Great Wisconsin Birding& NatureTrail Central Sands Prairie Region GENE STAVER Welcome Welcome to Wisconsin, where a wonderful world of wildlife watching awaits you. Environmental tourism has become an important part of our diverse mix of outdoor recreation. Extensive wetlands, millions of acres of wild places, a broad range of natural habitat, and a commitment to environmental stewardship have made Wisconsin an outstanding regional birding opportunity. More than any other state in the Great Lakes basin, Wisconsin is positioned to promote and enjoy this popular activity. To that end, we launched the Great Wisconsin Birding and Nature Trail in 2004. This project divides the state into five wildlife-viewing regions. Driving trails that link important wildlife sites within each region are being developed. The program is also producing a series of birding guides to these regions – one each year. This is the fourth in that series, a guide to the Central Sands Prairie Region. Wisconsin – life’s so good. Jim Doyle, Governor Sandhill Cranes. Contents Introduction __________________________________ 2 State Natural Areas ____________________________ 3 Code of Ethics ________________________________ 3 Central Sands Birding & Nature Trail Region Map ____ 4-5 Using the Guide________________________________ 5 Waypoint Index ________________________________ 6-7 County Profiles Adams County ____________________________ 8-10 Calumet County ____________________________ 11-14 Clark County ______________________________ 15-17 Fond du Lac County ________________________ 18-21 Green Lake County__________________________ 22-24 Juneau County ____________________________ 25-28 Marathon County __________________________ 29-33 Marquette County __________________________ 34-37 Menominee County ________________________ 38 Monroe County ____________________________ 39-42 Outagamie County __________________________ 43-45 Portage County ____________________________ 46-49 Shawano County __________________________ 50-52 Waupaca County __________________________ 53-56 Waushara County __________________________ 57-60 Winnebago County ________________________ 61-63 Wood County ______________________________ 66 More Sources of Tourism Information______________ 68 Wisconsin Welcome Centers ____________________ 69 1 Wing your way through Wild Wisconsin The Great Wisconsin Birding and Nature Trail is your invitation to observe the fascinating and diverse world of wildlife that exists in every corner of the state. By late 2008, the Wisconsin DNR Endangered ALAN ORR Resource Program will have developed a series of five highway- based viewing guides, each highlighting unique regional ecosystems of Wisconsin. Each will link a set of waypoints, refuges and Common Goldeneye in flight. wild places that offer the best birding and wildlife watching opportunities. This is the fourth of those five guides - the Central Sands Prairie Birding and Nature Trail. It covers seventeen Wisconsin counties in the center of the state. Published in 2007, it includes 78 waypoints from the massive 43,000-acre Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in the west to High Cliff State Park in the east. In 2008, the Southern Savanna Trails Birding and Nature Trail will complete the series. The first three guides in the series, the Lake Superior Northwoods edition released in 2004, the Mississippi/Chippewa Rivers edition from 2005, and the Lake Michigan edition from 2006, are still available in limited numbers. Waypoints on each trail will be marked with the program’s distinctive Sandhill Crane logo. As you travel, watch for these signs – they are your invitation to the fascinating world of Waypoint marker. Wisconsin wildlife. 2 State Natural Areas Wisconsin’s State Natural Areas (SNAs) protect outstanding exam- ples of native biological commu- nities such as prairies, pine bar- rens, bogs, and boreal forests. They also preserve significant geological and archaeological features and are often the last refuges in Wisconsin for rare species of birds, animals, plants, fungi, lichens, and a host of other organisms. Code of Ethics The Great Wisconsin Birding and Nature Trail is your gate- way to the natural world of Wisconsin. The Code of Ethics serves to guide you as you seek your favorite waypoint sites across the state. ● Treat birds and other animals with respect, never disturbing or collecting anything in their habitat. ● Trails, roads and paths found at the sites provide good access to the property. Avoid leaving them unless you are in a wilderness area. ● Wisconsin has strict trespass laws. Private property does not have to be posted or fenced in Wisconsin. DON ABRAMS Ask permission if you want to enter private land. Know where you are – pay attention to posted property boundary signs. ● Dogs must be leashed on all state lands during the bird-nesting sea- Monarch Butterfly. son from April 15 through July 31. ● Lead by example. Leave the property litter-free and in good condition for the next traveler. ● Give nature a voice. Thank the property owner, manager or staff person for the opportunity to enjoy nature at their site. 