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By 2010 Field Trip Committee members Peter Fissel, Levi Wood, Aaron Stutz, and Karl Legler
Click Here for a quick 2010 Field Trip Summary List
Mark these dates on your calendar and join us on these outings!
Individual field trip details including location, time, and contact info are usually posted about
a month in advance, in the CAWS newsletter and on this website. Also check the MadisonAudubon.org home page and message board for any last minute updates and additional special field trips.
Field trips are free, open to non-members, families, and children, and no sign-up is required unless noted. Enjoy birds, nature, and learning in the company of folks who can help you appreciate more of the world we share.
We will try to stick to this schedule, but unforeseen circumstances may cause changes. Voluntary carpooling at take-off locations is encouraged, carpool riders are expected to share expenses with drivers.
Also check out Jefferson/Dodge County Bird Walks (affiliated with MAS)
Click the Month names below to expand the list to show field trips and trip detail that has been posted so far. Details about field trips are posted as they become available, usually a month or so in advance. Also check for updates in the current CAWS newsletter
and last minute changes in the Message Board.
JANUARY Field Trips
| Friday | January 1 | New Year's Sunrise at Faville Grove Marsh | David Musolf & Roger Packard
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Slip into your Long Johns and warm winter jacket and join us
for the annual New Year’s Day sunrise field trip at Faville Grove
Sanctuary. We meet at Buddy’s Place, the old farmstead at N7710
Hwy 89, at 6:55 a.m. If there is good snow and you have snowshoes,
bring them along. Otherwise, sturdy boots for uneven
terrain will do. We will enjoy the predawn light as we meander
through the prairie, arriving at the marsh overlook by 7:23 a.m.
to see the sun rise over the Faville Grove Marsh. We will then
spend the early morning exploring the winter marsh and surrounding
uplands. From I-94, take the Lake Mills/Waterloo exit
and go north on Hwy. 89 about 2.5 miles. The driveway is on the
right immediately past North Shore Rd., which intersects from
the left. Volunteer sanctuary managers David Musolf and Roger
Packard will lead the trip.
| | Saturday | January 9 | Wisconsin River Raptors | Marty Evanson
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Come watch eagles soar over the Wisconsin River!Marty Evanson will lead this trip
to Sauk Prairie to search for soaring raptors and other wintering birds. Likely finds
include Bald Eagle, Rough-legged Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, and American Kestrel.
Other possibilities include Cooper’s Hawk, Northern Harrier, and Northern Shrike.
We will check the river and Prairie du Sac dam for waterfowl and gulls. You may
want to bring a snack as the trip will last until noon. If you have a scope, please bring
it along. Dress appropriately for the weather. We will meet at 8 a.m. to carpool from
the parking lot of Copp’s Supermarket at 6800 Century Ave. in Middleton.
Riders are expected to share expenses with drivers. Contact Marty Evanson 608/271-6846
with questions.
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FEBRUARY Field Trips
| Saturday | February 13 | Great Backyard Bird Count |
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You are invited to take part in the
13th annual Great Backyard Bird Count
on one or more days from Friday, Feb.
12, through Monday, Feb. 15, 2010.
Participants in the free event will join
tens of thousands of volunteers of all
levels of birding experience to count
birds in their own backyards, local parks
or wildlife refuges.
To pique your interest, here’s a short
quiz (don’t peek at the answers below!).
In 2009, observers from across North
America submitted 93,629 checklists
reporting 11,550,200 individual birds of
619 species (181,350 birds of 122 species
were reported in Wisconsin). What
were the four most frequently reported
birds in North America? In Wisconsin?
What were the four most numerous
species reported in North America? In
Wisconsin? You may be surprised!
Each checklist submitted by “citizen
scientists” helps create the continent’s
largest instantaneous snapshot of bird
populations ever recorded, which will
help researchers at the Cornell Lab of
Ornithology and the National Audubon
Society learn more about how the birds
are doing and how to protect them.
