Accessible ways to enjoy birds
Birders use binoculars and Access Ability Wisconsin’s OWCs at Pheasant Branch Conservancy in October 2021 (photo by Lesley Haven).
Bird-focused Field Trips for All: Recommendations for maximizing inclusiveness and accessibility outdoors
A set of guidelines put together by Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance and the Wisconsin Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired to help field trip leaders feel confident in serving all attendees and delivering the most accessible experience possible.Birdability Map
This crowd-sourced tool contains user reviews of many natural areas, with details about the presence of steps, trail conditions, parking, and much more.Access Ability Wisconsin’s all-terrain outdoor wheelchairs (OWCs)
OWCs are sturdy, easy to operate, and available to check out from a variety of participating host sites in multiple counties around the state. Reserve one here.Accessible bird outings
Many of our Beginning Birder field trips and seated sessions (“sits”) are designed with accessibility in mind.
Or, attend an accessible outing with one of the local bird clubs below!
LOCAL GROUPS & RESOURCES
Wisconsin has the second-highest number of birdwatchers in the nation, so it's only natural that there's a strong community of passionate folks willing to help with your bird questions in our state! Here are our go-to local resources.
Black-crowned night heron. Photo by Arlene Koziol
BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin
This group was created to build community for and celebrate Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) bird-lovers and allies. They lead field trips for all experience levels throughout the area.Feminist Bird Club - Madison chapter
The Feminist Bird Club is dedicated to promoting inclusivity in bird-watching while fundraising and providing a safe opportunity for members of the LGBTQIA+ community, BIPOC, and women to connect with the natural world. The Madison chapter hosts a variety of great field trips for all levels!Wisconsin Birding and Birding Wisconsin Facebook groups
These are online communities of thousands of Wisconsin citizens who love to photograph, identify, and share their birdy adventures. Have an ID question? This is a great place to ask a group of regional enthusiasts and experts!Wisconsin Naturalists and Badger State Naturalists Facebook groups
These groups function like the Facebook groups above, but for all organisms besides birds (including plants, insects, fish, mammals, and more)Wisconsin Young Birders Club
An organization aiming to connect Wisconsin's next generation of bird enthusiasts. Open to all experience levels, ages 10-18 across the entire state.Wisconsin Bluebird Restoration Association
A statewide organization dedicated to the conservation and promotion of the magnificent eastern bluebird.Wisconsin Purple Martin Association
Working to restore and preserve the purple martin population in Wisconsin.Wisconsin Society for Ornithology
A state-wide nonprofit working to promote the enjoyment, study, and conservation of Wisconsin’s birds.Wisconsin Bird Conservation Partnership
A statewide coalition made up of 175 organizations working to conserve and restore endangered, threatened, and rare bird species and their habitats.and many more!
Online RESOURCES
National Audubon's Guide to North American Birds
Complete with vivid photos, colorful illustrations, taxonomy, distribution maps, and multiple examples of songs and calls for each species, the new online Audubon guide is a great place to find essential information about specific bird species. It's also available in Spanish!Cornell Lab of Ornithology's "All About Birds"
Cornell's Lab of Ornithology is one of the world leaders in the study of birds, so it's no surprise that their online field guide for birds from around the world is many peoples go-to resource.Backyard Bird ID - National Geographic
This online guide has you answer four questions to narrow down bird ID possibilities. It's not foolproof, but it's a great place to start!
FIELD GUIDES
The Sibley Guide to Birds
This comprehensive, clean, and simple bird guide is sure to become a quick favorite for new and veteran birders. Also available in Eastern and Western regional formats.Kaufman Field Guide to Birds of North America
This compact and portable guide offers photos of many species, which can aid in identification in the field.Peterson Field Guide to Birds of North America
Roger Tory Peterson's guide, first introduced in 1934, is widely considered to be the first North American bird field guide (don't worry, it's been updated since then!)Birds of Wisconsin Field Guide
The definitive guide for Wisconsin birders, organized by bird color for easy identification.National Geographic Field Guide to Birds of North America
This compact guide is a favorite companion in the field, as it's noticeably smaller and lighter-weight than other guides.
For more information about specialized bird guides, visit Audubon.org.
Bird ID & BIRDSONG Apps
These cutting edge resources give you all of the information you need, at your fingertips on your mobile device.
Audubon Bird Guide (helpful tips to make the most of this app available here)
Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab of Ornithologythe
North American Bird Calls & Songs (Online Database)
Banner photo by Emily Meier
