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Birding Festivals (By Months)

Birding Festivals

Birding festivals offer birders the opportunity to visit top birding locations. The festivals provide guided field trips to local birding hotspots. Attending a festival is an excellent way to see new species, improve your skills and meet new friends. There are about 200 different birding and nature festivals in the United States and Canada.

 

Festivals by state are listed below.  Select a month from the list on the left.

Check the websites or contact the event for specific dates, lodging, and additional information.

 

Birdzilla’s Top 10 Birding Festivals

1. Rio Grande Birding Festival, South Texas (November)

2. Space Coast Birding Festival, east coast of Florida (January)

3. San Diego Birding Festival , California (March)

4. Monterey Bay Birding Festival, California(September)

5. Southwest Wings Birding Festival, Arizona (August)

6. Grays Harbor Shorebird Festival, Washington state (late April or early May)

7. Morro Bay Winter Bird Festival, California (January)

8. Hummerbird Celebration, Rockport, Texas (September)

9. Horicon Marsh Bird Festival, Wisconsin, (May)

10. Florida Keys Birding and Wildlife Festival (September)

 

Competition for the Top 10 is heating up. Here are some additional favorites.

Feather Fest in Galveston (April)

The Biggest Week in American Birding
– Magee Marsh wildlife Area, Oak Harbor, Ohio.

Midwest Birding Symposium – Held on alternate (odd-numbered) years – Sept.  Ohio

Birding festivals and events

 

Additional Birding Festivals

Alaska:
Kenai Birding Festival: May
A birding MUST! Birders of all ages and abilities will enjoy this 4-day festival on the Kenai Peninsula. From guided birding hikes and social birding opportunities to Kenai Fjord guided boat tours and engaging educational workshops there is something for everyone in beautiful, bird centric Kenai.

The Cordova/Copper River Shorebird Festival: May
Cordova, Alaska

Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival: May
Homer, Alaska
Alaska’s largest nature festival, celebrating birds, and offering over 50 events, including birding, nature, and photography workshops, presentations, field and boat excursions, and family friendly Junior Birding program. Keynote Speakers Bill Thompson, III of BIRD WATCHERS’ DIGEST magazine and Noah Strycker, Associate Editor of BIRDING magazine, with more speakers to be announced. Contact Robbi Mixon, 907-235-7740, [email protected]. Visit our website,
www.kachemakshorebird.org.

Alaska Bald Eagle Festival: November
Haines, Alaska

Arizona:
Southwest Wings Birding and Nature Festival – July/August

Sedona Hummingbird Festival – August
995 Upper Red Rock Loop Road
Sedona, AZ  86336
http://www.hummingbirdsociety.org/festival.php

Tucson Bird & Wildlife Festival: August
Tucson, Arizona

Wings Over Willcox: January
Willcox, AZ

California:
Galt Winter Bird Festival: January
Galt, California

Snow Goose Festival: January
Chico, California

San Francisco Bay Flyway Festival: February
Mare Island, Vallejo, California

Godwit Days Spring Migration Bird Festival: April
Arcata, California

Kern Valley Spring Nature Festival: April
Weldon, California

Point Reyes Birding and Nature Festival: April
Point Reyes, California

Heron Festival and Wildlife Brunch: April
Kelseyville, California

California Redwoods Bird and Nature Festival: May
Crescent City, California

Mono Basin Bird Chautauqua: June
Lee Vining, California

Kern Valley Hummingbird Celebration: August
Weldon, California

Sandhill Crane Festival: November
Lodi, California

Central Valley Birding Symposium: November
Stockton, California

Colorado:

Florida:
Big “O” Birding Festival
: March
Clewiston, FLlorida

“Ding” Darling Days: October
Sanibel Island, Florida

Florida Keys Birding and Wildlife Festival
September

Louisiana:
Grand Isle Migratory Bird Celebration!: April
Grand Island, Thibodaux LA

