18th Annual may 8–11 2015 horiconmarshbirdfestival.com Come join us for a celebration of birds! Come and experience springtime wonders at a “Wetland of International Importance” and a “Globally Important Bird Area” – Horicon Marsh and the communities surrounding it. Horicon Marsh covers 33,000 acres in Dodge County, WI. Management of the marsh is split between two government agencies. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge manages the northern two-thirds, while the southern third is managed by the State of Wisconsin as the Horicon Marsh State Wildlife Area. While the marsh is enchanting at any time of year, spring is truly spectacular. Over 300 species of birds have been sighted at Horicon Marsh. The Bird Festival offers numerous opportunities to see the abundant wildlife in a wide variety of habitats with a Festival bird list standing at 235 species. This event will offer walking, boat and bus tours of the marsh with expert leaders, demonstrations on bird banding, live presentations with hawks and owls, night sound hikes, youth programs, and much more. To help support the Bird Festival and Horicon Marsh Bird Club’s project goals, the Festival holds a Big Sit as their major funding event. Money raised from the event has helped fund a bird feeding station and bird friendly landscape around the Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center and other club projects. The Purple Martin houses at the Palmatory St. Overlook were built with your help. Thank you in advance for your generous support. Bird Festival pins (a few pins from past festivals are available), hats and shirts will give participants a chance to show others their attendance at this event. Proceeds from sales help to support future festivals. The Horicon Marsh Bird Festival holds the distinction of being “Wisconsin’s Oldest Bird Festival”. Come join us for this celebration of birds. The birds will be there, the question is will you? Your Festival Tour Guides Jack Bartholmai Jeff is a lifelong resident of Dodge County, WI. He has been an avid waterfowler for nearly 40 years. He has vast knowledge of the Horicon Marsh where he works part time for the Wisconsin DNR. Jeff has been a Member of Horicon Marsh Bird club for the past 15 years and is the current president. Jack has been photographing birds in and around the Horicon Marsh for the last 15 years. Jack has also been doing frog surveys for the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge for the last 7 years. This has given him the opportunity to be in the marsh after dark and become familiar with not only the sounds of frogs and toads calling, but also the birds that call from dusk into dark. Holly became interested in birding when she and her husband Jack moved to 22 acres of varied habitat in rural Beaver Dam; a place they call Hickory Springs where they began feeding the birds in their yard. She has assisted Jack in monitoring their nest box trails. They are avid backyard birders with a list of 170 some species of birds that have visited their Hickory Springs home over the years. 2 Brochure photography by Jack Bartholmai, Laura Congdon, and Stacy Krueger Daryl Tessen Barbara has been a licensed bird rehabilitator who has specialized in raptors for over 17 years. She is an active speaker and educator with her focus being the life cycle and protection of all birds of prey. She has given programs and talks to schools, groups and events and is one of the most sought after raptor speakers in this part of Wisconsin. Member of Wisconsin Society of Ornithology for over 50 years where he was past president. 24 years Western Great Lakes regional editor for North American Birds. Author of the book "Wisconsin Favorite Bird Haunts". Co-Author of the field guide "Birds of Minnesota and Wisconsin" . Daryl has a Wisconsin life list over 400 species. Liz Herzmann Joel Trick Liz Herzmann is a Wildlife Educator for the DNR at the Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center. She is responsible for the educational programming and special events held at the Education Center. Previous to working at the Education Center, Liz worked for Northern Illinois University teaching outdoor education at a field campus to 4th-8th grade students. Joel worked as a Biologist for USFWS for 27 years (retired) all of it in Wisconsin. He worked with Whooping Cranes, Piping Plovers and Kirtlands warbler. Joel is now on the Board of Directors of the Western Great Lakes Bird and Bat Observatory. Dennis Gustafson Dennis holds a PhD in biology. He was