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2010 Field Trip Committee: Peter Fissel, Levi Wood, Aaron Stutz, and Karl Legler
Click Here for a quick 2010 Field Trip Summary List Also check out Jefferson/Dodge County Bird Walks (affiliated with MAS)
Mark these dates on your calendar and join us on these outings! 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.
Click the Month names below to expand the list to show field trips and trip detail that has been posted so far. Field Trip details about meeting times, directions and contacts are published in this page below, and in the current CAws newsletter, as they become available, usually a month or so in advance. Also check the Home Page Calendar and the Message Board for any last minute updates and additional special field trips.
JANUARY Field Trips
| Friday | January 1 | New Year's Sunrise at Faville Grove Marsh | David Musolf & Roger Packard
| |
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
| |
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 |
| |
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
| |
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
| |
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
| |
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
| |
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.
| | Thursday | April 8 | Frogs Night Out | Bob Hay
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Bring a sense of adventure on this trip,cosponsored by Wisconsin WetlandsAssociation, as you look at the world froma different perspective—through sounds.Besides listening for a variety of frogcalls, participants will learn about froglifestyles and wetlands ecology. Meet atthe Mazomanie Wildlife Area at 6:45 p.m.From Hwy. 14 in Mazomanie, drive northon County Hwy. Y for about four miles.Just before the highway bends to the east(right), turn left on Law’s Dr. Travel on theaccess road about a quarter mile and turnleft onto the first gravel road. Follow thisabout one and a half miles until it deadendsat a parking lot. Bring a flashlightand dress for wet conditions. The trip willbe canceled if the daytime high temperatureis below 45°F or in the event of verystrong winds or heavy rain. The rain dateis April 15. Call trip leader Bob Hay onlyif you have questions. (608) 829-3123.
| | Saturday | April 10 | Spring Birding at Lake Farm Park | Pat Ready
| |
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
| |
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
| |
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
| |
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
| |
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
| |
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
| |
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
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Quentin Yoerger and Charles Naeseth will
lead this trip to Wyalusing State Park, which
overlooks the confluence of the Wisconsin and
Mississippi Rivers. The Mississippi is a major
migration route for numerous birds and the
rugged bluffs make this breathtaking scenery a
beautiful spot for a spring adventure. Observe
hawks, warblers (including Yellow-throated),
lots of other birds and a few spring wildflow-
ers. Bring a lunch as this trip will last until
mid-afternoon. Carpool at 5 a.m. from the
Home Depot parking lot on Verona Rd.
(just south of the Beltline). If you have
questions, contact Quentin at (608) 882-6078
or harrierqman@gmail.com
| | Saturday | May 1 | Lakeshore Nature Preserve Bird Hike | Peter Fissel & Dan Doeppers
| |
We anticipate a pleasant spring morning of
birding at one of Madison’s birding hot spots.
With lots of shoreline, open water and a vari-
ety of woods, wetlands and open areas, Picnic
Point is known for its diversity of birds. We
can anticipate finding waterfowl, gulls, terns,
blackbirds, wrens, woodpeckers, thrushes,
orioles, vireos, early warblers, and a host of
sparrows. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the 1918 Marsh
parking lot across University Bay Dr. from
Picnic Point, north of the UW hospital. The
trip will last 2-3 hours with an opportunity
to extend longer. Cosponsor: Friends of the
Lakeshore Nature Preserve. Dan Doeppers
(608) 255-3013 and Peter Fissel (608) 226-
0260 or pfissel@library.wisc.edu
| | Sunday | May 2 | Wisconsin River Bottoms | Chris West
| |
The trip will meet at 6:30 a.m. in the parking
lot at Mazomanie Bottoms (located about 3
miles north of Mazomanie on CTH Y & Laws
Dr.) The trip will visit several locations west
of Mazomanie along the Wisconsin River bot-
toms including Arena Boat Landing, Spring
Green Preserve, Bakken’s Pond and Blue River
Sand Barrens. Depending on the amount of
rain we get this spring, we may also stop
along CTH G and CTH JJ in Spring Green for
shorebirds. Probable passerines include many
warblers, Lark Sparrow, Grasshopper Sparrow,
meadowlarks, some water birds including
Pied-billed Grebe, Sora, Black Tern, and
probably some shorebirds such as Least and
Semipalmated Sandpipers, various plovers,
etc. The trip should last until early afternoon.
It may be helpful to bring FRS radios along if
you have them. If you have questions, contact
trip leader Chris West at little_blue_birdie@
msn.com
| | Tuesday | May 4 | Warbler Walk at the Arboretum | Levi Wood
| |
This is one of a handful of annual early
morning warbler walks to be held in the UW
Arboretum, looking for migrating warblers
as well as vireos, thrushes, tanagers and
whatever else flies by. Meet at 6:00 a.m. in the
Arboretum at the Wingra/Galistel Woods
parking lot along Arboretum Dr. Enter the
Arboretum from the east off Mills St. If you
enter from the west (Seminole Hwy.) you will
have to walk from the McKay Center parking
area. Levi Wood (608) 277-7959.
| | Wednesday | May 5 | Turville Point Spring Ephemerals | Russ Hefty
| |
Turville Point has one of Madison's best displays
of spring ephemeral wildflowers. It also is the
largest remaining area of natural shoreline on
Lake Monona which benefits a wide variety of
wildlife. Learn about current oak woodland
restoration efforts in the park. Meet at the parking
lot closest to the stop lights at Olin Ave, and
John Nolen Drive at 6:30p.m. Russ Hefty
(608) 267-4918
| | Wednesday | May 5 | Warbler Walk at Turville Point | Peter Fissel
| |
This is the first of several early morning walks
to be held at Turville Point. We will look for
migrating warblers, tanagers, vireos, thrushes, etc.