Anyone can take part in the Great
Backyard Bird Count, from novice bird
watchers to experts. Participants count
birds for as little as 15 minutes (or as
long as they wish) on one or more days
of the event and report their sightings
online at http:www.birdcount.org.
For more results, see http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/learning/
topbirds, and for other exciting updates
and summaries, review the web content at
http://www.birdcount.org. There, you can explore maps, see
beautiful photos, see tips to help identify
birds, explore special materials for
educators, and much more.
Quiz answers: The four most
frequently reported birds in North
America were Northern Cardinal,
Mourning Dove, Dark-eyed Junco, and
American Goldfinch. In Wisconsin they
were Black-capped Chickadee, American
Goldfinch, Downy Woodpecker, and
White-breasted Nuthatch. The four most
numerous species in North America
were Snow Goose, Canada Goose,
American Robin, and European Starling.
In Wisconsin, they were Canada Goose,
Pine Siskin, American Goldfinch, and
Common Redpoll.
| | Saturday | February 20 | Annual Gull Frolic At Winthrop Harbor |
Paul Noeldner
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This is the most fun you'll have in February! Come to the Saturday February 20, 2010 9th Annual Gull Frolic at Winthrop Harbor, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. just across the Wisconsin/Illinois border on Lake Michigan at the Winthrop Harbor Yacht Club, go to the end of 7th Street near Skipper buds. Indoor and outdoor activities, food provided, cost is $10. Bring loaves of bread to chum for gulls! Lots of gulls and lots of people, try to spot the rare one! Sponsored by the Illinois Ornithological Society. Click here for more details, speaker agenda, and fun pictures from last year http://www.lakecookaudubon.org/Gull_Frolic_Illinois.php
This field trip is on-your-own, cost is $10, use the Message Board if you'd like to carpool. Contact paul_noeldner@hotmail.com or 608-698-0104 for more info. we want to make this an annual trip.
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MARCH Field Trips
| Saturday | March 6 | Early Spring Migrants | Steve Thiessen
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Steve Thiessen will lead this early
morning field trip to Mud Lake in
McFarland. Mud Lake is usually the
first body of water to thaw in our area,
so it attracts good concentrations of
spring migrating waterfowl. We will
meet at 7 a.m. at the south end of Lewis
Lane in McFarland. Bring a scope if
you have one. For more information
call Steve at (608) 873-3323.
| | Saturday | March 20 | Beginning Birding at Lakeshore Nature Preserve | Al Holzhueter
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Each spring, MAS sponsors many birding
field trips, and though the leaders attempt
to help new birders, it is not always possible
to answer all of their questions.
Picnic Point will be the site for beginners
to get their questions answered. This
area, at the west end of the UW campus,
offers varied habitats and a good opportunity
to observe a variety of waterfowl
and small birds. We will meet next to the
bus shelter in the parking lot by the 1918
Marsh (across from the entrance to Picnic
Point) at 7:30 a.m. Questions? Call Allen
Holzhueter at (608) 238-0546. Also offered
April 10 and April 24.
| | Sunday | March 28 | Spring Birding at Rose Lake | Nolan Kollath
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Rose Lake State Natural Area is a hidden
gem acquired by Jefferson County
with assistance from Madison Audubon.
For a description of Rose Lake and what
we expect to see on this trip, click on
Sanctuaries on the MAS web site. We
hope to see many ducks, geese (including
Greater White-fronted), cranes and shorebirds.