a Biology teacher at Rufus King High School in Milwaukee for 35 years. He has birded for 48 years, primarily in southern Wisconsin. Erin Railsback Erin works for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a Visitor Services Specialist at Horicon National Wildlife Refuge. She is responsible for the environmental education, interpretive, and volunteer programs at the refuge. Greg Seegert Jeff Bahls Holly Bartholmai Barbara Harvey Marty Evanson Marty has been interested in bird watching since the early 1980s. He has participated in various bird surveys throughout Wisconsin since the early 1990’s. He participated in the Wisconsin bird atlas project, led numerous bird hikes for youth groups, co-lead bird walks for the Friends of the Nature Lakeshore Preserve (Picnic Point), and led trips for the Madison Audubon Society. Marty has accumulated a Wisconsin life list of over 315 bird species. Greg birds extensively and typically sees 550-600 birds in the ABA area each year, Greg has an ABA life list of over 700 birds in North America. He grew up in Beaver Dam, owns a farm in the area, and has birded for many years throughout Horicon Marsh and the surrounding area. He enjoys working with and mentoring birders of all levels. Sharon Stiteler Sharon runs the popular birding blog, Birdchick. com and has been in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and on NBC Nightly News as well as making regular appearances on Twin Cities’ TV and radio stations. Her writing can has been found in several publications including WildBird Magazine, Outdoor News, Birds & Blooms, 10,000 Birds and Birding Business. She wrote the books City Birds/Country Birds and 1001 Secrets Every Birder Should Know and works as a National Park Ranger. Lawrence Vine Lawrence worked for the Wisconsin DNR as a Wildlife Research Technician at Horicon Marsh since 1975. He was the Master Bird Bander for the DNR for five years at the time of his retirement. In 1984 he founded & designed Marsh Haven Nature Center with the help of numerous volunteers. Brad Webb Brad started birding several years ago and it quickly became a passion. He is a founding member and tour leader of a new group scheduling bird walks in Dodge and Jefferson Counties. Brad enjoys introducing new members to the pleasures of birding and sharing birding moments with experienced birders as well. Marc Zuelsdorf Marc’s family has owned and operated Horicon Marsh Boat Tours since 1994. Marc, who purchased the business from his father, Roland, (founder of the business in 1963) has been guiding tours since the age of eleven. Marc enjoys leading and educating visitors through the marsh in an effort to preserve the natural state of Horicon Marsh. In March of 2007 the business received a Travel Green certification from the WI Deptartment of Tourism and WI Environmental Initiative for their effort in environmentally sustainable business practices. 3 Friday May 8 $ 8 Event requiring payment Registration online at horiconbirdfestival.com Call to register. See event description for information. Event Title Pg. Time Location Fee/Reg. Habitat Birding Bus and Boat Tour 9 6:00 am - 5:00 pm A $8 Sightseeing Tour by Boat 12 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm C $ Sounds and Dances- Dusk Into Dark 12 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm E $8 Pg. Time Saturday May 9 Event Title Fee/Reg. Big Sit At Horicon Marsh 6 4:00 am - 6:30 pm D FREE First Light Birding Bus Tour 9 6:00 am - 12:00 pm A $8 11 6:00 am - 12:00 pm B $8 Sunday May 10 6 6:30 am - 12:00 pm D FREE Event Title 10 6:30 am - 5:00 pm A FREE First Light Birding Bus Tour - Birdchick Horicon NWR "Loop of the refuge" Bus Tour and Hike Bird Banding Demo - NEW for 2015 Hummingbirds Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center and Festival Information 4 Location Pg. Time Location Fee/Reg. 9 6:00 am - 12:00 pm A $8 11 6:00 am - 12:00 pm B $8 6 6:30 am - 12:00 pm D FREE 10 6:30 am - 5:00 pm A FREE C $ Birding Adventure Boat Tour 7 7:00 am - 9:00 am C $ Horicon Marsh Bird Hike 10 7:00 am - 9:15 am A FREE Birding By Bicycle 7 8:00 am - 12:00 pm A $8 Birding Adventure Boat Tour 7 9:00 am - 11:00 am C $ Horicon NWR “Loop of the refuge” Bus Tour and Hike Bird Banding Demonstration - NEW for 2015 Hummingbirds Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center and Festival Information NEW! Bird Lab - Kids Bird Area 6 9:00 am - 4:00 pm A FREE Birding Adventure Boat Tour 7 7:00 am - 9:00 am Operation Migration 12 9:00 am - 4:00 pm A FREE Horicon Marsh Bird Hike 