Hi everyone! I was hoping some of you could give me some advice on some good places to go for wildlife pictures in Minnesota and upper Wisconsin.
My dad is going out there on business this weekend and I get to come! We probably will only have time for two or three half-day outings but I'm so excited to see this area of North America and hopefully some of the local wildlife.
Do you have any suggestions for places to photograph:
- Owls
- Wolves
- Songbirds or anything else with feathers
- Anything else I might not know about (even sanctuaries or reserves or ??)
Are your bears out yet? Ours don't come out until late-May!
We will be in the St. Paul, Waupaca, and Milwaukee areas, but could go through northern MN on the way.
Thank you so much!
Posted by Arne Myrabo on March 15, 2011 at 11:01 AM
Feathers - Sax-Zim bog http://www.thebirdsite.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=855
There is a wolf center near St. Paul. http://www.wildlifesciencecenter.org/ Not a wilderness setting, of course. They also have raptors that cannot be rehabilitated or released.
http://myrabo.com/4images/details.php?image_id=1438
National Eagle Center (Wisconsin) http://www.nationaleaglecenter.org/tag/upper-mississippi-river-refuge/ You can find eagles just about anywhere on the Mississippi this time of year.
http://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/missriver/Eagle%20Watching/Eagle%20Main.htm
http://myrabo.com/4images/details.php?image_id=637
Posted by Darren Huski on March 15, 2011 at 1:50 PM
I just threw an answer for North Dakota on the CSNP page and as I was doing it I was thinking that if you had asked about Wisconsin I could give a better answer. Well then I get here and you did ask. So here goes....
My favorite area and the route I would take from St Paul to Milwaukee is to follow the Mississippi River to LaCrosse, WI. This is bluff country and very scenic. US 61 is Minnesota side (quicker) and Hwy 35 is Wisconsin side (quiter). Every dam on the river will have bald eagles. The National Eagle Center in Wabasha, Minn usually is rehabbing birds you can get very close to.
Great scenery around Trempealeau, Wisconsin/Winona, Minn. Look at Perrot State Park for scenery and birds.
I have an article here on NPN about the upper Mississippi you might find of interest.
I also have some images from the area on my website linked below.
Also check out the work of Joel Truckenbrod from Banning State Park north of St Paul.
http://www.joeltruckenbrod.com/
Near Madison is Devils Lake which is a neat state park.
Now if I could do one thing on this trip it would be drive the Mississippi River on Hwy 35. Stop along the bluffs. See some eagles. Visit Perrot State Park.
A few great places to eat include:
Ed Sullivans in Trempealeau at entrance to Perrot State Park for a great supper club. Also the Nelson Cheese Factory in Nelson, Wi for sandwiches and ice cream.
Again, have a great trip!!!
Posted by Bruce Palla on March 15, 2011 at 9:30 PM
Not nature related, but if you like fast, high flying action, the National Finals of SnoCross are being held in Lake Geneva(SW of Milwaukee). I'll be there, trying not to get run over!
The weather has warmed up a bit, you're going from snow cover to brown grass(N to S).
Areas mentioned by Arne and Darren are excellent, too bad you don't have more time.
Have fun!
My favorite spot is at Crex Meadows near Grantsburg, Wisconsin. It is a little early but as you can see on their excellent website the birds are starting to return. http://www.crexmeadows.org/wildlifehighlights.htm. You can see spring photos from Crex on my website. Check the dates on the photos. It looks like I was up there last year on this date. http://philipschwarz.zenfolio.com/crexmeadowsspring
I would agree with the idea of traveling south along the Mississippi. I would suggest driving down the Wisconsin side in the morning and then back up along the Minnesota side in the afternoon. Check the National Eagle Center it looks like they have some events going on this weekend. They also link to places where eagles are located along the river. http://www.nationaleaglecenter.org/
Another suggestion would be to go up to Monticello to view the swans. It is getting late in the season so I would call the chamber to see if they are still around. http://www.discovermonticello.com/swanpark.html
Discussion
5 repliesMy dad is going out there on business this weekend and I get to come! We probably will only have time for two or three half-day outings but I'm so excited to see this area of North America and hopefully some of the local wildlife.
Do you have any suggestions for places to photograph:
- Owls
- Wolves
- Songbirds or anything else with feathers
- Anything else I might not know about (even sanctuaries or reserves or ??)
Are your bears out yet? Ours don't come out until late-May!
We will be in the St. Paul, Waupaca, and Milwaukee areas, but could go through northern MN on the way.
Thank you so much!
There is a wolf center near St. Paul. http://www.wildlifesciencecenter.org/ Not a wilderness setting, of course. They also have raptors that cannot be rehabilitated or released.
http://myrabo.com/4images/details.php?image_id=1438
National Eagle Center (Wisconsin) http://www.nationaleaglecenter.org/tag/upper-mississippi-river-refuge/ You can find eagles just about anywhere on the Mississippi this time of year.
http://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/missriver/Eagle%20Watching/Eagle%20Main.htm
http://myrabo.com/4images/details.php?image_id=637
My favorite area and the route I would take from St Paul to Milwaukee is to follow the Mississippi River to LaCrosse, WI. This is bluff country and very scenic. US 61 is Minnesota side (quicker) and Hwy 35 is Wisconsin side (quiter). Every dam on the river will have bald eagles. The National Eagle Center in Wabasha, Minn usually is rehabbing birds you can get very close to.
Great scenery around Trempealeau, Wisconsin/Winona, Minn. Look at Perrot State Park for scenery and birds.
I have an article here on NPN about the upper Mississippi you might find of interest.
http://www.naturephotographers.net/articles0609/dh0609-1.html
I also have some images from the area on my website linked below.
Also check out the work of Joel Truckenbrod from Banning State Park north of St Paul.
http://www.joeltruckenbrod.com/
Near Madison is Devils Lake which is a neat state park.
Now if I could do one thing on this trip it would be drive the Mississippi River on Hwy 35. Stop along the bluffs. See some eagles. Visit Perrot State Park.
A few great places to eat include:
Ed Sullivans in Trempealeau at entrance to Perrot State Park for a great supper club. Also the Nelson Cheese Factory in Nelson, Wi for sandwiches and ice cream.
Again, have a great trip!!!
The weather has warmed up a bit, you're going from snow cover to brown grass(N to S).
Areas mentioned by Arne and Darren are excellent, too bad you don't have more time.
Have fun!
I would agree with the idea of traveling south along the Mississippi. I would suggest driving down the Wisconsin side in the morning and then back up along the Minnesota side in the afternoon. Check the National Eagle Center it looks like they have some events going on this weekend. They also link to places where eagles are located along the river. http://www.nationaleaglecenter.org/
Another suggestion would be to go up to Monticello to view the swans. It is getting late in the season so I would call the chamber to see if they are still around. http://www.discovermonticello.com/swanpark.html