Chequamegon Chirps
Medford, Wisconsin
April 2016
Volume 35 Number 4
Jim Bragg, editor
NEXT MEETING: Monday, April 18, at 7:00 p.m. at the Medford Public Library
After election of officers, we’ll focus on returning spring migrants, especially warblers and
sparrows.
Election of Officers: One of the main points of interest for the April meeting will be an officer election. Let
me explain to you that this will not resemble the circus that recently left the state in any way, shape, or
form. This election will done in a mature fashion that will not include false or misleading statements or
downright lies. There will be no threats of suing by sore losers. That will not be tolerated. If attempted,
they will have to deal with a deranged and hungry woodpecker who recently had his bill sharpened.
Upcoming Events: Three events coming up soon that the club supports are Maple Fest on Saturday, April
30; International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD) Celebration on Saturday, May 14; Outdoor Youth Expo on
Friday, May 20. All three of these programs need volunteers. Any questions about these programs can be
answered at the meeting or by contacting these members: Maple Fest—Cam Scott, 785-7614; IMBD—
Cathy Mauer, 715-748-3160; Outdoor Youth Expo—Connie Decker, 715-654-5819.
Snowy Owl summary for 2015-16: There were about ten Snowy Owls in the Dorchester area this
concluded winter. They probably all have returned north by this time with a possible exception of one
seen south of Medford recently. These numbers are less than the two previous invasive years. It is
unusual to have invasive years in succession. Those are more apt to be four years apart. For whatever
reason, Dorchester is a prime area for viewing Snowy Owls. If you have never seen one of these beautiful
birds before, Connie is a good contact who—if there are any around—can direct you to an area where
they are most likely to appear. Will more Snowys appear at the start of next winter? We always hope so,
but this is a question that is only answered by the white owls themselves.
Spring Migration: Persistent cool to downright cold weather plus reoccurring snow has held back bird
arrivals. Let’s hope warmer weather this week makes the “What’s around” session on the
18th much more lively.
Wisconsin Society of Ornithology (WSO): The State WSO Convention registration is due by April 15. The
convention is in Racine this year.
Chequamegon Bay Birding and Nature Festival: If you would rather go north than south for an
outstanding birding and outdoor experience, the tenth Chequamegon Bay Birding and Nature Festival is
May 19-21, 2016. This is a really big deal that is growing each year. This event, which is centered at the
Great Lakes Visitor Center a few miles west of Ashland, has over 100 activities, classes, and trips by
more than 60 trip leaders and presenters. There is an early bird fee of $48.50 for the complete three
days. That becomes $54 after May 2. There are many field trips available by foot, bicycle, canoe or
kayak. In addition to birds, there are presentations and trips to study flowers, mushrooms, bats,
butterflies, sea lampreys, trees, wetlands, fossils, geocaching ,and so much more. There are additional
costs for some of these excursions. Also Laura Erickson will be the featured speaker at a dinner banquet
at Northland College on Friday evening. More info at www.birdandnaturefest.com or 1-800-284-9484.
Wisconsin Breeding Bird Atlas II
Spring migrants are returning and, like our resident birds, they are finding
territories, seeking mates, building nests, and soon will be caring for eggs and
young. That they sing during much of this process is a bonus for all of us who
enjoy listening to the variety of songs. Not only do we take pleasure in their
songs, we enjoy their beauty and their activities. Since many of you who will be
reading this are going to be outdoors enjoying our feathered friends anyway,
why not help gather information about them that can be used to better
understand birds and help protect them in the future? The first field season of WBBA II was in 2015. More than
700 Atlasers documented 1.7 million birds of 229 species, including eight new species that had not been found
nesting in Wisconsin before. Now it is time to be gathering data during the second field season. There is still a lot
to be done—and you can help!
“What is the Atlas?
The Wisconsin Breeding Bird Atlas II is a comprehensive field survey that documents the distribution and
abundance of birds breeding in an area. The information will allow us to see changes in bird populations since the
last survey and to measure future changes. These insights help us identify the conservation needs of breeding
birds and try to meet those needs.
Volunteering is easy and fun!
Put your love of birds to work and learn to birdwatch in a new way by closely observing bird behavior and
reporting the data online. It’s easy! Sign up to observe birds near your home, your favorite birding spots, and in
atlas priority blocks. Report your observations of bird behavior online using a state-of-the-art system developed
by eBird. The Atlas is a volunteer effort, with birdwatchers, nature centers, nonprofit organizations and
government agencies coming together in a project coordinated jointly by the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology,
the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and the Western Great Lakes Bird and Bat Observatory.
Building on and updating the first Atlas
The Wisconsin Breeding Bird Atlas II will run from 2015 to 2019 and will update and expand on the findings of
the first atlas — and provide critical data for conservation of birds for years to come. The first Wisconsin
Breeding Bird Atlas, conducted from 1995 to 2000, represented the largest coordinated field effort in the history
of Wisconsin ornithology. Volunteer field observers documented 237 bird species, 235 of which were listed as at
least probable breeders in the state. Results from that first survey (available online and as a printed book)
provided many insights into Wisconsin’s bird community that DNR and others use to make decisions regarding
how to manage state lands and how to conserve birds.”
from the Atlas website.
More information
For more information about the WBBA II, visit wsobirds.org/atlas and take some time to explore the data and
resources that can be found there. If you have additional questions, please contact me, Cathy Mauer, cocoordinator for Taylor County, 715-748-3160 or [email protected]. (Rory Cameron, who many of you know from
Christmas Bird Counts, is the other coordinator.) If you would like to find some interesting places in Taylor or
nearby counties to do some birdwatching and atlasing, I can help you identify priority blocks. I will also be happy
to help you learn to use the Atlas reporting site.
Editor - Chequamegon Chirps
3221 Town Hall Road
Abbotsford, WI 54405
Club contacts
Website: Chequamegonbirdclub.org
Information: [email protected]
Newsletter: [email protected]
Bird sightings: [email protected]
APRIL OUTDOOR HAPPENINGS

Earth Day and Full Moon—4-22

(No, there will not be a green moon.)

Barn Swallows and Purple Martins arrive

Snakes emerge from hibernation

Wildflowers bloom before forest canopy develops

Little Brown Bats arrive

Cottontail rabbits begin having litters

Toads begin singing and Gray Tree Frogs begin calling

White-tailed deer begin growing antlers

As warm weather arrives, so do new species of birds on an almost daily basis