WBCI’s 2018 annual meeting is just around the corner. With a focus on declining populations of aerial insectivores — swifts, swallows, nightjars, & more — the conference will be held September 6-8 in Waukesha. The hotel and registration deadlines have past but organizers still welcome walk-ins, who must secure their own lodging, meals, and refreshments during the event. To learn more or register, visit the conference website here.
Operation Migration took flight 25 years ago when two artists-turned-aviators developed a method of teaching birds a new migratory route. The innovative approach helped stabilize the dwindling population of the magnificent Whooping crane. But now this chapter in Whooping Crane conservation has closed. Find out why here.
The North American Bird Conservation Initiative has released a concise, high-level summary of priorities for national bird conservation centered on five themes ranging from land and water conservation to policy and funding. Learn how you or your organization can make a difference at https://bit.ly/2MGZg34
Our bird conservation collaborative is celebrating 15 years of success and unveiling a new strategic plan to guide us through 2022. Learn more in this WDNR news release or check out the plan directly by clicking the image below.
The Leopold-Pine Island IBA has long stood tall among Wisconsin’s network of 90+ Important Bird Areas. Work there to reduce Sandhill Crane collisions with power lines was recently featured in the Spring 2018 issue of Audubon magazine.
In 1918 Congress passed the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to protect birds from wanton killing. To celebrate the centennial, National Geographic is partnering with the National Audubon Society, BirdLife International, and Cornell Lab of Ornithology to declare 2018 the Year of the Bird. Join the 2018 Year of the Bird movement and pledge your commitment to conserving these beautiful creatures by taking simple steps to help birds each month. Click here to learn more!
Snowy Owls have again taken Wisconsin by storm. Discover what’s going on, why, and where you might find one too in this recent podcast featuring WDNR and WBCI Bird Monitoring Coordinator, Ryan Brady. Listen now!
Birds need our help more than ever. The Great Wisconsin Birdathon does just that in mobilizing the state’s passionate network of birdwatchers to raise critical funds for important conservation projects right here in Wisconsin. The event continues to grow each year, this year netting over $90,000 for ten statewide projects and many local ones. Learn More >>
The number of occupied Bald Eagle nests statewide increased by 86 nests to a record 1,590 in 2017, including the first nest in Kenosha County in over a century. Meanwhile, no increase in nests across habitat-rich Oneida County may signal that suitable nesting habitat in some northern Wisconsin counties is now all taken. Read More >>
For the second straight year, Piping Plovers returned to Lower Green Bay after a 75-year absence. Their return reflects a growing trend in the Great Lakes region and helped propel this state- and federally-endangered species to a record-breaking year in Wisconsin. Learn more in this short video >>
A piping plover and its chick are part of a record-breaking year for the endangered species in Wisconsin. Photo courtesy of Tom Prestby.