Seeking Refuge: Wisconsin's Horicon Marsh

Horicon Marsh's trails and roads give just a taste of what you'll spot from the water. Marc Zuelsdorf, the owner of Horicon Marsh Boat Tours, offers both pontoon and paddling trips.

Drifting silently through the shallows, you might see two yellow-throated warblers chase each other in the treetops, fighting over a nesting area. Or carp bursting out of the water to snap up juicy bugs. Or a yellow-rumped warbler flashing his neon bottom.

A symphony of sounds surrounds paddlers: joyous whistles and trills, staccato clicks, sonorous tones and, sometimes, a single sweet note. Gliding back to the pier, Marc says, "You don't have to be a birder to come out here and enjoy birds." He's right, but visitors will learn another lesson: You don't have to be a bird to find refuge at Horicon Marsh.