June 2 @ 6:00 am – 1:00 pm
Ozaukee Washington Bird Coalition
Birding in the Kettle Moraine Field Trip
Veteran expert birder Jeff Baughman is intimately acquainted with all the rarities and specialty birds of the Northern Kettle Moraine. He also knows the Northern Kettle Moraine “like the back of his hand!” We will explore a number of Kettle Moraine hotspots like Mauthe Lake, Jersey Flats, Haushalter Lane, Spruce Lake Bog, as well as many other famous landmarks. We will be in search of multiple warbler species, flycatchers, raptors, sparrows, and waterbirds. Signature resident species will be especially targeted. Totals of 85 to 95 species have been observed in the past on this outing. Starting place is the Jersey Flats Prairie Restoration Project parking lot at 6 AM. Bring a lunch, snacks, and plenty of water. Carpooling will be encouraged.
Meet at Jersey Flats Prairie Restoration Project parking lot: 639 County Rd SS, Campbellsport, WI 53010
Ages 18+ | Free
Pre-registration required by June 1 at 12:00 pm (noon)
Register Here
June 2, 2023
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6:00 am
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1:00 pm
April 19 @ 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Ozaukee Washington Bird Coalition
Woodcock Wander
at Mequon Nature Preserve
Join local bird expert, Dan Panetti, on an evening stroll in search of the Woodcock — a secretive species most easily found when engaged in wild aerial courtship displays. Although the Woodcock technically is a “shorebird”, they typically are found in woodlands, forest openings, and ephemeral ponds. The diverse habitats of the Mequon Nature Preserve make this an ideal location for observing Woodcocks. The outing will start around dusk at 6:30 PM with an informational talk about Woodcocks followed by a hike in and around the Preserve listening for the “peent” call of the male as he corkscrews from on high to the ground in his distinctive courtship display. A rain date of April 21 is set in case the weather on April 19 is unsuitable for both people and Woodcocks!
This program is full.
April 19, 2023
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6:30 pm
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8:00 pm
April 5 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Ozaukee Washington Bird Coalition
Raptors in Urban Environments
The Adaptation to and Proliferation of Raptors in Urban Environments in Milwaukee and Elsewhere: What’s Happening??? by Dr. Bill Stout
This program is being presented by the Noel J. Cutright Bird Club and the Riveredge Nature Center. Dr. Bill Stout will share decades of research on nearly every aspect of urban Cooper’s Hawks and other raptors which have relatively recently learned how to not only adapt to and survive living in urban settings but more significantly how to thrive in densely populated cities like Milwaukee. Dr. Stout has conducted research on hawks and owls over many decades with numerous publications of his work with raptors, especially Cooper’s Hawks — a species deemed “threatened” by the Wisconsin DNR in 1979. Be prepared for a fascinating narrative about how and why the Cooper’s Hawk rebounded and how it is that other raptors have taken to living in heavily populated urban environments.
Raptors banded by Dr. Stout in Southeast Wisconsin: 2139 Red-tailed Hawks, 691 Great Horned Owls, 1849 Cooper’s Hawks, 72 Ospreys, and more!
This free program will be available both in-person and virtually on Zoom. The in-person event will be located at the Riveredge Barn (park in the main visitor center lot).
No pre-registration necessary
Join the Virtual Program
Meeting ID: 830 5024 7719
Passcode: 472555
April 5, 2023
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7:00 pm
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8:30 pm
March 1 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Ozaukee Washington Bird Coalition
Motus WIldlife Tracking System
Implementation of the MOTUS Wildlife Tracking System in Wisconsin: by Dr. Jennifer Phillips-Vanderberg, Science Director of the Western Lakes Bird and Bat Observatory. Motus towers in various locations including Wisconsin have already been erected from Canada to South America. Dr. Phillips-Vanderberg will share with us what is happening with Motus in Wisconsin and beyond and what the long-term implications of this potentially huge amount of data can tell us about bird and bat movements.
This free program will be available both in-person and virtually on Zoom. The in-person event will be located at the Riveredge Barn (park in the main visitor center lot).