3 Great Wisconsin Birding& NatureTrail Central Sands Region USK Prentice er 8 iv R Ladysmith Tomahawk Elcho LINCOLN Summit Lake 55 in 27 s n o c Marathon s i Lake 13 W TAYLOR County W 51 LANGLADE o lf Pgs. 29-33 Merrill Clark Antigo CountyGilman Polar R Cornell 64 i ve Pgs. 15-17 Medford r 45 39 31 14 Wausau Aniwa MENOMI Cadott Thorp Abbotsford 29 33 41 13 30 Schofield Withee MARATHON Birnamwood 35 56 Unity 34 Wittenberg57 Shawa 11 Mosinee Portage Elderon 45 CLARK Spencer 39 County SHAWANO 29 2 Augusta 12 32 Pgs. 46-49 Waupaca45 r e MarionCounty v Marshfield i 52 o Fairchild R 61 Pgs. 53-56 10 Clintonville 55 66 49 76 54 Iola Neillsville 13 Stevens 161 53 Amherst 4 WOOD 75 Point 12 64 k Plover 63 45 c Wood WAUPACA Hixton la Pittsville B PORTAGE 10 62 County 54 51 Waupaca N hall JACKSONPgs. 64-66 Waushara 54 77 Wisconsin 39 L Rapids County 60 Weyauwe Black Nekoosa River FallsMonroe 78 Pgs.51 57-60 Babcock 73 County Millston 49 Wild 70 74 Pgs. 39-42 28 in 80 s 66 n Rose Poygan co 13 65 69 25 is 1 WAUSHARA 68 WINNE 54 46 W 42 27 Wautoma B Necedah 67 Omro Coloma 21 21 ROSSE 44 Tomah ADAMS Osh 43 JUNEAU ska Sparta 4 Berlin 73 90 12 24 Friendship 39 38 23 45 22 37 Green MONROE Adams W. Salem 27 New Lisbon PrincetonLake 71 Wilton 3 MARQUETTE36 22 Ripo rosse Montello 21 Mauston Oxford GREEN 23 Puckaway Green 26 FOND Ontario 94 LAKE 61 Union 2 40 14 90 39 20 Center Wisconsin 73 33 Dells ddard Westby er 23 v VERNON i oa R Hillsboro Fox 82 La Valle Portage Pardeeville 56 Juneau 33 GreenFox Lake Adams Marquette Viroqua County Randolph County Lake Reedsburg County County Pgs.Beaver 22-24 82 Readstown 80 Pgs. 25-28 Wyocena Dam BarabooPgs. 8-10 COLUMBIAPgs. 34-37 e Soto 14 SAUK Beaver o RICHLAND Poynette 16 151 Dam o 23 12 p DOD a 60 k Lodi 35 c Prairie du Sac i Richland K 51 Columbus 61 Center 27 Spring Sauk City 26 e 4 DeForest CRAWFORD 60 Green DANE Sun Prairie k Muscoda c Using the Guide Information for this guide was gathered locally from Wisconsin DNR, naturalists, birders, and a range of wildlife 41 R MARINETTE i Wabeno v enthusiasts. Each site was e r nominated locally and eval- 32 R Townsend iv e uated as part of the region- r ewood al project. Crivitz Mountain Site information Marinette 64 includes a contact phone Pound Peshtigo MenomineeOCONTO number, driving directions, INEE County 1 Pg. 38 141 a small locator map, a Oconto Gillett description of the property, Oconto Green Bay ano 59 Falls common and rare birds and O Shawano Brussels wildlife, and a Web site if 22 County Bonduel 29 PulaskiPgs. 50-52 available. Except as noted, 57 58 47 admission to these proper- Green Bay Seymour 54 ties is free. Hours are 50 KEWAUN included, even though most 49 29 48 41Outagamie OUTAGAMIE CountyDe Pere properties are open 24/7. Denmark New Pgs. BROWN 43-45 As you would expect, ondon . 47 R ega ox F 43 4 most of these waypoints Appleton 72 Brillion 10 5 MANITOWOC are remote, wild locations. 57 Calumet 45 71 8 6 10 55 ReedsvilleCounty While every effort has been EBAGO 32 Butte 9 Pgs. 11-14 des CALUMET 151 Man made to provide accurate Morts 7 Chilton hkosh driving instructions, we rec- 10 New Holstien Winnebago Kiel ommend that you bring a County Elkhart 32 on Pgs. 61-63 Lake county map or gazetteer to 15 SHEBOYGAN help in finding these sites. Plymouth Shebo D DU LAC Fond 18 du Lac Sheboyga Other prudent equipment 151 Fond du Lac 17 45 41 19 would include a compass, Waupun County57 Pgs. 18-21 HORICON 16 43 flashlight, water, a granola NATIONAL Random WILDLIFE bar or two, insect repellant, REFUGE Lake Horicon West Bend OZAUKEE and a good pair of walk- 33 Port WASHINGTONSaukville Washington ing/hiking shoes. DGE Slinger Grafton 60 r Hartford Jackson e Cedarburg v 6 i R 5 Mequon Brown Deer Watertown WAUKESHA MILWAUKEE Waypoint Index Page Adams County 1. Colburn State Wildlife Area____________________________________________8 2. Dells of the Wisconsin River State Natural Area _________________________9 3. Quincy Bluff & Wetlands State Natural Area ____________________________10 4. Roche-a-Cri State Park & Roche-a-Cri Mound State Natural Area __________10 Calumet County 5. Brillion Nature Center _________________________________________________11 6. Brillion State Wildlife Area ____________________________________________12 7. Calumet County Park__________________________________________________12 8. High Cliff State Park & High Cliff Escarpment State Natural Area _________13 9. Killsnake State Wildlife Area___________________________________________14 10. Ledge View County Park & Nature Center_______________________________14 Clark County 11. Mead Lake County Parks – North & South_______________________________15 12. Rock Dam Lake County Park ___________________________________________16 13. Schmidt Maple Woods State Natural Area ______________________________16 14. Sportsman Lake State Wildlife Area ____________________________________17 Fond du Lac County 15. Eldorado State Wildlife Area___________________________________________18 16. Kettle Moraine State Forest – Northern Unit, Ice Age Trail Visitor Center & Haskell Noyes Woods State Natural Area _____________________________19 17.