Feminist Bird Club - Madison Wisconsin

03/02/2025

Our chapter was excited to be featured on the latest episode of Chirp Chat alongside our friends at the BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin. With spring migration just around the corner, there's no better time to get started birding and find your place in Wisconsin's incredible birding community.

Listen to the latest episode of Chirp Chat: https://www.wuwm.com/chirp-chat/2025-02-27/chirp-chat-how-to-meet-other-birders-in-wisconsin

Want to learn more about FBC-Madison's upcoming events? Sign up for our monthly newsletter: http://eepurl.com/hFQ-an

Joining a local birding club or meeting other people at birding events can bring you a sense of belonging and teach you things you didn’t know. No matter how experienced you are.

02/06/2025

We're so excited about this upcoming event featuring Christian Cooper! Our FBC-Madison Chapter is a proud sponsor of The Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters "Birds and Beyond" series that connects people to Wisconsin’s birds and the scientific topics that affect them. We encourage everyone to grab tickets to this exciting event. They are on sale now!

🎟️ Exciting News! Tickets for "Birds and People," featuring Christian Cooper—naturalist, Emmy-winning host of “Extraordinary Birder,” and bestselling author—go on sale February 5th at 11 AM CST through the Overture Center for the Arts' website: https://www.overture.org/tickets-events/2024-25-season/birds-and-people-with-christian-cooper/

Join the Wisconsin Academy for an unforgettable evening with Christian Cooper—celebrated naturalist, Emmy-winning host of “Extraordinary Birder,” and bestselling author. Don’t miss this chance to hear Christian Cooper in conversation with Angela Russell of the Black Oxygen podcast, and learn how birds create connections between people, communities, and the natural world. The evening will be emceed by the Wisconsin Academy's Executive Director Erika Monroe-Kane.

Whether you're a seasoned birder or just curious, this event will inspire and connect you to the wonders of the natural world.

📖 Book signing to follow—mark your calendars!

01/03/2025

Happy new year! ✨ And a very big thank you to everyone who joined us over the past year (and more) and helped us continue to grow our community. Your support of our chapter helps make the outdoors a safe and welcoming place for everyone. We would not be the chapter we are today without our members!

Whatever 2025 brings, we are here for you—to experience the joy and wonder of birds together, to find healing in nature together, and to find comfort and strength among friends.

Our January newsletter went out this week. Check out to see our ✨Year-in-Review✨ plus a recap of this year's Christmas Bird Count, discover FBC's 2025 Bird of the Year, and view upcoming events this season!

Read the newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/2377ef1dac0e/january2025

📷: a collage of photos from a handful of FBC's 2024 events

12/09/2024

Did you know that this year marks the 125th anniversary of the Christmas Bird Count?! ❄️ It's the nation's longest-running community science bird project and birders across the Madison area will be participating on December 14th. Our Feminist Bird Club chapter still has a few more spaces for our CBC event if you'd like to join us for some early morning winter birding!

RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/christmas-bird-count-at-forest-hill-cemetery-with-the-feminist-bird-club-registration-715114716367

Can't join us but want to participate in the CBC in other ways? Learn about other ways to participate, including watching your feeders at home or joining a cozy indoor birdwatching event at Olbrich: https://swibirds.org/all-events/2024/12/14/madison-cbc

Pictured: FBC members pose while pointing to a Great Horned Owl hiding in the tall pines at Forest Hill Cemetery

11/10/2024

Birds, fresh air, and community were a source of joy for our chapter this weekend. We visited Nine Springs with the Madison Public Library for our Beginning Birding: Waterfowl ID outing on Saturday and got to introduce several first-time birders to the hobby.

We saw several duck species 🦆 but we also got great looks at a Northern Shrike and multiple shorebirds like Dunlin and Wilson's Snipes.

If you're looking to get outside and lift your spirits, Nine Springs is an absolute gem of a birding destination. Try visiting in the early evening this fall to enjoy the sunset and flocks of waterfowl and Sandhill Cranes as they come to roost on the ponds.

10/29/2024

We can't wait to dive into the world of ducks with Madison Public Library! 🦆 Registration is open for this beginner friendly outing on Saturday, November 9 at 9am!

