One of the rarest birds in the world lives at this Wisconsin Wildlife Refuge
In rural Wisconsin, roughly between Madison and Eau Claire, is a little-known destination that offers a chance to view one of the rarest birds in the world. Necedah National Wildlife Refuge is located in northern Juneau County near the small city of Tomah.
The refuge was established in 1939 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to protect breeding and migratory birds. One bird in particular that nests in the sanctuary was then on the verge of extinction.
Protecting the whooping crane
By the early 1940s, the population of whooping cranes dwindled to about 20 birds. The Necedah National Wildlife Refuge protects the critical northern breeding grounds for a population in the eastern U.S.
Whooping cranes are on every hardcore and amateur birder life list. Even if you are not much into bird watching, seeing North America’s tallest bird’s elegant courting dance is truly amazing. The birds gracefully pump their crimson-capped heads while leaping, kicking, and sweeping their wings. Whooping cranes weigh about 15 pounds, can stand 5 feet tall, and have a wingspan of 7 feet.
Today, if you visit the refuge between the middle of March through mid-November, you have a chance to see one of the rarest birds in the world in the wild.
While whooping cranes are a star attraction, there are more than 230 different species of birds that use the Necedah NWR throughout the year. Golden-winged warblers, whose population is in decline, can be viewed from May through summer. Bald eagles can be seen year-round, and each fall, thousands of waterfowl and sandhill cranes stop at the refuge during migration.
Several hiking trails offer a chance to view wildlife away from the road. The Boghaunter Trail and Lupine Loop both have photo blinds. Bring some containers from July 1 through August 15 to pick berries, including raspberries, elderberries, and huckleberries. Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are popular in the winter.
No matter when you visit the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge, you are sure to have a great time.
