ÃÛèÖAPP

With winter's chill in retreat, you may be feeling an itch to migrate outsideÌýin search of birds. Whether you're looking to stick close to home or hit the road,Ìýthe seasonÌýbrims with opportunities, especially as birding festivals crop up across the countryÌýduring spring migration.

Festivals offer unparalleled chances to learn, to see new birds, and to make new friends. These beginner-friendly events pack a plethora of birding activities into a few days: entertaining-yet-educational talks, field trips for all skill levels, social gatherings, and usually a lineup of vendors and exhibitors.Ìý

If festivals aren't your thing, consider film screenings, museum exhibits, volunteer opportunities, and other eventsÌýfor bird loversÌýto enjoy this spring. So mark your calendars and get ready to go out and start exploring.

World Premiere of Birds of May

Washington, DC; March 18
Every May, Red Knots flood Delaware Bay to feast on horseshoe crab eggs. It’s one of their most valuable rest stops on the long flight from the tip of South America to the Arctic.ÌýBirds of MayÌýis a half-hour documentary about these beautiful birds and the challenges they face each year along their already arduous migration. During theÌý, which runs March 14–26, the film will be screened for the first time in conjunction with a panel discussion.ÌýÌýwill take place in other locations throughout the spring, and anyone can watch it online at audubon.org May 1–7.
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Sign Up forÌýÃÛèÖAPP's Hog Island Summer Camp ProgramÌý

Hog Island, ME;Ìýprograms run June 4–​September 15
No one is too old for summer camp. Hog Island, ÃÛèÖAPP's ornithology getaway off the coast of Maine, hosts a range of avian programs for teenagers and adults.ÌýWhether you are a beginning birder or deep into your life list, there's a session to match your birding goals—and deep in the heart of puffin territory to boot. Slots fill up fast, so register soon.Ìý
More info:ÌýÌý

Galveston FeatherFest

Galveston Island, TX;ÌýApril 6–9Ìý
Timed for the first rush of spring migration, the 15th annual FeatherFest highlights the top birding sites of Galveston Island and nearby areas, which count amongÌýthe best spots on the upper Texas coast. A strong slate of nature-photography workshops complement birding programs, and the weekend features special activities for children. Field trips are likely to produce upwards of 200 bird species, including such gems as the White-tailed Kite, Upland Sandpiper, and Scissor-tailed Flycatcher.Ìý
More info:Ìý

National Parks WeekÌýÌý

Nationwide; April 15–16 and April 22–23
The National Parks Service is waiving all entrance fees for theseÌýtwo weekends in April, which bookend National Parks Week. From California Condors at Pinnacles National Park to Roseate Spoonbills in Everglades National Park, hundreds of sites across the country boast incredible birdlife.ÌýIf you're interested in getting off the beaten path, check out our guide to five parks filled with birds, not tourists.
More info: Ìý

Atlanta Bird Fest

Atlanta, GA; April 15–May 14
One weekend isn’t enough time to enjoy all the birding Atlanta has to offer. This monthlong celebration, hosted by the Atlanta ÃÛèÖAPP Society, offers a variety of events for the whole family. Field trips takeÌýattendees into a variety of habitats, includingÌýwetlands teeming with waterfowl and hotspots inhabited by a number of northeast Georgia's specialty species, such asÌýCerulean Warblers and Ruffed Grouse.Ìý
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Godwit Days

Arcata, CA;ÌýApril 19–25
In late April, thousands of Marbled Godwits gather on the flats around Northern California’s Humboldt Bay, adding to the dozens of shorebird species (and more than 200 other avian species) found in the region. The Godwit Days festival highlights this bounty with diverse programs led by experts. Field trips range from coasts to marshes and rivers to redwood forests, producing a rich diversity of birds that includes Spotted Owls and Marbled Murrelets.ÌýThis year’s keynote speaker,Ìý, will share stories from the yearlong birding questÌýhe bloggedÌýabout forÌýÃÛèÖAPP.Ìý
More info:Ìý

