Sunday, Forest Beach migratory preserve, 8:00 am
4970 Country Club Rd, Port Washington, WI 53074
This trip should be much, much warmer than the last time we went! A former golf course with over 100-acres of restored land, Forest Beach has a number of great bird habitats. There are small ponds, wetlands, conifer stands, open grasslands, and a large tract of woods. On the Northeastern corner of the property is a viewing platform for fall Hawk watches. It is amazing to see raptors flying south along the shore from that vantage point. The Ozaukee-Washington Birding Coalition’s October Hawk Watch is worth attending.
Website: https://www.restoringlands.org/forest-beach-migratory-preserve
eBird: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L631950
Trails: Mix of grass, mulch, and paved paths
Restrooms: None, nearest stop is at Rick’s Lighthouse Mart Mobil Station just off exit 100, intersection of Hwy 32 and East Seven Hills Rd
Park map: Habitat map: https://www.restoringlands.org/_files/ugd/949e20_462f951754524429a7e0b667930c2fb0.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
Care about Birds? Live in city of Milwaukee? Support the Urban Bird Treaty. Learn more and complete digital postcard HERE
Curious about Jones Island? This is your chance. Free tour this Saturday.
Have you birded all the land trust properties? Learn more about the properties at the Wisconsin Land Trust Days running July 2 through September 27.
Last Week
We went to Retzer Nature Center to find Bobolinks, and we found them. They were flying, fluttering, singing (if we can call it that), and perching. Saw 10 males, and we assume there were females that we weren’t seeing. Other highlights included Field Sparrows, Eastern Towhee, Rose-breasted Grosbeak pair, Indigo Buntings, and both kinds of orioles. We did not see or hear a Henslow’s Sparrow; our consolation prize was hearing a Black-billed Cuckoo as it flew into cover by the nature center. It was a beautiful summer day. Thanks to the twenty birders who made the ride out to Waukesha. Check out Andy’s post at Signs of Life on Estabrook Park for more pics. Thanks to Lisa Miller, Jeff Bentoff, and John Kaspar for pictures. And thanks to John for doing such a thorough job with the eBird list!
Pic Jeff Bentoff
Pic Jeff Bentoff
pic Lisa Miller
pic John Kaspar
pic John Kaspar
Upcoming Bird Talks & walks:
Have a birding event to share? email us on the Contact Page
JUNE
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
JULY
Understanding Bird Populations and How They Change
Wednesday, July 8 7:00-8:30 pm, Riveredge Nature Center
Ozaukee-Washington Bird Coalition presents Bill Mueller speaking on which populations are up, which are down and why. Join in-person or by zoom. Details HERE
Guided Hike: Avian Insectivores
Sunday, July 12, Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
Details and registration HERE
Field Adventure: Birding by Canoe
Saturday, July 18, Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
Details and registration HERE
Seminar: Birds of the Evening
Tuesday, July 28, Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
Details and registration HERE
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Check out Milwaukee Birders on Facebook and Instagram 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 : June 22-30
- Baran Park
- Honey Creek Pkwy 3
- Melody View Preserve
- Pulaski Park (Cudahy)
- Root River Pkwy 15 (no trails)
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!
June bird surveys needed at these locations- all are ebird hotspots
- Berg Property (off LO west a little bit from Mukwonago Park)- needs 4 surveys
- Fox Bend Park- needs 8 shared surveys (access through St Martins Woods SNA or Big Bend Park but don’t count bird in BBP)
- Ice Age Monches segment- needs 4 surveys
- Nagawaukee Park (pass or daily fee) – looking for 5 shared surveys
- Ashippun Lake – Waukesha County- (free)- looking for 5 shared surveys
- Ashippun River Greenway- free- needs 8 shared surveys
- Nagawaukee Boat Launch- boat pass or daily fee- needs 8 shared surveys