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September Visit (1 Viewer)

Oregonian

Well-known member
I will have two hours on each of three days to go birding next September in Wisconsin, and would like tips. We're currently thinking it will be Racine, Cambridge or Madison, and Prairie du Chein, followed by several days in Decorah, Iowa, which I figure is off-topic here.

The thing is, for my mother's 90th birthday, I said I would let her show me some places in Iowa and Wisconsin where our ancestors lived around 1850. Two brothers are coming too, as well as one or more of her cousins. So as much as I would like to, I can't go birding the whole time. But we won't be able to get started before 8:00 each day, or later, so I figure the time from 6:00 to 8:00AM can be for birding.

One question: I'm assuming the birding is best between 6:00 and 8:00 anyway. Have I got that wrong?

I get to do the planning, so I am hoping to find lodging very near birding locations. So does anyone have ideas?

Thanks,
Jeff
 
Madison, Wisconsin Birding Spots

Hi Jeff,
Morning would be an excellent time for birdwatching. I can recommend some places in Madison for you.

1. Madison's Arboretum, http://uwarboretum.org/ near the heart of downtown, is wonderful.
2. Picnic Point, http://www.lakeshorepreserve.wisc.edu/visit/picnicpoint.htm which juts out on Lake Mendota, near the UW campus.
3. Cherokee Marsh http://www.cherokeemarsh.org/

A little further from Madison, toward the northeast, is the immense Horicon Marsh: http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/wildlife_areas/horicon/

Also, in Middleton, a suburb of Madison, is Pheasant Branch Conservancy: http://www.pheasantbranch.org/conservancy/info.htm

Have a great time!

Nina Cheney
Eagle Optics, Middleton, WI
 
I know I'm a liitle late, but its not September yet, so I'll put in my 2 cents. I second the Horicon Marsh, as I live about 1/2 mile from it. I can tell you from experience that you have an opportunity to see a lot of different species of birds, including hawks, owls, many songbirds, and TONS of waterfowl. I grew up in Milwaukee, so living out here is like I'm in heaven. I've gotten to see some birds that I always thought I could only see at the zoo. The Horicon Marsh is huge though, about 30,000 acres in all, so it can be overwhelming to say the least.
 
Not too late! Thanks for contributing - we don't leave for several weeks, and I'm still thinking about locations. As nice as it sounds, Horicon Marsh is a little out of our path. We're just stopping in Racine, Madison, and Prairie DuChien, and I have to have places right nearby. So far, I thought to visit Wind Point in Racine, one of the local sites mentioned by Nina, above, and Wyalusing State Park near Prairie DuChien.
 
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