* Wisconsin
* Madison
* March 17, 1999
* WIMA9903.17
Number: 608-255-2476
Reports: 608-255-2476
Compiler: Madison Audubon
Coverage: south-central Wisconsin
Transcriber: Chuck Heikkinen (Reiki@Inxpress.Net)
BIRDS MENTIONED-
Sandhill Cranes
Bufflehead
Ring-necked Duck
Shrike (sp.)
Cooper's Hawk
Great Blue Heron
Wood Duck
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Song Sparrow
American Tree Sparrow
Hermit Thrush
Barred Owl
Long-eared Owl
Wild Turkey
Pileated Woodpecker
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE
Bald Eagle
Lesser Scaup
Ruddy Duck
Red-breasted Merganser
Ring-billed Gull
Killdeer
American Woodcock
Green-winged Teal
Lapland Longspur
Turkey Vulture
Winter Wren
RED CROSSBILL
Northern Harrier
Great Horned Owl
LOCATIONS MENTIONED-
Portage area
Cherokee Marsh
Odana Hills Marsh
Lake Wingra
Pheasant Branch Creek
Middleton
9 Spring Sewage Plant
Maple Bluff
Token Creek
UW Campus
UW Arboretum
western Dane County
Cross Plains area
Devil's Lake State Park
Lower Mud Lake, McFarland
University Bay
Harvey's Marsh
Albany Wildlife Area
I-90/I-94 just north of Hwy 30
This is the birding hotline report of the MADISON AUDUBON SOCIETY for
Wednesday, March 17th. Cranes and other seasonal migrants moved into our
area in good numbers over the past weekend. But strong westerly and
northern winds mid-week may slow down further appearances.
We've had numerous reports of SANDHILL CRANE sightings recently. The
species has been seen in Wisconsin since at least sometime in February, with
possible overwintering birds in the Briggsville area. But numbers seem to
have risen dramatically now, and they are showing up in many more places.
Chuck Roberts heard CRANES in the Portage area mid-week. Peter Bridge saw
his first CRANES at Cherokee Marsh on the Friday the 12th. Chuck Heikkinen
saw CRANES near the Odana Hills Marsh on Saturday, the 13th. Kathy Miner
has been hearing CRANES on the southwest side of Lake Wingra for about three
weeks. Hilda McVoy watched 4 CRANES at Pheasant Branch Creek on Sunday, the
14th. And more CRANES were heard in Middleton on Tuesday, the 16th.
Peter saw CRANES at the 9-Springs ponds, south of South Towne on Saturday.
In the area he also saw BUFFLEHEADS and RING-NECKED DUCKS, and a SHRIKE.
Bill Forrest saw a COOPER'S HAWK in Maple Bluff on Friday, the 12th. On
Monday, the 15th, he found GREAT BLUE HERON tracks near his home at Token
Creek, but didn't see the bird until the next day. Kathy Miner watched a
COOPER'S HAWK devour a fresh kill in Muir Woods on the U.W. campus on
Friday, the 12th. On the 13th, she saw WOOD DUCKS, HOODED and COMMON
MERGANSERS and BUFFLEHEADS at Ho-nee-um Pond along Monroe Street in the U.W.
Arboretum, and on the 14th, in the same general area, she saw SONG and
AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS. I heard my first SONG SPARROW today, the 17th, in
western Dane County; as did Chuck Heikkinen at the Odana Hills marsh, along
with A HERMIT THRUSH; and Kay Burcar north of Cross Plains.
Chuck Heikkinen birded at Devil's Lake State Park on Sunday, the 14th. His
list included 2 BARRED OWLS, a LONG-EARED OWL, WILD TURKEYS, and 3 PILEATED
WOODPECKERS. Peter Bridge and Libby Zimmerman birded at Lower Mud Lake on
Sunday. Notable among their sightings were 3 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE
and a BALD EAGLE. Peter says numbers of LESSER SCAUP and RUDDY DUCKS are
up. On Monday, the 15th, in University Bay he found a pair of RED-BREASTED
MERGANSERS. He saw at least 76 RING-BILLED GULLS around Madison, and heard
several KILLDEER.
This morning, Kay Burcar heard an AMERICAN WOODCOCK at her home north of
Cross Plains. Elsewhere, she saw her first GREEN-WINGED TEAL of the season,
many KILLDEER, a GREAT BLUE HERON, and heard a SONG SPARROW. Also today,
Dave Fallow saw a large flock of LAPLAND LONGSPURS at Harvey's Marsh along
Highway 14 south of Oregon. At the Albany Wildlife Area he saw a TURKEY
VULTURE, a WINTER WREN, and 8 RED CROSSBILLS; and 2 NORTHERN HARRIERS en route.
Ed Saur says for over a month there has been an active GREAT HORNED OWL nest
in the median of I-90-94 just east of Madison. From Madison on hwy 30, take
the ramp to Wisc. Dells. The large nest is easily visible in trees on the
left just as this ramp joins 90-94. Coming from the south on the
Interstate, stay in the left lane and watch for the nest just as 94 comes
in from Milwaukee. Going west, from Milwaukee going west on 94, follow the
signs for the Dells and watch for the nest while you are on the ramp where
90 & 94 join. Drive carefully!
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The Wisconsin Society for Ornithology hotline, in Milwaukee, (414) 352-3857,
as of Thursday, March 11th, is reporting: a Little Gull at the Port
Washington harbor in Ozaukee County; also Iceland, Thayer's, Greater and
Lesser Black-backed, and Glaucous Gulls, and Surf and Black Scoters at
either Port Washington or along the Milwaukee shoreline; a female
Black-backed Woodpecker, as well as Spruce Grouse, Gray Jay and Boreal
Chickadee near Three Lakes in Oneida County; and Sharp-tailed Grouse and
Golden Eagle from central Wisconsin. For details, call the WSO hotline at
414-352-3857. Not yet on the WSO hotline is an unconfirmed report of a
Common Black-headed Gull at Port Washington.
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The next Madison Audubon Society field trip will be on Sunday, March 21st.
Libby Zimmerman will view and discuss the ecology of Lower Mud Lake and
environs. Waterfowl viewing there should be at its seasonal peak. Meet at
7:15 AM in McFarland at the south end of Lewis Lane. From Highway 51 in
McFarland, take the first left, that's east, south of the bridge. Go east
on Exchange Street for about a half mile and at the top of the hill turn
right, that's south, on Lewis Lane. The trip should last three to four
hours depending on the weather. If you have questions, call Libby at 423-4047.
Good birding!