Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance

July 14, 2023

Friday Feathered Feature

Purple Martin Banding 2023

Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance

July 14, 2023

Friday Feathered Feature

Around the beginning of July, I look forward to a call from Dick Nickolai, Wisconsin’s Purple Martin Biologist. Over the past six years, Madison Audubon has assisted him with banding 3,476 martins!

Photo by Madison Audubon

Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance

July 7, 2023

Friday Feathered Feature

Dickcissel

Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance

July 7, 2023

Friday Feathered Feature

The song of the summer, across many summers, might be the Dickcissel. Perched on a compass plant or a conspicuous shrub, the Dickcissel belts out (and it’s always belting) its song for all to hear.

Photo by Arlene Koziol

Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance

June 30, 2023

Friday Feathered Feature

Green Heron Nest

Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance

June 30, 2023

Friday Feathered Feature

Despite their relative commonness, Green Herons can be difficult to observe on account of their secretive nature and distaste for human encounters.

Photo by Arlene Koziol

Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance

June 23, 2023

Friday Feathered Feature

Henslow's Sparrow

Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance

June 23, 2023

Friday Feathered Feature

The Henslow's sparrow is a small songbird with a dull brown body and a streaked breast. Endangered in seven states and threatened in Wisconsin, the Henslow's Sparrow would seem a banner bird for grassland conservation.

Photo by Arlene Koziol

Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance

June 16, 2023

Friday Feathered Feature

Clay-colored Sparrow

Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance

June 16, 2023

Friday Feathered Feature

I’m at Goose Pond Sanctuary, and I hear a buzzing noise. Is it a bumblebee? No! Is it an insect? No! It’s the Clay-colored Sparrow calling! Their call is drawn-out and repetitive, sounding similar to a buzzy insect.

Photo by Kelly Colgan Azar