Tag Archives: Retzer Nature Center

Hotspots

Retzer Nature Center | Birding Hotspot Review | Waukesha, Wisconsin

April 13, 2023 rmsallmanngmailcom Leave a comment

Location

Waukesha, Wisconsin
S14W28167 Madison St, Waukesha, WI 53188

Notable Birds to See

Eastern Bluebird, Bobolink, Henslow’s Sparrow, Clay-colored Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Indigo Bunting.

Check out our video on Retzer Nature Center

Logistics

Retzer Nature Center has its own parking lot with plenty of space, even on busier days. They have a wide variety of trails ranging from a paved loop trail to boardwalks, to grass, to woodchips. Most of these trails do not have steep grades so walking is pretty easy.

Habitat

There are a many different habitats at Retzer Nature center that draw in a variety of bird species. Near the visitor center there is mixed deciduous and coniferous woods with regular coniferous woods being other places on the property. There is a stream that flows through the lower elevation parts of the center and a small pond. The most notable habitat is the prairie at the top of the large hill. This is where the best birding typically is. There is also a trail that goes through a fen. Altogether, the variety of habitat in a relatively small area is quite impressive.

Seasonal Differences in Species

As with most places in the northern United States, time of the year is going to be a major factor in the birds you find at Retzer Nature Center. In fall and winter, year-round residents such as Northern Cardinals, White-breasted Nuthatches and Downy Woodpeckers are common here as well as winter visitors such as Dark-eyed Juncos and occasionally irruptive species such as Pine Siskins and Red-breasted Nuthatches.

Spring and summer are generally the best seasons to go birding at Retzer Nature center due to the birds that breed on the property. Bobolinks and Henslow’s Sparrows are two signature species that arrive in spring and then spend most of the summer along with other grassland species. If you’re looking for warblers, Retzer isn’t going to necessarily be at the top of the list. On any given day in spring some species can be moving through especially Yellow-rumped Warblers, Common Yellowthroats and Palm Warblers. Blackpoll Warblers, Chestnut-sided Warblers, Golden-winged Warblers, and Blue-winged Warblers are all species I have found at Retzer before but not with regularity.

Personal Experiences

Retzer Nature Center is a place I have visited ever since I’ve been a little kid. I find it to be a very relaxing and peaceful place to spend time in and at this point I know the birds there in every season like the back of my hand. The multitude of habitats along with the beautiful scenery is top notch for the area and there are some pretty solid bird species that are reliable on an annual basis. It’s definitely my go-to spot to get my first of year Bobolinks and Henslow’s Sparrows each year.

One of the few downsides to Retzer Nature Center is that it’s a very popular place for photographers to take family portraits; so sometimes the trails near the visitor center can be a little crowded. If that’s the case, venturing out on the other trails usually solves the problem.

Video of a Birding Tournament Held at Retzer Nature Center

Other Things to See and Do

Retzer Nature actually has a lot of festivals and other things that occur on the grounds. There is an annual apple harvest festival which is a great family event as well as several clubs and organizations that meet there. One organization is the Ben Goss Bird Club that hosts weekly meetings. Another unique feature is the planetarium in the same building as the visitor center.

Review

Retzer Nature Center is an excellent place for a relaxing day of birding, hiking, and exploring. It’s a fantastic place for families to explore nature together and while it’s not a place to get crazy rarities or an outrageous species total, the birding is solid and there are some nice species to find.

Other Nearby Hotspots

Glacial Drumlin Trail, Paradise Valley SWA

2017 Birding Blog

Retzer In July

July 23, 2017 rmsallmanngmailcom Leave a comment

Today I went to Retzer Nature Center in Waukesha County to see how things have changed with July winding down. I started by taking the northeastern trail that leads to the pond. The usual birds were in this area including American Goldfinches and Common Yellowthroats. I was able to get a good look at a Common Yellowthroat singing in a tree but the mosquitoes and deer flies were so bad I didn’t stay still long enough to get an in-focus picture. This was a theme today. The bugs were easily the wort I’ve ever encountered at Retzer. The precipitation we’ve had combined with the lac of wind was the perfect storm for them today and they followed me all the way through the forested part of the Nature Center.