Learn more and register: https://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/events/beginning-birding-waterfowl-basics-1276726

Registration just opened for an outing with the Feminist Bird Club - Madison Wisconsin for beginning birders! On Sat, Nov 9, from 9-10:30am, you can learn all about ducks, geese, and other waterfowl that are arriving in the Madison area for fall migration. You'll take a stroll around the ponds at Nine Springs to identify several species of ducks and discuss tips and tricks for identifying each species. Binoculars will be provided and there will be scopes to allow you to get better views of birds too. This is a great option for those interested in getting started with birding or anyone wanting to practice their waterfowl ID skills. This outing is family friendly!

Don't forget - you can check out a Birding Backpack from Madison Public Library in advance of the event if you'd like to do a few test runs ahead of time, as well! Spots are limited, so sign up now at madpl.org/beginningbirding

10/09/2024

Whoop whoop! 📣 Check out these absolutely gorgeous Cranes of Wisconsin license plates that are now available. So excited that these new plates will benefit our friends at the International Crane Foundation! Learn more below and order yours today!

We are thrilled to announce that Wisconsin drivers can order our new Cranes of Wisconsin license plate beginning Oct. 9!

10/08/2024

Fall is here and there's so much happening in the bird world!. 🍂🍁 Warblers may be moving out, but sparrows are moving in, and waterfowl species are starting to arrive too! There's a lot to keep a birder busy this season, so be sure to check out our latest October newsletter for some upcoming events this fall, including October Big Day and of course our annual Halloween Hootenanny! 👻

Read it here: https://mailchi.mp/3d4a46e5bcbc/october2024

09/11/2024

There's still time to snag one of the Swift Night Out t-shirts! 🤩 This colorful and vibrant design was created by local artist Beth Raboin and 100% of the proceeds will go to the Wisconsin Chimney Swift Working Group.

https://swibirds.org/store/swift-night-out-t-shirt

Check out these awesome Swift Night Out shirts! They're now available to purchase on our website to celebrate the event co-hosted by Feminist Bird Club - Madison Wisconsin, BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin, and SoWBA. It's also a great display of the incredible phenomenon of Chimney Swifts coming into roost during fall migration.

Proceeds go to the Wisconsin Chimney Swift Working group to support Chimney Swift conservation.

Order yours at: https://swibirds.org/store/swift-night-out-t-shirt

Photo: four friends wearing black shirts with the colorful SNO graphic, standing in front of the chimney at Cherokee Heights Middle School. Photo by Lauren Koshere.

09/08/2024

Thank you so much to everyone who joined us at Swift Night Out! ❤️ We had roughly 1200 swifts put on a great show last night. It was a beautiful evening to gather with our birding community!

Did you miss last night's event? Or maybe you just can't get enough of those incredible Chimney Swifts and need to show them to your friends? We've got good news for you! This week (Sept 8-14) begins ✨Swift Week✨ and each night brings a new opportunity to witness the fall spectacle of Chimney Swifts going to roost. Every evening, we'll have a representative from either our Feminist Bird Club chapter, the BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin, or the Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance there to answer your swift-themed questions!

The weather is looking great all week, so grab your family and friends and enjoy another evening under the swifts! If you'd like to get updates about Swift Week outings, you can sign up here for a daily update of where we'll be: https://swibirds.org/all-events/2024/9/7/swift-night-out

📷 Pictured are some scenes from last night's event! Can you spot the swifts in the sky? Photos by Caitlyn Schuchhardt

09/07/2024

Swift Night Out is happening TONIGHT! 📣 We will be gathering from 6pm-8pm at Cherokee Heights Middle School (4301 Cherokee Dr, Madison) on the grassy lawn south of the school, adjacent to the tall chimney.

Chimney Swifts have been very active at this location all week and we're SO excited to experience the fall spectacle of thousands of birds going to roost. Join Feminist Bird Club, the BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin, and Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance for an incredible fall evening of celebrating and learning about these mighty little birds.

Plan to:
- Bring a blanket or lawn chairs for lounging on the grass field
- Bring dinner, snacks, or non-alcoholic beverages to enjoy while we wait for the show
- Dress warmly as it will be in the 60s and get cooler as the sun goes down

✨NEW THIS YEAR! ✨ We'll have t-shirts for sale, rocking a colorful, swift-themed design by local artist Beth Raboin. Proceeds from the shirts will benefit Chimney Swift conservation efforts through the Wisconsin Chimney Swift Working Group! Cash and card will be accepted. Adult shirts are $25 and Youth are $15.

