Wisconsin Statewide Birding Report 1.22.09
Winter bird watching in Wisconsin has been excellent. The winter of 2008/2009 has resulted in an almost unprecedented invasion of white-winged crossbills statewide. Crossbills are being seen in spruce plantations and native spruce stands throughout the state along with good numbers of goldfinches, redpolls and pine siskins. Recent cold temperatures have started to push redpolls farther south in Wisconsin and birds are now being seen in the southern tier of counties. This is a down year for bohemian waxwings and pine grosbeaks but a few were being reported from traditional northern Wisconsin counties. There are a number of snowy owls being reported around the state with the Brown/Kewaunee county area and the Milwaukee area being the best. Rare birds reported recently include Townsend's solitaire's in Phelps and Devil's Lake State Park, the second state record of gray-crowned rosy finch in Lancaster, harlequin ducks in Prescott and Sheboygan, and a black-legged kittiwake in Sheboygan. As always, please report sightings to Wisconsin eBird (
www.ebird.org/WI) to help track bird populations.
