WWA invites you to get your feet wet and experience the wonders of wetlands first hand on one of our upcoming field trips. Unless otherwise noted, field trips are free for WWA members and $10 for non-members. To register for a field trip, send an email to register[at]wisconsinwetlands.org or call our office at 608-250-9971.
Bring a water bottle and dress appropriately for weather, walking and wading (recommended summer marsh wear: long sleeved shirts, long pants, rubber boots, wide brimmed hat, and mosquito repellent). In most cases, field trips will occur rain or shine, but we will cancel in case of hazardous weather. Call WWA or the trip leader the day before if the weather is questionable. Be aware that Lyme disease is present in parts of the state. Prevent tick bites by wearing clothes that cover your skin and by checking your skin and clothing for ticks after participating in field trips.
Bring a sense of adventure as you visit the Mazomanie Wildlife Area, part of the Lower Wisconsin Riverway & Wyalusing State Park Wetland Gem On this trip, co-sponsored with the Madison Audubon Society, you will sense the world from a different perspective--through sound. Participants will listen for a variety of frog-calls as well as learn about frog lifestyles and wetland ecology.
Frogs of the Cedarburg Bog
Ozaukee County
Tuesday, April 27, 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Field trip leaders: Jim Reinartz and Gary Casper
With the Friends of Cedarburg Bog
Free and open to the public.
To register, contact WWA at 608-250-9971 or by email at register[at]wisconsinwetlands.org
This trip is now full.
Cedarburg Bog, a Wetland Gem, is the most intact large bog in southeastern Wisconsin and is composed of a mosaic of vegetation types. Jim Reinartz from the UW-Milwaukee Field Station and Gary Casper, renowned herpetologist, will guide us through the bog, listening for a variety of frog calls including wood frog, spring peeper, chorus frog, and American toad and possibly Cope's gray tree frog and eastern gray tree frog. We'll also learn about frog lifestyles and mating behaviors as well as ecology of the bog.
Details: Bring a flashlight and wear footgear that can get muddy and wet. Bring rain gear if appropriate.
Directions to the Milwaukee Field Station: The main Field Station property is located in Saukville, about 30 miles (45 minutes) north of Milwaukee and 1 hr 45 min from Madison.
From Milwaukee: Take I-43 N to Hwy 33. Take Hwy 33 west to Blue Goose Rd (4.3 miles west of Saukville). Take Blue Goose Rd south 1.9 mi. to the Field Station, the 2nd driveway on the west side, south of Knollwood Rd.
From Madison: Take Hwy 151 NE to Hwy 60. Take 60 east to Cty Hwy Y. Take Y north ~4 miles to St. Augustine Rd. Follow east for 1 mile until road turns north and becomes Blue Goose Road. Field Station will be on the left.
Enjoy the serenity of morning with Quentin Yoerger and Charles Naeseth on a trip to Wyalusing State Park, part of the Lower Wisconsin River & Wyalusing State Park Wetland Gem. Observe hawks, warblers (including Yellow-throated), lots of other birds and a few spring wildflowers. Wyalusing State Park overlooks the confluence of the Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers. The Mississippi is a major migration route for numerous bird and the rugged bluffs make this breathtaking scenery a beautiful spot for a refreshing spring adventure.
Backwater Riverboat Tour of the Upper Mississippi River
Crawford County; boat leaving from Prairie du Chien
Saturday, May 22, 10:00 AM - 12:00 noon
Field trip leader: Jon Stravers, Audubon Upper Mississippi River Initiative
Registration fees: $25-Member/ $32-Non-member/ $17-12 & Under
Join WWA today to get member rates. Space is limited on this popular trip!
Download a registration form here or call 608-250-9971 to reserve your spot.
Cancellation Policy: WWA will refund registration fees for cancellations made on or before Friday, May 7, 2010. No refunds will be made after this date. Thank you for understanding our need for this policy.
This special two-hour riverboat tour will explore a variety of riverine wetland habitats including open backwaters, side channels that border floodplain forests as well as the main channel channel of the Upper Mississippi River, part of the Upper Mississippi & Trempealeau River National Wildlife Refuges Wetland Gem. This site was also designated a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance in 2009.
We expect to see a significant variety of migrating and nesting birds since the Mississippi River Flyway is one of the most noteworthy bird migration flyways in the world and this tour occurs during peak spring migration for many species of birds. This is sure to be a beautiful morning on the River.
Our trip leaders couldn’t be more knowledgeable about this part of the river. Captain Libbey has been an active environmental leader and has piloted the entire length of the Mississippi River onboard towboats/barges, passenger, research and eco-tour vessels. In 2009, Stravers received a River Stewardship Award from the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, recognizing him for his commitment to the conservation of the Upper Mississippi River. He has made major contributions in the world of ornithology through his work on red-shouldered hawks and other area birds. His work studying and monitoring birds in the Upper Mississippi River floodplain has expanded our knowledge of bird habitat and use patterns on the Refuge. Tour will be on board a Coast Guard inspected vessel with a licensed pilot.
