Harvey-Wangsness Wetland, Columbia County, WI, US - eBird Hotspot
Habitat: Open Water, Marsh, and Cropland.
Best Birds: When the agricultural fields flood at Harvey-Wangsness, a great variety of migrating water birds can be found. During spring migration large numbers of waterfowl congregate and may include Greater White-fronted and Snow Goose. Ross’s Goose and Brant have also been found. Flocks of migrating shorebird like American Golden Plover, Black-bellied Plover, American Avocet, Black-necked Stilt, Marbled Godwit, Hudsonian Godwit, Willet, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Sanderling, Ruddy Turnstone, and Red-necked Phalarope are also possible. Some rare gulls and terns have also turned up here, includingGlaucous, Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Franklin’s Gull, Caspian Tern, and Common Tern.
When the water levels stay high, areas of quality marsh develop along Harvey Road and have attracted species like American White-Pelican, Red-necked Grebe, Eared Grebe, Virginia Rail, Common Gallinule, Cattle Egret, American Bittern, Least Bittern, White-faced Ibis, Wilson’s Phalarope, and Yellow-headed Blackbird. In the agricultural lands around the wetlands, species such as Rough-legged Hawk, Lapland Longspur and Snow Bunting in winter, Vesper Sparrow and Dickcissel in summer, Brewer's Blackbird (migration), and Eurasian-collared Dove (year-round) can be found.
Directions: 18 miles NNE of Madison. From the intersection of Highway 51 and County DM 3 miles north of DeForest, head east on County DM for 1 mile. Turn south onto Harvey Road and use the road shoulder after 0.2 miles. 43.291756, -89.304831. There are approximately 400 acres of privately owned land that should only be viewed from the roadside.
Site Address & Additional Information:
There are approximately 400 acres of privately owned land. In dry years the farmed wetlands are cropped.
299 Harvey Road, DeForest WI
Aaron Holschbach, Mark and Susan Foote-Martin, and Graham Steinhauer
