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With so many different creatures coming back to Wisconsin and out of hibernation, the sounds of spring — especially at sunset — are incredible! Join Kerry Wilcox, volunteer instructor for our Birding by Ear class, and Madison Audubon’s Becky Abel for a low-key, slow-paced exploration of Cherokee Marsh Conservation Park. We hope to hear the songs and sounds of American Woodcock in particular, as well as Wilson’s Snipe, Red-winged Blackbirds, Sandhill Cranes, frogs, and whatever other species we can find. We will begin the field trip before sunset and finish after sundown, so please bring a flashlight for the walk back to the parking lot.
This field trip is designed to be inclusive of bird-curious folks of all abilities. Individuals who experience visual impairments, blindness, and full-sightedness are welcome, as well as folks of all birding levels. The emphasis of this event is to experience nature through sound, so if you normally use binoculars, you may want to leave them at home and just come to listen.
We will explore beautiful Cherokee Marsh Conservation Park — though which unit is to be determined. We will let you know closer to the date of the event where to meet.
Participants are encouraged to read the “Sky Dance” essay from Aldo Leopold’s Sand County Almanac before the trip to begin anticipating the wonders of the American Woodcock we hope to hear! The field trip leaders will also read the passage at the beginning of the field trip for attendees who don’t have access to the book.
WHEELCHAIR USE: Want to use an all-terrain, outdoor wheelchair for this field trip? Access Ability Wisconsin offers them for free! To reserve a chair and trailer, visit their website. If you need help coordinating a wheelchair for this trip, please let us know (Brenna Marsicek, bmarsicek@madisonaudubon.org).
Participation is capped at 20 people.
FIELD TRIP LEADERS: Kerry Wilcox (wilcox_kerry@yahoo.com) and Becky Abel (babel@madisonaudubon.org)
ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES:
Wheelchair accessible
Minimal walking required
Trail grade and #/type of trail impediments are ok for those with difficulty walking or wearing children in packs
Field trip leader is adept at birding by ear and can accommodate those with visual impairments
Read more about this location on the Birdability Map: Cherokee Marsh North Unit
APPROXIMATE DISTANCE: 0-1 miles
RAIN DATE: April 13
RSVP REQUIRED? Yes, participation is limited to 15 people.
About the field trip leaders:
Kerry Wilcox worked as an avian biologist in numerous states from 1997-2017, and since moving back to his home state of Wisconsin he has been working as a GIS Specialist focused on monitoring public lands. He has always enjoyed learning the songs and calls of birds and other wildlife, and finds that sound is often the first (and best) clue as to the identity of songbirds in Wisconsin.
Becky Abel is Madison Audubon’s Director of Philanthropy, and has a passion for southern Wisconsin birds and landscapes. Prior to joining our team, Becky served in a variety of conservation nonprofit leadership roles, focusing on individual, foundation, and corporate fundraising after earlier avian field work and research positions, including several years conducting grassland and wetland bird surveys mainly by ear. Becky holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Wildlife Ecology from UW-Madison. In her free time, she enjoys camping, biking, paddling, and travel—always with a pair of binoculars!
Cover photo of sunset at Cherokee Marsh. Photo by Katie Wheeler FCC
