Family Friendly

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World Bird Migration Day: Bird Crafting for a Safer Migration
Oct
11
4:00 PM16:00
Family Friendly, Special Event

World Bird Migration Day: Bird Crafting for a Safer Migration

Celebrate World Bird Migration Day on Oct. 11 with an educational, hands-on crafting event! You will learn about incredible birds making epic journeys and what we can all do to reduce the threat of birds flying into our windows. 

Each attendee will receive at least one blank fabric bird body, which you can decorate to look like a species vulnerable to window collisions, or create your own make-believe bird. All completed birds will be sent to the artist Holly Greenberg, who is creating an educational art exhibit representing the 10,000 dead birds found by Chicago Bird Collision Monitors in 2023 after the birds hit windows.

Photo by Lisa Gaumnitz/SOS Save Our Songbirds

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Hillside Prairie Sanctuary Open House Days
Sep
19
to Sep 20
Family Friendly, Special Event

Hillside Prairie Sanctuary Open House Days

  • Hillside Prairie Sanctuary (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Hillside Prairie Sanctuary property is Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance’s newest sanctuary!

Join us for a special opportunity to explore its 348 acres during our Open House Days. On September 19 and 20 between 7am and 7pm, we will have a SoWBA staff person on site to welcome you, give you a map, suggest a few hiking trails to explore independently, and answer your questions.

Photo by Mark Martin

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CANCELLED FOR TONIGHT: Swift Week
Sep
10
6:30 PM18:30
Signature Field Trip, Family Friendly

CANCELLED FOR TONIGHT: Swift Week

The event for tonight (9/10) is cancelled. In addition to Swift Night Out, the BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin, the Feminist Bird Club - Madison Chapter, and Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance will also be hosting informal get togethers each evening to watch the swifts. We’re calling it Swift Week!

Photo by Brenna Marsicek/SoWBA

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Swift Week
Sep
9
6:30 PM18:30
Signature Field Trip, Family Friendly

Swift Week

  • Westminster Presbyterian Church (do not park here) (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

In addition to Swift Night Out, the BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin, the Feminist Bird Club - Madison Chapter, and Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance will also be hosting informal get togethers each evening to watch the swifts. We’re calling it Swift Week!

Photo by Brenna Marsicek/SoWBA

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Swift Week
Sep
7
6:30 PM18:30
Signature Field Trip, Family Friendly

Swift Week

  • Westminster Presbyterian Church (do not park here) (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

In addition to Swift Night Out, the BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin, the Feminist Bird Club - Madison Chapter, and Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance will also be hosting informal get togethers each evening to watch the swifts. We’re calling it Swift Week!

Photo by Brenna Marsicek/SoWBA

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CANCELLED: Swift Night Out
Sep
6
6:00 PM18:00
Signature Field Trip, Family Friendly, Special Event

CANCELLED: Swift Night Out

This event is cancelled. Swift Night Out returns this September, and we are collaborating with fellow bird-loving organizations to celebrate the incredible natural phenomenon of Chimney Swifts coming in to roost during migration! In addition to Swift Night Out, our organizations will also be hosting informal get togethers each evening to watch the swifts. We’re calling it Swift Week!

Hosted by BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin, the Feminist Bird Club - Madison Chapter, and Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance.

Photo by Steve Benoit

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Field Trip for Kids: Bird Hike for Kids
Aug
9
9:00 AM09:00
Family Friendly, Signature Field Trip

Field Trip for Kids: Bird Hike for Kids

Grab the kids and join us for a fun morning outdoors learning about nature in our Field Trips for Kids series this summer! On Saturday, August 9, we’ll be doing a Bird Hike for Kids! Enjoy the sights and sounds of birds in summer with a guided hike. Learn how to use binoculars and basic bird identification skills.

Photo by Carolyn Byers/SoWBA

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Bats and Barn Swallows
Jul
19
8:00 PM20:00
Citizen Science, Family Friendly, Fair Meadows, Signature Field Trip

Bats and Barn Swallows

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

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Exploring Erstad Prairie & Schoeneberg Marsh
Jul
18
9:30 AM09:30
Signature Field Trip, Family Friendly

Exploring Erstad Prairie & Schoeneberg Marsh

  • Erstad Prairie & Schoeneberg Marsh (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Together, these properties provide beautiful and high quality habitats for wetland, grassland, and savanna wildlife. We'll walk though Erstad Prairie on mowed trails and then shift over to Schoeneberg Marsh which has a parking lot a half mile away. The WPA has accessible hiking (paved path and boardwalk) which terminates at an overlook with a great view of the marsh.

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Field Trip for Kids: Insect Detectives
Jul
15
9:00 AM09:00
Family Friendly, Signature Field Trip

Field Trip for Kids: Insect Detectives

  • Cherokee Marsh Conservation Park - North Unit (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Grab the kids and join us for a fun morning outdoors learning about nature in our Field Trips for Kids series this summer! On Tuesday, July 15, we’re focusing on being Insect Detectives! Check out our bug collection (non-living), search for bugs using magnifying glasses, and discuss why insects are amazing and not always scary.

Photo by Carolyn Byers/SoWBA

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Field Trip for Kids: Pond Life!
Jun
24
9:00 AM09:00
Family Friendly, Signature Field Trip

Field Trip for Kids: Pond Life!

