Wisconsin Statewide Birding Report 10.3.13
Fall migration continues strong across Wisconsin. Saturday and Tuesday nights saw especially large migration events as millions of birds moved south across the state, primarily including the last of the warblers and a slew of short-distance migrants. Birders in the north reported huge numbers of yellow-rumped warblers, including nearly 6,000 individuals in just one morning in Bayfield County. Well known as the last migrant species to move through in fall, yellow-rumps have been increasing in southern Wisconsin as well and that trend will continue over the next couple weeks. Other land birds winging their way south this week include American robins, rusty blackbirds, cedar waxwings, yellow-bellied sapsuckers, northern flickers, hermit thrushes, winter wrens, both kinglets, brown creepers, purple finches, and American goldfinches. Now is the time to practice your sparrow identification skills as numbers of many species are peaking statewide. White-throated sparrows have reached the south in numbers while holding on in the north as well. Look among them for white-crowned, Harris’s, and fox sparrows, all of which have been found recently. Weedy fields are also hosting song, swamp, and Lincoln’s sparrows, along with a few Le Conte’s and Nelson’s sparrows, which are always rare and an exciting find here. Overhead, hawk migration is in full swing, including a wide variety of species now. Peregrine falcons, merlins, American kestrels, sharp-shinned, and Cooper’s hawks are nearing their seasonal peaks. Night skies are now seeing some northern saw-whet and long-eared owls on the move, though early data indicate an unusually high proportion of adults, suggesting these species had a poor breeding season. A bit later than usual, waterfowl appear to have finally made a push into the state this past week. Redheads, canvasbacks, scaup, wigeon, pintail, green-winged teal, coots, snow geese, and other species were found in increased numbers, along with Bonaparte’s gulls and both common and Forster’s terns. Rare finds this week included an arctic tern in Superior, lark bunting at Mead State Wildlife Area in Marathon County, and a white-tailed kite in Adams that was still present as of at least Oct. 2. Birders are reminded that while most federal lands are closed as a result of the federal government shutdown, all state properties remain open as usual. Find a birding site near you and help us track migratory bird populations by reporting your sightings to Wisconsin eBird. - Ryan Brady, Bureau of Wildlife Management research scientist, Ashland
