Why Learn Here
Birds at the Center
Birds are at the heart of Schlitz Audubon. We’re more committed than ever to caring for the habitats birds need and helping people build deep, lasting connections to the natural world.
With our location along Lake Michigan and within the Mississippi Flyway, Schlitz Audubon is a key stopover, breeding, and overwintering site for migrating birds. But it’s not just geography that makes this place special. For more than 50 years, our community of staff and volunteers have worked to improve and protect a mosaic of habitats that support birds year-round—from forest to wetland, prairie to shoreline. These conservation efforts have made Schlitz Audubon a cornerstone of the Ozaukee Bight Lakeshore Migration Corridor, a designated Important Bird Area.
The abundance and diversity of birds found at the Center, year after year, confirm the ongoing impact of our work. Since 1974, 266 unique species have been recorded here, thanks in large part to our dedicated and passionate volunteers. These records, ranging from warblers to waterfowl, allow us to track long-term trends in bird populations, migration timing, and habitat use. They also inform our land stewardship, helping us adapt and improve as a haven for birds and a destination for bird lovers.
The Value of Field Experiences
Our remarkable diversity of birdlife makes Schlitz Audubon an extraordinary place to learn, especially through outdoor field experiences. By providing education across our 185 acres of diverse ecosystems, we familiarize learners with the Center and empower them to return any day of the week to expand their knowledge through practice. Field experiences also equip learners with skills that can be applied anywhere in our region and beyond.
Our Educators
Our programs are developed and led by our friendly and experienced Environmental Educator staff, birding experts, researchers, and artists from the community and beyond. Our educators have extensive knowledge of both adult education and the natural world, with each specializing in particular topics and approaches. Through collaborative and locally based program creation and instruction, the Center provides an exceptional learning experience that extends well beyond the classroom. Programs are personalized, well-rounded, and tied to real-world applications because each educator draws from their unique strengths, background, and connection to nature.