In addition to the lake, we will tour
woodlot and prairie habitats. Rose Lake
is adjacent to Dorothy Carnes County
Park, which is just west of Fort Atkinson
off US Hwy. 12. The only entrance is well
marked. Meet in the parking lot at 9 a.m.
and stay as long as you like. If you have
questions, contact Nolan Kollath at (920)
648-3842 or nkollath@charter.net
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APRIL Field Trips
| 3rd Weekends | April-Sept | Jefferson/Dodge County Birdwalks |
Jefferson/Dodge County Birdwalks
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Despite the cold, April is not all that far
away! We will be starting the third
season of the successful Jefferson and
Dodge County Birdwalks as soon as
April arrives. As previously, the walks will
be led by experienced birders. Leaders
include Nolan Kollath, lifelong birder
and former instructor at Madison Area
Technical College, Watertown; Karen
Etter Hale, Executive Secretary, Madison
Audubon Society; and Brad and Royan
Webb, members of the Horicon Marsh
Bird Club. The walks are affiliated with
the Madison Audubon Society.
Jefferson and Dodge counties have
thousands of acres of prime bird watching
habitat. We manage our walks under
the rule “go where the birds are” so we
choose walk sites close to the scheduled
date. As we firm up the schedule, we
will post the information on our website,
http://www.theropod.org/walks.html.
We will again be holding our walks on
the third weekend of the month, April
through September. You can join our mailing
list at the website and be notified of
all upcoming walks as soon as they are
planned. We will not give out any information
you provide and only use the list
to keep people informed about the walks.
We had a lot of fun with good birds,
good company and pleasant walks last
year. We’d be happy to have you join us
this year for more of the same. All experience
levels are welcome.
| | Saturday | April 3 | Spring Birds of Columbia Co. | Tony Kalenic & Carol Anderson
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Tony Kalenic and Carol Anderson will
lead this car birding trip through northern
Dane and southern Columbia counties
to look for early spring migrants and
late winter birds. We hope to see migrating
swans, geese and other water birds.
Meet to carpool at 8 a.m. in the parking
lot of the Copp’s supermarket at 6800
Century Ave. in Middleton. You can also
join the group at 9:30 a.m. at
Goose Pond. Bring your binoculars, a
scope if you have one, and a snack, as the
trip may last to early afternoon. Call Tony
and Carol at (608) 249-8836 for questions.
| | Saturday | April 10 | Spring Birding at Lake Farm Park | Pat Ready
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Spring has sprung! This field trip focuses
on birding the Lake Farm County Park
area and nearby open water. Lake
Waubesa and Upper Mud Lake should
have a variety of ducks. On the trails we
may find Yellow-rumped Warblers, phoebes,
thrushes and a variety of sparrows.
Bring a scope for viewing the lake. This
trip will be from 9 -11 a.m. Meet at the No.
1 shelter parking lot. Take South Town Rd.
south from the Beltline to Moorland Rd.
and turn left. Continue to Libby Rd. and
turn left again. The shelter lot is a few
blocks up on your left. Call Pat Ready at
(608) 873-1703 for more info.
| | Saturday | April 10 | Beginning Birding | Al Holzhueter
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Each spring, MAS sponsors many birding
field trips, and though the leaders attempt
to help new birders, it is not always possible
to answer all of their questions.
Picnic Point will be the site for beginners
to get their questions answered. This
area, at the west end of the UW campus,
offers varied habitats and a good opportunity
to observe a variety of waterfowl
and small birds. We will meet next to the
bus shelter in the parking lot by the 1918
Marsh (across from the entrance to Picnic
Point) at 7:30 a.m. Questions? Call Allen
Holzhueter at (608) 238-0546. Also offered
March 20 and April 24.
| | Friday | April 16 | Evening at Schoeneberg's Marsh and Erstad Prairie | Mark & Sue Martin
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Come join us for an evening birding tour
at Erstad Prairie - Schoeneberg Marsh
Waterfowl Production Area. Water conditions
are still high from last year and water levels
probably will increase with snow melt.
The high water should provide ideal habitat
for wetland birds. If you have not visited the
area lately you are in for a change. Harvey
Road has been abandoned shortly after our
parking lot and the Fish and Wildlife Service
has established a hiking trail off Priem Road.
We will hike the abandoned road and also hike
the trail off Priem Road. Meet at our parking lot
on Harvey Road at 6:30 p.m.
