Here is a list of bird fairs and festivals around the world for anyone interested in attending participating or just wanting to know what kind of birding events are available worldwide. Due to the surge in birders over the last few years, many fairs, festivals, events and shows have gained popularity.

This master list is made for the benefit of birders, bird photographers, brands, associations, clubs, academic people, and anyone interested in the birding world. For your added information, it took me months to compile this master birding event list; therefore, if I have made any mistakes, please let me know, and I will correct them.

Update 26 February 2024 – This list is still being updated.

List of Bird Fairs and Festivals Around the World

Birding or birdwatching has been around for a very long time, but it was only during the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide that more people got into birdwatching and bird photography due to the worldwide lockdowns.

Since 2023, most of the world has been back to normal with no travel restrictions, opening up borders for tourism and travel, resulting in many birders and photographers visiting other countries for birding activities.

For this master worldwide birdwatching events list, I have listed all of the birding events based on the regions of the world. Namely Southeast Asia, East Asia, Greater Asia, Ocenaic, Pacific Islands, Middle East, Africa, Europe, North America, Central America and South America.

Please also note that the pandemic cancelled or discontinued many birding events worldwide. On top of that, not every country may have a birding festival or event happening, and if there is, I will update this master list. However, if you know of any event in those countries, please let me know here.

Southeast Asia Region

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Brunei

• Brunei Bird Race Series – This special birding event held in 2019 saw a decent turnout in the Kingdom of Brunei. But since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has yet to be an update on when the next Brunei bird race series will happen. This is also the only birding event in Brunei.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Cambodia

• Cambodian Bird Fair – The first ever Cambodian Bird Fair was held from 17-18 March 2018 at Wat Phnom Historical Site in Phnom Penh and was also organised and associated by the Ministry of Environment, BirdLife International, Cambodia Bird Guide Association and Sam Veasna Centre and in cooperation with China’s Jingshan administration, Cun Cao Xin Rural Environmental Protection Association and China Wildlife Conservation Association.
• Cambodia Bird Festival and Nature Expo 2019 – The following year, Cambodia’s main event was a one-day birding expo held on 7 December at the Royal University of Phnom Penh along Russian Federation Boulevard. The Cambodia Bird and Nature Expo was also jointly organised by the General Department of Administration for Nature Conservation and Protection (GDANCP), the Ministry of Environment, NatureLife Cambodia (NLC), Birdlife International, and the Royal University of Phnom Penh.
• Asian Bird Fair 2020  Cambodia – This major birding event moves around various ASEAN countries. In 2020, Siem Reap in Cambodia was the official venue for the 11th Asian Bird Fair, but this was an online or virtual event in the end due to the pandemic.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Indonesia

I just want to provide some information here about bird festivals in Indonesia. The country revolves around the bird trade industry; hence, no birding events or festivals exist. If you do a quick search, you will see only bird trade events and bird singing contests for caged birds. This is one of the reasons natural bird events don’t occur here. I managed to find some Indonesia bird events below;

• Gorontalo Migratory Bird Festival – This event was last held in 2016 to spread public awareness of environmental protection at Limboto Lake in Gorontalo. Since then, no updates have been made about the migratory bird festival in Gorontalo.
• Festival Burung Pantai (Festival of Beach Birds) – This was held at Trisik Beach in Yogyakarta back in October 2014 and organised by the Bionic Bird Observation Group of the Yogyakarta State University in central Jawa. The group has been organising bird events since 2004, and from my research, the last birding event was in 2019, before the pandemic. Pantai Trisik Beach seems to be one of the popular places for migratory shorebirds in Indonesia.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Laos

• No bird fair or festival in Laos – I cannot find any birding festivals or events in Laos. If you know of any, please let us know here. It would be nice to know if there was a bird festival in Laos as there are quite a number of interesting birds and cultures to discover there.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Malaysia

• Raptor Watch – This raptor-watching event is organised by the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) and held at Tanjung Tuan at the Melaka and Negeri Sembilan border every March. This one-day event sees hundreds of visitors attending, and this year’s next Raptor Watch 2024 is around the corner.
• Fraser’s Hill International Bird Race – The oldest bird race and fair in Malaysia, spanning over 30 years now, is usually held in May to June at Fraser’s Hill, a former British Hill Station in Malaysia at an elevation of 1000 meters. The Fraser’s Hill International Bird Race is Malaysia’s most popular birding event on the peninsula.
• Borneo Bird Festival – This birding event in Borneo comes complete with bird races, photography contests, kids’ activities, display booths from optics, bird conservation, the private sector, and more. Held in October at the Rainforest Discovery Centre in Sandakan, Sabah, the Borneo Bird Festival is one birding event not to miss on the island of Borneo.
• Miri International Bird Race 2024 – There are plans now for an upcoming Miri International Bird Race scheduled for 2024. There was no information at the time of writing this, but I believe in early 2024, we should hear some news about this Northern Sarawak Bird Race happening in the resort city of Miri.
• Panti Bird Race Johor – This bird race launched on a test trail in late 2023, and by December, the organisers had announced that the Panti Bird Race 2024 would take place in April in the state of Johor in the south of Malaysia, bordering Singapore. Not much information was provided; therefore, it is still questionable.
• Wang Klian Bird Race Perlis – This is known as the northernmost bird race in Malaysia, held in the smallest state called Perlis, which borders southern Thailand. The first Wang Kelian Bird Race was held at the end of October 2023 and may continue again the following year.
• Putrajaya Bird Race –
• Taiping Bird Week –
• Sarawak Bird Race –

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Myanmar

• Myanmar Bird Fair – Due to the pandemic, there were plans for a Myanmar Bird Fair in 2021, but that event ended up being a virtual event via Zoom. Since then, there have not been any updates on when an actual event will occur in Myanmar.
• Asian Bird Fair Myanmar 2021 – This was also supposed to happen in February 2021, but the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled all events worldwide. Therefore, I truly hope there will be another bird fair or festival in Myanmar in the coming years.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in the Philippines

• Tacurong Bird Festival – Probably one of the biggest birding events in the Philippines, and in its 7th year now, the Tacurong Bird Festival focuses on birding-related activities and the protection and conservation of birds. From May 12 to 13, this two-day bird festival showcased a range of activities that celebrate the city’s diverse population of over 20,000 cageless birds. Since the year 2000, the city government of Tacurong has nurtured and protected these birds, now widely known as the Baras Bird Sanctuary. Among the highlights of the festival were the conservation forum and bird-watching tour, tree-growing activity, the Sadsad sa Kadalanan Street Dancing and Float Parade competition, bird-inspired tricycle and bird-inspired tricycle sound competitions, and bird-inspired costume and folk dance contests.
• Zamboanga Bird Festival – In 2023, the Zamboanga Bird Festival was held in February and is one of the leading events in the Philippines. This birding event started in 2015 and has steadily seen an increase in awareness and participation over the years. The event is also held at three different locations around Zamboanga, namely the Great Sta. Cruz Island, Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology (ZSCMST)- Bird Sanctuary, and Pasonanca Natural Park (PaNP). The two-day Zamboanga Bird Festival takes place in February.
• Philippines Bird Festival – This is one of the longest birding festivals in the Philippines. Still, it never continued after the 14th year when it was known as the 14th Philippine BirdTual Festival, held in October 2021. It was purely an online or virtual event after Covid-19.
• Philippine Cockatoo Festival – Another unique birding event that was held on Palawan Island, which was probably renamed the Katala Festival in 2018. We only know that the last major event held at Palawan Island was the Philippine Cockatoo Festival in 2017.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Singapore

