| If you're in the market for a great way to | | | | lectures, and more. |
| spend a day, check out your local birding | | | | |
| festivals. Most states have several fairs | | | | Horicon Marsh Bird Festival, Wisconsin. Bird |
| and festivals going on during the year, and | | | | banding, birding by pontoon, hikes, talks, |
| they are an excellent way to get outside, | | | | and the "big sit", where participants try to |
| learn something new, make new friends and | | | | observe as many species as possible from a |
| have fun. | | | | 17-foot observatory platform from midnight |
| | | | Friday till dark on Saturday. |
| Birding festivals last from a simple one day | | | | |
| event to a full month of outings, activities | | | | Festival of Birds, Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. |
| and lectures. The most common are over a | | | | Over 170 species seen last year, field |
| weekend, and can range from small local | | | | trips, frog/toad outing, workshops, |
| events at a nearby park, to large-scale | | | | exhibitors. |
| events that bring visitors from all over the | | | | |
| globe, with events spread throughout an | | | | Cape May Spring Weekend, New Jersey. 200+ |
| entire region. Depending on the specific | | | | bird species, field trips, workshops, boat |
| event, you will have the opportunity to hear | | | | trips and more at the migration mainline |
| knowledgeable speakers, observe live birds up | | | | capital of North America. |
| close, take guided walks, get pointers on | | | | |
| better wildlife photography, sharpen your | | | | Mountain Lake Migratory Bird Festival, |
| identification skills, share experiences | | | | Pembroke, Virginia. Visit the beautiful |
| with like-minded folks, and even take more | | | | Mountain Lake Hotel, with 2600 acres of |
| exotic outings, such as birding by boat or on | | | | pristine woodlands to take part in dozens of |
| horseback. Often there are artists, vendors, | | | | activities - field trips, workshops, fun for |
| children's activities, and the like. | | | | the kids. |
| | | | |
| Many birding festivals center on a specific | | | | Kirtland's Warbler Festival, Roscommon, |
| event taking place in the local area, | | | | Michigan. Guided tours to see the Kirtland's |
| migration being a particular favorite. | | | | Warbler, nature presentations, crafts, kids' |
| Another popular theme is the celebration of | | | | activities, photography and more. |
| specific species found only locally, or | | | | |
| perhaps in a particular abundance, such as | | | | Bar Harbor Warblers & Wildflowers, Bar |
| warblers, shorebirds, cranes or hawks. Many | | | | Harbor, Maine. Bird walks, peregrine |
| blend other interests with birding, such as | | | | watches, boat rides, garden and forest |
| butterflies, flowers or even music. | | | | tours, art exhibits. |
| | | | |
| Here is a sampling of some of the larger | | | | Potholes and Prairie Birding Festival, |
| events that take place each spring and | | | | Jamestown, North Dakota. Guided tours, |
| summer: | | | | workshop, wonderful prairie birding. |
| | | | |
| Birds, Blossoms & Blues Festival, Norfolk, | | | | The Feliciana Hummingbird Celebration |
| Virginia. Field trips, walking tours, boat | | | | highlights hummingbirds in the St. |
| tours, plant sales, blues concerts, family | | | | Francisville area of Louisiana, including |
| festival. | | | | banding and workshops on how to build a |
| | | | hummingbird habitat in your garden. |
| Florida's First Coast Birding and Nature | | | | |
| Festival, St. Augustine, Florida. Kayaking, | | | | Southwest Wings. Arizona's longest running |
| walking tours, photography expeditions. | | | | birding festival celebrates its 15th year in |
| Learn about outdoor photography, birding, | | | | Bisbee. Natural history tours, birds and |
| wildlife, butterflies, and much more. | | | | butterfly tours, exhibits and programs. |
| | | | |
| Spring Wings Bird Festival, Fallon, Nevada. | | | | You can find these birding festivals and |
| Field trips, including a birding by | | | | fairs by checking birding magazines such as |
| horseback safari, airboat tour, ranch tour, | | | | "Birders World" and "Audubon", by contacting |
| photography contest, and much more. | | | | your local Audubon chapter, and by searching |
| | | | the Internet, but the quickest way to get a |
| Great River Birding and Nature Festival, Lake | | | | comprehensive list is by scanning the Birding |
| City, Minnesota. 3 days of birding and | | | | Event Calendar at |
| nature events held throughout the | | | | |
| Mississippi River Valley of Southeast | | | | Join the flock at your local birding |
| Minnesota and Southwest Wisconsin around Lake | | | | festival, or migrate to a more distant |
| Pepin. Birding by motorboat, mini-railcar, | | | | event. Either choice promises a great day of |
| hikes along shorelines, forests, bluff tops, | | | | birding! |