Directions: The meeting location is at the south end of Lawler Park on St. Feriole Island in Prairie du Chien. Lawler Park stretches along the west side of St. Feriole Island along the Mississippi River. Coming into Prairie du Chien on 18/35, continue on 35 (Marquette Rd) to intersection with Blackhawk Ave., the main east-west street through downtown Prairie. Turn left on Blackhawk Ave. and take it as far west as you can until it brings you right to the parking area along the river wall and right next to the docking and loading area.
Butterflies of Cherokee Marsh
Dane County
Saturday, June 19, Time 10:00 AM - noon
Field Trip leader: Kathy Kirk
With the Madison Audubon Society and the Southern Wisconsin Butterfly Association
Free and open to the public.
To register, contact WWA at 608-250-9971 or by email at register[at]wisconsinwetlands.org
On this morning walk we’ll observe and learn about butterflies, those small but exquisitely beautiful creatures that dance about our ankles in summer. Conservation Biologist Kathy Kirk will lead this 2-hour walk at Cherokee Marsh, a Wetland Gem on the northeast side of Madison. We will observe a variety of butterflies as they take nectar from wildflowers and learn about their identification, behavior, and lifestyle. Bring binoculars if you have them -- close-focusing ones work best. A few extra pairs of binoculars will be available. It’s best to wear long pants and a hat for protection from the sun. For questions about the field trip, call Kathy Kirk at (608) 442-1642.
Directions: On the north side of Madison take Northport Drive (Highway 113). Then turn north onto Sherman Ave at the stoplight at Northport Dr. and Sherman Ave. Drive north until you reach the Cherokee Marsh parking lot at the end of Sherman Ave.
Zeloski Marsh Bikeride with WWA Staff & Board Members
Dane/Jefferson Counties
Sunday, June 27, 1:30 - 4:30 PM
Field Trip Leaders: Mary Linton, WWA Board Chair, and Tod Highsmith, WWA Board Secretary
Free and open to the public, but a WI State Trail Pass is required for riders 16 & older ($4/day or $20/annual).
To register, contact WWA at 608-250-9971 or by email at register[at]wisconsinwetlands.org
Family Friendly Trip!
Enjoy an easy ride through central Wisconsin’s countryside on the Glacial Drumlin Trail with members of WWA staff and board. Along the way we will stop for birding, dragonfly and damselfly hunting, and general critter watching in a lakeside marsh, tamarack swamp and the large, restored Zeloski Marsh. Tod and Mary will be your spotters on the 7-8 mile (almost flat) round trip. In addition to wetland critters, we might get a peek at some bison! Bring your binoculars so you don’t miss anything.
Details: Meet at the Lake Mills Glacial Drumlin Trail Headquarter located at the old train depot on the south end of Lake Mills. There is plenty of parking and restrooms at the trailhead. View the Glacial Drumlin trail map and a photo of the depot. Bring snacks and plenty of water for our stops along the way.
Directions: Lake Mills is located 35 minutes east of Madison and one hour west of Milwaukee. From I-94, take Exit 259 (WI-89 - Lake Mills/Waterloo). Go south on WI-89 for two miles. Turn right on South Main Street to 1213 S. Main Street, Lake Mills. Look for the the old train depot and park at the Glacial Drumlin trailhead.
Butterflies, Dragonflies & Picnic at SwampLovers
Dane County
Monday, July 5, Time: 9:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Field Trip Leaders: Karl & Dorothy Legler and Tod Highsmith
With the Madison Audubon Society and the Southern Wisconsin Butterfly Association
Free and open to the public.
To register, contact WWA at 608-250-9971 or by email at register[at]wisconsinwetlands.org
Round off your Fourth of July holiday at this peaceful, private preserve! SwampLovers is located on private land, consisting of remnant wetlands, remnant bluff prairie, restored tall grass prairie, and dry hilly oak-hickory woodland. We will observe and learn about various butterflies and dragonflies as we explore the preserve.
Bring binoculars; close-focusing ones work best! At the top of the ridge we will picnic at a shelter. We will be grilling hamburgers and hot dogs for participants. Please bring any additional side dishes, desserts or drinks that you’d like.
Details: Call Karl Legler at (608) 643-4926 or cell (608) 228-0743 only if you have a question about the trip or the weather is questionable.
Directions: In Dane County, travel west from Cross Plains on Hwy 14. Just outside town take County KP to the right (north) and go 0.3 mile. Turn left onto Scheele Rd. Then turn right and park before the hill.
Bark Bay Paddle Exploration
Bayfield County
Friday, July 23, 1:00 - 5:00 PM
Field Trip Leaders: Greg Kessler of the Wisconsin DNR and Jim Meeker of Northland College
Open to the public.
LIMITED SPACE- 16 BOATERS MAXIMUM
To register, contact WWA at 608-250-9971 or by email at register[at]wisconsinwetlands.org
This trip is now full.
