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Birding Festivals 2013


Credit: Larry Hitchens

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, MD, hosts an Eagle Festival on March 9, 2013

For a jaw-dropping natural spectacle, it’s hard to beat a bird festival. National wildlife refuges make great bird festival locales because they’re bird magnets; many protect important bird habitat along the country’s major fly routes. To see great masses of birds, look for festivals that coincide with spring or fall migration. Here are some major refuge-centered festivals scheduled for 2013, in the order they will occur. Many of these festivals are sponsored by Friends groups that support individual refuges.

Here are some major refuge-centered festivals in 2013:


Wichita Mountains Eagle Watch
January 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27 and
February 2, 3, 9, 10 — Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge, OK
An interpretive program at refuge headquarters is followed by a bus tour of the refuge’s special use area to search for bald and golden eagles. $5 fee. Children must be 8 or older. Wheelchair accommodations by request. Tours begin at 1:30 p.m. and last about two and a half hours; tours include a short walk. Reserve beginning Dec. 31:  580-429-2151. Dress warmly and bring binoculars if possible.

Festival of the Cranes
Saturday, January 12, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, AL
See resident sandhill cranes, whooping cranes and white pelicans. Enjoy a storyteller, nature films, live raptors, kids’ activities. The festival kicks off a year-long celebration of the refuge’s 75th anniversary. 

Eagle Watch
Saturday, January 19, 26
Saturday February 2, 9, 16, 23
Saturday, March 2 — Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, OK
Begin with an orientation at the refuge office at 9 a.m. Then take a guided bus tour to viewing sites to see nests through scopes.


Credit: Jonathan Milak

Roseate spoonbills may often be seen at Merritt National Wildlife Refuge, FL, a field trip destination during the Spacecoast Birding and Wildlife Festival.
Spacecoast Birding and Wildlife Festival
Wednesday, January 23 – Monday, January 28 — Titusville, FL
The 16th annual event is the largest birding and wildlife festival in the United States, say organizers. Festival includes field trips to Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. 

San Francisco Bay Flyway Festival       
Friday, February 8 – Sunday, February 10  — Mare Island, CA
The 17th annual festival includes field trips to San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge. 

Bald Eagle Day
Saturday, February 9, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, UT
Family festivities here are among eagle celebrations taking place this day around the state. The refuge will offer eagle-viewing guides, maps to other eagle locations and eagle education. 

Winter Wings Festival       
Thursday, February 14 – Sunday, February 17 —  Klamath Basin, OR and CA
The 34nd annual festival celebrates the waterfowl-rich Klamath Basin, a major migratory stop on the Pacific Flyway. More than 80 percent of birds that use the flyway stop over in the Klamath Basin. The basin’s six national wildlife refuges attract a wide variety of waterfowl and raptors, many in astounding numbers. Popular festival events include an “owl prowl” at Klamath Marsh National Wildlife Refuge and field trips to other Klamath Basin refuges. See updates at https://www.facebook.com/winterwingsfest. 

Whooping Crane Festival
Thursday, February 21 – Sunday, February 24 —  Port Aransas, TX
“America's Birdiest Small Coastal City” hosts a festival that includes a field trip to Aransas National Wildlife Refuge to see cranes in their winter habitat. 

San Diego Bird Festival
Thursday, February 28 – Sunday, March 3 — San Diego, CA.
This annual festival features field trips to three coastal San Diego National Wildlife Refuges. Birds to see include: Brandt’s cormorant, pied-billed grebe, black-vented shearwater. 

Bald Eagle Tours
Saturday, March 2, 9 a.m. − Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, OK
View the refuge's bald eagle cam at the headquarters and learn about the bald eagle. Then board the refuge tour bus to view three active bald eagle nests. 

Florida Scrub-Jay Festival
Saturday, March 2 —Jonathan Dickinson State Park, FL
The festival celebrates the only bird species unique to the Sunshine State. Scrub-jays are found at Hobe Sound, Lake Wales Ridge and Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuges. Enjoy live music, guided nature walks, live animal displays, children’s crafts and environmental exhibits. 

Eagle Festival 
Saturday, March 9, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, MD
The refuge’s 13th annual Eagle Festival features live raptor programs, kids’ activities, a photography workshop, a guided bird walk, exhibits and the popular Eagle Prowls. Free events for the whole family.  

Swan Day Festival 
Saturday, March 9, 10 am - 3 pm – Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, UT
Celebrate Tundra Swan Day in Utah with a fun-filled day of free activities at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. Take an auto loop tour to view the return of these magnificent migratory birds. Enjoy swan-themed crafts, games, movies and more inside the cozy and warm Wildlife Education Center. 

Featherfest
Thursday, April 11- Saturday, April 14 – Galveston, TX
The festival includes field trips to Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge and Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge. 

John Scharff Migratory Bird Festival
Thursday, April 11 – Saturday, April 14 − Burns, OR
The festival features field trips to Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. 

Prairie Chicken Festival  
Saturday, April 13 – Sunday, April 14, 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. — Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge, TX
Enjoy tours of the refuge, native plants and Attwater prairie chickens on their booming grounds. 

Godwit Days Spring Migration Bird Festival

Thursday, April 18 – Wednesday, April 24, 2013 - Arcata, CA

18th annual festival to celebrate the marbeled godwit in northern California’s majestic coastal redwoods. More than 100 bus, boat and land trips offered; workshops, art show. Live birds of prey, vendor booths, banquet, kids art show, awards ceremony. Field trip to Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge.


