Máistir Nádúraí: Fall Field Trips!

8.06.2014

Fall Field Trips!

Here's my fall field trip schedule!

08/23 @ 7:00am: Pheasant Branch Conservancy (fall warblers)
09/11 @ 7:00am: Pheasant Branch Conservancy (fall warblers)
09/16 @ 7:00am: Pheasant Branch Conservancy (fall warblers)
10/04 @ 7:15am: Pheasant Branch Conservancy (sparrows)
10/25 @ 7:30am: Pheasant Branch Conservancy (sparrows, late migrants)

The first three field trips take place at the Pheasant Branch creek corridor, so meet at the cul-de-sac near Parisi Park where Park Lawn meets Park Street. The two October field trips take place at the Dane County Unit along Pheasant Branch Road, so meet at the gravel parking for prairie access. Check this Google map of Pheasant Branch Conservancy for precise locations. Field trip emphasis will be identification of migratory songbirds by sight and sound.

It looks like Madison Audubon scheduled me for three hours on some of these, but typically I'm only available for two. We'll see how the birding is. If warblers are dripping from the trees, I'll try to stay a little longer. All field trips are free and open to the general public. See you there!

Bio:

Mike McDowell has been documenting southern Wisconsin’s flora and fauna since 1987 and began leading field trips in 2002. Prolific at Pheasant Branch Conservancy, other highlighted natural areas include Pope Farm Conservancy, Spring Green Preserve, and the Baraboo Hills. His nature photography has appeared in various publications, newspapers, magazines and was even featured on a Wisconsin Endangered Resources license plate, a Capital Brewery beer label, and a National Geographic publication. He began journaling nature observations on this blog in 2005. He's the recipient of the 2012 Bronze Passenger Pigeon Award from the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology, presented to individuals who have made outstanding contributions in their local communities or state to promote the field of ornithology. He was a finalist in Swarovski’s Digiscoper of the Year photography contest several times. His other interests include insect macro-photography (especially tiger beetles, treehoppers, and robber flies), fossil collecting, amateur astronomy, botany, natural history, and marksmanship with long-range firearms. Once a gigging musician, collecting Fender Stratocasters is a recently revived interest—most prized being a 1957 Vintage Custom 'Mary Kaye' White Blonde. A former IT Professional, he's spent the last 24 years employed in the sport optics industry and has more binoculars than you.