Radtke Point

Located south of the Wausau Airport. The park is accessed from Grand Avenue in Schofield on Radtke Street. Radtke Street dead ends at the park a few blocks from the Grand Avenue intersection. This park is rather small, maybe 5 or 6 acres, but it has a nice wooded shoreline. It sits above the lake by approximately 20 feet, thus making it an excellent location to view the middle section of Lake Wausau. Due to the park’s proximity to the Wausau Airport, one can also find a variety of grassland birds by checking the open fields of the airport property to the north. Spring and fall migration are the best time to visit this park. Walking out to the point, Rib Mountain is visible in the distance and the lake surface below. From Radtke Point one can scan over the lake to look for grebes, loons and waterfowl during both migrations. Highlights over the years include: Barrow’s Goldeneye (1 record, adult male seen on Nov. 1 – 5, 2003), Western Grebe (2 records), and Northern Mockingbird (1 record, April 21 – May 1, 2011). Other notable birds seen from this location include: Long-tailed Duck, all three scoters, and both Upland Sandpiper and Western Meadowlark (on the airport property). In addition, Tundra Swans and a variety of ducks are present in high numbers during spring migration.   Written by Dan Belter for eBird Hotspot of the Month, June 30, 2013.