Wildlife Update: September 8, 2021

The fall season is coming soon to the Grantsburg Area! Weather has still been hot some days over the past couple of weeks, but weather coming up within the next couple of weeks looks significantly cooler, with highs in the high 60’s and low 70’s.

Our fall bird migration is starting to pick up as well. We have had a wide variety of shorebirds and songbirds coming through, and some that have already started to head further south. Next, we will start to notice more waterfowl beginning to migrate through the area, starting with Blue and Green-winged Teal (which have already started). We are not yet seeing many migrating Sandhill Cranes showing up in the area, but our resident birds have started to form groups in preparation for the migration season. The best time to watch cranes at Glacial Lake Grantsburg properties is during the month of October and early November.

The first fall hunting seasons have also arrived! Black bear hunting (with the use of hound dogs) opened September 8th, early teal season opened September 1st and will close September 9th, Mourning Dove, Snipe, Sora, and Virginia Rail opened September 1st and will close November 10th, and early Canada goose season opened September 1st and will close September 15th.

For more information on hunting season dates throughout the fall, you may refer to the WI DNR Website (searching keywords “hunting seasons” OR you may call the Visitor Center at 715-463-2896).

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Birds spotted in Crex Meadows, Fish Lake, Amsterdam Sloughs, and Grantsburg Area within the last week:

Eastern Towhee

Eastern Whip-poor-will

Eastern Wood-pewee

Gray Catbird

Great Blue Heron

Great Egret

Greater Yellowlegs

Green Heron

Hairy Woodpecker

Hooded Merganser

Killdeer

Least Flycatcher

Least Sandpiper

Lesser Yellowlegs

Lincoln's Sparrow

Magnolia Warbler

Mallard

Mourning Dove

Nashville Warbler

Northern Flicker

Northern Harrier

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Osprey

Ovenbird

Palm Warbler

Pectoral Sandpiper

Pied-billed Grebe

Pileated Woodpecker

Pine Warbler

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Red-eyed Vireo

Red-headed Woodpecker

Red-tailed Hawk

Red-winged Blackbird

Ring-billed Gull

Ring-necked Duck

Ring-necked Pheasant

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Ruffed Grouse

Sandhill Crane

Savannah Sparrow

Scarlet Tanager

Semipalmated Plover

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Sharp-tailed Grouse

Solitary Sandpiper

Song Sparrow

Spotted Sandpiper

Swainson's Thrush

Swamp Sparrow

Tennessee Warbler

Tree Swallow

Trumpeter Swan

Turkey Vulture

White-breasted Nuthatch

White-tailed Kite**

White-throated Sparrow

Wild Turkey

Wilson's Snipe

Wood Duck

Yellow Warbler

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Yellow-throated Vireo

American Bittern

American Crow

American Goldfinch

American Kestrel

American Redstart

American Robin

American White Pelican

Baird's Sandpiper

Bald Eagle

Barn Swallow

Barred Owl

Bay-breasted Warbler

Belted Kingfisher

Black-and-white Warbler

Black-capped Chickadee

Blackpoll Warbler

Blue Jay

Blue-winged Teal

Bobolink

Brewer's Blackbird

Broad-winged Hawk

Canada Goose

Cedar Waxwing

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Chipping Sparrow

Clay-colored Sparrow

Common Loon

Common Nighthawk

Common Raven

Common Yellowthroat

Double-crested Cormorant

Downy Woodpecker

Eastern Kingbird

Eastern Phoebe

** Rare bird to Wisconsin/Glacial Lake Grantsburg Area

Mammals Spotted:

13-Lined Ground Squirrel

Beaver

Black Bear

Fisher

Grey Squirrel

Grey Wolf

Muskrat

Raccoon

Red Squirrel

River Otter

Striped Skunk

White-tailed Deer

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**See something out on our properties that isn’t on the list? Feel free to send us a report or stop in and tell us the story! We are always happy to hear observations from our visitors!