justnorth posted on December 08, 2007 02:01 :: 924 Views
Cold temps and snow throughout the state have pushed many of the late migrant waterfowl and other birds out of the state. Birders have reported increased activity at bird feeders with the additional ice-covered snow. Remaining areas of open water have good concentrations of gulls, waterfowl and eagles.
Northern Wisconsin birders have noted that fruiting trees in and around towns/cities have bohemian waxwings and pine grosbeaks. Other winter finches have been scarce and somewhat local. It is shaping up to be a good northern shrike year with many birders in southern Wisconsin reporting shrikes.
The Madison lakes still have remaining tundra swans although most of the birds pulled out when rivers and lakes froze over. Longspurs, snow buntings and horned larks have also been easy to find with the increased snow cover by driving past freshly plowed country roads after a recent snow event. Rare birds sighted in the last week include a snowy owl in Ashland, spruce grouse in Bayfield County, varied thrushes in Door and Ashland counties, white-winged dove and Baltimore orioles in Door county. As always please report sightings to ebird (www.ebird.org/WI) to help better track bird populations across the state.
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