Birds are facing serious threats. But you can help.
You have the ability to inspire change and influence the future of Wisconsin’s wildlife, lands, and natural resources.
The science is staggering: wild bird populations have declined by almost 30% since 1970. That’s not a single species or two—it’s a loss of total birdlife, spanning across all biomes in the United States. Action is needed, and it’s needed right now.
Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance works closely with fellow conservation organizations, bird advocates, and community members to advance our mission to protect Wisconsin’s birds and their habitats. Read more about our priorities below, and be sure to sign up for our email list to receive timely alerts and actions that you can take to advocate for birds and their habitats close to home.
KEY Issues that Impact Birds and land
Climate change poses a real and serious threat to more than two-thirds of North America’s bird species. Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance (SoWBA) supports ecologically responsible renewable energy solutions that reduce carbon emissions and increase equitable access to clean energy while minimizing or eliminating potential dangers to Wisconsin’s wildlife.
(USFWS photo)
Lead poisoning
Lead ammunition and tackle are the main causes of lead poisoning in birds—such as eagles, loons, and swans—and can be detrimental to the environment and human health. SoWBA, along with a broad coalition of Wisconsin organizations, encourages initiatives to “get the lead out” to reduce these serious risks to wildlife and people alike.
(USFWS photo)
Habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation is a leading reason that Wisconsin’s species are at risk. The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program provided a source of funding for conservation organizations and local governments to purchase land, restore habitats, and enable better access to natural spaces throughout the state. But the program is unfunded as of June 2026. (photo: Gary Shackelford)
Urban habitat loss
The chimney at Cherokee Heights Middle School is a valuable roosting site for Chimney Swifts during their migration. But an upcoming remodel means that this important chimney needs to come down. SoWBA is raising funds to build a new chimney at the school that will provide a safe, permanent nesting and roosting site for Chimney Swifts.
(photo: Brenna Marsicek/SoWBA)
Collisions with glass and buildings may kill up to a billion birds each year in the United States. Since 2018, SoWBA’s Bird Collision Corps program has studied where collisions happen and partnered with site owners to implement solutions to reduce them. BCC data lead in part to Wisconsin’s first Bird-safe Glass Ordinance, enacted by the City of Madison in 2020. (photo: John Walker/ARPS)
80% of migrating songbirds need dark skies to navigate between breeding grounds and wintering grounds. Light pollution can draw them into areas that carry higher risks of collisions with buildings. SoWBA is a leading member of Lights Out Wisconsin, which works throughout Wisconsin to encourage responsible outdoor lighting at night to protect birds and other wildlife. (photo: Jeff Newcomb)
Wisconsin provides critical breeding grounds for the eastern migratory population of the Sandhill Crane, and a hunt poses uncertainties and dangers to this population. Wisconsinites do not want, and largely will not participate in, a crane hunt. Despite the fact that bills proposing a season have failed three times in recent memory, new proposals are possible.
(Pixabay photo)
Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance, along with partner organizations, created the Wisconsin Environmental Advocacy Coalition in 2024 in order to foster more collaboration on conservation-related issues. The Coalition meets regularly to discuss current conservation issues that face Wisconsin and what we can do to advocate to raise awareness for them. (USFWS photo)
Header photo by Arlene Koziol. A flock of Tree Swallows perched in a wetland.