10 7:00 am - 9:15 am A FREE Crafter Bird Houses And Feeders 8 9:00 am - 5:00 pm E FREE Birding Adventure Boat Tour 7 9:00 am - 11:00 am C $ Horicon National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center and Federal Junior Duck Stamp Exhibit 11 9:00 am – 6:00 pm B FREE Operation Migration 12 9:00 am - 4:00 pm A FREE Horicon Marsh Bird Hike 10 9:30 am - 11:45 am A FREE Horicon National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center and Federal Duck Stamp Exhibit 11 9:00 am - 5:00 pm B FREE Birdy Scavenger Hunt 8 10:00 am - 3:00 pm A FREE Crafter Bird Houses and Feeders 8 9:00 am - 5:00 pm E FREE BIRDcamp At Marsh Haven Nature Center 7 10:00 am - 3:00 pm E $ Horicon Marsh Bird Hike 10 9:30 am - 11:45 am A FREE Wetland Water Bugs 13 11:00 am - 12:00 pm F FREE Birdy Scavenger Hunt 8 10:00 am - 3:00 pm A FREE Sightseeing Tour By Boat 12 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm C $ Sightseeing Tour By Boat 12 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm C $ Wild Birds Of Prey 13 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm E $ Wild Birds of Prey 13 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm E $ BirdChick - Smart Phone Birding 8 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm A FREE NEW! Waterfowl Banding Demonstration 13 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm A FREE Birding: Beyond The Backyard 7 2:45 pm - 4:00 pm A FREE Birding Adventure Boat Tour 7 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm C $ NEW! Avian Art 6 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm B FREE Mom And Me, Birding Together 11 2:45 pm - 4:00 pm A FREE Birding Adventure Boat Tour 7 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm C $ Tune In … Birding By Ear 13 2:45 pm - 4:00 pm A FREE WI Federal Jr. Duck Stamp Contest Reception 13 4:15 pm - 5:00 pm B FREE Hot Spot Birding 11 4:30 pm - 7:00 pm A $8 Hot Spot Birding 11 4:30 pm - 7:00 pm A $8 Birding Adventure Boat Tour 7 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm C $ Monday May 11 Sounds and Dances- Dusk Into Dark 12 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm E $8 Event Title Birds and Beers 8 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm G FREE Habitat Birding Bus and Boat Tour 10 6:00 am - 5:00 pm C $8 Screeches, Squawks, And Squeals Of The Marsh 12 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm A FREE Sightseeing Tour by Boat 12 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm C $ Pg. Time Location Register online at horiconmarshbirdfestival.com Fee/Reg. 5 Event Descriptions (in alphabetical order by title name) Avian Art - New! Saturday, May 9; 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm Local art instructor Gerri Buteyn will share her signature style of painting birds as well as overall tips for improving your artwork. Location: B - Horicon NWR Visitor Center Fee: Free No registration required Big Sit at Horicon Marsh Saturday, May 9; 4:00 am - 6:30 pm Join Horicon Marsh Bird Club members for a unique way to bird watch! From 4 AM to 6:30 PM we will identify as many bird species as possible from a 17-foot circle on the Observation Deck at the Palmatory St. Overlook. Come and join us for all or part of this annual event as we try to ID every bird seen and or heard from this location. Location: D - Palmatory St. Overlook Fee: Free No registration required Bird Banding Demonstration NEW for 2015 Hummingbirds Saturday, May 9; 6:30 am - 12:00 pm Sunday, May 10; 6:30 am - 12:00 pm Join Mickey O'Connor, Wisconsin's only licensed Hummingbird bander, and her banding volunteers to see our migrating songbirds close up and in the hand as they are captured, banded and released for study. Our festival is at the very leading edge of the Hummingbird migration so it's up to the birds if any are caught but Mickey and crew will be ready. Meanwhile enjoy warblers, catbirds and sparrows. This is a public demonstration where visitors will be able to see how and why bird banding is conducted. It also provides one of the best opportunities to observe these amazing migrants up close. Meet at the Palmatory St. Overlook, North Palmatory St. in Horicon. Location: D - Palmatory St. Overlook Fee: Free No registration required Bird Lab - Kids Bird Area - New! Saturday, May 9; 9:00 am - 4:00 pm Bring the whole family and explore the amazing world of birds. From helping to build a true to size eagle nest, to seeing how you would measure up if you were a bird, there will be something for everyone. But before you leave