RESCHEDULED FOR SAT., MAY 4

Unfortunately the weather forecast for April 27 is less that ideal. Hope you will be able to attend on May 4.

 Join us in search of American Woodcock, Wilson’s Snipe, and early spring migrants on this evening outing. Bohn Farms GHRA is a state-owned property with more than 120 acres of prairie and woodland. Estimated walking distance is 0.5-1.0 mile. Terrain may be uneven, wet, and muddy. Rain boots or rubber knee boots are strongly recommended.

Directions: From Oshkosh, take Hwy 41 North to Hwy 45 North. Take the Highway 116/County Rd GG exit toward Winneconne. Turn left onto County Rd GG/Hwy 116 South. Follow Hwy 116 through and out of Winneconne until you reach County Road D. Turn right on County Road D. Travel approximately 7 miles and then turn right on County Rd B and go 1 mile. We will meet in the parking area off to the right adjacent to Welsch Rd. Please park in the parking area or along Welsch Rd. where it is safe and reasonable to do so.  

 American Woodcock, Wisconsin. Teri Shors/Audubon Photography Awards 

Sign Up Now to Participate!

Winnebago Audubon is looking for counters to cover the 45 designated sites in Winnebago County for the 48th Annual Midwest Crane Count. More than 1,800 volunteer participants from throughout Wisconsin and portions of Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio and Minnesota participate in the spring survey, which gathers information on the abundance and distribution of cranes in the upper Midwest.

The International Crane Foundation sponsors the Count as part of its mission to conserve the world’s 15 species of cranes and the natural communities on which they depend. Sandhill cranes once nearly disappeared from Wisconsin, but the species has successfully recovered and is slowly expanding into neighboring states.

Observations of sandhill cranes can lend insight into threatened crane species, including the endangered whooping crane. There are now approximately 75 whooping cranes in the reintroduced population in central Wisconsin, and crane counters may have a chance of sighting a whooper during the survey, just like last year!

Best reasons to be a crane counter:

1. Doing something a little crazy is fun.

2. You can do something good for the environment once a year without becoming a bird-nut.

3. If you are a student, it counts as volunteer hours.

4. You’ll learn to speak crane-ese.

5. It’s a good excuse to watch a sunrise once per year.

6. Bring your binoculars and camera. You’ll be surprised by what other wildlife you see that early in the morning.

7. If the weather is nasty, you can count from inside the car with the heater on.

8. Winnebago County is a great place to survey because we rank high in the number of crane sightings.

9. When finished you still have the whole day ahead of you

Signing up is easy! Go to the International Crane Foundation website: savingcranes.org where you will find the site maps for Winnebago County. Select a site that you would like to survey, then contact our Winnebago County Coordinator, Evelyn Meuret, to check availability and secure your site. You may contact Evelyn for assistance. She will save sites for folks who counted in 2023 until the end of March. If you are not able to count this year, please let her know that your site is available. 

You will also find the data sheet and more information at the savingcranes.org website.

We are hosting an in-person meeting before the crane count on Thursday, April 4 from 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm at the Oshkosh Food Co-op, 155 Jackson St., Suite 1. You may choose a site that night, meet other counters, and ask questions. We will review crane call identification and data entry. This meeting is optional but you may find it helpful if you are a new counter. Please share with friends and family who might be interested in volunteering.

We invite all counters to meet for breakfast after the count to share your experience at the Delta Restaurant, 515 N. Sawyer St., Oshkosh. Dutch treat.

Please contact Evelyn directly about your interest in participating in this year’s Annual Midwest Crane Count:

 Evelyn Meuret

Winnebago County Crane Count Coordinator

evelynmeuret57@att.net

920-573-7828

What is the Annual Midwest Crane Count all about? Wondering if you should participate? You are welcome to attend an informational meeting where you can learn how to identify crane calls, fill out data sheets, etc., AND chose one of the 45 sites in Winnebago County to survey.

We are hosting this meeting at the Oshkosh Food Co-op, 155 Jackson St., Suite 1.

