Bird & Nature Blog

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Earth Day Birding

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Welcome back to the Entryway to Birding blog! After some colder temps last week, things are starting to trend warmer and it’s really feeling like spring. Spring peepers have been peeping, new blooms are coming up, and exciting birds are making some pit stops in Madison as they travel through during spring migration.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve started to lose track of time. Several weeks have gone by since COVID-19 sparked a complete upheaval of our daily routines. It’s hard to believe all the adjustments Wisconsinites have made in such a short amount of time (which simultaneously feels like an eternity)! Our social distancing efforts are paying off, though, and it’s important that we continue to hold our course and limit our contact with others as much as we can, for the benefit of everyone.

There’s an important day coming up, though, that I don’t want us to forget about in the midst of our strange reality. A day that is perhaps feeling more important to us that ever—Earth Day.

Photo by Caitlyn Schuchhardt

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We are Not Alone

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We are Not Alone

The plague has reminded us how important human contact is — physical, familial, emotional — and how painful the loss of that can be. We need to be reminded that we are not alone and how we can maintain contact with one another. Thanks to Matt, Brenna, Carolyn, Caitlyn, Becky, and John of Madison Audubon's staff as they create new ways to reach out to our members, volunteers, and friends during these uniquely trying times.

Madison Audubon is not alone either. I thought a review of some of our organizational friends, partners, and allies might make for a few moments of happy reading (and some ideas of some new places to spend time outdoors).

Photo by Drew Harry

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Good news for grassland birds (and people!)

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Our upland birds and waterfowl and shore birds have found a wonderful new ally in the elected officials and Land and Water Resources staff of Dane County. Determined to improve water quality and reduce flooding, Dane County has recently bought about a thousand acres in many different parcels, mostly in the Upper Mendota watershed. Almost all of this land is in row crops. Over the next few years, the County will restore those lands to prairie and wetlands, which are infinitely better at retention and infiltration of water and happy, happy homes for grassland birds. The wetlands and upland cover will also provide more habitat for waterfowl and shorebirds.

Madison Audubon photo

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So You Want to be a Birder

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This week’s post is written with new and aspiring birders in mind. Birding is a boundless hobby that can take you in so many directions! But it’s also one that can feel intimidating if you aren’t sure how to get started—especially with all our spring bird walks and field trips on hold. I’m not here to give you any expert advice, because I’m not an expert. Far from it. I’m a new birder myself. I went through this process not long ago and I’d love to share what I learned.

Read on for a few simple steps to get started with birding!

Photo by Caitlyn Schuchhardt

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Lookin' Out My Backdoor

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So went the advice of Creedence Clearwater Revival (admit it, some of you remember the band) and it's applicable today. Most of are and should be at home most of the time. Our bird friends are there too. You never know what you're going to see to amuse, inspire, or awe you unless you take the time to look.

In my front, side, and back yards, the stars this spring have been the cardinals. Two males and a female have been foraging and chasing one another. They can really fly through tight spaces. Some chickadees are sparing me some arduous clean up. I had about a three foot, rotting stump of an apple tree and decided that a year of procrastination was enough. The stump had to go. But a pair of chickadees started work on it just a couple of days ago. They are preparing a nest? Feeding on insects? Who cares, the stump is theirs for as long as they want it.

Photo by Mr.TinDC, FCC