Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance Events
Regardless of the time of year, there is always something fun, interesting, and inspiring to do with Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance (SoWBA)! Join in one of our upcoming events listed below. Registration for most field trips opens 6 weeks in advance, on the Monday of that week.
Explore further, safer, and steadier!
We are proud to offer a comfortable, outdoor, electric-powered wheelchair at most of our events & field trips—for free! > LEARN MORE HERE <
Have questions about upcoming events? Contact Brenna Marsicek, director of communications and outreach, at 608-255-2473 or bmarsicek@swibirds.org.
SoWBA’s field trip program is made possible, in part, through funding from the Henry A. Anderson III Fund.
>> SEE ALL UPCOMING EVENTS <<
Celebrate World Bird Migration Day on Oct. 10 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
Celebrate Bat Week with some popcorn and a movie that will inspire you! The Invisible Mammal is a feature length documentary about bat conservation and women in science, The Invisible Mammal follows an all-woman team of biologists who set out to save bats from a deadly fungal disease. When the COVID-19 pandemic interrupts their work, they are sent down a path of discovery that illuminates the connections between bat conservation and the spread of infectious disease.
Join UW Bat Brigade members and UW-Madison students for a walk through Lakeshore Nature Preserve looking for bats! Learn about the diversity of bats that use the area and see how tools like echolocation recorders and thermal imaging cameras make it possible to identify and document bat species in the area.
Photo by NABat FCC
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
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
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
Join UW Bat Brigade members and UW-Madison students for a walk through Lakeshore Nature Preserve looking for bats! Learn about the diversity of bats that use the area and see how tools like echolocation recorders and thermal imaging cameras make it possible to identify and document bat species in the area.
Photo by NABat 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
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
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
Late fall through winter is prime time to view dozens of waterfowl species that migrate through south-central Wisconsin. In this class, you'll learn about what species you can expect to find, useful field marks for identifying waterfowl in varied viewing conditions (especially if you don't have a scope!), helpful birding tips for waterfowl viewing, and recommended locations to visit. Before you know it, you'll be picking out a Redhead hiding in a raft of Canvasbacks!
Photo by Arlene Koziol
Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance has some of the largest restored prairies in Wisconsin. Our Goose Pond Sanctuary, located near Arlington, is a major part of SoWBA's restoration efforts... but our restoration work is only possible with the help of volunteers!
Seed collecting occurs almost every Saturday, 9:30-12:00 from Sept. 5-Nov. 14.
The meeting location varies each week. RSVP to Emma Raasch, Goose Pond Land Steward, at eraasch@swibirds.org, to get involved.
Photo by Carolyn Byers
Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance has some of the largest restored prairies in Wisconsin. Our Faville Grove Sanctuary, located just north of Lake Mills, is a major part of SoWBA's restoration efforts... but our restoration work is only possible with the help of volunteers!
Seed collecting at Faville Grove Sanctuary is held Sept. 2-Nov. 4, Wednesdays from 9:30am-12:00pm and Saturdays from 9:30am-12:00pm and 1:30-4:00pm. Saturday participants can choose to join the morning, or afternoon, or both sessions.
Photo by Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance
Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance has some of the largest restored prairies in Wisconsin. Our Faville Grove Sanctuary, located just north of Lake Mills, is a major part of SoWBA's restoration efforts... but our restoration work is only possible with the help of volunteers!
Seed collecting at Faville Grove Sanctuary is held Sept. 2-Nov. 4, Wednesdays from 9:30am-12:00pm and Saturdays from 9:30am-12:00pm and 1:30-4:00pm. Saturday participants can choose to join the morning, or afternoon, or both sessions.
Photo by Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance
Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance has some of the largest restored prairies in Wisconsin. Our Goose Pond Sanctuary, located near Arlington, is a major part of SoWBA's restoration efforts... but our restoration work is only possible with the help of volunteers!
Seed collecting occurs almost every Saturday, 9:30-12:00 from Sept. 5-Nov. 14.
The meeting location varies each week. RSVP to Emma Raasch, Goose Pond Land Steward, at eraasch@swibirds.org, to get involved.
Photo by Carolyn Byers
Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance has some of the largest restored prairies in Wisconsin. Our Faville Grove Sanctuary, located just north of Lake Mills, is a major part of SoWBA's restoration efforts... but our restoration work is only possible with the help of volunteers!
Seed collecting at Faville Grove Sanctuary is held Sept. 2-Nov. 4, Wednesdays from 9:30am-12:00pm and Saturdays from 9:30am-12:00pm and 1:30-4:00pm. Saturday participants can choose to join the morning, or afternoon, or both sessions.
Photo by Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance
Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance has some of the largest restored prairies in Wisconsin. Our Faville Grove Sanctuary, located just north of Lake Mills, is a major part of SoWBA's restoration efforts... but our restoration work is only possible with the help of volunteers!
Seed collecting at Faville Grove Sanctuary is held Sept. 2-Nov. 4, Wednesdays from 9:30am-12:00pm and Saturdays from 9:30am-12:00pm and 1:30-4:00pm. Saturday participants can choose to join the morning, or afternoon, or both sessions.
Photo by Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance
Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance has some of the largest restored prairies in Wisconsin. Our Goose Pond Sanctuary, located near Arlington, is a major part of SoWBA's restoration efforts... but our restoration work is only possible with the help of volunteers!
Seed collecting occurs almost every Saturday, 9:30-12:00 from Sept. 5-Nov. 14.
The meeting location varies each week. RSVP to Emma Raasch, Goose Pond Land Steward, at eraasch@swibirds.org, to get involved.
Photo by Carolyn Byers
Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance has some of the largest restored prairies in Wisconsin. Our Faville Grove Sanctuary, located just north of Lake Mills, is a major part of SoWBA's restoration efforts... but our restoration work is only possible with the help of volunteers!
Seed collecting at Faville Grove Sanctuary is held Sept. 2-Nov. 4, Wednesdays from 9:30am-12:00pm and Saturdays from 9:30am-12:00pm and 1:30-4:00pm. Saturday participants can choose to join the morning, or afternoon, or both sessions.
Photo by Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance
Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance has some of the largest restored prairies in Wisconsin. Our Faville Grove Sanctuary, located just north of Lake Mills, is a major part of SoWBA's restoration efforts... but our restoration work is only possible with the help of volunteers!
Seed collecting at Faville Grove Sanctuary is held Sept. 2-Nov. 4, Wednesdays from 9:30am-12:00pm and Saturdays from 9:30am-12:00pm and 1:30-4:00pm. Saturday participants can choose to join the morning, or afternoon, or both sessions.
Photo by Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance
Experience birds and explore the Chicago Field Museum like you never have before! On October 9, join us for an intimate, behind-the-scenes tour of the museum specifically for Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance, which includes the following special presentations and opportunities, including a guided tour of the Museum’s ornithology collection and bird collection, and meet the scientists in those labs.
Photo by Arlene Koziol