Meet at 6:00 a.m. at the south parking lot at Olin-
Turville Park, off John Nolen drive across from
the Alliant Center. Quentin Yoerger (608) 882-
6078 or Peter Fissel (608) 226-0260
| | Thursday | May 6 | Warbler Walk at Pheasant Branch | Mike McDowell and Dottie Johnson
| |
Join us for one of MAS’s early morning war-
bler walks. We’ll look for migrating warblers
as well as vireos, thrushes, tanagers and what-
ever else flies by. Meet at 6:00 a.m. and park
at the dead-end that leads up to Parisi Park
near where Park Lawn St. meets Park St. in
Middleton. May 6: Dottie Johnson and Mike
McDowell (608) 831-9989 or
mike@birddigiscoper.com;
| | Saturday | May 8 | Big Birding Day | Chuck Heikkinen & Delia Unson
| |
Form or support a Team! This is an exciting full day of intense team birding in an area of your choice! BBD Teams compete for the maximum species count, and enjoy a great dinner and awards afterward. This is an annual Madison Audubon fundraiser, teams get pledges of a small donation per species seen - and it adds up to a lot! See the madisonaudubon.org home page for details on forming a team, BBD rules, and making pledges!
| | Tuesday | May 11 | Warbler Walk at the Arboretum | John Feith and Jim Berkelman
| |
Postponed to May 18 due to weather - see updated info below
| | Wednesday | May 12 | Warbler Walk at Turville Point | Peter Fissel
| |
This is one of several early morning walks to be held at Turville Point. We will look for migrating warblers, tanagers, vireos, thrushes, etc. Meet at 6:00 a.m. at the south parking lot at Olin- Turville Park, off John Nolen drive across from the Alliant Center. Quentin Yoerger (608) 882- 6078 or Peter Fissel (608) 226-0260
| | Thursday | May 13 | Warbler Walk at Pheasant Branch | Jesse Peterson and Mike McDowell
| |
Join us for one of MAS’s early morning war-
bler walks. We’ll look for migrating warblers
as well as vireos, thrushes, tanagers and what-
ever else flies by. Meet at 6:00 a.m. and park
at the dead-end that leads up to Parisi Park
near where Park Lawn St. meets Park St. in
Middleton. Jesse Peterson and Mike
McDowell (608) 831-9989 or
mike@birddigiscoper.com;
| | Thursday | May 13 | Evening at Token Creek | Ed Saur
| |
Though bordered by Hwy. 51 and I-90, Token
Creek County Park’s varied habitats hold spe-
cies such as Baltimore Oriole, Indigo Bunting
Brown Thrasher, Eastern Bluebird, Warbling
Vireo and several species of flycatchers. A
variety of migrant warblers are also possible.
Trip leader Ed Saur has lived in northeastern
Dane County and visited the park frequently
for more than 20 years. He atlased the park for
the Wisconsin Breeding Bird Atlas Project for
three years. The trip begins at 6:30 p.m. Token
Creek Co. Park is in the northeast quadrant of
the I-90-94 and Hwy. 51 interchange. It’s about
a half-mile north on Hwy. 51 from I-90-94 or
one-half mile south on Hwy. 51 from Hwy. 19
and just east of the Pine Cone Restaurant truck
stop. Brown signs mark the entrance. Wear
shoes that will keep your feet dry as some
trails may be wet. Meet at the parking lot at
the first building on the right. Ed Saur (608)
846-4482 or ejsaur@aol.com
| | Friday | May 14 | Evening Birding at Nine Springs | Peter Fissel, Dan Doeppers & Pat Ready
| |
This 2 .5 hour birding trip will visit one of the
more interesting and often overlooked bird-
ing spots in the Madison area to search for
shorebirds, herons, cranes, terns, swallows
and waterfowl. This area typically has good
mud flats, marsh and pond habitat. Meet at
6:30 p.m. at the E-Way parking lot along the
Capitol City Bike Trail on Moorland Road.
Bring a scope if you have one. This trip may
last until 9:00 p.m. or later. Dan Doeppers,
Peter Fissel pfissel@library.wisc.edu.
| | Saturday | May 15 | Birding Horicon Marsh | Levi Wood & Pat Ready
| |
With 268 species of birds identified in the
marsh, Horicon is one of the birding hot spots
in Wisconsin. At this time of year, in addition
to the nesting egrets, herons and waterfowl,
we hope to see plenty of warblers, vireos,
thrushes and other passerines. With luck we
will hear and maybe even see some of the
more elusive marsh birds, such as rails and
wrens. It may be mid-afternoon by the time
we head back to Madison, so bring a lunch.
To carpool, meet at the East side Cub Food
Store parking lot at 7:30 a.m. Reach Cub Food
via Hwy. 30 east to Hwy. 51. Go north on Hwy
51 and take the first right (Nakoosa Tr.) and
turn right again into the Cub Foods parking
lot. Passengers are expected to help pay for
gas. Pat Ready & Levi Wood (608) 277-7959.
| | Saturday | May 15 | Bird Banding Biocore Prairie Bird Observatory | Mara McDonald
| |
This easy spring field trip near Picnic Point
runs from 8 a.m. until noon. Come early or
later in the morning, stay the full time or
just a few minutes. See how birds are netted,
banded, measured and released, and discuss
how important information is gathered for
management and conservation purposes. You
can expect to see resident songbirds and a
variety of other migrating birds in the hand.
You can accompany bird banders to the nets
and observe how they remove birds, band
them, and measure the birds at the mobile sta-
tion. Bring insect repellent. To get to the band-
ing station, take Lake Mendota Dr. and park
at Frautschi Point. Walk south through the
woods, keeping Lake Mendota on your left,
onto the Biocore Prairie. Make sure you stay
on the trail closest to the lake. At the prairie,
follow the trail to your right, then left. The
banding station (a/k/a picnic table) is at the top
of the prairie. Visitors not able to walk are
asked to contact the trip leader ahead of time
for permission to drive you to the site. Contact:
Mara McDonald, mamcdona@wisc.edu or
(608) 274-2534 before 8:30 p.m., please.
| | Sunday | May 16 | Birding at Zeloski Marsh | Nolan Kollath
| |
Zeloski Marsh is a major stopover spot for
Wetland birds during migration. It also has
upland prairie and a wooded bog that attract
other species. For a description of Zeloski
Marsh see the MAS Sanctuaries webpage.Meet
at the DNR parking lot at the end of Alley Rd.
at 9:00 a.m. (about 45 min. from the west side
of Madison). Alley Rd. is off CTH S, south
of CTH B and north of CTH A. The Glacial
Drumlin Trail is nearby and is excellent for
warbler watching at this time of the year, so
make a day of it if you can. Picnic facilities are
at nearby Korth Park and Lake Mills is nearby
for food. Nolan Kollath, nkollath@charter.net
or (920) 648-3842.
| | Monday | May 17 | Butterflies of Bauer-Brockway Barrens (Jackson Co.) | Mike Reese
| |
The best place in the state to look for early
butterflies in May is Jackson County. Mike
Reese will lead us in finding and observing
many scarce and unusual species. We expect to
find various Elfins including the very rare
Frosted Elfin. We should find Olympia Marble,
Gorgone Checkerspot, Cobweb Skipper, Dreamy
and Sleepy Duskywings, etc. Bring binoculars
if you have them, close-focusing ones work best.
