May 6 & 7 @ 7:00 am – 11:00 am
Bird Banding Orientation and Refresher
(2 Days)
Would you like to be involved in wildlife research? Have you ever wanted to see a wild bird up close? If you answered yes, then this program is for you! Bird banding is an important research technique that helps scientists study the health, longevity and population dynamics of wild birds which informs conservation decisions. Common banding methodology includes humanely capturing birds, placing a lightweight “bracelet” with a unique number ID on their leg, documenting observations (e.g. breeding condition, age, sex) and taking measurements (e.g. wing/tail length, weight). If you are new to bird banding, attend this orientation to learn what bird banding is and how you can get involved in projects at Riveredge.
This 2-day orientation involves an indoor classroom day and an outdoor banding demonstration day. Returning volunteers (those that regularly attend any of the bird banding efforts at Riveredge) are encouraged to attend this orientation as a refresher.
Recommended for new banding volunteers; One-time fee: $30 (members), $40 (non-members)
FREE for returning banding volunteers. Make sure to create an account using your email we have on file to get the discount online.
Ages 15+
Pre-registration required by May 1 at 11:59pm
Register Here
Banding at Riveredge
Since 1999, Riveredge Nature Center has participated in the Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship (MAPS) continent-wide bird banding program that studies birds in the summer during the breeding season. This effort, under the license of Master Bird Bander Jana Gedymin, relies on a team of dedicated volunteers that have gone through a specific training process to learn the skills required to safely band birds. This course is the place to start if you are new.
Becoming an Official Banding Station Volunteer
Incoming banding volunteers begin as observers and will have the opportunity to play a more active role handling birds with experience. We require an investment of three (3) banding sessions (2023 dates listed below), and vetting/approval from the Master Bander to ensure the safety of wildlife and volunteer readiness. Advancement through the training process is dependent upon skill level, interest and time commitment.
Volunteer roles include:
- Observer (Watch and learn)
- Surveyor (Document birds detected during banding sessions)
- Site Assistant (Set-up and take-down of mist nets and equipment)
- Scribe (Document banding data in the field)
- Extractor (Retrieve birds from mist nets)
- Bander (Identify, band and assess birds)
- Data Compiler (Transfer hand-written scribe data to electronic database post-session)
Upon successful completion of this orientation and Master Bander approval, new volunteers will be invited to attend MAPS and demo banding sessions at Riveredge where they will begin learning the art of banding in the field.
MAPS Banding 2023 dates:
- Thursday June 8th (9th backup)
- Thursday June 15th (16th backup)
- Thursday June 22nd (23rd backup)
- Thursday July 6th (7th backup)
- Thursday July 13th (14th backup)
- Thursday July 20th (21st backup)
- Thursday August 3rd (4th backup)
Demo Banding 2023 dates:
- Saturday May 20th
- Fall (August/September) 1-4 sessions; dates TBD
Contact Jana Gedymin for more information: [email protected]
Members and returning volunteers:
Be sure to sign in to your account in the upper right corner to activate your membership benefits. Membership discounts on programs will be applied to your cart at checkout. If you haven’t created an account with our new system, be sure to create one using the email address associated with your membership.
If you need to check your membership status or you aren’t sure what email address we have on file, please reach out to our Membership Manager, Renee Buchholz at [email protected].
To become a member, click here
May 6, 2023
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7:00 am
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May 7, 2023
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11:00 am
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 11 @ 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Attracting Bluebirds and Other Cavity Nesters to Your Yard
Many spring migrants will soon be returning to our area looking for housing. Join us to learn how to attract a wide variety of cavity-nesting birds to your yard. We will discuss the pros and cons of different nest box styles and cover the basics of where to place them and how to maintain them. This workshop is meant for amateur and experienced bird lovers. Near the end of the program we’ll take a short walk on the bluebird trail to see how boxes should be mounted and placed so dress for the weather.
Ages 12+
Members: Free! | Non-members: $5
Pre-registration is not required, but highly recommended.
Register Here
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Registration
Ages 12+
Members: Free!
Non-members: $5
Register Here
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Become a Member
Take advantage of member benefits and discounts!
Join Now
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More Events
Explore other upcoming events!
Event Calendar
March 11, 2023
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1:00 pm
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2:30 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
-
Become a Member
Take advantage of member benefits and discounts!
Join Now
-
More Events
Explore other upcoming events!
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 [email protected] 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 ([email protected]) 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 [email protected] 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
January 1 @ 7:30 am – 1:00 pm
1st Bird of the New Year
Field Trip & Lunch
Happy New Year! When every bird is a new bird! The Noel J. Cutright Bird Club is inviting members of all the Ozaukee Washington Birding Coalition organizations to participate in our traditional field trip searching for the first birds of the year. Then join us for a sub sandwich lunch at NOON in the Riveredge Nature Center barn. We’ll have chips, coffee, soda, and cookies for dessert as well.
Meet at 7:30 am at the downtown Port Washington Marina boat ramp. We will send an email the day before to all those who have emailed Carl if we are canceling the field trip and lunch.
We need to take a head count so please RSVP to Carl Schwartz at [email protected] by Dec. 28 or sooner.
Any other questions? Contact Carl Schwartz at [email protected] or at 414-416-3272
Ages 18+ | Register by December 28 at 12:00 pm
January 1, 2023
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7:30 am
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1:00 pm