Great Louisiana BirdFest: April
Mandeville, Louisiana

Yellow Rails and Rice Festival: October
Jennings, Louisiana

Maine:
Wings, Waves & Woods: May
Deer Island, Maine

Down East Spring Birding Festival: May
Trescott, Maine

Acadia Birding Festival: May/June
Bar Harbor, Maine

Massachusetts:
Cape Cod Bird Festival:  September

Michigan:
Cranefest:
October
Bellevue, Michigan

Mississippi:
Tara Spring Birding Weekend : May
Weekend of excellent birdwatching during spring migration of songbirds and more in the Mississippi Flyway. Both casual birding opportunities with organized birding tours led by seasoned birders. Enjoy a tour on our open air bus or walk the nature trails through the woodlands to the wetland areas where you can view waterfowl and wading birds. Adjacent to the Mississippi River

Mississippi River Nature Weekend : August
An exciting family festival for the outdoor adventurist, both young and seasoned. Activities include guided birding tours, sunset birding excursions, boating, nature trails, nighttime music, meals, and more. Day passes and weekend packages available. Weekend packages include lodging, food, activities, and seminars. The festival is highlighted by the Wading Bird Migration in the Mississippi Flyway. We are adjacent to the Mississippi River and have an excellent rookery to view.

Nevada:
Spring Wings Bird Festival: May
Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Fallon, Nevada

New York
Great Adirondack Birding Celebration
Paul Smith’s College Visitor Interpretive Center (VIC) in Paul Smiths, New York.
The 3,000-acre Paul Smiths VIC contains every habitat type found in the Adirondack Park, with the exception of alpine vegetation. Included on the property is a 60-acre marsh, five ponds, several brooks and swamps, bogs, fens, and varied forest types, most notably northern boreal forest.

Oregon:
Winter Wings Festival: February
Klamath Falls, Oregon

Birding & Blues Festival: April

Pacific City, Oregon

John Scharff Migratory Bird Festival & Art Show: April
Burns, Oregon

Texas:
Galveston FeatherFest: April
Galveston, TX.

Wings Over the Hills Nature Fest: April
Fredericksburg, Texas

Balcones Songbird Nature Festival
: April
Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge – Central Texas.

HummerBird Celebration: September
Rockport-Fulton, Texas

Rio Grande Birding Festival: November
Harlingen, Texas

Utah:
Delta Snow Goose Festival February
Delta, Utah

Great Salt Lake Bird Festival: May
Davis County, Utah (Bountiful, Utah)

Virginia:
Eastern Shore Birding and Wildlife Festival

Cape Charles, Virginia

Washington:
Olympic Peninsula BirdFest: March/April
Sequim, Washington

Leavenworth Spring Bird Festival: May
Leavenworth, WA

Puget Sound Bird Fest in Edmonds: September
Edmonds, Washington

Wisconsin:
Horicon Marsh Bird Festival: May
Beaver Dam, Wisconsin

Chequamegon Bay Birding and Nature Festival: May
Ashland County. Wisconsin
South shore of Lake Superior.

Additional information:

map of us by regions

For additional birding festivals, bird trails, and bird observatories, visit the Environment for the Americas website.

 

January

Arizona
Wings Over Willcox
Willcox, Arizona
The festival is a wonderful opportunity to see the winter migrants and southwest bird species that are found in the Sulphur Springs Valley. Our festival also provides many opportunities to explore nature in Southeast Arizona through tours for photography, geology, archeology, history, botany, agriculture, and ranching. Free seminars about many different topics are offered throughout the day in the community center. Willcox is situated east of Tucson, Arizona and is a scenic drive of about an hour and fifteen minutes on I-10.
Website

Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival
The 18th Annual Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival is scheduled January 21 – January 26, 2015 and headquartered at Eastern Florida State College , Titusville, FL.   Festival activities feature unique birding, wildlife, nature, technology, cultural/historical and photography field trips, paddling and water adventures, Pelagic birding boat trip, classroom and evening keynote presentations as well as an Art Competition and Show, the Raptor Project and Nature-based Exhibits.  Nationally recognized naturalists, scientists, biologists, photographers and ornithologists lead the Festival events and are available to participants for one-on-one discussions and instructions.   Swarovski Optik presents the World Digiscopers Meeting with presentations and field workshops to learn and experience new opportunities to photograph birds and wildlife.

