This article is part of Madison Audubon’s Spring/Summer 2022 Newsletter. Read the full newsletter here!

Research is an important part of conservation. At Goose Pond Sanctuary, we have been fortunate to work with many researchers through the decades to address a variety of questions. Sometimes they focus on the little things like Silphium borer moths; other times they take a grander scale of migration. Throughout each project, we value the ability to learn, collaborate, and support wildlife.

New technology has led to many innovations in the field of raptor ecology. With the aid of solar- powered cell phone transmitters, we can track a number of individual birds that Madison Audubon and its members have been involved with through volunteer work or financial support. We are delighted to share updates from the project coordinators about some of these special birds that have recently reported in.

Thanks to Madison Audubon members, donors, volunteers, and the partner organizations and banders!

Arlene, the Red-shouldered Hawk

Banded on May 26, 2021
Coordinator: Gene Jacobs, Linwood Raptor Research Center

Named for Arlene Koziol, Madison Audubon volunteer and conservation photographer

“Arlene” was banded in the floodplain forest near the confluence of the Baraboo and Wisconsin Rivers, southwest of Portage. Gene Jacobs, who placed the transmitter on her, thought she might head south for the winter, but instead she decided to tough it out in Wisconsin. She never ventured more than two miles from her nest in 2021 and is back nesting in the same tree. One of the Red-shouldered Hawks that Gene placed a transmitter on near Stevens Point spent the last two winters in Baton Rouge, LA, almost a thousand miles straight south.

Dorothy, the Rough-legged Hawk

Banded December 17, 2021
Coordinator: Neil Paprocki, University of Idaho

Named for Dorothy Haines, long-time Madison Audubon member and volunteer

“Dorothy” stayed in the Goose Pond area until March 3, then headed northwest to Pittsville, WI. She has done a lot of flying but has backtracked! She traveled from Pittsville to Perkinstown, WI, and then back to Pittsville again— approximately 140 miles—all in two weeks. While this may seem like odd behavior, Neil Paprocki, PhD candidate, said that it’s not unusual in the younger Rough-legged Hawk migrants. Her last report was from Pittsville on April 24.

Madison, the Red-tailed Hawk

Banded October 31, 2021
Coordinator: Bryce Robinson, Cornell University

Named for Madison Audubon

“Madison” was caught with the help of Sue Kaehler at Cedar Grove Ornithological Station along Lake Michigan as part of a North American study of Red-tailed Hawks. Madison spent the winter in Mount Washington, KY. Upon spring migration, she reached the southern tip of Lake Michigan, headed northwest, was tracked 17 miles east of the Wisconsin Capitol and 12 miles east of Goose Pond, then continued north. In April, Madison moved around at 140 square mile area in Florance County, WI and Iron Mountain, MI. Madison turned two this spring and will likely nest next year.

Columbia, the Snowy Owl

Banded January 28, 2020
Coordinator: Project SNOWstorm

Named for Columbia County, where she was banded

“Columbia” spent her first winter around Goose Pond where she was banded, and her farthest distance from Goose Pond to date was in the summer of 2020 on Prince of Wales Island, 500 miles north of the Arctic Circle. Columbia wintered in northwest Iowa in 2020-2021, and this winter she stayed around the border of North Dakota and Minnesota. We last heard from Columbia on April 16 near Winnipeg, Manitoba in an agricultural area, on her way back to the open tundra.

Written by Mark Martin, Susan Foote-Martin, and Graham Steinhauer, Goose Pond Sanctuary team

Want to stay up to date on these birds and others that visit our sanctuaries?

Tune in for the weekly Friday Feathered Feature articles written by Faville Grove and Goose Pond Sanctuary staff. The essays are fun, timely, and give you new insight on what’s happening on the landscape: madisonaudubon.org/friday