Erstad Prairie is owned and managed by Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance, and the Schoeneberg Marsh Waterfowl Production Area (WPA) is adjacent. Together, these properties provide beautiful and high quality habitats for wetland, grassland, and savanna wildlife. We'll walk though Erstad Prairie on mowed trails and then shift over to Schoeneberg Marsh which has a parking lot a half mile away. The WPA has accessible hiking (paved path and boardwalk) which terminates at an overlook with a great view of the marsh.
Seventy-three species of birds were found nesting in the block that includes these two properties during the Wisconsin Breeding Bird Atlas II which is more than any other block in Columbia County. You’ll see wildflowers in bloom, dragonflies and lots of birds like Baltimore Orioles, Eastern Bluebirds, and cuckoos.
WHEELCHAIR USE: Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance (formerly Madison Audubon) has one electric-powered wheelchair available for anyone to use for free. You can learn more about it here, and request it in the form when you register.
Or, if you want to use a more rugged, all-terrain, outdoor wheelchair for this field trip, Access Ability Wisconsin offers them for free! To reserve a chair and trailer, visit their website.
Questions? Contact Brenna Marsicek, bmarsicek@swibirds.org or 608-255-2473
FIELD TRIP LEADERS: Mark Martin, Graham Steinhauer, and Emma Raasch
ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES:
Field trip leader is adept at birding by ear and willing to accommodate those with visual impairments
APPROXIMATE DISTANCE: 2-3 miles
RAIN DATE: July 19
RSVP REQUIRED? Yes, participation is limited to 18 people. Registration opens 6 weeks in advance, on the Monday of that week.
Cover photo: Eastern Bluebirds set up territory on a bluebird nestbox. Photo by Jeff Koziol
