(WNFL) – Whether you like geese, cranes, ducks or other migrating birds, the viewing is good and getting better every day at Wisconsin’s Horicon Marsh Wildlife Area.
Now through the middle of November, popular species including Canada geese, sandhill cranes, mallards, green-winged teal and northern pintail will use the marsh as a rest stop on the way to southern destinations. Some of the birds will have started as far north as Hudson Bay and some will fly as far south as Central America, said Bret Owsley, Horicon area natural resources supervisor for DNR.
This year, viewing is expected to be spectacular as continental populations of waterfowl including mallards and teal are at record levels, ranging some 40 to 50 percnet above long-term averages, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. To help citizens catch the best viewing of their favorite species, Owsley said, DNR is introducing a “migration meter” to help depict when migrations of the various species reach their peak at the Horicon Marsh. The survey data is compiled by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on a weekly basis, by conducting roadside and airboat surveys in and along the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge.