Key West The Newspaper

New birder or old hand? No matter. It’s hard not to be moved by the sight of more birds erupting in flight than you’ve ever seen in your life.

National wildlife refuges make great festival sites because so many of these special places are located along the country’s key migratory bird routes. Many festivals coincide with spring or fall migration. Here are some great refuge bird festivals to catch in 2016.

The National Wildlife Refuge System, part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, protects natural habitat for America’s treasured wildlife species.

JANUARY 2016
Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival
January 20-25, 2016
Titusville, FL
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is a field trip destination for this yearly bird festival, billed as one of the country’s largest and best. Register by January 15 to attend workshops, exhibits and demonstrations.

Snow Goose Festival of the Pacific Flyway
January 27-31, 2016
Chico, CA
Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge is one of several field trip destinations for this major West Coast bird festival. The refuge, a Central Valley birding hotspot, boasts a large viewing platform overlooking wetlands teeming with bird life, a photography blind (available by reservation), an auto-tour route and miles of hiking trails.

FEBRUARY 2016
Winter Wings Bird Festival
February 11-14, 2016
Klamath Falls, OR
The four-day festival offers visitors the chance to visit nearby Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Crater Lake National Park and other Klamath Basin birding hotspots. Register by February 7.

Eagle Watching Open House
February 13, 2016
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Brussels, IL
Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge
Learn about bald eagles. Then venture out to watch for eagles with a refuge ranger. Experienced eagle watchers will be set up with viewing scopes at various locations at the wildlife refuge.

Florida Scrub-Jay Festival
February 13, 2016
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Oscar Scherer State Park, Osprey, FL
The festival celebrates the only bird species unique to the Sunshine State. Florida scrub-jays are found at Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge, Lake Wales Ridge National Wildlife Refuge and Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Enjoy live music, guided nature walks, live animal displays, children’s crafts and environmental exhibits.

San Francisco Bay Flyway Festival
February 19-21, 2016
Vallejo, CA
The festival includes field trips to San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

Whooping Crane Festival
February 25-28, 2016
Port Aransas, TX
Port Aransas, two hours from Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, bills itself as “America’s Birdiest Small Coastal City.” Festival-goers have a chance to see cranes in their winter habitat. Wade Harrell, whooping crane recovery coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, based at Aransas Refuge, is a festival panelist on February 27.

MARCH 2016
San Diego Bird Festival
March 3-6, 2016
Marina Village Park, San Diego, CA
Festival field trip destinations include San Diego National Wildlife Refuge, San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge and Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge. Also featured: workshops, sea bird trips and cultural activities.

Monte Vista Crane Festival
March 11-13, 2016
Monte Vista, CO
Thrill to the sight of thousands of sandhill cranes that stop and rest here each spring on their way back north. This year’s 33^rd annual festival includes bus tours to Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge. Lots of waterfowl add to wildlife viewing opportunities. Enjoy workshops and birding tours.

Othello Sandhill Crane Festival
March 18-20, 2016
Othello, WA
Experience the beauty and wonder of the natural world, highlighted by the return of sandhill cranes to the Channeled Scablands of Eastern Washington. Columbia National Wildlife Refuge is one of many field trip destinations. The three-day community event includes wildlife tours, lectures on the area’s natural and cultural heritage, an art contest and children’s activities.

APRIL 2016
Attwater’s Prairie-Chicken Festival
April 9-10, 2016
Eagle Lake, TX
Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge
See the courtship dance of the endangered Attwater’s prairie-chicken in coastal prairie habitat at this annual celebration. Tours to view these imperiled birds start at 7 a.m.

Godwit Days
April 13-19, 2016
Arcata, CA
Field trip destinations for this festival along the northern California coast include Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge. The event also includes scores of eco-tours and workshops, an art show and live birds of prey.

Featherfest
April 14-17, 2016
Galveston, TX
The festival includes field trips to Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge and Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge.

Bayou Teche Black Bear and Birding Festival
April 15-16, 2016
Franklin, LA
The threatened Louisiana black bear gets top billing, but this annual festival also celebrates bird species found in North America’s largest river swamp, such as the American white pelican and roseate spoonbill. The festival features guided boat tours and paddling trips into Bayou Teche National Wildlife Refuge. Find updates on the Friends of Bayou Teche Refuge website as the festival date nears: http://bit.ly/1Ywa2Es.

Great Dismal Swamp Birding Festival
April 21-23, 2016
Suffolk, VA
Enjoy a festival in a birder’s paradise during the height of the spring neotropical songbird migration. You might catch a glimpse of a Swainson’s warbler or Wayne’s warbler, two of North America’s most secretive birds. The festival is part of International Migratory Bird Day, which celebrates the incredible journeys of migratory birds between their breeding grounds in North America and their wintering grounds in Mexico and Central and South America.

Balcones Songbird Festival
April 22-24, 2016
Marble Falls, TX
Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge
Enjoy guided birding and nature tours of the refuge, which boasts some of the finest birding habitat in the state.

MAY 2016
International Migratory Bird Day Celebrations
International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD) is the only international education program that highlights and celebrates the migration of nearly 350 species of migratory birds between nesting habitats in North America and non-breeding grounds in Latin America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. While IMBD events take place year-round, most U.S. events take place during May at the height of the spring migration. Each year, IMBD explores a different aspect of migratory birds and their conservation; for 2016, the focus is on how birds have inspired many of the most significant environmental conservation actions in the Americas, beginning with the signing of the first Migratory Bird Treaty in 1916. Many wildlife refuges take part in IMBD celebrations.To find an IMBD event near you, see the Bird Day Map. Learn more about International Migratory Bird Day. As May approaches, check the Refuge System special events calendar for more IMBD event listings.

Horicon Marsh Bird Festival
May 6-9, 2016
Southeastern Wisconsin
For the past 50 years, Horicon Marsh Boat Tours has been helping people experience one of America’s great natural treasures. Avid birdwatchers, nature enthusiasts and people just curious about the Horicon Marsh have found new adventure on the pontoon boat tour. Visit nearby Horicon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge.

Biggest Week in American Birding
May 6-15, 2016
Northwest Ohio
This major bird festival, organized by Black Swamp Bird Observatory, takes place at the peak of spring bird migration in the Lake Erie Marsh region of the state. The festival features field trips to Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge and Magee Marsh Wildlife Area.

Cache River NatureFest
May 7, 2016
Southern, Illinois
Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge
The 15^th annual festival highlights the rich diversity of habitats and wildlife in the Cache River Watershed. The festival will include guided birding hikes, canoe tours, live animal demonstrations plus many exhibitors and programs.

Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival
May 12-15, 2016
Homer, AK
The state of Alaska’s largest wildlife festival includes field trips to Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge.

Great Salt Lake Bird Festival
May 12-16, 2016
Farmington, UT
Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge is among the festival’s field trip destinations.

Chincoteague International Migratory Bird Day Celebration
May 14, 2016
Chincoteague, VA, and other locations
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge
Celebrate the spring arrival of thousands of shorebirds at this annual fest, one of many to celebrate the journey of migratory birds. Chincoteague’s annual celebration features workshops, bird walks and guided lighthouse tours.

Wings Over Muscatatuck Bird Festival
May 14, 2016
South central Indiana
Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge
The all-day festival includes guided bird van tours, bird and nature walks, kids’ activities, live birds of prey programs, birdhouse building, a bird-calling contest, and the Junior Duck Stamp Contest Awards ceremony. Visitors are also welcome to take part in a May Day Bird Count, part of a statewide count.

Chequamegon Bay Birding & Nature Festival
May 19-21, 2016
Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center, Ashland, WI
The 9th annual festival features field trips to Whittlesey Creek National Wildlife Refuge, guided by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff. Other field trip and hike destinations: the Moquah Pine Barrens, Bibon Swamp, Morgan Falls and St. Peter’s Dome.

Detroit Lakes Festival of Birds
May 19-22, 2016
Detroit Lakes, MN
Tours of Hamden Slough National Wildlife Refuge and Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge will be part of this year’s 19^th annual festival.

Kenai Peninsula Birding Festival
May 19-22, 2016
Kenai, AK
This three-day festival includes field trips to Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, workshops, kids’ activities and a Kenai River float with local birding experts.

South Dakota Birding Festival
May 20-22, 2016
Fort Randall, SD
Lake Andes National Wildlife Refuge and Karl E. Mundt National Wildlife Refuge are the host locations for this annual festival. The festival offers a rare opportunity to see Karl E. Mundt Refuge, normally closed to the public. The festival includes field trips by foot and bus, songbird banding and presentations.

Down East Spring Birding Festival
May 27-30, 2016
Near Calais, ME
The annual festival includes guided hikes, boat tours and expert presentations. It also features field trips to Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge, one of the event sponsors.

JUNE 2016
Potholes & Prairie Birding Festival
June 8-12, 2016
Jamestown, ND
Field trips to Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge and Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge are highlights of this festival celebrating remote prairie, wetland and meadow birding hot spots.

OCTOBER 2016
Ridgefield Birdfest and Bluegrass
October 1-2, 2016
Ridgefield, WA
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge
The annual festival, along the lower Columbia River, offers guided bus tours, Audubon bird shows, live music, arts and crafts, and activities at the Cathlapotle Plankhouse, afull-scale replica of a Native American structure found in the old town of Cathlapotle.

Ding Darling Days
October 16-22, 2016
Sanibel, FL
Enjoy a week of fun-filled and informative programs, bird walks, tours, paddling and family activities at J. N. ‘Ding’ Darling National Wildlife Refuge

Wings over Water Festival
October 18-23, 2016
Northeast North Carolina
This multi-day festival features field trips to five national wildlife refuges: Pea Island, Alligator River, Mattamuskeet, Pocosin Lakes and Mackay Island. Also included: classroom programs, bird walks, paddling trips and talks on wildlife photography and natural history.

NOVEMBER 2016
Rio Grande Valley Bird Festival
Harlingen, TX
November 2-6, 2016
Field trip destinations include Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge and Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge. Buses and minivans at the South Texas Refuge Complex will support festival-goers.

Festival of the Cranes
November 15-20, 2016
San Antonio, NM
Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge
See wintering sandhill cranes and snow geese by the thousands at this scenic refuge outside of Socorro. Enjoy workshops, tours and other events at one of the most celebrated bird festivals in the country.

Assateague Island Waterfowl Weekend
November 24-27, 2016
Chincoteague, VA
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge
The refuge will offer guided walks, tours and other special events to mark the fall migration of waterfowl to the refuge. Some tours will be in areas normally closed to the public. The refuge provides habitat for greater snow geese and many other migratory birds.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For more information, visit www.fws.gov, or connect with us through any of these social media channels: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr.

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