MADISON — They’re cute, they’re puffy, they’re fat and they’re back.

During Wisconsin Fat Bird Week, held from May 2-9 this year, the public votes daily for their favorite bulbous migratory bird in a bracket-style elimination tournament. 

The contest is hosted by the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin and SOS Save Our Songbirds. While people “weigh in” with their votes, the organizations will be sharing fun facts about Wisconsin’s native birds and how to keep them fat and healthy.

Fat Bird Week takes a page from, and has the blessing of, organizers of Fat Bear Week, which features bears at Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska competing in an online tournament as the bears bulk up for winter hibernation. 

While the Alaskan bears gorge on salmon before a long winter’s nap, Wisconsin’s migratory birds eat fat-rich foods to fuel their dangerous, physically-taxing flights. Spring migration is literally survival of the fattest. Local non-migratory chonkers achieve a bulkier appearance by fluffing out their feathers during the winter months to stay warm. 

“We host Fat Bird Week during spring migration to raise awareness about how people can help Wisconsin’s  birds thrive,” said Shelly Torkelson, communications director for the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin. “While they’re having fun voting, we hope people will also take a minute to learn about window collisions, planting native plants, bird-friendly coffee, and going birding during the Great Wisconsin Birdathon.”

A new set of eight contestants have waddled in for this year’s Wisconsin Fat Bird Week bracket, with names like “Neckless Northern Cardinal,” “Spherical White-Throated Sparrow” and “Rotund Ruby-throated Hummingbird.” Every day from May 2-9, a new pair will to go beak to beak, with the winner advancing to the next round.  

By popular demand, this year the public can now sign up for daily email reminders to vote and be first to receive the winner announcement. New resources for hosting a Fat Bird Week contest with friends, family, or coworkers are also available.

“A fat bird is a healthy bird, and we want to spotlight and celebrate that and do our part at home to keep them that way,” said Lisa Gaumnitz, SOS Save Our Songbirds coordinator. “And who can resist a cute photo of a chunky round bird?”

For more information, to see all the contestants, or to sign up for voting reminders, visit WisConservation.org/FatBirdWeek.