Wisconsin Statewide Birding Report 4.17.09
With the recent south winds, the region has broken out of the early April doldrums and has been experiencing some substantial migratory bird movements. Grassland and marsh nesters are beginning to arrive including field sparrow, vesper sparrow and Virginia and sora rails. Short-distance migrants like kinglets, fox sparrows, winter wren, sapsuckers and others are now abundant statewide. New migrants expected this week include upland sandpiper, American bittern, Henslow's sparrow, blue-gray gnatcatcher and others. Birders can expect the highest diversity now in more open marshes and grassland/shrubland habitats. The area is still two weeks away from the beginning of heavy Neotropical migrant arrivals. Mourning doves, Canada geese and other early nesters are already sitting on eggs. Pine siskins, bald eagles and great-horned owls are already reportedly feeding young! Mid April is peak time to go and view lekking sharp-tailed grouse and prairie-chickens. This is also a good time to view displaying American woodcock at dawn or dusk. Please consider submitting observations to Wisconsin eBird (
www.ebird.org/WI) to help better track migratory bird populations.