I moved through the forest trail quickly hoping to lose the bugs following me when I got into the open prairie. While I was in the woods I heard a few Indigo Buntings and saw numerous American Robins. I also startled a deer munching on plants.

When I got to the prairie trail I was unable to hear many of the calls that were so prolific just a month ago. There were not any Dickcissel or Bobolink, and only one Henslow’s Sparrow. There were however still many Field Sparrows and Clay-Colored Sparrows.

On the north side of the hill all of the tall grass was cut eliminating habitat for the Henslow’s and Savannah Sparrows. However, in the tree line farther north and tall grasses to the east there were still large numbers of birds. Most of these were juvenile Indigo Buntings and Field Sparrows but there were also several Eastern Kingbirds, Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds, more Common Yellowthroats, and an Eastern Towhee.

On the way out of the Nature Center I got looks at a Gray Catbird and a Red-Eyed Vireo that was too crafty for me to get a photo of. The insects followed me the whole time until I got to the car.

I would have liked more time to search through the birds on the north side of the Nature Center but the bugs proved to be too much to deal with for me. Next time I’ll make sure there’s more of a breeze before I go.

2017 Birding Blog, Habitat Highlights

Retzer Nature Center In June

June 6, 2017 rmsallmanngmailcom Leave a comment

Yesterday I took a quick walk through one of my favorite local birding locations: Retzer Nature Center. Retzer is on a relatively small piece of land but has many types of habitat including deciduous woods, coniferous woods, and prairie. Many different bird species call Retzer home so birding there is always an enjoyable experience.

From the parking lot I started out walking south into the deciduous forest. After a short time I got eyes on a few Indigo Buntings calling in the trees and heard a few Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers. The wooded area has not been as good in recent years but Blue-Winged Warblers, Common Yellowthroats, and Eastern Towhees can often be found there.

I eventually walked out of the forest after tallying a few species and started up the large hill on the eastern part of the nature center. This area opens into an oak savanna with trees periodically pooping up out of the golden grasses. This is where I usually find the most bird numbers and diversity. Today was no exception. The first bird I spotted was a Field Sparrow hopping around the branches of a small Oak tree. Near the sparrow was a very chattery House Wren perched on a dead branch. Almost directly above me was an Eastern Kingbird that was kind enough to pose for a few photos.

I continued up the hill further where I found more Field Sparrows and heard some Eastern Bluebirds. One surprise was an immature Orchard Oriole perched on one of the top branches of a dead tree. Before this, i had never seen that species present before at the nature center.

I stopped at a bench at the top of the hill and listened for other field birds. I could easily hear the call of at least three Henslow’s Sparrows and the buzzing of Clay-Colored Sparrows. none of the Henslow’s decided to make an appearance but they are still fun to listen to. Off in the distance, the distinctive metallic and bubbly call of the Bobolink could be heard. They are annual nesters at Retzer and one of my favorite birds simply because of their interesting call. I was able to spot one up at the top of a medium sized oak.

I continued north on the hill to where a tractor lane intersects the trail. This is where I heard two calls out to west that I recognized as Dickcissel. Dickcissel are another species that has been known to nest at Retzer. They are very sensitive when nesting so I didn’t get too close. Fortunately one was calling from a tall tree that could get a clear view of.

After watching the Dickcissel for a few minutes I moved into the trail that cuts through the tall green grass on the east side of the hill. Here there were three more Henslow’s Sparrows calling, Tree Swallows, Savannah Sparrows, and more Bobolinks calling than I could keep track of. They were constantly flying up out of the grass while making their bubbling call and landing back in a different spot only to disappear completely.

I eventually headed out of the prairie and into another small wooded area near the parking lot. Here I heard and eventually caught a glimpse of an Eastern Towhee.

I left with a total of 24 species after just an hour of birding. Not a bad day at all bird wise and a great day to be out at one of my favorite local nature centers.