Join us for a paddle trip to the bay-mouth bar of Bark Bay, a Wetland Gem, where we’ll explore plants common to bog landscapes. Bark Bay is a 28-acre lagoon off Lake Superior. Its wetlands contain great examples of coastal bog and fen communities, as well as Lake Superior shorelines.
The fen habitats at these sites are characterized by woolly sedge, livid sedge, twig rush, sweet gale, water horsetail, bog bean, buckbean and alpine cotton grass. The open bog habitats are composed of sphagnum mosses, ericaceous shrubs, carnivorous plants, sedges and a scattering of small tamarack. In addition to the typical bog plants species, these coastal peat lands harbor a number of rare sedges and orchids, some of which will be blooming at trip time.
We will get out on the bog mat to look at the plant communities in several areas. Our paddle route will explore Bark Bay, a 28-acre lagoon off Lake Superior, and the channels connecting the bay to the Lake. We will not paddle into Lake Superior.
Wildlife viewing may be limited in late July, but bring your binoculars in case we have a chance encounter. If there is an outbreak of tent caterpillars, cuckoos may be notable and are often vocal throughout the day. Shorebirds may also be present.
After visiting Bark Bay last year, a WWA Board Member had this to say: “It was much more beautiful than a sea cave! The highlight was a mother loon with a chick on her back, but the plants and other bird life were wonderful!“
Details: A limited number of canoes will be available to borrow, and you are welcome to bring your own canoe OR kayak. Please indicate whether you need a canoe when you register. Bark Bay is also a State Natural Area. Visit the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources website for additional information.
Directions: From the town of Cornucopia, go five miles west on State Highway 13. Turn right onto Bark Bay Road and go one mile. From the town of Herbster, go three and a half miles northeast on Highway 13. Turn left (north-west) onto Bark Bay Road and a half mile to the boat landing east of the road. Parking lot will be on the left.
This trip will go to wherever the shorebirds are, based on current conditions and reports! Possible destinations include Columbia, Jefferson, or Dane counties. Bring a scope if you have one. Contact Peter Fissel at (608) 226-0260 (before 10 p.m.) or pfissel@library.wisc.edu only if you have a question about the trip.
Train Ride into Tiffany Bottoms Wildlife Area
Buffalo County
Saturday, September 18, 9:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Field Trip Leaders: Kathy Bibby (Upper MI River Research Station), Karen Voss (WDNR), Sean Hartnett (Confluence Center for Chippewa River Studies), Matt Molback (WDNR Pepin Co. Forester) & Brent Weaver (WDNR Buffalo Co. Forester)
This trip is now full.
Registration fees: $13-Member/ $22-Non-member/ $8-12 & Under
Join WWA today to get member rates. Space is limited on this popular trip!
Cancellation Policy: WWA will refund registration fees for cancellations made on or before Friday, September 3, 2010. No refunds will be made after this date. Thank you for understanding our need for this policy.
Take a ride in an antique open-air train eight miles into the Tiffany Wildlife Area, which includes parts of the recently designated Lower Chippewa River Delta Wetland Gem. Located along the Chippewa River as it flows into the Mississippi River in Buffalo and
Pepin counties, Tiffany Wildlife Area protects one of the most extensive river deltas in the Midwest. This unique wet
forest is characterized by transitions and patches, two elements of landscape diversity that often result in high
biodiversity. From the Chippewa delta moving upstream, the site transitions from floodplain forest of silver maple,
river birch, ashes, and basswood to a more oak-dominated forest (swamp white, bur, and black).
Participants will see expansive lowland hardwood forests, sloughs of the Chippewa River, and open wet prairies with blooming flowers
and grasses exceeding six feet in height. The area also offers excellent birding opportunities. We will take several
hikes (1/4 - 1/2 mile each) to visit various wetland and prairie habitats. Bring lots of water and a bag lunch for a
picnic stop. We also recommend binoculars, rain gear, long sleeves, long pants, sun hat and sturdy shoes that can get wet.
Click here to view a video about train trips into the Tiffany Wildife Area.
Details: Note about weather: The trip will run if it is raining lightly. If there is an absolute downpour, we will delay the departure time to see if the rain subsides. However, we will NOT run if there is lightning or an electrical storm approaching. However, if it should pass and the sky clears, then we will resume the trip. Please come prepared by bringing raingear, umbrellas, boots, plastic bags, etc. or anything that will enhance your comfort in the event of rain.
Lodging: Visit the City of Durand website for lodging options near the Tiffany Wildlife Area.
Directions: Durand is ~15 miles northeast of the Mississippi River in Pepin County (~3.5 hours/200 miles from
Madison and ~45 minutes/30 miles from Eau Claire). From Durand, take State Highway 25 south; you will notice that
Hwy. 25 parallels an old railroad track. Approximately 4 miles south of Durand, Thibodeau Road "T's" with Hwy. 25,
on the east (left) side of Hwy. 25. To the west (right) look for a small Tiffany Wildlife Area parking lot - park here. If
you see a dozen or so railroad cars "in storage" along a track, ~200 feet to the west of the road, you have gone too far.
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2010 FIELD TRIP SERIES
