Wisconsin Statewide Birding Report 5.23.13 Bird migration is now past peak in many areas of Southern Wisconsin, but the delayed phenology, cold temps and heavy rains across the north is making for some very exciting warbler watching. Birders in the northern tier of counties are reporting good numbers and diversity of warblers, many of which are at eye level or actually feeding on the ground due to the lack of leaves and food. This is likely tough on the birds, but makes for excellent birdwatching and photography opportunities. Warmer temps this weekend should give these migrants a boost and will likely bring in more birds statewide. This past week has also brought good numbers of shorebirds including some rare species like marbled and hudsonian godwit, American avocet and black-necked stilts. Check flooded farm fields, great lakes beaches and other shallow water or muddy areas. The best spot may be along HWY 49 at the Horicon National Wildife Refuge. Connecticut warbler, Canada warbler, dickcissels and other late migrants are now moving into the Southern portion of the state. Despite the heavy leaf cover in Southern Wisconsin, birders can still expect to find migrants over the next week. In addition to migrants, some rare nesting warblers have appeared including many hoodeds, Kentucky warblers, and a pair of worm-eating warblers in Madison. Birders should keep their eyes and ears open for rare breeding forest birds over the next week as they work to attract mates in woodlots across Southern Wisconsin. This past week also brought our first reports of sandhill crane colts and many reports of goose broods as well as some American woodcock broods in the south. As always, please report your sightings to Wisconsin eBird (
www.ebird.org/WI) so that we can better track our migratory bird populations. - Andy Paulios, wildlife biologists and Wisconsin Bird Conservation Initiative coordinator
