N4686 Blackbird Rd
Beaver Dam, WI 53916
(920) 210-4832
email the president
|
Bird Club Events 2008 Wildlife in the Galapagos Islands - monthly program Thursday, December 20, 2007 - 7:00 PM .jpg) Program: Wildlife in the Galapagos IslandsSpeaker: Jack Bartholmai Horicon Marsh Bird Club Monthly Membership Meeting Location: Horicon DNR Field Office N. Palmatory St. in Horicon. The public is invited to attend this meeting of the Horicon Marsh Bird Club when Jack Bartholmai, who usually photographs the wildlife of Dodge county, will give a presentation on the wildlife he photographed in the Galapagos Islands. The Thursday, December 20th, meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at the DNR Field Office at the end of Palmatory St. in Horicon. NOTE: The FIELD OFFICE not the Service Center on Highway 28 is the location of the HMBC meetings during the construction of the Horicon Marsh International Education Center. Jack will take you along on his trip of a lifetime to the Galapagos Islands and show photos of species that occur nowhere else on the planet as well a some that are familiar or very closely related to those found in our area. The islands volcanic origin, geographic location, and movement with the tectonic plate have made this a natural laboratory for the study of change in animal and plant life over time. These islands were visited by Charles Darwin in 1835 and were the inspiration for the development of his theory on the evolution of life. 95% of the animals and plants he studied are still observable, though an increase in local human population and tourism threaten the ecology of this unique equatorial paradise. Wood Ducks - monthly program Thursday, January 17, 2008 - 7:00 PM .jpg) Program: Wood DucksSpeaker: Jeff Bahls One of North America's most beautiful birds. The Wood Duck was once one of it's most imperiled. Unregulated hunting in the late 1800's and early 1900's had taken the Wood Duck to low numbers. Starting with protection and the invention of the artificial nest cavity ( wood duck box) the Wood duck is now one of the 3 most harvested duck in the Mississippi Flyway. Sportsman's, Birders,and natured enthusiasts of all kinds can learn how they can build on this success. Wood Duck society board member Jeff Bahls will talk about where to place nest boxes, how to guard them from predators,what type of maintenance and monitoring efforts need to be done to keep Nest Boxes pro-duck-tive.Please join the Horicon Marsh Bird Club @ 7 pm January 17th at the Horicon DNR field station located at the north end of Palmitory Street in Horicon for this free program Owling Expedition field trip/hike Saturday, January 19, 2008 - Meet at 3:00 PM Horicon Marsh Bird Club event WHO, WHO-WHO wants to go owling? Meet at Bud Cook hiking area Horicon NWR refuge. Using knowledge from the Horicon Marsh CBC we will seek out as many species of owls as we can. Either spotting them during daylight hours or using recordings to hear them. We will start at Bud Cook area to try for Short-eared and cruise HWY 49 to look for snowies. Then hit wooded areas for other owl species. Tree Swallows - monthly program Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 7:00 PM .jpg) Program: Tree SwallowsSpeaker: Linda Whittingham Details to follow Horicon Marsh Bird Club Monthly Membership Meeting Location: Horicon DNR Field Office N. Palmatory St. Horicon Winter Birds of Dodge County field trip/hike Sunday, February 24, 2008 - Meet at 8:00 AM Horicon Marsh Bird Club event 9 birders from the HMBC made a trip to the Leipsig – Lowell area Our first stop were a few manured fields, looking for larks & buntings. Bingo! Horn larks were plentiful as they flew over the landscape and several snow buntings were found after scoping the area south of “S” on the east side of “SS”, just south and across the road from the Barnett trucking yard. Exciting news had come my way on Friday that a new Bald eagle nest was being built so we headed off to view the nest. We were not disappointed both adults were on or near the nest when we arrived. We found some Mallards and a pair of Black ducks on the Beaver Dam River near Leipsig. Working our way along the Beaver Dam River we found a few mourning doves and too many starlings. Hoping to pick up a Ring Necked pheasant (never did get one) for our trip we headed for The Buck & Duck Ranch. I spotted a dark bird in a field just to the north, too big for a crow, as it took flight and landed in a tree top it was pretty clear it was a dark phased Rough-legged Hawk, something I get only occasionally at the B&D. Thanks to Jack Bartholmai we were able to bird a private residence that had several Tufted Titmice coming to beautiful yard with filled with many feeders. Thanks Jack and thanks to the Koch’s for allowing us to visit. We finished with 23 species for the trip. Note: Brad & Royann Webb had common mergansers and 1 red-breasted merganser at "J" bridge by Leipsig. WSO Field Trip LaCrosse: Lansing Loop Saturday, March 15, 2008 - Meet at 7:00 AM Meet at entrance to Goose Island County Park Early Waterfowl of Dodge County field trip/hike Sunday, March 16, 2008 - Meet at 8:00 AM .jpg) Horicon Marsh Bird Club eventWhile the Horicon Marsh deservedly