Seniors Visit Horicon Marsh In Wisconsin

Know anything about a marsh?  This senior just knows that it has a lot of water and a lot of reeds plus waterfowl. Horicon Marsh, which encompasses both Horicon National Wildlife Refuge and Horicon Marsh State Wildlife Area, is the largest freshwater cattail marsh in the United States.

Located in the largely agricultural landscape of southeast Wisconsin, Horicon Marsh is 32,000 acres of cattail marsh, open water, brush, and hardwood forest, with grassland, woodlots, and agriculture in the uplands. That’s a whole lot of cattails folks.  This vast wetland is only one hour drive from Milwaukee and Madison.

While this marsh in renown for its migrant flocks of Canada geese, it is also home to more than 305 species of birds which have been sighted over the years.

Due to its importance to wildlife, Horicon Marsh has been designated as a “Wetland of International Importance” and a “Globally Important Bird Area.”

Seniors Meet The Redhead Duck

The Marsh is famous for its waterfowl, supporting huge numbers during migration, including some 250,000 Canada geese and 100,000 ducks in the fall. Significant numbers of shorebirds also use the marsh as a migratory stopover.

Horicon hosts the largest breeding population of Redhead (that’s a duck) east of the Mississippi River. So that you will know one when you see one, the adult drake has a blue bill, a red head and neck, a black breast, and yellow eyes. Quite a combination, huh? I loved that blue bill.

Also be on the lookout for Blue Heron and the Great Egret. Seniors, if you’re a birder or a naturalist or just someone who enjoys the beauty of nature, you are encouraged to visit Horicon Marsh.

The Horicon Marsh Bird Festival held in May focuses on introducing visitors to the many species of birds at the peak of the spring migration. There is also a sightseeing tour for the great introduction to the natural wonders of the Marsh.

 Seniors Enjoy Great Visitor Center

All the marsh nitty gritty is on this site.  Lodging, dining, temperatures, maps, stories, March photography suggestions and Marsh Recipes. The Education and Visitor center is a great place to start your visit. Senior visitors can watch “The Horicon Marsh Story” and learn about the history of Horicon Marsh, the wildlife and how the Marsh is managed.

Enjoy a lecture series held at 7 p.m. on the first Wednesday of the month. Presenters speak on a variety of topics like bats, black bear, and creating a bird friendly garden. Weekends through the fall feature programs that are free and open to the public. Check out the special events calendar for updates.

Senior travelers, when you are traveling through Wisconsin, remember this amazing Marsh. See you at Horicon. jeb