For more information call 321-268-5224

email: [email protected]

www.spacecoastbirdingandwildlifefestival.org

 

February

Louisiana
Eagle Expo985-395-4905
Usually in February
Web site

Oregon
Winter Wings Festival
Klamath Falls, Oregon
The Klamath Basin Winter Wings Festival is a four-day event that occurs every President’s Weekend in Klamath Falls.  The Festival offers field trips, workshops, talks, vendors, displays, and free activities attractive to families. Known for the largest wintering population of Bald Eagles in the lower 48 states, the Festival also celebrates the return of other raptors and wintering flocks of waterfowl to the Klamath Basin.
Website

Texas
SparrowFest Retreat
Marble Falls, TX
February 6 – 8, 2015
Learn how to identify the subtle differences and behavior of Texas wintering sparrows. Enjoy an all-inclusive stay at The Retreat at Balcones Springs.
Friends of Balcones Canyonlands
Phone Number: 512.965.2473
Website: http://sparrowfest.org

Whooping Crane Festival
Port Aransas, Texas
The Texas Coastal Bend is the only spot in the United States where the endangered whooping crane can be viewed at close range.  An awesome array of wintering migratory birds flock into the wetlands and onto the Texas shorelines of Mustang Island in Port Aransas and birding tours by land and sea are highlights during the festival.
Website

 

March

California
San Diego Bird Festival
Enjoy field trips, pelagic cruises, workshops, and special programs. We welcome all ages and abilities. Celebrate our birds, habitats, and the culture of birding in San Diego
San Diego Audubon Society
Phone Number: (801) 671-9505
Website: http://www.sandiegoaudubon.org

Florida
Big ‘O’ Birding Festival
LaBelle, Florida
Located on the Southwest Shores of Lake Okeechobee, and sites throughout Hendry and Glades Counties, Florida. Tours by boat, bus, swamp buggy, and more. Enjoy 4 days of tours, presentations, great food, passionate birders, and superb scenery, all in Florida’s Freshwater Frontier.
Website

Indiana
Marsh Madness Festival
Linton, Indiana
The Marsh Madness Festival will be held at the Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area and various venues in Linton. The festival celebrates the county’s natural beauty and is planned to coincide with the spring migration of waterfowl and Sandhill Cranes to Goose Pond.
Phone: 812-659-9901
Website

Kansas

Wings and Wetlands Birding Festival

Join the Kansas Wetlands Education Center for the 2021 Virtual Wings & Wetlands Festival.  Explore birds, wetlands, and conservation messages through presentations by renowned experts, interactive socials, and on-demand web resources. March 24-26, 2021.

The 2021 Wings and Wetlands Festival features renowned experts.  These experts will walk you through topics of bird watching, identification techniques, Kansas wetlands, and conservation.

Keynote Speakers Include: Kansas Wetlands: Crossroads of the Bird World with Kenn Kaufman, Today’s Office with Sharon Stiteler AKA The Bird Chick, and a presentation by Alvaro Jaramillo.

Other Presentations Include: Be a Better Birder: Techniques and Tricks for the Beginning Birder with Chuck Otte, Shorebird ID with Gene Young, Kansas Raptor Program with Pat Silovsky, Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area Manager Jason Wagner, Quivira National Wildlife Refuge overview with Mike Oldham, The Diversity of Birds on Kansas Wetlands with Bob Gress, and Smartphone Birding with Sharon Stiteler AKA The Bird Chick.

Festival participants will also have access to several on demand topics about wetlands and birds and participate in nightly Birds and Beverages Breakout rooms with past festival guides.

For more information and to register visit: https://www.wingsandwetlands.com

Proceeds from the $20 registration fee will benefit Cheyenne Bottoms and Quivira National Wildlife Refuge.

 

April

Arizona
Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival
Cottonwood, Arizona
The Verde Valley Birding & Nature Festival provides a unique recreational experience to anyone interested in the natural world and fosters awareness of the importance of habitat for the enrichment of all life in the Verde Valley.
Website

California
Godwit Days Spring Migration Bird Festivals
Arcata, California
Celebrate the Marbled Godwit and explore the lush Redwood Coast. Field trips, lectures, workshops, and boat excursions led by experienced local guides. Tour the expansive mudflats, the wild river valleys and the rocky ocean coast of this sector of the Klamath bioregion in northwest California.
Website