• Singapore Bird Race – This is the only known birding event in Singapore and will run for the 38th year in 2023. The Singapore Bird Race attracts people from all walks of life to participate in a 24-hour race across the island republic. This Singapore bird event is also held in November, usually in the main city centre, for the launching and prize-giving event.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Thailand

• Thailand Bird Fair – This Thai birding event takes place in Bangkok and has been quite active over the recent years. Thanks to the post-COVID-19 pandemic, the momentum of birding has grown quite a bit, and the recent Thailand Bird Fair was held in Bangkok in November. The fair attracts mostly locals and some foreigners with bird talks, bird walks, bird fashion shows, contests, and many other interesting activities. The Bird Conservation Society of Thailand also organises this Thai birding event.
• Sa Kaeo Bird Watching Festival in Pattaya – This was a one-off event held back in 2015, and in 2017, it was called the Snakebird Watching Festival. There has not been any other news about this birding event in Pattaya. The festival was held at the Phra Prong reservoir, where several activities were organized, including fishing and hunting games and an exhibition on the Snake Bird.
• Phetchaburi Bird And Butterfly Watching Festival – This is one of the rare events promoting bird watching around Ban Krang–Km. 17 and the Khao Pakarang route in Petchaburi. The birding event took place in March at the Krachan National Park. No other information is available about this. Hopefully, Thailand Tourism can share some information with me.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Vietnam

• Vietnam Bird Race – Good news: in March 2024, the first-ever Vietnam Bird Race 2024 was announced and will take place in May at the Tram Chim National Park. This is awesome, as there has not been any official birding event held here.

East Asia Region

Bird Fairs and Festivals in China

• Xixi Lake Wetland Park Birdwatching Festival 2023 – This inaugural event was held on April 1st, which marked International Bird Loving Day; the First Xixi Lake Wetland Park Birdwatching Festival and the launch ceremony of Xinmin Spring Tour took place in Shenyang’s picturesque Xixi Lake Wetland Park.
• Hangzhou Bay National Wetland Park Birdwatching Festival 2023 – On June 3, the 2023 Hangzhou Bay National Wetland Park Birdwatching Festival began at the wetland park in Ningbo, the city’s only locale designated as a prime birdwatching site in Zhejiang Province.
• Tianjin Binhai Bird Watching Festival – This birding event in Tianjin is co-hosted by the Binhai New Area Government of Tianjin, and China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF) will be held in Tianjin Binhai New Area. This is also a vital site for more than 30 shorebird species; this part of Bohai Bay is the most important non-breeding site for the vulnerable Relict Gull.  The last event was in 2019, and no news after that.
• China International Birding Festival – This was done in 2015 in Liaoning, Dalian, and then again for the second event in Lushun, Dalian, in 2016 and once more in 2017 around Laotieshan in Lushun District, Dalian.
• Xishuangbanna Birding Festival – This birding event is held in the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Gardens (XTBG), nestled in a wonderful part of southwest Yunnan Province, close to the borders with Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam.
• Shangri-La Bird Watching Festival – This festival occurred in the Shangri-La City of Deqen Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of southwest China’s Yunnan Province. 170 bird species were recorded during the three-day bird festival, including two endangered ones. It is noted that Shangri-La City has successfully held two bird-watch festivals, attracting 31 teams from 50-plus bird societies at home and abroad. The Shangri-La International Bird Watching Festival was also held in mid-December during the winter here. There has not been any further updates since the 2018 event.
• Yingjiang International Bird Watching Festival – Yingjiang County has jurisdiction over 7 townships, 8 towns and one local state-owned farm and belongs to the southwestern end of the Hengduan Mountains extended by the Himalayas. The first birding event in 2015 was created to deepen people’s understanding of the significance of protecting ecological balance and biodiversity by shooting and recording bird activities, further arouse people’s sense of responsibility for protecting ecological balance, and drive more people to join in the protection of wetlands and birds in action. The Yingjiang International Bird Watching Festival is held every 1st of May.
• Gaoligong Mountain International Birding Festival – Held in mid-December, this birding event attracts ecological experts, photography fans, bird professionals, and members of bird organizations to gather at the Baihua Ridge of Gaoligong Mountain in Kunming. It is one of the areas with the most abundant diversity of birds in China, with 525 species of birds identified, accounting for 54.8% of the total 958 species of birds in Yunnan and 37.5% of the total 1400 species in China. Baihua Ridge, located in the resort area, is known as China’s five-star bird sanctuary. It has more than 30 bird photography places and more than 80 bird guides. The best birdwatching season is October to May, and one of the event’s highlights is the Gaoligong Mountain Bird Photographic Competition. There has been no recent news on the Gaoligong Mountain International Birding Festival since the last event in 2018.
• Xishuangbanna Birding Festival – This China bird festival was held at the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Gardens (XTBG), nestled in a wonderful part of southwest Yunnan Province, close to the borders with Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam. During this birding event, more than 100 bird species were recorded during the festival, with highlights being the Asian Openbill, Brown-throated Sunbird, Orange-breasted Trogon, Limestone Babbler and Pied Falcone. At the event, stalls were operated by various birding organisations, optics companies and nature-related publications such as China Bird Watch. The 10th Xishuangbanna Birding Festival was held in November 2022 and included a 24-hour bird-watching race, popular science lectures, and stall displays.
• Shahu International Bird Watching Festival – This birding event occurs in the Ningxia Hui autonomous region, where Shahu lies within Shizuishan. Between March and October every year, millions of birds will find their way there during migration because of its good environment and plentiful food. Three of the nine major global bird migration routes pass through China, and two through Ningxia. The two routes are East Asia to Australia and West Asia to India. There is not much information available on the Ningxia International Bird Watching Festival.

• Dongting Lake International Bird Watching Festival – Dongting Lake is Hunan’s mother lake and an internationally important wetland. More than 300 species and 100,000 migratory birds are gathered here every winter. The Donting Bird Festival is hosted by the China Wildlife Conservation Association, the Hunan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, the Hunan Provincial Department of Forestry, the Yueyang Municipal People’s Government, the Changde Municipal People’s Government, and the Yiyang Municipal People’s Government. The last Dongting Lake International Bird Watching Festival was held between 17 and 20 February 2023

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Hong Kong

• Big Bird Race – This seems to be the most popular birdwatching event in Hong Kong and is WWF-Hong Kong’s longest-running birdwatchers event. The Hong Kong Big Bird Race event has grown in the last three decades, generating strong enthusiasm locally and from overseas, attracting teams that will vie to spot the most species in 12 hours.
• Hong Kong Wetland Park Bird Festival – The last known festival was held in November 2022, where visitors can learn about the physical characteristics and behaviour of long-legged waterbirds through various activities, including guided tours, exhibitions, public lectures and workshops. The Hong Kong Bird Watching Festival usually runs from November until March and aims to encourage more people to observe and learn about wild birds.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Japan

