Rocky Run Oak Savanna SNA, Columbia County, WI, US - eBird Hotspot
Habitat: Oak-Hickory Forest, Pine Plantation, Native and Restored Grassland, Oak Savanna, Successional Old Fields, Marsh, Sedge Meadow, and Open Water.
Best Birds: Breeding birds include Hooded Merganser, Wilson’s Snipe, Marsh Wren, and Swamp Sparrow in the wetlands; Northern Harrier, Lark Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, and Henslow's Sparrow in the grasslands; and Warbling Vireo, Tufted Titmouse, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Veery, Wood Thrush, Brown Thrasher, Eastern Towhee, Blue-winged Warbler, and Orchard Oriole in the oak-hickory forest, pine plantation and oak savanna. Nighttime breeding birds include Eastern Screech Owl, Great Horned Owl, and Barred Owl. The best area in Columbia County to check for Eastern Whip-poor-will is north of the eastern unit on Phillips Road between Highway 22 and Dunning Road. Rocky Run is also a great place for warblers in spring.
Directions: 29 miles N of Madison. From the intersection of Highway 16 and Highway 22 on the south side of Wyocena, go south on Highway 22 for 2 miles to a parking lot on the east side of the road (43.459366, -89.324939). Walk west 0.25 miles from the parking lot to reach the SNA and Fishery Area. Good birding locations can also be found from the Dunning Road and Morse Road parking lots.
Site Address & Additional Information:
Hwy 23, Wyocena WI
Rocky Run Oak Savanna State Natural Area
Walking west from the Highway 22 parking lot for the first quarter mile is on the north side of the 40-acre Pardeeville School Forest and south of that is the 43-acre Rio School Forest. The school forests are dominated by white and red pines and are open to wildlife viewing.
Mark and Susan Foote-Martin, Graham Steinhauer, Jim Otto, and JD Arnston
