We can protect birds and help our cats live long and healthy lives by keeping them indoors.

Free-ranging cats kill an estimated 2.4 billion birds every year in the United States, second only to habitat destruction when it comes to human-caused loss of birds.

Find safe solutions for keeping your cat happy and protecting birds here:

Wisconsin Humane Society

American Bird Conservancy Cats Indoors Program

Common weed killers we use around our homes and gardens can kill birds directly or indirectly. Avoid use of 2, 4-D and glyphosate (used in Roundup) and garden insecticides containing neonicotinoids.

Choose plantings at your local nursery that are labeled organic or neonic-free.

Xerxes Society provides information about alternatives to chemical pesticides in your garden and yard.

The Center for Food Safety provides a list of neonic pesticides to avoid.

Share your bird sightings and get involved in other projects to help advance bird science, monitoring and protection.

Wisconsin eBird is an online database for recording and exploring bird sightings.

Check the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s listing of bird counts, whether for a day or longer.

Wisconsin Citizen-based Monitoring Network lists bird monitoring projects and organizations.

Photo: Ryan Brady

The Great Wisconsin Birdathon is Wisconsin’s largest fundraiser for bird conservation. Each year bird enthusiasts from across the state form teams with the goal of finding as many bird species as possible within a 24-hour period while raising important funds for bird conservation.

It’s like a walk-a-thon-style fundraiser, but instead of logging miles, you’re logging bird sightings!

Learn more about how to participate or donate on the Great Wisconsin Birdathon website.

One of the best ways to advocate for birds is to join one of our partner groups. Many of them work to keep members informed about local, state, and national issues and opportunities to weigh in on behalf of birds.

Here are a few key national issues:

Recovering America’s Wildlife Act is bipartisan legislation to increase funding to states and tribal nations to help reverse declines in watchable wildlife.

America the Beautiful Plan to Conserve 30 Percent of Lands and Waters by 2030

Help someone new discover the joy of watching birds, whether in your backyard, a nearby park or a favorite birding spot.

Many of our partners have active field trip schedules and the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin offers field trips to many birding hotspots.

New groups have formed as well. Check out:

BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin

Madison Feminist Bird Club