In this article, I will be revealing 7 bird watching festival destinations in the US. There are a ton of festivals that celebrate birds and give people the opportunity to appreciate and learn about them. They offer classes and workshops on topics such as bird identification, photography tips, and even building your own birdhouse. This blog post lists all of the festivals as well as their location so you can decide which ones are close enough to attend.

Some of my friends and I have been birdwatchers for a while. There’s something about seeing them in their natural habitat that makes them seem so majestic and awe-inspiring. When I realized there were a ton of bird festivals all over the US, I knew it was time to put together this list for all of you who, like me, are diehard birdwatchers. We’ve included the name of each festival as well as its location to give you an idea of how close they are to your neck of the woods (or wherever you happen to be). So without further ado, please enjoy my list of 7 bird watching festivals in the US!

1. The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) – Los Angeles, California

Starts in February

This festival takes place over a four day period and is the largest online count of birds. It has grown from a simple event to one that involves thousands of volunteers, hundreds of websites, and many people contributing data on their own unique local area. The GBBC began in 1998 when it was only for professional scientists but soon realized that counting birds in their own backyards was something anyone can do and is a lot of fun. Sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, being a part of this event means you are contributing to the conservation efforts in your local area as well as gaining insight into how bird populations change over time.

There are several ways to participate in these types of festivals. You can join the Great Backyard Bird Count and count birds from your own backyard, you can join a team of people counting birds in parks or even join an existing team doing counts in such areas as public schools and nature centers. Several independent observers have even managed to produce results by fitting small GPS units on local bird species allowing them to follow their movements around their landscape.

2. The Great Texas BirdFest – San Antonio, TX

Ends in October

This festival was started in 1995 and since then has become the largest of its kind for any western state. This event brings together hobbyists from different walks of life all interested in birdwatching. There are workshops, presentations, and social events as well. The festival was started by a man named Brian Schlagel who wanted to celebrate birds and their conservation efforts in the state of Texas. This event has grown from a small group of people meeting at his backyard into a large-scale event that attracts over 400 birdwatchers each year.

3. The Great Florida Birding & Wildlife Festival – Titusville, Florida

Beginning in January

This festival is hosted by the Central Brevard Audubon Society which has a mission to provide educational programs about birds and other wildlife. They have been hosting this festival for around 30 years. The festival takes places in an area known as Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge where there are grassy marshes, woodlands and other natural habitats that attract many beautiful types of wildlife. This festival is not only about birding but also about learning more about the environment around you so you can appreciate it more as well as take part in its preservation. There are various activities such as night walks with teams of volunteers looking for owls and hooting at them to get them to fly out and reveal themselves.

4. The Biggest Week in American Birding – Cape May, New Jersey

Starts in late April

This festival is a multi-day event that includes workshops, lectures and excursions so you can learn more about the local birdlife. It also has tours that allow you to go out in search of birds and there are even competitions so you can test your knowledge. During this festival they also offer trips to Cape May Point State Park, a state reserve that is home to a variety of wetland habitats. It has become known as one of the best bird watching sites on the east coast for migratory species such as shorebirds and wading birds.

5. The Great Backyard Bird Count – Worldwide

Begins in February (dates vary by region)

This festival takes place every year for four days worldwide. It started back in 1998 as a project for scientists to count birds that reside in their own backyards but has since expanded to include many amateur birdwatcher’ s as well. There are kids activities, challenge events and more that all focus on the conservation of birds. For example if you visit a festival in January there will be projects for children where they can dress up like their favorite bird or make crafts to help them learn about different species.

6. Skeet Reese’s Wings Over Water – North Carolina

Ends in March

This festival is a yearly event that has been going on for over 20 years now. This festival was started by the late Skeet Reese, a well-known professional waterfowl hunter. He wanted to promote conservation of wild birds and their habitats by providing an uplifting forum for all people interested in birdwatching. There are a large variety of activities such as classes, competitions and more. There is also an art competition where you can submit your own artwork based on birds and wildlife.

