Bird migration is in full swing across the state of Wisconsin. This week marks the peak of fall migration for long-distance migrants including the warblers, thrushes, vireos and other birds that winter in the tropics. Birders have reported mixed results for warblers due to the persistent weather patterns and lack of cold fronts and north winds. Shorebirds continue to migrate through the state with many young birds now heading for wintering areas. With the dry weather many temporary ponds have dried up making good habitat harder to find. Blackbirds are now beginning to stage in large numbers in wetlands in the evenings. The next week should bring the first real push of later migrants like sapsuckers, kinglets, palm and yellow-rumped warblers and sparrows into the southern parts of the state. This is a good time of year to bird the forest patches along the Great Lakes for warbler fallouts and to scan the great lakes for migrant jaegers and Sabine's gulls. Please report sightings to Wisconsin eBird (
www.ebird.org/WI) to help better track migratory bird populations.
