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New Birding Hotspot: Lake Mills Wildlife Area: Zeloski Marsh Unit

April 9, 2007
New Birding Hotspot: Lake Mills Wildlife Area: Zeloski Marsh Unit

The Zeloski Marsh Unit of the Lake Mills Wildlife Area is a new wildlife management property located just SW of Lake Mills in Jefferson County and promises to be the next "great' birding spot in SE Wisconsin. When fully restored this property will be over 1,500 acres of wetland and grassland and should attract over 200 species of birds in a short period of time. Expected bird species include most of the wetland bird species including managed pools for annual shorebird stopover habitat, Black Tern, Yellow-headed Blackbirds, Least and American Bittern, moorhen, and thousands of waterfowl. The restored prairies and sedge meadows should attract Bobolink, Brewer's Blackbird, Henslow's Sparrow and other grassland species of concern. Click the title above to read more about this new hotspot and learn how you can contribute to the management through your eBird sightings.

Zeloski MarshThe Zeloski Marsh Unit of the Lake Mills Wildlife Area is the latest in a series of successful Wetland Reserve Program (WRP) and Knowles Nelson Stewardship Fund cooperative ventures between NRCS, DNR and conservation organizations like the Madison Audubon Society (MAS). Similar to the Turtle Valley WA, Zeloski Marsh is a former muck farm that was ditched and drained for growing vegetables and other crops. MAS acquired the property and donated it in 2006 to DNR. To date NRCS, MAS and DNR have filled over 2 miles of ditches, removed12 miles of drain tiles, constructed 3.5 miles of berms, planted over 600 acres of prairie and wetlands and constructed two parking areas! Restoration is largely finished and when fully filled there will be 800 acres of water in 4 management basin. In addition, DNR managers will be able to manage water levels to provide annual shorebird and waterfowl stopover habitat for all to enjoy. This property is very accessible as the Glacial Drumlin State Bike Trail runs through the north end of the property and walkable dikes circle most of the managed wetland areas.

It is expected that this property will contain breeding populations of most priority wetland and grassland bird species. Birders should expect Yellow-headed Blackbirds, Common Moorhen, bitterns, egrets, rails, Black Terns, Bobolink, Sedge Wren, Henslow's Sparrow and many other species. In addition, early restoration efforts have already seen a tremendous migratory bird response. In the Fall of 2006 and Spring of 2007 birders and hunters have seen thousands of ducks, cranes and blackbirds using the marsh. In addition, one observer noted 18 Short-eared Owls on one October day.

The Rock River Coalition is organizing a monitoring program that will help to evaluate the restoration over time. One aspect to this monitoring is collecting birder observations throughout the seasons. As you go and explore this great area, please enter your observations into the Lake Mills Wildlife Area – Zeloski Marsh Unit hotspot. This data will then be available to all who manage the property.

Birders can access Zeloski Marsh at one of three points. The south parking lot is along London Road just west of County Road A. The east parking lot is at the end of Alley Road just west of County Road S. A third alternative is to bring your bike and bird from the Glacial Drumlin Bike Trail! To access the trail park in the lot off of Finch Brothers Road off of County Road S.