Visitor Center: currently closed to the public. Discovery Trail open for hiking and porta potty available.
Main Dike Rd: currently open to vehicles as well as bicycling and hiking.
Old Marsh Rd: currently closed to hiking and bicycling.
Auto tour and trails off Hwy 49 open to the public, pit toilets available. Refuge remains open for fishing at bank fishing locations (Main Dike Road, Ledge Road, and Peachy Road). See maps for more information. Please remember to practice social distancing and avoid trails and parking areas that may be experiencing higher visitor use. Stay local, stay safe and enjoy! For questions email horicon@fws.gov or call 920-387-2658.
Refuge Map
Public Programs and Events
On refuge and marsh-wide.
*PLEASE NOTE THAT DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ALL PROGRAMS AND EVENTS HAVE BEEN CANCELLED OR POSTPONED.
10/29/2020
This is week six of waterbird surveys at the refuge for the fall migration. Southern Wisconsin saw the first measurable snow last weekend. This front moved many birds out of the area. Large groups of tundra swans arrived with the front – staying only a couple days. Big increases were seen in mallards (18,000+) and green-wing teal (17,000+).
Canada goose numbers remained the same- about 20,000 on the refuge. Corn harvest continues throughout the area. Geese, ducks, and cranes are flying out of the refuge several times a day to feed in the harvested fields.
Dabbling ducks were most numerous again this week. Impressive numbers of mallards and green-wing teal were seen this week on the survey. Top species seen in the thousands were mallards, American wigeon, gadwall, and Northern shovelers. Others seen in the hundreds included Northern pintails and American black ducks.
Diving duck numbers stayed about the same. Top species seen in the hundreds included ruddy ducks and buffleheads. Other species spotted in small flocks included redheads, ring-neck ducks, canvasbacks, hooded mergansers and scaup. Look for these divers along Hwy 49 –both sides of the highway.
Other sightings to note:
•Large rafts of American coot can still be seen – especially along Hwy 49.
•Sandhill crane numbers are increasing – watch for flocks in the hundreds in farm fields – especially along the east side of the marsh.
•Buffleheads and hooded mergansers arrived.
•Tundra swans arrived.
Check out the north side of Ledge Road (the west section of road that enters the marsh) – 13 species of ducks were seen along there including hundreds of gadwall, Northern Shoveler, American Wigeon and green-wing teal. The north side of Hwy 49 had 10 different species of ducks. Check this area for diving ducks. Redhead, canvasback, ruddy ducks, buffleheads, scaup, and hooded mergansers were seen. Bring binoculars and a spotting scope.
Horicon NWR Fall 2020 Migration Report