COVID-19 UPDATE: Due to the current circumstances, some of the event dates below may have been changes. Please visit the event website directly for updates.
Join fellow bird enthusiasts of every age and birding level at one of this year’s bird fests, which are happening across the United States.* Check out the table below to find a date and location convenient for you—and to learn more, click the festival’s site link. Happy birding!
*Please note: this is not an exhaustive list; if you know of a bird festival we haven’t mentioned, let us know about it in the comments!
Name | Website | Dates | Location | Details |
North Shore Birding Festival | www.orangeaudubonfl.org/festival | January 16-20, 2020 | Various locations around Lake Apopka in Central Florida | Guided birding field trips on the 20,000-acre Lake Apopka North Shore property and nearby sites. |
27th Annual Wings Over Willcox | wingsoverwillcox.com | January 17-19, 2020 | Willcox Community Center, 312 W. Stewart Street, Willcox, Arizona | Avian expert speakers, birding tours, seminars, workshops, and a Nature Expo (with vendors and activities for kids). |
Morro Bay Winter Bird Festival | morrobaybirdfestival.org | January 17-20, 2020 | Morro Bay Community Center, 1001 Kennedy Way, Morro Bay, California | Over 140 events, including field trips, workshops, presentations, and birding tours. |
23rd Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival | scbwf.org | January 22-27, 2020 | Eastern Florida State College, 1311 US-1, Titusville, Florida | Field trips, workshops, presentations, world-class photographers, and activities for kids. |
15th Annual Eagle Expo | www.cajuncoast.com/event/15th-annual-eagle-expo | February 13-15, 2020 | Morgan City, Louisiana | Guided boat tours in waterways around Morgan City, presentations by birding and wildlife experts, and a photography seminar and social with a guest speaker. |
San Diego Bird Festival | www.sandiegoaudubon.org/events/bird-festival | Feb 26-Mar 1, 2020 | Marina Village Conference Center, 1936 Quivira Way, San Diego, California | More than 40 guided field trips, special talks by expert birders, an Optics and Birding Expo, and more. |
Friends of Goose Pond Marsh Madness Sandhill Crane and Migratory Bird Festival | friendsofgoosepond.org | February 28-29, 2020 | Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area at 13540 W County RD 400 S, Linton, Indiana | The festival includes a kick-off banquet, craft fair, live birds of prey on display, informational and educational presentations, bus tours, self-guided tours, kids’ activities, and more. |
Wings Over Water Northwest Birding Festival | www.wingsoverwaterbirdingfestival.com | March 20-22, 2020 | Blaine, Birch Bay, and Semiahmoo, Washington | Guided field trips, bird expert speakers, a bird expo, kid’s activities, photography workshops, and more. |
Matagorda Bay Birdfest | matagordabaybirdfest.org | March 27-29, 2020 | Palacios, Texas | Join them for expert speakers, field birding tours by land, boat, and kayak, and a Parade of Birds complete with floats and puppets. |
Great Louisiana Birdfest | www.louisiananorthshore.com/event/great-louisiana-birdfest-2020 | April 3-6, 2020 | Northlake Nature Center, 23135 Hwy 190 East, Mandeville, Louisiana | Join birdwatchers from all over for guided birding trips by land and water, swamp tours, an introduction to birding speech by an Audubon Society representative, and more. |
17th Annual Olympic Peninsula BirdFest | olympicbirdfest.org | April 16-21, 2020 | Areas around the Olympic Peninsula in Washington state. | This festival offers birding field trips and boat trips, presentations, workshops, a tour of the Jamestown S’Klallam tribal totem poles, and a banquet. |
Birdiest Festival in America | www.birdiestfestival.org | April 22-26, 2020 | South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center, 8545 S. Staples Street, Corpus Christi, Texas | Keynote speaker David Allen Sibley, ornithologist and author and illustrator of The Sibley Guide to Birds, will be giving lectures, and leading illustration workshops and nature walks. Festivities include vendor trade shows, bird walks, and presentations on The Raptor Project. |
Point Reyes Birding and Nature Festival | www.pointreyesbirdingfestival.org | April 23-26, 2020 | Point Reyes National Seashore, California | Organized by the Environmental Action Committee of West Marin (EAC), this festival features 50+ educational field outings and classroom-based events focused on birds, wildlife, plants, and marine life, hiking, biking, kayaking, art and field photography, and led by some of the Bay Area’s award-winning naturalists and birders. |
Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival | www.birdyverde.org | April 23-26, 2020 | Dead Horse Ranch State Park, 675 Dead Horse Ranch Road, Cottonwood, Arizona | This festival includes guided birding experiences and workshops across Northern Arizona. |
