The Cornell Lab of Ornithology builds the eBird global platform for communities and partners around the world to advance data-driven science, education, and conservation.
On the heels of its Mountain Bluebird record earlier this year, the recently-completed fieldwork for the second Wisconsin Breeding Bird Atlas (2015–2019) now has another significant footnote — the state’s first confirmed breeding record of Black-bellied Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis).
The Wisconsin Society for Ornithology is one of the foundational partners of Wisconsin Breeding Bird Atlas II. WSO funded eBird’s pioneering launch of the Wisconsin Atlas portal and hosts the Atlas website with its photo gallery, handbook and other resources.
On May 16, 2020, Ryne Rutherford of Biophilia LLC discovered a female Mountain Bluebird on Chequamegon National Forest lands near Hannibal in Taylor County, marking Wisconsin’s ~25th record and only the 6th since 2002. As word spread and birders arrived to catch a glimpse of this rare western species, it quickly became apparent the bird was closely associating with a male Eastern Bluebird, and both were showing interest in an artificial nest box at the site.
Late in 2019, retired DNR conservation biologist Bill Smith reported to us a few very interesting observations of Golden Eagles in southcentral Wisconsin. They appeared to be building nests!
We are beginning the process of collecting photos for the atlas. Read on to see how you can help.
Looking for a fun winter project to help the atlas? Snapshot Wisconsin is a partnership to monitor wildlife year-round, using a statewide network of trail cameras.
Those of you that attended our Final Season Kickoff got to meet eBird's Ian Davies. Ian wanted to share his congratulations and let Wisconsin Atlasers know that the platform we've built continues to lead the way.
The five-year atlas data collection period began in 2015 and ends on December 31, 2019. If you are sitting on any remaining atlas checklists that you intended to get in, please do so ASAP!
The fifth and final year of field work is now complete for the Wisconsin Breeding Bird Atlas! We owe a sincere THANK YOU to the more than 2,000 atlasers who have contributed to Wisconsin Breeding Bird Atlas II.
Here's a big surprise for the end of our final season! The Glossy Ibis pair that has been at Horicon Marsh all summer apparently nested successfully!
