How it works

The Great Wisconsin Birdathon is Wisconsin’s largest fundraiser for bird conservation. Each year bird enthusiasts from across the state form teams with the goal of finding as many bird species as possible within a 24-hour period while raising important funds for bird conservation.

It’s like a walk-a-thon-style fundraiser, but instead of logging miles, you’re logging bird sightings!

Birdathon teams can participate any day from April 15th to June 15th, and all skill levels are welcome to join! 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, 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 everybody!

The funds raised through the Great Wisconsin Birdathon go to the Bird Protection Fund, which supports our state’s highest priority bird conservation projects.

We’re out to #BringBirdsBack

The Great Wisconsin Birdathon began in 2012 and since then has raised more than $800,000 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.