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Festival Booklet

 

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Chequamegon Bay Birding & Nature Festival
Dates: May 21-23, 2026
Location: Ashland, Wisconsin

REGISTRATION is OPEN 

Here is the link to registration 

Please review the registration process – step-by-step instructions along with a video guide to help you navigate the registration process. The video is approximately 15 minutes long (we apologize for the length), but by familiarizing yourself with the process, you should be able to complete your registration quickly and easily.

Here is a:

Please take a moment and make sure you are prepared when you go online to register.  Registration will be online only. ONLINE REGISTRATION opens at 9am CST on Tuesday, April 7th.  The link for registration will be provided on our website and in the Monday reminder email.

You will be limited to signing up for NO MORE THAN 4 FIELD TRIPS, excluding the activities not titled field trips such as the Social & Dinner, Sightings of the Day & Keynote Speaker (#44- 47), Bird in the hand (#4, 27, 31, 52),  Native Landscaping & Butterfly Gardens (#17), afternoon indoor programs (#18, 19, 20,  41, 42, 43, & 62) Beginning Birding (40 & 61) and the Wednesday Stockton Island Cruise (#63).  

List of 2026 Chequamegon Bay Birding & Nature Festival activities with description

  • Look over the activities and have your choices ready.  Also have your 2nd and 3rd options ready.   
  • Make sure your activities don’t over lap – times listed are the times you start at the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center and end at the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center.
  • Be prepared with all information needed when you register – Name, address, phone number, email address and credit card information. 
  • If you are registering others have their information ready as well.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

  • You have a maximum of 4 field trip activities per person.  Additional activities that do not count towards the 4 field trips are the Social & Dinner,  Sightings of the Day & Keynote Speaker (#44- 47), Bird in the Hand (#4, 27, 31 & 52) Native Landscaping & Butterfly Gardens (#17), afternoon indoor programs (#18, 19, 20,  41, 42, 43, & 62), Beginning Birding (40 & 61) and the Wednesday Stockton Island Cruise (#63).
  • All Field Trips will have a maximum of 15 participants.
  • Make sure to have a backup choice in case your first choice is already booked.
  • Donating to the Great Wisconsin Birdathon.  In the past we have asked if you were interested in donating to the Great Wisconsin Birdathon.  Your donation will support Ryan Brady, Nick Anich & the Lake Superior eBirders team in their quest to see as many species as possible on a single day in May and raise funds for important bird conservation projects in Wisconsin.  At the bottom of the list of activities on the online registration #64-67, is where you can donate to the Great Wisconsin Birdathon.  You can donate in increments of $10-$100. This is totally optional, but we would love your support.  We thank you in advance for support.
  • Please watch the  tutorial to get yourself familar with the registration process.  We PROMISE it will help you with a smoother registration process.
  • Registration is ONLINE ONLY.  No phone in or mail registration will be taken.
  • Have all of your pertinent information ready when registering, i.e., credit card number, first choice, alternate choice in case your first choice is filled, and, if you have questions, call us to find out your answers to questions before registration opens – we are here to help. 715-682-2500.
  • ONLINE REGISTRATION opens at 9am CST on Tuesday, April 7th.

Please call if you have any questions 715-682-2500.

FESTIVAL INFORMATION:

ACTIVITY TIMES
All start and end times include round-trip traveling time from the David R. Obey Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center (NGLVC). EXCEPT for the Friday night Social, Dinner, Sightings of the Day and Keynote Speaker and the Wednesday Cruise.  Each off-site activity will have a group departing from NGLVC. Field Trip leaders do a roll call check-in at the whiteboards inside the NGLVC and designate the area in the parking lot they will meet before they head off in the caravan.  Do not go to the caravan until you have checked in with the leader at the whiteboard.  However, some activities located in communities around the bay will also have an “optional” meeting point and time listed in their descriptions so you can start at that site for your convenience. If you choose to meet at the “optional” meeting spot for your activity, let us know, so we are not waiting for you inside the Center. It is the responsibility of the participant to be at the correct location at the correct time. Refunds will not be given for missed attendance.  Please let us know if you plan on meeting at the “optional” meeting point.