Directions: From the intersection of Highways
22, 51, and 60 in North Leeds about 2 miles
northeast of Goose Pond, go east on Highway 60
for one mile then turn left (north) on Harvey Road
for .75 miles to the parking lot. To reach the
parking lot for the Priem Road trail go left (north)
on Harvey Road for .5 miles and turn left (west)
on Priem Road for about .25 miles. If you have
questions, contact Mark or Sue Foote-Martin
at goosep@chorus.net or (608) 635-4160.
| | Saturday | April 17 | Ice Age Trail | Gary Werner
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We’ll look for returning waterfowl and
grassland birds at Shoveler’s Sink, stroll
through the gorge cut by glacial meltwater
at the Cross Plains Ice Age National
Scientific Reserve, and search for pasque
flowers on the bluffs above. This 3-mile
walk traces the contrasting landscape of
glaciated and unglaciated (Driftless Area)
terrain along the route of the Ice Age
National Scenic Trail. Wear sturdy boots;
bring binoculars, water, and food; and
dress for the weather. Meet at 9 a.m. at
the intersection of Cleveland Rd. and Old
Sauk Pass. This is about three-fourths of
a mile south of U.S. Hwy. 14 in the Town
of Cross Plains. Contact trip leader Gary
Werner of the Dane County Chapter, Ice
Age Park & Trail Foundation, at (608) 249-
7870 with questions.
| | Sunday | April 18 | Visit Faville Grove Sanctuary West | Lars Higdon
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Experience Madison Audubon Society’s
Faville Grove Sanctuary with sanctuary
ecologist and land steward, Lars Higdon.
Participants will hike through northwestern
Jefferson County’s recessional glacial
terrain while viewing its attendant array
of plant communities (wetland, prairie,
sedge meadow, perched tamarack bog,
fen, savanna, and woodland). We expect
to see Sandhill Cranes, various migratory
waterfowl and songbirds, hawks, grassland
birds and other resident species. It
is not unusual to see at least one flock of
cormorants enroute to Green Bay. The
field trip will last 2-3 hours. Meet at the
west unit of the sanctuary at 7:15 a.m.
From Madison, travel east on I-94 to the
Lake Mills/Waterloo exit, then go 3 miles
north on Hwy. 89 to the old farmstead at
N7710 Hwy. 89. If you have questions, call
Lars at (608) 220-9563.
| | Friday | April 23 | Evening at Cherokee Marsh | Tony Kalenic & Levi Wood
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We‘ll see cranes, observe the courtship
flight of woodcock and snipe, and see
several spring migrants. Meet at 6:30 p.m.
at the Cherokee Marsh parking lot at the
north end of Sherman Ave., on Madison’s
north side. Waterproof footwear is recommended.
Trip leaders are Levi Wood and
Tony Kalenic. For questions, call Levi at
(608) 277-7959.
| | Saturday | April 24 | Beginning Birding | Al Holzhueter
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Each spring, MAS sponsors many birding
field trips, and though the leaders attempt
to help new birders, it is not always possible
to answer all of their questions.
Picnic Point will be the site for beginners
to get their questions answered. This
area, at the west end of the UW campus,
offers varied habitats and a good opportunity
to observe a variety of waterfowl
and small birds. We will meet next to the
bus shelter in the parking lot by the 1918
Marsh (across from the entrance to Picnic
Point) at 7:30 a.m. Questions? Call Allen
Holzhueter at (608) 238-0546. Also offered
March 20 and April 10.
| | Sunday | April 25 | Baraboo Hills Spring Wildflowers and Birds | Mike Mossman
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Come visit the Carla and Harold Kruse
Preserve in Honey Creek Valley of the
Baraboo Hills. This is at the head of the
WSO's and TNC's Honey Creek State
Natural Area and includes the beautiful
waterfall, a mesic stream gorge, dry bedrock
glade, a rich array of spring ephemerals,
and many forest interior breeding birds.
Come rain or shine. We'll look for flowers
and early migrants, and discuss the ecology,
history and management of the site and its
surroundings.
