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Thursday, May 30, 2013

bird species seen during the "long walk for birds"

This is the list of species found during my "long walk for birds" across Wisconsin. See this link for more information on the walk, and  the ongoing fundraising effort, for the Natural Resources Foundation.



Canada Goose
Trumpeter Swan
Wood Duck
Mallard
Blue-winged Teal
Northern Shoveler
Green-winged Teal
Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup
Ring-necked Duck
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Ring-necked Pheasant
Wild Turkey
Common Loon
Pied-billed Grebe
Horned Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Green Heron
Turkey Vulture
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Bald Eagle
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Sora
American Coot
Sandhill Crane
Killdeer
Spotted Sandpiper
Solitary Sandpiper
Lesser Yellowlegs
Pectoral Sandpiper
Wilson’s Snipe
American Woodcock
Bonaparte’s Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Caspian Tern
Forster's Tern
Rock Pigeon
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Mourning Dove
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Black-billed Cuckoo
Great Horned Owl
Barred Owl
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Red-headed Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
American Kestrel
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Acadian Flycatcher
Alder Flycatcher
Willow Flycatcher
Least Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
White-eyed Vireo
Bell's Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
Blue-headed Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Philadelphia Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Horned Lark
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Purple Martin
Tree Swallow
Bank Swallow
Barn Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
House Wren
Winter Wren
Carolina Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Eastern Bluebird
Veery
Swainson's Thrush
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Lapland Longspur
Ovenbird
Louisiana Waterthrush
Northern Waterthrush
Blue-winged Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Prothonotary Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Kentucky Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Hooded Warbler
American Redstart
Cerulean Warbler
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Palm Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Canada Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Clay-colored Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Lark Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Henslow's Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Scarlet Tanager
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Bobolink
Red-winged Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark
Rusty Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Orchard Oriole
Baltimore Oriole
Purple Finch
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

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excellent set of conservation-oriented reports from the Am. Bird Conservancy

Go to this link to see an excellent set of Am. Bird Conservancy reports. Especially useful for urban dwellers is the report on Bird-friendly Building Design.

Friday, May 24, 2013

thanks to these people for assistance on the "Long Walk for Birds"

During the four week period of my walk across Wisconsin to raise funds for the Great Wisconsin Birdathon and the Natural Resources Foundation, I received help and support from many people. I've attempted to list them below. I tried not to leave anyone out - my apologies in case my memory has gaps!

The following people generously provided a place to stay, and in many cases, a great dinner and breakfast, along my 246-mile walking route:
Noel Cutright and Kate Redmond
Brian and Ann Russart
Mary and Bob Krauski
Vicki Piaskowski and Larry Hopwood
Karen Etter Hale and Jim Hale
Brian and Laura Bub
Ruth Ellickson
Jerry Bartelt
Barb and Jeb Barzen
Mike Hedemark and Arlyne Johnson
Jane Furchgott and Charles Munch
Dick and Christine Ouren

Special thanks to Vicki and Larry, Ruth, Karen and Jim, Barb, and Dick and Christine for help in multiple ways!

The following people walked along for either short or long distances, and were great company on this adventure:
Brian Russart
Tim Vargo
Robin Squier
Jenn Callaghan
Adam Yellen
Vic Vargo
Bill Holton
Clare Carlson
Matt Carlson
Brian Bub
Anne Lacy
John Mueller
Jane Furchgott
Margaret Bluske
Barb Duerksen
Tom McKenna
Joel Trick
Patti Trick
Dick Ouren
Christine Ouren
Jim Klapperich

Special thanks to Owen Boyle, Lee Bluske, Noel Cutright, Joel and Patti Trick, Glen Fredlund, and Marian Klapperich for help along the route. Extra help was provided by Robin Squier, who assisted with the loan of electronic equipment AND many guest blog posts here!

Lunchtime visits that really brightened several days were made by Lee Bluske, Barb Barzen, Maria Sadowski, Paul Senner, Meg Ziegler, Andy Paulios, Yoyi Steele, and Mike Mossman. 

"Above-and-beyond-the-call" extraordinary assistance, many miles of walking, and friendship came from Dick and Christine Ouren - they really made it possible on some tough days, and made it even more enjoyable with their incredible spirit!  

Perhaps saving the best for last is a giant thank you to my wife Leah and my daughter Hannah - without them, even the first steps would never have happened at all.



Thursday, May 23, 2013

Human Dimensions of Bird Conservation

Thanks very much to Andy Paulios of the WI Bird Conservation Initiative for sharing this link -- as he mentions, it contains some great information coming out on the Human Dimensions of Bird Conservation.  See the All-bird Bulletin at:            
http://www.nabci-us.org/bulletin/Bulletin-Spring2013.pdf 

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

take me to the river

Today at 1:05pm, I arrived at a boat landing on the Mississippi River in Prairie du Chien, thereby completing my "long walk for birds" across Wisconsin. During 25 days on foot I have walked 246 miles, and recorded 158 species of birds. Among the many reasons I had for doing this, raising money in donations and pledges for the Bird Protection Fund of the Natural Resources Foundation was key. Please go to this link to learn more about this bird conservation fundraiser. NRF raises critical funding for work on Kirtland's Warbler, Whooping Crane, support for Bird City Wisconsin, The Wisconsin Stopover Initiative, and other vital programs focused on the conservation and protection of Wisconsin's birds. I'll have more here soon on other details of my long walk.Thanks to Noel Cutright, Jim Klapperich, and Dick Ouren for their incredible presence and help today.


