Sept 27 at 8:00am
Bender Park, 4503 E Ryan Rd, Oak Creek
Start in the Marina parking lot
Like many Milwaukee Parks, Bender runs along Lake Michigan. The marina and beach can have great shorebirds and ducks. Atop the bluff, there is a large grassland area. Woods along the western edge of the park contain a creek and wetlands that are a draw for songbirds. There are nearly 4-miles of hiking trails through the park, as well as the Oak Leaf biking trail.
EBird site: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L353954
Trails: Grass, mulch and mud. Uneven. Slope from bluff to marina however we can use upper parking lot and marina lot to avoid walking hill.
Restrooms: Building and PortaPotty at the marina. Open seasonally
Park Map:https://county.milwaukee.gov/files/county/parks-department/Park-Maps/Bender1.pdf
Join us! Walks are always free and always fun . Open to all levels of birders
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Nearly every morning, there is a
FREE Bird Walk in Milwaukee
Milwaukee Birding News
Art Exhibit. See Judith’s work at Schlitz Audubon Nature Center now thru Dec 26, 2026.
Everything you need to know for a hawk watch. Find great resources at Hawk Migration Association including the guide seen below
Last Week
Felt like fall last week at Lion’s Den, especially on the bluff with a wind off Lake Michigan. Not much action on the lake in the morning, most of the birds were tucked in the park. We started with several Flickers, and two Eastern Towhees. The wetlands and pond were mostly blocked by tall cattails. At the north end on the Cedar Loop Trail, a mixed flock of warblers bounced around including a Black-throated Blue, Ovenbird and a Black and White. On our way out after a glance from the Wetland Overlook, John spotted a Belted Kingfisher and we saw a Cedar Waxwing. Thanks to the 16 birders that walked with us!
eBird: https://ebird.org/checklist/S394695495 – Thanks John!
Pic: John Kaspar
Upcoming Bird Talks & walks:
Have a birding event to share? email us on the Contact Page
September
Experience the story of the Sandhills
Saturday, Sept 26 with Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
Details HERE
Who Sings in Wisconsin? – Book Reading with Mateo Núñez-García
Sunday, September 27, 2026 at Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
Details HERE
Family Owl Prowl at Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
Monday, Sept 28
Details HERE
Night Hunters Owls of Wisconsin
Wednesdays, Sept 30-Oct 14 at Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
Details HERE
October
Bird-A-Palooza
Thursday, Oct 1 4:00-6:30pm
Join Milwaukee County Parks Natural Areas and Conservation on a Bird Walk through Kletzsch Park. Details HERE
Community Meeting on Shorewood Nature Preserve
Tuesday, Oct 6
Details HERE
Bird Banding with Milwaukee Audubon Society
Thursday, Oct 8 in Glendale
Details HERE
The Big Sit with Wisconsin Metro Audubon Society
Saturday, Oct 10 at Wehr Nature Center
Details HERE
Hawks at Harrington Beach with Wisconsin Society of Ornithology
Sunday, Oct 11
Registration and details HERE
The Dawn of an Osprey Population in SE Wisconsin: A Success Story
Wednesday, Oct 21 by Wisconsin Metro Audubon Society
Details HERE
** Follow Bird City Milwaukee on Facebook!
Check out Milwaukee Birders on Facebook and Instagram for event announcements
Check out Chirp Chat episodes by Xcaret Nuñez. It’s all about birding Milwaukee area on WUWM 89.7 last Wednesday of the month
List of Milwaukee area BIRD CLUBS !
Milwaukee parks that need birding this week
The county needs eBird records throughout the year for every park and natural area. During the year, some parks are priorities for birding. We can help MKE Parks! Pick a priority park from the list below, go bird, eBird it and note time spent there.
MILWAUKEE COUNTY PARKS : Sept 8-14
- Alcott Lark
- Dretzka Park
- Franklin Savanna (if you haven’t been, messenger us using the Messenger feature and we can explain access. Neat place but needs some explanation.
- Grootemat Nature Preserve
- Kern Park
- Little Menomonee River Pkwy 3,4, 5,6 – (4 is called S of Good Hope, N of Hwy 145, 5 is called Little Menomonee River S of Mill Rd, North of Appleton)
- Menomonee River Pkwy 1,2,3,4,5 (no trail for 2, 3,4 and 4 is called Menomonee River, S of Silver Spring, west of 45)
- Milwaukee River Pkwy 1,3,5
- Oak Creek Pkwy 3,4, 5,6,7, 10,11, 13 (some don’t have trails)
- Root River 3,4,6,7,8,14,16,18- some don’t have trails
Based on the needs spreadsheet from MKE Parks, Wisconsin Metro Audubon Society (Thanks Colleen!) curates suggested locations based on accessibility to the property and availability on the ebird hotspots tool. Please track your time spent! At the end of the year WMAS provides hours to the county.
Follow Wisconsin Metro Audubon on Facebook for their weekly park posts.
Note- even if it’s already been birded this week, going another day or even a different time of day helps. The parks department wants a number of surveys for each park. Birding more than once in a week is very helpful!
Find a park and a park map: https://county.milwaukee.gov/EN/Parks/Explore/Find-a-Park
Wisconsin Metro Audubon is also birding for Waukesha Parks…
Bird where you can and share your ebird list with their ebird account: WaukeshaCountyBirding. A Waukesha County Park pass is needed for a number of these locations. To purchase passes visit:
https://wiwaukeshacountyweb.myvscloud.com/…/splash.html#
Note that seniors (60+) can purchase annual park passes for only $20!
September bird surveys needed at these locations- all are ebird hotspots
- Ashippun Lake – Waukesha County- (free)
- Ashippun River Greenway (free, no trail)
- Berg Property (off LO west a little bit from Mukwonago Park)
- Fox Bend Park-(access through St Martins Woods SNA or Big Bend Park but don’t count bird in BBP)
- Fox Bend South free (small parking area on gravel; don’t block the gate) On Forest Home Ave, 42.86084° N, 88.23814° W. Start on the farm access road heading in direction of river. You can access a fair amount of it via this road, plus a dirt trail, plus walking back through a grain field that has been mowed (watch for horned larks). Backtracking a bit or a bit of bushwhacking depending on what you feel like doing. This property is quite large and we haven’t been to all of it yet.
- Fox Brook Park (fee or daily pass)
- Ice Age Trail Monches segment
- Menomonee Park
- Monches County park (daily fee or pass)
- Mukwonago Park (daily fee or pass)
- Muskego Park
- Nagawaukee Park (pass or daily fee)
- Pewaukee River Greenway
- Ryan Park- (pass or day fee)
- School Section Lake (requires lake pass)
- Spring Brook Greenway
- New Berlin Recreation Trail (free- bike from edge of Greenfield Park into Waukesha!)