Entryway to Birding

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Tips for Tricky Bird IDs: Backyard Bird Edition!

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Guess what’s coming up this Friday, February 12th? It’s the return of the Great Backyard Bird Count, a community science project designed to collect data about the presence of birds in winter. And oh boy, the count is right on time—we are entering into a very cold, very frigid week that will make getting outside a challenge. What better way to hunker down at home than with a blanket, a warm beverage, and your trusty binoculars?

This week’s Entryway to Birding blog pulls up a chair to the window and takes a look at what birds you might find near your home—whether you’re looking into a backyard or an apartment complex parking lot. Learn about the most common visitors you might see in south-central Wisconsin this winter and get some identification tips for some especially tricky backyard birds!

Photo by Caitlyn Schuchhardt

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Tundra or Trumpeter? Your Guide to Swan ID (plus a special guest feature!)

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It’s February now. We’re deep into winter. Looking at our frozen lakes, you might think that waterfowl may be hard to come by. But never fear—you haven’t missed your chance! There are some special spots in our area where you can still find open water and several waterfowl species, even through the coldest part of the season.

This week’s Entryway to Birding blog is going to focus on two of those species that can be notoriously difficult to tell apart—the tundra swan and the trumpeter swan. To help us out, I’ve invited a special guest, Madison Audubon’s very own Becky Abel, who researched trumpeter swans for her graduate work. Becky also served on board of The Trumpeter Swan Society for several years and later as Associate Director of the nonprofit. She’s gonna help us navigate all things swan!

Photo by Brandyn Kerscher

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A Clutch of Birdy Podcasts

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As a newer birder, I find so much value in birding podcasts. Each one is like a field trip leader who’s teaching me not just about birds, but about the birding community. Podcasts have helped me navigate this often-confusing hobby, they’ve shared perspectives that broaden my understanding of what birding can be, they’ve kept me up-to-date on all the news in the broader birding world, they’ve helped connect me to new content and resources that help me be a more thoughtful and inclusive birder … the list goes on.

So, to help you navigate the wide world of birding podcasts (seriously, there are so many!) this week’s Entryway to Birding blog brings you a short list of where you might get started.

Photo by USFWS Midwest Region

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Birding by Ear: Sounds of the Winter Woods

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Winter bird activity certainly isn't as hustlin' and bustlin' as it is during spring migration, but it has its own special joys. It also has some unexpected benefits. You'll likely see and hear fewer species on your outings in winter than in any other season, but that's not a bad thing. It's a hidden opportunity. If the woods are mostly quiet, it gives you more opportunity to really learn and recognize the birds you do hear. Many newer birders struggle with birding by ear (I know I sure do!) but winter is a great time to improve this skill.

Birding by ear is hard, but this week's Entryway to Birding blog brings you some pointers and mnemonics to help you sort out who's-who on your winter outings.

Photo by Nick Busse

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A Winter Walk Through Cherokee North

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Do you remember back in May when we went on a virtual field trip to the north unit of Cherokee Marsh? The marsh and woods were warm and green, warblers and flycatchers were picking bugs from the trees, sedge wrens were popping up from dense thickets to scold us as we went by, and virginia rails were grunting along the marsh boardwalk's edge.

It's January now and the marsh has a different look, a different tune—perhaps a quieter, softer one, but one full of just as much life. This week's Entryway to Birding blog takes us back to Cherokee North with another birding field trip to see how things have changed with the seasons. Read on for tips on what birds you might expect to find at different locations throughout the marsh in winter.

Photo by Caitlyn Schuchhardt