Bird & Nature Adventures
Discover nature by foot, paddle or pedal with a free, family-friendly, 90-minute Bird & Nature Adventure! These events are led by nature enthusiasts and held rain or shine, in parks year-round throughout the city.
Topics and leaders vary, and some outings include biking, canoeing, or pontoon rides. Meeting times and locations are generally consistent but may vary. Please check event details.
No registration is required. Be sure to dress for the weather and bring a camera or binoculars if you have them. Pets, including well-behaved dogs, are not allowed.
Volunteer
Year-round leaders and co-leaders provide these informal 90-minute outings. Volunteers do not need to be a bird or nature expert. Enthusiasm is what matters most. Training and support provided. See Volunteer to learn more and register.
Additional Events
See Madison Friends of Urban Nature Facebook Group for topics, educational tools and additional locations, including Pheasant Branch Conservancy, Starkweather Creek area and UW Lakeshore Preserve.
Donate
Help support the Bird & Nature Adventures by donating to the Madison Parks Foundation.
Bird City Wisconsin
Bird City Wisconsin, a pillar program of the Lake Michigan Bird Observatory, supports and recognizes municipalities that take meaningful action to become more bird-friendly communities.
About Bird City
Bird City Wisconsin was created in 2009 and began recognizing communities the following year. The program recognizes municipalities for the conservation and education activities that they undertake to make their communities healthy for birds… and people. Bird City Wisconsin is the first Bird City program and served as the model for the Western Hemisphere-wide Bird City Network, of which Bird City Wisconsin is a founding member.
To be recognized as a Bird City, a community must take actions across four categories (Habitat, Threat Reduction, Education & Engagement, and Sustainability) and officially recognize and celebrate World Migratory Bird Day. Bird City also offers High Flyer recognition for those communities that truly go above and beyond in their conservation and education programs. To become a High Flyer, a community must meet additional, and more involved, criteria.
High Flyer status is awarded to communities who go above and beyond for birds, including prohibiting free-roaming cats. Aside from habitat loss, outdoor cats are the #1 threat to birds worldwide, in the U.S. it's estimated that we lose 2.4 billion birds to cats, each year!
Bird City status is more than just a label, but a reflection of real, action-oriented bird conservation. Programs like Bird City Wisconsin are important because they empower a network of local action for birds at a time when birds need our help. Since the 1970s, North America has lost more than 3 billion birds. Birds provide valuable ecosystem services such as pest control, seed dispersal, and pollination, while also supporting recreation, tourism, and community well-being. They are culturally important as well, providing inspiration for art, music, and a meaningful connection to the natural world.
With its designation as a Bird City Wisconsin Community, Madison is helping lead these conservation efforts locally while creating benefits for both wildlife and residents. Bird City status is more than just a label, it's a reflection of real, action-oriented bird conservation and Madison's commitment to a healthier community for people and nature alike.