Kansas
Wings N Wetlands Birding Festival
Great Bend, Kansas
The Wings N Wetlands Festival offers participants a unique opportunity to bird two of the best birding spots in the region, Cheyenne Bottoms and Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, as well as other area hot spots.  Cheyenne Bottoms and Quivira National Wildlife Refuge are two Wetlands of International Importance, and provide thousands of birds a stopover along their North and South migration routes. The festival dates coincide with the historical peak of shorebird migration, and is sure to provide some excellent viewing of well over 150 species of birds.
Web site

Louisiana
The Great Louisiana Birdfest
Mandeville, North Lake Nature Center, LA
985-626-1238
The Great Louisiana BirdFest is an annual event of the Northlake Nature Center. It is held each year in the spring when many species are migrating north through Louisiana from Mexico and South America. Our location in southern Louisiana makes this an excellent time of year for birding. The weather is typically warm but not yet hot and the trees are usually leafing out, but still thin enough for improved visibility.

BirdFest trips will visit varied habitat including swamps, wetlands, pine savanna, and hardwoods of southeast Louisiana. Among the many excellent birding locations scheduled for this year’s BirdFest is Pine Island, a rookery located in a private preserve. BirdFest includes birding trips, some Southern food and hospitality, and a few workshops.
Web site

Grand Isle Migratory Bird Celebration
Grand Isle, LA
800-259-0869
Enjoy spring migration on Louisiana’s only inhabited barrier island. See songbirds in oak-hackberry woods, shorebirds and waders on beaches and marshes. Birdwatching tours, local seafood, displays & crafts. Free videos and birding trail maps. Fun for families, new and experienced birders. Hosted by the Grand Isle Sanctuary Group.
Web site

Shorebird Extravaganza
Jennings, LA
225-642-5763
Web site

Texas
FeatherFest Birding and Nature Photography Festival
Galveston, Texas
Galveston is one of the top locations in the country for birding because it hosts a wide variety of habitats in a small geographical area where some 300 species make their permanent or temporary home throughout the year. Mark your calendar now to attend the largest birding festival on the Upper Texas Coast, and the only one with a dedicated nature photography track!
Phone: 832-459-5533
E-Mail: [email protected]
Website

Wings Over the Hills Nature Festival
Fredericksburg, TX
A celebration of natural flight saluting the unique winged wildlife of the Texas Hill Country offering opportunities for education and entertainment for the whole family.
Web site

 

Virginia
The Great Dismal Swamp Birding Festival
Suffolk, Virginia
The Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge is a birder’s paradise with more than 200 types of birds either residing here or just passing through. Springtime is the most popular time for birders to visit the area. Serious bird watchers will delight in catching a glimpse of the Swanson’s Warbler and the Wayne’s Warbler (a race of the Black-throated Green Warbler), two of the most secretive and least observed of all of North American birds. Bird watchers can also catch a “peep” of the white-throated Sparrow, the graceful Great Egret and even the regal Bald Eagle. Other birds of interest that can be seen in the Refuge include the wood duck, barred owl, pileated woodpecker and prothonotary warbler.
Website

Washington
Olympic Birdfest
Sequim, Washington
Birding ​for ​beginners ​to ​experts. Trips include ​leisurely ​strolls ​to ​active ​hikes. ​Enjoy an ​evening ​owl ​prowl.
Phone: 360-681-4076
E-Mail: [email protected]
Website

Orcas Island BirdFest – usually end of April and early May
Birds, Art & Science in the San Juan Islands.  A celebration of Birds!  Nature tours, workshop, art exhibits and a scientific symposium; all focusing on the health and wonder of birds with grassroots solutions.  Orcas Island offers an unforgettable experience showcasing the natural splendor of the San Juan Islands.
www.orcasislandbirdfest.com
[email protected]

West Virginia
New River Birding & Nature Festival
Fayetteville, West Virginia
The annual New River Birding & Nature Festival takes place in and around the New River Gorge National River, in the heart of the upland, hardwood forests. This bird watching nature festival highlights more than 100 bird species on a variety of birding tours. Signature guided bird watching experiences include the opportunity to visit a wide range of habitats, world class instruction for those wanting to enhance their birding skills, and the best guide-to-guest ratio on the festival circuit.
Web site

 

