Great Wisconsin Birdathon
Thank you for helping us raise critical funds for Wisconsin’s birds!
2024 Birdathon by the Numbers
Dollars raised
Birders participated statewide
Species of bird found
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!
We’re out to #BringBirdsBack
The Great Wisconsin Birdathon began in 2012 and since then has raised more than $1 million 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.
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
Thank you to our 2024 Great Wisconsin Birdathon sponsors!
Stories from the Great Wisconsin Birdathon
2024 Birdathon Report and Bird Protection Fund grants
This year’s Great Wisconsin Birdathon saw more than 600 birders come together to raise $117,846 to protect Wisconsin’s birds. These donations support the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin’s Bird Protection Fund, which supports Wisconsin’s highest-priority bird conservation projects.
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Welcome to Wisconsin Fat Bird Week
Fat Bird Week is here! Vote for your favorite chonky bird every day from Friday, April 19th to Friday, April 26th.
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Wing it with these tips for new birdwatchers
Wing it with these tips for new birdwatchers from Kim Kreitinger, our resident bird expert (and NRF’s Field Trips Coordinator)!
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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