Wisconsin’s Best Bird Watching

The impressive number of freshwater lakes and the fantastic mix of marshland and forests make a cabin getaway in Wisconsin an excellent idea for birders from all across the country. Our loon population alone makes us worth the trip! Whether you are a seasoned bird watcher or you’re just beginning, we are sure you will love what you find here.

In fact, we’re so sure that we’ve put together a short guide to get you started on your adventure. In this post, you’ll find everything you need to know about Wisconsin’s best North Woods birding!

Wisconsin Birding Highlights

Did you know that over 400 species of birds have been spotted in Wisconsin? This includes many favorites like Warblers, Ospreys, the Common Loon, Swans, Geese, Ducks, Tundra Swans and Bald Eagles among others. Some of the best state birding locations include:

Greenwood State Wildlife Area: Bobolinks, Grasshopper, Field and Vesper Sparrows, and Eastern and Western Meadowlarks.
Wolf River State Wildlife Area: Shorebirds, Bald Eagles, Osprey
Powers Bluff Maple Woods State Natural Area & Powers Bluff County Park: Warblers, Flycatchers and other neotropical migrants
Mukwa State Wildlife Area: Barred and Great Horned Owls, Belted Kingfishers, Tundra Swans
Schmeeckle Reserve: 218 different recorded species
Horicon National Wildlife Refuge: Great egrets, Little Blue and Tricolored Herons, American Avocet, Black-necked Stilt, Glossy Ibis, and Black-bellied Whistling Duck
Many, many more!

Being that Edenwood Ranch is in Waushara County, we’re also big fans of Mount Morris Hills Park, where you will likely spot a record-sized Turkey Vulture or a beautiful Pileated Woodpecker.

Birding at Edenwood

Edenwood itself is home to a handful of species that you can find on our 600-acre nature preserve. If you’re looking for some of the very best birding and cabin rentals Wisconsin offers, you’ve found it! When you book our property for your next vacation, you’ll have access to countless ways to enjoy the great Northwoods while birding. Along with miles and miles of hiking trails to spot your winged favorites, we offer:

Boating & canoeing
Bike riding
Ziplining
Campfires
Stargazing
Enjoying the hot tub
Private, full kitchens in each lodging
4 cabins with 30 beds

The best part is that, when you stay at Edenwood Ranch and Preserve, you can bring your whole birding squad. Edenwood specializes in private vacations so you can plan a whole weekend birding retreat! The possibilities are endless!

Additional Resources

And, for even more birding fun, we’ve included a short list of our favorite resources for bird watching:

Rare Bird Alerts: Ongoing report of rare bird sightings in Wisconsin
Birding in Wisconsin: Facebook group for conversation & community surrounding Wisconsin Birding
eBird: Digital platform that allows worldwide birders to manage lists, photos and audio recordings, to seeing real-time maps of species distribution, and set alerts that let you know when species have been seen.
Collins Bird Guide App: Digital mobile field guide for birders

Cabin Rentals Wisconsin

In the book “Saving Jemima: Life and Love with a Hard-Luck Jay”, author Julie Zickefoose wrote “The presence of a single bird can change everything for one who appreciates them.” We know that feeling and we want to share our nature preserve with you so that you can know it, too. So, get your birding friends together and plan the retreat of a lifetime! We think there’s a chance you’ll have so much fun it will become an annual event.