For the Birds!

Yellow Warbler, Frontenac State Park, May 9, 2024
Image -  Steve Dietz

The major spring songbird migrations are just about to explode!  In the last few days, my inbox has also exploded with announcements of guided bird hikes in the next 6-7 weeks. 

We all have a short-lived opportunity during these weeks before summer hits to observe and learn more about these fleeting friends. Fortunately, here in the Driftless, we have multiple opportunites to join expert guides on short, slow walks to observe birds or at programs for all ages. 

Plan for and mark your calendars for these upcoming birding events. Bring your binoculars and your curiosity and be amazed at all you will see, hear and spot. It's agreat way to celebrate migration and World Migratory Bird Day on May 9.

Myrick Marsh Bird Walk

 - Tuesday, April 28     6:30-8:00 am

 - The Nature Place, 789 Myrick Park , La Crosse WI

We will meet at head of main trail at the east side of the Nature Place parking lot. We will walk a loop on the marsh trails and be back at the parking lot around 8:00. All are welcome and it is free and open to the public. Sponsor: Coulee Region Audubon Society

Hixon Forest Bird Walk

 - Thursday, April 30    6:30-8:00 am

 - Hixon Forest, lower parking lotLa Crosse WI

We will meet at the Hixon Forest parking lot at the end of Milson Court. We will walk a loop on the lower trails that follow the north edge of the golf course. Sponsor: Coulee Region Audubon Society

Driftless Area Bioblitz -Beautiful Birds

 - Saturday, May 2        10:00am-noon 

 - The Nature Place, 789 Myrick Park Dr, La Crosse WI

A bioblitz is a community science effort to record as many species within a designated location and time period as possible. To kick off this year's series, we'll be starting with BEAUTIFUL BIRDS, in honor of National Migratory Bird Day. The Nature Place partners with donors, the Viterbo University Biology Department, the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Biology Department, Mississippi Valley Conservancy, and the City of La Crosse Parks, Rec and Forestry on the Driftless Area BioBlitz (DABB). DABB uses iNaturalist which is a joint initiative by the California Academy of Sciences and the National Geographic Society. It is a social network of naturalists, community scientists, and biologists built on mapping and sharing biodiversity observations across the globe. iNaturalist may be accessed via its website or from its mobile applications. DABB is a free, annual, one-of-a-kind, opportunity for families, students, and all nature lovers to search for and learn about plants and wildlife in the Driftless Area. Sponsor: The Nature Place

Blufftop Bird Walk

 - Saturday, May 2          9 -11:00am

 - Frontenac (MN) State Park picnic shelter, 29223 County 28 Blvd, Frontenac, MN

Walk along the river bluff to the Point No Point Overlook, then continue into mixed prairie and forested habitat. Hope to see migrating birds and birds returning to the park for the breeding season. Bring binoculars. The trail is mowed grass. We'll walk a mile or so, however folks can head back whenever they would like. Meet at the picnic shelter. No need to register but if you have any questions, email janetmalotky@gmail.com. Sponsors: Frontenac State Park/Frontenac State Park Association.

Myrick Marsh Bird Walk

 - Tuesday, May 5                       6:30-8:00 am

 - The Nature Place, 789 Myrick Park , La Crosse WI

We will meet at head of main trail at the east side of the Nature Place parking lot. We will walk a loop on the marsh trails and be back at the parking lot around 8:00. All are welcome and it is free and open to the public. Sponsor: Coulee Region Audubon Society

Spring Bird Walks on the Refuge

 - Wednesday, May 6      6 - 7:30pm

 - Shady Maple Interpretive Trail at Goose Island County Park, W6488 County Road GI, Stoddard, WI. (As you enter Goose Island County Park, take the first left turn before the flagpoles to find parallel parking for the interpretive trail. If you see Shelter #1, you’ve missed the turn.)

We’ll walk along the Great River State Trail. It’ll likely be before the peak spring songbird migration, but birds will be easier to see before tree leaves are fully grown. Early spring arrivals will be here!In celebration of World Migratory Bird Day, join refuge staff and partners on FREE bird identification walks through the floodplain forest! We often see many birds close by and our pace will be more of a bird “crawl.” We’ll have a few pairs of binoculars available for folks to borrow. In spring, thousands of migratory songbirds stop over for a bite to eat at the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, some of which travel hundreds of miles from their wintering grounds! Some birds will stay here to nest for the summer, while others move on further north in just a week or two. We look forward to their return each spring! Please leave pets at home. Parking spaces may fill up; please park close to leave space for other visitors. Walks take place rain or shine but may be cancelled in thunderstorms or heavy rain. Please bring drinking water and wear bug protection – ticks may be out. Trails are mostly flat and we’ll walk about 1 mile. The theme of World Migratory Bird Day this year is "Every Bird Counts - Your Observations Matter!" It highlights the role of public participation in collecting data on migratory bird populations and their habitats and factors that impact their populations and contribute to our knowledge about how to protect them. We will keep track of the birds we see using the eBird app and often use the Merlin app to listen for birds as we walk. Sponsor: Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife & Fish Refuge

Hixon Forest Bird Walk

 - Thursday, May 7                      6:30-8:00 am

 - Hixon Forest, lower parking lotLa Crosse WI

We will meet at the Hixon Forest parking lot at the end of Milson Court. We will walk a loop on the lower trails that follow the north edge of the golf course. Sponsor: Coulee Region Audubon Society

World Migratory Bird Day

 - Saturday, May 9      7am- 12:30pm

Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge, W28488 Reguge Rd, Trempeleau WI

Each year the Refuge celebrates WMBD to encourage support for migratory bird conservation. The theme for this year’s installment of the annual celebration is “Every Bird Counts - Your Observations Matter!”. Join us for a few hours or for the whole celebration! Follow our Facebook page for more details closer to the event date 

Myrick Marsh Bird Walk

 - Tuesday, May 12                 6:30-8:00 am

 - The Nature Place, 789 Myrick Park , La Crosse WI

We will meet at head of main trail at the east side of the Nature Place parking lot. We will walk a loop on the marsh trails and be back at the parking lot around 8:00. All are welcome and it is free and open to the public. Sponsor: Coulee Region Audubon Society

Hixon Forest Bird Walk

 - Thursday, May 14                    6:30-8:00 am

 - Hixon Forest, lower parking lotLa Crosse WI

We will meet at the Hixon Forest parking lot at the end of Milson Court. We will walk a loop on the lower trails that follow the north edge of the golf course. Sponsor: Coulee Region Audubon Society

Blufftop Bird Walk

 - Saturday, May 23          9 -11:00am

 - Frontenac (MN) State Park picnic shelter, 29223 County 28 Blvd, Frontenac, MN

Walk along the river bluff to the Point No Point Overlook, then continue into mixed prairie and forested habitat. Hope to see migrating birds and birds returning to the park for the breeding season. Bring binoculars. The trail is mowed grass. We'll walk a mile or so, however folks can head back whenever they would like. Meet at the picnic shelter. No need to register but if you have any questions, email janetmalotky@gmail.com. Sponsors: Frontenac State Park/Frontenac State Park Association.

Birdcast

You can check the daily forecast maps of bird migration across America - and local migration dashboards -  at Birdcast sponsored in part by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. 

Enjoy and see you on the (birding) trails!