Bird & Nature Blog

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Letting it snow in a Winter Wonderland

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Letting it snow in a Winter Wonderland

Our good folks at Goose Pond and Faville Grove had a different and much healthier attitude toward the snow. On Friday morning, I was lucky enough to be among the dozen or so volunteers who finished sowing a new prairie at the newly acquired Benade tract just down the road from Goose Pond. Just about as the last bucket was thrown in the truck (I think you could make the case that buckets are among the most essential pieces of equipment for prairie management—you can't collect or sow seeds without them), a mix of rain and snow started. With the forecast of snow a near certainty, we couldn't have been happier. Nothing is better for a winter prairie planting then a nice blanket of new snow. It keeps the seeds in place and the freezing and moisture really help with germination.

Photo by Drew Harry

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A Beginner's Guide to Birding by Car

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Winter has finally caught up to us. The snow, the wind, the cold weather—it all arrived this weekend. If you’re feeling like that’s put an end to your birding for the season, I hope you think again! Winter brings a whole new set of bird species our way—and finding some of these species involves expanding your idea of how you can go birding. There are endless ways to bird, but this week we’re going to delve into one of the most popular winter forms of birding—that is, birding by car!

Before you hit the road looking for your snowy owl or a rough-legged hawk this winter, read up on the basics so you can increase your chances of success. This week’s Entryway to Birding blog has advice for your first time road birding, including how to decide where to go, how to stay safe on the road, and best practices to make your birding adventure a fun one!

Photo by Michael Janke

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Winter Raptors 101

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It’s that time of year! We’ve reached the season where you can’t just assume that the bulky buteo flying above you is gonna be a red-tailed hawk. Rough-legged hawks are beginning to arrive, giving us birders a good reminder to bird every bird. I know I wouldn’t want to overlook a sighting of one of these arctic visitors!

You can find most of our raptors here year-round (rough-legged hawk aside), so perhaps the “winter” in the title here is a little misleading. But winter is a great time to turn your attention to raptors and even plan your birding outings around them. Songbird activity certainly slows down this time of year when many species migrate south, meaning you’re likely seeing fewer species if you’re out on a bird walk at a local conservation park or natural area. This gives you a good excuse to mix it up a bit, especially on those colder days—make some cocoa, hop in the car, and head to the countryside!

Photo by USFWS-Mountain Prairie

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Ambivalence and Rare Beauty

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Although any birder reading this already knew, I was surprised by the Wisconsin State Journal coverage of a Black-throated Gray Warbler appearing in Madison. Birders are flocking to see this western species that almost never shows up here. A bonus is the bird is as beautiful as it is rare as you can see from the photo.

Photo by Aaron Maizlish

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Whoooo’s That? Your Winter Guide to Owls

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Many people dread winter—the cold weather, the snow, the dwindling daylight. It makes getting outside a challenge and can sap your motivation to do anything, much less go birding. There are days when I am one of those people. But then there are days when I remember that there are owls … and that now is the best time to find them!

Owls breed in the winter, with many beginning their courtship and mating activities in late fall, making the next several months a more vocal and active season for them than usual. If you’ve been feeling discouraged by those all-too-early sunsets and the deep dark of the 5pm hour, consider a form of birding that doesn’t necessarily need the light of day, and give owling a try!

This week’s Entryway to Birding blog brings you everything you need to know about the owls you might find in our region, as well as tips for how you might find and ethically observe them.

Photo by Andy Reago and Chrissy McClarren