Click here to check out the webpage on this site for full details about the count.

Join us in search of early spring migrants, especially waterfowl. Large numbers and a variety of waterfowl are possible, including swans, five species of geese, dabbling ducks, many diving ducks and mergansers, and other spring migrants. 

Sightings will depend on the status of migration, location, and weather conditions. Spotting scopes are helpful, but not required. 

We will meet at the Green Valley Road Park & Ride (Hwy's 41 & 76). From here we will drive to a birding location that offers the best chance to see waterfowl and other early migrants.

Directions:  Meet at the Hwy 41 and Hwy 76, Green Valley Road Park and Ride. From here we will drive to the birding location.

Connect to Birds, to Nature, and with Each Other

Watch birds in your backyard or anywhere else, be part of this 20+ year tradition, and help provide scientists with a snapshot of bird populations. Participate from anywhere in the world. Click to learn more about the GBBC.

Spend time in your favorite places watching birds - then tell us about them! In as little as 15 minutes notice the birds around you. Identify them, count them, and submit them to help scientists better understand and protect birds around the world.

Birds are everywhere, all the time, doing fascinating things. Join us, February 16-19, 2024, when the world comes together for the love of birds.

Photo of Common Redpoll by Matt Saunders.

Connect to Birds, to Nature, and with Each Other

Watch birds in your backyard or anywhere else, be part of this 20+ year tradition, and help provide scientists with a snapshot of bird populations. Participate from anywhere in the world. Click to learn more about the GBBC.

Spend time in your favorite places watching birds - then tell us about them! In as little as 15 minutes notice the birds around you. Identify them, count them, and submit them to help scientists better understand and protect birds around the world.

Birds are everywhere, all the time, doing fascinating things. Join us, February 16-19, 2024, when the world comes together for the love of birds.

Photo of Common Redpoll by Matt Saunders.

Interested in participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count but not sure where to start? Join us at Kimberly Point and Wilderness Park in Neenah as we search for birds, count species totals, and report our sightings to eBird. We will start at Kimberly Point at 9:00 a.m. to look for Common Goldeneye, mergansers, and other waterfowl species. Then we will head over to Wilderness Park to search for finches, woodpeckers, and other winter birds. Be sure to dress warm. See you there!

 The Great Backyard Bird Count is a 4 day event beginning on Friday, February 16 through Monday, February 19, 2024. For more details click here.

Directions to Kimberly Point: from Highway 41, take exit 132 east for Main Street Neenah. Go over the bridge and continue straight to stay on Main St. Main St turns right and becomes Wisconsin Ave. Follow Wisconsin Ave all the way to Lakeshore Ave. Turn left on Lakeshore Ave and proceed to park near the lighthouse. Address for GPS lookup: 290 Lakeshore Ave, Neenah, WI 54956.

 Directions to Wilderness Park from Kimberly Point: Lakeshore Ave turns into Park Ave when you go around the bend past the lighthouse. At the stop sign, turn left on Wisconsin Ave and then turn right onto S Park Ave. Follow S Park Ave for half a mile. Wilderness Park will be on your left. Please park along the east side of the road parallel to the park. To get turned around, take a right on Chatham Ct just south of the park, follow Chatham Ct around, return to Park Ave, and finally park along the road at the destination. Address for GPS lookup:  940 S Park Ave, Neenah, WI 54956.

Connect to Birds, to Nature, and with Each Other

Watch birds in your backyard or anywhere else, be part of this 20+ year tradition, and help provide scientists with a snapshot of bird populations. Participate from anywhere in the world. Click to learn more about the GBBC.

Spend time in your favorite places watching birds - then tell us about them! In as little as 15 minutes notice the birds around you. Identify them, count them, and submit them to help scientists better understand and protect birds around the world.

Birds are everywhere, all the time, doing fascinating things. Join us, February 16-19, 2024, when the world comes together for the love of birds.

Photo of Common Redpoll by Matt Saunders.

CANCELLED . . .

