The Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin - Logo Circle

Great Wisconsin Birdathon

Registration for the 2024 Great Wisconsin Birdathon opens on March 15th!

How it works

The Great Wisconsin Birdathon is Wisconsin’s largest fundraiser for bird conservation. It’s like a walk-a-thon style fundraiser, but instead of logging miles, our participants are logging bird sightings! Each year, bird enthusiasts from across the state raise support and awareness for bird conservation by forming a team or donating to a team.

Birdathon teams can participate any day from April 15th to June 15th, and donations are accepted from March 15th to June 30th. Participation is free and all skill levels are welcome to join.

How, when, and where you bird is up to you. While most teams choose to compete over a 24-hour period, many teams opt to bird over the course of a weekend, a week, or even the entirety of the Birdathon! Teams can bird anywhere in Wisconsin — a backyard, a local park, or a route to hit all their favorite birding hot spots. Both novice and expert birders can have fun and make a difference in protecting birds — the Birdathon is for everyone!

NRF's Great Wisconsin Birdathon logo

We’re out to #BringBirdsBack

The Great Wisconsin Birdathon began in 2012 and since then has raised more than $900,000 for bird protection in Wisconsin.

The funds are collected and managed by the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin through the Bird Protection Fund.

Projects supported by the Bird Protection Fund include conservation of Wisconsin’s most threatened and endangered bird species; creation and protection of critical breeding, stopover, and overwintering habitat; research and monitoring; and education and outreach.

A bobolink perched on a thin branch

The bobolink is the Birdathon’s 2024 #BirdOfTheYear. Typically found in grasslands, this species is of special concern in Wisconsin with declining habitat. Photo by Andy Raupp

2023 Birdathon by the Numbers

 

 

Dollars raised

Birders participated statewide

Species of bird found

Thank you to our 2024 Great Wisconsin Birdathon sponsors!

2024 Birdathon sponsor logos

Stories from the Great Wisconsin Birdathon

2023 Birdathon Report

2023 Birdathon Report

The 2023 Great Wisconsin Birdathon Report is here! More teams, more birds, and more funds raised for bird conservation. 72 teams raised over $122,000 during our 11th season of birding for a cause.

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Soumika Gaddameedi

Soumika Gaddameedi

Event & Donor Relations Coordinator

(608) 409-3144
Soumi.Gaddameedi@WisConservation.org

Soumika Gaddameedi (she/her) coordinates the Great Wisconsin Birdathon and other special events to engage and inspire a statewide conservation community.

Banner photo by Caitlyn Schuchhardt.