• Japan Bird Festival – The biggest birdwatching fair held annually in Japan with the main goal of conservation revolving around the theme “Coexistence of Birds and People.” The bird festival in Japan was first established in 2001 to attract birdwatching and nature enthusiasts to participate in all its bird-oriented activities. The venue for the Japan Bird Festival is held each year in the environs of Lake Teganuma in Abiko City at Chiba Prefecture, which is about an hour’s drive north of Tokyo. This event may also be called the Japan Bird Fair.
• Nemuro Birdland Festival – After a long break from COVID-19, the Nemuro Birdland Festival 2023 took place from the end of January to early February in Hokkaido, Japan. This bird festival in Japan is also sponsored by Nemuro City, Nemuro City Tourism Association and Co-sponsored by the Wild Bird Society of Japan Nemuro Branch, Nemuro Tocologist Association, Nemuro Wise Youth Association, Nemuro Kotsu Co., Ltd. Activities include booths showcasing birds and other related items, bird guided tours and many others. The event will be in full Japanese, and it is recommended to go with someone who can speak Japanese.
• Ishikawa River Park Wild Bird Fair – This birdwatching event in Japan was held in Ishikawa River for a weekend in February 2023 where, over the course of three days, visitors will encounter a variety of birds, including birds of Ishikawa and Satoyama. A local birding event in Ishikawa highlights the winter wild bird watching and offers an exhibition including the sale of wild bird goods: bird carvings, feather accessories, etc. There are also talks in Japanese by members of the Ornithological Society of Japan.
• Yambaru Bird Festival – Apparently, in October of 2019, the 1st Yambaru Bird Fair was held in Okinawa, Japan, but no other information is available about this event. From what I know, there were 12 exhibitors at the Yambaru Bird Fair, which was held in an open-air outdoor tent. It was a small-scale event, and I hope to see this return in 2024.
• Osaka Bird Festival – This was once an interesting birding event in Osaka, but I believe that it is no longer done. The bird festival in Osaka was held once every two years. The event offered bird tours by local birders, and there were booth exhibitions, invited lectures, symposiums, displays of telescopes, binoculars, and nature observation tools from supporting companies, etc. The last Osaka Bird Festival was held for two days in November 2015 at the Osaka City Museum of Natural History. The last known contact was the Osaka Bird Festival Secretariat (in charge: Wada, Ueda) TEL: 06-6697-6262

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Korea

• Gunsan International Migratory Bird Festival – This Korean bird festival takes place for a period of five days in the Gunsan-si region. Visitors will enjoy watching Baikal Teal flocks, the most representative migratory birds of Geumgang. We are unsure if this Korean bird festival is still operational.

• Gyeongnam Bird Festival – The first Gyeongsangnam-do Bird Festival was held from 2-4 November 2018 around the Upo marsh in Changnyeong-gun, Korea. This Korea bird festival is hosted/organised by GREF (Gyeonsangnam-do Ramsar Environment Foundation) and Upo Ecotourism Council and sponsored by EAAFP. The festival aims to explore ways to vitalise ecotourism using important migratory birds’ habitats in the Nakdong River Basin. We are unsure if the Gyeongnam Bird Festival continued after the inaugural event.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Macao Macau

• No Bird Fairs or Festivals in Macao or Macau – Unfortunately, from my research, there have not been any birdwatching events, festivals, or fairs in Macau. Maybe there have been some small-scale ones that are limited to clubs or associations. Please let me know if you know of any birding events in Macau.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Mongolia

• Mongolia-China Bird Fair – This was the inaugural Mongolia and China Bird Fair held on September 7-8 in National Garden Park, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, in 2019. After that, there has yet to be a follow-up bird fair for Mongolia. The joint fair is significant in increasing the participation of people of the two countries in studying, conserving, and promoting non-migrating and migratory birds that reproduce in Mongolia and pass the winter in China.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in North Korea

• No bird fairs and festivals in North Korea – I don’t think there are any bird festivals in North Korea for many reasons, so unless someone knows if there is one, please do share the information with me here. I would really love to know more about birding in North Korea. Apparently, one company opened birding tours in North Korea in 2010, and several birders went for it.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Taiwan

• Taipei International Birdwatching Fair – This birding fair was created to promote the spirit of birdwatching and ecological environmental conservation. Various methods, including themed activities, adventure challenges, painting, regional revitalization, and exchange lectures, are combined with discussions about the importance of biodiversity to allow people to understand the connection between life and nature. The next Taiwan Bird Fair is scheduled to take place in October 2024.
• Taiwan International Birdathon – This event is similar to a bird race and takes place at the Tainan Chigu Visitor Centre in the south of Taiwan. The Taiwan International Birdathon is also a 24-hour race and has been running for the last 10 years.
• Guandu Bird Watching Festival – In 2022, the Guandu Birdwatching Festival and Guandu Nature Arts Festival took place at the Guandu Nature Park in November. This two-day event featured activities such as a guided tour of the public art displays, an artist workshop, and an outdoor fair comprising over 50 stalls offering information on topics such as birdwatch education, animal protection advocacy, and ecosystem protection promotion. In 2023, the Guandu Birdwatching Festival never happened, possibly because the Taipei Bird Fair was held at the Guandu Nature Park.

Asia Region

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Bangladesh

• North Bengal Bird Festival – The Tourism Department of West Bengal has organised the festival in association with the Association for Conservation and Tourism (ACT). The North Bengal Bird Festival 2023 was held from March 4 to March 10 at the Chilapata and Kodalbasti area, which is in the Jaldapara National Park and home to around 246 bird species, including eagles, Pallas’s Fish Eagle, Shikra, Finn’s Weaver and Lesser Pied Hornbill.  The next North Bengal Bird Festival 2024 will be held from 22-24 March at Gajoldoba.
• Sundarban Bird Festival – The first-ever festival was organised by the Sundarban Tiger Reserve (STR) division of the West Bengal Forest Department, where several teams visited different areas inside the Sundarban Biosphere Reserve. A total of 145 different bird species were sighted during the first Sundarban Bird Festival 2023. There are also rare birds like the goliath heron, spoon-billed sandpiper and buffy fish owl. The three-day festival was held in early February 2023, and the next Sundarban Bird Festival will be held on 17 January 2024.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Bhutan

• Bhutan Bird Festival – This birding event in Bhutan took place from 13-15 November 2023 at Tingtibi in Zhemgang district, and the Bhutan Bird Festival 2023 was one of the premier birding events held to date.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in India

