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