Wisconsin Statewide Statewide Birding Report 4.25.13
Predicted south winds have birders across the state making plans for this weekend. This past week has brought new migrants into the southern and central parts of Wisconsin, but more snow to the north. Northern Wisconsin birders are focusing on what little open water exists and having some success with duck and water bird diversity. There has also been a trickle of the expected early April migrants into the north, but overall they are two to three weeks behind the normal migration patterns. Across the south birders are reporting good numbers of kinglets, sparrows, hermit thrushes, yellow-rumped warblers and the other expected mid-April migrants. Some birders have been lucky to detect three to four species of warblers in a morning. Most surprising have been the large number of typically western birds making appearances across the state. These include Franklin?s gulls, eared grebes, Eurasian widgeon, marbled godwits and piping plover. The high snows in the plains and the consistent jet stream flows out of Kansas are the likely reason for this phenomenon. Looking forward, the next few days of south winds should bring the first real push of Neotropical migrants including warblers, hummingbirds, orioles and rose-breasted grosbeaks. Tree phenology is behind so viewing should be good as birds forage at multiple heights within the forest. Focus on wooded wetlands for peak numbers of migrants as bug hatches from the water will augment food resources missing from the trees due to the late spring. Birders should also be checking wetlands and flooded agricultural fields in the upcoming week. Shorebird numbers should be starting to increase including your best chance for some of the larger shorebirds like avocets, willets and godwits. Wilson?s phalaropes have been reported this past week and should increase over the weekend. Grassland bird diversity should be on the increase as well with Henslow?s sparrows, grasshopper sparrows and upland sandpipers all arriving. In summary, dust off your oriole and hummingbird feeders, make sure your house wren box is cleaned and up and get out to your favorite local hotspot as spring migrants really pour through in the next 7 days. As always, check the DNR birding page for the latest information on birding and bird conservation efforts in Wisconsin. .Birding events, festivals and other opportunities are coming up across the AND consider taking part in the second Annual Great Wisconsin Birdathon. There are currently over 40 teams with more than 110 people participating to support the Bird Protection Fund - Andy Paulios, wildlife biologists and Wisconsin Bird Conservation Initiative coordinator