If you're willing to pick some garlic mustard,
you may want to bring some light gloves.
Bags generously provided.
We'll meet at 8am at the Adams farmstead
just off Hwy D. From Sauk City, drive 2 miles
north on Hwy 12. Turn left (west) on Hwy PF
and follow it 16 mi. Go left (north) on Hwy D
0.7 mi, and where the highway bends right,
turn left onto the Adams driveway. Park along
it, near the farmstead. We'll be back at the cars
by 11:30, a bit later if you opt to pick GM.
This is an easy hike but along poor trails that
may be muddy, about 1 mile total. Questions?
Call Mike Mossman at 608-544-5501.
| | Thursday | April 29 | Warbler Walk at Pheasant Branch | Mike McDowell and Aaron Stutz
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Join us for the first of MAS’s early morning
warbler walks. We will be looking for migrating
warblers as well as vireos, thrushes,
tanagers and whatever else flies by. Meet at 6
a.m. and park at the dead-end that leads up to
Parisi Park near where Park Lawn St. meets
Park St., Middleton. Mike McDowell (608)
831-9989 or mike@birddigiscoper.com.
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MAY Field Trips
| Saturday | May 1 | Birding at Wyalusing State Park | Quentin Yoerger & Charles Naeseth
| | Saturday | May 1 | Lakeshore Nature Preserve Bird Hike | Peter Fissel & Dan Doeppers
| | Sunday | May 2 | Wisconsin River Bottoms | Chris West
| | Tuesday | May 4 | Warbler Walk at the Arboretum | Levi Wood
| | Wednesday | May 5 | Turville Point Spring Ephemerals | Russ Hefty
| | Wednesday | May 5 | Warbler Walk at Turville Point | Peter Fissel
| | Thursday | May 6 | Warbler Walk at Pheasant Branch | Mike McDowell and Dottie Johnson
| | Saturday | May 8 | Big Birding Day | Chuck Heikkinen & Delia Unson
| | Tuesday | May 11 | Warbler Walk at the Arboretum | John Feith and Jim Berkelman
| | Wednesday | May 12 | Warbler Walk at Turville Point | Peter Fissel
| | Thursday | May 13 | Warbler Walk at Pheasant Branch | Jesse Peterson and Mike McDowell
| | Thursday | May 13 | Evening at Token Creek | Ed Saur
| | Friday | May 14 | Evening Birding at Nine Springs | Peter Fissel, Dan Doeppers & Pat Ready
| | Saturday | May 15 | Birding Horicon Marsh | Levi Wood & Pat Ready
| | Saturday | May 15 | Bird Banding Biocore Prairie Bird Observatory | Mara McDonald
| | Sunday | May 16 | Birding at Zeloski Marsh | Nolan Kollath
| | Monday | May 17 | Butterflies of Bauer-Brockway Barrens (Jackson Co.) | Mike Reese
| | Saturday | May 22 | Badger Ordinace Tour | Mike Mossman
| | Sunday | May 23 | Birding Governor Dodge State Park | John Romano
| | Thursday | May 27 | Evening at Pheasant Branch | Mike McDowell
| | Saturday | May 29 | Janesville's Cook Arboretum | Tom Klubertanz
| | Sunday | May 30 | Birding at Baxter's Hollow | Aaron Stutz
| | Sat/Sun/Mon | May 29-31 | Lake Lucerne Memorial Day Weekend Birding | Paul Noeldner
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JUNE Field Trips
| Saturday | June 5 | Birds of Devil’s Lake & Baxter's Hollow | Chuck Heikkinen & Delia Unson
| | Thursday | June 10 | Owen Park Wildlife Ponds | Russ Hefty
| | Thursday | June 17 | Evening at Black Earth Prairie | Kathie & Tom Brock
| | Saturday | June 19 | Grassland Birding in Western Dane & Eastern Iowa Counties | Dave Sample & Steve Richter
| | Saturday | June 19 | Butterflies of Cherokee Marsh | Kathy Kirk
| | Saturday | June 26 | Madison School Forest--Forest Ecology | Scott Taylor