(A few extra pairs of binoculars are available.)
Also, bring a bag lunch and water. A hat, long
pants and long sleeves are recommended. This
is a joint trip with South. Wis. Butterfly Assoc.
Meet in Jackson Co. at 10:30 a.m. at the corner
of West Bauer Road and Brockway Road. We
will butterfly until 3:00 p.m. DIRECTIONS:
From the intersection of I-94 and Hwy 54 in
Black River Falls, go east on Hwy 54 approxi-
mately five miles to Brockway Road. Turn right
on Brockway and drive 2.5 miles south to West
Bauer Road. This area is about 2 hours or so
northwest of Madison. Participants must
PRE-REGISTER for this trip by calling Mike
at (920) 787-2341 (so we can contact you in
case of cancellation due to weather).
| | Tuesday | May 18 | Warbler Walk at the Arboretum | John Feith and Jim Berkelman
| |
The Tuesday, 5-11-10 MAS "Warbler Walk" has been postponed one week to Tuesday, 5-18-10, from 6:00 to 8:00 am at the UW Arboretum, Wingra Woods parking lot. After consultation with trip leaders John Feith and Jim > Berkelman it was decided that today's rain and wind would hinder the observation and hearing of birds. John Feith believes we will still have a fair number of migratory birds nest week with this week being cold with north winds. Please join the trip on May 18th when most of even the late migrating birds should be in the Madison area and finding > them among the fully leafed out trees should be an even greater challenge. Hopefully the weather will be warmer, less windy and no rain.
| | Saturday | May 22 | Cancelled Badger Ordnace Tour | Mike Mossman
| |
Sorry, this trip had to be cancelled due to cleanup and restoration work in progress.
| | Sunday | May 23 | Birding Governor Dodge State Park | John Romano
| |
Come join us when we bird in the 5,000 acre
Governor Dodge State Park in the driftless
area of southwest Wisconsin near Dodgeville.
Bird species seen on some recent field trips to
Governor Dodge include Bell’s Vireo, Yellow-
breasted Chat, Hooded Warbler, Acadian
Flycatcher, Orchard Oriole, Henslow’s and
Clay-Colored Sparrow. Trip Leader John
Romano has birded extensively here and
conducted the Breeding Bird Atlas work in
Governor Dodge. Meet to carpool and leave at
6:00 a.m. in front of the Home Depot located
one-quarter mile south of the Beltline off
Verona Rd. A Wisconsin (day) state park stick-
er is necessary to enter the park. We should
return around noon. John Romano (608) 238-
6039 or (608) 444-4351
| | Thursday | May 27 | Evening at Pheasant Branch | Mike McDowell
| |
Enjoy an evening warbler walk at Pheasant
Branch Conservancy, Middleton, on the Dane
County parcel. Migrating spring warblers,
vireos and thrushes will be the focus of our
search, but we’ll probably find other interest-
ing birds. To reach the Dane County parcel,
drive one and a half miles north on Pheasant
Branch Rd. from Century Ave. Go to the third
conservancy parking lot on the right after you
pass the Conservancy Condominiums. Meet
at 6:00 p.m. Mike McDowell (608) 831-9989
or mike@birddigiscoper.com
| | Saturday | May 29 | Janesville's Cook Arboretum | Tom Klubertanz
| |
Cook Arboretum, one of the premier bird-
ing spots in Rock County, offers a variety of
habitats, including bottomland forest, riparian
forest, scrub, field, and conifers. Several forest-
interior species are found there. Warbler diver-
sity is excellent with over 20 species expected
in late May. The trails are well-groomed,
but the terrain is rugged. Meet at 7:30 a.m.
at the parking lot at the end of the drive.
From Madison take Hwy. 14 south through
Evansville. Before Janesville, take CTH H
south (right) 1 mi. to CTH A. Take CTH A east
(left) about 3 mi. The arboretum is on the left,
at Austin Rd., 1 mi. before Janesville. Travel
time is approx. 40 min. from the Madison
Beltline. From I-90 and through Janesville:
Take I-90 to Hwy. 26 (Milton Ave.) interchange
Take Hwy. 26 into Janesville to Hwy. 14. Take
Hwy 14 west (right) 5 mi. to Hwy. 51. Take
Hwy. 51 south (left) 4 mi. to Memorial Dr. Take
Memorial Dr. west (right) to the edge of town.
Memorial Dr. becomes CTH A. The arboretum
is on the right, just outside the city limits. Tom
Klubertanz, tklubert@uwc.edu or (608) 758-
6553
| | Sunday | May 30 | Birding at Baxter's Hollow | Aaron Stutz
| |
Baxter’s Hollow is one of the most scenic
areas in the Baraboo Hills. We will search for
breeding species like Worm-eating , Mourning,
Cerulean and Hooded Warblers, Louisiana
Waterthrush, both cuckoos, and any migrants
passing through. The trip will depart from
the Copp’s parking lot (6800 Century Ave.) in
Middleton at 6:30 a.m. and may last for four
hours. Aaron Stutz (608) 294-9618 or agstutz@
sbcglobal.net.
| | Sat/Sun/Mon | May 29-31 | Lake Lucerne Memorial Day Weekend Birding | Paul Noeldner
| |
This multi-day overnight field trip has been enjoyed by Madison area Audubon members, families, friends, and kids for over 30 years - some say 45 years, and it offers participants a great variety of birding side trips to different habitats including Buena Vista and Germania Marsh. Participants stay 2 or 3 nights in reasonable rate group cabins at a retreat center on a spring fed lake near Wautoma. Meals are provided Saturday evening thru Monday noon, and each morning, day, and evening features a birding walk or a carpool to a nearby natural area for those who want to participate. We broke the weekend species record last year, largely thank to Charles Naeseth's excellent birding by ear skills, and everyone got to see the Pileated Woodpeckers. We could use some more super birders and trip leaders this year, and novices are welcome to come and learn more birding skills. The camp also features lots of other informal outdoor activities individually or lead by participants including tree and flower walks, that are much enjoyed by families and kids as well as adults. See the madisonaudubon.org home page link for more information and a registration form, or contact Paul Noeldner at paul_noeldner@hotmail.com or 608-698-0104 to sign up asap to guarantee a spot in one of the cabins. Folks can also come for the day for a small camp fee.