DUE TO EXPECTED NW WINDS AND SUBZERO TEMPS, WE HAVE CANCELLED THIS FIELD TRIP.

Unfortunately, we will not reschedule this activity. STAY WARM AND SAFE.

 Short-eared Owl. Photo courtesy of Matt Saunders.

Join us at the Evergreen Retirement Community and the Sawyer Creek Nature Trail to start the new year right by watching birds. We will be walking around the Evergreen buildings checking bird feeders and on the nature trail in search of winter birds. Time and weather permitting we may also visit nearby open water for waterfowl and gulls. 

Directions:  From the intersection of Hwy 41 and Hwy 21, go east on Oshkosh Ave. (Hwy 21) to the first stoplight. At the stoplight turn right on Westfield St. and continue a short distance to the Evergreen parking area on your left.  We will meet in the front of the parking area near the sidewalk.

 Address for GPS lookup: 1130 N. Westfield St., Oshkosh, WI 54902. 

White-breasted Nuthatch. Photo courtesy of Matt Saunders.

On the annual Oshkosh Audubon Christmas Bird Count (CBC), observers record all birds seen or heard within a fifteen mile diameter circle around Oshkosh on one day (24 hour period) in mid- to late-December. In addition to the count day, species seen during the count week (3 days before and 3 days after the count day) but not recorded on the count day are also included in the results. The Oshkosh Christmas Bird Count has been conducted every year since 1964. The final results are submitted to the National Audubon Society.

Anyone can participate in the bird count. The amount of time that you wish to commit is up to you. You can watch your feeders/yard for an hour or all day. For the more dedicated birder, surveying one of the 7 county areas in the count circle is also an option.

As a volunteer you will be required to record the number of each species seen or heard; time spent watching; distance travelled and document unusual species and numbers.

If you are interested in participating PLEASE contact Tom Ziebell for more information and to discuss the area you intend to cover to reduce duplication of birds counted: cziebell@new.rr.com or 920-312-1976.

Join us for a winter bird walk at Norbert Rich School Forest. The spruce, pine, and swamp hardwoods on this property provide habitat for deer, turkeys, nuthatches, and various winter bird species. We will meet at the front gate and walk one the mown trails. Sections of the trail may be uneven or muddy, so sturdy hiking shoes or boots are recommended.

Naturalist Anita Carpenter and author of  Winnebago Audubon's Badger Tracks  nature column for forty years, is also a quilter. For 20 years, she has created original, scientifically-correct, nature-themed quilts. Tonight she will lead us on a field trip as we visit a boreal forest, desert, coral reef and so much more.

Please join Anita on Thursday, November 16th at 6:30 pm, at Evergreen Retirement Community, 1130 N. Westfield St., Oshkosh, in the Sitter W&PAC near the main entrance.

You won't need sunscreen or insect repellent for this field trip!

Asylum Point Park/Picnic Point Wildlife Refuge (The Carp Pond) is about 170 acres of grassland, brush, woods, and marsh on the shores of Lake Winnebago. We hope to observe late fall migrants such as waterfowl, kinglets, and sparrows, but you never know what we may find.

Join us in the “twin cities” of the Fox Valley to scan the shorelines of Little Lake Butte Des Morts and Lake Winnebago for migrating birds. We will start at Arrowhead Park in Neenah on the south end of Little Lake Butte Des Morts. Then we will take a short drive over to Kimberly Point or Jefferson Park on the west shore of Lake Winnebago depending on weather conditions and recent field reports.

Join us on eBird’s October Big Day to count birds and report our observations to eBird. Come be a part of the global birding team counting on Big Day. Everyone is welcome, beginning birders to experienced birders. We will walk the Sawyer Creek Nature Trail and the Evergreen Community grounds in search of resident birds and fall migrants such as kinglets, thrushes, sparrows, and warblers. Come experience the fun and wonder of fall migration. 

Take a walk with us on the Wiouwash Trail to search for fall migrants, including thrushes, flycatchers, vireos, and those challenging-to-ID fall warblers. We will meet at the parking area on Marine Drive and walk south on the trail between the Fox River and Riverside Cemetery.

