Great opportunity to view rock-star birds, preserve their habitat!
What: 2019 Honey Creek Birdathon and Bandathon
Where: Harold and Carla Kruse Honey Creek Nature Preserve
When: 8 a.m. Sunday, May 19
How to get there: The Honey Creek Nature Preserve can be reached by going west out of Prairie du Sac on Highway PF approximately 15 miles to Skyview Drive (Lins Road on older maps). Turn left...
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Prolific Birder to Keynote Atlas’ Final Kickoff
-By Carrie Becker WBBA II Communications Director-
Visitors to the Wisconsin Breeding Bird Atlas Final Kickoff this April will have the opportunity to learn from (and maybe even hoist a beer with!) Ian Davies, one of the “Big 4” coordinators at eBird. Arguably one of the most prolific birders in the world, Davies has trekked to 45 countries in his search of birds, observing...
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Deep Freeze Field Trip at Buena Vista!
Written by Tom Schultz
We had been concerned about the bitter cold forecast, and even posted a warning on the WSO website a few days ahead… but the reality on the morning of January 26 was even worse. The temperature on the drive over to the Buena Vista grasslands dropped down to -27 degrees at one point!
Due to this brutal cold snap, we really weren’t expecting anyone to show up, but as we...
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WSO Milwaukee Lakeshore Field Trip 2019
Written by Tom Schultz
The temperature was relatively mild (in the low to mid 30’s) on January 12, but it sure didn’t feel like it – with a strong wind blowing in off Lake Michigan that really dropped the wind chill! Birders began gathering prior to 8:00 AM at South Shore Yacht Club, and the group eventually reached about 40. The first excitement of the morning was provided by an adult...
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Hardy Hammond’s Flycatcher Likely a New State Record
By Mark Korducki
After a cold and snowy November, December saw temperatures well above normal and most areas received little snow. This warmer than normal weather played a role in allowing insectivores to find food and may have resulted in one of the highlights of the year.
A sharp-eyed birder was driving along a rural Sauk County road and saw what he believed to be a late Eastern Phoebe...
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Reduced Hotel Rates for WSO Convention
-By Dar and Cathy Tiede- (WSO Convention Committee Chairs)
The 80th annual WSO convention will take place from Friday, May 24 through Monday, May 27, 2019, at the River Prairie Center in Altoona. The River Prairie Center is only minutes from downtown Eau Claire on a beautiful bend in the Eau Claire River. Our local co-host for the event is the Gaylord Nelson Audubon Society.
The...
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Three Changes for Bird City Wisconsin
Observatory assumes sponsorship of pioneering conservation program
Shorewood, Wis. - Bird City Wisconsin has notified its partners and member communities about three important changes in the pioneering program for urban bird conservation.
The first is that Bird City has a new fiscal sponsor. The board of directors of the Western Great Lakes Bird and Bat Observatory voted unanimously on Oct. 19...
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April Gathering Kicks Off Final Field Season for Atlas II
-By Carrie Becker- (WBBA II Communications Chair)
As we welcome 2019, organizers of the 2nd Wisconsin Breeding Bird Atlas are looking ahead with urgency to the final breeding season of the five-year survey. It’s now or never to finish this project!
To kick off the upcoming season of data collection, birders from around the state will gather April 5–7 at the Holiday Inn &...
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Former WSO President's Husband Passed Away
Visitation Wednesday for Prof. Emeritus Neil Harriman, husband of former WSO President Bettie Harriman
A celebration of Neil's life will be held from 1-3 p.m. on Wednesday Dec. 12, at Konrad-Behlman Funeral Homes-Westside, 100 Lake Pointe Drive, Oshkosh.
Professor Emeritus of Biology and Microbiology Neil Harriman died at his home Dec. 7.
Harriman retired in 1998 but is, in part,...
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80th WSO Convention Targets Eau Claire Area
By Dar and Cathy Tiede WSO Convention Committee Chairs
The 80th annual WSO convention will take place from Friday, May 24 through Monday, May 27, 2019, in the Eau Claire area in the west-central part of the state. Our local co-host for the event is the Gaylord Nelson Audubon Society.
Blocks of rooms are now on hold and open for advance reservations at two area hotels. Individuals are...
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Frigatebird Tops Rarity List in a Slow November
By Mark Korducki
The temperatures statewide were mainly below normal during November and several small snowfalls occurred. The first major storm of the season clipped the southeast corner of the state on the weekend after Thanksgiving. Up to 10 inches of snow fell in Kenosha County. Perhaps due to this colder weather, the birding was a bit slower than normal.
November is often the best month...
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