State birding report: First signs of spring migration!
Signs of spring after a winter for the record books
This week saw the first good signs of spring migration in southern Wisconsin, with everything from sandhill cranes, to red-winged blackbirds, to tundra swans. More migrants will be coming over the week ahead with a looming warm-up and southerly winds...
Meanwhile, winter 2017-18 is going down in history as one of the SNOWiest on record in Wisconsin, eclipsing the previous high sightings of snowy owls, and Prairie du Chien celebrates Bald Eagle Appreciation Days on Feb. 23-24.
Statewide Birding Report
This week saw the first good signs of spring migration in southern Wisconsin. Birders reported an increase in duck numbers and diversity at various sites such as Lower Mud Lake and the Yahara River in Dane County. Among them were the first greater white-fronted geese, both mute and tundra swans, and no fewer than 13 duck species. A great blue heron was reported in Dodge and the first sandhill cranes in both Dane and Walworth counties. Last but not least, the first red-winged blackbirds were reported from multiple counties in southeastern Wisconsin. Expect more migrants over the week ahead, especially early next week with a looming warm-up and southerly winds. Winter 2017-18 will go down as one of the SNOWiest on record in Wisconsin ("SNOW" is the four-letter code representing snowy owl) as an estimated 280 snowy owls have been documented through February 1, eclipsing the previous high of 253 tallied in 2013-14 and 240+ in 2014-15. Get the latest snowy owl update. Bald eagles are much more common in Wisconsin than a generation ago but seeing them is still special, and Bald Eagle Appreciation Days in Prairie du Chien, Feb. 23-24, lets you see these majestic birds up close in nature and in live educational programs. Visit DNR's Natural Heritage Conservation booth on Saturday to see eagle nest videos, register to win a bald eagle license plate, and get your birding questions answered by Conservation Biologist, Rich Staffen. - Ryan Brady, conservation biologist, Ashland