Sunday, May 24 8:00-10:30
Meet at the circle drive parking
We will walk around the evergreens behind the archery area before heading into the woods. We can also check out the river flats area depending on trail conditions.
Website: https://www.facebook.com/KletzschFriends/
eBird site: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L276635
Trails: Mown paths, mulched and dirt paths through the woods and some sidewalk. Some up and down, narrow paths in woods with exposed roots
Restrooms: Available in the park shelters
Park Map: https://county.milwaukee.gov/files/county/parks-department/Park-Maps/Kletzsch1.pdf
Join us! Walks are always free and always fun . 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
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 https://charity.pledgeit.org/WIBirdathon2026/teams/Havenwoods-Thrashers
OR
2. Donate to the bird team, Join and/or donate at: https://charity.pledgeit.org/WIBirdathon2026/teams/Havenwoods-Thrashers Funds raised by the team are split between the Friends of Havenwoods and the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin’s Bird Protection Fund.
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. Thursday 5:30 at Whitnall Park Beer Garden. Join us for an hour-long bird walk at 5:30 before returning to the beer garden.
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
Sunday was chilly, and rain seemed possible, but no one was complaining, because we had birds. Lots of birds! We started at the pond with eye-level looks at Bay-breasted Warblers. Everywhere we looked, there were birds: American Redstarts, Bay-breasted, Chestnut-sided, and Magnolia Warblers, as well as a Least Flycatcher. As we made our way north around the pond the birds kept popping up: Philadelphia Vireo, Indigo Buntings, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Baltimore Orioles, Northern Waterthrush, and more. We found a Black-capped Chickadee nest hole in a birch.
We took the path south of the dog park to the river. Heading north on the Milwaukee River path, we heard and saw a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, another Least Flycatcher, Catbirds, a Song Sparrow, Swallows, and Gnatcatchers. At the wooden walk just below the Beer Garden, there was another mixed flock of warblers, along with a Scarlet Tanager.
By this time it was 11:00am and rain drops were starting. Those of us that decided to go on were soon stopped by trees across the path and more rain. It was an great day of birding! Thanks to all who came out and to Christopher Pom for the bird photos!
Estabrook eBird: https://ebird.org/checklist/S341134914
pic Chris Pom
pic Chris Pom
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
Bird Walk & Poetry Reading with the BIPOC Bird Club and Urban Ecology Center
Wednesday May 20
Join us for a special pre-event gathering blending birding, community, and poetry. We’ll start with a guided bird walk at the Urban Ecology Center – Washington Park, led by Dexter “Wisco Birder” Patterson, followed by a poetry reading ahead of an evening with Joy Harjo at the Milwaukee Public Library.
Free, registration required HERE
Colonial Park Bird Walk in Racine with Hoy Audubon
Wednesday, May 20
Details HERE
Birds and Brews at Whitnall Park
Thursday, May 21 5:30pm
Meet at the beer garden. We will start by birding Root River #7
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
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
Hawthorn Hollow Bird Walk in Kenosha with Hoy Audubon
Thursday, May 21
Details HERE
Birding at Honey Creek Preserve with Wisconsin Society for Ornithology
Saturday, May 30
Bird Banding and bird walks (one even starts early enough for the dawn chorus)
Registration and details 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
JUNE
Feedback Session on Veteran’s Park Lagoon
Thursday, June 4, 5:30-7:00 pm
Milwaukee Sailing Center
Public feedback session on proposed changes to Veteran’s Park lagoon. We can show up and speak to the importance of the bird habitat. Details HERE
Birding the Northern Kettle Moraine with Wisconsin Society for Ornithology
Saturday, June 6
Learn where to go and what to see up there
Details and registration HERE
Birding the Southern Kettle Moraine with Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
Wednesday, June 10
Details and registration HERE
Birds, Whales and Polar Bears in Churchill, Manitoba
Wednesday, June 10, 7:00 pm
in person @ Lac Lawrann Nature Preserve and via Zoom
Horicon Marsh Bird Club leaders Jeff and Suzanne Bahls share the story of their trip to Churchill, Manitoba,
Polar Bear capital of the world. They paddled with Beluga Whales and saw Polar Bears and sub-arctic birds. An
amazing combination of wildlife, scenery, native culture and small town feel.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85174584120?pwd=MH4guDTJgMdDh1X9bIqENNez10UEY5.1
ID: 851 7458 4120
Passcode: 835413
Stroll with a Naturalist: Nesting Birds at Riveredge Nature Center
Thursday, June 10
Details HERE
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Fox River Park South with Goss Bird Club
Saturday, June 13
Details HERE
Milwaukee Public Museum’s Bioblitz at Wehr Nature Center
Saturday, June 13
Details HERE
Guided Bird Hike Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
Sunday, June 14
Details and Registration HERE
Nesting Types and Strategies Seminar at Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
Tuesday, June 16
Details and registration HERE
Field Illustration for Birders at Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
Saturday, June 20
Details and registration HERE
Stroll with a Naturalist: Bird Songsters at Riveredge Nature Center
Thursday, June 25
Details HERE
Kanow Park + Rock River Jefferson with Goss Bird Club
Saturday, June 20
Details 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 : May 1-31
- 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