Join in on a week of feathered fun!
The Urban Ecology Center presents the Fourth Annual Brew City Birding Festival, a wonderful week of bird-themed field trips, lectures, family-friendly programs and activities, and bird watching opportunities. All are welcome!
Frequent Flyer Passes on sale now
Get more birds for your buck! A Brew City Birding Festival Frequent Flyer Pass includes admission to any Brew City Birding Festival lecture and discounts on festival field trips (a total value of up to $150)! Passes can be purchased online, during registration for any of the programs or in-person at one of our Weekly Bird Walks. Pick your price: $100 / $50 / $30
Purchase your Frequent Flyer Pass here
For more info contact Tim Vargo at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (414) 964-8505
Brew City Birding Festival Schedule
Check out the full schedule of adventures, workshops, birding opportunities, field trips, and more below!
Prefer print? Download the Festival Guide booklet here
Saturday, May 9
Green Birding Challenge: Soaring Eagle Challenge
Riverside Park | Saturday, May 9 | 6 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
All proceeds benefit the Urban Ecology Center!
Program Cost: $100 | UEC Members: $50 | Price Break: $20
Gather your flock and spot as many birds as you can at this fossil-fuel-free birding event! The Soaring Eagle Challenge is for more competitive birders.
Green Birding Challenge: Rockin' Robin Challenge
Riverside Park | Saturday, May 9 | 8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
All proceeds benefit the Urban Ecology Center!
Program Cost: $100 | UEC Members: $50 | Price Break: $20
Gather your flock and spot as many birds as you can at this fossil-fuel-free birding event! The Rockin' Robin Challenge is for everyone, including beginner birders.
Sunday, May 10
Green Birding Challenge: Feather Fest (Family Challenge)
Riverside Park | Sunday, May 10
10 a.m. - noon
Program Cost: $14 | UEC Members: $10 | Price Break: $7
Celebrate birds and learn how to become a budding ornithologist with your whole family. Take on a mini-challenge with guided opportunities as you search for birds around Riverside Park, learn the science behind our avian friends, identify Wisconsin birds, and participate in a bird-themed quest. Kids can create a fun craft for Mother’s Day. This great family event is part of the Brew City Birding Festival and the Green Birding Challenge. Register by April 10th to receive a t-shirt!. Online registration required.
Field Trip to Horicon Marsh
Riverside Park | Sunday, May 10 | 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Program Cost: $50 | UEC Members: $36 | Price Break: $25 | Frequent Flyer Pass: $20
Feel the buzz emanating from the "Everglades of the North" during spring migration in Horicon Marsh. Take a 4-hour walk with UEC staff and look for dozens of bird species - some rare like the Glossy Ibis, which was documented breeding there for the first time last summer. Binoculars available, just ask. Bring a lunch. Online registration required.
Monday, May 11
Birding at Mequon Nature Preserve (Field Trip) 
Meet at our Riverside Park branch | Monday, May 11 | 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Program Cost: $50 | UEC Members: $36 | Price Break: $25 | Frequent Flyer Pass: $20
At an astonishing 444 acres, the Mequon Nature Preserve still remains somewhat of a hidden gem with superb birding opportunities very close to Milwaukee. We will explore a portion of the five miles of trails through land being restored to beech maple forest and wooded wetlands (what the area would have been in the early 1800’s). We’ll also climb the observation tower and tour the education center. Dress for the weather and bring a lunch. Binoculars available. Online registration required.
Good Fowl Hunting: How a Duck a Hunter and a Birder Relate (Lecture)
Riverside Park | Monday, May 11 | 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Program Cost: $14 | UEC Members: $10 | Price Break: $7 | Frequent Flyer Pass: Free
So what do a duck, a hunter and a birder have in common? They all rely on the wellbeing of waterfowl and the wetlands that they live in! Join the Kakatschs, lifelong hunters and prominent leaders in the waterfowl community as they navigate the intersection between hunting and birding and how it plays a role in bird conservation. They will speak on hunting ethics and how birders and hunters can find middle ground to support the species they are passionate about. All in all, it's for the birds! Register online or use your Frequent Flyer Pass!
Tuesday, May 12
Weekly Bird Walk
Menomonee Valley | Tuesday, May 12 | 8 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Free (donations appreciated)
Get exercise, enjoy fresh air and let’s see how many birds we can find in one morning! Spring migration is the BEST! Binoculars available. No need to register.
Birding in Monches County Park (Field Trip)
Meet at our Riverside Park branch | Tuesday, May 12 | 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Program Cost: $50 | UEC Members: $36 | Price Break: $25 | Frequent Flyer Pass: $20
Described as a gold mine during migration, Monches County Park is situated along the Ice Age Trail and is not only known for its birds but for its scenic beauty as well. Follow Julia Robson, Conservation Biologist for Waukesha County Parks, on this 3-hour hike along the Oconomowoc River Greenway. Dress for the weather and bring a snack to enjoy when we stop for a break at the half waypoint. Binoculars available upon request. Register online.
Intro to eBird: Birding in a Technological World (Lecture)
Riverside Park | Tuesday, May 12 | 6 to 7 p.m.
Program Cost: $14 | UEC Members: $10 | Price Break: $7 | Frequent Flyer Pass: Free
Have you heard of eBird but don't know what it is or where to start? Learn the basics of eBird and dive into the world's largest birding community! New technology can be intimidating for beginners, but once you understand it, eBird will take your birding to another level. You will learn to maximize your eBird experience on multiple platforms. We'll also take a look at the pros and cons of various bird ID apps. Join as we dive into the world’s largest birding community! Register online or use your Frequent Flyer Pass!