make sure you get banded! Held on the outdoor patio of the education center or the lower lobby if inclement weather. Location: A - Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center Fee: Free No registration required 6 Over 300 species of birds have been sighted at Horicon Marsh. BIRDcamp at Marsh Haven Nature Center Saturday, May 9; 10:00 am - 3:00 pm Youth ages 6-12 are invited to join us for our fourth annual BIRDcamp. This unique environmental, bird-themed day camp strives to foster a love and respect for the earth that lasts a lifetime. In conjunction with the Horicon Marsh Bird Festival, BIRDcamp offers science, games, art, drama and music all with a bird-themed focus. This curriculum is designed to inspire care and concern for the earth, in addition to helping campers learn more about our feathered friends. BIRDcamp is presented in an atmosphere of fun and camaraderie. $25 Registration fee includes “Birds For Kids” book. Limit 20 children/day. Preregistration required or call 920-318-9518. Location: E - Marsh Haven Nature Center Fee: $20 per person Registration form at www.marshhaven. com or call 920-318-9518. Registration deadline May 1, 2015 Birding Adventure Boat Tour Saturday, May 9; 7:00 am - 9:00 am Saturday, May 9; 9:00 am - 11:00 am Saturday, May 9; 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm Saturday, May 9; 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Sunday, May 10; 7:00 am - 9:00 am Sunday, May 10; 9:00 am - 11:00 am Sunday, May 10; 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Join your guide on a two-hour narrated birding adventure into the heart of the marsh by pontoon boat. Observe the birds and animals in their natural habitat. Tours depart from Blue Heron Landing, Hwy 33. at the bridge in downtown Horicon. Location: C - Horicon Marsh Boat Tours Fee: Adults $20, ages 4-13 $10.50. To register, call Blue Heron Boat Landing @ 920-485-4663 Birding by Bicycle Saturday, May 9; 8:00 am - 12:00 pm Bigby (Big, green, bird year). Green birding is birding done without the use of fossil fuels and/or the internal combustion engine. Green birders are self-propelled birders, e.g., walking, riding a bicycle, paddling a canoe or kayak, or using skis or snowshoes. Join Wisconsin's reigning Bigby record holder Dan Scheinder on a bike ride of about 10-15 leisurely miles to some local birding spots around Horicon. Bring your bike, biking stuff, (helmet, gloves, water bottles, etc.) and binoculars. Dan will cover basic rules of the road, then set-off on a ride to several spots around Horicon. We'll start at 8 am and end about noon. Location: A - Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center Fee: $20 per person Register online Birding: Beyond The Backyard Saturday, May 9; 2:45 pm - 4:00 pm Your hike leader will be Liz Herzmann. This program will introduce binocular and field guide use and bird identification. A short bird hike will accompany the program. The hike may be on uneven trails but they are rated easy. This is for ALL ages that want to learn more about birding. Location: A - Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center Fee: Free No registration required Register online at horiconmarshbirdfestival.com 7 Birds and Beers Saturday, May 9; 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm Join your fellow festival goers and bird buddies at "The Rock". Compare sightings and celebrate life birds. Rock River Tap has been a local hangout for decades. It features a nice deck along the shores of the Rock River, 6 beers on tap and a great food menu. Visit www.rockrivertap.com. Location: G - Rock River Tap Fee: Free No registration required Birdy Scavenger Hunt Saturday, May 9; 10:00 am - 3:00 pm Sunday, May 10; 10:00 am - 3:00 pm Kid and Family Event: Pick up your scavenger hunt at the Horicon Marsh Education Center and let your birdy adventure begin! Travel through the center and its surrounding trails to learn about extinct birds, where to look for birds, and how you can make a difference for birds. Once finished, return your paper and receive a cool bird prize! Location: A - Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center Fee: Free No registration required Crafter Bird Houses and Feeders Saturday, May 9; 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Sunday, May 10; 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Bill Amidon of Into the Woods Woodcraft will be displaying his beautiful selection of cedar bird houses and bird feeders, along with sharing his birding knowledge and