Wisconsin Statewide Birding Report 9.20.13
Recent cold fronts and northwest winds have migration humming across most of the state. In northern Wisconsin observers have noted good flights of broad-winged and sharp-shinned hawks along with the expected turkey vulture flights. Observers statewide looking to do some hawk watching would do well to head out to their favorite bluff-top locations this Saturday with expected northwest winds to see the peak of broad-winged hawk migration along with other early migrating raptors. Warblers, thrushes and other Neotropical migrants are now past peak for the fall, but they can still be found in good numbers in your favorite woodland patches. Good sites in the fall should contain sunny edges and lots of fruiting shrubs or vines. Blue jay migration is also now at peak. Backyard birders may notice that blue jays are now moving south through the state in good numbers. New migrants arriving in the past week include rusty blackbirds, pipits, longspurs, horned larks, kinglets and our first good push of sparrows into northern Wisconsin. Orange-crowned warblers are also arriving along with palm and yellow-rumped warblers as warbler migration winds down in early October. Early waterfowl migrants are also now working their way into Wisconsin. Blue-winged teal numbers are building as they build fat reserves for their migration to South America and observers in northwestern Wisconsin have noted the first push of Canada geese from their breeding grounds near Hudson Bay. This weekend is shaping up to be a great day for migrants. Birders have choices of woodland migrants, raptor migration or shorebirds, waterfowl and water birds in wetlands. Enjoy the birds and please report your sightings to Wisconsin eBird to help better monitor our migratory bird populations. - Andy Paulios, wildlife biologist, Fitchburg