This is another great excuse (if you need one) to go birding and challenge yourself to identify birds not only visually but by their songs. Plus, you are contributing to on-going bird research around the world. You can do this by yourself or with family and friends. Make a day of it or plan a little time around your busy schedule.

On this annual bird count, observers record all birds seen or heard in Winnebago County on one day (24 hour period) in September. The September bird count has been conducted every year since 1995.

Anyone can participate. The amount of time you wish to commit is up to you. You can watch your feeders/yard for an hour or all day. You can walk, bike, or boat a certain area. For the more dedicated birder, surveying one of the 30 county areas is also an option.

WHAT IS REQUIRED?

· Record the number of each species seen or heard

(including Starlings, House Sparrows, etc.)

· Record time spent watching

· Record distance traveled

· Record names of all observers

· Document unusual species and numbers

For more information on the count or if interested in surveying an area in the county, contact Tom Ziebell at cziebell@new.rr.com or 920-312-1976.

Winnebago Audubon is hosting its popular  monarch tagging event on Saturday, September 2 from 1:00-3:00 pm.  Shannon Davis-Foust and her family have invited us to tag monarchs in their prairie located west of Omro. This event is free and open to the public.

In all the world, no butterflies migrate like the monarchs of North America. They travel up to two thousand miles in the fall to reach central Mexico.  How monarchs find their overwintering site as the great-great-grandchildren of the butterflies that left the site the previous spring remains an unsolved mystery.

The University of Kansas set up the Monarch Watch (www.monarchwatch.org) program to encourage everyone to participate in the monarch migration each year.  They provide the tags and you get to net the monarchs, tag them and release them to fly to the mountains in central Mexico for the winter.  Monarchs that we have tagged in the past have been found in Mexico. Participating in this long-standing citizen-science project provides vital information to researchers on migration patterns and the health of the monarch population.

Learn about the fascinating life cycle and migration of the regal monarch butterfly. We will discuss why and how to tag a monarch. You will then be free to wander the prairie to net monarchs.  Remember to respect the prairie and any wildlife you may encounter.  We will have a tagging station set up to assist you in identifying the gender of your monarch, record the data, tag it, and watch you release it to proceed on its journey.  All ages over 5 are encouraged to participate. We all have an inner child who would love to do this. 

We strongly recommend wearing long pants, socks, and shoes.  We have a limited number of nets available so if you have your own, please bring it along. 

If the weather is questionable and you want to check if we are still going to meet, check our Facebook page or call/text: 920-573-7828.  Rain date will be on Sunday, September 3, 2023.

Directions to 4946 Broderick Rd., Omro: Take Hwy. 21 west out of Omro. Turn right on Broderick Rd and in 1.6 miles look for the red house on the right side of the road.  Parking can be in the driveway or along the road leaving ample room for entering and exiting easily.  Please do not park anyone in!  

As a follow-up to the “Stop the Fallout from Bird-Window Collisions” webinars that will take place on Wed., Aug. 23 at noon and 7:00 pm., Winnebago Audubon will hold an in-person meeting to learn why birds fly into windows and easy ways to prevent collisions at home.

Join us on Sunday, August 27 from 3:00-4:00 pm in the Community Room at the Oshkosh Food Co-op, 155 Jackson St., Oshkosh. You will be able to see samples of the options that help prevent bird-window collisions; ask questions; get advice; and a chance to win one of 10 window collision tape kits.

Up to 1 BILLION birds die every year in the United States after colliding with windows. Will you please help our songbirds fly south safely by fixing one problem window?

Register now: sossaveoursongbirds.org/webinar

There are two time options: Noon and 7:00 pm.

Up to 1 BILLION birds die every year in the United States after colliding with windows. Will you please help our songbirds fly south safely by fixing one problem window?

Learn why birds fly into windows and easy ways to prevent collisions at home from Madison Audubon's Brenna Marsicek.

