Wildlife Update: October 16, 2024

Fall Visitor Center Hours

Weekdays from 9:00 am-5:30 pm

Weekends 10:00 am-4:00 pm

Featured photo by Carol Knabe.

The fall migration season is in full swing in the Grantsburg Area! This week has been extremely active, with thousands of Sandhill Cranes arriving, songbirds still coming through, a few interesting shorebirds stopping by, and waterfowl everywhere! Weather has definitely cooled off within this past week. We are still expected to have some days in the 70’s, but also many with highs in the 50’s. Mornings have been cold the past couple of days, with most mornings into the 20’s!

Fall migration season means that it is “Sandhill Crane Viewing Season” at Crex Meadows! The numbers will continue to build throughout the entire month of October, and we typically reach our peak numbers late in October or even early into November. Main Dike Road has been the best place to view cranes in the morning and evening so far this year!

Trumpeter Swans are plentiful on the properties this time of year, many have been hanging out on Main Dike Road during the day.

Highlights from this week include American Black Duck, American Golden-Plover, American Pipit, Canvasback, Lapland Longspur, Long-billed Dowitcher, Merlin, Northern Shoveler, Northern Shrike, and of course, the Sandhill Cranes!

PLEASE NOTE: There are now several hunting seasons open or opening soon. Please stay aware while out on the properties in the coming months (especially while hiking). For a full list of hunting season dates, please visit the WI DNR website: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/hunt/dates

Mammals seen in the area within the last week:

BeaverGrey SquirrelRed Fox
Black BearGrey WolfRed Squirrel
White-tailed Deer

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

American Black DuckGreat Blue HeronPine Siskin
American CootGreat EgretRed-bellied Woodpecker
American CrowGreat Horned OwlRed-headed Woodpecker
American Golden-ploverGreater YellowlegsRed-tailed Hawk
American GoldfinchGreen-winged TealRed-winged Blackbird
American PipitHairy WoodpeckerRing-billed Gull
American RobinHarris’s SparrowRing-necked Duck
American Tree SparrowHooded MerganserRing-necked Pheasant
American WoodcockHorned LarkRock Pigeon
Bald EagleHouse SparrowRuby-crowned Kinglet
Barred OwlKilldeerRuffed Grouse
Belted KingfisherLapland LongspurSandhill Crane
Black-capped ChickadeeLincoln’s SparrowSavannah Sparrow
Blue JayLong-billed DowitcherSharp-shinned Hawk
Blue-winged TealMallardSharp-tailed Grouse
Canada GooseMerlinSnow Bunting
CanvasbackMourning DoveSong Sparrow
Common RavenNorthern FlickerSwamp Sparrow
Dark-eyed JuncoNorthern HarrierTrumpeter Swan
Double-crested CormorantNorthern PintailTurkey Vulture
Downy WoodpeckerNorthern ShovelerWhite-breasted Nuthatch
Eastern BluebirdNorthern ShrikeWhite-crowned Sparrow
European StarlingOspreyWhite-throated Sparrow
Field SparrowPectoral SandpiperWild Turkey
Fox SparrowPied-billed GrebeWilson’s Snipe
Golden-crowned KingletPileated WoodpeckerWood Duck
Yellow-rumped Warbler

Did you see something that is not on our list (on the back of this page)? Feel free to give us a call to report it!