Whether you’re looking to join thousands of fellow birders for some bird-themed revelry or you just want explore a new area with a seasoned guide, you’re sure to find a Birding Festival happening this year that will suit you. Below, we’ve brought together a list of Birding Festivals happening in 2019 all across the Southwest and other parts of The United States. Check out the links if you’d like to learn more and we hope to see you out there!
Name Website Dates Location Details
Monterey Bay Birding Festival www.montereybaybirding.org Sep 28, 2018 to Sep 30, 2018 Watsonville Civic Plaza, 275 Main Street, Watsonville, CA Share your love of birds through field trips workshops, and presentations.
Puget Sound Bird Fest www.pugetsoundbirdfest.org Sep 14, 2018 to Sep 16, 2018 Frances Anderson Center, 700 Main St., Edmonds, WA 98020 Three-day event includes speakers, guided walks, land and water-based field trips, exhibits, and educational activities for children and adults.
Alabama Coastal BirdFest weeksbay.org/events/alabama-coastal-birdfest Oct 3, 2018 to Oct 6, 2018 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center, 30945 Five Rivers Boulevard, Spanish Fort, AL 36527 Field trips to see birds during fall migration.
4th Annual Hawaii Island Festival of Birds birdfesthawaii.org Oct 25, 2019 to Oct 28, 2019 Kailua-Kona, Hawaii Trade show for outdoor and birding equipment, children’s corner, bird-themed arts and crafts fair, photography and art workshops, a birding film festival, and time to interact with Hawaii Island naturalists and bird experts.
Wings Over Water Wildlife Festival www.wingsoverwater.org Oct 16, 2018 to Oct 21, 2018 National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center, US Fish & Wildlife Service, 100 Conservation Way, Manteo, North Carolina 27954 An annual refuge fundraising wildlife festival that includes over 90 trips & programs involving birding, paddling, photography, art, and natural history.
Florida Birding and Nature Festival www.floridabirdingandnaturefestival.org Oct 12, 2018 to Oct 14, 2018  Hillsborough Community College, Brandon Campus Conference Center, 10451 Nancy Watkins Drive, Tampa, Florida 33619 Birding and butterfly field trips, boat and canoe trips, seminars, keynote speakers, and Nature Expo.
25th Annual Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival www.rgvbf.org Nov 7, 2018 to Nov 11, 2018 Harlingen Municipal Auditorium, 1204 Fair Park Blvd, Harlingen, Texas 78550  Professional guides, socials, keynotes, workshops, huge trade show, and a silent auction.
Bird Fest of the Santa Monica Mountains www.wnpa.org/event/bird-fest-santa-monica-mountains Nov 10, 2018 to Nov 10, 2018  Santa Monica Mountains Interagency Visitor Center, King Gillette Ranch, 26876 Mulholland Hwy., Calabasas, CA 91302  See live birds, listen to talks from local experts, take a guided bird walk, meet representatives from bird-friendly agencies, and enjoy family-friendly activities.
22nd Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival www.scbwf.org/main.php Jan 23, 2019 to Jan 28, 2019  Eastern Florida State College, 1311 US-1, Titusville, Florida 32796 Field trips and outdoor workshops, offshore birding boat trip, nature-based exhibits, art show and competition, classroom presentations, and opportunities for participants to explore world-renowned natural areas of Florida’s Space Coast.
Morro Bay Winter Bird Festival morrobaybirdfestival.org Jan 18, 2019 to Jan 21, 2019  Morro Bay Community Center, 1001 Kennedy Way, Morro Bay, California. The festival area offers pristine beaches, beautiful state parks, an excellent natural history museum, panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and thousands of birds.
North Shore Birding Festival www.orangeaudubonfl.org/festival Jan 17, 2019 to Jan 21, 2019  McDonald Canal Pavilion, 24600 CR 448A, Mount Dora, Florida 32757 Four full-day trips and 16 half-day trips are offered, along with keynotes and dinners.
26th Annual Wings Over Willcox wingsoverwillcox.com Jan 17, 2019 to Jan 20, 2019 Willcox Community Center, 312 W. Stewart Street, Willcox, Arizona Guest speakers, seminars, workshops, birding tours, evening programs, the Nature Expo (vendors, activities for kids).
