Featured Photo by Gary Meyer
Weather is slowly becoming more spring-like in the Grantsburg area; we even had a 75-degree day within the past week! Most days over the last week had been in the high 40’s and 50’s, melting off most of the remaining snow on Crex Meadows, Fish Lake, and Amsterdam Sloughs. We are seeing patches of open water around our properties at this time and will expect more open water to pop up by the day.
With water beginning to open around the county, there are different migrating birds showing up every week, including a variety of waterfowl, the first shorebirds, and more.
Springtime also means mating season for birds, and there have been several species participating in mating displays observed this week, including Sharp-tailed Grouse, Sandhill Cranes, Trumpeter Swans, and Wild Turkeys.
Highlights this past week include American Wigeon, Blue-winged Teal, Brown Creeper, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Greater Scaup, Green-winged Teal, Eastern Bluebird, Eastern Meadowlark, Killdeer, Northern Pintail, Pied-billed Grebe, Red-winged Blackbird, Sandhill Crane, Tundra Swan, and Wood Duck.
Most roads in Crex Meadows, Fish Lake and Amsterdam Sloughs have been holding up quite well for the most part, but some have been extremely muddy. It is a good idea to check in with Visitor Center staff before making a trip to the area so we can give you the most current information.
Top viewing locations this week: Dike 6 (open water, and lots of ducks, geese and swans), Refuge Extension Flowage (some open water, dozens of Bald Eagles), Phantom Lake (the best place to view Trumpeter Swans).
Bird sightings within the last week on Crex Meadows, Fish Lake, Amsterdam Sloughs, and surrounding area:
| American Black Duck | Dark-eyed Junco | Pileated Woodpecker |
| American Coot | Downy Woodpecker | Purple Finch |
| American Crow | Eastern Bluebird | Red-bellied Woodpecker |
| American Goldfinch | Eastern Meadowlark | Redpoll |
| American Kestrel | European Starling | Red-shouldered Hawk |
| American Robin | Golden-crowned Sparrow | Red-tailed Hawk |
| American Tree Sparrow | Great Horned Owl | Red-winged Blackbird |
| American Wigeon | Greater Scaup | Ring-billed Gull |
| American Woodcock | Green-winged Teal | Ring-necked Duck |
| Bald Eagle | Hairy Woodpecker | Ring-necked Pheasant |
| Barred Owl | Hooded Merganser | Rock Pigeon |
| Black-capped Chickadee | Horned Lark | Rough-legged Hawk |
| Blue-winged Teal | House Finch | Ruffed Grouse |
| Brown Creeper | Killdeer | Sandhill Crane |
| Blue Jay | Mallard | Sharp-tailed Grouse |
| Bufflehead | Mourning Dove | Snow Bunting |
| Canada Goose | Northern Cardinal | Trumpeter Swan |
| Cedar Waxwing | Northern Flicker | Tundra Swan |
| Common Goldeneye | Northern Harrier | White-breasted Nuthatch |
| Common Grackle | Northern Pintail | Wild Turkey |
| Common Merganser | Northern Shrike | Wood Duck |
| Common Raven | Pied-billed Grebe |
Mammals seen in the area within the last week:
| Beaver | Grey Wolf (tracks) | White-tailed Deer |
| Bobcat (tracks) | Raccoon | Woodchuck |
| Coyote (tracks) | River Otter | |
| Grey Squirrel | Striped Skunk |