I’m enjoying my morning coffee when suddenly, there’s the arrival of a large, bright rufous bird with an impressive down-curved beak, long tail, and emphatic spots (streaks) on the breast—a Brown Thrasher!

Photo by Kelly Colgan Azar

The Great Wisconsin Birdathon is run by the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin to raise funds for bird conservation across the state. Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance’s team, the Flockadelics, participated on May 1. 

Photo by Carolyn Byers/SoWBA

Many bird watchers look forward to the annual crane count coordinated by the International Crane Foundation. This year, it was held on April 13.

Photo by Gary Shackelford

This prairie version of a suburban rain garden or a woodland vernal pool is a valuable food resource for both migrating and resident birds.

Photo by Gary Shackelford

Leucism is a condition caused by a genetic mutation that results in the loss of all types of pigmentation—the affected areas can be either entirely white or a pale, washed out shade of the expected coloration.

Photo by Gary Shackelford

For the past ten years, our first sight and sound of Sandhill Cranes at Fair Meadows has been a gentle unison call and the graceful glide of a pair descending into the sedge meadow south of our house.

Photo by Gary Shackelford

Although American Robins have a well-known reputation as harbingers of spring, populations can be found throughout the northern continental U.S. in winter, including Wisconsin.

Photo by Gary Shackelford

This year we prepared for the first-ever Christmas Bird Count (CBC) at Fair Meadows Sanctuary, after we recently learned that we were not part of any of the official National Audubon CBC circles.

Photo by Gary Shackelford

Then, in a small clump of willows just off the trail, we spotted another robin-sized bird, but it was light gray and had a bulkier head than a robin. A closer look revealed the black mask and hooked beak of a Northern Shrike.

Photo by Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren

At Fair Meadows Sanctuary, the Swamp Sparrow is a common migrant and summer resident. The occasional winter birds that I have seen are invariably found feeding on invertebrates in the shallows of a pond that has year-round open water due to brisk upwelling from underground springs.

Photo by Gary Shackelford