Kewaunee Marsh, Kewaunee County, WI, US - eBird Hotspot
Habitat: Marsh, Willow Swamp, Successional Oldfield, Southern Hardwood Forest, and Bottomland Hardwoods.
Best Birds: There is a boardwalk through the marsh, ending at a Kewaunee River lookout. The Ahnapee trail (an old railroad bed) starts nearby and can be easily walked for miles traversing multiple habitat types. The cattail marsh supports Sora and Virginia Rail, American and Least Bittern, Common Yellowthroat, Swamp Sparrow, and blackbirds. Osprey can be seen on its platform and Bald Eagle is regular.
The open water of the Kewaunee River - viewed from the boardwalk and the trail bridge - can hold Pied-billed Grebe, Common Loon, Ring-necked Duck, and Belted Kingfisher. All the native swallows can be seen feeding over the river.
Walking the trail past the bridge, land transitions to a Willow Swamp where Northern Harrier are found, and then past an evergreen planting where Clay-colored and Chipping Sparrow nest.
Approaching CTY-E/River Rd, shrubby area dries out and Brown Thrasher and Field Sparrow breed, and thrushes occur during migration.
Crossing under CTY-E/River Rd habitat changes to a grassy hillside with scattered trees and shrubs which holds Eastern Kingbird, Eastern Towhee, American Redstart, and Blue-winged Warbler.
Following the trail further, the scrubland gives way two types of forest. The Southern Hardwood Forest can have Ruffed Grouse, Wood Thrush, and Scarlet Tanager. The Bottomland Hardwoods hold Northern Waterthrush and Mourning Warbler. Green Heron can be seen along the river. The dead trees on the west side of path are perches for woodpeckers, Common Nighthawk, and Willow, Alder, and Least Flycatcher.
Directions: 29 mile E of Green Bay, and north of Kewaunee on HWY 42. The entrance for this area is west of HWY 42, across from Hathaway Dr. The parking area for the Boardwalk is right off the highway at 44.4665, -87.5019. There are two trailheads for the Ahnapee Trail. The preferred access is down the gravel road, off the Boardwalk entrance (44.4691, -87.5018). It is near a local business, so park without blocking traffic. The other trail access is downtown at 44.4601, -87.5037, but does not have access to the river or marsh until further west and skirts the backyards of local residences. There are also parking options along CTY-C, where the trail crosses the road (44.4620, -87.5383) and a nearby parking lot (44.4630, -87.5344) but no marked path to access trail from the lot.
Address and Additional Information:
Parking Lot for Marsh at 44.4665, -87.5019, Ahnapee Trailhead is at 44.4691, -87.5018.
Ahnapee State Trail Wisconsin State Park System | Wisconsin DNR
Adam Sinkula