Sponsored by: WI Bird Conservation Partnership, Madison Audubon, SOS Save Our Songbirds, Winnebago Audubon

Register now: sossaveoursongbirds.org/webinar

There are two time options: Noon and 7:00 pm.

Up to 1 BILLION birds die every year in the United States after colliding with windows. Will you please help our songbirds fly south safely by fixing one problem window?

Learn why birds fly into windows and easy ways to prevent collisions at home from Madison Audubon's Brenna Marsicek.

Sponsored by: WI Bird Conservation Partnership, Madison Audubon, SOS Save Our Songbirds, Winnebago Audubon

Winnebago Audubon will host two clean-up days at the Oshkosh Ecological Restoration / Miller's Bay site to trim cup plants, coreopsis, and any other tall aggressive species, and remove any weeds and trash. We continue the Skylight Research Project and check nest boxes for Eastern Bluebird nests while also ensuring no vandalism or invasive birds are nesting. Please bring loppers, pruners, and work gloves if you have them. Water and snacks will be provided. Stay as long as you like.

 #2: Insects & Pollinators

Naturalist Anita Carpenter will join us to explore the native planting for insects/pollinators and share her expertise on them.  

Winnebago Audubon will host two clean-up days at the Oshkosh Ecological Restoration / Miller's Bay site to trim cup plants, coreopsis, and any other tall aggressive species, and remove any weeds and trash. We continue the Skylight Research Project and check nest boxes for Eastern Bluebird nests while also ensuring no vandalism or invasive birds are nesting. Please bring loppers, pruners, and work gloves if you have them. Water and snacks will be provided. Stay as long as you like.

#1: Bluebirds

We will start the morning with a short presentation about Eastern Bluebirds with Dave Misterek from BRAW (Bluebird Restoration Association of Wisconsin).

Winnebago Audubon celebrates 41 years of providing our community with opportunities to enjoy and protect birds, other wildlife, and their habitats through recreation, education, conservation, and restoration of the natural environment. We hope you will attend the brief business meeting to vote for our 2023-24 slate of officers and the proposed budget (see page 4 to review).

Once our business is taken care of we can relax and enjoy a special program with live birds! Have you ever had the opportunity to meet an owl up close? Have you been able to look a hawk in the eye? Master Falconer, Jane Kelly from On The Wing will be joining us with her collection of birds. You may know Jane from her appearances on the Animal Planet series Northwoods Law while assisting New Hampshire Fish & Game with admitting and rehabilitating raptors.

NEW LOCATION! Rainbow Park, Shelter 2 (1650 Rainbow Dr., Oshkosh

Rain or Shine!

FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

A morning of birdy activities for the whole family  to celebrate World Migratory Bird Day and the fact that Oshkosh is a BIRD CITY!

6 am - 11 am:  Big Sit, a unique way to bird watch with Anita Carpenter

6:30 am:  Bird Walk with Kelli Bahls/Tom Ziebell

7:00 am - 10:30am:  Bird Banding Demonstration with Dick Nikolai

8:00 am:  Bird Walk with Kelli Bahls/Tom Ziebell

10:00 am - Noon:  Kid’s Activities

10:00 am - Noon:  Live Birds of Prey by Aves Wildlife Alliance

For up-to-date information on Oshkosh Bird Fest, check our website: oshkoshbirdfest.com nd like us on Facebook. Click here.

Join us in search of the American Woodcock as it performs its spectacular sky dance at dusk. We will also listen for Wilson’s Snipe, Sandhill Cranes, and choruses of frogs. We will meet at Bohn Farms HRA (Habitat Restoration Area). See directions below. The terrain may be uneven, wet, and muddy depending on spring weather conditions. Rain boots or rubber knee boots may be recommended.  

Directions to Bohn Farms HRA: From Oshkosh, take Hwy 41 North to Hwy 45 North. Take the Hwy 116/County Rd GG exit toward Winneconne. Turn left onto County Rd GG/Hwy 116 South. Follow Hwy 116 through and out of Winneconne until you reach County Rd D. Turn right on County Rd D. Travel approximately 7 miles and then turn right onto County Rd B. We will meet in the parking area off to the right by Welsch Rd. Please park in the parking area or along Welsch Rd where it is safe and reasonable to do so.