|
JUNE Field Trips
| Saturday | June 5 | Birds of Devil’s Lake & Baxter's Hollow | Chuck Heikkinen & Delia Unson
| | Join us for a morning of scouring the southern half of Devil’s Lake State Park to look for nesting bird species including Veery, Pileated Woodpecker, Yellow-throated Vireo, Acadian Flycatcher, Scarlet Tanager, Blue-winged Warbler, plus possible Cerulean and Worm-eating Warblers. In all, we’ll probably find 50-60 species. We will extend the trip to include Baxter’s Hollow if time permits. The leaders, Chuck Heikkinen and Delia Unson, are intimately acquainted with this area, covering it for the Wisconsin Breeding Bird Atlas; they found 117 possible nesting species. Please note that a (day) Wisconsin state park sticker is required to park at Devil’s Lake. Wear sturdy walking shoes, and bring water and insect repellent. Since we will be there until about noon or even later,
you might want to bring a sack lunch. Meet at the Middleton Park and Ride to carpool and leave at 6 a.m. From Hwy 12 at Middleton take Exit 249 (Parmenter St.) to the Park and Ride, OR, meet us at 6:45 a.m. in the parking area for the boat landing on the southwest shore of Devil’s Lake. Contact Chuck or Delia at (608) 274-4043, deliachuck@gmail.com if you have a question about the trip.
| | Thursday | June 10 | Owen Park Wildlife Ponds | Russ Hefty
| | Leader Russ Hefty will show us the three new storm water and wildlife ponds, and discuss what wildlife is there currently and what we might hope to attract in the future, such as Wood Ducks. Gourds have been put out to attract Purple Martins. Meet at 6:30 p.m. in the Owen Park parking lot on the south side of 6021 Old Sauk Rd. The trip will last until 8 p.m. or so. Contact Russ, (608) 233-8513 or rhefty@ci.madison.wi.us, only if you have a question about the trip.
| | Thursday | June 17 | Evening at Black Earth Prairie | Kathie & Tom Brock
| | This is a joint trip with The Prairie Enthusiasts (TPE). We will tour a TPE Preserve and State Natural Area called the Black Earth Rettenmund Prairie. This is one of the highest quality prairie remnants in southern Wisconsin and has responded well to its prescribed burn program. Our trip leaders will be Kathie and Tom Brock, the site managers for this prairie, and Steve Richter. The extensive wood lilies at this site should be in peak bloom. We will also look for other flowering plants, as well as birds, and learn about the history and management of this prairie. The trip will last about 2 hrs. Meet at 6:30 p.m. at Black Earth Rettenmund Prairie. From Madison go west on Hwy 14 to Black Earth. At the traffic light (Shoe Box corner) turn left on County F. Follow CTH F through the village and west for 1-1/4 mile. Turn right on Fesenfeld Rd. to the prairie entrance, about 300 yds. Park on right side of the road. If you have questions about the trip, call Kathie or Tom at (608) 238-5050 or kmbrock@charter.net
| | Saturday | June 19 | Grassland Birding in Western Dane & Eastern Iowa Counties | Dave Sample & Steve Richter
| | Join Dave Sample and Steve Richter as we explore the bird life at a 890-acre Nature Conservancy preserve. The site protects large blocks of grasslands with prairie remnants found on steep hillsides. We will visit an oak savanna that is being cleared of brush and finish our morning at a restored prairie along a branch of the Pecatonica River. Barneveld Prairie should provide habitat for uncommon birds such as Upland Sandpiper, Bobolinks, Grasshopper and Clay-colored Sparrows, Bell’s Vireo, Orchard Oriole, and Redheaded Woodpecker. The trip will involve a stop to a second entry point to the preserve later in the morning. Be prepared for a long hike, and bring binoculars for bird and butterfly viewing. This is a joint trip with The Prairie Enthusiasts and The Nature Conservancy. The trip will last 2 ½ hrs. Call Dave at (608) 257-1011 if you have a question about the trip. Meet at 10 a.m. at the Muehllehner Addition to Barneveld Prairie. From the village of Barneveld and Hwy 18/151, take County K south to the junction of K and Langberry Rd. Go west on Langberry 0.5 miles to the junction of Lee and Langberry. Pull vehicles off to the side of the road at this junction.
| | Saturday | June 19 | Butterflies of Cherokee Marsh | Kathy Kirk
| | On this morning walk we’ll observe and learn about butterflies, those small but exquisitely beautiful creatures that dance about our ankles in summer. Conservation Biologist Kathy Kirk will lead this 2-hr. walk at Cherokee Marsh on the northeast side of Madison. We will observe a variety of butterflies as they take nectar from wildflowers, and learn about their identification, behavior, and lifestyle. Bring binoculars if you have them— close-focusing ones work best. We have a few extra pairs of binoculars. It’s best to wear long pants and a hat for protection from the sun. This is a joint trip with the Southern Wis. Butterfly Assn. and Wis. Wetlands Assn. Meet at 10 a.m. at the Cherokee
Marsh parking lot at the north end of Sherman Ave. Take Northport Dr. (Hwy 113) then turn north on Sherman Ave. and follow it to the end. Call Kathy only if you have a question about the trip, (608) 442-1642.
| | Saturday | June 26 | Madison School Forest--Forest Ecology | Scott Taylor
| | Scott Taylor, a local consulting forester and ecologist, will lead a 1 ½ hr. trip through the Madison School Forest, also known as Olson Oak Woods. A State Natural Area owned by the Madison Metropolitan School District and WDNR, the Madison School Forest hosts over 40 species of breeding birds including Cooper’s
Hawk, Acadian Flycatcher, and Kentucky, Cerulean, and Hooded Warblers. The woods exemplify the transition of our early savannas to closed-canopy oak forests and now to shade-tolerant hardwoods. Parts of the Madison School Forest have experienced timber harvests over the years, while others remained uncut. We plan to discuss the ramifications of timber harvesting and ecological succession on songbird habitat in southern Wisconsin forests, as well as work on our tree and shrub identification skills. Meet at the Madison School Forest parking lot at 9 a.m. From the intersection of Hwys 151 & 69 south of Verona, go south on 69 about one mile and turn right on Riverside Rd. Go west about two miles and turn left on Fritz Rd., then south about one mile to the curve and turn left into the parking lot. Call Scott at (608) 444-7483 if you have a question about the trip.
