Horicon National Wildlife Refuge
Answers field/weather and mapped habitat context; it does not predict migration or bird presence.
Today and tomorrow are broadly similar
The difference is only 4 points (81/100 today, 77/100 tomorrow), so there is no strong conditions-based reason to postpone solely for the forecast. The main forecast change is that maximum wind rises from 5 to 10 mph, and peak rain probability rises from 40% to 73%.
Most important: Mapped wetland habitat: The surrounding area has a substantial mapped wetland footprint. That supports habitat context, but it does not prove birds are present today.
What the numbers actually change
Mapped wetland habitat
9,444 acres within 10 miThe surrounding area has a substantial mapped wetland footprint. That supports habitat context, but it does not prove birds are present today.
Wind / field setup
5 mph maxVery light wind may make some setups feel static, but this does not predict migration.
Official recreation record
Source: Recreation.gov / RIDB. Verify current reservation, closure and facility details on the official service.
At more than 33,000 acres, Horicon Marsh is one of the largest freshwater marshes in the United States and is a critical rest stop for thousands of migrating ducks and Canada geese. It is recognized as a Wetland of International Importance, as both Globally and State Important Bird Areas and is also a unit of the Ice Age Scientific Reserve. Located in Dodge and Fond du Lac counties, Horicon Marsh is fed by the Rock…
Official directions: To reach the refuge office/visitor center from Waupun, go 7 miles east on State Highway 49 and 3.5 miles south on County Road Z. From Milwaukee, take 41 north to the Brownsville exit, go west on Highway 49 and 3.5 miles south on County Road Z. From Madison, take 151 north to Highway 49, go…
Terrain context
Sampled terrain is planning context, not a survey or route assessment.
Wetland context
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service National Wetlands Inventory. Mapping is not a regulatory wetland determination or property-boundary survey.
9,444 mapped wetland acres were returned within the 10-mile query area.
Important gaps
- Regional snow/freeze progression, crop/food context and live bird observations are not yet part of this score; do not treat it as a migration forecast.
Gear justified by these conditions
Packable waterproof shell
The forecast contains a meaningful precipitation risk, so this recommendation is tied directly to today’s conditions.
See options on Amazon →Waterproof field bag
The mapped wetland footprint makes waterproof storage more relevant than on a dry-land outing.
See options on Amazon →