May

Louisiana
Neotropical Songbird Tour
Sherburne Wildlife Management Area, LA
318-793-5529
Web site

Down East Spring Birding Festival
Trescott TWP, Maine
The annual Down East Spring Birding Festival provides a unique birding experience during spring migration and the breeding season with four days of self-guided explorations, guided hikes, boat tours and presentations led by area experts. The region sports the greatest variety of habitats on the East Coast, including boreal and northern hardwood forests, bogs, fresh- and salt-water marshes, grassy and shrubby fields, streams and lakes, steep rugged headlands, extensive tidal flats, and coastal islands. Over 400 bird species have been sighted in Maine, and almost three-quarters of them have been sighted here. Come and see why northeast coastal Maine and the waters around Machias Seal Island (home to Atlantic Puffins!) have been identified as “one of the important bird areas in the US” by the American Bird Conservancy.
Web site

Michigan
Tawas Point Birding Festival
East Tawa, Michigan
Festival participants enjoy some of the best birding in the Great Lakes region; Tawas Point is well known for high concentrations of migrating warblers during the month of May. Recent species highlights include: Kirtland’s Warbler, Cape May Warbler, Golden-winged Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, White-crowned Sparrow, numerous raptors, shorebirds, and more. Over 200 species were recorded during the festival weekend in 2014.
Web site

Minnesota
Detroit Lakes Festival of Birds
Detroit Lakes, Minnesota
Join us in May as we take you to some of the hottest birding sites in Minnesota!  The Detroit Lakes area is located in a transition zone in northwestern Minnesota where tall grass prairie meets northern hardwood and conifer forest ecosystems. The area is peppered with lakes and wetlands.  All of the state-listed bird species have been documented in the festival birding area.
Web site

Oregon
Mountain Birding Festival
Ashland, Oregon
The Mountain Bird Festival offers guided bird walks, keynote presentations, fine art galleries, cocktail parties, music, local foods, and a feel-good community atmosphere. We will have half-day and full-day field trips both Saturday and Sunday. Some of our target birds are: Redhead, Common Merganser, Mountain Quail, nesting Sandhill Cranes, nesting Osprey, Ferruginous Hawk, Swainson’s Hawk, dancing Western and Clark’s Grebes, Wilson’s Snipe, Black Terns, Great Gray Owl, Western Screech-Owl, Vaux’s Swift, Calliope Hummingbird, Prairie Falcon, Lewis’s Woodpecker, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Williamson’s Sapsucker, White-headed Woodpecker, Hammond’s Flycatcher, Dusky Flycatcher, Cassin’s Vireo, Mountain Chickadee, Townsend’s Solitaire, Mountain Bluebird, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Hermit Warbler, MacGillivray’s Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Green-tailed Towhee, Vesper Sparrow, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Lazuli Bunting.
Phone: 541-201-0866 x5
Web site

Wisconsin
Chequamegon Bay Birding and Nature Festival
Ashland, Wisconsin
Spend a weekend of birding and nature activities on Wisconsin’s south shore of Lake Superior during the peak of spring migration. With over 110 activities to choose from, birders and nature lovers of all skills and ages will find a wealth of choices at this year’s festival.
Web site

Utah
Great Salt Lake Bird Festival
Location: Farmington, Utah
Enjoy millions of migratory birds who enjoy the environs of the world famous Great Salt Lake, the best birding areas in Northern Utah. Bird with national and local birding experts.
Web site

June

Maine
Acadia Birding Festival
Mount Desert, Maine
Celebrate the ecological wonders of the birds of the Gulf of Maine at the Acadia Birding Festival. Explore Mount Desert Island and its birds through numerous events and venues. Enjoy warblers on early morning birding walks, visit with puffins and pelagic birds at sea, and observe Peregrine Falcons at an active breeding site in Acadia National Park. Our combination of lectures, walks, and adventures will connect you to Downeast Maine’s many bird species, diverse habitats and local birding experts.
Web site

New York
Great Adirondack Birding Celebration
Paul Smiths, New York
The festival will feature field trips to boreal birding hot spots, informative lectures, workshops, a raffle, social hours and more. The 3,000-acre Paul Smiths VIC is an eBird Birding Hotspot. It contains every habitat type found in the Adirondack Park with the exception of alpine vegetation. Included on the property is a 60-acre marsh, five ponds, several brooks and swamps, bogs, fens, and varied forest types, most notably northern boreal forest.
Web site

