April 17 @ 6:30 pm – TBD
Ozaukee Washington Bird Coalition
Woodcock Wander
at Mequon Nature Preserve
Join Dan Panetti, owner of Wild Birds Unlimited in Mequon, on an evening stroll in search of the American Woodcock – a secretive species most easily found when engaged in wild aerial courtship displays. Although the Woodcocks are technically “shorebirds,” 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 them. The outing will start around dusk at 7:00 p.m. with an informational talk 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. (Rain date of April 18 in case previous day is unsuitable for people and woodcock!)
Meet at Mequon Nature Preserve (address below).
Ages 18+ | Free to attend
Pre-registration required by April 17 at 12:00 (noon).
Register Here
April 17
@
6:30 pm
–
8:30 pm
March 13 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Ozaukee Washington Bird Coalition
Habitat Restoration & Monitoring on Oneida Nation’s Lands
In Person and Virtual
Join Tony Kuchma, from the Oneida Nation; and Erin Giese, from UW-Green Bay’s Cofrin Center; to learn about their collaborative partnership to implement a volunteer bird monitoring program at multiple restoration sites on the Oneida Nation Reservation near Green Bay. Over 100 volunteers conducted bird surveys on five restoration sites, totaling >120 bird species and >75,000 bird observations. Bird data collected for this program are used to inform land management decisions.
If you’re joining in-person, meet at Mequon Nature Preserve (address below).
Ages 18+ | Free to attend
No pre-registration required.
Join on Zoom
March 13
@
7:00 pm
–
8:30 pm
February 14 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Ozaukee Washington Bird Coalition
Aerial Insectivores in Wisconsin
In Person and Virtual
There is growing concern about the apparent population decline of many “aerial insectivores” – those species that feed on their insect prey in flight. These species belong to several avian orders and families, that include swallows and martins, chimney swifts, some forest flycatchers, plus nightjars such as whip-poor-wills and nighthawks. We’ll focus here on three of the swallows found across the Upper Midwest: Purple Martin, Bank Swallow, and Barn Swallow.
If you’re joining in-person, meet in the Riveredge Barn.
Ages 16+ | Free to attend
No pre-registration required.
Join on Zoom
February 14
@
7:00 pm
–
8:30 pm
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 [email protected] or 414-416-3272 to register.
Email Carl
January 1
@
7:30 am
–
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
@
7:00 pm
–
8:30 pm
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
@
5:30 pm
–
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
–
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
@
6:00 am
–
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
@
7:00 pm
–
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 [email protected] to register.
Pre-registration required by September 1 at 12:00 pm (noon)
September 4, 2023
@
6:30 am
–
11:00 am
