Bird Festivals and Events

Bird festivals are a great way to meet like-minded people and learn more about birds, bird watching, and conservation. Festivals are often held during a specific natural phenomenon, such as the period when the male Greater Prairie Chickens perform at leks to attract females in late March/early April in Nebraska, or when the Red Knots descend en masse to feast on horseshoe crabs on the beaches of Cape May, New Jersey.

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology website has an interactive map with descriptions of bird festivals across North America and around the world. It’s always being updated, so check it frequently.

BWD (formerly Birdwatcher’s Digest) has a festival finder on its website. You can search by month or by location. This, too, is frequently updated.

Let us know if you attend a festival you love! We want to hear all about it.