experience. A skilled wood worker from Campbellsport, Mr. Amidon will feature his finely crafted bluebird, kestrel, owl, wren and bat houses. In addition, he will also have on display his suet, oriole and tray feeders—all at Marsh Haven. Location: E - Marsh Haven Nature Center Fee: Free No registration required 8 Featured Speaker - Birdchick Smart Phone Birding Saturday, May 9; 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm Join Sharon Stiteler, the Birdchick, at the Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center as she presents Smartphone Birding – Just about everything you need in the field apart from binoculars and a bottle of water can be on an smartphone. This covers the many ways a birder might use a smartphone in the field from maps, to field guides, submitting sightings to eBird, alerting others to rare birds and even taking fantastic photos. Sharon Stiteler was given a Peterson Field Guide to Birds when she was seven years old and it snapped, she loves birds. Since 1997, she has made it her goal to get paid to go birding. She runs the popular birding blog, Birdchick.com and has been in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and on NBC Nightly News as well as making regular appearances on Twin Cities’ TV and radio stations. She’s an international professional speaker and storyteller and her writing has been found in several publications including WildBird Magazine, Outdoor News, Birds and Blooms, 10,000 Birds and Birding Business. She wrote the books City Birds/Country Birds and 1001 Secrets Every Birder Should Know and is #32 in the Geek A Week Trading Card set and works as a National Park Ranger. When she’s not digiscoping or banding birds, she’s an award-winning beekeeper. Follow her on Twitter @ Birdchick. Location: A - Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center Fee: Free No registration required The Horicon Marsh Bird Festival is “Wisconsin’s Oldest Bird Festival”. First Light Birding Bus Tour Saturday Habitat Birding Bus and Boat Tour - Friday Saturday, May 9; 6:00 am - 12:00 pm Trip leaders are Darryl Tessen, Dennis Gustafson and Brad Webb. This is a field trip designed for birders who want to add as many species as possible to their bird lists. Be prepared to move by bus from location to location in search of migratory hot spots. There will be some walking but it is rated easy. We try our best to finish on time, but in the world of birding, bird activity is the deciding factor. Meet at the Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center, off of Hwy. 28 between Mayville and Horicon. Please use the entrance on the south side of the building. Bus departs at 6:00 AM SHARP. Bring your own snacks. Location: A - Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center Fee: $30 per person Register online Friday, May 8; 6:00 am - 5:00 pm This is an all-day, two-part tour by bus and pontoon boat. Trip leaders are Dennis Gustafson, Darryl Tessen and Jeff Bahls. We will start at the south entrance of the Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center (Location A) and board a bus at 6 am SHARP where we will bird some of the better habitat locations in and around Horicon Marsh. In the afternoon, we will "walk the plank" boarding at Blue Heron Landing "location C", Hwy 33 at the bridge in downtown Horicon. Captains Marc Zuelsdorf and Jerry Genzmer will be your guides for this part of the tour. The boat departs at 3:00 PM SHARP from Blue Heron Landing. Our main objective is to ID as many bird species as possible. Short hikes will provide easy walking and we will "try" to stay on dry ground. A box lunch and drink are included in the cost of this tour. Location: A - Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center Fee: $85 per person Register online First Light Birding Bus Tour Sunday - Birdchick Sunday, May 10; 6:00 am - 12:00 pm Trip leaders are Brad Webb, along with Birdchick Sharon Stiteler. The Sunday Tour is designed for beginning and intermediate birders who want to see as many species as possible. Emphasis will be on ensuring everyone has an opportunity to see the birds we encounter. We will be traveling from birding hot spot to hot spot throughout the tour in search of migratory and resident species. There will be some walking but it will be rated easy. Wear good walking shoes. Binoculars will be necessary to see most of the birds. Bring your spotting scope if you have one. Bus departs at 6:00 AM SHARP. Bring your own snacks. Location: A - Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center