Enjoy a week of feathered fun at the Brew City Birding Festival!

Choose your own adventure! Register for one event or all of them.

Schedule:

Friday, May 9

Beach Blanket Flamingo - Virtual Backyard Naturalist Series
More than just lawn ornaments, these five-foot-tall birds live in some of the harshest environments on Earth and have incredible adaptations because of this. Join us for stories of the Flamingo!
Friday, May 9 | 9 - 10am
Virtual – Zoom
$0.00 - $10.00
Register

Botany Walk at Washington Park
Beyond botanical names and beautiful blooms, plants have an importance to the ecosystem and the birds. Join our seasonal flora and fauna focused stroll. Discover what’s thriving, engage in conversations about plants, their connections to wildlife, and deepen your appreciation of urban nature’s diversity.
Friday, May 9 | 1:30 - 3pm
Washington Park
Free
Register

Saturday, May 10

Green Birding Challenge
In celebration of bird migration and conservation, the Urban Ecology Center is hosting its 13th Annual Green Birding Challenge!
Saturday May 10 | 6am - 12pm
Washington Park

Soaring Eagle Challenge
Starts at 6am; 5 hours of birding Washington Park

Rockin' Robin Challenge
Starts at 8am; 3 hours of birding Washington Park

Youth & Family Challenge
Visit outdoor activity stations focused on our feathered friends, learn how to use binoculars, participate in a nest building challenge, listen to a bird call chorus, and more! Drop-in any time before 11am for an hour of fun!

Drop-in anytime between 9:30am and 12pm Washington Park
Learn more and Register

Sunday, May 11

Backyard Birding Blitz
Watch for birds and tell us your finds! Spend at least 10 minutes in your favorite green space or looking out your living room window and notice the birds around you. Try your best to identify them, count them, and make sure to share an eBird checklist with us! Your efforts help the Urban Ecology Center to document and monitor urban bird populations.
Sunday, May 11 | Virtual Program
Free
Learn more.

Monday, May 12

Field Trip - Horicon Marsh
Take a tour with UEC staff and look for dozens of species -- including warblers, waterfowl, and shorebirds with the potential to see a Whooping Crane, Sora, Yellow-Headed Blackbird, Bobolink, Meadowlark, or the rare Glossy Ibis.
Monday, May 12 | 8am - 5pm Meet at Riverside Park
$40.00 - $60.00
Register

Evening Bird Walk with the BIPOC Birding Club of WI
End your day with fresh air and bird song. Join bird watchers of all ability levels and explore the park with us. Meet at the Washington Park building.
Monday, May 12 | 4:30 - 6:30pm Washington Park
Free.
Learn more

Tuesday, May 13

Early Morning Bird Walk at Menomonee Valley
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 to borrow. Registration required.
Tuesday, May 13 | 8 - 10am Menomonee Valley
Free.
Register.

Intermediate Birding by Boat on the River
Calling all intermediate paddlers! Join us for a guided bird watching kayak tour along the scenic Milwaukee River. If you’ve paddled before and are comfortable on the water, this experience is for you. We’ll provide kayaks paddles, life jackets & binoculars — just bring your enthusiasm for birds and the outdoors!
Tuesday, May 13 | 5 - 7pm Riverside Park
$15.00 - $20.00
Register.

Wednesday, May 14

Early Morning Bird Walk at Washington Park
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 to borrow. Registration required.
Wednesday, May 14 | 8 - 10am Washington Park
Free.
Register

Mindful Mending - Put a Bird on it!
Mend it! Darn it! Sew it! Give new life to some worn clothes. Materials and supplies provided but feel free to bring any projects you’re working on. All skill levels welcome! This event is free and takes place every Wednesday.
Wednesday, May 14 | 4 - 6pm Riverside Park
Free.
Learn more

Evening Bird Walk with the BIPOC Birding Club of WI
Join for a soft art gallery opening and bird walk. "Flight, En Vuelo" celebrates birds and art! First you'll get to see and hear about Keli Rice's Migration: an electronic art piece commenting on the impact of the built environment on natural migration. There will be a short Q&A followed up by a bird walk in collaboration with the BIPOC Birding Club of WI at 5:30.
Wednesday, May 14 | 4:30 - 6:30pm Menomonee Valley
Free.
Learn more

Thursday, May 15

Early Morning Bird Walk at Riverside Park
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 to borrow. Registration required.
Thursday, May 15 | 8 - 10am Riverside Park
Free.
Register.

Friends & Families Game Night
Join us for this special bird-themed edition of friendly competition at Washington Park as a part of our Brew City Birding Festival! Bring your favorite board games or choose from our selection. Come for popcorn and more!
Thursday, May 15 | 4 - 6pm Washington Park
Free.
Learn more.

Beginners Birding by Boat on the Lagoon
Join us for a unique bird watching experience on the Washington Park Lagoon! We'll paddle through calm water while learning how to identify birds and observe their behaviors. No previous canoeing experience required—just bring your curiosity.
Thursday, May 15 | 5 - 7pm Washington Park
$15.00 - $20.00
Register.

Friday, May 16

Monitoring for Conservation - Virtual Backyard Naturalist Series - Brew City Birding Festival
(For adults & teens) Collectively, various government and nonprofit entities conduct a range of monitoring activities for birds. Bill Mueller, Director Emeritus of the Lake Michigan Bird Observatory will describe them, and discuss the ways we use those data to help bird conservation in SE Wisconsin.
Friday, May 16
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
$0.00 - $10.00
Virtual Program

Learn More and Register.

Date: May 9 to 18, 2025

Venues:
Washington Park, 1859 N. 40th St., Milwaukee, WI 53208
Menomonee Valley, 3700 W Pierce St, Milwaukee, WI 53215
Riverside Park, 1500 E. Park Pl, Milwaukee, WI 53211

For more info https://www.urbanecologycenter.org/programs-and-events/brew-city-bird-festival.