News
In the links below, we’re excited to share articles, interviews, and press releases about our work. If you are a member of the media, please reach out to our communications director.
Shelly Torkelson
Director of Communications
(608) 409-3113
Shelly.Torkelson@WisConservation.org
Shelly Torkelson (she/her) oversees the Foundation's strategic communications, public relations, and marketing. She tells our stories of positive impact on the land, broadens awareness of our programs, and creates connections with key audiences.
Press Releases
WISCONSIN FAT BIRD WEEK CROWNS A WINNER
[May 12, 2025] The public has chosen their favorite from 8 “chonky” contestants during an effort to raise awareness about the plight of Wisconsin’s native birds.
VOTING STARTS THIS FRIDAY FOR FAT BIRD WEEK
[April 28, 2025] Vote for your favorite chonky bird each day starting this Friday during the second annual Wisconsin Fat Bird Week, hosted by the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin and SOS Save Our Songbirds.
WISCONSIN FAT BIRD WEEK IS BACK
[April 21, 2025] Let’s celebrate our state’s chunkiest native birds! Every day from May 2nd to May 9th you’ll get the chance to vote for your favorite bulbous bird in a bracket-style elimination tournament, and learn how to help them along the way.
THE GREAT WISCONSIN BIRDATHON STARTS APRIL 15
[April 10, 2025] The largest bird conservation fundraiser in the state, Great Wisconsin Birdathon, begins next week on Tuesday. The Birdathon connects bird enthusiasts across the state during peak bird migration, April 15 through June 15.
FIELD TRIP REGISTRATION OPENS APRIL 8
[March 31st, 2025] Registration day is almost here! NRF encourages people who are interested in Field Trips to join or renew their NRF memberships and be ready on April 8th at noon with a list of which of the 278 trips they hope to attend.
ADVENTURES FOR ALL ON NRF FIELD TRIPS
[March 11th, 2025] The Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin’s popular Field Trip program returns with 278 trips across the state for 2025. Registration opens at noon on April 8th.
11TH ANNUAL NATURE PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS
[February 18th, 2025] A rock-flanked peek at a Door County sunrise, a shot of two snuggling screech owls taken from inside a car, and a wildflower festooned with perfect dewdrops were some of the nature photos selected as the best of the year.
NEW SHORT FILM ABOUT CLIMATE ADAPTATION
[February 13th, 2025] The Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin (NRF) and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) invite the public to a free virtual showing of the new short film, “Weathering the Change: Climate Adaptation at Rush Creek” on Wednesday, Feb. 19 at noon.
GRANTS FROM CHERISH WISCONSIN OUTDOORS FUND
[October 29th, 2024] The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin (NRF) encourage hunters purchasing their licenses to consider donating to the Cherish Wisconsin Outdoors Fund, which helps fund conservation projects around the state.
FREE FILM SCREENINGS ON 9/29 and 9/30
[September 25th, 2024] The Madison area community is invited to screenings of the new film An Invitation to Wonder: Waubesa Wetlands by Ben Albert.
NRF’S 11TH ANNUAL PHOTO CONTEST
[September 17th, 2024] The Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin has announced the opening of this year’s photo contest with new categories and prizes. To enter, submit your photos by November 1st.
WISCONSIN FAT BIRD WEEK IS HERE
[April 22nd, 2024] Bird lovers are now voting daily for their favorite “chonky” native birds. The winning bird will be announced at a webinar on April 30, where attendees will also learn the top four ways to help keep our state’s birds fat and healthy (presented by NRF and SOS Save Our Songbirds).
SPREADING THE LOVE OF BIRDING
[April 16th, 2024] The BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin will distribute birding backpacks to neighborhood centers and schools in Madison and Milwaukee with support from NRF.
THE GREAT WISCONSIN BIRDATHON STARTS MONDAY 4/15
[April 10th, 2024] Birders across the state are gearing up for the Great Wisconsin Birdathon, the largest bird conservation fundraiser in the state, which runs from 4/15 through 6/15.
WISCONSIN FAT BIRD WEEK VOTING STARTS APRIL 19TH
[April 4th, 2024] Bird lovers can vote for their favorite bulbous bird every day from Friday, April 19, to Friday, April 26 in the first-ever Fat Bird Week online contest. The winning bird will be announced at a webinar on April 30, where attendees will also learn the top four ways to help keep our state’s birds fat and healthy (presented by NRF and SOS Save Our Songbirds).
FIELD TRIP REGISTRATION OPENS THIS WEEK
[April 1st, 2024] Registration opens at noon on April 4th for NRF’s popular Field Trips program. NRF encourages people to renew their NRF membership and be ready with their wish list of trips right away when registration opens.