• Indian Birding Fair – The Indian Birding Fair is held annually during early February at Man Sagar Lake in Jaipur, joined in by a few thousand visitors. Nearly twenty schools actively participate in its open-air sessions. Each bird fair is dedicated to a species, a habitat, or a conservation problem. The Indian Bird Fair first commenced in 1997 with the sole objective of conserving Man Sagar Lake, and it is an educational event, the main conservation plank for many young and budding conservationists.
• Mahananda Bird Festival – This bird festival was organised by the Darjeeling Wildlife Division at the Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary in West Bengal in 2021 to allow enthusiasts to explore the forest and watch different birds. Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary is rich in fauna and has more than 300 bird species.
• Pong Bird Festival – During the bird festival, 150 participants from three colleges and seven schools participated in various competitions organised by the Wildlife Department. Pong Dam Lake Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Himachal Pradesh, India and is an important staging site for migratory species such as waterfowl and shorebirds. It was listed as one of the Ramsar sites in 2002.
• Hornbill Festival Nagaland India – To encourage inter-ethnic interaction and promote Nagaland’s cultural heritage, the Government of Nagaland organizes the Hornbill Festival every year in the first week of December. The first festival was held in December 2000 and is now celebrated from 1 to 10 December in the Northeastern Indian state of Nagaland, India.
• North Bengal Bird Festival – The Association for Conservation Tourism (ACT) stated that of the 1,200-odd species of birds available in India, around 800 species can be spotted in North Bengal. The 3rd edition of the North Bengal Bird Festival was held from March 4 to 10 in the eastern Dooars region, like the Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary, Chilapata and Buxa areas. Birds found in the region are the crested eagle, Pallas’s fish eagle, shikra, Finn’s weaver and the lesser pied hornbill.
• Karnataka Bird Festival – This is also known as the Hakki Habba Bird Festival in Kannada, India; this is one of the famous bird festivals that takes place every year during the winter season in Karnataka. The Karnataka Eco-Tourism Board is organising the bird festival held at Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary in Kollur in Udupi district, and the recent event was held from 6-8 January 2023. Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary, which spans over 370.37 sq km, is home to over 300 species of birds and is listed as an important bird area of the country. The event connects people from different sections, like bird watchers, wildlife photographers, research scholars of ornithology, and beginners. The 9th edition of the Karnataka Bird Festival 2023 took place in January at Kolluru in Udupi.
• Dang Bird Festival – The Dang Bird Festival was started in 2016 by two researchers, Nikunj Jambu and Kaushal Patel, with the support of the then Deputy Conservator of Forest (DCF) of the North Dang division, Anand Kumar. Every year North Dang Forest Division, in collaboration with the Eco Tourism Development Society (ETDS), organizes the Dang Bird Festival at Purna Wildlife Sanctuary. The sanctuary is home to more than 150 species of birds, including crimson sunbird, Indian paradise flycatcher, and golden-backed woodpecker.
• Uttar Pradesh Bird Festival – the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department, along with its Eco-Tourism division, announced the 7th edition of the UP Nature and Bird Festival, which was held at the Vijaysagar Bird Sanctuary in Mahoba district, Uttar Pradesh in 2023. Located in the Bundelkhand region, the Uttar Pradesh Bird Festival saw an audience of national and international experts in the fields of birding, nature conservation, wildlife tourism, and photography. There were also field excursions, dedicated panel sessions, photo exhibits, book launches and relevant partnership announcements. This event, previously known as the UP Bird Fair, was held in Uttar Pradesh, India.
• Ladakh Bird Festival – The first-ever Ladakh Bird Festival, organised by the Department of Wildlife Protection, Ladakh, in collaboration with the SECURE Himalaya Project, was done in October 2021. It is also known that more than 350 species of birds have been identified in Ladakh and that one of its biggest strengths is that its people do not hunt. Therefore, it has become a huge refuge for birds and animals alike. During the festival, a photo exhibition was held on birds found in Ladakh. The animated storybook ‘Tashi the Explorer’ was also launched on the occasion, followed by a panel discussion on Emerging threats to avifauna in Ladakh, the role of citizen science in bird monitoring and another discussion on Birds in the culture and history of Ladakh was also held. There have not been any updates on the Ladakh Bird Festival.
• Pahalgam Bird Festival – A six-day bird festival started at Pahalgam in a bid to attract tourists and bird lovers from across the country. Pahalgam is a hill station in the north Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, and the bird festival was organised by the Jammu and Kashmir or J&K Tourism Department in collaboration with the Sanctuary Nature Foundation (SNF). A bird photo exhibition with the Tawny Owl, Ibisbill, Kashmir Flycatcher, Barn Owl, and Kalij Pheasant was part of the exhibition during the Pahalgam Bird Festival. J&K and Ladakh have over 500 bird species, including 32 endangered species. There have also not been any new updates about the Pahalgam Bird Festival, which was last held in 2022.
• National Chilika Bird Festival – This birding event in Chilika highlights about 200 species at Mangalajodi during the winters in Odisha. Mangalajodi is in the northeastern part of Chilika and Asia’s largest brackish water lake, which is known as the “Birds Paradise of Asia”. Chilika lies in the Central Asian Flyway for birds and is a major stopover for migratory birds from the Arctic and sub-arctic during their onward and return migration along the East Coast. The variety of habitats on the Island, such as mudflats, floating and submerged vegetation, reed beds, and open waters with varying depths and salinity, attract various migratory and resident bird species. The National Chilika Bird Festival will be in February.
• Sanjay Van Bird Festival 2023 – This unique bird festival took place in early March 2023 and is the first time it has happened in New Delhi, which is the 2nd most bird-rich capital city in the world and home to a staggering diversity of resident species. Sanjay Van is a reserve forest in the heart of Delhi that supports 200+ species of birds. The Sanjay Van Bird Festival included expert-led nature trails, interactive multimedia exhibits, bird-based games, arts & crafts, workshops on diversity and migration and a special launch of the ‘Birds of Sanjay Van Field Guide’.
• Goa Bird Festival – The sixth edition bird festival of Goa was held in the Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary, nestled in the Western Ghats and hemmed in by the Arabian Sea. This birding event is also organised by the Goa Forest Department and Goa Tourism and offers many activities such as workshops, field trips, and film shows; you can also attend various bird and nature seminars. The recent 2023 Goa Bird Festival was held for three days at the end of January.
• Himal Kalasutra Bird Festival – As part of Himal Kalasutra, a birding festival is also included in this nature festival that takes place in May at Sarmoli village in Munsiari tehsil of Pithoragarh district, Uttarakhand. There are various activities planned out for all visitors, including children. There are workshops, booths, yoga and many other things happening at the Himal Kalasutra Bird Festival, which is for birds,  nature and culture.
• Udaipur Bird Festival – Held in Udaipur, Rajasthan, this four-day bird festival offers a bird race, photography exhibition, workshops and conference. The next Udaipur Bird Festival is also held in early January at Golden Park, Lake Pichola, Sisarma, Udaipur.
• Gharana Wetlands Bird Festival – The Dept of Tourism organised this birding festival in Gharana to promote the Gharana Wetland, which is home to more than 150 species of birds like bar-headed geese, gadwalls, common teals, etc. and is also an eco-tourism paradise among potential travel markets. The Gharana Wetlands Bird Festival takes place in December and is close to the Pakistan border.
• Gidhwa-Parsada Bird Festival – Chhattisgarh in central India hosted its first-ever bird festival of 3 days from the 31st of January – to the 2nd of February to boost our natural environment, intended to support conservation measures and to observe wildlife. The Chhattisgarh Forest Department and State Biodiversity Board organised this India birding festival in partnership with the Crow Foundation, Nova Nature Welfare Society, Jashpur Wildlife Welfare Foundation, iNaturalist, and Bird Count India. There were talks, bird walks and children’s activities. It was held in 2021, and there has not been any other information to date.
• Kaziranga Bird Conservation Festival – In the far east of India near Assam, there is a birdwatching event and festival that is organized by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and Kaziranga National Park. The event will showcase Kaziranga’s abundant birds through live seminars, webinars, and a photographic competition. Birdwatchers, environmentalists, university students, and members of the public are all welcome to attend the event along with prominent individuals, environmentalists, and wildlife specialists. The Kaziranga National Park Bird Festival is from January 9th to 10th, 2024.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Maldives

• No Bird Fairs or Festivals in Maldives – Unfortunately, the Maldives has no bird fairs or festivals. Even birdwatching in the Maldives is not popular; therefore, it would be interesting to do birding there one day. Maybe one day, there will be the Maldives Bird Festival; who knows?