Monday, May 20, 2013

closing in on the end - Long Walk for Birds

I am closing in on the end of the  long walk, with approximately 22 miles left to go over the next few days. Storms are predicted for today, and perhaps they won't cause too many delays. I ended yesterday  at 224 miles and 156 species, with additions yesterday including Prothonotary  Warbler, White-eyed Vireo, Bobolink, Henslow's Sparrow, and Acadian Flycatcher. Another Bell's Vireo (the third for the walk) was heard and then seen, in a dry shrubby tangle. West of the village of Woodman, thanks to Barb Duerksen's excellent directions, the 6 or 7 Prothonotary Warblers seen were spectacular. Thanks again to Dick and Christine Ouren for several days of great company and assistance, and thanks for a great visit  by Joel and Patti Trick.

Saturday, May 18, 2013

mile 208; 147 species

This is a picture from today, sent by Barbara Duerksen.  It's a photo of Bill with Dick and Christine Ouren at lunch today.  When Barbara left, Bill had 147 species, had gone over 208 miles and they were heading for Boscobel.

at mile 212, species 147, in Grant County - the Long Walk for Birds continues

Internet availability finally allows me to actually post for myself tonight - although I had many phone connectivity issues today. I have seen 147 bird species since the start of the long walk across Wisconsin, with today's additions being Trumpeter Swan, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, and a later-than-normal (for me) Black-throated Green Warbler. I am at mile 212, with a little more than 30 miles yet to go, but several warm but rainy days in the forecast for these next few days. I've been following roads just south of the Wisconsin River, through Muscoda, Blue River, and into the eastern edge of Boscobel today. Walking with me today were friends Dick Ouren, Barb Duerksen, and Keith Emich - thanks to them all, and thanks so much to Dick and his wife Christine for many kinds of help these last few days. Warm temps and  many mosquitos influenced our walking today - but our walk just south of and paralleling Hwy. 133 had many birds nonetheless.

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Update!

Apparently the last post about Bill didn't go through.  I received a text yesterday saying that he was at mile 182, and the latest sighting was species 140, a Black-billed Cuckoo.  The traffic was building, so he was going stop for the day.

 A Wisbird update, posted by Barbara Duerksen this morning, put Bill in the Avoca area.  He has put 188 miles behind him!  A Cerulean Warbler, (a nemesis bird for me!) was species #141.  Bill said he had about 5 days to go.

This is an incredible effort and deserving of support.  Help Bill and the birds!

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Bill update

Bill texted at 11:00 this morning and said he was at the junction of Highway 130 and 133, south of Lone Rock.  He's added a Kentucky Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Eastern Wood Pewee and finally, a Bald Eagle.  Sounds like a great morning!

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Species 134

Bill called to report that he is past mile 167 on his Long Walk for Birds.  Birders from all over Wisconsin have been posting great bird sightings as the radar last night showed the heaviest migration so far this spring.  Bill picked up a Red-eyed Vireo, Philadelphia Vireo, Yellow-throated vireo, Swamp
Sparrow, Carolina wren and an Ovenbird.  He sounds great!  If you haven't pledge your support yet to benefit the Bird Protection Fund, Bird City and other conservation efforts, be sure to do so!  You can go to his Great Wisconsin Birdathon page at  The Great Wisconsin Birdathon Be part of this fantastic adventure!  Bill has persisted through rain, cold, heat, and heavy traffic at times, to bring both funds and attention to the cause of bird conservation.

Sunday, May 12, 2013

100 miles to go; 152 done

After a good rest day today, I'll be back out on the road tomorrow. I have approximately 100 miles to go, and I still hope to find 35+ more species in about 10 more days (I have walked 152 miles, and the species total remains at 126, with the "most noteworthy species" so far going to a Bell's Vireo in Dane County).

I've averaged about 9.5 miles per day. I expect to have some folks walking with me on some sections of the remaining distance. I'm trimming my pack weight a little today - it's still a bit too heavy. I've had one day of real soaking rain, and one day of about 40 degree cold and biting wind, plus a few more at about 80-81 degrees.

Please consider a pledge or donation if you have not already made one. Bird conservation in Wisconsin needs YOUR help - if our birds are important to you, please "step up to the plate" and contribute! It's easy - go to http://www.wibirdathon.org/nrfw/participantpage.asp?uid=3370&fundid=1805