Schoeneberg Marsh, Columbia County, WI, US - eBird Hotspot
Erstad Prairie, Columbia County, WI, US - eBird Hotspot
Habitat: Open Water, Marsh, Oak-Hickory Forest, Native and Restored Grassland, Oak Savanna and Successional Oldfield.
Best Birds: In the wetland habitat one can find a wide diversity of geese, Tundra Swan, ducks, and Horned Grebe in migration, along with non-breeding Double-crested Cormorant and American White Pelican. Wetland species breeding here include Trumpeter Swan, Gadwall, Redhead, Hooded Merganser, Ruddy Duck, Red-necked Grebe, Virginia Rail, Common Gallinule, Sandhill Crane, Black Tern, American Bittern, Least Bittern, Marsh Wren, Swamp Sparrow, and Yellow-headed Blackbird.
Species breeding in the wooded or oak savanna include Black-billed Cuckoo, Great Horned Owl, Red-headed Woodpecker, Eastern Wood Pewee, Great Crested Flycatcher, Yellow-throated Vireo, and Orchard Oriole. Species nesting in the grassland and shrubby areas include American Woodcock, Northern Harrier, American Kestrel, Willow Flycatcher, Sedge Wren, Brown Thrasher, Field Sparrow, and Dickcissel. Possibly also nesting here are Clay-colored Sparrow, Henslow’s Sparrow, Eastern Towhee, and Eastern Meadowlark.
In the winter in the surrounding areas, you may find Rough-legged Hawk, Horned Lark, Lapland Longspur, and Snow Bunting.
Directions: 22 miles N of Madison. From Arlington, go 2.25 miles east on Highway 51 and 60 to the intersection of Highway 22, 51, and 60, then head north for 0.7 miles on Highway 22, then turn right onto Priem Road. After 0.9 miles, the Fish and Wildlife parking lot will be on the north side of the road (43.339473, -89.307677). From the parking lot on Priem Road there is a 0.45-mile paved path and boardwalk to an observation platform overlooking the marsh. Continue east 0.1 mile to Harvey Road and then north on Harvey Road 0.2 mile to the Erstad Prairie parking lot (43.342984, -89.304857). Erstad Prairie has mowed trails that border prairie restorations and wetland.
Site Address & Additional Information:
Schoenberg Marsh
Priem Road, Arlington WI
Erstad Prairie parking: 43.342984, -89.304857
Madison Audubon’s Erstad Prairie
Graham Steinhauer, Mark and Susan Foote-Martin
