Nicolet National Forest Bird Survey
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Survey marker at one of the wetland sites © R. Howe -
Finding a secretive Spruce Grouse is a highlight for volunteers © R. Howe -
Yellow-rumped Warblers are common throughout the forest © S. Giese -
Morning mist fogs up volunteer Amanda Jungkuntz's glasses © S. Giese -
Volunteers often encounter other wildlife, like this sleepy fawn © R. Howe -
Volunteers record bird songs at each of the sites © R. Howe -
Female Yellow-bellied Sapsucker © Robert Howe -
Volunteers walking into one of the survey sites © Bob Howe
30 years
187 bird species
65,000+ birds
600+ volunteers
The Nicolet National Forest Bird Survey has been the longest running volunteer bird monitoring program in a U.S. national forest. The Nicolet National Forest encompasses 360,000 hectares of mixed hardwood-conifer forests, lowland swamps, glacial lakes, and wetlands in northeastern Wisconsin. It comprises the eastern portion of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, with headquarters in Rhinelander and Park Falls, Wisconsin. The Bird Survey takes place each year during the second weekend in June. Everyone with an interest in birds and a desire for adventure is invited to participate in the Bird Survey.
30 years!
After 30 years, the annual volunteer survey has concluded. Forest Service staff will continue with special surveys in the future.
Final Report on the Bird Survey
This report summarizes forest bird data collected from 1995 through 2011 in four national forests of the western Great Lakes region (the Chequamegon and Nicolet in Wisconsin and the Chippewa and Superior in Minnesota).