Three panels illustrate bank swallows in flight and nesting, with text describing their senses, migration, and filming location.

Lake Michigan Bird Observatory

Enjoy the full program with access to all main activities.

General Admission

Presented by Mequon Nature Preserve and Lake Michigan Bird Observatory Beyond Our Senses Film Screening and Bird WalkThursday September 17Mequon Nature Preserve&nbsp; 6:00 pm: Bird walk led by Lake Michigan Bird Observatory&nbsp;7:00 pm: Screening of Beyond Our Senses: Bank Swallows&nbsp;(28 minutes), followed by a presentation and conversation with filmmaker David Busse Hosted by Mequon Nature Preserve and Lake Michigan Bird ObservatoryPartnered with the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology&nbsp; This event is free to attend, with a suggested donation of $20. Beyond Our Senses: Bank Swallows follows thousands of swallows as they return to the Lake Michigan bluffs each spring to nest, raise young, and survive using extraordinary&nbsp;perceptions&nbsp;that allow&nbsp;each couple&nbsp;to&nbsp;capture up to&nbsp;7,000 insects per day, among other incredible feats. Following the screening, filmmaker David Busse shares the behind-the-scenes story of his years-long, often obsessive pursuit of the film from daily check-ins on the colony to collaborations with&nbsp;a PhD researcher, conservationists, and filmmakers&nbsp;spanning&nbsp;from his home in Wisconsin to&nbsp;Ireland and beyond, all while becoming a father for the first time. A 4x Emmy Award&ndash;winning filmmaker based in South Milwaukee, Busse calls Beyond Our Senses his most ambitious project yet and is now touring it through festivals and community screenings across the Great Lakes region.

Thank you for registering for Beyond Our Senses: Bank Swallows at Mequon Nature Preserve! The evening begins at 6:00 pm with a bird walk led by Lake Michigan Bird Observatory staff. The film will begin at 7:00 pm, followed by a presentation and conversation with filmmaker David Busse. This event is free to attend. If you chose to make a donation, thank you! Your support helps advance bird conservation and nature education. We look forward to seeing you on September 17!

Presented by Mequon Nature Preserve and Lake Michigan Bird Observatory Beyond Our Senses Film Screening and Bird WalkThursday September 17Mequon Nature Preserve  6:00 pm: Bird walk led by Lake Michigan Bird Observatory 7:00 pm: Screening of Beyond Our Senses: Bank Swallows (28 minutes), followed by a presentation and conversation with filmmaker David Busse Hosted by Mequon Nature Preserve and Lake Michigan Bird ObservatoryPartnered with the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology  This event is free to attend, with a suggested donation of $20. Beyond Our Senses: Bank Swallows follows thousands of swallows as they return to the Lake Michigan bluffs each spring to nest, raise young, and survive using extraordinary perceptions that allow each couple to capture up to 7,000 insects per day, among other incredible feats. Following the screening, filmmaker David Busse shares the behind-the-scenes story of his years-long, often obsessive pursuit of the film from daily check-ins on the colony to collaborations with a PhD researcher, conservationists, and filmmakers spanning from his home in Wisconsin to Ireland and beyond, all while becoming a father for the first time. A 4x Emmy Award–winning filmmaker based in South Milwaukee, Busse calls Beyond Our Senses his most ambitious project yet and is now touring it through festivals and community screenings across the Great Lakes region.

Lake Michigan Bird Observatory

Beyond Our Senses Film

8200 W County Line Rd

General Admission