No pre-registration necessary
Join the Virtual Program
Meeting ID: 844 1620 6651
Passcode: 747609
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Registration
Ages 12+
Free
In-Person or Virtual
No pre-registration necessary
Join the Program on Zoom
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Event Calendar
March 1, 2023
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7:00 pm
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8:30 pm
January 28 @ 9:30 am – 12:00 pm
Ozaukee Washington Bird Coalition
Wood Duck Nest Box Monitoring
at Mequon Nature Preserve
Join Nick Gall, Ecological Restoration Manager of Mequon Nature Preserve (MNP), as he monitors the nest boxes in the restored wetlands around the Mequon Nature Preserve. As we hike over the frozen wetlands, we will check the wood duck houses and document the nest box activity that occurred during the previous breeding season.
Winter is a great time to revisit the nest boxes to take species inventory and clean and replace wood shavings in preparation for the coming breeding season as most of the hard-to-reach areas will be frozen and much more accessible. The data collected in regards to nest success will give insight into the usage of the restored wetlands as plant succession and reforestation activities progress. Along with checking the boxes, we will discuss the does and don’ts of installing and maintaining wood duck houses on your own property as well as other species of bird that may use the boxes throughout the year.
This family-friendly (ages 12+) event will occur unless inclement winter weather prevents safe road travel. If snow levels are deep, MNP will provide snowshoes for easier hiking. Hiking up to two miles will be expected.
Meet at the Pieper Power Education Center at 8200 W County Line Rd., Mequon, Wisconsin. We will begin hiking no later than 10:00 am.
Contact Nick Gall at ngall@mequonnaturepreserve.org with any questions.
Register Here
January 28, 2023
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9:30 am
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12:00 pm
February 8 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Ozaukee Washington Bird Coalition
Avian Bioacoustic Monitoring
with Gary Casper at Mequon Nature Preserve
Can you identify birds by sound? Bioacoustics is the study of natural sounds. The recent development of weatherproof digital sound recording systems, coupled with new protocols for analysis of digital sound recordings, have opened new frontiers for wildlife inventory, monitoring, and conservation. One result is the Merlin app on your phone for bird identification!
Dr. Casper will discuss recent findings from the use of acoustic devices for bird monitoring in the Cedarburg Bog, at the Mequon Nature Preserve, and other Ozaukee County properties. This new technology has the potential to revolutionize bird censusing and avian monitoring. The advantages of using acoustic monitoring in combination with traditional methods of bird population assessments will be discussed as will the use of acoustic devices for assessing bat and frog numbers. Examples of really cool recorded sounds from Ozaukee County should illustrate how bioacoustics can inform our understanding of the natural world around us.
This free program will be available both a in-person talk and online. The in-person event will be located at the Pieper Power Education center in Mequon (address below).
Speaker Bio: Gary Casper (gc@greatlakeseco.com) is an Associate Scientist at the UW-Milwaukee Field Station, and an Associate Editor for the Natural Areas Journal and Herpetological Conservation and Biology. He researches wildlife conservation, inventory, and monitoring throughout the Great Lakes Region.
Contact Nick Gall at ngall@mequonnaturepreserve.org with any questions.
Register Here for the In Person Program
Join the Virtual Program
February 8, 2023
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6:00 pm
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7:00 pm
RESCHEDULED for January 28
Ozaukee Washington Bird Coalition
Wood Duck Nest Box Monitoring
at Mequon Nature Preserve
January 7, 2023
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9:30 am
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12:00 pm
October 8 @ 6:00 am – 11:59 pm
Big Sit!
Ozaukee Washington Bird Coalition
The Noel J. Cutright Bird Club, in cooperation with the Western Great Lakes Bird and Bat Observatory, will host its 14th annual Big Sit! at Forest Beach Migratory Preserve in Port Washington (see below for address).
The count will begin at 6 a.m. on the Bill Cowart Memorial Hawk Watch Platform at the northeast corner of the preserve. If the simple joy of birding is not enough to attract your participation, those arriving for the early morning shift will find bagels and donuts on hand. BYO on beverages. Not an early bird yourself? Arrive anytime and stay as long as you can. On on-site port-a-potty for your comfort and convenience.
Big Sit! events are held at multiple locations each fall in Wisconsin as part of an annual, international, noncompetitive birding event held during the second weekend in October. The Big Sit! is like a Big Day or a birdathon in that the object is to tally as many species as can be seen or heard within 24 hours. The difference lies in the area limitation from which you may observe.
Some people have called it a “tailgate party for birders.” Find a good spot for bird watching, preferably one with good views of a variety of habitats. Next, create a real or imaginary circle 17 feet in diameter and sit inside the circle for as long as 24 hours, counting all the bird species you see or hear and recording them via eBird.
October 8, 2022
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6:00 am
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11:30 pm
