This Giving Tuesday, your gift helps ensure Bald Eagles, loons, cranes, and songbirds continue to thrive in our state.

Founded in 1935, Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance has spent nine decades protecting habitat, advancing community science, and ensuring that bird populations across the state continue to thrive. This Giving Tuesday, we invite you to join us in celebrating this milestone by helping us reach our $20,000 fundraising goal in support of our core conservation programs.

Photo by Monica Hall

As winter sets in, smaller ponds and lakes in south-central Wisconsin freeze, causing migrating birds to become concentrated on Madison’s large lakes, which remain open longer. We will look for waterfowl, gulls, and winter birds. This trip has produced some unusual sightings in the past, including Red-throated Loons, so don’t miss it!

Photo by Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance

Come enjoy Fair Meadows Sanctuary during the Birding Day! This 374 acre sanctuary and State Natural Area has many trails and habitats to explore. During this Birding Day, attendees can grab a map, wipe their boots, and hit the trails independently. No guided walks are provided.

Fair Meadows Birding Days are held the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month, except in November.

Photo by Gary Shackelford

The annual Birds in Art exhibit at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in Wausau is a popular, long-standing, seasonal art exhibition that features paintings, sculptures and works on paper themed around birds. Each year offers a different selection of artworks, and this year’s collection is getting extra-rave reviews!

Photo courtesy of the Leigh Hawkey Woodson Art Museum

Join the Madison Nature Journal Club coordinator and Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance volunteer Amy Schleser at the UW Geology Museum to sketch, write, and wonder about the 100s and 100s of fossil and rock specimens… gems, metals, minerals, ancient water life, ancient land life, and a few huge skeletons of dinosaurs, a mastodon, and an ancient "armadillo."

Artwork by Amy Schelser

The Waterloo Christmas Bird Count is coordinated by Karen Etter Hale, and includes a section that encompasses most of our Favile Grove Sanctuary. We are looking for volunteers to count birds at Faville Grove Sanctuary in Jefferson County to help tally birds at that site to contribute to the broader Waterloo CBC. We will go out in groups to various parts of the sanctuary to document the birds we see and hear in those areas.

Photo by Brenna Marsice/SoWBA

Penny and Gary Shackelford, resident managers of Fair Meadows, have been tallying birds at the sanctuary since the early 2000’s, concurrently with the Fort Atkinson CBC. Starting in 2023, we began offering a separate and fun Fair Meadows Christmas Bird Count! Although Fair Meadows does not have its own CBC circle, we submit data to eBird as CBC data anyway.

Photo by Gary Shackelford

Madison is home to thousands of bird-lovers, just like you. The annual Christmas Bird Count is a great citizen science project that involves meeting other enthusiastic birders and helping collect important data about birds in the at the same time!

Photo by Monica Hall

Southern Wisconsin is home to a wonderful diversity of habitats and birds, including in winter! The annual Christmas Bird Count is a great citizen science project that involves meeting other enthusiastic birders and helping collect important data about birds at the same time. Join the Poynette Christmas Bird Count and help count birds at Goose Pond Sanctuary!

Photo by Arlene Koziol

There is simply no better way to start the New Year. We will enjoy the pre-dawn light as we meander through the prairie, arriving at the Mackenzie Overlook to see the sun rise over the beautiful Faville Marsh. We will spend the early morning exploring the winter marsh and surrounding uplands.

Photo by Drew Harry

Enjoy the nighttime woods on this evening Owl Prowl at Pheasant Branch Conservancy. Great Horned and Barred Owls are regularly seen in this area, and we may get lucky and find Screech Owls as well!

Cover photo by Arlene Koziol

Come enjoy Fair Meadows Sanctuary during the Birding Day! This 374 acre sanctuary and State Natural Area has many trails and habitats to explore. During this Birding Day, attendees can grab a map, wipe their boots, and hit the trails independently. No guided walks are provided.

Fair Meadows Birding Days are held the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month, except in November.

Photo by Gary Shackelford

Enjoy the nighttime woods on this evening Owl Prowl at Pheasant Branch Conservancy. Great Horned and Barred Owls are regularly seen in this area, and we may get lucky and find Screech Owls as well!

Cover photo by Phil Brown

Join us as we explore our beautiful Fair Meadows Sanctuary and State Natural Area in mid-winter. We will look and listen for birds and mammals, and enjoy the vistas of the prairies and woodlands in the quiet of the season, hopefully covered in snow. Woodpeckers, Blue Jays, Dark-eyed Juncos, and more are all expected to make an appearance. If we’re lucky, we might see otter slides and other mammal tracks!

