January 1 @ 7:30 am – 1:30 pm
Ozaukee Washington Bird Coalition
Field Trip to Port Pier
Every bird is a new bird! The Cutright Bird Club is inviting members of all of the Ozaukee Washington Birding Coalition to participate in their annual, always fun, New Year’s Day Birding Field Trip in search of new birds for your 2024 list! We will end at noon with a celebratory lunch (sub sandwiches, chips, cookies, and beverages) in the Riveredge Nature Center barn.
Park and meet at the Port Washington Marina and Pier (address below).
Ages 12+ | Free to attend
Pre-registration is required by December 28 at 8:00 am. Contact Carl Schwartz at cschwartz3@wi.rr.com or 414-416-3272 to register.
Email Carl
January 1
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7:30 am
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1:30 pm
January 10 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Ozaukee Washington Bird Coalition
Bald Eagle Nest Watch
In Person and Virtual
In coordination with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the Badgerland Bird Alliance (formerly Madison Audubon) launched the Bald Eagle Nest Watch (BENW) project with the goal of monitoring and better understanding how Bald Eagle populations are doing in Wisconsin. The Bald Eagle Nest Watch is a citizen science program which began in 2018 with just a dozen nests in Dane County. It has now grown to include over 100 nests in 36 counties!
While Bald Eagles have made a remarkable recovery in Wisconsin, they continue to face significant threats. BENW volunteers monitor nest sites, track trends in eagle populations, and provide nest and fledging observation reports to the WDNR. As the Bald Eagle population expands, BENW is seriously looking for more volunteers to assist in finding and monitoring nests. Volunteers are especially needed in Ozaukee and Washington Counties. If you love Bald Eagles and have an interest in learning more about them (and maybe even becoming a volunteer), this program is for you!
If you’re joining in-person, meet at Lac Lawrann Conservancy in West Bend (address below).
Ages 18+ | Free to attend
Pre-registration is required by January 8 at 11:59 pm through Lac Lawrann Conservancy.
Lac Lawrann Events Calendar
January 10
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7:00 pm
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8:30 pm
February 2 @ 4:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Trails Aglow:
Owl Prowl
Enjoy your Friday night by luminary light! Take in the beauty and serenity of a crisp winter evening on a self-guided 1.5 mile illuminated trail – a great adventure for both grownups and children. Traverse our trails on skis, snowshoes (6+ inches of snow), or your own two feet. A warm fire and hot cocoa will be awaiting you when you return.
Theme: Owl Prowl. Join a Riveredge naturalist for a hike through the woods to meet our noctural friends. Three sessions: 5 pm, 6 pm, and 7 pm.
Snowshoe rental is available ($10/hour for non-members and FREE for Members). Event may be altered/canceled due to weather conditions.
All ages welcome!
Member: FREE | Non-member: $7
Pre-registration is not required but highly recommended.
Register Here
February 2
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4:30 pm
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8:00 pm
December 16 All Day
Christmas Bird Count
New and experienced birders needed to count birds within a 15 mile circle around Riveredge. Backyard feeder counters needed as well. Help for all or part of the day!
Ages 18+ (kids can assist)
Contact Mary Holleback at mholleback@riveredge.us or 262-416-1224 to register.
The Christmas Bird Count is free for everyone!
Pre-registration required by December 15 at 12:00 pm (noon)
December 16, 2023
All day
November 10 @ 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Ozaukee Washington Bird Coalition
Owl Prowl at the Bog
Join the Cedarburg Bog Owl Prowl team of veteran birders as we prowl the Bog for owls. We will be looking for Barred, Great-Horned, Northern Saw-whet, and Eastern Screech-Owls for sure and maybe a rare species such as Long-eared Owl. There are no guarantees as owls can be fickle; however, we have never to date struck out when weather conditions are right! Bring binoculars, water, and a small flashlight. We will mostly be owling along Blue Goose Road and possibly St. Augustine Road as well with few short forays off these roads into the woods and/or into the Bog itself. We will be standing in place for extended periods of time so dress for the weather (sweater or fleece plus a warm coat, wool hat, warm gloves, wool socks, and good walking shoes or boots).
Park and meet at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee Field Station in Saukville (address below).
Ages 10+ | Free to attend
Pre-registration is required by November 8 at 11:59 pm through the Friends of the Cedarburg Bog
Register Here
November 10, 2023
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5:30 pm
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6:30 pm
October 17 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Ozaukee Washington Bird Coalition
Exploring eBird
Have your cell phones handy and join Alex Mann and Braden Meyer , two very accomplished eBirders, as they demystify the eBird process, show you how to get started, and once started show you how to use eBird information in ways you probably haven’t even thought of! Not only will Braden and Alex cover the basics of eBirding for newcomers, they will also present advanced ways of using eBird to enhance your bird finding skills and improve your record keeping.
