Donations and membership

The Friends of the Bird Sanctuary, Inc. (FOTBS) was formed to help protect and preserve the Douglas County Wildlife Management Area (DCWMA). FOTBS is a volunteer-based organization that was created in September 2003.
FOTBS is an IRS 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempt organization. All dues and donations are tax deductible.
In August 2003 when the DCWMA lease between Douglas County and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources was being renegotiated for another 25 years, it became apparent that only a strong voice of stewardship and advocacy would ensure the continued preservation of this unique resource.  FOTBS is a chapter of the Friends of Wisconsin State Parks. 

We operate in partnership (under a written Tri-Partnership Agreement) with the Wisconsin DNR and Douglas County. Our group carries on the conservation tradition started by Field Trial associations in the 1920’s.
The unique Pine Barrens ecosystem, that includes the Bird Sanctuary, once covered 2.3 million acres of Wisconsin. Today fewer than 40,000 acres remain, and 4,000 of these remaining acres are in the Bird Sanctuary. These open areas are home to Sharp-tailed Grouse along with a wide variety of wildlife and plants that can only survive in this type of habitat.

Past and Planned Projects / Activities

  • Projects completed include native prairie garden that has identification plaques for the individual plant species.  
  • Regularly, FOTBS co-host a group hike with the North Country Trail Association.  
  • On an every other year rotation we have a speaker series called “Barrens Fest,” 
  • Late fall 2021 FOTBS provided a long presentation on the Northwest Sands Auto Trail, assisted with a grant from the Wisconsin Humanities Council.  
  • In 2022, the Wisconsin Sharp Tail Grouse Association will be hosting their annual meeting at the Bird Sanctuary, which is also a day long speaker series.  
  • We received a grant from Tropical Wings for a bluebird house project that collaborates with St. Croix Elementary students for an educational experience around it. 
  • In 2021, new signage was placed through a Natural Resources Foundation grant and the whole kiosk / parking area was expanded and reoriented, with special thanks to our partner at the WI DNR Greg Kessler.  
  • More kiosk improvements are expected to come.

    membership

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Friends of the Bird Sanctuary (FOTBS) 
​PO Box 116
Gordon, WI 54838

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