https://ebird.org/hotspot/L162792?yr=all&m=&rank=mrec
Habitat: Native and Restored Grasslands, Open Water, Marsh, Southern Hardwood Forest.
Best birds: Check the grasslands for Sedge Wren, Henslow’s Sparrow, Grasshopper Sparrow, Eastern Meadowlark, Bobolink, and Dickcissel. Go to the lookout tower, Vern Wolf Lake, and other small ponds to check for waterfowl, cranes, and herons. Marsh areas within the park may produce Sora and Virginia Rail.
Check the feeders behind the nature center for European Goldfinch. They are also found incidentally in other areas of the park. Walk the trail behind the nature center to look for migrants and other woodland/field birds like Field Sparrow, and Brown Thrasher. In spring, look and listen for American Woodcock and Wilson’s Snipe.
During winter (November), park at parking lot D or drive the roads to look for Northern Harrier, Rough-legged Hawk, Short-eared Owl, and Northern Shrike. Short-eared Owls are most often seen at dusk.
Directions: The park is 40 miles southwest of Milwaukee. The main entrance to the park is on highway 142 with parking at the visitor center at 42.634004, -88.127165. Parking lot D is located at 42.624671, -88.137548. A state park admission sticker is required to enter the park.
Site address and additional information:
This is a popular destination for off-road recreational vehicles, and can be very noisy at times. Early mornings are best for birding.
26313 Burlington Rd, Kansasville, WI 53139
https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/richardbong
https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/name/richardbong/pdfs/bonghikingmap.pdf
Jennifer Wenzel