Join in person at Riveredge or virtually with Zoom.
Ages 12+ | Free to attend
Pre-registration is not required.
Join on Zoom
October 17, 2023
@
7:00 pm
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9:00 pm
October 7 @ 6:00 am – 4:00 pm
Ozaukee Washington Bird Coalition
Big Sit
The Noel J. Cutright Bird Club, in cooperation with the Western Great Lakes Bird and Bat Observatory, will host its 15th annual “Big Sit!” at Forest Beach Migratory Preserve (address below), five miles north of Port Washington. 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. An on-site port-a-potty is present 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.” The Sit’s 17-foot circle is on the perfectly-sized hawk watch platform at Forest Beach Migratory Preserve (4970 Country Club Rd., Port Washington), one of the largest tracts of open land remaining in Ozaukee County along Lake Michigan. Since 2007, birders have recorded a total of 262 species at Forest Beach. The 116-acre site and its unique location and geography make it a great place to stage a Big Sit. Join us for a half- hour, or a half-day, or more – whatever suits your fancy and your schedule!
All ages welcome! Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Free to attend | Pre-registration is not required.
October 7, 2023
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6:00 am
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4:00 pm
September 20 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Ozaukee Washington Bird Coalition
Winter Bird Feeding
at Riveredge and Virtual
Getting Ready for Fall & Winter Bird Feeding with Dan Panetti, owner of Wild Birds Unlimited in Mequon, as he makes a return visit to talk about getting ready for winter feeding and spring garden planning/planting for the birds. He will cover food and feeders, water, cover, places to raise young using both a PowerPoint and show-and-tell items.
For more than 20 years Dan has served on the Milwaukee Audubon Society Board of Directors, the Pineview Wildlife Rehabilitation advisory board and started and continues to lead the bird club and bird walks at Schlitz Audubon Nature Center. For 8 years he served as member-at-large for the Institutional Animal Care and Use Board at Concordia University in Mequon. He is a longtime member of the Noel J. Cutright Bird Club and a supporter of the Mequon Nature Preserve, the Friends of Cedarburg Bog, and the Lake Michigan Bird Observatory. Refreshments will be served and a summer species list will be tallied!
Join in person at Riveredge or virtually with Zoom.
Ages 12+ | Free
Pre-registration is not required.
Join on Zoom
September 20, 2023
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7:00 pm
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9:00 pm
September 4 @ 6:30 am – 11:00 am
Ozaukee Washington Bird Coalition
Birding Field Trip
at Lac Lawrann Conservancy
Lac Lawrann Conservancy is a 145 acre nature preserve contiguous with the 25 acre Royal Oaks Park. The overall property has 4.5 miles of trails crisscrossing 125 acres of upland and lowland hardwood forest, a Red Pine plantation in process of conversion into a seven acre oak-savannah habitat, the seven acre Rainbow Lake, two large ponds approximating 12 acres, eight acres of wetlands, and 10 – 12 cares of restored native grassland prairie. The overall topography typifies a Kettle Moraine landscape replete with glacial features and kettle ponds. The multi-varied habitats make for a dramatic landscape and good birds! Join us on Labor Day as we scour the Lac Lawrann property in search of both resident and migratory birds. The Lac Lawrann Conservancy is located in West Bend one mile north of State Hwy 33 on Schmidt Road.
Ages 12+ | Free
Please email trip leader Carl Schwartz at cschwartz3@wi.rr.com to register.
Pre-registration required by September 1 at 12:00 pm (noon)
September 4, 2023
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6:30 am
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11:00 am
August 19 @ 7:00 am – 11:00 am
Community Science Day
at Horicon Marsh
Have you ever wanted to see a bird up close and in the hand, tag a monarch or learn how to catch dragons and damsels? Join Horicon Marsh as they welcome experts to showcase all the ways that you can build your community science skills! Watch Riveredge Nature Center bird bander, Jana, up close from 7-11am. Join members of the Wisconsin Dragonfly Society from 9:30-11:30am to learn tricks on identification and how to catch them. Tag a monarch at the beginning of its journey to Mexico from 12:30-2pm plus more!
The Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center is located at N7725 Highway 28, Horicon, WI. For additional information please contact Liz Herzmann at 920-210-9054 or elizabeth.herzmann@wisconsin.gov.
All ages welcome (Children should be accompanied by an adult)
This program is free to attend! Pre-registration is not required.
August 19, 2023
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7:00 am
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11:00 am