7. The Rocky Mountain Bird Festival – Colorado Springs, CO

Ends in September

This festival takes place in the mountains just outside of Denver, CO so it is a great way to get out of the city and into nature. There are many options for lodging and transportation so you can stay as long or short as you want. This festival is hosted by the National Audubon Society which was started back in 1905 by several different people interested in preserving bird habitat from being destroyed. They have a mission to educate people and work to create projects that help save the birds in the area.

This article has taught you about 7 bird watching festivals that will take place in the United States. If you want to find out more about any of the festivals listed, be sure to check out their websites so you can learn more about them. I hope you’re able to find a festival near you and meet some new people while learning more about wild birds.

I hope this article is helpful to you! I love birdwatching festivals and would really like to meet some new people while learning more about birds. Let me know if you end up going to one of these festivals!

For more than two centuries New Jersey has been a chosen destination point for bird observers who have found Cape May and its surrounding areas a veritable Mecca for birding. This is due in large measure to the huge variety of habitats that exist in Cape May County for migrating birds such as swamps, salt and freshwater marshes, ponds, grasslands, open fields, pine forests and saltwater lakes. Known as the most exciting and famous birding hot spot in North America, no other place offers the exciting possibility of spotting a new species, a fact that has almost become a matter of fact in Cape May.

When to go for bird watching in Cape May

Because of the abundance of bird life in the area, there is no good time to go birding in Cape May. Any time you would like to or can get away is a good time as migration happens northbound and southbound all year round. Because of its diverse habitat, the headland supports more than 146 nesting species. In the back bays of the harbor, you will find laughing gulls and scarlet tanagers in the woodlands. Yellow-breasted Chats and Yellow Warblers prefer the open fields, and in the hardwood swamps, there are Prothonotary Warblers to be seen. Herons and egrets stick to the marshes where they feel most at home.

In late January the Spring migration commences with the first Northern Pintail’s arrival and lasts until the Broad-Winged Hawks make their way north. The first southbound shorebirds mark the Fall migration that starts from the middle of June through February and March when more than a million seabirds take to the sky.

Late in July the peak of the shorebird migration southbound occurs, and during the last week of August into the first week of September the peak of migration occurs for flycatchers and warblers.

The best way to immerse yourself in an awe-inspiring birding experience is to attend one of the Cape May Festivals. During the fall the Cape May Bird Observatory conducts 4 official migratory counts:

– The Monarch Monitoring Project
– The Morning Flight Songbird Count
– The Avalon Sea Watch
– The Cape May Hawk Watch

When is the Cape May Fall Festival

The 2017 Cape May Fall Festival takes place from Thursday, October the 19th at 5.00pm, to Sunday, October 22nd at 5.00pm Eastern Time. The weekend excursion offers a variety of guided walks, photography walks, as well as entertaining and insightful indoor programs. Every afternoon there will be Hawk ID master classes held at The Bleachers and seabird classes on the beach in Avalon. Special boat and trolley trips are available to registered festival attendants. For an up-close look at seabirds there will be a 3 hour trip to the Rips on Saturday afternoon led by an outstanding crew of guides.

On Friday evening locals Kevin Karlson and Pete Dunne will be presenting their new visually stunning book “Birds of Prey” and on Saturday evening they will welcome their partners from the UK and Sweden, SPURN and Falsterbo to learn more about migration monitoring and international collaboration. The Cape May Convention Center will be open with free entrance to view the Raptor Project by Jonathan Wood, featuring a spectacular collection of live eagles, owls, hawks, and falcons in multiple interactive shows throughout the day.

Where to Stay for Cape May Bird Sightings Trip

The official hotel of the Cape May Festival is the Grand Hotel where a number of rooms will be reserved for festival participants at a special rate. Act soon as accommodation is limited.

