2015 - Wisconsin Society for Ornithology

Early irruption of Snowy Owls taking a somber turn

Wondering where all the Snowy Owls went? Join the club!There has been an incredible drop-off in reports since the atypically large October influx. Roughly 87 Snowies had been tallied across 40 counties in Wisconsin by Nov. 30, but 65 of those came during the Oct. 15-31 period alone. Only a handful of new birds have been reported over the last several weeks. Moreover, repeat sightings of those... Read More

Announcing state Young Birders Club

Adding to the ever-growing list of Young Birders Clubs across the country is the new Young Birders Club of Wisconsin. Started by Ryan Treves and sponsored by the Madison Audubon Society and the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology, this club aims to connect young birders grades 5-12 at meetings, field trips, and activities across the state. Young Birders Clubs are great opportunities for students... Read More

Honey Creek Committee Chair: Levi E. Wood

So tell us a little about your background and how you first got involved in birding. My early interest in birds came frome eating breakfast with a view of bird feeders that my older brother Ken maintained in our backyard. By the time I was in high school, he and I were going on outings to explore natural areas for birds and flowers. We visited a number of areas around Dane County and several in... Read More

Highway 49: Study seeks ways to reduce wildlife toll

Horicon Marsh is about 50 miles northeast of Madison and is comprised of a national (Horicon National Wildlife Refuge) and state wildlife refuge (Horicon Marsh Wildlife Area). It covers 32,000 acres and consists of open water and marsh vegetation, separated by embankments to control water levels. The northern federal section is bisected by State Highway 49 (about 2.3 miles in road length). This... Read More

WSO still seeking solutions to bird fatalities on 49

For two decades, the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology has worked with state and federal agencies and other conservation groups to find potential solutions for an especially deadly stretch of State Highway 49 across the north end of Horicon National Wildlife Refuge. The groups have not always agreed and so far have not arrived at a solution. In 2013, the Western Great Lakes... Read More

Aaron Greene: Scholarship and Grants Committee Chair

So tell us a little about your background and how you first got involved in birding: Started birding early, at 10 years old, and still going strong. Favorite bird is the Baltimore Oriole. Most interested in the ecology and conservation aspects of ornithology. I am a self-taught birder. Most of what I have learned has come from tagging along with more knowledgeable birders and sponging what I... Read More

WSO seeks low impact use of grassland habitat at Sauk Prairie site

The following letter was submitted to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources on Sept. 24 by Michael John Jaeger, vice president of the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology. I am submitting these comments on the Draft Master Plan for the Sauk Prairie Recreation Area on behalf of the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology. WSO is an active, volunteer, nonprofit organization established in 1939,... Read More

I Spy...Birds summer camp lets kids explore the avian world

The “I Spy…Birds” summer camp at the Washington Park Urban Ecology Center gave students a chance to experience Wisconsin bird communities in a variety of ways. With financial support from the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology, children searched for birds through binoculars they got to take home at the end of camp (along with a field guide), played memory games to sharpen their bird... Read More

Conservation Committee Active on Many Issues

The WSO Conservation Committee continues to remain active on a number of issues. Here is a brief summary: We continue to monitor the current status of the Greater Prairie Chicken in the state. We are awaiting a report that evaluates the current status and proposed actions for this species. The Kohler Co.’s proposed Black River Forest golf course has received great attention of late from the... Read More

Harrington Beach Field Trip Report

Birders began arriving around 7:30 AM at the lower parking lot at Harrington Beach State Park, under cloudy skies and with a brisk NE wind. The temperature started around 46 degrees, and later rose to about 52. An Eastern Bluebird was calling, and a group of about 35 Pine Siskins were soon spotted as they busily fed in a nearby birch tree. One of the highlight birds of the day was sighted about... Read More

'From Billions to None' available as educational DVD for schools

The educational DVD of "From Billions to None", which premiered at the 2014 WSO convention in Prairie du Chien, is now available for classroom and group use. The DVD includes the full film by David Mrazek and Joel Greenberg, special features and a new 47-page guide for middle and high school classes. The film presents the cautionary tale of the rapid extinction of America's once most-abundant... Read More

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WSO Menu

Early irruption of Snowy Owls taking a somber turn

Announcing state Young Birders Club

Honey Creek Committee Chair: Levi E. Wood

Highway 49: Study seeks ways to reduce wildlife toll

WSO still seeking solutions to bird fatalities on 49

Aaron Greene: Scholarship and Grants Committee Chair

WSO seeks low impact use of grassland habitat at Sauk Prairie site

I Spy...Birds summer camp lets kids explore the avian world

Conservation Committee Active on Many Issues

Harrington Beach Field Trip Report

'From Billions to None' available as educational DVD for schools

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