Rusty Blackbird Blitz

Hi green birders,

I'm coordinating the Rusty Blackbird Blitz for Wisconsin this year, and the good news is, this can overlap with your BIGBY! Between mid-March through April, keep your eyes out for rusty blackbirds (RUBL) and report them via eBird. Actually, if you're not already doing so, report all of your birding efforts through eBird! The more complete the list, the better, and 0s can be as important as finds. Thanks for your help in pinpointing migration stopovers and numbers for this species. If you need any more motivation than helping in a conservation effort, BIGBY, patch list, and/or any type of list, we will also be competing with Minnesota for highest overall RUBL tally, biggest hotspot discovered, and potentially other categories (suggest in the comments!). So, take your Wisconsin pride, and your eco-ethic, with you in your search for rusty blackbirds this spring.

email me at: rustyblackbird@wsobirds.org

The Story So Far...

For my wanderings around the near west Madison and campus, here's my list so far...

• mallard
• Cooper's hawk
• red-tailed hawk
• rock pigeon
• mourning dove
• great horned owl
• downy woodpecker
• American crow
• black-capped chickadee
• white-breasted nuthatch
• American robin
• European starling
• American tree sparrow
• dark-eyed junco
• northern cardinal
• house finch
• American goldfinch
• house sparrow

My BIGBY + Patch Area

As mentioned in the prior post, there is a Wisconsin Local Patch Challenge going on this year. I figured I'd post mine here, because this is pretty much where all my BIGBY happens too! I'm still on foot, so it would be quite a task for me to wander outside of this circle (though not impossible...).

Make your own circle!

The Patch Challenge

This year, your BIGBY efforts might count twice! The state is now hosting a local patch challenge, that will probably coincide with your favorite local spots. The idea is to draw a 7.5 mi radius around your house, and find as many species as possible within that area. This is yet another way to promote green birding and encourage birders to do more ground work within their "home turf."

2014

Hello all! Let the games begin! I'm excited to promote another year of green birding in Wisconsin. This has been the most fun birding challenge I've participated in, and gives you a great excuse to get to know your neighborhood like never before. Like I mentioned last year, I saw so many things I'd never noticed driving by. The adventures continue, as do the birds along the way!

Effectively "Out of the Running"

So, it is with a heavy heart I confess that I am effectively out of the running for the BIGBY this year, due to some serious fall migration slacking! I'm missing a few crucial warblers, but I still have time to makeup some waterfowl. No matter, though; I got into this to document walking-distance birding in my neighborhood, and I'll continue to do that through the year. My neighborhood is pretty "privileged," in that it is full of old trees, city parks, and on an isthmus. Not everyone is fortunate enough to have such good birding on foot, but it makes me happy to live where I do. And watch out, next year, if I get a bike, I may be a serious threat! ;)

The Odd Places We Bird...

I was unfortunately unsuccessful in relocating the red crossbills that Max W found and David L rediscovered the following morning! However, the cemetery is unexpectedly beautiful in spring, and very birdy. While swarming with migratory birds, probably my favorite find of the morning was a hairy woodpecker cavity with begging nestlings.

forest hill cemetery

Both migration excitement and a flu have kept me from blogging much, but of course, warbler/neotropical migrant madness has hit and spring has sprung! Red-eyed vireos, rose-breasted grosbeaks, common nighthawks and veery are around for the taking, just to name a few. It's arguably the most wonderful time of the year.