Fee: $30 per person Register online Register online at horiconmarshbirdfestival.com 9 Habitat Birding Bus and Boat Tour - Monday Monday, May 11; 6:00 am - 5:00 pm This is an all-day two-part tour by pontoon boat and bus. Monday trip we will start with a pontoon boat tour, at 6 am SHARP we will "walk the plank" boarding at Blue Heron Landing "location C", Hwy. 33 at the bridge in downtown Horicon. Captains Marc Zuelsdorf and Jerry Genzmer will be your guides for this part of the tour. After the boat tour we will gather at the Horicon Marsh Education Center (Location A) and board a bus for the rest of our tour, we will bird some of the better habitat locations in and around Horicon Marsh. Trip leaders will be Joel Trick and Jeff Bahls. Our main objective is to ID as many bird species as possible. Short hikes will provide easy walking and we will "try" to stay on dry ground. A box lunch and drink are included in the cost of this tour. Location: C - Horicon Marsh Boat Tours Fee: $85 per person Register online Horicon Marsh Bird Hike Saturday, May 9; 7:00 am - 9:15 am Saturday, May 9; 9:30 am - 11:45 am Sunday, May 10; 7:00 am - 9:15 am Sunday, May 10; 9:30 am - 11:45 am Join leaders for a hike that will focus on bird species along our newest addition to the Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center trail system; a new boardwalk reaching out to Indermuhle Island through the marsh and covering a variety of habitats. Walking on uneven trails and in damp foliage is a possibility. Meet at the Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor, off of Hwy. 28 between Mayville and Horicon. Location: A - Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center Fee: Free No registration required 10 Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center and Festival Information Saturday, May 9; 6:30 am - 5:00 pm Sunday, May 10; 6:30 am - 5:00 pm Many of the Bird Festival events will begin at the Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center. This center is a $4.8 million project made possible largely due to tremendous local support. The center features an auditorium, two classrooms, traveling exhibit area, gift shop and a tremendous view of Horicon Marsh. Brand new exhibits will be completed this summer and the grand opening will be in August of 2015. We hope you come back to see the exciting, interactive displays! Volunteers will be on hand to provide information and direct visitors to the many events. Maps, Festival Booklets and other handouts will be available. Bird Festival pins, hats and shirts will be on sale and the gift shop will be open for those interested in purchasing something to remind them of their experience. We have a few festival pins available from previous years for those who forgot to purchase one at the time or for collectors. The Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center is located off of Hwy. 28 between Mayville and Horicon. Location: A - Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center Fee: Free No registration required Horicon Marsh is a “Wetland of International Importance”. Horicon National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center Saturday, May 9; 9:00 am - 6:00 pm Sunday, May 10; 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Watch a Refuge video, view interactive displays, observe the marsh from the viewing deck with spotting scopes and visit the Refuge gift shop. Opportunity to view the Wisconsin Federal Junior Duck Stamp Exhibit. No charge for programs or activities. The Horicon National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, is located at: W4279 Headquarters Rd. off Cty. Rd. Z on the east side of the marsh. Location: B - Horicon NWR Visitor Center Fee: Free No registration required Horicon NWR “Loop of the Refuge” Bus Tour and Hike Saturday, May 9; 6:00 am - 12:00 pm Sunday, May 10; 6:00 am - 12:00 pm Guides will be Greg Seegert (Sat.), Marty Evenson (Sun.) and Jeff Bahls (Sat. and Sun.) along with USFWS staff. We will start at Horicon NWR headquaters, head out to Dike Rd, travel all the way across Dike Rd to the west side of the marsh. Hitting some grassland, marsh and forested sections along the way. A stroll along the Wild Goose trail at Chester Bridge and stops along Hwy. 49 are possible. Wear good walking shoes. Meet at Horicon NWR headquarters. Dike Road, for those who are unfamiliar with Horicon Marsh is near the dividing line or border between the southern 1/3 of the marsh that is managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the