Mack SWA, Outagamie County, WI, US - eBird Hotspot
Habitat: Marsh, Open Water, Bottomland Hardwoods. Successional Oldfield.
Best Birds: From the diked ponds along Van Patten Drive and nearby agricultural fields, look for a variety of waterfowl, including Tundra Swan, Greater White-fronted, Snow and Ross’s Geese. Shorebirds like American Avocet, Black-necked Stilt, Willet, Hudsonian Godwit, Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Long and Short-billed Dowitcher may be present at the diked ponds near the observation tower on Van Patten Drive and in the low-lying agricultural fields a few blocks N of the tower.
The marsh may produce Red-necked Grebe, American and Least Bittern, Black-crowned Night Heron, Virginia Rail, Common Gallinule, Black Tern, Marsh Wren, LeConte’s and Nelson’s Sparrows (in migration), and Yellow-headed Blackbird. Rusty Blackbird may be seen in the flooded woods in spring.
Ruffed Grouse, Yellow and Black-billed Cuckoos, Red-headed Woodpecker, Alder and Willow Flycatchers, Hermit and Wood Thrush, Sedge Wren, Blue-winged, Golden-winged and Mourning Warblers, Northern Waterthrush and Orchard Oriole may be encountered in the lowland wooded and brushy areas south of Highway 54. Short-eared Owl, Northern Rough-legged Hawk, Northern Shrike, and Snow Bunting may occur seasonably, while. Common Raven may be seen year-round.
Directions: 18 miles northwest of Appleton and 2 miles east of Shiocton on Highway 54 to the Van Patten Drive, observation tower and parking area, (44.474147, -88.523667). Access to Herman Road on Hwy 54 is ½ mile east of the jct. of Hwy 54 and Van Patten Dr. Parking on Herman Rd is marked. (44.462961, -88.512474). Junction with the Newton Blackmour State Trail is at 44.456349, -88.5148599.
Address and Additional Information:
https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/lands/wildlifeareas/mack.html.
Ross Mueller
