April 22-25, 2027
CBF Keynote:
The Wisco Birder
Dexter Patterson
Join us Thursday night, April 22, from 5:00 PM - 8:30 PM at Oak Hollow Farm in Fairhope Alabama, for a reception, dinner, and keynote address by Dexter Patterson.
Tickets include a cocktail reception with open bar and buffet dinner // $60.00 per ticket
Doors open at 5:00 PM.
Join Dexter Patterson, better known as the Wisco Birder, for an inspiring keynote exploring how birds can transform lives, strengthen communities, and deepen our connection to the natural world. Through his signature enthusiasm, storytelling, and science communication, Dexter has inspired millions with a simple message: Birding is for everyone!
Drawing on his experiences photographing and documenting the region's birds as the author of Birds of the Great Lakes, and on years of leading inclusive birding experiences, Dexter shares how birds can spark curiosity, improve physical and mental well-being, foster a sense of belonging, and inspire conservation action.
More than a talk about identifying birds, Bird Joy for All is an invitation to experience the outdoors with fresh eyes. Audiences will discover practical ways to make birding more welcoming and accessible, learn how communities can remove barriers to participation, and leave with simple tools for finding more joy, wonder, and connection in everyday life.
Whether you're an experienced birder or have never picked up a pair of binoculars, you'll leave inspired to step outside, look up, and discover the transformative power of Bird Joy.
About Dexter Patterson
Dexter Patterson, better known as the Wisco Birder, is a science communicator, author, and community builder on a mission to share Bird Joy with everyone. He is the author of Birds of the Great Lakes, co-host of the Bird Joy Podcast, and co-founder of the BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin, which creates welcoming outdoor experiences for communities that have too often been left out of nature spaces.
Dexter is Teaching Faculty in the Department of Life Sciences Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he teaches future scientists and researchers how to share their work through video, podcasting, and documentary photography. Beyond the classroom, he leads Bus to Nature Field Trips, bringing community groups to outdoor learning experiences across Wisconsin, and works to create inclusive outdoor spaces throughout the state.
Through his "You Ready? Let's Go!" bird videos, his podcast, and years of leading inclusive birding experiences, Dexter has inspired millions with a simple message: Birding is for everyone, even YOU!