|
JULY Field Trips
| Saturday | July 3 | Madison Butterfly Count | Karl & Dorothy Legler
| | This will be our TWENTIETH annualbutterfly count! Co-sponsors are UW Arboretum and Southern Wis. Butterfly Assn. Each summer butterfly
enthusiasts all over North America participate in more than 483 censuses of butterfly species. Each count is similar to a Christmas Bird Count. These censuses help to monitor the health of our butterfly populations and the results are published in an annual report. If you can identify butterflies, or can help spot butterflies, or just want to see and learn about butterflies, join us on this 3-hr. count/ field-trip. Bring binoculars, the closer they focus the better. We have a few
extra binoculars. Dress for protection from the heat and sun; a hat is recommended. The North American Butterfly Association (NABA) requires a $3.00 fee from each participant to cover publishing costs. We will count until about noon. Meet at 9 a.m. at the parking lot for the Grady Tract in the UW Arboretum. Heading west on the Beltline (Hwy 12), take the Seminole Hwy exit and then turn left (south) on Seminole
Hwy driving across the bridge over the Beltline turning immediately into the parking lot for the Grady Tract. If you have a question about the butterfly count, contact leaders Karl and Dorothy Legler at (608) 643-4926 or karlndot@charter.net.
| | Monday | July 5 | Butterflies, Dragonflies & Picnic at Swamp-Lovers Preserve | Karl & Dorothy Legler
| |
This preserve is on private land. It consists of remnant wetlands, remnant bluff
prairie, restored tall grass prairie, and dry hilly oak-hickory woodland. We will observe and learn about various butterflies and dragonflies as we explore the preserve. Bring binoculars; close-focusing ones work best, or just get close! At the top of the ridge we will picnic at a shelter. Hamburgers, hot dogs and buns will
be cooked on the grill and provided for the participants. You just bring your own supplementary food and drink. Leaders are Tod Highsmith, Karl and Dorothy Legler. This trip is cosponsored by the Southern Wis. Butterfly Assn. and Wisconsin Wetlands Assn. This trip will last until 1 p.m. Meet at 9:30 a.m. Travel west from Cross Plains on Hwy 14. Just outside town take County KP to the right (north) and go 0.3 mile. Turn left onto Scheele Rd. Then turn right and park before the hill. Call Karl Legler at (608) 643-4926 or cell (608) 228-0743 only if you have a question about the trip or the weather is questionable.
| | Saturday | July 10 | Moths: Denizens of Darkness | Mark Evans
|
We’ll be using an ultra-violet light on a sheet. If the weather’s right, we
may draw in some interesting things to see and photograph. People will be reminded to avoid looking directly at the light as it can harm your eyes; if you bring small children, make sure they understand this. There is an amazing diversity of life at night that most people never see and you can share a little glimpse of this life that fills the darkness around us. Leader is Mark Evans. Wear long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. Bring mosquito repellent and a small flashlight (not a big bright one). Your camera with a flash is fine if you are taking closeups but we'll try to be as respectful of the dark as we can. Cosponsored by Southern Wis. Butterfly Assn. This trip will last for 2 ¼ hrs.
Meet at 8:30 p.m. at the UW
Observatory at Pine Bluff. Go west on Mineral Pt. Rd. about 3 miles west of Timber Lane to County P; turn north on P and go about 0.5 mile; turn west on Observatory Rd. and follow it for about 1.2 mile; the observatory will be at the top of the hill on your left; drive in and park in the lot. If there is fog or a light rain, all the better. We would cancel only in case of heavy rain or a thunderstorm. Call Mark at (608) 833-4201 only if you have a question about the trip or in case of questionable weather.
| | Saturday | July 10 | Flowers and Butterflies of Schurch-Thomson Prairie | Rich Henderson & Ann Thering
|
We will visit The Prairie Enthusiasts’Schurch-Thomson Prairie and the adjacent privately- owned Underwood Prairie. The latter is closed to the public, so this is a great opportunity to see it up close. These and adjacent properties form a complex of remnant prairie and CRP grasslands that are rich with grassland birds and other
prairie animals. Summer flowers will be in bloom, and we hope to see the rare Regal Fritillary and other butterflies. Be prepared for a long hike and bring binoculars
for butterfly viewing, the closer they can focus the better. This is a joint
trip with The Prairie Enthusiasts and Southern Wis. Butterfly Assn. Leaders are Rich Henderson and Ann Thering. The trip will last until noon.
Meet at 10 a.m. From Hwy 151 at Blue Mounds take County F south (note: F makes a right turn). After 5
miles, turn right onto Reilly Rd. Go to the end and park by the barn. Call Rich at (608) 845-7065 only if you have a question about the trip.
| | Sunday | July 11 | Tour Faville Grove Sanctuary East | Lars Higdon
|
The east end of the sanctuary includes more than 300 acres of prairie, savanna, and wetland restorations along the floodplain of the Crawfish River. The walk will last 2–3 hrs. and provide an excellent opportunity to see the prairie in its summer colors. In addition to prairie flowers and grasses, we will watch for a variety of
birds including Bobolink, Dickcissel, and Eastern Meadowlark, among others. Leader will be Lars Higdon.
Meet at the Sanctuary east unit at 8 a.m. From I-94, at Lake Mills, go north on Hwy 89 1 ¾ miles. Turn right on County G and go 1 ½ miles, turning right onto Prairie Ln. Park in the parking lot or the pull-off on the righthand side. Call Lars at (608) 220-9563 if you have a question about the trip.
| | Sunday | July 11 | Butterflies & Dragonflies of Sandhill Wildlife Area | Ron Arnold
|
The Sandhill State Wildlife Area, in Wood County, covers more than 14 square miles. It is managed by the Wisconsin DNR as a living laboratory for wildlife management techniques. Sandhill has large marshes and many flowages, interspersed with low
sandy uplands, pine and oak barrens, and restored prairies. Butterfly enthusiast Ron Arnold has been surveying the butterflies there for 19 years. On this trip Ron will
lead us in finding such beauties as Acadian and Coral Hairstreaks, Aphrodite Fritillary,the rare Two-spotted Skipper, Bronze Copper, Eyed Brown, Northern Pearly-eye, White Admiral, and many others. Skippers will include Black
Dash, Broad-winged, Dion, Long Dash, and many others. We may see beautiful Baltimore Checkerspot, Harris’ Checkerspot, and the federally endangered Karner Blue. We will also enjoy the many species of dragonflies at Sandhill. If time permits, we could
also visit a nearby spruce/tamarack bog. If you want to walk in the bogbring boots; Bog Coppers have been seen there. Bring binoculars, the closer they focus the better. We will have a few extra pairs of binoculars. Also bring insect repellent to protect against mosquitoes and ticks. A hat, long sleeves, and long pants are
recommended. Bring a bag lunch and water. Cosponsor is Southern Wis. Butterfly Assn. The tour will last until 3 p.m.
Meet at 10 a.m. at the Sandhill Headquarters parking lot. Take I-90/94 up to the New Lisbon area in Juneau Co. and take Hwy 80 north.
