With all the avian traffic we get here in Wisconsin - especially during the spring and fall migrations - you'd be forgiven if you occasionally thought of us more as the Birder State than the Badger State. Folks follow these seasonal visitors and winged residents, flocking to internationally renowned spots like Horicon Marsh and Crex Meadows. But there are also plenty of smaller, more intimate locales that see plenty of ornithological action - and fewer clambering visitors - in Wisconsin. One such place is Schlitz Audubon Nature Center, which is located right in Milwaukee.

Don't get me wrong - Schlitz Audubon Nature Center is pretty well known in the area, but most of the visitors here are Milwaukee locals and not out-of-staters from Ohio or, worse, those flocking Illinois birders (just kidding - we love you guys!). This makes for a more laid-back, birding experience. Fortunately, the birds, themselves, are all business here. The center is located along the Lake Michigan flyway and within a designated Important Bird Area. More than 262 species have been recorded at Schlitz Audubon over the last 50 or so years.

Many of these are migratory, like the 36 warbler species that've been identified on nature center property. Others are year-round residents that enjoy the wide array of diverse habitats - from Lake Michigan shoreline to marsh and wetlands to hardwood forest - the center's 185 acres have to offer.

And it's not just birds and birders who enjoy the nature center's six miles of hiking trails that include accessible, paved pathways, wooded footpaths, and boardwalks. Plenty of other animals and nature lovers of all sorts enjoy time at Schlitz Audubon. There's even a 60-foot observation tower that you can climb for your own bird's-eye view of the area. Check out AllTrails Plus for trail information and previews.

The nature center's trails are open daily, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., throughout the year, so you can take advantage of this unique space in all seasons - even winter. There are plenty of resident birds and animals that overwinter here, like the eastern screech owl, and snowshoes are available for use on the trails.

There is a small entrance fee for non-members who wish to enjoy the facilities. But if you ask me, this Milwaukee gem is a birder's paradise in Wisconsin. In spring and fall, you can literally see dozens of birds species on a single visit. For more information, check out Schlitz Audubon Nature Center's website.

Have you visited Schlitz Audubon Nature Center in Milwaukee? Let us know in the comments, and be sure to tell us some of your favorite birding spots in Wisconsin.