Great Wisconsin Birdathon 2022

This May, the Schlitz Audubon Screech Owls will once again participate in the Great Wisconsin Birdathon, with a goal of sighting more than 100 species in a single day.

An initiative of the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin, the Birdathon is essentially a walkathon, but instead of counting miles, participants tally bird species, raising money to support conservation efforts around the state. Teams pick one day during spring migration as their “birdathon day,” with a goal of finding as many species as possible within that 24-hour period.

Some teams will start in the dark to listen for owls and other nocturnal species, cover miles of terrain, and bird until after the sun has set. These marathon teams will make huge goals of finding 175 species or more! Other teams may choose to bird in one location, like the Screech Owls, who bird Schlitz Audubon. In recent years, the Screech Owls have been comprised of Schlitz Audubon staff. The team this year will also include a small number of volunteers who regularly bird at Schlitz Audubon.

With 185 acres of spectacular stopover habitat in the heart of the Mississippi Flyway, the Center is a migratory paradise, potentially yielding more than 100 species sightings for the Screech Owls. Those who wish to support the team can choose to make a per-species pledge, or make a flat donation. Funds raised will be split between Schlitz Audubon and the Bird Protection Fund, a joint effort by The Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and the Wisconsin Bird Conservation Partnership.

Show your support for the Screech Owls and for bird conservation efforts both at the Center and throughout Wisconsin