Bird & Nature Blog

,

Thank You's and More

,

The votes are in. The turnout in the Madison Audubon region renders the odds that just about every reader of this blog (all 6 of you, bless your hearts) voted along with just about every Madison Audubon member and the vast majority of our neighbors. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. It might seem that voting is an important and obviously right thing to do, but at a time of great anger, pain, cynicism, and complications, one could think of lots of reasons not to. More on the results in a moment but a couple of more thank you's.

Photo by Monica Hall

, ,

Get Ready … Winter Finches are Coming!

, ,

Every fall, birders anxiously await the predictions of the Winter Finch Forecast—a long-running, volunteer produced publication that aims to predict whether or not boreal finches will move south for the winter. We are still in the midst of fall migration, with hopefully more time before the deep chill of winter sets in, so you might be reading this and thinking this week’s Entryway to Birding blog is a little premature.

Rest assured, it’s not. Boreal finches are here, baby! And, if reports from northern Wisconsin are a sign of what’s to come, a whole lot more are on their way. This week’s blog brings you everything you need to know about what winter finch species to expect this year, where to look for them, and how to attract them to your feeder.

,

Mom, Mike, Moon, and Mallards

,

Many of you reading this have fond memories of being introduced to birding, hiking, gardening, hunting, or fishing by your parents and those must be fond memories. But many of us had parents who had no interest in outdoor activities, physically could not participate in them, or were working so hard they had no time for them. Some of those parents, though, recognized that, for Lord knows what reason, their child wanted to watch birds or fish or camp, etc. They'd make special arrangements so their children could have those opportunities. I will always remember and cherish the memories of my Mom giving up afternoons to take me fishing.

Photo by Arlene Koziol

, ,

A Beginner's Guide to Duck Identification

, ,

Last week, I shared an overview of the incredibly diverse selection of waterfowl that will be visiting us over the next few months. And in the span of a week, things are already ramping up! Out at Goose Pond Sanctuary, tundra swans have arrived, greater white-fronted geese have joined the Canada geese, and a dozen species of ducks are mixed in among them all. Waterfowl migration season is truly here.

Having a general idea of what to expect on the water is one thing, but knowing how to pick out and identify individual species is another. For us newer birders (heck, probably for some experienced folks too!), IDing waterfowl can feel overwhelming. There’s so much variety, not only in species but in the types of viewing conditions you’ll face.

This week’s Entryway to Birding blog has your back. Don’t let those ducks intimidate you! We’ve got all advice you’ll need to sort through a raft of mixed ducks with ease—with or without a scope!

, ,

Waterfowl Basics: Get Your Ducks (and Coots, and Grebes) in a Row

, ,

“The coots are back!” is a sentence that I never imagined myself exclaiming with such joy, but here we are. It’s mid-October and the American coots are definitely back, congregating in large flocks on our nearby lakes. I missed them more than I expected.

Fall migration has come in waves, with shorebirds in August, warblers in September, and sparrows in October. Late October and November kicks off waterfowl season, bringing us swans, geese, ducks, coots, loons, and grebes galore. Many of these birds will stick around until there’s no open water, meaning the next few months will be prime time for waterfowl watching.

This week’s Entryway to Birding blog will help you get familiar with the wide variety of waterbirds you might see over the next few months—and help you cultivate an appreciation for everything from their gorgeous plumages to their weird antics.