  • Lake Farm County Park Shelter #1 (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Grab the kids and join us for a fun morning outdoors learning about nature in our Field Trips for Kids series this summer! On Tuesday, June 24, we’re focusing on Pond Life! 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

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Bats and Barn Swallows (FULL)
Jun
8
7:30 PM19:30
Citizen Science, Family Friendly, Fair Meadows, Signature Field Trip

Bats and Barn Swallows (FULL)

This field trip is full. Join the waiting list. 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; Fair Meadows has been a site for surveys for X years.

Photo by Jared Kelly FCC

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Celebrating Black Birders' Week: A day at the Zoo (FULL)
May
31
8:00 AM08:00
Family Friendly, Special Event

Celebrating Black Birders' Week: A day at the Zoo (FULL)

Join us for Black Birders Week 2025 in Madison, Wisconsin with the BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin, Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance, and Henry Vilas Zoo! This special event is a great way for you to explore the Zoo before it opens to the public, looking and listening for wild birds that visit the property as well as captive birds that are on exhibit.

Photo by Eric Kilby FCC

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Spring Migration Celebration
May
9
10:00 AM10:00
Family Friendly, Special Event

Spring Migration Celebration

Spring migration is here and birds are on the move! Help celebrate the return of our amazing migratory birds like Baltimore Orioles, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, warblers, and more at this celebration. Activities for children and adults alike, including hummingbird mask-making, sewn bird decorating, information on native plants and a local native plant sale, how to make your home and windows safer for birds, and more!

Photo by Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren

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Beyond Backyard Birding: Lakeshore Nature Preserve (FULL)
May
3
7:30 AM07:30
Signature Field Trip, Family Friendly

Beyond Backyard Birding: Lakeshore Nature Preserve (FULL)

This field trip is full. Join the waiting list. This morning trip is especially for backyard 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

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Beginning Birders: Nine Springs (FULL)
Mar
29
5:30 PM17:30
Signature Field Trip, Beginning Birders, Family Friendly

Beginning Birders: Nine Springs (FULL)

This field trip is now full. Join the waiting list. 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

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Beginners Bird Walk (FULL)
Mar
1
9:00 AM09:00
Beginning Birders, Family Friendly, Signature Field Trip

Beginners Bird Walk (FULL)

This field trip is now full. Join the waiting list. 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

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Swift Week: Cherokee Heights Middle School
Sep
14
6:30 PM18:30
Signature Field Trip, Family Friendly

Swift Week: Cherokee Heights Middle School

  • Cherokee Heights Middle School (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

New this year: In addition to Swift Night Out, the BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin, the Feminist Bird Club - Madison Chapter, and Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance will also be hosting informal get togethers each evening to watch the swifts. We’re calling it Swift Week!

Photo by Brenna Marsicek/SoWBA

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Swift Week: Cherokee Heights Middle School
Sep
11
6:30 PM18:30
Signature Field Trip, Family Friendly

Swift Week: Cherokee Heights Middle School

  • Cherokee Heights Middle School (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

New this year: In addition to Swift Night Out, the BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin, the Feminist Bird Club - Madison Chapter, and Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance will also be hosting informal get togethers each evening to watch the swifts. We’re calling it Swift Week!

Photo by Brenna Marsicek/SoWBA

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Swift Week: Cherokee Heights Middle School
Sep
10
6:30 PM18:30
Signature Field Trip, Family Friendly

Swift Week: Cherokee Heights Middle School

  • Cherokee Heights Middle School (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

New this year: In addition to Swift Night Out, the BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin, the Feminist Bird Club - Madison Chapter, and Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance will also be hosting informal get togethers each evening to watch the swifts. We’re calling it Swift Week!

Photo by Brenna Marsicek/SoWBA

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Swift Week: Cherokee Heights Middle School
Sep
9
6:30 PM18:30
Signature Field Trip, Family Friendly

Swift Week: Cherokee Heights Middle School

  • Cherokee Heights Middle School (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

New this year: In addition to Swift Night Out, the BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin, the Feminist Bird Club - Madison Chapter, and Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance will also be hosting informal get togethers each evening to watch the swifts. We’re calling it Swift Week!

Photo by Brenna Marsicek/SoWBA

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Swift Week: Cherokee Heights Middle School
Sep
8
6:30 PM18:30
Signature Field Trip, Family Friendly

Swift Week: Cherokee Heights Middle School

  • Cherokee Heights Middle School (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

New this year: In addition to Swift Night Out, the BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin, the Feminist Bird Club - Madison Chapter, and Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance will also be hosting informal get togethers each evening to watch the swifts. We’re calling it Swift Week!

Photo by Brenna Marsicek/SoWBA

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Swift Night Out + Swift Week
Sep
7
6:00 PM18:00
Signature Field Trip, Family Friendly, Special Event

Swift Night Out + Swift Week

  • Cherokee Heights Middle School (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Swift Night Out returns this September, and we are collaborating with fellow bird-loving organizations to celebrate the incredible natural phenomenon of Chimney Swifts coming in to roost during migration! In addition to Swift Night Out, our organizations will also be hosting informal get togethers each evening to watch the swifts. We’re calling it Swift Week!

Hosted by BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin, the Feminist Bird Club - Madison Chapter, and Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance.

Photo by Steve Benoit

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