Bird Protection Fund tops $1 Million Mark for WI bird conservation
By Nora Simmons, Communications Director, Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin
The Bird Protection Fund—a collaboration among the Natural Resources Foundation (NRF) of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Bird Conservation Initiative (WBCI), and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources—has now raised and distributed a total of $1,014,566 for bird conservation since its creation in...
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WSO Seeks Nominations for Annual Passenger Pigeon Awards
The Wisconsin Society for Ornithology recognizes individuals or organizations that have made outstanding achievements in bird conservation, promoting the field of ornithology, and contributing to the society and is seeking nominations through the end of the year for its 2019 Passenger Pigeon Awards. Please consider worthy individuals or groups for the following awards which will be presented at...
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43rd ‘Birds in Art’ Takes Flight in Wausau
2018 marks 8th appearance by WSO’s Tom Schultz
New avian-themed artworks by more 114 worldwide artists comprise the 43rd annual, internationally renowned 2018 “Birds in Art” exhibition, on view here through Nov. 25 at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum.
Innovative artistic approaches and intriguing mediums – from acrylic and oxidized sterling silver leaf to cut turkey feathers and oil...
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Harrington Beach Hawk Watch 2018
Article written by Tom Schultz.
Our group started gathering under cloudy skies in the lower parking lot at Harrington Beach State Park a little before 8:00 AM on Sunday, Oct. 7th. About 22 were in attendance. There was a moderately strong wind blowing out of the northeast, which we knew would create fairly lousy conditions for a hawk flight (west or northwest wind vectors would be much better),...
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4th Season Atlas Findings Include 4 New Possible Breeding Species
After the fourth and penultimate year of the Wisconsin Breeding Bird Atlas II (WBBA II) survey, volunteers have observed 242 bird species in the state, and have confirmed 225 of those species as breeding. Of the potential breeders, four new species were found this year that could make for exciting confirmations in 2019, including Barn Owl, American Three-toed Woodpecker, Yellow-crowned...
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2018 Jaegerfest Field Trip Report (Sep. 21-23)
Article written by Tom Schultz.
FRIDAY MORNING of Jaegerfest started under cloudy skies, with fairly strong winds blowing out of the north-northwest – creating large waves that were rolling onto the beach at Lot 1. As large as they were, they had obviously been larger during the overnight hours, since there were big logs, sticks, etc. that had been carried high onto the beach – right up to...
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WSO Communications Team & Oct. 6th Big Day!
Where will you be birding on October 6 for Global Big Bird Day? Spend time wherever you are and go birding to help scientists get a snapshot picture of birds from around the world. Get outside and share your photos to our WSO Facebook Page! Our newly formed Communications Committee will be at the Horicon Marsh while we plan for a year ahead of WSO successes and head out to the trails to...
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Free Thayer Birding Software for Kids
Know any fantastic youth birders? Let’s be a part of trying to get 1 MILLION young birders using the app!
There is a new version 7.7 of Thayer’s Birds of North America – for Free. Students from enrolled in pre-K through high school who are interested in birds can use this Special Code: BirdingWireYoungBirder to get this incredible software for FREE that would otherwise cost ~$50. This...
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Operation Migration Calls It Quits
Operation Migration, which took flight 25 years ago to teach birds a new migratory route and since 2001 has helped reintroduce Whooping Cranes to the Wisconsin, has withdrawn from the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership (WCEP) and is dissolving the organization.
Bill Lishman and Joe Duff developed the aircraft-guided migration method into an effective means of reintroducing endangered cranes into...
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Perhaps some of you who have been members of WSO for a long time will remember that for many years we offered an annual Fall Campout at WSO’s Honey Creek Preserve. The last time we held this event was 2000, so it’s been a while. The outing probably was dropped, in part, due to the success of what is now annual late-September Jaegerfest weekend in Superior, started in 1999.
In years past,...
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August Brings Outstanding Rarities to Central WI
The dog days of summer produced a few outstanding rarities.
Horicon Marsh had excellent shorebird habitat and a nice variety of birds. One keen observer photographed a different looking shorebird that he correctly identified as a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. If accepted by WSO’s Records Committee this would be an addition to the Wisconsin bird list.
This bird was seen for several days but with...
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