TRANSPORTATION
Transportation for field trips and other activities IS NOT provided by the festival. Be aware that some trips may involve rough unpaved roads – medium to high-clearance vehicles are recommended.  Some activities may have additional parking costs that are payable at the time of the activity.
 
REGISTRATION FEES
Costs will be $20 per person per field trip and $5-$15 per person per indoor programs (Thursday & Friday afternoons). Additional costs apply to some activities. Cruise, dinner, and keynote costs apply as listed.  Additional activities that do not count towards the 4 field trips are the Social & Dinner, Sightings of the Day & Keynote Speaker (#44- 47), Bird in the hand (#4, 27, 31 & 52), Native Landscaping & Butterfly Gardens (#17), afternoon indoor programs (#18, 19, 20,  41, 42, 43, & 62,) Beginning Birding (40 & 61) and the Wednesday Stockton Island Cruise (#63).  Just an FYI – When registering online a processing fee will be added to cover the convenience of online registration.
 
ADDITIONAL COSTS
A few activities have some additional costs over & above the fees above.  Whenever there is an additional cost, it will be indicated in the activity description and table. Parking fees are payable at the time of the activity.

GROUP SIZES
Each activity has a minimum and maximum group size. If the number of participants is less than the minimum required, the activity may be subject to cancellation. Activities that have the maximum number of participants will be highlighted in red and marked FULL. Signing up early is the best way to ensure you get the activities you want!

LEVELS OF DIFFICULTY
Numerical categories ranging from 1 (easiest) to 5 (most challenging) indicate the level of difficulty for each activity. Please note these are guesstimates made at the time of planning and subject to minor changes based on current conditions. 1=Accessible, 2=Easy, 3=Average, 4=Challenging, 5=Extreme.  For a more detailed description of Levels of difficulty click here.

SILENT AUCTION
Each year the festival hosts a silent auction in conjunction with the Friday evening dinner banquet.  This fun and lively event is proudly sponsored by the Chequamegon Audubon Society.  Proceeds from the auction benefit bird conservation efforts both near and far.  Interested in donating?  Items may be dropped off at the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center Gift Shop or the Ashland Chamber Office.  Email chequamegonaudubon@gmail.com with any questions.

THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE YOUR ADVENTURE
• For field trips, make sure to arrive 15 minutes early to check-in inside the center with the trip leader.  Field Trip leaders do a roll call check-in at the whiteboards inside the NGLVC and designate the area in the parking lot they will meet before they head off in the caravan.  Make sure you check in with leader before you head out to the caravan of cars.
• Please bring: insect repellent, water, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, appropriate clothing and footwear, binoculars, a camera and a field guide. 
• For kayak trips, wear closed-toe shoes that will stay on and that you do not mind getting wet.

PETS
We are sorry, but pets are not allowed on Field Trips, in buildings or boats for the Bird and Nature Festival.  Pets can unintentionally disturb the very wildlife participants are there to observe. Birds are highly sensitive to movement, noise, and unfamiliar animals; even a well-behaved pet can cause them to flee, hide, or stop normal behaviors like feeding or nesting. This makes it harder for everyone in the group to enjoy meaningful sightings.  Keeping trips pet-free helps ensure a safe, focused, and respectful experience for both participants and wildlife.
 
CANCELLATION AND REFUND POLICY
Chequamegon Bay Birding & Nature Festival reserves the right to cancel a festival activity or substitute qualified presenters when necessary. If we cancel an event for any reason, a full refund will be issued. Should that unlikely occurrence become necessary, you will be notified as soon as possible. 
 
Registration can be cancelled by email, fax or mail following this established Refund Policy: 
• Cancellations made by May 1, 2026, will be refunded at 50% of the total cost paid. 
• Cancellations made after May 1, 2026, will not be refunded. 

Looking for lodging?  Click this link or call our office at 715-682-2500.