I began my Great Wisconsin Birdathon journey eight years ago and haven’t looked back since. There are many impactful aspects of participating and being captain of a team of passionate birders and conservationists.
I found the Birdathon during a time of family loss. Birding, or birdwatching, provided a distraction from my sorrow, a sense of purpose in raising funds for a cause I believed in, and a connection to nature that brought me peace. Not only did I want to succeed in competitive birding and team fundraising, but it also became a solace for dealing with my grief. Getting out and recording spring migration for the Birdathon helped me through a sad time.
As we know, nature has healing powers, but the feeling of being in a Birdathon pack is also healing—a pack of excited and likeminded people that crave the first sighting of a black-and-white warbler on their Birdathon eBird list. My pack walked new lands to grow our bird list, gathered to share food and talk about birds, and learned about ways to improve bird habitats on our state’s vital lands. This sense of community is deeply fulfilling.
Today, growing the teams and being a part of the Natural Resources Foundation (NRF) Great Wisconsin Birdathon planning committee, being captain for the Glacial Lakes Conservancy’s (GLC’s) Chickadees team, and creating a fun day of birding is something I look forward to every year. Since GLC is a land trust, we have access to protected lands that our team’s birders may not otherwise be able to see. Recruiting new birders, pairing them up with experienced birders, and seeing them grow over the years with the GLC team is fantastic.
Seeing the commitment of our team over the years to raise over $5,000 per year towards NRF Bird Protection Fund and GLC’s preservation of bird habitat in five key southeastern Wisconsin counties is compelling. And honestly, collecting the annual Great Wisconsin Birdathon t-shirt is quite satisfying. I encourage you to get involved, join a team, and raise money.
About the Great Wisconsin Birdathon
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, participants log their 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.
Participation is free, and all skill levels are welcome to join. How, when, and where people go birding is up to them. While most teams choose to compete over a 24-hour period, many 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 Great Wisconsin Birdathon is organized by the NRF of Wisconsin as part of their mission to protect our state’s lands, waters, and wildlife. Since it began in 2012, it has raised more than $1 million for bird protection in Wisconsin.
Projects supported by the Birdathon proceeds 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. The Bird Protection Fund Committee, made up of a group of Wisconsin bird conservation experts, helps determine where each year’s funds will have the most positive impact on our birds.
In 2024, more than 800 birders came together to raise $117,846 to protect Wisconsin’s birds. Get involved at wisconservation.org/Birdathon.
Jennifer Born Rutten is the executive director of Glacial Lakes Conservancy (GLC), a land trust. GLC is in its 29th year, has preserved 2,200 acres of land, and continues to grow. Jennifer has been a Birdathon team leader for the last four years and has been a part of the Natural Resources Foundation’s Birdathon planning committee for five years.
New to birding? Start with ducks!
When you begin your birdwatching journey, certain types of birds, like ducks, are better starters than others. Ducks are bigger bodied, slow moving, and allow for close viewing—ideal for honing your identification skills. Many ducks can be viewed close to shore and have unique identification features that help you easily distinguish the different species. We are fortunate to have a bounty of waterbodies in Wisconsin to go birding for waterfowl. Check out Horicon Marsh, Harrington Beach State Park, and University Bay.