In Wood County, just 1/3 mile before Babcock, turn left onto County X. Go 1 ¼ mile on X to the Sandhill entrance. Allow at least 1 hr. and 45 min. for travel from Madison. Call Ron at (715) 424-2996 if you have a question about the trip. On the day of the trip Ron will have his cell phone on: (715) 741-0052. If rain threatens, call Ron to see if the trip must be cancelled due to weather.
| | Wednesday | July 14 | Oak Savannah and Effigy Mounds at Edna Taylor | Russ Hefty
|
Learn about glacial geology as you traverse the wetlands and oak savannas in this park. See the recently cleared effigy mounds which help preserve this cultural resource while restoring natural habitat. And learn a little bit about Edna Taylor. The trip will last 1 ½ hrs. Leader is Russ Hefty.
Meet at 6:30 p.m. at the Femrite
Dr. parking lot. From East Broadway in Monona, take Edna Taylor Pkwy. to the north. Cross Femrite Dr. and enter Edna Taylor Conservation Park. Call Russ at (608) 233-8513 or rhefty@ci.madison.wi.us if you have a question about the trip.
| | Saturday | July 17 | Pretty Things with Wings at Lakeshore Nature Preserve | Edgar Spalding
|
On this trip to the Picnic Point area we expect to see interesting bird species
and at least half a dozen species of dragonflies and twice as many different butterflies. The walking route will include the edge of University Bay, the woods of Picnic Point, and the Biocore Prairie. Bring your binoculars, the closer they focus the better. We will have a few extra binoculars. This trip is cosponsored by Friends of the Lakeshore Nature Preserve and Southern Wis. Butterfly Assn. Leader is Edgar Spalding. The trip will last until noon.
Meet at 10 a.m. at the Picnic Point
parking lot along University Bay Dr. on the UW campus. Call Edgar Spalding at (608) 265-5294 or 831-0616 only if you have a question about the trip.
| | Sunday | July 18 | Prairies at their Peak | Kathie & Tom Brock
|
We will visit Pleasant Valley Conservancy State Natural Area, a fine prairie/oak savanna area in western Dane County. It has been under restoration for about 12 years. Because of the extensive brush control and burn program which has been carried out this year, the site should be quite attractive. Red-headed Woodpeckers are usually nesting. The hike will involve some hill climbing, so wear sturdy shoes
and long pants. This is a joint trip with The Prairie Enthusiasts. At the end of
the 3-hr. trip, light refreshments will be served at the small cabin/shack.
Leaders are the landowners, Tom and Kathie Brock. Contact them at (608) 238-5050 or e-mail kmbrock@charter.net if you have a question about the trip.
Meet at 1 p.m. at Pleasant Valley Conservancy. From Black Earth go west on County F about 4 mi. Turn left onto Pleasant Valley Rd. and stop at fire # 4609. Park on the right (south)
side of the road. Contact leaders Tom and Kathie Brock at (608) 238-5050 or kmbrock@charter.net if you have a question about the trip.
|
AUGUST Field Trips
| Saturday | August 7 | Goose Pond Prairie Restoration | Mark & Sue Martin
|
Join us for a tour of restored prairies at Goose Pond Sanctuary led by Mark
and Sue Martin, Goose Pond Resident Naturalists. The prairies should be in peak color and this will be a good opportunity to learn your prairie plants. We will also tour mesic and dry-mesic prairies as well as unburned and burned prairies. The trip will last about 2 ½ hrs.
Meet at 9:30 a.m. at the Audubon farm house at W7503 Kampen Rd., Arlington (northwest of the pond). From Madison go north on Hwy 51 into Columbia County, turn left (west) on County K. After two miles turn right (north) onto Goose Pond Rd., then north one mile to Kampen Rd., turn left on Kampen Rd. for ½ mile which is the driveway to the Audubon residence. If you have any questions
about the trip call Mark or Sue at (608) 635-4160 or goosep@chorus.net
| | Saturday | August 14 | Butterflies of the Avoca/Blue River Area | Mike Reese
|
This trip will highlight several areas in the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway,
including Avoca Prairie and Savanna State Natural Area in Iowa County, Blue River unit in Grant County and along the Wisconsin River north of Blue River. Leader will be Mike Reese. We expect to see late butterflies and several southern immigrants. A hat and long pants are recommended. Bring a lunch and binoculars, the closer they focus the better. A few extra binoculars are available. This is a joint trip with the Southern Wis. Butterfly Assn. The trip may last until 4 p.m.
Meet at 10:30 a.m. at Avoca Prairie. Allow 1 ¼ hours travel time from Madison. Take Hwy 14 west to Lone
Rock, south on Hwy 130 then turn right on Hwy 133. Go west about 5.5 mi., turn right on Hay Rd., and drive north to the parking lot just before the creek. Call Mike at (920) 787-2341 if you have a question about the trip.
| | Saturday | August 14 | Shorebirds of Southern Wisconsin | Peter Fissel, Quentin Yorger & John Romano
|
This trip will go to wherever the shorebirds are! Possible destinations include Columbia, Jefferson, or Dane counties, based on current conditions and reports. Bring a scope if you have one. This trip will last 3–4 hrs. Leaders are Quentin
Yoerger and Peter Fissel. Contact Peter at (608) 226-0260 (before 10 p.m.) or
pfissel@library.wisc.edu only if you have a question about the trip.
Meet at 8 a.m. at the Cub Foods parking lot on the northeast side of Madison. From the intersection of Hwys 51 and 30 head north on 51 for about 0.3 mi. then turn right on
Commercial Ave. then left on Nakoosa Tr. to the Cub Foods parking lot.
| | Sunday | August 15 | Canoe Cherokee Marsh Ecological Restoration | Russ Hefty
|
Learn about the fascinating history and restoration story of Cherokee Marsh, the wetland near the headwaters of Lake Mendota. The first of a series of dams was installed in 1849 at what would become Tenney Park. This caused the water level of Lake Mendota to rise five feet, backing up water into Cherokee Marsh. As a result, the peat layer “delaminated” and rose to the surface forming a floating bog. But erosion over the decades has destroyed more than one square mile of wetland. Russ
Hefty will show us how the shoreline of this floating bog is being stabilized
by plantings to form a vegetation breakwater and silt fence. This should be peak bloom for the thousands of American Lotus water lilies used as a buffer! We hope to see a number of Great Egrets and other wetland birds. The trip will last about 3 hrs.
Bring your canoe or kayak and meet at 8:30 a.m. at the School Rd. boat landing.
