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| Yellow Warbler, Frontenac State Park, May 9, 2024 Image - Steve Dietz |
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!
How to Use eBird and Merlin - Wednesday April 8 10:30am
- Wabasha Public Library, 168 Alleghany Ave, Wabasha MN
Steve Weston will expand our horizons beyond the field guide and a pair of binoculars and speak about the Merlin Bird ID app and the eBird database, both were built and managed by Cornell Lab of Ornithology - both free apps. All are welcome at this free event .Consider downloading the apps before April 8 and you will need your password if we have time for practice. The third ingredient will be an introduction to the Minnesota Ornithological Union (MOU) website: https://moumn.org. Steve Weston is a Naturalist, Birder, and Vice President of Minnesota Valley Audubon Chapter. Steve has done more than two hundred Christmas Bird Counts, including Wabasha Christmas Bird Count, Midwest Crane counts, and is a leader of field trips to Minnesota’s Salt Lake on the wester Minnesota border. He has led warbler field trips to Hok-Si-La Park in Lake City, and Frontenac State Park and other locations. Steve Weston is “the kid that never grew up” and I believe he will remain as curious today as he was at age five! Sponsor: Bird City Wabasha/Wabasha Public Library
Steve Weston will expand our horizons beyond the field guide and a pair of binoculars and speak about the Merlin Bird ID app and the eBird database, both were built and managed by Cornell Lab of Ornithology - both free apps. All are welcome at this free event .Consider downloading the apps before April 8 and you will need your password if we have time for practice. The third ingredient will be an introduction to the Minnesota Ornithological Union (MOU) website: https://moumn.org. Steve Weston is a Naturalist, Birder, and Vice President of Minnesota Valley Audubon Chapter. Steve has done more than two hundred Christmas Bird Counts, including Wabasha Christmas Bird Count, Midwest Crane counts, and is a leader of field trips to Minnesota’s Salt Lake on the wester Minnesota border. He has led warbler field trips to Hok-Si-La Park in Lake City, and Frontenac State Park and other locations. Steve Weston is “the kid that never grew up” and I believe he will remain as curious today as he was at age five! Sponsor: Bird City Wabasha/Wabasha Public Library
- Saturday, April 11 10:00am-noon
- Ferryville Village Hall, 170 Pine St, Ferryville, WI
The LaCrosse based organization, Driftless Birds, will be leading this workshop. It is open to anyone interested in the birds who share our Mississippi River community. The workshop will be led by retired Wisconsin DNR biologist, Craig Thompson and his fellow birding experts. Topics to be shared include the importance of birds to our area, native plants that will attract birds to your yard, ideas for reducing bird strikes to your windows, using shade grown coffee, and the great bird identification tool, the Merlin app. Each short segment will be concise and full of great information. Craig and his team help out in a wide variety of birding events throughout the area including Marowski Bluff Prairie and Sugar Creek Bluff Natural Area hikes. This will be wonderful information for all levels of bird watchers. Treats will be provided. There is no charge for this event. Sponsor: Ferryville Tourism Council
- Tuesday, April 14 8:00 - 9:30 am
- Brice Prairie Conservation Association Clubhouse, 8441 Lytle Road, Onalaska, WI 54650
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
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
- Saturday, April 18 9 - 11:00 am
- Frontenac (MN) State Park - meet at the Sand Point parking lot off Hwy 61
Walk through the riparian forest and along the beach to Sand Point. Hope to see winter resident birds of the forest as well as early spring migrating waterfowl. Bring binoculars. The trail is well maintained and flat. It can be muddy following rain. The full loop is approximately 2 miles long. When birding, this can take 2-4 hours depending upon how many birds we’re seeing, but you can leave whenever you would like. No need to register but if you have any questions, email janetmalotky@gmail.com. Sponsors: Frontenac State Park and Frontenac State Park Association. - 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
- 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
- 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
- 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. - 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
- 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 - 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
- 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 - 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
- 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
- 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.
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!
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