Wisconsin Statewide Birding Report 3.2.12Recent warm temperatures across the southern half of the state has pushed waterfowl and bird migration into full swing. Adult sandhill cranes have now returned to breeding wetlands across the southern tier of counties and up into east-central Wisconsin. Many species of waterfowl including some later migrants like wood ducks have also returned to marshes and open lakes/rivers in southern Wisconsin. Good numbers of geese, including white-fronted geese, are using agricultural fields and associated rivers and lakes with open water across south-central Wisconsin. Eagles and other early-returning raptors are beginning to push north. Birders are reporting eagle movements well into northern Wisconsin and a recently captured golden eagle in Waupaca has now already moved into central Manitoba. Snowy owls that remain in Wisconsin will likely begin to move north over the next few weeks as they return to the arctic. Birders in northern Wisconsin are still reporting large numbers of siskins and redpolls at feeders but only scattered reports of evening and pine grosbeaks and bohemian waxwings. Forecasted warm temperatures over the next week should bring another large influx of blackbirds, robins, killdeer, woodcock and other early March migrants into southern Wisconsin. Birders in northern Wisconsin may have to wait a little longer but should expect returning eagles, trumpeter swans and possibly some early drumming ruffed grouse. As always, please report your bird sightings to Wisconsin eBird (
www.ebird.org/WI) to help track migratory bird populations.
