Wisconsin Statewide Birding Report 6.12.13Early June traditionally marks the end of spring migration and increased breeding activity across Wisconsin. Northern Wisconsin experienced several migration events this past week, most notably on May 30 when large numbers of warblers, flycatchers, and other land birds were found along Lake Superior?s south shore. Late migrants such as olive-sided and yellow-bellied flycatchers, black-billed cuckoos, cedar waxwings, and common nighthawks are still on the move. Expect this migration activity to wind down over the next week. Birders at concentration points such as Door County reported hundreds of kettling broad-winged hawks this week. These are immature birds that probably won?t nest in their first summer and thus aren?t in a hurry to reach northern breeding areas from their tropical wintering grounds. Shorebird migration is typically a highlight of late spring but few concentrations have been found this year. Federally-endangered piping plovers are nesting again on Lake Superior?s Long Island, while Kirtland?s warbler nesting activities also are underway at their Adams County nesting sites. Wyalusing State Park in southwest Wisconsin has been a popular destination for birders as they seek out nesting species hard to find elsewhere in the state, such as Louisiana waterthrush, Acadian flycatcher, and Kentucky, prothonotary, cerulean, and yellow-throated warblers. Statewide volunteers are gearing up to survey the state?s 92 federal Breeding Bird Survey routes this month. This survey is the single best source of population trends for many breeding species in Wisconsin and the entire country. Rarities spotted this week include scissor-tailed flycatcher in Marathon County, northern mockingbirds at many locations, Pacific loon in Bayfield County, several ibises at Horicon Marsh, and a bonanza of rare gulls at Sheboygan?s North Point, including a laughing gull, franklin?s gull, and up to four little gulls. As always, help us track bird migration and population changes by reporting your sightings to Wisconsin eBird (
www.ebird.org/wi). - Ryan Brady, Bureau of Wildlife Management research scientist, Ashland