northern 2/3, which is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. With the cooperation of the USFWS, a portion of each registration fee is being donated to the Friends of Horicon National Wildlife Refuge. While the eastern half is made up of mostly cattail marsh and open water, the western part is primarily a mixture of trees/shrub and edge habitat. Meet at the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, W4279 Headquarters Rd. off Cty. Rd. Z on the east side of the marsh. The bus will depart at 6:00 AM SHARP. Bring your own snacks. The same locations may be covered on both days of the event. Location: B - Horicon NWR Visitor Center Fee: $35 per person Register online Hot Spot Birding Saturday, May 9; 4:30 pm - 7:00 pm Sunday, May 10; 4:30 pm - 7:00 pm Trip leader Jeff Bahls will be using the knowledge obtained from other festival field trips in finding various birding locations (Hot Spots) in hopes of adding as many species as we can in the time allotted. We may even strike out on our own to a new birding spot not included in this year's festival! Walking on uneven trails is possible. Meet at the Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center, off of Hwy. 28 between Mayville and Horicon. Please use the entrance on the south side of the building. Bus departs at 4:30 PM SHARP. Location: A - Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center Fee: $20 per person Register online Mom And Me, Birding Together Sunday, May 10; 2:45 pm - 4:00 pm Your leader will be Beth Haffenbredl. Discover the joys of bird watching as a family. Learn basic birding skills, how to set up your backyard as a birding hotspot, and work together to make a bird feeder. This is a great activity to get the whole family hooked on bird watching. A short bird hike will accompany the program. The hike may be on uneven trails but rated easy. This is for ALL ages that want to learn how to bird. Location: A - Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center Fee: Free No registration required Register online at horiconmarshbirdfestival.com 11 Operation Migration Saturday, May 9; 9:00 am - 4:00 pm Sunday, May 10; 9:00 am - 4:00 pm Meet with field handlers of Operation Migration, those that work with endangered Whooping Cranes here in Wisconsin. See the tools and costumes that they use in their effort to restore this great bird. Operation Migration has played a lead role in the reintroduction of endangered Whooping cranes into eastern North America since 2001. In the 1940s the species was reduced to just 15 birds. Using ultralight aircraft, Operation Migration pilots act as surrogate parents and guide captive-hatched and imprinted Whooping cranes along a planned migration route beginning in Wisconsin and ending in Florida. Location: A - Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center Fee: Free No registration required Screeches, Squawks, And Squeals Of The Marsh Saturday, May 9; 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm During the day, Horicon Marsh is a relaxing and tranquil place to enjoy nature. But the dark mysteries of the marsh at night can be "chilling" to those not accustomed to the sounds of nocturnal creatures. Hike leader Liz Herzmann will dispel the myths of the night as she helps you identify the many nocturnal sounds that come from within the cattails. This program will be conducted outside with easy walking but possible uneven terrain so remember to dress warm and bring a low powered flashlight. Please use the lower entrance on the south side of the building. Location: A - Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center Fee: Free No registration required 12 Sightseeing Tour by Boat Wetland Water Bugs Friday, May 8; 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Saturday, May 9; 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Sunday, May 10; 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Monday, May 11; 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm A 1 hour narrated pontoon boat tour of the inner Horicon Marsh, observing the birds and animals in their natural habitat. Tours depart from Blue Heron Landing, Hwy. 33 at the bridge in downtown Horicon. Location: C - Horicon Marsh Boat Tours Fee: Adults $12, ages 4-13 $6.25. To register, call Blue Heron Boat Landing @ 920-485-4663 Saturday, May 9; 11:00 am - 12:00 pm For young explorers of all ages. Join us to collect aquatic creatures from the marsh and learn how they adapt to survive. Meet at the boardwalk at