What to Bring

Apart from your favorite bird watching binoculars or trusted spotting scope don’t forget to bring along any accessories that will help you use your optics in the most effective way. These could include handy equipment such as cleaning tools, a carrying strap or a harness, a Digiscope adaptor, and anything else you think may come in handy.
Even if you are not a skilled photographer, a camera will be useful for later identification of birds you spotted. This can be extremely important when unfamiliar birds are spotted or when birding in foreign regions. Remember to bring extra batteries, cleaning tools and memory cards for the camera.
An essential piece of equipment when birding is a field bag to tote your gear. A cloth or canvas bag is more comfortable to carry and will take up less space.
While the prospect of finding truly rare birdlife is what drives most keen birders to New Jersey, it is the massed spectacle of migrating birds that have earned Cape May its fame. Principal among these are the concentrations of shorebirds that flock to the beaches at Delaware Bay to feast on horseshoe crab eggs during May and early June. More than a million birds are counted at these times which constitutes the second largest concentration and most visually arresting spectacle in North America.

 

Source: http://www.njaudubon.org/SectionSightings/Overview.aspx

 

 

On the last American frontier, in the far reaches of the Aleutian Islands in the state of Alaska, there is an island of some note in the bird watching world. Attu Island is a rugged, mountainous island that the International Date Line had to be twisted around to fit it in its so far separate from the rest of the world. Few humans call this island home and it bears the unwholesome distinct of being the only piece of American soil conquered by the Axis war machine during World War Two, prompting an intense struggle between American and Japanese forces for control of what was then a strategic island.

Now Attu Island is a quiet place, the remains of the last conflict being little more than ruins and empty holes in the ground. These days, access to the island simply isn’t possible for civilians now that there are no longer any residents living there. Though it is less than advisable for neophyte travelers to the Last Frontier to visit Attu Island at the height of winter, during the warmer seasons, people used to come here with some regularity to take in the natural scenery and briefly escape the claustrophobic crush of modern urbanized living, whether they visited from densely packed New York City or a less crowded but still extremely civilized area.

Perhaps the most notable element of Attu Island beyond its haunted history is the fact there is a wide range of bird species, vagrant from the Asian continent, that come to Attu Island during the summer season. These species are found nowhere else in North America at any time of the year and the sheer presence of so many exotic birds so close to the North American continent where competitive birding is so popular means that once in a while, a truly dedicated bird watcher will find a way to get access to the island and its environs, though other travelers have also found reasons to stay on the island for a short while.

Though conditions on the island are difficult and oftentimes unpleasant for humans, birds seem drawn to the place like a magnet. Despite the fact that it costs thousands of dollars to access this all but inaccessible point on the map, many truly dedicated bird watchers have come here over the years. Among other species capable of being found on Attu Island during the summer season is the Siberian Rubythroat, classified biologically as an Old World flycatcher, often called chats.

Another bird species that comes to Attu and nowhere else in North America is the Far Easter Curlew, the largest of all sandpipers and a rare, poorly understood species that none the less has an impressive and noticeable bill, perfect for plucking food out of the marshes and swamps the species favors. There is also the Mongolian sand plover, also known as the lesser sand plover. This species is a small, yellowish bird that is typically found in the Himalayas and northeast Siberia but comes to Alaska on a regular basis.

If you’re a bird watcher, you may wish to consider where the best bird watching places are in Central Park. You may be surprised to find that there are some areas that are long forgotten that lend themselves well to bird watching.

Central Park is home to some fascinating architectural features. You can also find some fascinating bridges and long forgotten areas that many don’t frequent that hold some fascinating birds to watch.

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Every now and then, the sight of flying birds may catch your attention. Such a random view can remind you of nature’s simple wonders.

While bird watching may be done by chance, there are millions of nature lovers around the world who have taken the fondness of this activity to another level. And by doing so, they also get more benefits and greater satisfaction.

Bird watching, or simply referred to as birding, is becoming a trendy activity for nature-loving individuals, groups, and families. Birding involves the observation of bird species, appearances, activities, and behavior.

