Thursday, May 24, 2012

May in Wisconsin

It is a time of renewing old friendships, visiting favorite birding spots while trying to get a year's worth of Wisconsin birding in 5 weeks.  We visited and camped at Wyalusing, Devil's Lake & Blue Mounds State Parks; birded Albany, Avon Bottoms, and Brooklyn Wildlife Areas; Spring Green Prairie, Baxter's Hollow & Horicon NWR.  Some of these plus Gov. Dodge S.P. will be revisited on our way to this coming year's adventure.
It was great to see friends and relatives in Janesville, Montello, Howard's Grove, Sheboygan, Oconto Falls, Neenah and a 5 day stay at Lake Farm Park in Madison.  Our son Troy and his wife Carmen birded with us at Picnic Point, Pheasant Branch, Nine Springs & the UW Arboretum. Great Fun!

Next was Green Bay and many bird walks with friends at the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary.  We presented travelog programs at the Cup 'o Joy and to the Bay Area Bird Club.  Thanks to all of you for joining us.  It was great seeing everyone at Celebration Church for the 3 Sundays we were in Green Bay.  Thank you most of all to Joan Grant for hosting us and letting us park by her house for our stay.

We had opportunities to bird along Lake Michigan from near Port Washington to Door County.  It has always been one of our favorite places to be along the shores of this beautiful lake.  We are going with the Bay Area Bird Club on their field trip to the Buena Vista Grasslands, Sandhill Wildlife Area and Necedah NWR hoping for Prairie Chickens, Upland Sandpipers and other birds to fill in our Wisconsin list which stands at 222.  Our year list which started in Arizona & Texas is at 424 and our "trip" list is at 580. Just a good start to the coming travels in the month's ahead.

We will head north along the Mississippi and St. Croix Rivers then around the north shore of Lake Superior.  We will head east through Canada to the Maritime Provinces, down the east coast and wintering in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

Please keep us in your prayers as you are in ours.
Ty & Ida Baumann