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Nepal

• Nepal Bird Fair – The 2nd Nepal Bird Fair was held from 9-11 February 2024 in Kawasoti, which is a municipality in Nawalpur District, Gandaki Province, Nepal. The bird fair saw quite a decent turnout from the local and international centres and was focused on conservation and tourism efforts.
• Koshi Tappu Bird Festival – This bird festival is held in February at the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve (KTWR), which is home to 479 species of birds, 31 species of mammals, 117 species of fish, and 514 species of herbs. The festival’s objective is to spread awareness of the conservation of biodiversity, wild animals and birds. The Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is also a protected area in the Terai of eastern Nepal, covering 176 km² of wetlands in the Sunsari, Saptari and Udayapur Districts. Species of birds recorded include Swamp Francolins, White Ibis, Storks, Lesser Coucal, Striated Marsh Warbler, Black Bellied Tern, Imperial Eagle, Pied and Marsh Harrier, Common Quail, Bengal floricans (Eupodotis bengalensis). There have not been any updates for the four-day Koshi Tappu Bird Festival.
• Nepal Owl Festival – Bird Conservation Nepal (Pokhara Branch) participated in the Nepal Owl Festival at Ghodaghodi-4, Maghe Homestay, Kailali Nepal, a special event organized by Friends of Nature (FON) Nepal. The program has been organized yearly since 2012 to sensitise people and the community about owls, their threats and conservation. There is no official website, but those interested can just do a Google Search for the festival. The recent Nepal Owl Festival 2024 was held on 2-3 February at Lopre, Parbat.
• Pokhara Bird Festival – The first festival was held in July 2018, and the festival’s goal is to bring awareness about the rich birdlife around Pokhara and promote bird-watching tourism. The following year, the second Pokhara Bird Festival was held in 2019, and there has not been another event to date. From news reports, the bird festival in Pokhara tends to be an educational event attracting birders and school students. According to the Pokhara Birds Community, tourists from the UK, the USA, Denmark, China, Malaysia, and Thailand mostly visit Pokhara for bird watching. Annapurna Conservation Area is rich in bird life, with a record of 485 bird species. Update: This event has been rebranded to the Nepal Bird Fair, as mentioned above.
• Lumbini Sarus Crane Festival – A unique sarus crane festival was held in Lumbini, Nepal, to raise awareness of the endangered bird and was organised on the premises of World Peace Pagoda in Lumbini. It was the first festival of its kind dedicated to the species. The festival also organised a drawing and essay writing competition among the students of various secondary schools in the area on the theme of bird conservation. The Lumbini Crane Sanctuary is a protected land of 6 Square kilometres aimed to offer a natural home for rare Sarus Cranes in and around the area’s wetlands. To date, there has not been any additional information for the Lumbini Sarus Crane Festival.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Pakistan

• Rawalpindi Bird Festival – The third Rawalpindi Bird Festival was held in November 2021; the Poultry Science Club Faculty of Veterinary & Animal Sciences PMAS-AAUR organised this birding event. The event was also held at the Faculty of Vet & Animal Sciences PMAS Arid Agriculture University Pakistan. Our findings show that the Rawalpindi Bird Festival was more of an educational and conservation program aimed at the students and locals of Rawalpindi, which is known for its bird market and bird trade. There is no other information about this event.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Sri Lanka

• Kurulu Kiya Bird Fair – This birding event was conducted at Diyasaru Park at Thalawathugoda Wetlands in Sri Lanka in December 2017. This two-day bird fair, named the ‘Kurulu Kaiya’ (‘Kurulu’ means birds and ‘Kaiya’ means a gathering in Sinhala), was organised by the Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka (FOGSL) based at the University of Colombo and was held at the Diyasaru Park at Thalawathugoda Wetland. This was the only event held, and no other information is available.
• Colombo Bird Race – This awareness activity was organized by the Federation of Environmental Organizations (FEO), Sri Lanka, in collaboration with the Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka (FOGSL) and sponsored by “Go Outdoors”. The Colombo Bird Race was held twice in 2015 and 2016, to educate the public of Sri Lanka on the importance of urban wetlands and promote the practice of urban watching in and around Thalangama Lake. This Sri Lanka bird race event was held twice, with no follow-up.

Australia & New Zealand Region

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Australia

• Bruny Island Bird Festival – This bird festival takes place every two years in March at Bruny Island, Tasmania, Australia. It was first held in 2010 as a community celebration of the remarkable diversity of birdlife on the island. The three-day Bruny Island Bird Festival is jointly presented by the Bruny Island Environment Network, BirdLife Tasmania, and Inala Nature Tours, which will take place from 15-17 March 2024.
• Cooloola Festival of Birds – This interesting bird festival takes place in Brisbane; the Cooloola Festival of Birds is held on the Tin Can Bay foreshore and will hold workshops about the impact bird species have had on Australian culture and beliefs. Activities include art and photography workshops, dance presentations, music performances and field trips. This Brisbane birding event takes place in February.
• Kakadu Bird Week – All the way north of Australia in the Northern Territory is one of Australia’s birdwatching festivals that has been running since 2011. The birding event is held at the Kakadu National Park, home to over a third of Australia’s bird species. One of the birding highlights during the Kakadu Bird Week is the dedicated 2-hour birdwatching cruise to spot the unique birds of Northern Australia.
• Taronga Bird Festival – This is rather odd and unique as the Taronga Zoo organises a bird festival in Sydney. Held in late September or early October, several activities are available for everyone. But the focus would be mainly on families, children or anyone interested in learning more about birds. Talks, movies, and education are on top of the menu during the Taronga Bird Festival.
• O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat Bird Week – Known as Australia’s longest-running birding event, birders will have the opportunity to rub shoulders with some of Australia’s most well-known bird researchers, authors and photographers as they spot over 200 bird species at the World Heritage-listed Lamington National Park – which is home to Australia’s largest collection of sub-tropical birds. O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat Bird Week is a week-long event held at the border, south of Brisbane and NSW.
• Katherine Bird Festival – This four-day birding event takes place in the town of Katherine, about a 3.5-hour drive from Darwin. This part of Australia offers some of the best birding and one of the best places to see the multi-coloured Gouldian Finch. Around Kathering is also the Nitmiluk National Park, where boat birding is available. Overall, there are sunrise and sunset birding, bird spotting cruises, water hole bird viewing, bushwalk birding and many more activities at the Katherine Bird Festival in Darwin, Australia.
• Darwin-Garramilla Shorebird Festival – This part of Northern Australia offers several birding events due to its proximity to the tropics. The three-day Darwin-Garramilla Shorebird Festival also offers many activities revolving around arts, science, sensory and experiential activities to engage and ignite visitors and the Darwin-Garramilla community about shorebirds. The festival takes place in September.
• Bird Haven Festival – The last event for this was held in 2022, and there have not been any updates since then. There were, apparently, three birding events in one festival, including a bird conference at Shoalhaven Heads, south of Sydney. The Bird Haven Festival event was organised by BirdLife Shoalhaven and offered talks, guided bird walks, birds for beginners and other activities. In 2023, there was no event and no further news.
• Red Centre Bird Festival – Over in Alice Springs, the centre of Australia, you can find the Red Centre Bird Festival, which runs for four days in September and offers several activities, including morning and evening birding, photography skills workshops, guided bird tours to Alice Springs Sewage Ponds, Alice Springs Telegraph Station, Simpsons Gap and the Alice Springs Desert Park. The Red Centre Bird Festival was last held in 2021; no updates have been made.
• Adelaide Shorebirds Festival – This event was created to celebrate the arrival of thousands of migratory shorebirds to the Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary National Park, north of Fooks Terrace in St Kilda, Adelaide. It was renamed the Adelaide Shorebird and Dolphin Festival in 2018, and there were no updates after the 2019 event.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in New Zealand

• BirdsaPlenty Festival – This was one of the main birding events in New Zealand that offered tours and activities for bird-watching enthusiasts. The festival also features films, events, conservation information and displays in the community. The last BirdsAPlenty Festival was held back in September 2020, and since the pandemic, there has not been any news for upcoming bird festivals in New Zealand.
• New Zealand Bird Conference 2024 – This special birding event will be held from June 1-3, 2024, in Nelson, New Zealand. The New Zealand Bird Conference 2024 has little information for now, but there should be more on the website in the coming months.

Bird Fairs and Festivals on Christmas Island

• Bird ‘n’ Nature Week – This unique Christmas Island birding festival happens every September, and birders will make their way here for a full week of events that includes guided tours, field trips and expert talks. Bird ‘n’ Nature Week is surely one event not to miss if you love exploring this part of the world to see some of the beautiful sea and shorebirds from here.

