Statewide Birding Report as of March 12, 2020

Northern Wisconsin experienced its first significant migration action this week, most notably including hundreds of bald eagles and dozens of golden eagles headed north on March 8 and 11. Other raptors observed there included the first northern harriers, American kestrels, merlins, and sharp-shinned, red-tailed, and rough-legged hawks. Waterbirds like trumpeter swans, Canada geese, herring and ring-billed gulls, and a few ducks such as common and hooded mergansers also made a move into the region. Songbird migration was more limited but included some American robins and purple finches. Night sounds included calling great horned, barred, and northern saw-whet owls, while drumming ruffed grouse were also reported.

Across southern and central Wisconsin, migration was much more pronounced. Skeins of Canada geese flooded in, along with a few cackling geese and good numbers of greater white-fronted geese highlighted by 1500 tallied in Jefferson County on March 7. Ducks moved into increasing amounts of open water, including wood duck, northern shoveler, American wigeon, ring-necked duck, redhead, scaup, red-breasted merganser, and the duck-like American coot. While some tundra swans overwintered in Madison, flocks of new migrants arrived to the Manitowoc, Brown, Outagamie region on March 7, with a few seen elsewhere such as on the Mississippi River. Trumpeters have become increasingly widespread and numerous, even across the south, so be careful with your identification of these species (easiest cue is their call). The first whooping cranes have returned, more sandhills are showing up daily, and red-shouldered hawks were reported as far north as Sawyer county. American woodcock, eastern bluebird, turkey vulture, and red-winged blackbird were reported as far north as Door, Marathon, and Burnett counties. The first nestlings/chicks were reported for both great horned owl and bald eagle.

There were no significant rarities found this week. The week ahead should see limited migration activity through the weekend given unfavorable north winds and cooler temperatures. Then winds are forecast to turn south on Monday and Wednesday, which should bring another influx of new birds to the state. Look for more tundra swans, great blue herons, meadowlarks, and waterfowl across the southern half of the state, as well as the first dark-eyed juncos, red-winged blackbirds, common grackles, and more robins across the north. As always, find out what others are seeing and help us track the migration by reporting your observations to www.ebird.org/wi. Good birding!

– Ryan Brady, DNR Natural Heritage Conservation Program biologist