There is a parking lot at Cherokee Heights that is first-come, first-serve, but there is also ample street parking in the neighborhood or along Midvale. For more detailed parking directions, accessibility information, and details about Swift Week, please visit the event page: https://swibirds.org/all-events/2024/9/7/swift-night-out

No need to RSVP! Bring your family and friends for this incredible evening out with the birds! Hope to see you there! 🎉

09/05/2024

A gorgeous evening spent with Dane County Library Service at McCarthy Youth Conservation Park! 🤩 We were thrilled to welcome so many new and beginning birders of all ages on this outing.

If you'd like to get your hands on some binoculars, you can now check out a Birding Backpack from DCLS's Bookmobile or from any Madison Public Library location! 🎒

09/03/2024

September is here and fall migration is in full swing! 🍁 Our FBC newsletter went out this morning - be sure to check it out for some fun upcoming events, including one of our most exciting community events of the year, Swift Night Out! 🤩

Join FBC, the BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin, and Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance for this incredible gathering of swifts (and the birders that love them)! If you can't make the event on Saturday, don't fret - Swift Week will follow next week with a series of pop-up events!

Read the FBC newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/5bcb0388bbde/september2024
RSVP for Swift Night Out: https://swibirds.org/all-events/2024/9/7/swift-night-out

08/30/2024

In the Door County area? Check out this incredible upcoming event from The Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters at Newport State Park. This Birds and Astronomy event is one of several events in their Birds and Beyond series, which we're proud to sponsor!

Learn more about Birds and Beyond: https://www.wisconsinacademy.org/birds-and-beyond

RSVP to the Birds and Astronomy event: https://www.wisconsinacademy.org/evenings/birds-and-astronomy

Ready for a night of stargazing wonder? On September 22nd, Amanda Tokuyama will dive into bird migration, and Dr. Mathieu will lead us through the night sky at Newport State Park in Door County. Register today to reserve your spot under the stars!

Register for Birds and Astronomy at: https://www.wisconsinacademy.org/birdsastronomy

Birds and Astronomy is part of the Wisconsin Academy’s Birds and Beyond series. Thank you to our series partners, the BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin, Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance, and Color In The Outdoors. Additional thanks to series sponsors, the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin, Feminist Bird Club - Madison Wisconsin, theLeigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Jay Handy, and Dr. Robert Mathieu.

08/24/2024

FBC held our first ever Tree Identification Workshop this morning! 🌳 Huge shoutout to FBC leader Cass for teaching us all about the complicated yet fascinating world of tree ID and helping us cover some basics. We were thrilled to have so many folks excited to join us for some bird-adjacent content. Thank you to everyone who attended!

08/20/2024

We're excited to do some evening birding with Dane County Library Service on September 3 at McCarthy Youth and Conservation Park! Join us and get a taste of fall migration and the joy birding brings. This event is open to all, no birding experience required!

2 weeks from today!

The Feminist Bird Club - Madison Wisconsin (who donated our amazing birding backpacks!) will lead a free bird walk at McCarthy Youth and Conservation County Park in Cottage Grove from 6-7:30pm.

All are welcome! No experience necessary!
Bring your eyes and ears and your curiosity and enthusiasm for birds! 🙂
Binoculars will be available for those who don't have them. 🤓

Comment here or email [email protected] with questions.

08/16/2024

We were thrilled to provide Dane County Library Service with three Birding Backpacks for the Bookmobile! 🎒 The Bookmobile makes weekly visits to communities across Dane County and increases access to library services. Now anyone eager to get started with birding can checkout binoculars and start exploring this joyful hobby.

Inside the Birding Backpacks are resources designed to help families get started with birding, including a beginning birding guide created by our FBC chapter with suggested birding locations across Dane County, plus birding guides for kids provided by Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance.

Download the Bookmobile Birding Guide: https://tinyurl.com/bookmobilebirding

Find when the Bookmobile is near you: https://www.dcls.info/bookmobile-schedule

Birding backpacks are available for checkout on the Bookmobile!!

A HUGE Thank You to the Madison Chapter of the Feminist Bird Club who donated three birding backpacks! Each backpack contains 1 adult sized binoculars, 1 kids sized binoculars, and 4 bird field guides to help on your birding adventure!

https://www.feministbirdclub.org/