Bird Fairs and Festivals on Cocos Keeling Islands

• No bird festivals or events at Cocos Keeling Islands – Well, you guessed as much as there are no birding events held at Cocos Keeling Islands, except for the Aussie Bird Count. If there are any, please let me know and thank you.

Pacific Region

I don’t think there are any proper birding festivals, fairs, or events in the islands of the Pacific, but just in case, I have listed these places down, as one never knows; there might be a birding event in the near future. I know several cultural festivals are related to birds, so I will list them down if they involve birding in some way or another. And, for general birding, you may also encounter similar species of birds on these islands.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in the Cook Islands

• No bird festivals or events in the Cook Islands – But the good news is that several rare birds are to be spotted here, including the Rimatara Lorikeet, Red-Tailed Tropicbird, Long-Tailed Cuckoo, Rarotonga Monarch Flycatcher and Atiu Swiftlet. This place is on my personal bucket list!

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Fiji Island

• No Bird Festival or Fair on Fiji Island – Unfortunately, no birding events take place on Fiji’s islands. If there are, they are very local and for their community. However, the Fiji Tourism Board seems to share birdwatching in Fiji. One day, I plan to do birding in Fiji to be shared here.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in French Polynesia

• No bird festivals or events in French Polynesia – Sadly, there aren’t any proper birding events here, but there is the unique Marquesas Islands Arts Festival, where the Marquesas Bird Dance emulates like birds flying. This is one of the biggest festivals in the French Polynesia islands.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Kiribati

• No bird festivals or events on Kiribati Island – There is no birding event on Kiribati. Still, birdwatching is promoted by the tourism board as some tour companies sell birdwatching on Kiritimati Island. This is where you get to see some of the Pacific seabirds.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in the Marshall Islands

• No bird festivals or events on Marshall Islands – No birding events are found on any of the islands here, but again, birdwatching at Marshall Islands is also not a big thing. However, birding around Kwajalein Atoll is recommended if anyone is visiting this part of the Pacific.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Micronesia

• No bird festivals or events on Micronesia – There are no birding events on Micronesia. But there are some amazing birds to spot when you are here, namely the indigenous bird species like the Nightingale Reed-warbler, Blue-faced Parrot Finch, Truk Monarch,  Kosrae Greater White-eye and the Pohnpei Lori.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Nauru

• No bird festivals or events on Nauru Island – There are absolutely no birding events or festivals on Nauru Island, and just so you know, the island is so small there is only one ring road around it. Reports state that there are only 34 bird species recorded here to date.  Out of that, there is only one endemic: the Nauru Reed Warbler. So, if you plan to go birdwatching in Nauru, you really need to have a backup plan for other islands in the Pacific. Apparently, for local pastime, they catch frigate birds and tame them before releasing them.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in New Caledonia

• No bird festivals or events in New Caledonia – Another Pacific island with no birding events but offers birding services. One company called Caledonia Birds offers birdwatching in New Caledonia, where birders want to see the unique New Caledonia Kagu, the star bird. Other birds include the Cloven feathered Dove, New Caledonian Imperial Pigeon, Horned Parakeet, New Caledonian Parakeet, New Caledonian Friarbird, New Caledonian Myzomela, New Caledonian Whistler, Yellow-bellied Flyrobin and New Caledonian Cuckooshrike, just to name a few.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Norfolk Island

• Norfolk Island Bird Week – To my surprise, a birdwatching event on Norfolk Island took place for one week in November 2023. This event was conducted by the local island bird experts who took birders on guided night tours and seabird colonies during the pelagic tour with a glass bottom boat. Now, I can’t wait for the next Norfolk Island Bird Week in 2024 as I wonder what is planned for this.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan, Tinian & Aguijan)

• No bird festivals or events on the Northern Mariana Islands – The logistics are probably the main concern for most of the Pacific islands, so there are no birding events here. However, I have been to Saipan and Guam in the early 90s but never did some birding there. Maybe it is time to start exploring birdwatching in this part of the world to see what kind of birds can be found on these beautiful islands. I would love to see the official bird of the Northern Mariana Islands, the endemic Mariana fruit dove.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Palau

• No bird festivals or events in Palau – There are no birding events or festivals here, but decent birdwatching can be done here. Palau boasts 46 native species with at least eight endemic species spread throughout Palau’s 300 thickly forested limestone islands. Native birds include the multicoloured fruit dove, the mound nesting Megapod, and the graceful white tern. The best place to see birds is Peleliu Island, which has the highest bird population in Palau. This is definitely on my list of places to visit for birding.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Papua New Guinea

• No bird festivals or events in Papua New Guinea – This place is the ultimate birding bucket list for any birdwatcher or photographer, as you can see several of the incredible Birds of Paradise here. But sadly, there is no birding festival or event held in Papua New Guinea to date. When you do a Google search, you will see countless articles on birdwatching in Papua New Guinea, that is all. I have visited West Papua for birding, but I am yet to explore birding in Papua New Guinea. That day ill come, hopefully soon.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in the Pitcairn Islands

• No bird festivals or events on Pitcairn Islands – This is probably one of the hardest islands to reach in the Pacific, as there is no airport on this island. The closest airport is on Gambier Island, and you must take a ferry or ship to Pitcairn Island. So, for anyone planning to visit Pitcairn Island for birdwatching, good luck, as the sea journey takes 32 hours! But the rewards are amazing as you can see seven rare Pacific birds: the Phoenix Petrel, Henderson Fruit Dove, Murphy’s Petrel, Henderson Petrel, Henderson Imperial Pigeon, Henderson Crake and Stephen’s Lorikeet.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Guam

• No Bird Festival or Fair in Guam – Guam has no birdwatching festivals or fairs but is also considered one of the islands to go birding at. Guam has about 146 bird species, with one rare endemic known as the Guam Rail or Ko’Ko’. Due to this, a small festival called the Guam Ko’Ko’ Race Weekend has taken place yearly since 2006 to raise awareness of the plight of Guam’s territorial birds.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Samoa

• No Bird Festival or Fair in Samoa – This island is home to several birds, but there are no birding events or festivals in Samoa. This island is also very close to Fiji, so if you plan to bird around this area, you might as well explore several islands. If you know of any birding events n Samoa, please let me know the details.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in the Solomon Islands

• No Bird Festival or Fair in the Solomon Islands – One of the Pacific’s beautiful islands with birdwatching as one of the activities, there are quite a number of birding locations at the Solomon Islands. But there is no bird fair or festival here. Birding at the Solomon Islands also requires you to be quite fit as there is much trekking and hiking to do.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Tonga

• No bird festivals or events in Tonga – The Kingdom of Tonga is just near Fiji and is a very small island; therefore, birdwatching is a go here, but no other birding events are found here. For birders, Tonga is home to the unique Tongan Megapod, Musk Parrot, Tongan Whistler, Polynesian Triller and Pacific Pigeon.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Tuvalu

• No bird festivals or events in Tuvalu – This is one of the isolated islands in the Pacific and also one of the smallest islands in the world, which is the least visited. And, of course, there are no bird festivals or events here. Tuvalu, home to about 12,000 people, was also once known as the Gilbert and Ellice Islands and now only has about 40 bird species here. If anyone visits this place for birding, please let me know.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Vanuatu

• No bird festivals or events in Tuvalu – There are about 189 bird species in Vanuatu, and no bird festival or fair is happening here. There are birdwatching activities, but they are very limited, and probably only one or two people conduct bird tours in Vanuatu. If anyone goes birding in Vanuatu, please do share your experience with me.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Wallis and Futuna

• No bird festivals or events in Wallis and Futuna – Another smaller island chain is known as the Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands, under France and in Western Polynesia. This island is close to Fiji, but only 62 bird species are found here; therefore, there is not much info about birdwatching in Wallis and Futuna. If anyone has more info, please do share it with me.

