Encompassing 32,000 acres, Horicon
Marsh is the largest freshwater
cattail marsh in the U.S. This marsh
is also a restoration project, having
been ditched and drained for agriculture
in the early 1900's. The marsh is
divided into two units. The southern
one-third is a State Wildlife Area
managed by the Wisconsin DNR. The
northern two-thirds is a National
Wildlife Refuge administered by
the USFWS. While the marsh is primarily
managed as a waterfowl area it hosts
a tremendous variety of other birds.
This marsh is perhaps best known
for the spring and fall migration
of Canada geese which often number
more than 20,000 birds.
Over the years, more than 265
species have been sighted here and
this marsh regularly attracts some
of Wisconsin's rarest birds. Being
a National Wildlife Refuge, public
access is limited in this portion
of the marsh in order to protect
the wildlife for which it has been
established. Most of the state area
is open to the public. One of the
best ways to explore this area is
by canoe or shallow draft boat.
Please be aware of designated restricted
use and closed areas. For more information,
contact the state and/or federal
headquarters. The following is a
summary of some of the most productive
and accessible birding sites.
DNR
Field Office
Taking Palmatory Street north
from Hwy. 33 in the City of Horicon,
brings one to the state hiking trails
and field office. From the top of
this hill is one of the finest views
of Horicon Marsh. A good number
of birds can be sighted from the
observation deck without having
to walk much at all. Scopes are
a must to identify species out on
the open water. This also provides
an excellent view of Fourmile Island,
a nesting site for great blue herons.
A 1.5 mile hiking trail loop begins
at the bottom of the hill at the
parking lot. Interpretive signs
provide information on the local
wildlife along the "Horicon
Habitat Hike". A short walk
will lead you through a woodlot,
where great-crested flycatchers,
northern flickers, eastern wood
pewee and many spring migrants are
abundant. A loop trail along the
dike takes hikers out on the marsh
where wetland birds are readily
seen. Commonly sighted species include
a variety of ducks, Canada geese,
herons, egrets, rails, marsh wrens
and pied-billed grebe.
DNR
Service Center
The Service Center, located on
Hwy. 28 between Horicon and Mayville,
is the DNR headquarters at Horicon
Marsh. A variety of visitor information
can be obtained here during regular
business hours. This site was recently
improved with the completion of
the Bachhuber Flowage, a 200-acre
impoundment providing enhanced wildlife
habitat. A variety of wetland birds
can be found at this location. An
expanded hiking trail system has
been developed along the dike and
not only provides for walking around
the flowage, but also links with
the existing trails to provide greater
hiking opportunities for visitors.
Other developments are planned for
this location, including the completion
of the Horicon Marsh International
Education Center.
One
Mile Island Trail
Follow Hwy. 33 through the City
of Horicon to the boat landing at
the north end of Nebraska Street.
A hiking trail begins here leading
0.5 miles out to One Mile Island
and the Main Ditch. The aspen and
oak forest on the island offers
good birding for passerines in spring
and fall. This is also a good spot
to watch for great horned owls and
barred owls early in the day.
Burnett
Ditch Road
This road extends out into the
marsh about 0.75 miles. It has a
typical mixture of open water and
cattails. Boat access is also available
at the point. Common birds include
least bittern, Virginia and sora
rails, black tern, pied-billed grebe
and other open water birds.
Greenhead
Landing
Greenhead Road is a gravel road
extending to the boat landing on
the Rock River. Some upland birding
is available, but the real opportunity
is at the boat landing. Launching
a canoe from here will take you
out into the marsh. Canoe rentals
and shuttles are available in the
City of Horicon. As you paddle down
the river you will see numerous
birds among the willow trees that
line the upper river. Entering the
open cattail marsh you will find
many of the birds of the marsh interior,
including great blue herons, cormorants,
black terns, marsh wrens, and the
possibility of seeing yellow-headed
blackbirds, white pelicans and many
others.
A one-hour paddle will take you
out to the Fourmile Island heron
rookery. At one time this was the
state's largest heron and egret
nesting colony, but a severe storm
in 1998 resulted in downed trees
and loss of nesting sites. The best
time of year to see the island is
in late April and early May when
the birds are actively nesting and
trees have not yet leafed out to
conceal the nests. Viewing is only
from the open water! This is a closed
area and a State Natural Area with
all access to the island strictly
forbidden in order to protect the
birds and assure their nesting success.
From here you can easily back
paddle upstream to the landing or
continue through to the City of
Horicon. The complete trip of seven
miles will require from three to
five hours. This may be one of the
finest ways to explore the marsh
and see a variety of its inhabitants.
Main
Dike
The main dike is open to the public
from April 15 to September 15. It
offers a good chance to view the
marsh interior. Three major pools
offer open water for waterfowl,
herons, and shorebirds wile the
cattails are home to Virginia and
sora rails, marsh wren and swamp
sparrow. Cormorants, black and Forster's
tern also can be seen along here.
On occasion shorebirds can be
found here in large numbers when
water levels are low. Rarities include
black-necked stilt, both godwits,
buff-breasted sandpiper, and red-necked
phalarope. The woods along the north-south
ditch at the end of the road are
excellent during April-May and August-September
for passerines.
