New Birding Guide Released by Wisconsin Department of Tourism

NEW CENTRAL SANDS REGION OF WISCONSIN BIRDING GUIDE RELEASED

MADISON, Wis. (Jan. 24, 2008) – Birdwatchers can take advantage of a new birding guide, courtesy of the Wisconsin Department of Tourism and the Department of Natural Resources. The new Central Sands Region edition of the Wisconsin Birding Guide is the fourth in a series of five guides highlighting areas of the Great Wisconsin Birding and Nature Trail.  Birders can order the free guide online at TravelWisconsin.com, by calling 1-800/432-TRIP/8747 or visiting a Wisconsin Welcome Center located in state-border cities.

            The Wisconsin Birding Guide/Central Sands Region edition is a full-color, 72-page publication printed in a 6-inches by 11-inches “glove-box” format.  The publication includes 17 counties and 78 waypoints, or important watchable wildlife sites. Each waypoint is illustrated with a small locator map, with breathtaking avian photography enlivening the guide. Narrative copy describes each site, along with a contact phone number and Web site address. The guide also includes information about the site’s signature and rare species, a gazetteer reference, seasonality, parking options, directions to the waypoints and the nearest food and lodging.

The Great Wisconsin Birding and Nature Trail series of guides originated in 2004 with the development of the Lake Superior Northwoods edition, followed in 2005 by the Mississippi-Chippewa Rivers edition and the Lake Michigan edition in 2006. The fifth and final region, the Southern Savannah, will be covered in the 2008 edition. Each edition links waypoints in its region.

Counties featured in the Central Sands edition of the guide include: Adams, Calumet, Clark, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Juneau, Marathon, Marquette, Menominee, Monroe, Outagamie, Portage, Shawano, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago and Wood.

For additional Wisconsin travel-planning guides and information, the public can call the Wisconsin Department of Tourism’s toll-free number at 1-800-432-TRIP/8747 or visit TravelWisconsin.com.  Visitors can also obtain guides and information at the Wisconsin Welcome Centers, located in select state-border cities.

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