Sign Up Now to Participate!

    If you haven’t already volunteered, now is the time. Winnebago Audubon is still looking for counters to cover the 45 designated sites in Winnebago County for the 47th Annual Midwest Crane Count. More than 1,800 volunteer participants from throughout Wisconsin and portions of Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio and Minnesota participate in the spring survey, which gathers information on the abundance and distribution of cranes in the upper Midwest.

     The International Crane Foundation sponsors the Annual Midwest Crane Count as a part of its mission to conserve the world’s 15 species of cranes and the natural communities on which they depend. Sandhill Cranes once nearly disappeared from Wisconsin, but the species has successfully recovered and is slowly expanding into neighboring states.

     Observations of Sandhill Cranes can lend insight into threatened crane species, including the endangered Whooping Crane. There are now approximately 75 Whooping Cranes in the reintroduced population in central Wisconsin, and Crane Counters may have a chance of sighting a Whooping Crane during the survey.

Best reasons to be a crane counter:

1. Doing something a little crazy is fun.

2. You can do something good for the environment once a year without becoming a bird-nut.

3. If you are a student, it counts as volunteer hours.

4. You’ll learn to speak crane-ese.

5. It’s a good excuse to watch a sunrise once per year.

6. Bring your binoculars and camera. You’ll be surprised by what other wildlife you see that early in the morning.

7. If the weather is nasty, you can count from inside the car with the heater on.

8. Winnebago County is a great place to survey because we rank high  in the number of crane sightings.

9. When finished you still have the whole day ahead of you.

     Signing up is easy! Go to the International Crane Foundation website: savingcranes.org where you will find the site maps for Winnebago County. Select a site that you would like to survey, then contact our Winnebago County Coordinator, Evelyn Meuret, to check availability and secure your site. You may contact Evelyn for assistance. She will save sites for folks who counted in 2022 until the end of March. If you are not able to count this year, please let her know that your site is available. 

     You will also find the data sheet and more information at the savingcranes.org website.

     We are hosting an in-person meeting before the crane count on Thursday, April 6 from 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm at the Oshkosh Food Co-op, 155 Jackson St., Suite 1. You may choose a site that night, meet other counters, and ask questions. We will review crane call identification and data entry. This meeting is optional but you may find it helpful if you are a new counter. Please share with friends and family who might be interested in volunteering.

     Please let us know if you are interested in meeting for breakfast immediately after the count. We are looking for suggestions on a restaurant. Or a warm place to gather and bring your own.

     Please contact Evelyn directly about your interest in participating in this year’s Annual Midwest Crane Count.

 Evelyn Meuret

Winnebago County Crane Count Coordinator

evelynmeuret57@att.net

920-573-7828

We will be searching Menominee Park for birds, especially waterfowl. Waterfowl migration should be at its peak with a nice variety of divers, dabblers, mergansers, geese, and hopefully swans. Number and variety of species will be dependent on the progress of migration, wind direction, and weather conditions.

Directions:  We will meet at the north end of the Miller’s Bay boat launch parking area. This is northeast of the softball diamonds and just across the street from Webster Stanley Middle School. Use 1240-1212 Siewert Trail, Oshkosh, for GPS lookup.

Connect to Birds, to Nature, and with Each Other

Watch birds in your backyard or anywhere else, be part of this 20+ year tradition, and help provide scientists with a snapshot of bird populations. Participate from anywhere in the world. Click to learn more about the GBBC.

Spend time in your favorite places watching birds - then tell us about them! In as little as 15 minutes notice the birds around you. Identify them, count them, and submit them to help scientists better understand and protect birds around the world.

Birds are everywhere, all the time, doing fascinating things. Join us, February 17-20, 2023, when the world comes together for the love of birds.

Photo of Common Redpoll by Matt Saunders.