At a glance Date: After a hiatus, this festival returns in late January. 2024 dates are January 24-28. Location: Port Canaveral, Florida, USA (new location; formerly in Titusville, Florida) Summary: The Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival, now hosted by a new local nonprofit with returning organizers, is one of the largest birding festivals in…
Date: Early August annually; August 5-9, 2020 Location: The beautiful desert town of Tucson, Arizona Summary: Southeast Arizona birding is US birding unlike anywhere else! One trip to the area is not enough, so plan on making a long-term commitment to this birding destination. More information on the festival coming soon, but for now, check out these speciality…
Date: Late May annually; May 28-31, 2020 Location: Mount Desert Island, Bar Harbor, ME (Acadia National Park) Summary: The Acadia Birding Festival offers exciting northeastern US birding around the Gulf of Maine. It’s a fantastic location to see a variety of warbler species—some migrating, and some breeding in the vast forests of the area. But the most…
Date: Second weekend in November annually; November 11-15, 2020 Location: The heart of the Rio Grande Valley: Harlingen, TX Summary: This festival has it all. First and foremost, the birding is phenomenal. Not only are there exciting speciality species (think Green Jay, Altamira Oriole, Common Paruaque, Least Grebe, Aplomado Falcon, and so many more), but this is also…
Date: Late April/early May annually; April 27-May 2, 2020 Location: Good ol’ Fayetteville, WV (New River Gorge National River) Summary: Ah, where do I begin? It’s no secret that I’m fond of my home state of West Virginia. If you haven’t experienced those mountains as the trees begin to leaf in the spring, you’re missing out. And the…
Date: Late February/early March annually; February 26-March 1, 2020 Location: Guess! San Diego, CA Summary: Woah, west-coast birding. I haven’t had many opportunities to bird the extreme west of the US, so this was a ton of fun for me in 2019. The festival trips go far and wide to get a diversity of birders in one of…
Date: Mid-October annually; October 15-18, 2020 Location: Cape May, New Jersey, of course! Summary: So. Many. Birds. That should say it all. Check back soon for more information about this festival. My involvement: I first attended the festival in 2019. And I’ll be back, every year! Fun fact: This festival is the longest running birding festival in the country. Don’t…
Date: Early May, annually; May 8-17, 2020 Location: Oregon, Ohio (Northwest Ohio) Summary: If there were ever a birding festival to call for no introduction, it’s Biggest Week. And if there were ever a time to use a “birders are flocking” pun, it’s now. The “Warbler Capital of the World” is right on the Magee Marsh boardwalk, where…