Wisconsin Statewide Birding Report: 9.25.08
Migration continues statewide with recent fronts that have moved through Wisconsin. This week has brought the first push of northern geese and ducks into the area. Birders early this week reported snow, Ross's, cackling and migrant Canada geese statewide. Shorebird migration continues along where there is adequate habitat. Dominant shorebird migrants this week included lesser and greater yellowlegs, pectoral sandpipers and some of the larger plovers. Good spots to watch shorebirds include flooded fields in the Columbia and Dodge county area, Lake Mills Wildlife Area, and Fish Lake Wildlife Area. This week also brought the first significant raptor movement of the year. Hawk Ridge in Duluth recorded more than 20,000 raptors on Monday with the majority being broad-winged and sharp-shinned hawks. Other migrant raptors include osprey, northern harrier, peregrine falcon, merlin and American kestrel. Passerines continue to move through the area. This week should mark the beginning of the end for Neotropical migrants including warblers, thrushes and vireos. Southern Wisconsin got its first batch of late migrants including white-throated sparrow, yellow-rumped warbler, and yellow-bellied sapsucker. Birders can expect more migration throughout the next week. Sparrow migration should begin to heat up. To see migrant sparrows seek out prairie restorations with lots of seed, fallow fields and brushy open areas. As always, please report sightings to eBird at
www.ebird.org/WI to help better track bird populations.
