Action Alert: Support a ban on lead use on National Wildlife Refuges
The US Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to open or expand hunting and/or sport fishing on 19 National Wildlife Refuges. In addition, they are proposing to ban the use of lead on these newly opened refuge lands. This ban on lead would include upland game hunting, big game hunting, as well as sport fishing. While none of the proposed refuges are in Wisconsin, it is still important for...
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Gopalan elected to lead WSO
In an election conducted largely online, WSO members have overwhelmingly elected to two-year terms the slate of officers proposed by the Board of Directors in May. On a vote of 197 to 2 (with 21-mail-in ballots), members elected these officers:
President: Sunil Gopalan Vice President: Lynn Barber Secretary: Rebecca Gilman
Barber and Gilman were elected to the WSO Board...
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Bah on Birds: Bell's Vireo
Bah on Birds: Bell’s Vireo
by Mariama Bah, age 15
Hello and welcome to “Bah on Birds.” I’m Mariama Bah, author of “Bah on Birds” and a volunteer for the Wisconsin Society of Ornithology. In my free time, I like to crochet, read books, and learn new things, which is why I joined WSO. What I hope to accomplish with my volunteer work is to educate people about the endangered and...
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WSO - Honey Creek Birdathon
By Jeff Baughman
On Saturday, June 18, 2022, the WSO held its Birdathon/Bandathon at our Honey Creek property in Sauk County. The Birdathon portion of the event included an early dawn chorus field trip and later a hike on our trails north of Skyview Road.
The dawn chorus trip started at Alder Drive and Skyview Roads intersection at 4 AM. It was a perfect morning for birding, with clear skies...
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May brings surprising array of rare birds !
By Mark Korducki
It has been a fantastic month of birding.
Jim Edlhuber photographed this second state record Fulvous Whistling Duck on Lake Waubesa in Dane County on May 16.
The most unusual sighting during May occurred in Dane County where a Fulvous Whistling Duck was discovered. This bird was a one day wonder but proved quite cooperative that day and, thanks to modern communication...
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WSO’s Big Birding Bash tallies at least 239 species
WSO invited the bird lovers of Wisconsin to participate in the state’s first ever Big Birding Bash over the weekend of May 21-22. It was an open invitation to members and non-members alike and to birders of all levels to join a bird walk, field trip, volunteer work day or community science event.
The only ask from WSO was that groups or individuals contribute their sightings during those...
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Kettle Moraine State Forest - Northern Unit Field Trip, June 2022
Our group of 19 birders met at Jersey Flats Prairie Restoration Project parking lot at 6 AM to begin our WSO field trip through a small part of the KMSF-NU. After introductions and a brief itinerary, we took a short walk on a mowed trail into the prairie. Soon we had nice scope views of our target species Henslow’s Sparrow. We eventually heard 4 of these small, flat headed sparrows...
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WSO unveils the newest version of ‘Haunts’
The Wisconsin Society for Ornithology is proud to unveil the latest edition of the state’s original and most comprehensive bird-finding resource: Wisconsin’s Favorite Bird Haunts – in its first ever online and interactive format.
Since its inception, Haunts has been considered a premier Wisconsin birding resource. The selected sites in the latest edition, chosen by 110 local experts in...
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White River Marsh 2022 Report
By Tom Schultz, WSO field trip committee
It was beautiful dawn at White River Marsh, with clear skies and calm winds – even though the early morning temperature was only about 35 degrees. Our group of about 20 gathered along White River Road, and soon began a slow walk down the gravel roadway.
The marsh was alive with bird song, with SORA and VIRGINIA RAILS calling, and SWAMP SPARROWS...
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April Rare Birds Magpie! Garganey! Sharp-tailed Sandpiper! Long Billed-Curlew!
By Mark Korducki
April started out colder and wetter than normal. It rained or snowed on the first 10 days of the month. This cold start delayed migration and made for some slow birding.
The one rare sighting that occurred during the early part of the month was a group of three Black-billed Magpies in Bayfield County. At least two of these birds have been seen consistently and now Have...
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Nesting Milwaukee eagle died from bird flu
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Initial tests on the Bald Eagle that died April 9th after it was found grounded in Milwaukee’s Bay View neighborhood indicate it was suffering from highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), according to the Wisconsin Humane Society.
An influenza strain called EA H5N1 is circulating among domestic and wild birds in North America. Wildlife and...
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