Take School Rd. north from Northport Dr. until the road starts turning east. Instead turn left onto the gravel road and proceed to the pier and parking lot. You will see the sign for Cherokee Marsh Conservation Park. Contact the leader, Russ Hefty at (608) 233-8513 or rhefty@ci.madison.wi.us, only if you have a question about the trip.
| | Thursday | August 26 | Fall Warbler Walk at Pheasant Branch | Mike McDowell
|
Walk at Pheasant Branch Conservancy with Mike McDowell at the beginning of fall bird migration. Expect to see warblers, vireos, flycatchers and other migrants. Bring comfortable shoes for a 2-hr. walk. Rain or shine.
Meet at 7 a.m. in Middleton at the dead-end street by Parisi Park (where Park Lawn St. and Park St. meet.) If
you have questions about the trip, call Mike McDowell (608) 831-9989 or e-mail mike@birddigiscoper.com
| | Saturday | August 28 | Butterflies and Blossoms at Pheasant Branch | Breux Watermolen
|
Join us on a walk through the lovely Pheasant Branch Conservancy in Middleton. The many beautiful asters should be in bloom, and we hope lots of butterflies will be
nectaring on these flowers. We can expect several species, including Monarchs, sulfurs, blues, and possibly some southern immigrants, such as Common Buckeye and
Painted Lady. You never know what you may find! We will also learn more about restoration efforts at the conservancy. Long pants, a hat, water, and sturdy hiking shoes are recommended. Close-focusing binoculars are also useful. We will have a few extra binoculars. We will hike two or three miles. Leader is Dreux Watermolen. Co-sponsors are Friends of the Pheasant Branch Conservancy and the Southern Wis.
Butterfly Assn. The trip will last about 3 hrs.
Meet in Middleton at noon. At
the west end of Lake Mendota take Allen Blvd. north, then turn left on Century
Avenue (County M). Track your mileage as you turn right onto Old Creek Rd. and then right on Pheasant Branch Rd. going north 1.2 miles to the small county parking lot at the beginning of the gated road. Contact the trip leader, Dreux Watermolen, only if you have questions at (608) 266-8931, dreux.watermolen@wisconsin.gov
| | Sunday | August 29 | Fall Birding at Lakeshore Nature Preserve | Marty Evanson
|
Come search for fall migrants, including confusing fall warblers, flycatchers and sparrows. Cosponsored by the Friends of Lakeshore Nature Preserve. We will be walking for 2 hrs. on trails that take us through woods, prairies, and gardens.
Meet at 8 a.m. at the Class of 1918 Marsh parking lot on University Bay Dr., across from Picnic Point. Call Marty Evanson, trip leader, at (608) 271-6846 if you have a question about the trip.
| | Tuesday | August 31 | Warbler Walk at Turville Point | Peter Fissel
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This is one of several early morning walks to be held at Turville Point. We will look for migrating warblers, tanagers, vireos, thrushes, etc.
Meet at 7 a.m. at the south parking lot at Olin-Turville Park, off John Nolen Dr. across from the Alliant
Center. Leaders are Stacy Taeuber and Peter Fissel. Call Peter at (608) 226-0260 or pfissel@library.wisc.edu if you have a question about the trip.
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SEPTEMBER Field Trips
| Thursday | September 2 | Warbler Walk at Turville Point | Peter Fissel
| This is one of several early morning walks to be held at Turville Point. We will look for migrating warblers, tanagers, vireos, thrushes, etc.
Meet at 7 a.m. at the south parking lot at Olin- Turville Park, off John Nolen Dr. across from the Alliant
Center. Leaders are Marty Evanson and Peter Fissel. Call Peter at (608) 226-0260 or pfissel@library.wisc.edu if you have a question about the trip.
| | Thursday | September 2 | Evening Tour of Owen Park | Sylvia Marek
| Enjoy an evening of fall color in one of Madison’s restored prairies. Asters, goldenrods, and other fall prairie flowers will be blooming among the tall prairie grasses. The Monarch butterfly migration may be peaking about this time. We will be alert for possible fall migrating birds, and there is always the possibility of seeing or hearing one of the three species of owl that live here. We will check out three new holding ponds. This evening walk will last about 2 hrs.
Meet at 6 p.m. in the Owen Park parking lot on the south side of 6021 Old Sauk Rd. Sylvia Marek, who lives a stone's throw east of Owen Park, will share some of her 30 years of accumulated knowledge about her favorite neighborhood park. Call Sylvia at (608) 238-8344, evenings, only if you have a question about the trip.
| | Saturday | September 4 | Grasshoppers! | Kathy Kirk
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Our leader, Kathy Kirk, coauthored A Guide to the Grasshoppers of Wisconsin
published by Wisconsin DNR. The book exhibited the state's grasshopper species with color photos, range maps, and species accounts. Our appreciation of grasshoppers will take a big leap forward as Kathy leads this trip into sand prairie areas in search of these fascinating and beautiful insects. We will spend 2-3 hrs. learning
how to discern grasshoppers from katydids, and about behavior, ecology, life history, and the biology needed for identification. We will net-and-release
the various species for observation and discussion. If you have aerial nets and
minnow nets, bring them to have fun chasing grasshoppers. Also bring closefocusing
binoculars if you have them.
Meet at 1:30 p.m. at the parking lot of the Mazomanie Sand Barrens. From Middleton take Hwy 12 toward Sauk City. At the intersection with County Y turn left (west) onto Y and go nearly 2 ½ miles to the sign for the Sand
Barrens. Take the short road to the parking lot. Call Kathy at (608) 442-1642 only if you have a question about the trip.
| | Saturday | September 4 | Birding Madison School Forest | Peter Fissel, Peter Gorman & Nolan Pope
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Enjoy a fall walk through this mature hardwood forest on well-maintained trails. We hope to see a variety of sparrows, thrushes, warblers and other fall migrants. This
trip will last 2–3 hrs.
Meet at the School Forest parking lot at 8 a.m. From the intersection of Hwys 151 & 69 south of Verona, go south on 69 about one mile and turn right on Riverside Rd. Go west about two miles and turn left on Fritz Rd., then south about one mile to the curve and turn left into the parking lot. Leaders are
Peter Gorman, Peter Fissel and Nolan Pope. Contact Peter at (608) 226-0260
(before 10 p.m.) or pfissel@library.wisc.edu only if you have a question about the trip.
| | Monday | September 6 | Pleasant Valley Conservancy Tour | Kathie & Tom Brock
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This is a joint trip with The Prairie Enthusiasts. Kathie and Tom Brock will lead an afternoon trip at Pleasant Valley Conservancy State Natural Area on Labor Day. The site is in the Town of Vermont, south of Black Earth, in the driftless area of southwestern Wisconsin. The property contains prairie remnants, wetlands, and extensive oak savannas and has been under intensive management for the past twelve years. An extensive prescribed burn program and judicious use of herbicides have resulted in excellent control of invasive brush. Hiking will be partly across steep bluffs, and long pants and good hiking shoes are recommended.