Earth Day

Nationwide; on and around April 22
Take a hands-on approach to bird conservationÌýby volunteering this Earth Day. Across the country, people willÌýpitch in to pickÌýup trash in local parks, plantÌýnative vegetation, and more. Volunteer Match is a great resource for finding eventsÌýnear you.
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Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival

Homer, AK;ÌýMay 4–7
Alaska’s biggest birding festival marks its 25th year with a keynote by renowned birder, wildlife biologist, and author J. Drew Lanham. Kachemak Bay draws more than 130 migratory species, including visitors from Asia. Field trips get attendees into the wild by foot and by boat to search for shorebird stars such asÌýRock Sandpipers and Pacific Golden-Plovers, as well as plenty of other avian species, from Red-faced Cormorants to Spruce Grouse.Ìý
More info:Ìý

Indiana Dunes Birding Festival

Porter, IN; May 4–7
This region'sÌýrange of ecosystems—from bogs andÌýwoodlands to black oak savannas and dunes—supports a wide variety of species. Festivalgoers will have opportunities to spot rare birds, includingÌýKirtland’s Warblers and Whooping Cranes,Ìýand join special walks to findÌýwoodcocks and whipporwills. Take part in a bird survey, get artsy with bird-inspired woodcut printmaking, or peek behind the scenes at Chicago’s Field Museum. Numerous talks tailored to the uniqueness of the area will make you feel like a local.
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The Biggest Week in American Birding

Oak Harbor, OH;ÌýMay 5–14
Every May, Ohio's Magee Marsh receives dozens of species of warblersÌýas they pass through on their northward migrations. The birds are decked out in their brightest colors for breeding season, and the 10-day Biggest Week in American Birding festival invites tens of thousands of birders to enjoy the view. Whether you're a new or experienced birder, swing by toÌýattend bird-identification workshops, guided birding trips by foot or canoe,ÌýAmerican Woodcock field trips, keynote presentations, a Birder’s Marketplace, and evening events with free food and music. Best of all, 100 percent of the festival's proceeds go towards improving bird habitat.
More info:Ìý

International Migratory Bird Day

Global; May 14
It's the ultimate celebration of spring migration season: anÌýentire day devoted toÌýthe astonishing treks birds make every year. Not all birds undertake their journeys at the same time, so bird walks, educational talks, and other eventsÌýlast throughout April and May. Ìýto see what's happening near you.
More info: Ìý

Festival of Birds

Detroit Lakes, MN; May 18–21
A plentiful mix of breeding birds inhabit west-central Minnesota, where coniferous forest, northern hardwood forest, and tall-grass prairie meet. In May, when Detroit Lakes celebrates its 20th-anniversary festival, the birding is first rate. Distinguished author and artist David Sibley will give the keynote, and morning field trips should turn up birds like Red-necked Grebes, Ruffed Grouse, and Golden-winged Warblers.ÌýÌý
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Acadia Birding FestivalÌý

Bar Harbor, ME;ÌýJune 1–4
Postcard-perfect coasts and forests draw visitors to Acadia National Park all summer long. This festival is timed for peak birding, in early June, before the height of tourist season. Field trips explore the region’s remarkable abundance and variety of nesting warblers,Ìýthrushes, flycatchers, and other songbirds as they defend their territories. OneÌýhighlight is the Saturday boat trip to seek Atlantic Puffins, Arctic and Roseate Terns, and other seabirds.Ìý
More info:Ìý

Nature's Best 2016 Photography at the Smithsonian

Washington, DC; through September
Admire and experience award-winning nature photography at the Nature’s Best Photography exhibitionÌýat theÌýSmithsonian National Museum of Natural History. The 82 winning nature photos, chosen from 25,000 entries, include five winning photographs from theÌý2016 ÃÛèÖAPP Photography Awards, along with video features that tell the stories behind each image. (The winners of the 2017 ÃÛèÖAPP Photography Awards will be announced in our Summer issue.)
More info:Ìý