-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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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WSO Brings ‘Haunts” Bird-finding Guide into Digital Age
By Carl Schwartz (Badger Birder Editor)
The history of “Wisconsin's Favorite Bird Haunts” goes back almost 60 years to publication by the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology of “A Guide to 30 of Wisconsin’s Most Favored Locations for Bird Study – With Individual Maps."
Compiled and edited by the legendary Samuel D. Robbins Jr. and published in 1961, the book was just 77 pages. All the...
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Message to the membership on recent racial events
We have witnessed horrific, unacceptable, unkind, unbelievable racial injustices in recent weeks and months. Tragically, some people are far more impacted than others.
In the shadow of the murder of George Floyd came the video of black birder Christian Cooper peacefully and rightfully asking a woman to leash her dog in Central Park. The outrageous and racist actions of the white woman drove home...
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May Rare Birds
By Mark Korducki
Where to start !?! It was a month to remember for Wisconsin birders
The amazing April run of rarities continued throughout May. It was hard to pick a headliner with so many rare birds around.
A Black-throated Gray Warbler was found along the Menominee River in Wauwatosa (Milwaukee County) early in the month and stayed for three days. This allowed many birders...
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COVID-19 - Current Birding Advice
As many of you are aware, the Wisconsin Supreme Court has blocked the extension of Gov. Evers' "Safer at Home" order with immediate effect as of May 13. Following this, several local county and city officials began implementing a patchwork of restrictions of their own. It is not the WSO's intention to attempt to interpret the various orders in effect across the state but rather to provide...
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This Spring, Please Bird Mindfully
For birders, one way to get through this period of pandemic is to spend time outdoors enjoying birds. Just remember to keep health and safety your top priorities. Follow the recommendations of your local health authorities at all times, even if it means staying at home and focusing on your yard or garden list instead.
If you do go out birding, please take precautions to ensure the well-being of...
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