5 APP Birding Festivals to Hit Up This Winter
Start off 2016 with a rustic winter carnival, a weekend-long fete on the coast, and more.
St. George Winter Bird Festival
St. George, Utah;January 28-30
Hit the snowy slopesof Utah with Red Cliffs APP for this three-dayextravaganza. The first evening covers wintering birds and an owl prowl, while theweekend holdsa tripto Zion National Park and a scavenger hunt for Vermilion Flycatchers. And there's plenty of events for kids, including junior birding programs, dinosaur talks,and a workshop onhow to build birdhouses.
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Winter Carnival
Milwaukee,Wisconsin;January 25
Cheers to an afternoon packed with birdy fun!Tour the beautiful grounds of the Schlitz APP Nature Center byhorse sleigh, snowshoe, or simply on foot, during a guided hike. There will be ice skating, live owl demonstrations, and even a meet-and-greet with sled dogs. There's no way to resist this one—especially if you're already in the area.
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Teatown’s Hudson River EagleFest
Croton Point Park, New York;February 6
Join thousands of revelers in the scenic Hudson Valley for the most patriotic bird-themed celebration ever. Twenty-five local organizations, including Saw Mill River APP,APP Greenwich, and the Bedford APP Society, are banding togetherto offer people the chance to get up close with our national bird. Watch wild and captive Bald Eagles, and then try some savorylocal cuisine.
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Lake ApopkaWildlife Festival & Birdapalooza
Magnolia Park,Florida;February 6
Scout out somespectacular raptors, fowl, and marshbirds with the Orange APP Society at LakeApopka, which is renowned for its biodiversityand boasts at least 360 species of avians. Visitors during the free birding tours and photography hikes could include Mottled Ducks, Swallow-tailed Kites, and Green Herons. Food trucks and live entertainment are also on hand.
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Winter Wings Festival
Klamath, Oregon;February 11-14
When it comes to West Coast birding, the Klamath Basin is near legendary. Migrating waterfowl are the centerpiece of the event,but raptors get some love, too, with a falconry display and casual hawk watch.This festival also puts a big emphasis on wildlife photography, and thekeynote speakers include artistStephen Johnson and South African TV personality James Currie.
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San Diego Bird Festival
San Diego, California;March 3-6
"Sea, sage, and sand" is the motto for this 20-year-old festival. Explore various landscapes with the help of well-seasoned guides—ranging from Hawk Alley, the Cuyamaca Mountains, and even the U.S.-Mexico border. The adventures start at sunrise, with a parrot-watching brunch, and continue till dusk with trips to the San Diego Zoo and natural history museum. Register now with the San Diego APP Society.
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Editors note:The story has been updated to include as one of the hosts for the EagleFest.