Peter Helland SWA, Columbia County, WI, US - eBird Hotspot
Springvale Wet Prairie (State Natural Area) Columbia County, WI US - eBird Hotspot
Habitat: Marsh, Sedge Meadow, Dogwood Swamp, Open Water, Southern Hardwood Forest, Oak-Hickory Forest, Hardwood Swamp, Native and Restored Grassland, Non-Native Grassland and Pasture, and Oak Savanna.
Best Birds: In migration one can find a wide diversity of geese and ducks. Breeding wetland species include Hooded Merganser, Virginia Rail, Sandhill Crane, Wilson’s Snipe, Osprey (Highway SS), Cliff Swallow, Marsh Wren, and Swamp Sparrow. Species breeding in the wooded or savanna include Cooper’s Hawk, Eastern Screech Owl, Great Horned Owl, and Red-headed Woodpecker. Species nesting in the grassland and shrubby areas include American Woodcock, Northern Harrier, Willow Flycatcher, Sedge Wren, Brown Thrasher, Grasshopper Sparrow, Clay-colored Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Eastern Meadowlark, and Dickcissel.
In winter you may find Rough-legged Hawk, Short-eared Owl, Northern Shrike, and Horned Lark. In the cropland of the Welsh Prairie to the southeast of the wildlife area on Welsh Prairie and Old B Road you may also find Lapland Longspur and Snow Bunting.
Directions: 40 miles NNE of Madison. On the east side of Pardeeville at the intersection of Highway 44 and County P, go east on P for 5 miles, turn south on Sawyer Road for 1 mile. A parking lot is on the west side of the road, (43.53537, -89.19259). There are 5.5 square miles to explore with a high diversity of habitats with 11 parking areas including many with management trails. The best areas are along Sawyer Road, off the southwest parking lot on Pardeeville Road (43.52170, -89.25661), the dead-end parking lot on Healy Drive south of Highway P (43.53497, -89.21716), and along the wetland west of Welch Prairie Road south of Highway P (43.54347, -89.14239).
Site Address & Additional Information:
Sawyer Road, Cambria WI
Springvale Wet Meadow State Natural Area
Mark and Susan Foote-Martin and Graham Steinhauer
