| Birding Festivals - Flock to the Fun | | | | Birding by motorboat, mini-railcar, hikes along |
| If you're in the market for a great way to spend a | | | | shorelines,forests, bluff tops, lectures, and more. |
| day,check out your local birding festivals. Most states | | | | Horicon Marsh Bird Festival, Wisconsin. Bird |
| haveseveral fairs and festivals going on during the | | | | banding,birding by pontoon, hikes, talks, and the "big sit", |
| year, andthey are an excellent way to get outside, | | | | whereparticipants try to observe as many species as |
| learnsomething new, make new friends and have fun. | | | | possiblefrom a 17-foot observatory platform from |
| Birding festivals last from a simple one day event to a | | | | midnight Fridaytill dark on Saturday. |
| fullmonth of outings, activities and lectures. The | | | | Festival of Birds, Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. Over |
| mostcommon are over a weekend, and can range | | | | 170species seen last year, field trips, frog/toad |
| from smalllocal events at a nearby park, to large-scale | | | | outing,workshops, exhibitors. |
| events thatbring visitors from all over the globe, with | | | | Cape May Spring Weekend, New Jersey. 200+ |
| events spreadthroughout an entire region. Depending | | | | birdspecies, field trips, workshops, boat trips and more |
| on the specificevent, you will have the opportunity to | | | | at themigration mainline capital of North America. |
| hearknowledgeable speakers, observe live birds up | | | | Mountain Lake Migratory Bird Festival, Pembroke, |
| close,take guided walks, get pointers on better | | | | Virginia. |
| wildlifephotography, sharpen your identification skills, | | | | Visit the beautiful Mountain Lake Hotel, with 2600 |
| shareexperiences with like-minded folks, and even | | | | acresof pristine woodlands to take part in dozens of |
| take moreexotic outings, such as birding by boat or on | | | | activities -field trips, workshops, fun for the kids. |
| horseback. | | | | Kirtland's Warbler Festival, Roscommon, Michigan. |
| Often there are artists, vendors, children's activities, | | | | Guidedtours to see the Kirtland's Warbler, nature |
| andthe like. | | | | presentations,crafts, kids' activities, photography and |
| Many birding festivals center on a specific event | | | | more. |
| takingplace in the local area, migration being a | | | | Bar Harbor Warblers & Wildflowers, Bar Harbor, Maine. |
| particularfavorite. Another popular theme is the | | | | Bird walks, peregrine watches, boat rides, garden |
| celebration ofspecific species found only locally, or | | | | andforest tours, art exhibits. |
| perhaps in aparticular abundance, such as warblers, | | | | Potholes and Prairie Birding Festival, Jamestown, North |
| shorebirds,cranes or hawks. Many blend other interests | | | | Dakota. Guided tours, workshop, wonderful |
| with birding,such as butterflies, flowers or even music. | | | | prairiebirding. |
| Here is a sampling of some of the larger events that | | | | The Feliciana Hummingbird Celebration |
| takeplace each spring and summer: | | | | highlightshummingbirds in the St. Francisville area of |
| Birds, Blossoms & Blues Festival, Norfolk, Virginia. | | | | Louisiana,including banding and workshops on how to |
| Fieldtrips, walking tours, boat tours, plant sales, | | | | build ahummingbird habitat in your garden. |
| bluesconcerts, family festival. | | | | Southwest Wings. Arizona's longest running |
| Florida's First Coast Birding and Nature Festival, St. | | | | birdingfestival celebrates its 15th year in Bisbee. Natural |
| Augustine, Florida. Kayaking, walking tours, | | | | historytours, birds and butterfly tours, exhibits and |
| photographyexpeditions. Learn about outdoor | | | | programs. |
| photography, birding,wildlife, butterflies, and much more. | | | | You can find these birding festivals and fairs by |
| Spring Wings Bird Festival, Fallon, Nevada. Field | | | | checkingbirding magazines such as "Birders World" and |
| trips,including a birding by horseback safari, airboat | | | | "Audubon", by contacting your local Audubon |
| tour,ranch tour, photography contest, and much more. | | | | chapter,and by searching the Internet, but the quickest |
| Great River Birding and Nature Festival, Lake City, | | | | way toget a comprehensive list is by scanning the |
| Minnesota. 3 days of birding and nature events | | | | Birding Event |
| heldthroughout the Mississippi River Valley of | | | | Calendar at |
| Southeast | | | | Join the flock at your local birding festival, or migrate to |
| Minnesota and Southwest Wisconsin around Lake | | | | amore distant event. Either choice promises a great |
| Pepin. | | | | day ofbirding! |