PSC Disappoints In Decision To Allow Solar Farm Construction Near Buena Vista Wildlife Area
By Jennifer Lazewski, WSO Executive Director
Although WSO and other bird advocates have done everything possible to protect Greater Prairie-chickens in Portage County, the large Vista Sands Solar facility has been approved to be constructed next to the Buena Vista Wildlife Area (BVWA). At the time this article was written, the Public Service Commission has reached its 3-0 decision to approve the...
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A SALUTE to the 2024 BIGBY Birding Champs…
By Wendy Schultz, WSO BIGBY Birding Coordinator
WSO would like to congratulate ALL the BIGBY birders of the state, for the many MILES they put on their bikes and their feet, and for the birds they found, photographed and e-Birded in 2024. They can be proud of their accomplishments as they continue to inspire the rest of us to get outside and take a hike or ride your bike. For the record, we now...
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Need a GREAT NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION? Try BIGBY birding—it’s GOOD for you and ANYONE can do it!
By Wendy Schultz, WSO BIGBY Birding Coordinator
The Wisconsin Society of Ornithology is heading into its NINTH year of managing the Wisconsin Green Birding Challenge—better known as BIGBY birding. For those of you who need a refresher course on what BIGBY stands for, it means BIG GREEN BIRDING YEAR.
This more-than-exciting and HEART-HEALTHY form of competitive birding is carbon neutral...
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Milwaukee Lakefront Field Trip Report 2025
Our group of 24 gathered at the South Shore Yacht Club, with relatively mild temperatures (about 30 degrees) and light to moderate winds from the south and southwest – not too bad for this trip. Many warm greetings were exchanged among the participants.
Upon arrival, folks began scanning the waterbirds that were present near the marina, and a nice variety of ducks was present,...
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Harrington Beach Hawk Watch 2024 – Sunday, Oct. 6
The forecast was promising for our annual Hawk Watch at Harrington Beach State Park (Sunday, Oct. 6), with sunny skies and fairly strong west to northwest winds predicted. The temperature was also fairly mild as our group gathered at 8:00 AM – right about 58 degrees.
There seemed to be fewer songbirds present this year in the area around the parking lot, but we...
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Sandhill Crane Study Committee Update
By Jennifer Lazewski, WSO Executive Director
WSO spoke for our birds in a presentation before the Study Committee on Sandhill Cranes by Executive Director Jennifer Lazewski on October 1, 2024. To counter the characterization of hunters that opposition is based solely on emotion, WSO provided plenty of facts and figures to show that birders contribute to science, that hunt...
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Jaegerfest Report 2024
Once again, the 2024 Jaegerfest event was not an “official” WSO field trip, but its popularity has continued, and many dozens of birders showed up for the long weekend on Wisconsin Point in Superior! This year’s dates were September 20-22, although many birders arrived already on Thursday, or even Wednesday. Our trip this year was following in the heels of a very warm weather pattern...
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Bay Beach Field Trip 2024
This year’s field trip to Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary fell on Saturday, Sept. 7, and we were pleased to see that it coincided with a passing cold front – which is always what you want for a fall migration push. We met at 7:00 AM and initially gathered near one of the lagoons as attendees arrived – 24 of us in total. It was a chilly morning (only 43 degrees at the start!) with a...
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A Letter From The WSO President
Many of you, maybe most of you, know more about WSO and its past than I do, since I’ve only been a member since right before I moved back to Wisconsin just over three years ago. While as your new WSO President, I’m learning much and hoping to learn more from you about Wisconsin bird-people, their priorities and issues of concern to them, and their dreams for WSO and for Wisconsin’s birds, I...
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WSO Unconvention and Other Upcoming Programs
WSO’s casual “talk about birds” event is returning this fall in a new location at UW-Stevens Point on Saturday October 19. We are looking forward to seeing people for a whole day of learning, chatting, and birdy fun. Feel free to forward the program and registration information to anyone interested in birds.
In keeping with the Central Wisconsin location, the program will start with...
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Horicon Marsh Field Trip 2024
At 7:00 AM on Sunday, August 11 we met at the main parking lot for the Horicon Marsh Auto Tour, took attendance, and then drove along the auto tour loop. The weather was fantastic – clear and calm, with a temperature of 56 degrees. 18 birders were present. We worked our way around to the west end of the Old Marsh Road, where we parked and walked out along the gravel...
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