15th Annual Eagle Expo and More www.cajuncoast.com/13th-annual-eagle-expo-more Feb 21, 2019 to Feb 23, 2019 Morgan City, Louisiana Eagle Expo includes boat tours into various waterways to view eagles, a Birds of Prey educational program, presentations on wildlife, a walking/hiking trail, photography workshop, and keynote addresses.
San Diego Bird Festival sandiegoaudubon.org/events/bird-festival Feb 27, 2019 to Mar 3, 2019  Marina Village Conference Center, Mission Bay Park, 1936 Quivira Way, San Diego, California 92109 Over 40 field trips plus workshops about destinations, identification tips, photography, and guest speakers.
Wings Over Water Northwest Birding Festival www.wingsoverwaterbirdingfestival.com Mar 15, 2019 to Mar 17, 2019  Blaine, Birch Bay, Semiahmoo, Washington A guided field trip to Reifel Bird Sanctuary and an all-day birding expo, birding and geology field trips, wildlife speakers, live raptor presentations, exhibits, kid’s activities, photography workshops, and more.
Owens Lake Bird Festival friendsoftheinyo.org/owens-lake-bird-festival April 26, 2019 to April 28, 2019 Owens Lake, CA Outings, breakfasts, keynotes, and meet and greets.
25th Annual Migration Celebration www.migrationcelebration.org Apr 27, 2019 to Apr 28, 2019 San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge, 6801 County Road 306, Brazoria, Texas 77422 A family-friendly event that invites participants to discover, enjoy, and learn about the San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge via tours, activities, and exhibits
Point Reyes Birding and Nature Festiva www.pointreyesbirdingfestival.org Apr 26, 2019 to Apr 28, 2019 Point Reyes Station, CA 94956 A three-day event program of the Environmental Action Committee of West Marin (EAC) and allows attendees to experience one of the most ecologically significant areas along the Pacific Coast with experienced naturalists and biologists. Over 50 field events and indoor workshops focused on a variety birds, habitat, plants, and mammals.
Birdiest Festival in America www.birdiestfestival.org Apr 24, 2019 to Apr 28, 2019 South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center, 8545 S. Staples Street, Corpus Christi TX 78413 Features optional guided field trips to regional birding hot spots and private ranches, photography workshops and field trips, “The Raptor Project” presentations, bird banding, vendor trade show, and bird walks.
Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival www.birdyverde.org Apr 24, 2019 to Apr 28, 2019 Dead Horse Ranch State Park, 675 Dead Horse Ranch Road<, Cottonwood<, AZ 86326 The festival includes field trips, workshops, guided walks, seminars, exhibit hall and vendors, and more. New trips are added each year.
11th Annual Red Slough Birding Convention Museum of the Red River www.redsloughconvention.com/ May 4, 2019 to May 7, 2019 Mary H. Herron Conference Center, 812 East Lincoln Road, Idabel, Oklahoma 74745 Registration is $125 and includes T-shirt, three presentations (two by a keynote speaker to be determined), five tours, and keynote banquet.
Lake Tahoe Bird Festival www.tinsweb.org/lake-tahoe-bird-festival Early June South Lake Tahoe, CA Live bird presentations and bird walks to educate the community on the incredible journey migratory birds take each year.
Mono Basin Bird Chautauqua www.birdchautauqua.org/index.php June 14, 2019 to June 16, 2019 Lee Vining, CA Bringing the birding community together over 90 field trips, workshops, and presentations with renowned bird guides, naturalists, and artists.
Southeast Arizona Birding Festival tucsonaudubon.org/news-events/southeast-arizona-birding-festival Aug 7, 2019 to Aug 11, 2019 DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, 445 S. Alvernon Way, Tucson, Arizona Half- and full-day field trips, programs, keynote speaker, photography workshops, extensive Nature Expo. 
Wings Over Willapa friendsofwillaparefuge.org/wings-over-willapa Sept 29, 2019 to Sept 30, 2019 Ilwaco, WA A day full of classes, workshops, guided tours, birding by bike, and arts and crafts.
Birding the Valley www.northernmonochamber.com Late September Sonora Pass and Antelope Valley in Mono County Guided bird watching, wildlife viewing and exploration of the spectacular Eastern Sierra’s fascinating natural environments that range from the Walker River to the high desert and mountains
Any Birding Festivals that we’ve missed? Let us know in the comments below.