Adults, Birding Academy, Free with Membership, Clubs
Join Environmental Educator Laine Cotteleer and Dan Panetti, former owner of Wild Birds Unlimited in Mequon , in search of American Woodcocks to witness the male’s spectacular aerial displays. We’ll traverse the western meadows and select grassy hotspots to locate these elusive aerialists. Few other birds in our region have such a unique...
Saturdays, April 11 & April 18 Schlitz Audubon's shoreline and diverse wetland habitats attract numerous waterfowl species throughout the year. This two-part certificate program explores the duck species that nest in our area, stopover during migration, or overwinter on Lake Michigan. Learners will delve into the size, shape, plumage patterns,...
Adults, Birding Academy, Guided Hikes
During this guided hike, Environmental Educator Laine Cotteleer will help you spot the spring migrants filling Wisconsin’s skies with music and color! We will focus on identification characteristics such as color, size, pattern, behavior, song, and nest style. You will also learn strategies for more closely observing and listening to...
Adults, Birding Academy, Guided Hikes, Raptors
Is there anything quite so ubiquitous about our everyday lives like birds and coffee? In this seminar, explore the complex and interwoven relationship between coffee cultivation and avian ecology. This journey will guide you through an overview of how coffee makes it from seed to cup, the best methods for...
Adults, Birding Academy, Free with Membership, Guided Hikes
We welcome all those interested in birding for a guided bird walk on the third Saturday of the month. We’ll search for fall migrants among the Center’s varied habitats. This is a great opportunity for new birders to learn and practice bird identification. Wisconsin Master Naturalist volunteers will be your...
Adults, Birding Academy, Field Trips, Guided Hikes
Nestled between South Beach Park and Coal Dock Park in historic downtown Port Washington, lies a new and hidden gem: the Port Washington Avian Sanctuary Spring should see the resurgence of trailside native plantings and the return of migratory birds. We’ll traverse the easy and level trails of these two...
Art, Birding Academy, Families, Free with Membership, Raptors, Wheelchair Accessible
Celebrate World Migratory Bird Day at Schlitz Audubon Nature Center! Since 1993, the second Saturday of May has been dedicated to migratory birds around the world. This year’s theme is “Every Bird Counts – Your Observations Matter”. Join us in observing and learning about ways we each can make a difference for the migratory birds that live in our communities. We...
One of nature’s greatest migrations is taking place as millions of neotropical songbirds make their way from warmer wintering grounds to breeding territories across North America. The Center’s diverse habitats located along the Lake Michigan shoreline provide a unique birding hotspot to find many of these long-distance migrants. Short distance...
Adults, Birding Academy, Field Trips, Guided Hikes
Join us for a day-long visit to the premier wetland in the Midwest – beautiful Horicon Marsh. Spring migration welcomes the return of thousands of birds to the marsh for the summer nesting season. We will explore this Wetland of International Importance by bus, foot, and boat! In a special...
Adults, Birding Academy, Clubs, Free with Membership, Guided Hikes
Join a welcoming community of bird enthusiasts on the second Wednesday of the month. Anyone aged 14 and older who is interested in learning more about birds is welcome, regardless of prior experience. You will learn and enhance identification skills from experienced birders. This program is hosted by Schlitz Audubon Environmental...
Adults, Birding Academy, Free with Membership
We welcome all those interested in birding for a guided bird walk on the third Saturday of the month. We’ll search for spring migrants among the Center’s varied habitats. This is a great opportunity for new birders to learn and practice bird identification. Wisconsin Master Naturalist volunteers will be your...
Adults, Birding Academy, Guided Hikes
At the Center, we continuously work on land restoration to provide sustainable habitats for the diverse array of birds that live here. In this seminar, learn what attracts birds in a natural landscape and how you can replicate these features in your own spaces. Starting with an indoor presentation, we...
Adults, Birding Academy, Citizen Science, Free with Membership, Raptors, Wheelchair Accessible
Schlitz Audubon Nature Center, in collaboration with Dr. Bill Stout, runs a Barred Owl monitoring project that follows two wild owls, Betty and Maverick. Beginning in 2021, data collected on the owls provides insight into owl behavior in an urban setting, including home range size, diet preferences, and inter-species interactions. In 2025, the project launched...
Adults, Birding Academy, Guided Hikes
Four Saturdays, May 23 - June 13, 2026 Taught by Director of Education Tom Finley, Environmental Educators Michelle Allison, Aubrey Fulsaas, and Laine Cotteleer This four-week certificate program is designed for anyone interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the key bird species found at the Center. Through a combination...
Adults, Birding Academy, Field Trips, Guided Hikes
Early summer birding is a treat among the 22,000 acres of the Southern Kettle Morain State Forest, stretching from Dousman to Whitewater, with its variety of landscapes like mature hardwood forests, lush prairies, and wetlands. The day begins at the historic Scuppernong Springs Nature Trail, along Highway ZZ, near Ottawa...
Adults, Birding Academy, Clubs, Free with Membership
Join a welcoming community of bird enthusiasts on the second Wednesday of the month. Anyone aged 14 and older who is interested in learning more about birds is welcome, regardless of prior experience. You will learn and enhance identification skills from experienced birders. This program is hosted by Schlitz Audubon Environmental...
Adults, Birding Academy, Guided Hikes
After the flurry of spring migration, birds become quieter and more secretive as they nest and raise young. The Center’s diverse habitats located along the Lake Michigan shoreline provide plenty of nesting sites for breeding pairs. We will explore these varied habitats in search of birds concealed by the dense...
Adults, Birding Academy, Guided Hikes
As spring migration comes to a close in Wisconsin, our summer resident birds are settling in to start laying eggs and raising offspring. Depending on their needs, some birds will opt out of building a nest while others have nests that vary in size, shape, and materials. During this seminar,...
Adults, Birding Academy, Free with Membership
We welcome all those interested in birding for a guided bird walk on the third Saturday of the month. We’ll search for summer resident birds among the Center’s varied habitats. This is a great opportunity for new birders to learn and practice bird identification. Wisconsin Master Naturalist volunteers will be...
Adults, Art, Birding Academy, Raptors
This immersive seminar invites bird lovers to slow down and experience the natural world through field illustration. Held completely outdoors, we'll begin on the Veranda with a drawing warm-up of one of our live American Kestrel ambassadors, then head out on the trails for more guided exercises and quiet time in nature. While birds are...
Adults, Art, Birding Academy, Wheelchair Accessible
Sundays, October 11, 18, & 25 and November 1 & 8 We are excited to offer this new five-session certificate course taught by award-winning wildlife photographer, Susan Fink. You will learn all the finer points of how to take high-quality bird photographs, from understanding camera settings to editing and enhancing...
