Lake Michigan Bird Observatory

06/05/2026

Healthy roots = happy plants! Jill Kunsmann walks through how to handle root bound plants before planting so they can thrive from day one.

How to plant a root bound plant.

05/29/2026

Have you noticed tall purple flowers everywhere lately? There’s a good chance you’ve been seeing dame’s rocket. It is pretty, but in this case, looks are deceiving!

Native Woodland Phlox gives you beautiful purple blooms while providing big benefits for birds. The good news is that you can buy Woodland phlox and many other native plants at our native plant sale tomorrow (5/30) in Upper Lake Park!

05/28/2026

We are so excited to launch a brand new Nature Journaling Series at our new home at Afterglow Farm. Nature journaling is for everyone, whether you’ve never picked up a sketchbook or have years of artistic experience!

Spots are limited, so register soon!
tinyurl.com/lmbojournal

05/28/2026

Our Native Plant Sale and World Migratory Bird Day Celebration is this Saturday, May 30, from 9 AM–1 PM at Upper Lake Park in Port Washington!

Stop by for native plants, bird walks, partner booths, and a live raptor show.

05/22/2026

It’s plant sale season, and we know there are a lot of great ones happening this weekend.

Ours is still to come! Our Native Plant Sale and World Migratory Bird Day Celebration is next Saturday, May 30, from 9 AM–1 PM at Upper Lake Park in Port Washington.

Save the date, save a little garden space, and come see us for native plants, bird walks, partner booths, and a live raptor show.

05/18/2026

Did you miss our tree giveaway? Here’s another chance!
We’ll be giving away Allegheny and Downy Serviceberry saplings before our bird walk at the USS Liberty Memorial Public Library in Grafton this Wednesday.
Stop by from 3:30–4:00 PM to pick up your saplings, then stay for a free guided bird walk!
Supplies are very limited.

05/13/2026

Great news! Our online Native Tree & Shrub Sale has been extended through May 15.
Add bird-friendly native trees and shrubs to your yard this spring, then pick up your order in Port Washington the week of May 18.

https://lmbostore.company.site

05/12/2026

Our May newsletter is here!

It is pack with upcoming events, bird facts, volunteer opportunities, and conservation updates from around Wisconsin.

Click below to read the latest issue.

Come experience the birds of Afterglow Farm and join us for a morning of birding at our new space! This outing will consist of a guided walking tour with LMBO staff of some birding hotspots on the property. Afterglow Farm is a private property located near Forest Beach Migratory Preserve in Port W...

05/11/2026

🚨Lights Out Alert! 🚨 Tonight, an estimated 17.6 million birds will fly over Wisconsin!

We’re urging everyone to turn off or dim non-essential outdoor lights and close window shades from 11 p.m.–6 a.m. to help birds safely on their journey.

Most birds migrate at night, and light pollution can disorient them, leading to deadly window collisions. In addition to turning down the lights, you can also help by treating windows. If you’re looking for a quick fix, draw lines on your windows (no more than 2” apart) with a bar of soap or washable window markers.

A few simple steps can save countless birds, conserve energy, and protect our night skies. 🌌🐦

👉 Share this post to spread the word!

Want migration alerts sent straight to your inbox? Sign up for Cornell Lab of Ornithology BirdCast alerts through the link in the comments. BirdCast added 4 Wisconsin cities this year: Appleton, La Crosse, Madison, and Milwaukee. If you don’t live near one, choose the closest city to you.

BirdCast sends alerts only on the biggest migration nights; about 8–10 nights each season that account for roughly half of all migration traffic.

SOS Save Our Songbirds | Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance | Wisconsin Society for Ornithology - WSO | Kickapoo Valley Dark Sky Initiative | Focus on Energy

05/07/2026

If you missed our Tree Giveaway, we will be at Havenwoods State Forest this weekend to celebrate World Migratory Bird Day! The event begins at 8am with a bird walk and talk with the and then the tree giveaway starts at 10am.