Middle East Region

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Afghanistan

• No bird festival or events in Afghanistan – Birds are the most popular animals kept as pets in Afghanistan; therefore, birding festivals don’t exist here.  Shockingly, there are bird markets in Kabul which deal in caged birds from around the world. But with 502 bird species, this landlocked place does offer some interesting birding, like looking for the Afgan Snowfinch. But one needs to plan carefully for any birdwatching in Afghanistan as it is not a simple country.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Bahrain

• No Bird Festival or Fair in Bahrain – Sadly, there is no bird festival or bird fair in Bahrain as they seem focused on bird trade shows over there. Surprisingly, Middle Eastern people prefer to focus on caged birds, as it has been practised for many years.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Israel

• Champions Of The Flyway – A birding festival in Eilat, Israel, has been around for many years and Champion of the Flyway 2024 is now open.
• Eilat Bird Festival – This birding event is hosted by Birdlife Israel, which brings together birders from all over the world for an unforgettable week of birds, migration, and nature during the peak of spring migration in southern Israel. Since its first festival in 2007, the Eilat Bird Festival has become a well-established event and is known in birders’ circles as the ultimate package for birding Southern Israel. The next Eilat Bird Festival is from March 24-31, 2024.
• Hula Valley Bird Festival – BirdLife Israel is the organiser of the Hula Bird Festival that was held in November 2023, offering an amazing program of tours and events in the famous Hula Valley along the Great Rift Valley, one of the world’s busiest bird migration flyways and brings together birders from the world over for an unforgettable week of birds and nature.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Iran

• World Migratory Bird Day – Not many Middle Eastern countries see birding as a business and conservation, but Iran does organise the World Migratory Bird Day. Not much information is available as well. Other than that, there are no known bird festivals in Iran.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Iraq

• No Bird Festival or Fair in Iraq– Unfortunately, no birding events occur in Iraq, and only bird trade fairs seem popular here. Maybe there is a low-profile birdwatching event that is only known to locals? Who knows.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Jordan

• No Bird Festival or Fair in Jordan – Jordan is rich in birds, but no official birdwatching events are held in Jordan. They have bird observatories and a good mix of shorebirds and desert birds, but perhaps I need to revisit again to do some birdwatching in Jordan, as my last birding trip here was back in 2014.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Kuwait

• No Bird Festival or Fair in Jordan – Kuwait, another rich Middle Eastern country with many bird trade shows but no bird fairs or festivals. When you search, you tend to come across many bird shows instead. Honestly, I would love to do some birdwatching in Kuwait one day.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Lebanon

• There is no official bird event or festival in Lebanon – I did a Google search only to find the Lebanon Bird Festival, but it was a caged bird show in Lebanon. How inappropriate it is for a name for the festival. But on the good side, I did manage to find out that there is an Ehden Raptor Count event in autumn. A few passionate birders also participated in the World Migratory Day in Lebanon, so there is hope here.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Oman

• There is no official bird event or festival in Lebanon – Again, for some reason, the Middle Eastern countries do not have any birdwatching events or festivals. But on the good side, companies are offering birding tours in Oman, which is also one of my birding bucket list places.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Palestine

• Annual Bird Migration Festival in Palestine – This is the only birding event in Palestine that takes place at the Jericho Botanic Gardens. Palestine is an important migratory route for birds. More than 500 million birds traverse Palestine from Africa to Asia or Europe each spring and then travel back again at the world’s second-most important flyway in the fall. There are at least 370 bird species to see in the West Bank, ranging from the eagle owl, among the largest owls in the world, to the Palestine sunbird, a nectar-eating songbird. The Annual Bird Migration Festival in Palestine also takes place in March.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Qatar

• There is no official bird event or festival in Lebanon – If you should know, Falconry and Hawks seem to be the trend in selected Gulf countries, and Qatar is one of them. Qatar has no official birdwatching festival, but the Hawk Festival in Doha is not a pure birding event as it focuses more on the sporting side.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Saudi Arabia

• Haradh International Bird Festival – This annual birding event is organised by the Saudi Wildlife Authority and takes place in Haradh in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia in February or March, the peak migration time. The Haradh International Bird Festival celebrates birds, their habitats, and conservation efforts to protect them. It is part of the country’s efforts to promote ecotourism and preserve its natural heritage. Currently, there is no information on this for 2023 and 2024.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Yemen

• No bird festivals or fairs in Yemen – There is no birding event in this country, but there are some really interesting South Arabian birds to spot here, including the Island of Socotra. There are apparently 19 endemics in total to see here, while Yemen has a total of 469 birds.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Turkiye or Turkey

• Flamingo Festival in İzmir – This event is in conjunction with the Turkey Bird Conference. Many events, games, and tours will take place during this festival. Some of the topics to be discussed at the conference are as follows: How to protect the flamingos in Tuz Lake, coexisting with birds in Alakır, the importance of records in birdwatching, and the literature on bird observation and research in the Ottoman Empire.
• Turkey Stork Festival – The last time this two-day birding festival, which took place in the Eskikaraağaç neighbourhood of the Karacabey district in the northwestern province of Bursa, featured a torchlight procession, bicycle and boat tours, magic shows, folk dances and live concerts, along with stork viewing. This was in 2017, and there has not been any follow-up.

Europe Region

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Albania

• No bird festival in Albania – There was once the Festival of Birds in Tirana, which I thought was a legit birding event, but it turned out to be a caged bird show, using the title. This seems to pop up all over when you search for a bird festival or fair in Albania. The good news is that a bird tour company called Birding Albania takes birders on trips.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Andorra

• No bird festival or events in Andorra – This is probably one of the smallest countries landlocked between Spain and France, with an area of 468 square kilometres and a population of around 80,000. But here is a fun fact – The whole country has been recognised as a single Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because it is important for forest and mountain birds and supports populations of red-billed choughs, citril finches and rock buntings. Andorra is one of my birding bucket list destinations.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Austria

• Pannonian Bird Experience – Since 2010, Austria’s birdiest Nationalpark Neusiedler See – Seewinkel, has hosted the Pannonian Bird Experience annually in April with lectures, workshops, field trips, and evening talks. The Pannonian Bird Experience is a three-day Exhibitor’s Fair (trade show) that is held in the National Park in Illmitz with birdwatching optics and cameras, including accessories, functional clothing, nature tours, books, Nature Reserves, and National Parks, as well as bird- and nature-conservation organizations.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Belarus

• Bird Festival in Pripyatsky National Park – In Belarus, one birding event occurs at the Pripyatsky National Park. The last event was held on 1 May 2023, which included an excursion to the bird ringing station, a bird quest, interesting lectures, birdwatching with a spyglass, and master classes on making birdhouses and felting birds from wool. Known locally as ‘the lungs of Europe’, the park is a birdwatchers’ paradise with more than 250 avian species, mostly wetland varieties. It is perfect for the Pripyatsky National Park Bird Festival in Belarus.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Belgium

• No Bird Festival or Fair in Belgium – Unfortunately, there are no birding events in Belgium. If you know of any, please let me know .

