Big Muskego Lake SWA, Waukesha County, WI, US - eBird Hotspot
Boxhorn Boat Launch (Big Muskego Lake), Waukesha County, WI, US - eBird Hotspot
Habitat: Open water, Marsh, Sedge Meadow, Willow/Dogwood Swamp.
Best Birds: This Important Bird Area hosts ducks, rails, bitterns, and breeding populations of Forster’s and Black Tern, as well as Marsh Wren, and Yellow-headed Blackbird. Big Muskego Lake was one of the first places in southeast Wisconsin to which nesting Osprey and Bald Eagle returned. American White Pelican, and Caspian Tern use the lake for foraging in the spring and fall. It also gets heavy use as a stopover site by diverse migrating waterfowl and shorebirds. Short-eared Owl and Rough-legged Hawk overwinter here.
Directions: 20 miles southwest of Milwaukee. The wildlife area consists of 900 acres of scattered parcels on the southwest and northeast sides of the lake roughly bordered by County Highway Y on the west and County Highway OO on the east. The public lands have irregular boundaries so be aware of private property lines. There are several parking areas around the lake on the margins of the wildlife area providing limited access by foot to the interior. Three are on the west side from Parker Road. Near the south end of Parker Road is the best access point from which walking south 0.25 miles and then east reaches marsh and lake, (42.86867, -88.14850). From Muskego Dam Road walk north along a narrow easement to the dam and canal area, (42.85049, -88.13414). There is a boat landing on Boxhorn Road, behind the Boxhorn Gun Club, (42.88123, -88.09120). A canoe or kayak gets you to the south end of the lake which attracts a lot of waterfowl.
Site Address & Additional Information:
Parker Road, Muskego WI
Big Muskego Lake is a shallow 2,260 acre lake mostly less than 4 foot deep surrounded by cattail marsh and containing many islands of cattail.
Big Muskego Lake Wildlife Area | | Wisconsin DNR
Paul Kinzer and Patrick Horn