Bayou Teche Black Bear and Birding Festival
Friday, April 19 – Sunday, April 21— Franklin, Louisiana
The annual festival celebrates species found in North America’s largest river swamp, such as white pelicans and roseate spoonbills. Guided boat tours and paddling trips into Bayou Teche National Wildlife Refuge are featured attractions, along with a photo show, music and fireworks. 

Great Dismal Swamp Birding Festival  
Thursday, April 25- Saturday, April 27— Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, VA
Enjoy guided bird walks, owl prowls, refuge bus tours, photography and birding workshops.  Free event registration begins mid-March. To register, call 757-986-3705. 

Santee Birding and Nature Festival
Friday, April 26 – Sunday, April 28  — Santee National Wildlife Refuge, SC
Join birders and naturalists at one of the state’s only nature festivals. Take field trips throughout the midlands of South Carolina. Learn about wonderful natural places and their inhabitants. 

Balcones Songbird Festival
Friday, April 26 – Monday, April 29 — Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge, TX
Enjoy refuge tours and workshops. 

Birding and Crystal Festival 
Friday, April 26 – Sunday, April 28 — Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge, OK
The annual festival typically features guided tours, workshops, decoy-carving demonstrations and selenite crystal digging contests. 

Grays Harbor Shorebird Festival
Friday, April 26 – Sunday, April 28 — Hoquiam, WA
The festival, which coincides with the peak of spring shorebird migration on the Washington coast, includes field trips to Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge  and other birding hot spots. 

The Biggest Week in American Birding
Friday, May 3 – Sunday, May 12 — Northwest Ohio
This major bird festival takes place at the peak of spring warbler migration in the Lake Erie Marsh region of the state. The festival features field trips to Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge. 

Birdfest Texoma
Friday, May 3 − Sunday, May 5 − Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, TX
Enjoy a field trip led by David Allen Sibley, live birds of prey with Jonathan Wood, a wildlife photography workshop with photographer Kathy Adams Clark, and many more events. 

Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival
Thursday, May 9 – Sunday, May 12, 2012 Homer, AK
The festival features workshops, tours, hikes and field trips to Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. Birds to see include: Rufous hummingbird, horned puffin, red-necked stint. 

Horicon Marsh Bird Festival
Friday, May 10 – Monday, May 13  — Horicon National Wildlife Refuge, WI
Enjoy guided birding hikes, bus and boat tours, bird banding demonstrations and more. 

Spring Wings Bird Festival   
Saturday, May 11 —Fallon, NV
The annual festival, which celebrates shorebird and waterfowl migration through the Lahontan Valley Field, includes field trips to Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge. 

Cache River Nature Fest
May 11, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. —Cache River Wetlands Center, IL
Annual festival celebrates the kaleidoscope of birds found in the Cache, including barn owls, snowy egrets, American avocets and prairie warblers. Festival includes field trips to Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge.  

Klamath Falls International Migratory Bird Festival
Saturday, May 11 — Klamath Falls, OR  
The festival features field trips to Tule Lake and Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuges. 

International Migratory Bird Day 
Saturday, May 11 
International Migratory Bird Day, observed on or about the second Saturday in May, calls attention to the remarkable journeys of some 350 species of migratory birds between nesting habitats in North America and wintering grounds in South and Central America. Many refuges will host public events. To find an IMBD event near you, see the Bird Day Map. Learn more about International Migratory Bird Day.  As the date approaches, check the Refuge System special events calendar for more IMBD event listings. 

Kenai Birding Festival
Thursday, May 16 – Sunday, May 19 — Kenai Peninsula, AK
Festival features thousands of birds, children’s activities, discussions and field trips to Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. All ages and levels of experience welcome. 

Festival of Birds
Thursday, May 16−Sunday, May 19 – Detroit Lakes, MN
Festival includes field trips to Tamarac, Hamden Slough and Agassiz National Wildlife Refuges. 

Great Salt Lake Bird Festival
Thursday, May 16 – Monday, May 20 — Farmington, UT
This birding festival features field trips to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, a festival sponsor. Birds to see include: burrowing owl.

Tualatin River Bird Festival
Saturday, May 18 — Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, OR
Enjoy nature photography workshops, a bike ride, river paddle trips, native basketry, nature journaling workshops, art and music

Down East Spring Birding Festival
Friday, May 24 – Monday, May 27 — Near Calais, ME
The annual festival includes guided hikes, boat tours and expert presentations. It features field trips to Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge, one of the event sponsors. 

Potholes & Prairie Birding Festival
Wednesday, June 12- Sunday, June 16 – Carrington, ND
Field trips to Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge and Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge are highlights of this festival celebrating remote prairie, wetland and meadow birding hot spots. .

Midwest Birding Symposium
Thursday, September 19- Sunday, September 22 — Lakeside, OH
The festival includes field trips to Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge.

Wings over Water Wildlife Festival
Tuesday, October 22-Sunday, October 27— Outer Banks, NC
Pick from scores of talks and trips on birding, paddling, wildlife photography and natural history.  Field trips will go to Pea Island andAlligator River National Wildlife Refuges. All proceeds go to the Coastal Wildlife Refuge Society, a nonprofit that supports national wildlife refuges in eastern North Carolina. 

Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival   
Thursday, November 7 – Monday, November 11 — Harlingen, TX
The festival includes field trips to Laguna Atascosa, Lower Rio Grande Valley and Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuges. Featured events include lectures, workshops, birding trips, boating on the Arroyo and other guided trips. Look for great kiskadees, green jays, Altamira orioles and chachalacas. 

Festival of the Cranes
November 19 – 24 — Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, NM
Thrill to skiesful of sandhill cranes and snow geese at a world-famous birding festival. Enjoy tours, talks, workshops, field trips, dusk fly-ins and dawn fly-outs. 
Last updated: December 13, 2012