the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge auto tour route, off of Hwy. 49. For more information, call 920-3872658. Location: F - NWR Auto Tour/Boardwalk Fee: Free No registration required Sounds and Dances- Dusk Into Dark Saturday, May 9; 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Sunday, May 10; 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Have you ever wondered what it takes to work with injured birds of prey? Have you ever wanted to see them close up? Come and listen to the popular Barbara Harvey as she gives an introduction to Wisconsin's hawks and owls. She uses slides, mounted specimens and LIVE birds in her presentation. The particular live birds may vary each day but have included a Redtailed Hawk, Snowy Owl, Kestrels, Great Horned Owl and others. Location: E - Marsh Haven Nature Center Fee: Nature center special event entrance fee is $3.00/adults/day, $2.00/child under 15/day No registration required Friday, May 8; 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm Saturday, May 9; 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm Join Jack and Holly Bartholmai, Erin Railsback, Jon Krapfl and Marc Zuelsdorf for this unique dusk into dark tour of critters that sing, call and dance as the sun sets and night falls on Horicon Marsh. The tour begins in the Marsh Haven Nature Center's Theater with a multi-media introduction to the critters that call and dance in the night. With special permission from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, we will be on the Auto Tour loop and boardwalk at dusk and stay AFTER DARK. The bus will stop to hear and see the Woodcock dance and to listen to songs and calls of our marsh's nocturnal birds and amphibians. Conditions permitting we will take a short walk down Old Marsh Road to enjoy the night sky and experience a new perspective of the marsh at night. Long pants and sleeves are recommended as well as closed toed shoes. Bring a flashlight if you wish. Meet in Marsh Haven Nature Center's theater at 7 PM. Location: E - Marsh Haven Nature Center Fee: $20 per person Register online Horicon Marsh covers 33,000 acres in Dodge County, WI. Wild Birds of Prey Tune In … Birding By Ear Sunday, May 10; 2:45 pm - 4:00 pm Just as it sounds...pun intended. Join educator Liz Herzmann to practice identifying birds by their song. All skill levels are welcome. Location: A - Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center Fee: Free No registration required Waterfowl Banding Demonstration - New! Sunday, May 10; 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm Join us for a waterfowl banding demonstration. DNR staff will set-up a mock banding station to show how ducks are caught for banding. Ducks are aged and sexed by wing plumage then released. See all the equipment used for a rocket net capture. The display will be outside of the Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center. Location: A - Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center Fee: Free No registration required Wisconsin Federal Junior Duck Stamp Contest Reception Saturday, May 9; 4:15 pm - 5:00 pm This is a recognition reception for local K-12th grade winners and their families. This reception is open to the public and you will have the opportunity to view the Junior Duck Stamp Contest exhibit. Sponsored by Friends of Horicon NWR. Location: B - Horicon NWR Visitor Center Fee: Free No registration required Register online at horiconmarshbirdfestival.com 13 14 15 E Marsh Haven Nature Center Rock River Tap G D A Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center B NWR Visitor’s Center Palmatory St. Overlook F NWR Auto Tour/ Boardwalk C Blue Heron Landing 110 W. Lake St. Horicon WI 53032 920-485-4241 G Rock River Tap 3 miles east of Waupun, Hwy 49 F NWR Auto Tour/Boardwalk W10145 Hwy 49 Waupun WI 53963 920-324-5818 E Marsh Haven Nature Center 1210 N. Palmatory St. Horicon WI 53032 D Palmatory St. Overlook 311B Mill St. Horicon WI 53032 920-485-4663 C Blue Heron Landing W4279 Headquarters Road Mayville WI 53050 920-387-2658 B NWR Visitor’s Center N7725 Hwy 28 Horicon WI 53032 920-387-7890 and Visitor Center A Horicon Marsh Education Horicon Marsh Bird Festival Event Locations horiconmarshbirdfestival.com May 8–11, 2015 Pack up your binoculars and join us! If you’re a birder or a naturalist or just someone who enjoys the beauty of nature, come visit Horicon Marsh at the peak of spring migration. 18th Annual Horicon Marsh Bird Festival PO Box 6 Horicon, WI 53032-0006
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