Jackson Marsh State Wildlife and State Natural Area
https://ebird.org/hotspot/L717503?yr=all&m=&rank=mrec
Habitat: Cedar Swamp and Bottomland Hardwoods, Open Water, Marsh, and Sedge Meadow, Northern Hardwood Forest, Native/ Restored Grassland, Non-native Grassland, Successional Oldfield, and Cropland.
Best Birds: On County G, north of Hwy 60, is an open prairie/ grassland area with a few pothole lakes. Keep your eyes and ears open for Field, Savannah, and Swamp Sparrow. Other birds often seen here are Ring-necked Pheasant, Sandhill Crane, Northern Harrier, Sedge Wren, Eastern Kingbird, Horned Lark and Eastern Meadowlark. In winter American Tree Sparrow and Northern Shrike are seen. Closer to the pothole ponds are Wilson’s Snipe, American Woodcock, Great Egret, Marsh Wren, and a variety of ducks. North on Hwy G, you will come to a bridge crossing Cedar Creek. Check out this area for kingfishers and swallows.
North of the bridge there is access to the swamp. This area is best birded in spring before the trails get overgrown and the mosquitoes and biting flies emerge. The swamp is home to Red-shouldered Hawk, Barred Owl, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Great Crested Flycatcher, and Red-eyed Vireo. Migrant and nesting warblers may include: Magnolia, Black-throated Green, Blackburnian, Canada, and Northern Waterthrush. Most of the woodpeckers are found here including Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Both Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Brown Creeper, and Winter Wren, and thrushes such as Swainson’s, Wood, and Veery, and Rusty Blackbird are seasonally possible.
On the east side of the marsh you can take Church Street south to the end near Cedar Creek. This area can be good for migrants. Another accessible area of the marsh is the Maple Road Dog Training Area on the west side. This area is an expansive grassland/ wetland area surrounded by thick woods on all sides. Within are a few small ponds that provide a rest and refueling stop for ducks and geese. The wetlands attract Great Egret, Virginia Rail, and Wilson’s Snipe and American Woodcock. In the shrubs and woods surrounding the grasslands/ wetlands you can expect flycatchers like Alder, Willow, Great Crested, and Cedar Waxwing. Brown Thrasher habit the edges. Some of the warblers seen here include Blue-winged, Tennessee, Chestnut-sided, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Green, Black-and-White, and Mourning. Raptors may include Broad-winged Hawk, and Barred and Great Horned Owl.
Directions: 32 miles NW of Milwaukee/2 miles east of the city of Jackson on Hwy 60, then north on Co. Hwy G, which bisects the property.
Site Address & Additional Information:
Wisconsin’s southernmost White Cedar Swamp. 60% of this property is Cedar Swamp and Bottomland Hardwoods. The property encompasses two diked flowages, several pothole lakes and upland hardwood forest and grassland.
Prairie/ Grassland Parking Lot on Hwy G: 43.32869, -88.12280. South Swamp Parking Lot on Hwy G: 43.337877,-88.122744. North Swamp Parking Lot on Hwy G: 43.34853, -88.12226. Church St. Parking Lot: 43.33728, -88.10270. Maple Rd. Dog Training Area: 43.34505, -88.14476.
Jackson Marsh Wildlife Area | Wisconsin DNR
Jackson Marsh State Natural Area - Wisconsin DNR
Map: https://p.widencdn.net/sbcktm/7670jacksonmarsh
Dennis Panicucci
