1 Million eBird Checklists & Counting: New Milestone
By Ryan Brady (WDNR Conservation Biologist)
Wisconsin has a strong tradition of bird monitoring, conservation, and citizen science. We can now add another feather to our cap — more than one million checklists submitted to eBird, the popular online platform for reporting bird observations. Only one state with a smaller population (Oregon) has reached the feat.
“This milestone is a testament...
Read More
New Benefit for WSO Members... and Win A Free Book!
WSO members can now enjoy a 30% discount off all bird-related books and products from Princeton University Press, one of the country’s leading publishers of high quality, authoritative bird guides and books.
Princeton's list includes Tom Stephenson and Scott Whittle's The Warbler Guide; The Crossley ID Guide series; Brian Wheeler's Birds of Prey series; authoritative field guides to the birds...
Read More
Harrington Beach Hawk Watch 2020
-Written By Tom Schultz & Jeff Baughman (WSO Field Trip co-chairs)-
It was a chilly morning on October 3 as registrants began arriving at the lower parking lot at Harrington Beach State Park, around 43 degrees. Unfortunately, the winds were calm – which is not what you want for a hawk migration. Arriving registrants were all wearing masks, a requirement for attending field trips during...
Read More
Great WI Birdathon Near $100K Goal: Donate Now!
-By Sarah Cameron (Great Wisconsin Birdathon Coordinator)-
We are entering the final stretch of this year’s Great Wisconsin Birdathon, with less than $4,000 left to raise to reach this year’s $100,000 goal and several team Big Days still to be completed!
Organized by the Natural Resources Foundation, the Great Wisconsin Birdathon is an annual fundraiser that provides birders the...
Read More
Chimney Swifts! Now Is the Time to Count!
-By Karen Etter Hale-
Chimney Swifts are on the decline, and we need YOUR help in identifying roost chimneys and counting the swifts that use them. It's easy and fun to conduct a "Swift Night Out". By identifying roost chimneys, we'll have a better chance of saving them.
A complete guide to host a “Swift Night Out” event is available at...
Read More
Fall Warblers 2020 Field Trip Report
-Tom Schultz, WSO Field Trips co-chair-
On Sunday, Sept. 13, our enthusiastic group of 15 birders started gathering around 7:30 AM at Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary in Green Bay. Following the new WSO COVID-19 guidelines, everyone had pre-registered, wore facemasks, and worked to maintain 6 feet of social distancing.
Birding at Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary. Photo taken by Tom...
Read More
WSO Resumes Field Trips with Online Registration
By Mary Korkor (WSO President)
When WSO’s Executive Committee met in mid-March to confront the mounting health crisis posed by COVID-19, we knew we had to make difficult decisions about your spring convention and field trips. We had to be concerned with the health and safety of our members, volunteers and the larger community. Here we are six months out and we are still making tough...
Read More
Honey Creek Birdathon / Bandathon Funding Needs
-By Mary Korkor (WSO President)-
The 2020 Honey Creek Birdathon/Bandathon, like so many other events this spring, was different.
The WSO Board had determined that large group gatherings (including field trips and our annual convention) weren’t advisable, so field trip leaders Tom Schultz and Jeff Baughman headed to Honey Creek on their own to count birds and provide ongoing data for our...
Read More
June Rare Birds: More Unexpected Arrivals
This Scissor-tailed Flycatcher was originally spotted by John and Anne Delwiche on June 10. Melody Walsh, who photographed the bird, notes that a Scissor-tailed was recorded on June 16, 2019, along the same section of Michigan Road on Washington Island in Door County.
-Article Written By Mark Korducki-
The torrid pace of rarities that had marked the month of May continued into June.
A...
Read More
WSO Cancels August Field Trip to Horicon Marsh
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have an impact on WSO’s organized activities. At the July 12 meeting of its Board of Directors it was decided to cancel the scheduled Aug. 16 field trip to the Horicon Marsh. Current contagion levels and advice from state and federal health authorities led to this decision. The health and safety of participants was our primary concern.
Still on the field...
Read More
Korkor, Gopalan, Wenzel to Lead WSO for 2 Years
The membership of WSO has elected officers for the corporation who will now serve two-year terms. Voting electronically and by mail, members ratified the slate proposed by the nominating committee. Mary Korkor of Hartland was elected president; succeeding her as vice president is Sunil Gopalan of Middleton, and returning as secretary, Jenny Wenzel of Caledonia. Their terms began May 16.
A total...
Read More