Roger Tory Peterson Bird Fest
Features a variety of bird walks in Western New York and Northwestern Pennsylvania with trip leaders from diverse avian backgrounds, as well as a compelling keynote speaker from the world of bird research and nature writing.
Web site

July

Louisiana
Wood Stork and Wading Bird Event
Lottie, Louisiana
A Wood Stork and Wading Bird Event will be held within the South Farm area of the Sherburne Wildlife Management Area (WMA). The South Farm area is located in Iberville Parish and accessible via I-10. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are hosting this seasonal event from 7 a.m. to noon. Wood storks and other wading and shore birds are readily visible at this time of the year in the South Farm Area. The wood stork is the only stork native to North America. Phone: 337-948-0255 x 33
Web site

 

August

Listing by state.  Specific dates may change.

Arizona

Sedona Hummingbird Festival
July 31, August 1 – 2
Sedona, Arizona
The International Hummingbird Society
There is no more beautiful place in America to see hummingbirds than Sedona, Arizona! At this festival you’ll find three days of presentations by world hummingbird experts, witness the thousands of hummers at selected “hot spots”, tour personal hummingbird gardens, see banding demonstrations, and dine with the hummers at Sunrise Breakfasts. Now in its 4th year!
Website

Colorado

CFO Annual Convention
August 28 – 31
Sterling, Colorado
Colorado Field Ornithologists
The Colorado Field Ornithologists Annual Birding Convention is the birding event of the year for Colorado birders. This year join us on the eastern plains in the fall for a Welcome Picnic, field trips, presentations of research papers, workshops, exhibitors, and an evening banquet with our special guest speaker, Jon L. Dunn.
Website

Minnesota

Henderson Hummingbird Hurrah
August 16
Henderson, Minnesota
Henderson Feathers
A free one-day event when ruby-throated hummingbirds can be seen in large numbers. The festival promotes the understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment of these amazing little birds. The Hurrah includes: banding demonstrations, a garden tour, speakers, book signing sessions, children’s activities, and a Hummingbird Mall.
Website

Mississippi

Mississippi River Nature Weekend
22 Aug 2014 — 24 Aug 2014
Vicksburg, Mississippi
An exciting family festival for the outdoor adventurist, both young and seasoned. The festival is highlighted by nature’s Wading Bird Migration in the Mississippi Flyway. Guided birding tours, open air bus tours, nature trails, boating, music, food, and more.
Website

Tennessee

Wonder of Hummingbirds
August 23
Knoxville, Tennessee
Knoxville Chapter of the Tennessee Ornithological Society
Visit the fourth annual Wonder of Hummingbirds Festival in Knoxville, Tennessee. View Ruby-throated Hummingbirds up-close at the banding table with Mark Armstrong, a certified Master Bander of both hummingbirds and songbird species. Speakers, bird, butterfly and nature walks, arts and crafts and lots of kids activities will make everyone happy.
Contact Person: Billie Cantwell
Phone Number: 865-567-4273

 

September

Check the web sites or contact the event for specific dates, lodging and additional information.

California
Monterey Bay Birding Festival
Watsonville, California
Phone Number: 888-909-7829
Website: http://www.montereybaybirding.org

FloridaFlorida Keys Birding & Wildlife Festival
Marathon, Florida
Phone Number: 305-304-9625
Website: http://www.keysbirdingfest.org

Hawaii
Hawaill Island Birding Festival
September on the Big Island
Web site

Louisiana
Lafayette Hummingbird Day
Lafayette, LA
337-993-2473
Web site

Massachusetts
Cape Cod Bird Festival
Hyannis, MA
Phone Number: 508-364-7050
Website:
http://www.capecodbirdclub.org

Minnesota
Hawk Weekend Festival
Duluth, MN
Phone Number: (218) 428-6209
Website:
http://www.hawkridge.org

Washington
Puget Sound Bird Fest
Edmonds, Washinton
http://www.pugetsoundbirdfest.org

 

October

Check the web sites or contact the event for specific dates, lodging and additional information.

