Little Brown Bats nestling together on a rock wall. Photo courtesy of WDNR.
Our Bats and Birds event is back! For all the early-birds, night-owls, and curious souls interested in learning more about nocturnal flying creatures, followed by early morning birding!
Birds and bats might not seem like a natural combination but there is a special hour around sunrise when the two different creatures overlap. Before sunrise, bats need to decide on a roost for the day so they display a magical flurry of activity as they fly in and out of their bat house. In the dim just before the sunrise, the bats disappear into their roost and the birds take over insect-eating duty for the day. Learn more about the importance of and how to protect Wisconsin’s bats!
Pack up a folding chair and bins and join us early on July 21, 2024 at Cross Plains Ice Age Trail (under 15 minutes from West Towne Mall in Madison) for a pre-dawn bat swarm watch and a morning birding walk!
What to Expect
We’ll meet about an hour before sunrise, sit and quietly watch the bats during their swarm, and then take a birding walk on the trail. WDNR Conservation Biologist, Heather Kaarakka will join us and answer your burning bat questions.
We have both adult- and kid-sized binoculars available to borrow during club events! We’ll bring the “bins” and suggest that you bring…
Folding chair
Insect repellent
Light jacket in case it’s chilly
Location
We’ll meet in the parking lot of the Cross Plains Ice Age Trail. This location is less than 15 minutes from West Towne Mall in Madison!
Species List
Mourning Dove
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Great Blue Heron
Barred Owl
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Warbling Vireo
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Barn Swallow
White-breasted Nuthatch
House Wren
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
American Goldfinch
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Common Yellowthroat
Northern Cardinal
Indigo Bunting
Sandhill Crane
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
Gray Catbird
Eastern Bluebird
House Finch
Song Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Scarlet Tanager
Rose-breasted Grosbeak