Photo by Kelly Colgan Azar

Come enjoy Fair Meadows Sanctuary during the Birding Day! This 374 acre sanctuary and State Natural Area has many trails and habitats to explore. During this Birding Day, attendees can grab a map, wipe their boots, and hit the trails independently. No guided walks are provided.

Fair Meadows Birding Days are held the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month, except in November.

Photo by Gary Shackelford

How many cups of coffee do you drink a day? A week? How often do you reach for a bit of chocolate, or give it as an expression of love? Coffee and chocolate are fundamental to many of our lives, and now you can combine your love of coffee, chocolate AND birds by buying certified Smithsonian Bird Friendly® products! These products support biodiversity in tropical rainforests where many of Wisconsin’s long-distance migrants like the Golden-crowned Warbler winter!

Photo by Dave Curtis FCC

Come enjoy Fair Meadows Sanctuary during the Birding Day! This 374 acre sanctuary and State Natural Area has many trails and habitats to explore. During this Birding Day, attendees can grab a map, wipe their boots, and hit the trails independently. No guided walks are provided.

Fair Meadows Birding Days are held the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month, except in November.

Photo by Gary Shackelford

It's that time of year when flowers are cut off of plants in masses, put in vases, and are destined to wilt on table vases... So let's CHOP ‘EM UP instead and see what we can learn! Love or hate Valentine's day, this should be a fantastic event for the naturalist in you.

Artwork by Amy Schelser

Come enjoy Fair Meadows Sanctuary during the Birding Day! This 374 acre sanctuary and State Natural Area has many trails and habitats to explore. During this Birding Day, attendees can grab a map, wipe their boots, and hit the trails independently. No guided walks are provided.

Fair Meadows Birding Days are held the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month, except in November.

Photo by Gary Shackelford

Come enjoy Fair Meadows Sanctuary during the Birding Day! This 374 acre sanctuary and State Natural Area has many trails and habitats to explore. During this Birding Day, attendees can grab a map, wipe their boots, and hit the trails independently. No guided walks are provided.

Fair Meadows Birding Days are held the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month, except in November.

Photo by Gary Shackelford

This field trip is designed for folks new to birding, and is family-friendly! We will explore the wonderful Cherokee Marsh North Unit, enjoying the sights and sounds of winter. We will share bird ID and talk about how to tell that bird species apart from others. This is a low-key, slow paced, no-pressure outing for beginners.

Photo by Courtney Celley/USFWS

This spring, when you order native plants through our special Native Plant Sale with Johnson’s Nursery out of Menomonee Falls, you get native plants delivered to Middleton, WI in May AND 15% of the sale totals go to Holy Wisdom Monastery, SOS Save Our Songbirds, and Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance.

Photo by Courtney Celley/USFWS

Come enjoy Fair Meadows Sanctuary during the Birding Day! This 374 acre sanctuary and State Natural Area has many trails and habitats to explore. During this Birding Day, attendees can grab a map, wipe their boots, and hit the trails independently. No guided walks are provided.

Fair Meadows Birding Days are held the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month, except in November.

Photo by Gary Shackelford

Are you curious about birds but not sure how to get started? Geared specifically towards people who newer to birding or venturing out for one of the first times, we’ll identify birds together at Nine Springs.

Photo via Pixabay

This spring, when you order native plants through our special Native Plant Sale with Johnson’s Nursery out of Menomonee Falls, you get native plants delivered to Middleton, WI in May AND 15% of the sale totals go to Holy Wisdom Monastery, SOS Save Our Songbirds, and Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance.

Photo by Courtney Celley/USFWS

Meet at the kiosk along Prairie Lane for an evening spent enjoying the unique spring displays of woodcock and snipe. Be prepared to be fascinated by the woodcock’s acrobatic flight, and to learn about the natural history of one of Aldo Leopold’s favorite birds. Binoculars are recommended.

Photo by Arlene Koziol.

If you love all things nature and want to get to know the birds you'll find in and around Madison, this class is for you. This is a four-part session with both classroom and field-based learning, and geared toward adults. Each day involves a slightly more advanced set of skills and information, but this course is intended for entry-level birders. This is a judgement-free bird learning experience; join us!

Photo by Kelly Colgan Azar

eBird is a community science platform where you can record bird observations. It keeps track of your life list, helps you discover new birding locations, and shows you what other birders in the community are finding. This online class will teach you the main functions and tools of the eBird mobile app for your smartphone, so you can be creating checklists on the go! Learn how to submit your observations, discover birding hotspots, and explore recent sightings all from your phone.

