Otsego Marsh, Columbia County, WI, US - eBird Hotspot
Habitat: Open Water, Marsh, Oak-Hickory Forest, and Pine Plantation.
Best Birds: Birds nesting in the woodland habitat include Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Barred Owl, Red-Headed Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, thrushes, warblers, and Scarlet Tanager. The open water wooded islands, and surrounding emergent vegetation of Hawkos Pond provides excellent habitat for geese, ducks, Belted Kingfisher, and swallows. Duck boxes and natural cavities provide nesting sites for Hooded Merganser. Sandhill Crane nest in the emergent vegetation. In the winter, to the west in the Bonnet Prairie, you may find Rough-legged Hawk, Horned Lark, Lapland Longspur, and Snow Bunting.
Directions: 31 miles NNE of Madison. In Rio from the intersection of County B, C, and 16, travel 1.2 miles east, southeast on Highway 16, then south on Old County F Road for 2.2 miles to a parking lot on the east side of F (43.402593, -89.224697). From this lot there is a trailhead for a 1.5-mile mowed trail loop which provides access through the Oak-Hickory Forest.
Site Address & Additional Information:
3382 Old County Road F, Rio, WI
Graham Steinhauer, and Mark and Susan Foote-Martin
