January, the start of a new year, a time to take stock of where we have been and plan for where we are hoping to go. What goals do we want to achieve in the future? Afresh start for the calendar and a time when many people make New Year’s resolutionsplanning for self-improvement. Here’s an […]
Today birders in attendance were treated to watching a rough-legged hawk hunting just across the road in the marsh. There’s always something to see out the Nature Center’s window! Bob shared there’s currently an excellent opportunity to view flocks of snow buntings, horned larks, and lapland longspurs just west of Collins Marsh south of the […]
The marsh in December is often quiet and may appear lifeless, but manyorganisms are simply in their wintering state, biding their time until length of daylight andtemperatures prompt them to become active once again. There are bird species thathave arrived to over-winter here and some of the regulars stay all year long, residentsincluding woodpeckers, cardinals […]
UPDATE: EVENT CANCELLED DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER…TO BE RESCHEDULED AFTER THE HOLIDAYS. Saturday December 13, 2025 1pm-4pm… Spend your afternoon with the Friends of Collins Marsh creating Holiday Crafts for Kids 1-99. Enjoy light refreshments, holiday music and good company! Free event, however donations will be accepted. We will have several holiday themed crafts projects […]
November’s CEI Bird club meeting began with introductions all around, sharing reasons why we each find value in birding. Cheryl shared an Smithsonian magazine article describing the study of aeroecology. 11,000 species of birds and 1400 species of bats use the air atmosphere in at least part of their life cycle. Increasing geomagnetic activity– AKA […]
“Birding in One Place….such as Collins Marsh” will be the topic of our November speaker, Bob Domagalski. Bob is a noted birder in the area, compiling Wisconsin State Ornithology records, contributing to the Wisconsin Breeding Bird Atlas and coordinating the county’s annual Christmas Bird Counts for many years. Others may be familiar with Bob’s extensive […]
November, a chill in the air, the growing season has come to an end, so quickly itseems. The summer has slipped away, many of the beautiful fall leaves are coveringthe ground and life at Collins Marsh has shifted to a slower pace. Much of the fallmigration is complete and we await the arrival of migrants […]
A cool crisp fall morning welcomed CEI birders viewing the many species now using the Collins Marsh empoundment area. Mallards, gadwell’s, widgeons, green winged teal, Canada geese, and many other unidentified ducks graced us with their presence. A female harrier winged her way along the shore while redwinged black birds and finches flew overhead. Birders […]
Stephen Easterly, WDNR Wildlife Biologist, will be speaking Wednesday October 22nd at 6PM about water fowl banding in Wisconsin and Collins Marsh Wildlife Area. It will cover a brief history on banding as well as what, how and why we band birds in Wisconsin. Join us at the Neustadter Nature Center for the presentation, but why […]
October is one of the most beautiful months of the year in Wisconsin, flaming redand yellow leaves accent the tree line and in most places the grass is still green. Thedecorations come out in yards, on porches and children select their Halloweencostumes with excitement! Darkness arrives earlier each day and there is a coolfreshness to […]