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Home  •  Birds  •  Tips & Hotlines

 Birding Hot Lines


What do Harris' sparrow, Townsend's solitaire and snowy owl have to do with each other? Hotlines!

Thanks to ever observant birders, hotlines reward with some great finds, and these three were spotted by two of our bird nuts in mid-February after they called the Madison, WI Hotline.

Winter, storms, and migration can bring birds not normally seen in our area.

Try one of these:

• Madison: (608) 255-2476

• All of Wisconsin: (414) 352-3857

• Chicago: (847) 265-2118

• Rockford: (815) 965-3095

• Iowa: (319) 338-9881

Let us know what you find!
 



Tips for Birding in the Field

When

  • Early morning and late afternoon are good times to observe wildlife.
  • Spring bird migration usually goes from mid-March to late-May.
  • Fall migration takes place in September and October.

Equipment

  • A good pair of binoculars or a spotting scope will open up a whole new world of wildlife viewing.
  • A field guide will help identify what you see.

Movement

  • There is no better way to improve your chances of seeing wildlife than to move slowly, stop periodically, and refrain from making noise.

Respect

  • Refrain from touching, feeding, or moving too close to animals.
  • Refrain from removing any wildflowers or plants.
     
  © 2009 Conservation Guardians of Northwest Illinois