Another good passerine area is
along Northern Road, which extends
south from the Dike Road dead-ending
at the east branch of the Rock River.
During May, it can be an especially
worthwhile side trip.
Point
and Ledge Road
This road affords fine views of
the eastern section of the marsh.
On the nearby farmlands you can
find savannah sparrows, meadowlarks,
sandhill cranes and occasionally
wild turkeys. An excellent area
to watch is Ledge Road that parallels
Strooks Ditch into the marsh. At
this site the first state record
of white-faced ibis was established
in 1987 and a good variety of marsh
birds can be found along the lower
portion of the road. Watch for all
four rail species (king is occasional,
yellow is rare), plus herons, egrets,
waterfowl, grebes and other marsh
birds. Yellow-breasted chat has
been sighted in the surrounding
shrubs and short-eared owls can
be found here in late fall through
spring.
Highway
49
This is one of the most popular
roads to watch from and the only
public road that crosses the marsh.
Keep in mind that this is a state
highway and commonly traveled by
trucks and heavy traffic. Be sure
to pull completely off of the road
and watch from the broad shoulders.
A number of pools and impoundments
offer some good birdwatching from
the road. This is also a popular
stop in October when the many tourists
come to view the Canada geese. The
deeper pools along the highway are
good places to view most any variety
of puddle duck or diver. Coots will
join in by the hundreds and there
is always a chance of seeing least
bittern, common moorhen, black and
Forster's tern and yellow-headed
blackbirds, which have nested north
of the highway.
Water levels on several pools
along Hwy. 49 are managed for a
variety of habitat types and are
currently in a rotational basis.
These are cleared of encroaching
cattails and reflooded, keeping
water levels at different stages.
This provides good habitat for waterfowl,
great blue and black-crowned night
herons, great egrets and other marsh
birds. When water levels are low
during spring and fall migration,
shorebirds can be found in great
numbers and variety. Rarities observed
along 49 include little blue and
tri-colored herons, snowy egret,
peregrine falcon, ruff, buff-breasted
sandpiper, black-necked stilt, American
Avocet, Marbled godwit, white-fronted
goose, eared and red-necked grebes.
The public viewing area on the
east side of the marsh provides
a place to watch birds away from
the highway. Here is a parking lot,
toilet facilities and an overlook
of the marsh where the geese and
other birds can also be observed.
In winter, Hwy. 49 and Cty. Z, on
the east side of the marsh, are
good places to watch for rough-legged
and red-tailed hawks, northern harriers
and occasionally short-eared owls.
Refuge
Hiking Trails
There are two hiking trail systems
on the Refuge; the Bud Cook Trails,
located on Point Road, and Hwy.
49 trail system. The Bud Cook trails
traverse upland habitats of old
fields, shrubs and wooded groves
which lure a variety of birds. The
Hwy. 49 trails are located on the
northwest end of the marsh where
you will find a series of hiking
trails allowing access to both upland
and lowland habitats. Six miles
of trails and an Auto Tour Route
have been developed and offer good
birding opportunities.
Uplands consist of old field,
shrubs and restored prairie. This
is a good place to watch for grassland
birds such as bobolinks, eastern
meadowlarks and a variety of grassland
sparrows. Among the shrubs are cardinals,
catbirds, willow flycatchers and
yellow warblers. Forested habitat
is found along the hiking trails
and the banks of the Rock River.
These sites are good for indigo
buntings, rose-breasted grosbeaks
and migrant passerines, (vireos,
warblers and flycatchers) which
are drawn to these islands of trees
among the vast open marsh
Several of the deeper pools provide
good habitat for waterfowl, coots,
herons, and egrets. The highlight
of these trails is the floating
boardwalk. This is the best place
to experience the marsh interior
and see wildlife up close. Rarities
sighted here include yellow-crowned
night heron, snowy and cattle egrets,
and tri-colored heron. Watch for
sora and Virginia rails and Forster's
terns as well as shorebirds when
water levels are low.
Visitor
Information
Horicon Marsh not only offers
many opportunities to observe common
marshland birds, but is often a
lure to some of the rarest bird
sightings in Wisconsin. Besides
the afore mentioned rarities other
sightings have included horned grebe,
glossy ibis, brant, black-bellied
whistling duck, cinnamon teal, Eurasian
wigeon, golden eagle and tufted
titmouse.
To help visitors experience Horicon
Marsh and understand its wildlife,
natural history and management;
naturalist programs are offered
to the public every weekend during
spring and fall. For more information
visit the DNR Service Center on
Hwy. 28, or call 920-387-7860. Office
is open Mon - Fri, from 7:45am to
4:30pm. More information is available
at: www.midwest.fws.gov/horicon/index.htm
One of the best ways to experience
the rich bird life of the area is
during the annual Horicon Marsh
Bird Festival, held on the second
weekend of May. Additional information
and a full schedule of events is
available by contacting the above
offices or checking on the Bird
Club webpage.
This brochure was produced by
the Horicon Marsh Bird Club. For
more information on local activities,
events or recent bird sightings
check out their webpage at www.horiconmarshbirdclub.com
or email to pres@horiconmarshbirdclub.com