Owens Lake Bird Festival | friendsoftheinyo.org/owens-lake-bird-festival | April 24-26, 2020 | Owens Lake, California | More than 30 outings in the area, covering topics that include birding, botany, geology, local history, and photography. The event includes a catered dinner (optional) and speech by a keynote speaker. |
Hatchie BirdFest | www.hatchiebirdfest.com | April 24-26, 2020 | Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge, TN-76, Stanton, Tennessee | This bird fest is for novice and seasoned birders, and features nature walks, hikes, special guest speakers and demonstrations, and more. |
26th Annual Migration Celebration | www.migrationcelebration.org | April 25-26, 2020 | San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge, 6801 County Rd 306, Brazoria, Texas | Birding trail and van tours, events, presentations, and activities for adults and kids. |
12th Annual Red Slough Birding Convention Museum of the Red River | www.redsloughconvention.com | May 2-5, 2020 | Mary H. Herron Conference Center, 812 East Lincoln Road, Idabel, Oklahoma and various local wildlife refuges. | Guided tours of local wildlife refutes, including the Red Slough Wildlife Management Area, Little River National Wildlife Refuge, and McCurtain County Wilderness Area. |
Yakima River Canyon Bird Fest | www.ycic.org/yakima-river-canyon-bird-fest | May 8-10, 2020 | Helen McCabe State Park, 23942- 4398 Canyon Rd, Ellensburg, Washington | A family-friendly birding event in Central Washington, this bird fest offers expert-led field trips, a keynote speaker event, social events, music, and drinks. |
Ute Mountain Mesa Verde Birding Festival | cortezculturalcenter.org/events/birding-festival | May 13 – May 17, 2020 | Cortez Cultural Center, 25 N Market St, Cortez, Colorado | Enjoy birding tours around southwestern Colorado, as well as expert lectures, social hours, a bird-themed art show, a banquet, and more festivities for birders of every age and level. |
22nd Annual Great Salt Lake Bird Festival | www.daviscountyutah.gov/greatsaltlakebirdfest | May 14-17, 2020 | George S. and Dolores Dore’ Eccles Wildlife Education Center, 1157 South Waterfowl Way, Farmington, Utah | Featuring over 40 birding field trips, 13 workshops, lectures from bird experts, a student art contest, and vendor booths, this festival is fun (and educational) for the whole family. |
Mono Basin Bird Chautauqua | www.birdchautauqua.org | June 19-21, 2020 | Lee Vining, California | This festival features 90 field trips, workshops, and presentations with renowned bird guides, naturalists, and artists. Live music and food will also be available. |
Southeast Arizona Birding Festival | tucsonaudubon.org/news-events/southeast-arizona-birding-festival | August 5-9, 2020 | DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, 445 S. Alvernon Way, Tucson, Arizona | This event includes field trips, talks, workshops, photography trips and workshops, and a Nature Expo. |
Puget Sound Bird Fest in Edmonds | www.pugetsoundbirdfest.com | September 11-13, 2020 | 700 Main Street, Edmonds, Washington | Expert birder presentations, guided bird walks, live raptor presentations, special events for kids, and more. |
Wings Over Willapa | friendsofwillaparefuge.org/wings-over-willapa | September 24-27, 2020 | Washington state’s Long Beach Peninsula | This event offers three days of guided tours, artist workshops, presentations, and fun-filled events. |
Monterey Bay Birding Festival | www.montereybaybirding.org | October 2-4, 2020 | Watsonville Civic Plaza, 275 Main Street, Watsonville, California | Enjoy birding field trips, presentations, workshops, and shopping at the Birders Marketplace. |
Florida Birding and Nature Festival | www.floridabirdingandnaturefestival.org | October 8-11, 2020 | Hillsborough Community College, Brandon Campus Conference Center, 10451 Nancy Watkins Drive, Tampa, Florida | Field and boat trips, expert seminars, keynote speakers, and a nature expo. |
5th Annual Hawaii Island Festival of Birds | birdfesthawaii.org | October 15-19, 2020 | Courtyard King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel, 75-5660 Palani Rd, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii | Guided field trips and boat to see Hawaii’s native pelagic and migratory species; bird fair with educational booths, local arts and crafts, and birdwatching equipment for sale; guest speakers and educational talks. |
Wings Over Water Wildlife Festival | www.wingsoverwater.org | October 20-25, 2020 and December 4-6, 2020 (encore session) | Various wildlife refuges and bird hotspots in North Carolina | Birding tours in six national wildlife refuges and national parks. Also on the schedule: experienced birder talks, photography and arts, and natural history programs. |
27th Annual Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival | www.rgvbf.org | November 11, 2020 | 701 Harlingen Heights Drive, Harlingen, Texas | 120 birding field trips, keynote speakers, presentations, a Birders Bazaar trade show, a silent auction, local art and photography, and food and beverages. |
Blog featured image courtesy of Audubon South Carolina.
0