Bird City Wisconsin, a program of the Milwaukee Audubon Society; was created in 2009 and began recognizing communities for the following year. The program recognizes municipalities for the conservation and education activities that they undertake to make their communities healthy for birds…and people. Bird City Wisconsin is the first Bird City program and served as the model for the Western Hemisphere-wide Bird City Network, of which Bird City Wisconsin is a founding member.
In 2011 the Village of Trempealeau was awarded the status of a Wisconsin “Bird City” by the Milwaukee Audubon Society and in 2024, the Village was elevated to High Flyer status for the first time!
To be recognized as a Bird City, a community must take actions across four categories (Habitat, Threat Reduction, Education & Engagement, and Sustainability) and officially recognize and celebrate World Migratory Bird Day. Bird City also offers High Flyer recognition for those communities that truly go above and beyond in their conservation and education programs. To become a High Flyer, a community must meet additional, and more involved, criteria.
Annually, the Village of Trempealeau renews our Bird City status with passage of a Resolution that designates celebration of International Migratory Bird Day as the second Saturday in May. The fees are graciously paid by Trempealeau Chamber of Commerce to support this.
Village of Trempealeau Bird City Member Page
Join the Village of Trempealeau in Celebrating World Migratory Bird Day!
Mark Your Calendar!
The date for the 2025 World Migratory Bird Day Festival on Saturday, May 10, from 7:00 AM – 12:30 PM at Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge.
The upcoming celebration will focus on Creating Bird-Friendly Cities and Communities and will feature guided bird hikes, bird banding demonstrations, engaging guest speakers, fun activities for kids, and booths from local conservation organizations. Whether you join us for an hour or the entire event, it’s an experience the whole family will enjoy!
Stay connected and follow updates on the Refuge and Friends of the Refuge Facebook pages: Friends of Trempealeau Refuge Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge Facebook
We look forward to seeing you there!
In 2024, the Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge once again hosted a fantastic World Migratory Bird Day Festival, drawing in nearly 350 nature enthusiasts for a day of education, exploration, and fun.
A Night to Remember at Elmaro Winery
The festivities began on Friday night with a special social event at Elmaro Winery. Attendees were treated to an engaging presentation by renowned wildlife photographer Stan Tekiela. His talk, Bird Nests: Amazingly Ingenious and Intricate, captivated the audience with stunning imagery and fascinating insights into the incredible world of avian architecture.
A Day of Discovery at the Refuge
On May 11th, the festival welcomed visitors of all ages for a morning filled with activities focused on this year’s theme: Protect Insects, Protect Birds. The event featured six guided bird hikes catering to both seasoned birdwatchers and beginners, offering a unique opportunity to observe migratory songbirds in their natural habitat.
Visitors also enjoyed live bird banding demonstrations, gaining insight into the crucial role the refuge and the surrounding river landscape play as a stopover site for migrating birds. Kids got hands-on with interactive activities led by environmental education partners, Happy Dancing Turtle, while River Valley Raptors wowed the crowd with live raptor shows and expert interpretation.
Guest speakers added depth to the experience, with Alicia Ward from the International Crane Foundation discussing Cranes over Wisconsin, and Stephen Winter sharing fascinating insights on Swan Migration along the Mississippi River.
Follow the links below to learn more about bird safety from the American Bird Conservancy:
American Bird Conservancy – Cat’s Indoors
American Bird Conservancy – Bird Collisions Threats/Prevention
American Bird Conservancy – Cats and Other Invasives
Additional information educating you on how to protect birds from window strikes can be found at the following links:
Reducing Bird Collisions with Glass
National Audubon Society Bird Safe Home Brochure
Follow the links to create a bird friendly back yard:
How to create a bird friendly yard
Creating a Bird-Friendly Yard with Native Wisconsin Plants
Bird City Wisconsin works hard to implement its mission:
To encourage all communities in Wisconsin to implement sound bird-conservation practices by offering public recognition to those that succeed in (a) enhancing the environment for birds and (b) educating the public about the interactions between birds and people and about the contributions birds make to a healthy community.