An Ornithologist Goes to the Movies, a Debunking (Lecture)
Riverside Park | Tuesday, May 12 | 7:15 to 8:15 p.m.
Program Cost: $14 | UEC Members: $10 | Price Break: $7 | Frequent Flyer Pass: Free
Birds have been an important part of the media for millennia. From 10,000 year-old cave drawings, to themes in classical symphonies, to the Alfred Hitchcock namesake movie, we’ll take a light-hearted journey through time to look at the intersection of birds and the arts (but mostly movies) to debunk myths and celebrate the influence of birds in culture. Register online or use your Frequent Flyer Pass!
Wednesday, May 13
Weekly Bird Walk
Washington Park | Wednesday, May 13 | 8:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Free (donations appreciated)
Get exercise, enjoy fresh air and let’s see how many birds we can find in one morning! Spring migration is the BEST! Binoculars available. No need to register.
Big Green Birding Bike Ride!
Meet at Washington Park | Wednesday, May 13 | 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Program Cost: $15 | UEC Members: $10 | Price Break: $5 | Frequent Flyer Pass: Free
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 for Urban Ecology Center members to borrow. Online pre-registration required.
How to Help Birds in Need with the Wisconsin Humane Society (Field Trip)
Meet at WI Humane Society (4500 W Wisconsin Ave.) | Wednesday, May 13 | 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Program Cost: $14 | UEC Members: $10 | Price Break: $7 | Frequent Flyer Pass: $7
Have you ever rescued a bird? See how the professionals do it! Get a one-of-a-kind look behind the scenes of the Wisconsin Humane Society's wildlife rehabilitation center. Participants will take a tour of the facility and learn all about bird rehabilitation. We will learn about which species are most commonly seen at the center, top causes for avian injury and illness, and what we can do to help birds in distress. Register online!
Birds, Flies, and Ties - How Feathers and Fishing Intertwine (Lecture)
Riverside Park | Wednesday, May 13 | 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Program Cost: $14 | UEC Members: $10 | Price Break: $7 | Frequent Flyer Pass: Free
Join John Klinzing, Fishing Manager with Orvis and avid fly fisher, for an evening talk about the use of bird feathers in fly fishing. Did you know that certain bird feathers can cost thousands of dollars? We will explore the past, present, and future of fly-tying where you will learn the intricate art behind fly-tying and how natural bird feathers play an important role in mimicking the movement of insects. The first 12 participants to register will be able create their own fly fishing lure. Register online or use your Frequent Flyer Pass!
Thursday, May 14
Bird Banding at Riverside Park (Bird research in action)
Riverside Park | Thursday, May 14 | 5 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Free (donations appreciated)
Watch our bird banding team as we identify and band migratory song birds passing through our green spaces. Our team will be retrieving birds from special types of nets, then taking their measurements at our banding station. Learn what kinds of birds you can find during migration and year-round. Lucky participants might even have a chance to hold a live wild bird! Online pre-registration required. Weather dependant.
Weekly Bird Walk
Riverside Park | Thursday, May 14 | 8:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Free (donations appreciated)
Get exercise, enjoy fresh air and let’s see how many birds we can find in one morning! Spring migration is the BEST! Binoculars available. No need to register.
Demystifying Migratory Warblers at the Milwaukee Public Museum (Field Trip)
MKE Public Museum (800 W. Wells St.) | Thursday, May 14
2 - 4 p.m. (Rideshare from Riverside Park: 1:30 - 4:30 p.m.)
Program Cost: $50 | UEC Members: $36 | Price Break: $25 | Frequent Flyer Pass: $25
For many birders, warblers are the gems of annual spring migration. Their bright feathers and constant movement can make for a difficult time identifying them. With access to the warbler collection at the Milwaukee Public Museum, we will investigate feather by feather how to identify warblers in a way we have never done before. Space is limited to the first 20 participants. Price includes admission to the Museum and a tour of the collection afterwards. Online pre-registration required.
Closing Night Fun at Gathering Place Brewery!
Lecture: Author Talk and Book Signing: Chuck Hagner
Gathering Place Brewery (811 E Vienna Ave.) | Thursday, May 14 | 6 - 7 p.m.
Program Cost: FREE
Chuck Hagner who recently authored "The American Birding Association Field Guide to Birds of Wisconsin" will describe why birdwatching in Wisconsin is such a pleasure and why the state’s birds should be a source of great pride for every Wisconsinite. His book shows 299 of Wisconsin’s varied and beautiful birds and gives tips on identifying and finding them. Books will be available for purchase from community partner Boswell Books and Chuck will stick around for signing.
Calling all Bird Nerds: Trivia Night!
Gathering Place Brewery (811 E Vienna Ave.) | Thursday, May 14 | 7 - 9 p.m.
Program Cost: $10 | Price Break: $5 | UEC Members: FREE | Frequent Flyer Pass: FREE
Celebrate the end of the Brew City Birding Festival by enjoying an evening with fellow bird nerds and by testing your knowledge of all things avian at Gathering Place Brewing Co.! Don't want to be tested on your bird knowledge? No pressure, just come and have fun. A food truck will be available for those with empty stomachs and the taproom will be open until 10 pm for anyone who would like to continue the fun. Kids and dogs welcome. Frequent Flyer Pass holders and UEC Members are free for this event!
Special thank you to our sponsor and community partners whose generous support has helped make this event possible!
Sponsor:
Community Partners:
Gathering Place Brewery • Jen and Mark Kakatsh • John Klingzing • Chuck Hagner • Riveredge Nature Center • Mequon Nature Preserve • Milwaukee Public Museum • Waukesha Parks & Recreation • Wisconsin Humane Society • Brittany Peters • James Shead
