Wisconsin

Jackson County in west-central Wisconsin was our randomly chosen county to feature in March. Dike 17 State Wildlife Area in the Black River State Forest features open marsh, flowages, woods, and extensive shrubs, making it appeal to quite a variety of birds throughout the year. Read below to learn where the site is, what birds have been seen, and what times of year are best to visit.

Fun Facts

Species eBirded at hotspot: 67

Notable species eBirded: Northern Saw-whet Owl, Eastern Whip-poor-will, Gray-cheeked Thrush

Species bar chart

Map (Wisconsin DNR PDF)

Great Wisconsin Birding & Nature Trail site

Dike 17 Wildlife Area is a 3,100 acre property located within the Black River State Forest, it can be accessed by taking Hwy 54 East and turning south either on Wildcat Road and then East on Battlepoint, or by turning south on North Settlement Road. This wildlife area is embedded within Wisconsin’s central forest region of the Central Sands Ecological Landscape. This area has more forest than anywhere else in the Upper Midwest outside of the “northwoods”. While this area will focus on Dike 17, birders should also visit the coniferous and deciduous forests and wetlands of the Black River State Forest for great birds year-round.

Dike 17 is managed as an open complex of diked flowages, sedge meadows and brushy uplands for breeding waterfowl and sharp-tailed grouse. The dikes were originally constructed in the 1940’s by the game division under the Resettlement Administration using WPA (Works Project Administration) labor. This included setting up a small sawmill on the area where they assembled and produced oak sheet piling for the core of every earth dike out there. The flowages are periodically drawn down to promote growth of forage for waterfowl, and the uplands are burned to maintain them in an open or brushy landscape to benefit nesting waterfowl, Sharp-tailed Grouse and Karner Blue Butterflies.

Birders visiting this area in spring/summer can expect migratory waterfowl and shorebirds depending on water level management regimes. Ring-necked ducks nest commonly on the flowages, along with Pied-billed Grebe, Mallard, Blue-winged Teal, Black Tern and Trumpeter Swans.

April is perhaps the best time to visit as birders can expect to witness spectacular display flights of American woodcock and Wilson’s Snipe while listening to the “bog-pumping” American bitterns across the marsh in the early morning or at dusk.

Ruffed Grouse drumming can be heard throughout April and May and you may even hear 1 or 2 sharp-tailed grouse still reportedly in the area. Unfortunately, their population has crashed and they are now seen very rarely in the area.

Late spring/summer birding is excellent in and around Dike 17. The open meadows are alive with bobolink, sedge wren and other sedge meadow birds. LeConte’s and Nelson’s sparrows are a possibility.

The brushy wetlands and wooded edges have breeding Black-billed Cuckoo and Golden-winged Warbler along with an abundance of Veery. This is one of the best places in the state to hear and see Alder and Willow Flycatchers at the same spot.

Nocturnal birders can expect to hear numerous Whip-poor-wills as well as Barred, Great Horned, Northern Saw-whet and possibly Long-eared Owls. Short-eared Owls have been seen hunting the open marsh at dusk in summer suggesting that they probably breed.

Birders visiting the area in late fall and winter should check the area for Northern shrike, Golden Eagle, Northern Goshawk, Rough-legged Hawk, Common Raven, and other more “northern” winter residents that this area harbors. Check the pines in the area for occasional Red Crossbills.

As you can see on the bar chart, the only eBird data existing for the hotspot is for April, May, and June. If you’re in the area or want to explore a very neat part of the state, stop by for some great birding and contribute some eBird data!

Thanks to Andy Paulios for writing the article and Tom Prestby for providing the pictures!