Wisconsin Statewide Birding Report 5.5.10Neotropical migrants are returning and we are now entering the peak of spring bird migration! Things are a bit early this year, even for Neotropical migrants, which are usually cued by photoperiod and not weather. However; strong southerly flows this past weekend have brought in a large influx of migrants that spent the winter south of the U.S. border. Birders can expect to see many species of warblers, vireos, thrushes, grosbeaks, orioles and hummingbirds. Shorebird migration is still a bit early but there are large numbers of the earlier migrants in appropriate habitats. This past week saw the first broods of mallards and geese and many of the early migrants are now nesting. Rare birds reported this week include both white-faced and glossy ibis, black-necked stilts, summer tanager, white-eyed vireo, Franklin's gull, yellow rail, and the Jackson County chuck-will's widow which has returned for the fifth year in a row. The weather forecast for the next week indicates rain so the migration should slow down a bit. Birders should expect to see good diversity of birds in all habitats right now. Shorebird watching has been very good in Dane and Columbia counties in flooded agricultural fields. Please enter your sightings into Wisconsin eBird (
www.ebird.org/WI) so that we can better track our birdlife as it moves through the state.
