In 2020, Wauwatosa was proud to be honored with the designation as a Bird City Wisconsin, joining about 100 other communities throughout the state who go above and beyond in their efforts to educate their residents and protect birds and preserve the habitat they need to thrive. To earn Bird City designation, communities fulfill a specific number of actions across 4 categories: habitat, threats to birds, education & engagement, and sustainability.

Since 2022, Wauwatosa has achieved the more select and prestigious High Flyer status as a Bird City, joining only six other municipalities in the great Milwaukee metro area.

Among the many achievements and initiatives that support Wauwatosa’s Bird City award:

• Conducting organized bird monitoring in the Forest Exploration Center and surrounding areas 
• Helping to improve or maintain bird habitat by holding annual and semiannual weed-outs along the Menomonee River
• Protecting bird habitat by unanimously approving a resolution and an ordinance to reflect a zoning modification to Sanctuary Woods, making it a Special Purpose Conservancy
• Educating Wauwatosans about sustainability and improving the environment at the annual Tosa Green Summit 
• Promoting green transportation by building a bicycle and pedestrian network that includes 11 miles of bike lanes and 14 miles of shared-use trails, and for encouraging bike sharing by establishing 16 Bublr Bike stations 
• Improving energy efficiency by installing solar panels on the roofs of the city’s public works facility and City Hall, for creating the Solar Tosa Program, and converting the city’s streetlights to LED

View a complete list of Wauwatosa's achievements.

Wauwatosa annually celebrates World Migratory Bird Day with a Bird Tour led by renowned area bird enthusiasts. In 2024, the Bird Tour will be held on May 12 at the Forest Exploration Center.  This year’s theme is “Insects” and their importance to bird life.

View additional information on the Bird City Wisconsin program.