Florida
Bird Festival at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
Miami, Florida
Lectures, expert-led bird walks, birding vendors, kids’ activities and more.
Phone Number: 305-667-1651×3377
Website

Wings & Wildflowers
Leesburg, Florida
Enjoy field trips in birding hotspots and wildflower havens. Presentations by some of the birding community’s top experts.
Phone Number: 352-742-3918
Website

“Ding” Darling Days
Sanibel, FL.
A week of eco-activities with all-free refuge tram tours, live wildlife presentations, hot dogs, kids crafts, and more. Birding, boating, tram, paddleboarding and kayaking activities fill the week.
Phone Number: 239-472-1100
Website

Louisiana
Yellow Rails & Rice Festival
Jennings, LA
Designed with fun in mind, its primary goal is to provide participants a unique venue to view Yellow Rails while at the same time bringing birders and farmers together to realize the value to birds of the area’s “working wetlands.”
225-642-5763
Web site

Michigan
CraneFest
Bellevue, MI
The major attraction of the festival is the spectacle of thousands of Greater Sandhill Cranes returning to their evening roost. A great family event that includes a Wildlife Art Show, guided nature hikes, and many children’s activities.
Michigan Audubon
Phone Number: 517-641-4277
Website

Virginia
Eastern Shore Birding & Wildlife Festival
Cape Charles, VA.
Cape Charles is one of the most important migration stop-overs on the East Coast. Millions of songbirds and butterflies and thousands of raptors pass through on their fall migration. At the 2013 Festival 173 species were seen including the Le Conte’s sparrow and the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher.
Phone Number: 757-442-5263
Website

November

Check the web sites or contact the event for specific dates, lodging and additional information.

Alaska
Alaska Bald Eagle Festival
Haines, AK
Festival activities are held at the American Bald Eagle Foundation, conveniently located at the corner of Second Avenue and the Haines Highway. Photography workshops, live raptor presentations with resident raptors . Guest speakers and presentations.
American Bald Eagle Foundation
Phone Number: 907-766-3094
Website

California
Marysville Swan Festival
Marysville, CA
Celebrate the return of spectacular winter waterfowl to the North Sacramento Valley, especially the profusion of Tundra Swans to our verdant rice fields and wetlands. Dozens of field trips and workshops, led by renowned wildlife naturalists, will explore the beauty of local flora and fauna, and mysteries of the great Pacific Flyway.
Phone Number: (530)701-3577
Website

Louisiana
Yellow Rails and Rice Festival 2014
Jennings, LA
The emphasis is to provide a unique venue to view Yellow Rails. Search for other SE US specialty birds in SW prairie, and nearby pineywoods, or along Cameron Parish coast. Based in heart of Cajun Country in Louisiana’s SW prairie region, known for great birding, local cuisine, and a rich history and culture.
Phone Number: 225 642-5763 leave m
Website

New Mexico

Festival of the Cranes
San Antonio, NM (not Texas)
Festival of the Cranes at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in San Antonio, New Mexico features more than 140 tours, workshops, lectures, hikes, and activities. Experts in birding and professional photographers headline the show, with plenty of refuge, regional, cultural, and social events thrown in the mix.
Friends of the Bosque del Apache NWR
Phone Number: 575-838-2120
Website

Texas
Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival
Harlingen, TX
Topnotch leaders and speakers, new field trip locations, 25 birds seen no where else in the USA.
Phone Number: 209-227-4823
Website

Mexico
Toh Bird Festival
Yucatán, Mexico
Birdwatching tours, conferences, workshops, photography and drawing contest, activities for kids, and the bird-a-thon . The outward objective of the xoc ch’ich’ is to form into teams and find the highest number of bird species in a limited time period, traveling around different routes in Yucatan.
Pronatura Península de Yucatán A.C.
Phone Number: 52-999-988-4436
Website:

 

About the Author

Sam Crowe

Sam is the founder of Birdzilla.com. He has been birding for over 30 years and has a world list of over 2000 species. He has served as treasurer of the Texas Ornithological Society, Sanctuary Chair of Dallas Audubon, Editor of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's "All About Birds" web site and as a contributing editor for Birding Business magazine. Many of his photographs and videos can be found on the site.

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