so, gets the most notoriety, there are other lesser known areas that at certain times of the year hold great numbers and variety of water birds. We will seek out these hot spots on this car caravan tour. Meet at McDonalds Hwy. 33 & 151 in Beaver Dam WSO Field Trip Sheboygan: Lakefront Birding Sunday, March 16, 2008 - Meet at 8:00 AM Meet at the Sheboygan Marina Cache River Wetlands - monthly program Thursday, March 20, 2008 - 7:00 PM Program: Cache River Wetlands including Prothonotary Warbler research) Speaker: Erin Railsback Details to follow Horicon Marsh Bird Club Monthly Membership Meeting Location: Horicon DNR Field Office N. Palmatory St. Horicon WSO Field Trip Dane & Columbia County Ponds Saturday, March 29, 2008 - Meet at 8:00 AM Meet at Goose Pond Best Bird Area RBC Sunday, April 6, 2008 - Riveredge Bird Club – The details on this trip will come via the April Bird Club meeting, the April newsletter and via email from Carl Schwartz. The trip will go to areas where the “best” birds have recently been recorded. Stay Tuned! Annual Pike Lake Trip RBC Saturday, April 12, 2008 - Riveredge Bird Club – The club’s oldest annual field trip. Meet at 7 a.m. in the Park and Ride lot just east of Hwy 45 on the south side of Hwy 60 next to the Dairy Queen at the western edge of Jackson. Trip sometimes lasts only a half-day, but it never hurts to pack a lunch. WSO Field Trip Mead Wildlife Area Saturday, April 12, 2008 - Meet at 7:30 AM Meet at the George W. Mead State Wildlife Area Shall we Dance? field trip Sunday, April 13, 2008 - Horicon Marsh Bird Club Event What: Sharp-tail Grouse dancing grounds Where: Crex Meadows Wildlife area. Near Grantsburg WI A one and a two and three… Join us on this field trip to one of the few places left in Wisconsin to watch Sharp-tail grouse on the lek or mating grounds. This is a rare opportunity to see the gyrations, stomping and cooing of the Sharp-tail grouse. This is something that every birder should see once in their lifetime. Blind space is limited! Please contact HMBC President Jeff Bahls for details. jbahls@wildblue.net or 920-210-4832 Ospreys - monthly program Thursday, April 17, 2008 - 7:00 PM .jpg) Program: OspreysSpeaker: Pat Ready Details to follow Horicon Marsh Bird Club Monthly Membership Meeting Location: Horicon DNR Field Office N. Palmatory St. Horicon Annual Midwest Crane Count Saturday, April 19, 2008 - 5:30 AM to 7:30 AM Central Daylight Time Welcome to the Annual Midwest Crane Count Mark your calendar More details to follow WSO Field Trip White River Marsh Saturday, May 3, 2008 - Meet at 5:00 AM or along the road before 9:00 AM for those who decide to sleep in Meet along White River Road Port Washington Lakefront & Trail RBC Sunday, May 4, 2008 - Riveredge Bird Club – Another decade-old club favorite. Meet at 7 a.m. in the Port Washington harbor parking lot. We will walk up the nearby ravine on the Ozaukee Interurban Trail in search of spring migrants. Later, we will check out other areas in Ozaukee Co. where we hope to find waterfowl, shorebirds, or spring migrants. Bring a lunch in case we continue into the afternoon. The Early Show at Horicon Marsh field trip/hike Sunday, May 4, 2008 - Meet at 5:00 AM Horicon Marsh Bird Club event Picture yourself standing in the dark just before the official time of “Civil Twilight” at the end of a dead end road that is leading into Horicon Marsh. It is a little cool out so you are glad that you put on that extra layer of clothing and filled up your coffee/hot chocolate cup when, you begin to hear noises coming from the marsh, sky, woodlots and shrubs. Some are familiar while others you may be hearing for the first time. What are they? What are they doing? Are they just getting up or going to sleep? Friend or foe? Sounds like fun doesn’t it? This could be you when you join other Bird Club Members for a front row seat as we listen to and watch the “The Early Show” at Horicon Marsh. Without giving too much away, a nice variety of birds, along with a few mammals and amphibians may be heard and or seen as they begin their day or are just finishing up a night out on the marsh. When the dawn activities slow down we will drive to other locations in search of bird species that are making themselves at home on Horicon Marsh or are just passing though during their Spring Migration. We will meet at the end of Northern Rd. which is the last left hand turn (top of hill) off of Dike Rd. on the east side of Horicon Marsh. Northern Rd. comes to a dead end and is where we will be ready for “The Early Show” to begin. Have a question or need more information contact Larry at: lamichael@powerweb.net Horicon Marsh Bird Festival Friday, May 9, 2008 - The Festival kick-off is 6:00 AM Friday and ends Monday evening .jpg) Please visit our Horicon Marsh Bird Festival section on this website. Here you will find our complete list and descriptions of all festival events. Our Bird Club is the major sponsor of this festival and we hope that you decide to attend a few of the many exciting and educational events. It runs for 4 days, Friday through Monday May 9-12, 2008 WSO Field Trip Honey Creek Sunday, May 11, 2008 - Meet at 8:00 AM Meet at the Honey Creek Nature Center Spring Pot