Horicon Marsh Bird Club invites birders of all skill levels – as well as anyone who enjoys the great outdoors – to the 28th Annual Horicon Marsh Bird Festival This weekend-long event provides family-friendly activities and educational experiences designed to showcase Horicon Marsh’s role as an important habitat for birds and wildlife.
Highlights of this year’s Bird Festival NEW trips to Old Marsh Road, night sounds, boating and birding, LIVE birds of prey, smaller more intimate guided tours, and so much more!
Schedule of Events:
7:00 am - 9:00 am - Birding Ziegler Park, Mayville
Since “discovering” this 70-acre gem, it has been a superstar throughout the Horicon Marsh Bird Festival (154 species e-Birded here). Ziegler Park has 72.3 acres of parkland; most of it is mature wooded forest along the east branch of the Rock River with a 1.5-mile nature trail. This Mayville City Park is a great spot for many birds but particularly warblers. This can be a warbler hotspot with over 15 species being seen on a good day (28 species e-Birded). Join us to search for the colorful woodland warblers!
Trip leaders: Brad Webb and Sarah Warner.
Registration with payment required.
Location: Ziegler Park 800 Kekoskee Street Mayville, WI 53050
7:00 am - 9:00 am - Birding Ziegler Park, Mayville
Since “discovering” this 70-acre gem, it has been a superstar throughout the Horicon Marsh Bird Festival (154 species e-Birded here). Ziegler Park has 72.3 acres of parkland; most of it is mature wooded forest along the east branch of the Rock River with a 1.5-mile nature trail. This Mayville City Park is a great spot for many birds but particularly warblers. This can be a warbler hotspot with over 15 species being seen on a good day (28 species e-Birded). Join us to search for the colorful woodland warblers!
Trip leaders: Brad Webb and Sarah Warner.
Registration with payment required.
Location: Ziegler Park 800 Kekoskee Street Mayville, WI 53050
9:00 am - 10:00 am - Introducing…The Whooping Crane!
Let us introduce you to the regal Whooping Crane! During this easy walking tour, staff from the International Crane Foundation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will discuss crane biology and refuge management and highlight the work the International Crane Foundation is doing to conserve Whooping Cranes at Horicon Marsh and throughout Wisconsin. Includes a potential opportunity to view whoopers in the wild from a distance. Meet at the Egret Trail boardwalk parking lot at the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge auto tour off Highway 49.
This program is free and no pre-registration is needed.
9:30 am - 11:30 am - Bird Hike at Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center
Kid & Family Event. Join leaders for a hike that will focus on bird species along the Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center trail system; a boardwalk reaching out to Indermuehle Island through the marsh and covering a variety of habitats. Walking on uneven trails and in damp foliage is a possibility. Meet at the Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center, off Hwy. 28 between Mayville and Horicon.
Free. No registration required.
9:30 am - 11:30 am - Birding Ziegler Park, Mayville
Since “discovering” this 70-acre gem, it has been a superstar throughout the Horicon Marsh Bird Festival (154 species e-Birded here). Ziegler Park has 72.3 acres of parkland; most of it is mature wooded forest along the east branch of the Rock River with a 1.5-mile nature trail. This Mayville City Park is a great spot for many birds but particularly warblers. This can be a warbler hotspot with over 15 species being seen on a good day (28 species e-Birded). Join us to search for the colorful woodland warblers!
Trip leaders: Brad Webb and Sarah Warner.
Registration with payment required.
Location: Ziegler Park 800 Kekoskee Street Mayville, WI 53050
10:00 am - 11:00 am - Birding the Sense of Wonder Trail
Join staff from the USFWS on a guided hike along the Sense of Wonder Trail as we explore different habitats to see what birds and other wildlife may be using the wetlands, fields and forest. The hike is approximately one mile of easy walking and is perfect for beginning birders and families. Binoculars will be provided if needed. Meet at the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center (W4279 Headquarters Rd, Mayville) parking lot near the Sense of Wonder Trailhead.
This program is free and no pre-registration is needed.
Location: Horicon National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center W4279 Headquarters Road Mayville, WI 53050
10:00 am - 12:00 pm - Birding Adventure Boat Tour
Engage in a Birding Adventure to glimpse one of the over 300 species of birds that visit Horicon Marsh Annually. This is a guided two-hour pontoon ride into the Horicon Marsh. Your guide will be Kelli Bahls.
Register and pay at https://www.horiconmarsh.com/ or by calling (920) 643-7072.
Price: $38/adult | $20/child
Available Spaces: 32 seats