Photo by Caitlyn Schuchhardt

This morning trip is especially for beginning birders looking to grow their skills! Come to have your bird questions answered and get help identifying all of those small, streaky brown birds and distant ducks! We'll also be keeping our eyes out for any exciting spring migrants! The walk will be on even trails at a leisurely pace so bring the whole family! We will have binoculars for loan.

Photo by Arlene Koziol

This spring, when you order native plants through our special Native Plant Sale with Johnson’s Nursery out of Menomonee Falls, you get native plants delivered to Middleton, WI in May AND 15% of the sale totals go to Holy Wisdom Monastery, SOS Save Our Songbirds, and Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance.

Photo by Courtney Celley/USFWS

The Mississippi is a major migration route for numerous birds and the rugged bluffs make this breathtaking scenery a beautiful spot for a spring adventure. Observe hawks, warblers (including yellow-throated), lots of other birds, and a few spring wildflowers.

Photo by Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance

Experience restorations of various stages from recent plantings to a well-developed 29-year old prairie. Other habitat features of this landscape include: a shallow wetlands, open water marsh/tamarack-sphagnum bogs, woodlands, and a black oak savanna. Join us for an enjoyable hike as we discuss the site’s history, stages of restorations, bird and plant identification, and more.

Photo by Brenna Marsicek/SoWBA

Fair Meadows Sanctuary and State Natural Area is full of vibrant bird life! Come explore this incredible sanctuary and learn about the birds that use the many habitats found here.

Photo by Gary Shackelford

With over two dozen warblers moving in and through Madison this time of year, we always have fun tallying up how many we can find! Early orioles or lingering waterfowl are also a possibility. Those new to birding and to experienced birders are welcome.

Photo by David Rihn

With over two dozen warblers moving in and through Madison this time of year, we always have fun tallying up how many we can find! Come enjoy the sunrise from the Arboretum and listen to the morning chorus.

Photo by Monica Hall

Build a 5-plant native garden for your balcony, patio or porch to bolster birds, bees and butterflies! 

Join Eric Manges of Eric Manges Nature, Holy Wisdom Monastery, SOS Save Our Songbirds, and Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance for a presentation about growing native plants in any location — including a small balcony or front porch — and how that container of native plants can support wildlife.

Photo by Eric Manges

Join us for an evening stroll that is filled with the evening sounds of nature. Frogs, toads, and evening-active birds are calling heartily this time of year, and because each species has their own unique sound, we can identify which species are present even without seeing them.

Cover photo by Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren

Birding is a fun, rewarding hobby — but can be a bit intimidating to get into! This Beginning Birders event is designed to give you an easy, welcoming entry-point to birding. We will walk slowly through the Arboretum, looking and listening for birds, identifying the ones we find, and talking about how to tell them apart. No pressure, no judgement, just fun!

Photo by Rob Streiffer

With over two dozen warblers moving in and through Madison this time of year, we always have fun tallying up how many we can find! Early orioles or lingering waterfowl are also a possibility. Those new to birding and to experienced birders are welcome.

Photo by Kelly Colgan Azar

With over two dozen warblers moving in and through Madison this time of year, we always have fun tallying up how many we can find! Come enjoy the sunrise from the Arboretum and listen to the morning chorus.

Photo by Monica Hall

Join fellow bird lovers of all skill levels on a slow-paced walk at Fish Camp County Park to listen and look for birds! Fish Camp County Park in McFarland is located along the shores of Lake Kegonsa, with trees, native prairie plantings, and wetlands all in the park. We expect to find lots of great migrating and resident bird species. We’ll walk on paved trails and board walk to enjoy this natural area.

Photo by Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren

May is a great month to explore New Glarus Woods State Park. Birders of all skill levels are welcome! We will hike the south side of the park through mature woods and restored prairies. Come see what spring migrants are visiting. The park is normally home to a variety of woodpeckers, songbirds, and wildlife such as deer, squirrels and turkeys. Best for hikers in good physical condition.

Photo by Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren

With over two dozen warblers moving in and through Madison this time of year, we always have fun tallying up how many we can find! Come enjoy the sunrise from the Arboretum and listen to the morning chorus.

Photo by Cynthia Bridge

Birding is a fun, rewarding hobby — but can be a bit intimidating to get into! This Beginning Birders event is designed to give you an easy, welcoming entry-point to birding. We will walk slowly through the Arboretum, looking and listening for birds, identifying the ones we find, and talking about how to tell them apart. No pressure, no judgement, just fun!