Luck and Bird Hike Thursday, May 15, 2008 - Time TBA No Monthly Program Bird Hike with a Pot Luck to follow Details to follow No Horicon Marsh Bird Club Monthly Membership Meeting Location: Horicon DNR Field Office N. Palmatory St. Horicon WSO Field Trip Northern Kettle Moraine State Forest Saturday, June 7, 2008 - Meet at 6:30 AM Meet at Mauthe Lake Recreation Area Horicon Marsh Boat Tour Adventure field trip NEW DATE SCHEDULED Thursday, July 17, 2008 - Departure Time is 6:00 PM SHARP "miss the boat and walk the plank"  Note: Come h-ll or high water we are going to hold this event, this year. It is rescheduled for July 17!Horicon Marsh Bird Club event It is back by popular demand. Club members Gayl & Marc Zuelsdorf have again said YES when asked if they would be willing to take us into the interior of Horicon Marsh for an evening of birding, animal watching and just plain relaxing. A wide variety of “creatures” may be found, so things as small as a frog or hummingbird to as large as whitetail deer or beaver might be seen. As Marc has said, “Almost anything is possible, the marsh changes from hour to hour and day to day”. What will our day bring? You won’t be able to tell our “tales” unless you come and join us on the Club’s Horicon Marsh Boat Tour Adventure. Remember: While Gayl & Marc have agreed to take us into the Marsh, if we want to keep this an “annual” event we should show our appreciation by including a donation (as in $$) that represents the value that we are receiving. This is a Members Only event, so if you are inviting a friend inform them that a membership payment plus their tour donation will be expected before we leave the dock area. So no one misses the boat, we are departing the dock at 6:00 PM “sharp” and will be out in the marsh for two hours plus. This depends what we are seeing and if Marc can find his way back. Have a question or need more information contact Larry at: lamichael@powerweb.net Fall Shorebirds field trip/hike Thursday, August 21, 2008 - Meet at 6:00 PM .jpg) Horicon Marsh Bird Club eventThe shorebird migration should be well underway and will be our target for this field trip. We will start along Hwy. 49 looking for the proper habitat (mudflats and low water levels) and if necessary we will do a “drive about” trying to locate other shorebird areas. Bring your spotting scope if you have one, but don’t feel bad or left out if you don’t, as our membership has always been willing to share. For those who might need to peek at a field guide, as I sometimes do, make sure to bring yours along. Maybe a little studying by participants (if necessary) could make for a more enjoyable outing. Nothing feels better than correctly identifying shorebirds for the first time on your own. But don’t worry, you will not be expected to ID any birds on you own and we have at past field trips needed to put our collective minds together more than once before a correct ID was made. Again, the meeting location is along Hwy. 49 (look for the scopes) on the north end of Horicon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge. Please take care when pulling off and on to the highway as well as when you are outside your car. Have a question or need more information contact Larry at: lamichael@powerweb.net WSO Field Trip Horicon Marsh Sunday, August 24, 2008 - Meet at 8:00 AM Meet along Hwy. 49 at Horicon Marsh Fall Warbler Walk at Harrington Beach State Park field trip/hike Saturday, September 6, 2008 - Meet at 7:00 AM Horicon Marsh Bird Club event The songbird migration will be well underway as we explore this unique little State Park. While warblers are our main focus, we are bound to find a wide assortment of our avian friends as they refuel for their epic fall migration to places as far away as South America. Depending on bird activity we may strike out to other places as we work our way back to the more familiar turf of Dodge Cty. You may want to bring a bag lunch, as we are sure to be birding into the mid-afternoon. Good hiking shoes are recommended as some the trails may be uneven and or muddy. Meet in the lower beach parking lot and please note that there is an entrance fee that needs to be paid if you do not have a State Park sticker on your vehicle. Harrington Beach State Park is located on the Lake Michigan shoreline north of Port Washington. So make sure you review your fall warbler identifications and maybe you will be the one to shout out “Look! I see a Blackpoll Warbler”. For club members who are traveling through the Horicon area and wish to car pool, there may be room in my truck for a birder or two and a car caravan is not out of the question. Have a question or need more information contact Larry at: lamichael@powerweb.net WSO Field Trip Green Bay: Fall Warblers Sunday, September 7, 2008 - Meet at 8:00 AM Meet at Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary WSO Field Trip Wisconsin Point: Jaegerfest Friday, September 19, 2008 - Meet at 7:00 AM each morning Meet at the first beach parking area along Moccasin Mike Road. This is a 3 day event. Friday through Sunday WSO Field Trip Harrington Beach: Hawk Watch Sunday, October 19, 2008 - Meet at 8:00 AM Meet at Harrington Beach State Park lower parking lot |