* Wisconsin
* Madison
* March 25, 1999
* WIMA9903.25
Number: 608-255-2476
Reports: 608-255-2476
Compiler: Madison Audubon
Coverage: south-central Wisconsin
Transcriber: Chuck Heikkinen (Reiki@Inxpress.Net)
BIRDS MENTIONED-
Eastern Bluebird
Great Egret
Northern Harrier
Hooded Merganser
Wood Duck
GOLDEN EAGLE
Common Loon
Fox Sparrow
Red-breasted Merganser
Song Sparrow
American Woodcock
Eastern Phoebe
Turkey Vulture
White-throated Sparrow
Red-headed Woodpecker
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE
Sandhill Crane
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Canvasback
Tree Swallow
Snow Goose
HARRIS'S SPARROW
RED CROSSBILL
ROSS'S GOOSE
Bald Eagle
Blue-winged Teal
Tundra Swan
LOCATIONS MENTIONED-
9 Springs Sewage Plant
Hillsboro area
Lake Monona, near Turville Point
Cherokee Marsh
Lake Monona, near Esther Beach
UW Arboretum
Owen Park
Tiedeman's Pond, Middleton
Prospect St, Madison
Portage area
Mud Lake, Columbia County
Schoeneberg Marsh
Stricker's Pond, Middleton
Lake Wingra, near the zoo
Tipperary Road, south of Madison
Blanchardville area
DM & I Ponds, Dane County
Crystal Lake
Harvey Rd, near Schoeneberg Marsh
This is the Birding Hotline report of the Madison Audubon Society for
Thursday, March 25th. What do Bluebirds, Fox Sparrows, Golden Eagles, Great
Egrets, Swallows, and Phoebes all have in common? Well, they're highlights
of this week's report, and they've recently been sighted in this area.
Last Sunday, the 21st, Ken Wood reported a pair of EASTERN BLUEBIRDS near
his house, west of Madison.
Dave Fallow visited the 9 Springs Sewage Plant on the 18th, and observed a
GREAT EGRET, a female NORTHERN HARRIER, and 11 species of ducks, including
20 HOODED MERGANSERS and a pair of WOOD DUCKS.
On the 19th, Paul Richardson, who lives about 5 miles NW of Hillsboro, WI,
watched a beautiful immature GOLDEN EAGLE soaring for about 10 minutes.
Also on the 19th, Dave Fallow found a COMMON LOON on Lake Monona, near
Turville Point, a FOX SPARROW at Cherokee Marsh, and a pair of RED-BREASTED
MERGANSERS on Lake Monona, near Esther Beach.
Sylvia Merrick heard SONG SPARROWS recently, and on the 18th watched
AMERICAN WOODCOCKS on Curtis Prairie in the UW Arboretum. On the 19th, she
observed a pair of EASTERN PHOEBES and a pair of EASTERN BLUEBIRDS at Owen
Park, and saw FOX SPARROWS in her backyard. On the 20th, she found a pair
of WOOD DUCKS at Tiedeman's Pond in Middelton, and saw a TURKEY VULTURE
flying over Owen Park.
Gary Turk reported a FOX SPARROW near Prospect St this past week, and on the
19th found a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW singing in the same area. He also
reported a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER north of Portage in Columbia County, that
is believed to have over-wintered there.
Libby Zimmerman scoped out Mud Lake last Friday prior to leading her Sunday
wetlands ecology field trip. She found 44 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE
there, and then observed 6-7 HOODED MERGANSERS on County K. On Sunday's
field trip, she located lots of SANDHILL CRANES in the Mud Lake area and saw
2 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS, 3-4 WOOD DUCKS, and NORTHERN PINTAILS. At
Schoeneberg Marsh she observed a pair of GREEN-WINGED TEAL.
A pair of CANVASBACKS was reported by Julie Pesch at Stricker's Pond in
Middleton on the 21st.
The same day, Edgar Spaulding found 2 TREE SWALLOWS off Lake Wingra, near
the Vilas Park Zoo.
Dave Fallow on the 21st watched a flock of SNOW GEESE south of Madison on
Tipperary Road. He also reported an immature HARRIS'S SPARROW on a friend's
farm near Blanchardville.
Kathy Minor found RED CROSSBILLS munching on spruce seeds at the Longenecker
Gardens in the UW Arboretum on the 21st.
On the 22nd, Ed Saur, Kay Burcar, and Bill Holzenauf reported a ROSS'S GOOSE
at the DM & I ponds in northern Dane County. Kay Burcar noted that both
Fish and Crystal Lakes are now open. At Crystal Lake she saw 12 species of
duck and a BALD EAGLE. Bill Holzenauf, in addition to seeing the goose at
the DM & I ponds, saw many species of duck, including a BLUE-WINGED TEAL,
but was unable to find the GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE reported there last
week. He did find 4 TUNDRA SWANS on Harvey Road just south of Schoeneberg
Marsh.
David and Julie Pesch reported watching the courtship of the AMERICAN
WOODCOCK on the 24th at the UW Arboretum.
Julie Jensen reported finding an Anglewing butterfly at Blue Mounds State
Park this past week.
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The next Madison Audubon Society field trip will be this coming Saturday,
the 27th, Spring Birds of Columbia County. This car-birding trip will meet
to carpool by 7:15 at the Kohl's Parking lot on Allen Blvd and Century
Avenue in Middleton. Or you can meet the group at 8:00 at Goose Pond. Call
Mel at 831-5506 if you have questions.
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The WSO Hotline in Milwaukee, (414) 352-3857, as of last week was reporting
2 Ross's Geese in northern Ozaukee County, Little Gulls in Port Washington,
6 Short-eared Owls south of LaCrosse and 1 in Trempeleau County, a Spruce
Grouse and Black-backed Woodpecker in northern Wisconsin, and a Golden Eagle
in Jackson County.
Don't forget to vote on April 6th.