Wolf River Sturgeon Trail, Waupaca County, WI, US - eBird Hotspot
Habitat: Bottomland Hardwoods, Open Water.
Best Birds: Nesting species include Hooded Merganser, Blue-winged, Bufflehead, Ring-necked Duck, Teal, Pied-billed Grebe, Sandhill Crane, Sedge Wren, Prothonotary Warbler. Predictable summer residents are Common Merganser, Sora, Great-crested Flycatcher, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Veery. Listen for the Prothonotary while walking the length of the Trail..
Listen for Great-horned Owl dueling on winter nights.
Directions: 23 miles NW of Appleton. The Sturgeon Trail is a paved trail along the Wolf River 1 1/2 miles west of New London on Hwy X. Turn right on Big Eddy’s Rd and park (44.39945, -88.77599). Walk the trail along the river and the singular best spot for a stakeout is at the entrance to the Roger Pitt Walkway, a boardwalk leading into the lagoon.
Site Address & Additional Information:
Sturgeon Trail: E8948 Big Eddys Rd, New London, WI
The Sturgeon Trail County Park provides shelter along the rip-rap shoreline for sturgeon eggs during the April spawn. It is adjacent to the Mukwa State Wildlife Area which, in high water, takes in the overflow from the Wolf River Basin, and, in low water months, is marsh and sedge meadow. Across the Wolf from the Park is an oft flooded forest of Willow and Silver Maple and the Wolf River Fishery Area. The Trail was meant to encourage people to enjoy the Sturgeon migration on the third week of April but for every other week of the year, it makes an easily birded route.
Michael O’Connell
