Bird festivals are all over the USA and some in Europe. If you have never attended a bird festival, here are some of the reasons I enjoy attending them:
- Meet people from all over the USA and sometimes from other countries. Everyone has a story about how they began to be interested in birds. Or a story about their “spark bird”; the first bird they saw and encouraged them to look for more birds.
- Field trips are organized. Some trips the transportation to the birding location is provided. This is especially helpful when I am visiting the area; someone else is doing the driving to the location. This is an option also at my local festival. While traveling to the location it is more time to chat with my fellow birders. Or, some field trips we meet our guide at the trailhead.
- Field trips out at sea are the best with a group and guide. Know that those boat trips fill fast!
- Field trips in my local area are valuable because more eyes are looking for birds compared to the day I am the only one looking for birds. Notice also, the group size is usually a small number so register as soon as you are interested in a field trip before it closes out.
- The guides at festivals are amazingly knowledgeable! Many hear the bird call/song and can identify the bird. Also, many guides carry a viewing scope to share the observation of a bird. I’m using my binoculars, but there are times the viewing scope has a better magnification on the bird. Often I look through the scope to see where in the tree or bush the bird is and that allows me to find the bird in my binoculars.
- Infrequently a guide will try to call a bird in, for educational purposes, thus not abusing this practice. As a result, we have had success calling a bird closer to us so we could see it more easily than not. We knew the bird was somewhere within the bush’s leaves and now the bird popped out on top or off to another branch and more easily seen.
- Guides provide information about the habitat a bird needs and often knows the flowers or other animals in the area.
- Often, I will observe a new bird for my “life list” of birds. That is exciting, especially since I know others saw the bird too and the identification is correct. Real helpful if that bird is only found in a specific location!
- Workshops are presented by photographers, birding companies from around the USA and world, such as Columbia and Brazil. Or guides share their destinations, such as Scotland, Ecuador, Costa Rica and that they are available in their home state. Photographers always have absolutely amazing photos capturing birds in flight and explaining to the rest of us how it can be accomplished, with what type of equipment and patience!
- Vendors are at the nature expo area with binoculars, viewing scopes, cameras and lenses and all kinds of things a birder may be interested in trying out and/or purchasing. Here’s a place to also spend time talking with representatives of birding companies and personal birding guides.
- Finally, you hear about other birding festivals and may consider attending one of them in the future.
Overall, I have really enjoyed attending various bird festivals. If you have never attended one, give one a try. Maybe it’s one closest to your hometown. You’ll be amazed how many birds you will see in a day with the help a guide and everyone else in your group even if it is your hometown!
Will you see this bird? Don’t know till you show up … check out a bird festival within the next year.