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JULY Field Trips
| Saturday | July 3 | Madison Butterfly Count | Karl & Dorothy Legler
| | Monday | July 5 | Butterflies, Dragonflies & Picnic at Swamp-Lovers | Karl & Dorothy Legler
| | Saturday | July 10 | Moths: Denizens of Darkness | Mark Evans
| | Saturday | July 10 | Flowers and Butterflies of Schurch-Thomson Prairie | Rich Henderson & Ann Thering
| | Sunday | July 11 | Tour Faville Grove Sanctuary East | Lars Higdon
| | Sunday | July 11 | Butterflies & Dragonflies of Sandhill Wildlife Area | Ron Arnold
| | Wednesday | July 14 | Oak Savannah and Effigy Mounds at Edna Taylor | Russ Hefty
| | Saturday | July 17 | Pretty Things with Wings at Lakeshore Nature Preserve | Edgar Spalding
| | Sunday | July 18 | Prairies at their Peak | Kathie & Tom Brock
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AUGUST Field Trips
| Saturday | August 7 | Goose Pond Prairie Restoration | Mark & Sue Martin
| | Saturday | August 14 | Butterflies of the Avoca/Blue River Area | Mike Reese
| | Saturday | August 14 | Shorebirds of Southern Wisconsin | Peter Fissel, Quentin Yorger & John Romano
| | Sunday | August 15 | Canoe Cherokee Marsh Ecological Restoration | Russ Hefty
| | Thursday | August 26 | Fall Warbler Walk at Pheasant Branch | Mike McDowell
| | Saturday | August 28 | Butterflies and Blossoms at Pheasant Branch | Breux Watermolen
| | Sunday | August 29 | Fall Birding at Lakeshore Nature Preserve | Marty Evanson
| | Tuesday | August 31 | Warbler Walk at Turville Point | Peter Fissel
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SEPTEMBER Field Trips
| Thursday | September 2 | Warbler Walk at Turville Point | Peter Fissel
| | Thursday | September 2 | Evening Tour of Owen Park | Sylvia Marek
| | Saturday | September 4 | Grasshoppers! | Kathy Kirk
| | Saturday | September 4 | Birding Madison School Forest | Peter Fissel, Peter Gorman & Nolan Pope
| | Monday | September 6 | Pleasant Valley Conservancy Tour | Kathie & Tom Brock
| | Wednesday | September 8 | Prairie Ridge Conservation Tour | Russ Hefty
| | Saturday | September 11 | Bird Banding Biocore Prairie Bird Observatory | Mara McDonald
| | Sunday | September 19 | Birding Zeloski Marsh | Nolan Kollath
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OCTOBER Field Trips
| Saturday | October 2 | Saw-whet Owl Banding near Stevens Point | Levi Wood & Mara McDonald
| | Saturday | October 2 | Fall Birding at Lakeshore Nature Preserve | Eric Wood & Peter Fissel
| | Saturday | October 9 | Migrant Songbirds of Pheasant Branch Conservancy | Mike McDowell
| | Sunday | October 24 | Goose Pond Adventure | Dorothy Haines & Pat Ready
| | Saturday | October 30 | Migrant Songbirds of Pheasant Branch Conservancy | Mike McDowell
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NOVEMBER Field Trips
| Sunday | November 7 | Lake Michigan Birding | Aaron Stutz
| | Saturday | November 13 | Mississippi Waterfowl | Chris West
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DECEMBER Field Trips
| Saturday | December 4 | Madison Lakes | Al Shea
| | Saturday | December 18 | Madison Christmas Bird Count | Aaron Stutz
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JANUARY 2011 Field Trips
| Saturday | January 1, 2011 | New Year's Sunrise at Faville Grove Marsh | David Musolf & Roger Packard
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