The largest bird conservation fundraiser in the state returns for its 15th year
MADISON - Wisconsin's bird enthusiasts have their eyes to the skies this week, ready to raise awareness and funding for bird conservation during the Great Wisconsin Birdathon.
Each spring from April 15 through June 15, Birdathon teams ranging from kindergarten classrooms and library teams to expert birders and conservation clubs challenge themselves to see how many birds they can spot during their birding outing—and how many donations they can collect from family and friends. 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. Whether sitting in the backyard or visiting birding hotspots, all participation is welcomed.
The event aims to engage hundreds of birders throughout the state and raise $130,000 this year. The Great Wisconsin Birdathon is coordinated by the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin (NRF) and has raised over $1 million total since it started in 2012. Proceeds from the event support NRF's Bird Protection Fund, which funds high priority bird conservation projects throughout Wisconsin including habitat creation, research, monitoring, education, and outreach.
NRF is a statewide nonprofit organization that protects Wisconsin's lands, waters, and wildlife by providing funding, leading partnerships, and connecting all people with nature. Since 1986, the Foundation has contributed more than $14 million to public and private conservation efforts and has supported 3,321 conservation projects.
In honor of NRF's 40th Anniversary in 2026, the Birdathon's Bird of the Year is the trumpeter swan! Trumpeter swans have made a remarkable comeback from less than a hundred individuals to over 11,000 thanks to the Trumpeter Swan Recovery Program, supported early on by NRF.
With three billion birds lost in North America over the past half-century, and significantly reduced populations of many Wisconsin birds that used to be common, efforts like the Great Wisconsin Birdathon are more critical than ever. NRF encourages all bird lovers, from novice birders to experts, to make a team and join in the fun during this year's Great Wisconsin Birdathon.
To make a donation, register your 2026 Birdathon team, or to learn more about the Bird Protection Fund and other projects supported by the Birdathon, visit www.WisConservation.org/Birdathon.