275 FIELD TRIPS EXPLORING WISCONSIN’S HIDDEN GEMS
[March 12th, 2024] The Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin’s popular Field Trips will be back this year with a record 275 trips across the state. Registration opens at noon on April 4th.
10TH ANNUAL NATURE PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS
[February 20th, 2024] A stunning sunset, backyard blue jay in flight, and sandhill crane family moment garner top honors in the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin’s 10th Annual Photo Contest.
219 CONSERVATION PROJECTS TO WATCH IN WISCONSIN
[January 30th, 2024] The Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin announces all the conservation and environmental education projects funded by $948,000 in grants this year.
Headlines
May 14, 2025: Fat Bird Week returns (Newsomatic)
May 12, 2025: Wisconsin Fat Bird Week winner (Civic Media: Matenaer on Air at 15:50)
May 12, 2025: Winner announced in Wisconsin Fat Bird Week contest (WSAW)
May 12, 2025: Fat Bird Week crowns Spherical White-throated Sparrow as 2025 winner (News8000 LaCrosse)
May 12, 2025: Spherical White-throated Sparrow flies away with honors (Green Bay Press-Gazette)
May 12, 2025: The 2025 WI Fat Bird Week winner has been crowned! (WIProud.com)
May 7, 2025: Wisconsin Fat Bird Week 2025 (103.3 The North)
May 2, 2025: Wisconsin Fat Bird Week (TMJ4 What’s Brewing Wisconsin)
May 1, 2025: Taking care of Wisconsin’s birds with Lisa Gaumnitz (Civic Media: Todd Allbaugh Show at 22:45)
May 1, 2025: Wisconsin Fat Bird Week May 2-9 (Door County Pulse)
April 30, 2025: Wisconsin Fat Bird Week celebrates Junco in the Trunko and other chonky feathered friends (Green Bay Press-Gazette)
April 30, 2025: This hour is for the birds (Civic Media: Matenaer on Air at 22:20)
April 28, 2025: Wisconsin Fat Bird Week is coming! (WIProud.com)
April 27, 2025: Wisconsin Fat Bird Week is back (Spooner Advocate)
April 24, 2025: Wisconsin Field Trip Guide 2025 (103.3 The North)
April 23, 2025: Wisconsin Fat Bird Week returns (WAOW)
April 21, 2025: Fat Bird Week flies its way back in May (Fox47)
April 21, 2025: Great Wisconsin Birdathon returns (WJJQ Northwoods)
April 17, 2025: NRF Field Trips (Outdoors Radio at 30:20)
April 17, 2025: Great Wisconsin Birdathon is on (Door County Pulse)
April 16, 2025: Aid species during spring migration (Hoodline MKE)
April 15, 2025: Help birds during spring migration (WDNR)
April 11, 2025: Great WI Birdathon kicks off next week (WKOW)
April 11, 2025: Great WI Birdathon kicks off April 15 (WQOW)
April 10, 2025: 8 Rare birds you can find in Wisconsin (WIProud.com)
April 3, 2025: Field Tripping in Door County (Door County Pulse)
April 3, 2025: Looking to get away in WI? Try an NRF Field Trip (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
March 31, 2025: NRF opens up full list of Field Trip opportunities (WKOW)
March 31, 2025: Enjoy an Outdoor Adventure on NRF Field Trips (WDNR)
March 18, 2025: Great Wisconsin Birdathon (Outdoors Radio show #2013 at 7:10)
March 28, 2025: Wild Things: Field Trips planned (Door County Pulse)
March 19, 2025: Return to Spur Lake Film at Wild and Scenic Film Festival (NBC15)
March 6, 2025: Donate to Cherish with fishing license renewals (Outdoors Radio show #2010 at 7:15)
March 6, 2025: Outdoor opportunities: no experience needed (WNR Magazine)
March 4, 2025: Finding joy again through birding (Madison Locally Sourced)
February 26, 2025: Spend long summer days giving back to our landscape (Madison Magazine)
February 26, 2025: Door County lake photo earns best in state contest (Door County Daily News)
February 21, 2025: Wild things: It’s a fisheye for the win (Door County Pulse)
February 21, 2025: Unique sunrise image wins statewide nature photo contest (Green Bay Press Gazette)
February 18, 2025: Natural Resources Foundation Photo Contest winners (WKOW)
February 14, 2025: DNR and NRF to host virtual climate change film showing (Fox47)
February 13, 2025: New short film highlighting conservation work at Rush Creek (WDNR)
December 16, 2024: Efforts to list the monarch butterfly (WUWM Lake Effect)
November 22, 2024: Cherish Wisconsin Outdoors Fund (Outdoors Radio at 36:05)
