Wildlife Update: May 9, 2023

Summer Visitor Center Hours

Weekdays from 8:00 am-4:30 pm

Weekends 10:00 am-4:00 pm

Spring has sprung in the Grantsburg area. The sun is getting stronger, the days are getting longer, and more birds are returning every day! Road conditions are improving every day on the wildlife areas. The township staff have been grading roads, and we have had a few dry days to help out. Visitors should continue to use caution after rainy days, as roads can still become muddy this time of the year.   

Many waterfowl species are still in the area, though numbers are much smaller than they were two weeks ago, as birds continue to move north to their nesting grounds. Most of the species left are our common local nesters including Mallard, Wood Duck, Ring-necked Duck, and Blue-winged Teal. Other species still being sighted include Canvasback, Common Goldeneye, Greater and Lesser Scaup, Gadwall, Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, and Redhead. A great place for viewing most of these species had been Grettum Flowage down in Fish Lake Wildlife Area and some sightings on Phantom Lake in Crex Meadows.

Many of our warblers are starting to show up in the area. These include Black-and-white Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Northern Parula, Nashville Warbler, and more.

A few other bird highlights include Sharp-tailed Grouse (currently participating in their spring mating dances), American White Pelican, Bonaparte’s Gull, Red-necked Grebe, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Peregrine Falcon, and Yellow Rail.

Visitors should also be aware that we are getting close to the time where wood ticks and deer ticks will become abundant. Be sure to wear the appropriate clothing and utilize permethrin or other deterring sprays on your clothing to minimize risk.

Mammals seen in the area within the last week:

13-Lined Ground SquirrelMuskratRiver Otter
BeaverRaccoonStriped Skunk
Black BearRed FoxWhite-tailed Deer
Grey SquirrelRed SquirrelWoodchuck
Grey Wolf (tracks)  

Bird sightings within the last week on Crex Meadows, Fish Lake, Amsterdam Sloughs, and surrounding area:

American BitternEastern PhoebePileated Woodpecker
American CootEastern TowheePine Warbler
American CrowEastern Whip-poor-willPurple Martin
American GoldfinchEuropean StarlingRed-bellied Woodpecker
American KestrelField SparrowRed-breasted Merganser
American RobinGadwallRed-breasted Nuthatch
American Tree SparrowGray CatbirdRedhead
American White PelicanGreat Blue HeronRed-headed Woodpecker
American WigeonGreater ScaupRed-necked Grebe
American WoodcockGreater YellowlegsRed-tailed Hawk
Bald EagleGreen HeronRed-winged Blackbird
Baltimore OrioleGreen-winged TealRing-necked Duck
Barn SwallowHairy WoodpeckerRing-necked Pheasant
Barred OwlHermit ThrushRock Pigeon
Belted KingfisherHooded MerganserRose-breasted Grosbeak
Black-and-white WarblerHorned GrebeRuby-crowned Kinglet
Black-capped ChickadeeHorned LarkRuffed Grouse
Blue JayHouse FinchSandhill Crane
Blue-gray GnatcatcherHouse SparrowSavannah Sparrow
Blue-winged TealHouse WrenSedge Wren
Bonaparte’s GullKilldeerSharp-shinned Hawk
Broad-winged HawkLark SparrowSharp-tailed Grouse
Brown CreeperLeast FlycatcherSolitary Sandpiper
Brown ThrasherLesser ScaupSong Sparrow
Brown-headed CowbirdLesser YellowlegsSora
BuffleheadLincoln’s SparrowSpotted Sandpiper
Canada GooseMallardSwamp Sparrow
CanvasbackMarsh WrenTree Swallow
Cedar WaxwingMerlinTrumpeter Swan
Chipping SparrowMourning DoveTurkey Vulture
Clay-colored SparrowNorthern ParulaUpland Sandpiper
Cliff SwallowNashville WarblerVeery
Common GoldeneyeNorthern CardinalVesper Sparrow
Common GrackleNorthern FlickerWhite-breasted Nuthatch
Common LoonNorthern HarrierWhite-crowned Sparrow
Common MerganserNorthern PintailWhite-throated Sparrow
Common RavenNorthern Rough-winged SwallowWild Turkey
Common YellowthroatNorthern ShovelerWilson’s Snipe
Cooper’s HawkNorthern WaterthrushWood Duck
Dark-eyed JuncoOspreyWood Thrush
Downy WoodpeckerOvenbirdYellow Rail
Eastern BluebirdPalm WarblerYellow Warbler
Eastern KingbirdPeregrine FalconYellow-bellied Sapsucker
Eastern MeadowlarkPied-billed GrebeYellow-headed Blackbird
  Yellow-rumped Warbler

Did you see something that’s not on our list? Give us a call to report it at 715-463-2739.