Welcome to the BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin!

Mission Statement: The BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin creates safe spaces for people of color in the outdoors through outdoor birding activities and events. Individuals and families of all ages and at any level of birding experience are invited and encouraged to join us, BIPOC and allies alike.

About the Club: The BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin was established in 2021 as a community of people of color who love the outdoors and the birds and beauty of natural Wisconsin and wish to connect with others who share the same passion.

While the BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin seeks to promote outdoor birding activities and outdoor experiences for people of color, anyone who shares and supports our values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and access for all are welcome to join this group. We are family-friendly, and people of all ages are invited and encouraged to join us.

Experience and knowledge are not required. What is important is having a desire and willingness to see and learn about Wisconsin's birds, animals, and plants and explore its beauty with others who share the same passion and curiosity in a safe, inclusive and supportive environment.

If you’re interested in having us present for your organization, meeting, or event, please see our Speaking Requests page.

We are proud to partner and collaborate with the Feminist Bird Club - Madison chapter, the Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance (formerly Madison Audubon), Wisconsin Metro Audubon Society, the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin, and NOCS Provisions.

Known on social media as the Wisco Birder, Dexter Patterson, our co-founder, is on a mission to spread joy and make birdwatching welcoming to all. With his energetic and engaging videos, Dexter has captured the hearts of birding enthusiasts and newcomers, amassing millions of views on Instagram and beyond. His signature “You Ready? Let’s Go!” videos showcase stunning birds, breathtaking photography, and Dexter’s infectious passion for the outdoors.

Whatever your story, the way you tell it online can make all the difference. As the co-host of the popular Bird Joy Podcast, Dexter amplifies diverse voices and shares the beauty and importance of birding with a global audience. A champion for inclusion, he co-founded the BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin to create a safe and welcoming space for BIPOC birders in the Madison community, across Wisconsin, and beyond.

Dexter’s work is a testament to his belief that birding is for everyone, and he’s dedicated to inspiring others to find joy in nature, one bird at a time.

Rita Flores Wiskowski is joining the BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin as the Milwaukee Area Coordinator.

She is an avid birder and citizen science enthusiast. She also serves on the board of the Wisconsin Metro Audubon Society, where she has been responsible for creating diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

Her goal is to help to make birding safe and accessible for everyone. One of her biggest joys is to be with someone as they discover the joy and excitement of birding for the first time.

Rita believes that the more voices and experiences we bring to this hobby, the better our enjoyment will be, the stronger our conservation efforts will be, and the more promising our future will be.

Yesenia Villanueva Rodríguez (she/ella) is joining the BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin as a Milwaukee Area Coordinator.

She is an outdoor enthusiast and a past early childhood teacher.

Her birding journey began during the pandemic when she needed to be in the community safely. She learned about a group of people who went birding and took health precautions seriously. Next thing you know, Yesenia was out in the Chicago winter holding a pair of binoculars, amazed every time she heard or saw a bird.

She's excited to return to her home city as part of the BIPOC Birding Club! One of Yesenia's goals is to get more people outside, especially marginalized groups, and return to an ancestral practice: being present, observant, and a part of nature.

Sean is the Club Lead Administrator at the BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin.

They are a Wisconsin Master Naturalist, former music teacher, absolute science nerd, and fledgling birder. She loves picking the brains of so many kind and knowledgeable nature lovers.

They have a lifelong joy of helping students feel safe and welcomed, and they hope to contribute to that same atmosphere with the BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin.

Sean studies math as a career change between events and enjoys clicker-training two fluffy house cats.

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