Meet at the property at 1 p.m. The trip will last three hours. From Black Earth take CTH F to the west and then south for 5 miles. Turn left on Pleasant Valley Rd. Park along the south side by the driveway at Fire Number 4609. If you have any questions about the trip contact Kathie or Tom at (608) 238-5050, or kmbrock@charter.net.
| | Wednesday | September 8 | Prairie Ridge Conservation Tour - New! | Russ Hefty
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From Prairie Ridge Conservation Park you can view the Johnstown Moraine which runs north of Verona, and imagine the sub-ice tunnel that once carried gravel in the valley below. Extensive work has been accomplished in the last 10 years restoring a diverse "goat prairie" that includes a federally endangered plant. We'll also walk through a recently restored oak savanna. The trip will last 1 1/2 hours. Leader is Russ Hefty.
Meet at 6:30 p.m. on Muir Field Dr at the entrance to Raymond Ridge Park. (We'll walk to the west to the Prairie Ridge Conservation Park.) Directions: From Verona Road take Raymond Road to the west for about 2.3 miles then turn left on Muir Field Road, then park at the park entrance. Contact Russ at (608) 233-8513 or rhefty@ci.madison.wi.us, if you have a question about the trip.
| | Saturday | September 11 | Bird Banding at Biocore Prairie Bird Observatory | Mara McDonald
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This easy fall field trip near Picnic Point runs from 8 a.m. until noon. Come early or later in the morning, stay the full time or just a few minutes. See how birds are netted, banded, measured and released, and discuss how important information is gathered for management and conservation purposes. You can expect to see resident songbirds and a variety of other migrating birds in the hand. You can accompany bird banders to the nets and observe how they remove birds, band them, and measure the birds at the mobile station. Bring insect repellent.
To get to the banding station, take Lake Mendota Dr. and park at Frautschi Point. Walk south through the woods, keeping Lake Mendota on your left, onto the Biocore Prairie. Make sure you stay on the trail closest to the lake. At the prairie, follow the trail to your right, then left. The banding station (aka picnic table) is at the top of the prairie. Visitors not able to walk are asked to contact the trip leader ahead of time for permission to drive you to the site. Contact Mara McDonald at mamcdona@wisc.edu or (608) 274-2534 before 8:30 p.m., please.
| | Sunday | September 19 | Birding Zeloski Marsh | Nolan Kollath
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Zeloski Marsh has become a major stopover for shorebirds—23 species were seen here during spring migration—and is also frequented by waterfowl and wading birds. This tour, scheduled during fall migration, includes about 1.5 miles of walking to get good views of these birds. For a description of Zeloski Marsh, check out the sanctuaries page on the MAS website.
Meet at 9 a.m. at the DNR parking lot at the end of Alley Road. Alley Rd. is off CTH S, west of Lake Mills, south of CTH B and north of CTH A. Bring lunch and a scope if you have one. Contact Nolan Kollath at 920-648-3842 or nkollath@charter.net with any questions.
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OCTOBER Field Trips
| Saturday | October 2 | Fall Birding at Lakeshore Nature Preserve | Eric Wood & Peter Fissel
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In contrast to the rush of the spring migration, fall migrants linger in the Lakeshore Nature Preserve. Join us for the challenge of sparrows and late fall warblers in the gardens, prairies, and woodland edges. Co-sponsored by the Friends of the Lakeshore Nature Preserve, the trip will last about 2 hours.
Meet at 8:00 a.m. at the Class of 1918 Marsh parking lot at the base of Picnic Point. Leaders are Peter Fissel (608-226-0260) and Eric Wood.
| | Saturday | October 9 | Migrant Songbirds of Pheasant Branch Conservancy | Mike McDowell
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The focus of this field trip will be sparrow species, including White-throated, Lincoln’s,
and many others. We will also look for late warblers, flycatchers, thrushes, and other fall
migrants. Meet at the Dane County unit of Pheasant Branch Conservancy, about 1-1/2 miles north of Century Ave. in Middleton on Pheasant Branch Rd. This is the third parking lot for the conservancy on the right as you drive north out of Middleton.
Meet at 7:15 a.m. Bring warm clothes for cool early morning fall weather. Contact trip leader Mike McDowell at 608-831-9989 or mike@birddigiscoper.com with any questions.
| | Sunday | October 24 | Goose Pond Adventure | Dorothy Haines & Pat Ready
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| | saturday | October 30 | Saw-whet Owl Banding near Stevens Point - NOTE CHANGE OF DATE | Levi Wood & Mara McDonald
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Come visit the Linwood Springs Research Station, near Stevens Point, for an evening banding Saw-Whet Owls. Participants will observe the owls being caught through infrared video surveillance equipment. The banders will discuss owl migration, mortality rates, diet, vision, flight, and hearing. You will see many of the owl characteristics up close, including eyes, beak, talons, ears, and feathers, before one of the visitors releases the owl.
Co-leader, Mara McDonald, came up with the idea to do this trip. We will be carpooling at 5:00 p.m. from the eastside Cub Foods parking lot. This trip costs $7.00 per person for admission to the banding station plus shared expenses with the drivers. Bring this exact amount and extra for souvenirs. Bring your own dinner or snacks to eat in the car and your camera and flashlight. We anticipate a very late return to Madison, past midnight, as the owl banding begins about 7:30 p.m., lasts more than two hours, and the drive is about two hours. Call trip co-leader Levi Wood at 277-7959 to reserve one of the 20 spots on this trip or if you have questions.
| | Saturday | October 30 | Migrant Songbirds of Pheasant Branch Conservancy | Mike McDowell
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The focus of this field trip will be sparrow species, including White-throated, Lincoln’s,
and many others. We will also look for late warblers, flycatchers, thrushes, and other fall
migrants. Meet at the Dane County unit of Pheasant Branch Conservancy, about 1-1/2 miles north of Century Ave. in Middleton on Pheasant Branch Rd. This is the third parking lot for the conservancy on the right as you drive north out of Middleton.
Meet at 7:30 a.m. Bring warm clothes for cool early morning fall weather. Contact trip leader Mike McDowell at 608-831-9989 or mike@birddigiscoper.com with any questions.
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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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