https://ebird.org/wi/hotspot/L157683?yr=all&m=&rank=mrec
Habitat: Native and Restored Grassland, Wet Meadow, Successional Oldfield, Pine-Oak Barrens, Mixed Coniferous Forest, Cropland, Shrub Swamp, Open Water.
Best Birds: The open fields and grassland along County W, Taft Rd, Swamp Rd, and Elm Rd can have Greater Prairie-Chicken, Upland Sandpiper, raptors, Short-eared Owl, sparrows including Vesper, Grasshopper and Henslow’s, meadowlarks, Brewer’s Blackbird, and Dickcissel. The seasonal flooded fields and small ponds, and particularly the pond south of Meyers Ln and County W, can yield waterfowl and shorebirds. The scrub marsh and aspen/oak stands along Taft Rd and Swamp Rd can be productive for flycatchers, vireos, finches, wrens, sparrows, warblers, and Northern Shrike in winter.
The southwestern grasslands average wetter than the eastern parcels. Townline Rd, 130th St, County W, County F, Tower Rd, Mill Rd, Quarry Rd and Evergreen Ave all yield Greater Prairie-Chicken, Upland Sandpiper, raptors, Short-eared Owl, Snowy Owl (winter), Sedge Wren, Bobolink, Brewer’s Blackbird, Henslow’s Sparrow, and Dickcissel. The small ponds along County F host Trumpeter Swan and other waterfowl. The pine-oak woods on Tower Rd west of County F and the oak stands at the southern end of Townline Rd attract Black-billed Cuckoo, Red-headed Woodpecker, flycatchers, vireos, thrushes, Orchard Oriole, sparrows, and warblers.
Greater Prairie-Chicken, raptors, Snowy Owl (winter), Short-eared Owl, Upland Sandpiper, meadowlarks, Bobolink, Brewer’s Blackbird, Grasshopper Sparrow, and Henslow’s Sparrow can be found on Griffith Ave, Lake Rd, 130th, Birch Dr, Taft Rd, and Townline Rd north of W.
Driving each road in its entirety while stopping frequently to scan and listen is the recommended method to cover the area. Birding every habitat can yield an eclectic mix of avian life on any visit.
Directions: 15 miles S of Stevens Point. An information kiosk is located on the west side of the area. This can be reached by heading west on County W from I-39, the kiosk is on the south side of the road just east of the County F junction.
Site Address and Additional Information:
County Rd W, Bancroft, WI 54921
Prairie Chicken Viewing:
https://www.uwsp.edu/wildlife/pchicken/Pages/Viewing.aspx
DNR Website:
https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Lands/WildlifeAreas/buenavista.html
Rob Pendergast