Photo by Rob Streiffer

In a celebration of early summer, we'll hike the paths to listen, see, and smell the natural world on what should be a warm summer’s eve. This is the peak time of the year to see bats, glowworms and fireflies, and hear the calls of owls in the woods and the frogs, toads and night birds of the ponds and marshes. The spectacular display of fireflies at this site alone is worth the hike, and we may also get to hear the calls of coyotes nearby.

Photo by Gary Shackelford

Join fellow bird lovers of all skill levels on a slow-paced walk at Fish Camp County Park to listen and look for birds! Fish Camp County Park in McFarland is located along the shores of Lake Kegonsa, with trees, native prairie plantings, and wetlands all in the park. We expect to find lots of great migrating and resident bird species. We’ll walk on paved trails and board walk to enjoy this natural area.

Photo by Arlene Koziol

Fair Meadows Sanctuary is full of diverse life in the summer! Join us for a hike through the prairies to see and learn about the plants in bloom, the insects that buzz around them, and the birds that nest, forage, and rest in these habitats.

Photo by Gary Shackelford

Grab the kids and join us for a fun morning outdoors learning about nature! Read a great pond-related children’s book, learn about what lives in a pond, learn how to and try dipping for pond critters, use magnifying glasses to see the critters close-up.

Photo by Carolyn Byers/SoWBA

Dragonflies are a fascinating and exciting group of animals to observe, and Fair Meadows Sanctuary has them in spades! Join us for a field trip that focuses on spotting, identifying, and learning about the many dragonfly species that call Fair Meadows home.

Photo by Gary Shackelford

Join fellow bird lovers of all skill levels on a slow-paced walk at Fish Camp County Park to listen and look for birds! Fish Camp County Park in McFarland is located along the shores of Lake Kegonsa, with trees, native prairie plantings, and wetlands all in the park. We expect to find lots of great migrating and resident bird species. We’ll walk on paved trails and board walk to enjoy this natural area.

Photo by Arlene Koziol

Join us for a summer evening to watch Barn Swallows feeding and coming into the barn to roost for the evening, and counting bats coming out for their nightly foraging! This exciting, marvelous event is part of the Wisconsin Bat Program surveys coordinated by the Wisconsin DNR.

Photo by Jared Kelly FCC

Join fellow bird lovers of all skill levels on a slow-paced walk at Fish Camp County Park to listen and look for birds! Fish Camp County Park in McFarland is located along the shores of Lake Kegonsa, with trees, native prairie plantings, and wetlands all in the park. We expect to find lots of great migrating and resident bird species. We’ll walk on paved trails and board walk to enjoy this natural area.

Photo by Kelly Colgan Azar

Smith-Reiner Drumlin Prairie is a small parcel owned and managed by The Prairie Enthusiasts and a State Natural Area. It has 13 acres of remnant prairie between the two glacial drumlins. The drumlins will be covered with rough and cylindrical blazing stars and the valleys in between will have gay feather. This should be a monarch and grassland bird hotspot. Gentians and other prairie specialist flowers will also be blooming. This is a trip in conjunction with Southern Wisconsin Butterfly Association and The Prairie Enthusiasts.

Photo by Joshua Mayer

This field trip is full. Join the waiting list. Prairies in fall can be spectacularly beautiful.  On this trip you will immerse yourself in the textures, colors, sounds, and smells of fall at Faville Grove. We will meet by the Kiosk at W7480 Prairie Lane, Lake Mills, and then tour the Prairie Lane restorations and take in the fall landscape with its autumn colors including late blooming wildflowers (such as gentians, asters, and goldenrods), talk about the role of seed collecting in our restorations, and more.

Photo by Jeff Pieterick

September is a great month to explore New Glarus Woods State Park. Birders of all skill levels are welcome! We will hike the south side of the park through mature woods and restored prairies. Come see what fall migrants are visiting. The park is normally home to a variety of woodpeckers, songbirds, and wildlife such as deer, squirrels and turkeys. Best for hikers in good physical condition.

Photo by Mick Thompson

This morning trip is especially for new birders looking to grow their skills! Come to have your bird questions answered and get help identifying all of those small, streaky brown birds! We'll also be keeping our eyes out for any exciting migrants and recently fledged birds! The walk will be on even trails at a leisurely pace so bring the whole family! We will have binoculars for loan.

Photo by Arlene Koziol

As winter sets in, smaller ponds and lakes in south-central Wisconsin freeze, causing migrating birds to become concentrated on Madison’s large lakes, which remain open longer. We will look for waterfowl, gulls, and winter birds. This trip has produced some unusual sightings in the past, including Red-throated Loons, so don’t miss it!

Photo by Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance