumped, Magnolia, Palms, Blackburnian, Common Yellowthroat, Nashville, and the final one of the day: Wilson’s. One of the best parts of May is the birds, of course, and sharing the joy with others. Thanks to all who came out and made it fun!
eBird: https://ebird.org/checklist/S336424234
pic Dennis Miller
pic Rita Flores-Wiskowski
pic Joy Lewis
pic John Kaspar
Upcoming Bird Talks & walks:
Have a birding event to share? email us on the Contact Page
MAY
Spring Bird Walks at Riveredge Nature Center
Fridays May 1 – May 29
Details HERE
Birding by Boat at Urban Ecology Center (UEC)
Tuesday, May 12
Details and Registration HERE
Field Adventure: Horicon Marsh with Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
Wednesday, May 13
Details and registration HERE
Birds and Brews at Humboldt Park
Thursday, May 14 5:30pm
Meet at pond across from pavillion
Birding by Boat at Urban Ecology Center (UEC)
Friday, May 15
Details and Registration HERE
Planting for the Birds Seminar at Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
Saturday, May 16
Details and registration HERE
Birds and Brews AM with Wisconsin Metro Audubon Society
Tuesday May 19, 8:00-10:00am
Start with birding on Oak Creek Parkway #10, details HERE
FIELD TRIP: Land Trust Preserves
Saturday, May 23, 6:30 a.m.
This tour to three of the amazing Restoring Lands (formerly OWLT) preserves begins at the Kurtz Woods State Natural Area off Dahlia Lane between Saukville and Grafton), then visits Bratt Woods and finishes the morning at Donges Bay Gorge Natural Area.
No signup required.
Trip Leader: Carl Schwartz; you can contact him at cschwartz3@wi.rr.com or 414-416-3272
Birds and Brews at Whitnall Park
Thursday, May 21 5:30pm
Meet at the beer garden. We will start by birding Root River #7
Birding at Forest Home Cemetery with Wisconsin Metro Audubon Society
Saturday, May 23
Details HERE
An Introduction to the Birds of Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
Saturdays, May 23-June 16
Details and registration HERE
Birds and Brews at Estabrook Park
Thursday, May 28 5:30pm
Meet at north end of Beer Garden
Bird Banding Basics Workshop at Riveredge Nature Center
Friday and Saturday, May 29-30
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 : May1-31
- Currie Park
- Dineen Park
- Dretzka Park
- Franklin Savanna (if you haven’t been and need access help contact Colleen at 414-379-6741)
- Grootemat Nature Preserve
- Kern Park
- Little Menomonee River Pkwy 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
- Menomonee River Parkway 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
- Milwaukee River Pkwy 1, 3, 5
- Oak Creek Pkwy 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12 (north and south) 13, 14 (for 12- no trails and for 13, there is no trail, and be VERY careful of property lines as private property is to both sides)
- Root River Pkwy 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 15, 16, 18 (no trails for 15, 16, 18)
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. A Waukesha County Park pass is needed for a number of these locations. To purchase passes visit:
https://wiwaukeshacountyweb.myvscloud.com/…/splash.html#
Note that seniors (60+) can purchase annual park passes for only $20!
March bird surveys needed at these locations- all are ebird hotspots
- Fox Bend Park- free- looking for 5 shared surveys (enter via Big Bend Park or St Martins Woods SNA)
- Fox Brook Park- daily fee or pass- needs 1 shared survey
- Mukwonago Park (pass or daily fee) – looking for 1 shared survey
- Ashippun Lake – Waukesha County- (free)- looking for 4 shared surveys
- Ashippun River Greenway- free- needs 6 shared surveys
- Pewaukee River Greenway- free- 3 surveys needed
- Nagawaukee Boat Launch- boat pass or daily fee- needs 2 shared surveys