Great Wisconsin Birdathon

×

Expand

Caitlyn Schuchhardt

A group of birdwatchers.

Members of team Yes We Pelican! representing the Feminist Bird Club-Madison Chapter bird during the 2022 Great Wisconsin Birdathon.

(2023 Isthmus pick) Ready, set, bird! The Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin invites Wisconsin bird fanatics to participate in its annual fundraiser, The Great Wisconsin Birdathon. It's a very choose-your-own-adventure style activity for bird watchers of any level, solo or in a team, to pick a time and spot as many bird species as possible, with fundraising or donations by participants encouraged. The money raised goes to the Natural Resources Foundation’s Bird Protection Fund. Find more info and register at wisconservation.org.

media release: The Great Wisconsin Birdathon is the largest fundraiser for bird conservation in Wisconsin with over $900,000 raised since its start in 2012. It’s like a walk-a-thon-style fundraiser, but instead of logging miles, participants are logging bird sightings. Last spring, more than 500 people from across the state participated in the event to fund 11 critical bird conservation and education projects. These projects will protect Wisconsin’s threatened and endangered birds by restoring habitat, monitoring bird populations, and inspiring new bird conservationists..

Birdathon teams can participate any day from April 15 to June 15. Participation is free and no previous experience is necessary. While most teams choose to compete over a 24-hour period, many teams opt to bird over the course of a weekend, a week, or even the entirety of the two months. Teams can bird anywhere in Wisconsin– a backyard, local park, or a route to hit all their favorite birding hot spots. Both novice and expert birders can have fun and make a difference in protecting birds—the Birdathon is for everybody!