November 18, 2024: Land restoration at the Oneida Nation (WORT)
October 30, 2024: Wisconsin conservation efforts boosted with $80,000 in grants (Hoodline Milwaukee)
October 29, 2024: Parks in Dane, Sauk County selected as recipients of Cherish Wisconsin Outdoors Fund (WMTV15)
October 28, 2024: Restoring Lulu Lake State Natural Area (A Wealth of Nature)
October 7, 2024: Students pursue environmental experiences with diversity summer internships (UWM)
September 25, 2024: Conservation film invites all to free screening (WKOW)
September 1, 2024: NRF Field Trip: Banding efforts (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
July 1, 2024: Bringing New Faces to the Field (Madison Locally Sourced)
June 6, 2024: Conservation Innovation: Rush Creek project takes on climate change (WNR Magazine)
May 23, 2024: The Great Wisconsin Birdathon raises funds for bird conservation (WSAW)
May 14, 2024: Wild Rice is starting to grow on Spur Lake (WXPR)
May 6, 2024: 2024 Birdathon with the Flockadelics (Cambridge Deerfield News Independent)
May 6, 2024: Meet Wisconsin’s fat birds! (Newsomatic)
May 2, 2024: Statewide birdwatching marathon raises funds for conservation (Amery Free Press)
May 1, 2024: Wisconsin ‘Fat Bird Week’ crowns a chonky winner (Fox 47)
May 1, 2024: Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin announces winner of Fat Bird Week (WSAW)
May 1, 2024: Horned Lark named Wisconsin’s “chonkiest, floofiest bird” (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
April 29, 2024: See What You Can Find: NRF Foraging Trips (Madison Locally Sourced)
April 25, 2024: Forget Fat Bear Week, it’s Fat Bird Week in Wisconsin (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
April 23, 2024: Fat Bird Week (WXOW)
April 23, 2024: BIPOC Birding Club donates birding backpacks to community centers (WUWM)
April 22, 2024: Chunky chicks, conservation shine in first-ever Wisconsin Fat Bird Week (Channel 3000)
April 19, 2024: Great Wisconsin Birdathon (Outdoors Radio)
April 19, 2024: The Great Wisconsin Birdathon is On (WXPR)
April 18, 2024: Come on along with the Great Wisconsin Birdathon (WORT)
April 18, 2024: Celebrating the Great Wisconsin Birdathon (Madison Minute)
April 10, 2024: Cherish WI Outdoors Fund supports habitat management and restoration (Spectrum 1 News)
April 5, 2024: The first Wisconsin Fat Bird Week (WXOW)
April 4, 2024: First ever “Fat Bird Week” takes flight April 19th (Channel 3000)
April 4, 2024: Wisconsin Fat Bird Week voting to begin April 19th (WSAW)
April 3, 2024: Use guidebook to start planning your Wisconsin field trips (WiscNews)
April 1, 2024: Explore Wisconsin’s natural wonders on NRF Field Trips (WI DNR)
March 28, 2024: Field Trips double as conservation fundraisers (Door County Pulse)
March 15, 2024: Birding for a Cause (Wisconsin Natural Resources Magazine)
March 14, 2024: NRF field trips provide unique opportunities (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
March 8, 2024: NRF Internships increase diversity in conservation field (Badger Herald)
March 1, 2024: Registration for Field Trips starts April 4th (Outdoors Radio at 30:20)
February 23, 2024: Donate to Cherish WI Outdoors Fund when you renew your fishing license (Outdoors Radio at 16:00)
February 21, 2024: Natural Resources Foundation’s 2024 Field Trips (WPR Larry Meiller show)
February 19, 2024: Young Prairie: Restoration and Recreation (A Wealth of Nature)
February 13, 2024: Join the Wayfarers in exploring the outdoors in Madison and beyond (608 Today)
February 5, 2024: Cherish Wisconsin Outdoors Fund supports habitat restoration in the state (WORT)
Our Impact
Current Projects
Through our grantmaking programs, we support hundreds of organizations across Wisconsin, funding projects from statewide wildlife monitoring programs to creating butterfly gardens at local schools.
A Visual Timeline
Shelly Torkelson
Director of Communications
(608) 409-3113
Shelly.Torkelson@WisConservation.org
Shelly Torkelson (she/her) oversees the Foundation's strategic communications, public relations, and marketing. She tells our stories of positive impact on the land, broadens awareness of our programs, and creates connections with key audiences.
Banner photo by Lindsey Taylor