Partake in a week of feathered fun with the Brew City Birding Festival (BCBF)

Kick things off with the Green Birding Challenge as we celebrate World Migratory Bird Day with an eco-friendly birding challenge.

Followed by a week of bird-themed field trips, virtual and in-person lectures, family-friendly programs, and birdwatching!

Schedule of Events:

Choose your own adventure! 

Friday, May 10, 2024

9 - 10am: Owl's Moving Castle

Join us for this virtual celebration of owls as part of the Urban Ecology Center’s Backyard Naturalist Program.

Virtual – Zoom

Register

Saturday, May 11, 2024

6am - 12:30pm :Green Birding Challenge

In celebration of bird migration and conservation, our Community Science Team is hosting their 12th Annual Green Birding Challenge

Riverside Park

Learn More

12:30-3pm: Fledging Fun Family Challenge

Rotate through 3 activity stations focused on our feathered friends- including a migration challenge obstacle course, a bird call chorus, and more!

Riverside Park

Learn More

Sunday, May 12, 2024

Anytime: Backyard Birding Blitz

Celebrate with us by watching birds and telling us about them! Spend time in your favorite green space or watch from your living room.

Milwaukee

Monday, May 13, 2024

8am - 1:30pm: Field Trip - Harrington Beach with Lake Michigan Bird Observatory

Spend the morning exploring, searching for birds as they stop-over on their migratory journey. We’ll be joined by Jacob Woulf, Motus Coordinator for Lake Michigan Bird Observatory

Meet at Riverside Park

Register

5:30 - 8:30pm: Wingspan Game Night

Calling all bird and board game enthusiasts! Join us for an evening to play the hit game Wingspan where we’ll compete to attract the best birds to our wildlife preserves.

Riverside Park

Register

Tuesday, May 14, 2024

8 - 10:30am: BILINGUAL Weekly Bird Walk

¡Haz ejercicio, disfruta del aire fresco y veamos cuántas aves podemos encontrar en una mañana! ¡La migración de aves en la primavera es INCREíBLE! Tenemos binoculares disponibles para prestar.

Menomonee Valley

Register

8am - 4pm: Big Green Birding Bike Ride!

Get exercise, enjoy fresh air and see how many birds we can find in one day using no fossil fuels! Bring a lunch, bike, and binoculars. Bikes and binoculars are available to borrow.

Meet at Washington Park

Register

5-7pm: Keynote Lecture - Birdie Big Year: Elevating Women Birders - Tiffany Kersten

In her presentation, Tiffany will lead us through the fear, empowerment, struggles, and healing that all played vital roles in the personal growth she experienced on this wild adventure.

Keynote speaker brought to you by Visit Milwaukee in partnership with The Table, Metro Audubon, and the Urban Ecology Center

Riverside Park

Register

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

8 - 10:30am: Weekly Bird Walk

Get exercise, enjoy fresh air and let's see how many birds we can find in one morning! Spring migration is the BEST!

Washington Park

Register

8am - 5pm: Field Trip - Horicon Marsh

Feel the buzz emanating from the "Everglades of the North" during spring migration while exploring this Wisconsin gem.

Meet at Riverside Park

Register

6-8pm: Workshop - Bird Art

Come paint with us!

Riverside Park

Thursday, May 16, 2024

8 - 10:30am: Weekly Bird Walk

Get exercise, enjoy fresh air and let's see how many birds we can find in one morning! Spring migration is the BEST!

Riverside Park

Register

8am - 12:30pm: Field Trip - How the Land Helps the Birds at Wehr

We’ll learn about prairies, woodlands, and wetlands, and the management efforts taking place to make Wehr Nature Center an even better birding location.

Meet at Riverside Park

Register

5:30-7pm: Trivia

How much do you know about birds? Test your knowledge during an evening of bird-themed trivia and brews. Bring a team or fly solo!

Gathering Place Brewing

Register

Friday, May 17, 2024

9 - 10am: Along Came Polly - The Stories of Parrots (Virtual) Backyard Naturalist

Parrots represent one of the most diverse group of birds on the planet and they weave their tales into the history of humanity, as a friend of the pirate and as a superb mimic of humans.

Virtual – Zoom

Register

Dates: May 10 - 17, 2024

Locations:

Riverside Park, 1500 East Park Place, Milwaukee, WI 53211
Washington Park, 4023 West Galena Street, Milwaukee, WI 53208
Menomonee Valley, 3700 West Pierce Street, Milwaukee, WI 53215
Gathering Place Brewing Company, 811 East Vienna Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53212

Frequent Flyer Pass

Click Here for more information.