Spring Migrants are arriving!
Statewide Birding Report
Spring is finally making headway across much of Wisconsin. Early migrants such as American robins, common grackles, killdeer, great blue herons, and red-winged blackbirds have reached north to Lake Superior. Birders in southern Wisconsin are seeing their first eastern phoebes, fox sparrows, rusty blackbirds, Yellow-rumped warblers, ospreys, and both kinglet species. Ice prevails across many bodies of water but flooded fields and other areas of open water are hosting many waterfowl as numbers build and peak in the next few weeks. Tundra swans made a major move into the eastern half of the state this past week with 2,000-3,000 being seen near Green Bay. Eagle migration has peaked and resident birds have initiated nesting activities. Spring raptor migration will very soon pick up as red-tailed hawks, turkey vultures, red-shouldered hawks, sharp-shinned hawks, and other species head north. Mid-late April also marks the best time to witness the elaborative courtship displays of American woodcock statewide, greater prairie chickens near Buena Vista, spruce grouse in northern conifer bogs, and sharp-tailed grouse in the sand barrens of northwestern Wisconsin. Owls continue to make headlines, including great gray owls in Middleton, Mauston, and the far northwest. Other rare birds reported this week include ruff and Eurasian wigeon in Dodge County. Expect increases in bird diversity and abundance ahead of each warm weather front over the next two months. As always, help us track the migration by reporting our observations to Wisconsin eBird at www.ebird.org/wi. - Ryan Brady, Bureau of Wildlife Management research scientist, Ashland.
Spring is finally making headway across much of Wisconsin. Click on the link to read the latest Statewide Birding Report! Make sure to join DNR biologists for an online chat at 12PM on Wednesday April 10th to talk birds and spring bird migration! To participate, visit the DNR home page, dnr.wi.us click on the link for "ask the experts."