Migration Madness

For many, March means basketball—but for bird lovers, it’s all about migration! As spring arrives, so do many bird species returning to Wisconsin. To celebrate, we hosted Migration Madness, a fun, bracket-style competition where anyone could participate by voting for their favorite birds!

We’ve come a long way from the original 16 species participating in this friendly competition. Winning 62% of the popular vote, our 2026 Migration Madness Champion is the: Northern Saw-whet Owl!

If you submitted a bracket and are selected as a winner in the prize drawing, we will be in touch about mailing you your prize package soon. Thank you for participating!

Learn About Northern Saw-whet Owls:

The Northern Saw-whet Owl is the smallest owl in Wisconsin, around eight inches in length as adults. Though quite petite, they are fierce predators for many small mammals and insects, using their large yellow eyes to spot prey from great distances. These owls are common year-round residents in Wisconsin but seldom seen.

Fun Fact:
Northern Saw-whet Owls are named after their call, which sounds similar to a saw being sharpened on a whetstone.

Habitat & Where to Find at Schlitz Audubon:
Northern Saw-whets are elusive and difficult to spot, so they could be on the Schlitz Audubon property without anyone knowing. They prefer evergreens and dense foliage, so keep an eye out along the forested trails.

Nesting & Breeding:
These owls breed from January through May and can have more than one clutch in a year. They are cavity nesters and do not add much to their nests inside their selected tree cavity. Females are known to choose the nest, which is often an excavated hole made by a woodpecker. Northern Saw-whet Owls mate for life.