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One of the best places to go for birding is Great Florida Birding Trail in the US. The trail is a collection of different locations in Florida that provide habitats to different bird species. The trail stretches for about 2,000 miles. There are over 500 avian species in the trail.

The trail provides a marvelous experience for anyone interested in birds. It also provides a great learning resource, especially on environmental matters. Florida provides a good habitat for a lot of bird species. This is because the state experiences both tropical and temperate climates. This is why it so geographically perfect for birds.

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Bird watching is a recreational activity that involves observations of birds. Birds come in a lot of different types. This is one of the facts that fascinate bird watchers. There are so many types of birds for people to see. Observing the behavior of birds especially in their natural habitat is part of the fun. There are some specific places that people go to watch birds. There are some regions that provide the perfect habitat for all kinds of birds. Uganda is one of the most interesting places when looking for avian habitats. It provides for interesting times for bird watchers.

Bird Watching paradise

More people are getting into the birding business. When taking a vacation, watching birds is one of the activities that tourists can enjoy. It provides an interesting option when sightseeing. Bird watching in Uganda is one of the most popular attractions. Uganda has a list of over 1000 bird species. This presents bird watchers with options. The habitats are also spread all over the country. This allows tourists to visit other places and see other things. It’s a chance to experience a whole new side of Africa.

The bird habitats vary all over the country. This is because Uganda has a little bit of everything. The River Nile provides one type of habitat. There is also a semi desert which allows for some species of birds to live there. There are also mountainous regions and lowlands. There are wetlands and rain forests that provide a different kind of habitat. These habitats are what allow for so many different avian species. It is a bird watching paradise really.  The national parks that house these birds are located in all these different habitats.

Where to go

Uganda is a small country and for this reason, the area to cover is small. It is absolutely perfect for a bird watching vacation. Watchers can get from one place to another without too much trouble. This is because there are more birds to see per square kilometer of the region. Anyone looking to catch a glimpse of the avian marvel of the region can do so easily. There are also specific places where one can go to watch the birds. Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the best places to start. The environment is perfect for someone looking to watch different species of birds. Bwindi National Park is also one of the more popular areas to go for birding. The forest is vast and provides a unique experience for watchers.

Something for everyone

The beauty of briding in Uganda is that is caters for everyone. It does not matter if one is experienced or just starting out. The different places provide something for everyone from shoebills to sunbirds. Someone with more experience at birding can visit the areas with an extensive variety of birds. Someone that has gotten into the hobby can find something simpler. All this can be arranged with the bird watching tours. With its popularity as a popular bird watching destination, Uganda has tours that facilitate that. Tourists can find what they need without too much trouble.

Guided tours for bird watchers

There are some tour companies that arrange for birding safaris. This helps a lot especially for someone making the visit for the first time. A guided tour is a good way to get into birding as a hobby. When planning for the itinerary for a trip to Uganda, birding should be included in the plan. When using a guide, a first time bird watcher can learn better where to go and where to look. Uganda is considered as birding heaven. With an idea of the best areas to catch different avian species, the rest becomes easy.

Taking photographs is one of the ways that bird watchers chronicle their findings. The different habitats provide just the right environment for that. A bird watcher in Uganda can get more than enough share of proof for their scrap book. Whether its photos or videos; there are more than enough subjects. Besides observing the birds in their natural habitats, tourists get a chance to enjoy nature. Uganda provides some marvels to spend time on. During the excursions to watch birds, there is plenty else to see.

There is some equipment that is used to facilitate the watching of birds. Binoculars are a common sight among bird watchers. They make it possible to see birds from a distance. When planning for a trip to Uganda, one can carry their own or just rent. There are also cameras and video camcorders that people use. The equipment will depend on the level of the birdwatcher. A beginner may make do with binoculars but an experienced bird watcher may want something more significant.

Watching of birds can be more than just for fun. There are some people that do it for educational purposes. Whatever the case is, Uganda provides a good example. The region provides a rich variety for bird watchers. Birding in Uganda is one of the best ideas for a vacation.