HORICON — The Horicon Marsh Bird Club will host the 21st annual Bird Festival at Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center May 10-14.
Four days of adventure await at one of the largest freshwater marshes in the United States.
Highlights of this year’s festival, the oldest bird festival in Wisconsin, include bird banding demonstrations and birder and humorist Al Batt.
A Birding by Bicycle guided tour invites birders to peddle their way through the area. A Birdy Scavenger Hunt offers a unique way to explore the marshes scenic views, sounds and enjoyment.
At over 33,000 acres, Horicon Marsh provides habitat for endangered species and is a critical rest stop for thousands of migrating songbirds and waterfowl, according to a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources news release. More than 300 bird species are on the Horicon Marsh checklist.
The festival begins with an Early Bird Bus Tour. Popular favorites include the Hot Spot Birding Bus Tour, Beginners Bird Hike, Birding Adventure Boat Tour, and 20+ other tours and activities planned by the Horicon Marsh Bird Club.
For the early morning birder, First Light Birding offers a glimpse of the birds at sunrise. At sunset, a Night Sounds Bus Tour is offered. Throughout the festival, the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, Marsh Haven Nature Center and Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center will be buzzing with interactive displays, programs, and opportunities for viewing birds at their observation areas.
To plan your birding adventure, visit www.horiconmarshbirdclub.com (exit DNR) and click on the Bird Festival link for a complete list of events, descriptions and registration information. For additional registration information, contact Liz Herzmann, DNR wildlife conservation educator, at 920-387-7893.
Many tours require advanced registration and fees and spaces are filling up fast.
The Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center is located between Horicon, Wisconsin, and Mayville, Wisconsin, on Highway 28.
Photo courtesy DNR.