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Bosnia and Herzegovina

• Ornito Festival Sarajevo – This event is probably the only Bosnia and Herzegovina bird festival that has made a name since 2012. Known as the Ornito Festival Sarajevo, the event is organized by Ornitološko društvo NAŠE Ptice in cooperation with Info Bosnia and Dream World Travel. It offers activities, including presentations related to birdwatching, bird habitats and new breeding places in Bosnia and Herzegovina. At the moment, only the Facebook page has information.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Bulgaria

• Eastern Bird Fair – This new bird fair is based in Durankulak in Bulgaria on the border with Romania, the most southern European Union country. This event showcases the incredible bird life of Eastern Europe, including the Balkans and North to Belarus but also the eastern coastal zone of the Black and Caspian Sea states, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia and Central Asia, including Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. The next Eastern Bird Fair will be from 7-9 September 2024 in Durankulak, Bulgaria.
• Dalmatian Pelicans Festival – This is one of the unique birding festivals in Bulgaria, which took place in Persina Nature Park, Bulgaria. The Festival of the Dalmatian Pelican was organized as an informational and educational event with ecological themes. The event aimed to increase public attention to the need to protect the Dalmatian pelican and promote pelicans’ return as nesting species in Persina Nature Park. The Dalmatian Pelicans Festival is also organized by the Persina Nature Park Directorate.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Chechia (Czech Republic)

• Autumn Bird Festival – This birding festival in Czech highlights one of the biggest migratory bird stopover sites in East Bohemia. During the Czech bird festival in October, bird trapping and ringing will take place during the walk, which is open to everyone, including families and kids. The Autumn Bird Festival in Czechia is the only birding event we know of.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Croatia

• Croatia Birdwatching Festival – The first birding event in Croatia was launched at the Neretva Valley from May 5-7, 2023. The event, organized by the Opuzen Tourist Board, along with the Žabac Tourist Agency and the Gregula Association for Bird Protection, was a resounding success. The Croatia Birdwatching Festival saw 36 registered participants, educators, and bird and nature enthusiasts from various European countries. Talks were also conducted focusing on birdwatching tourism in this part of Europe. The 2nd Croatia Birdwatching Festival will occur from 10-13 May in Neretva Valley.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Cyprus

• Akrotiri Spring Festival – This bird festival in Cyprus takes place in May, where people of all ages can participate in unique activities, such as bird ringing demonstrations, birdwatching, and many other activities held at various locations in the Akrotiri Peninsula. The Akrotiri Spring Festival is managed by BirdLife Cyprus, Terra Cypria, the Environment Department of the British Bases, the Akrotiri community and the Akrotiri Environmental Education Center.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Denmark

• Skagen Bird Festival – Also known as the Skaw Bird Festival, this annual event for birders takes place at the northernmost point of Denmark. The Skaw – or in Danish, Skagen – is one of the most important European migration spots, where migrating birds from the African continent and southern Europa pass on their way to the breeding areas in northern Scandinavia and Murmansk. It is on the route of more than 350 species of birds yearly, many of which are birds of prey. The Festival highlights the migration with guided tours, bird watching, art exhibitions and even a bird race. The next Skagen Bird Festival 2024 will take place in May.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Estonia

• Estonian Bird Fair – in 2019, the second Estonian Bird Fair was held in Tuulingu at the Haeska Observation Tower on the northern shore of Matsalu Bay in the Matsalu National Park. During this bird festival in Estonia, brands like Nikon and Euronics exhibited their top-notch photographic equipment and optics. Activities include bird identification, ringing, and bird photography workshops and familiarization with radio transmitter monitoring results of Black-tailed Godwit in Estonia. The Estonian Bird Fair was last held in May 2022.
• Big Bird Night – There is one birding event that takes place in Tallinn, which is called Big Bird Night, which is, I think, to celebrate the end of the auli year and the beginning of the new year and introduce 2024, the bird of the year. I could be wrong, but there is not much information on this. If anyone knows more, please do share it with me.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Finland

• Liminka Bay Bird Photography Festival – The traditional and well-known Liminka Bird Photography Festival starts the spring season in April. The festival brings birdwatching hobbyists and professionals from near and far together at Liminka Bay in Finland. The Liminka Bay Visitor Centre serves visitors right next to the best birdwatching spots. In addition to the interesting exhibition, it offers guide and restaurant services, a souvenir shop, a small nature hotel, an auditorium for 80 people and other meeting facilities. The Visitor Centre also loans out binoculars to visitors, free of charge, so they can enjoy spotting about 200 different bird species visiting the area. The next Liminka Bay Bird Photography Festival 2024 is in April.
• Pihabongaus Bird Event– BirdLife’s Pihabongaus is Finland’s largest bird event, which is like Big Day, where everyone counts birds on the weekend. This Finland birdwatching event takes place every year on the last weekend of January, and the next Pihabongaus Bird Event will be from 27-28 January 2024. This Finnish bird event has been organized since 2006, and in 2022, more than 25,000 people participated in the event in approximately 17,500 locations around the country.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in France

• Abbeville Bird And Nature Festival – Known as the Festival De L’Oiseau Et De La Nature, the bird festival was created in 1991 to promote the diversity of birds in the Somme Bay or Baie de Somme (now ranked among the most beautiful bays in the world, 10th “Grand site de France” and “Regional natural park”) and the area’s environmental richness. Birds are the theme for the photo contest, and films focus on birds, wildlife, and the environment worldwide. The best works are shortlisted for outdoor and indoor exhibitions and public screenings during the April festival in several Bay of Somme area towns.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Georgia

• Batumi Birding Festival – This Georgia bird festival occurs during the peak migration of Steppe Buzzards (over 100,000 on some days) and Eagles (flocks of 100+, including many Lesser Spotted eagles). Among the other activities are visits to other birding hotspots in the region or one of the region’s national parks, trapping demonstrations or a cultural visit to the region. The Batumi Migration Corridor is one of the largest, ranking 3rd globally. The festival has been celebrated regularly since 2012, and the Tourism Product Development Agency of the Department of Tourism and Resorts of Adjara organizes it. The Batumi Birding Festival takes place in early September.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Germany

• Helgoland Bird Days Festival (Helgoländer Vogeltage) – Helgoland is the place in Germany with the most recorded bird species: 430 species recorded. Among them are the Big Five species of sea birds that can be spotted here: Northern Gannet, Common Guillemot, Razorbill, Kittiwake and Northern Fulmar. The Helgoland Bird Days Festival takes place for 3 days in October.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Greece

• No actual Bird Festival or Fair in Greece – There are no actual birding events in Greece except for one local community event below.
• Stork Festival – In Greece, the village of Poros holds its annual Stork Festival, which is dedicated to the storks’ return yearly and is addressed to students and citizens, helping them understand storks, their role in nature’s cycle and the threats they face. It is housed at the Poros grade school and includes storytelling, educational games and crafts, ring-fitting of young birds, a chess tournament and a bicycle race. This is more of a local community birding festival in Greece.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Hungary

• Tata Wild Goose Festival – This birding festival has been around for many years in Hungary, and this birding event focuses on the geese that arrive from far away in the northern tundra. The Tata Wild Goose Festival is a weekend treat for all nature lovers, with thousands of wild geese taking centre stage in a spectacle of sights and sounds.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Iceland

• Iceland Gullfest Birding Festival – The Arctic birding festival Gullfest was done in northeast Iceland. There were art workshops, field excursions, attempted Gull ringing and talks in the evening. This artic birding festival was supported by the Northeast Iceland Birding Trail, Visit North Iceland, Húsavík Cape Hotel, Sel-Hótel Mývatn, the Husavik Community,  Náttúrustofa Norðausturlands / North East Iceland Nature Research Centre & Birding Iceland, the Hvalbakur Restaurant and the Husavik school. The first-ever Iceland Gullfest was held in March of 2017, and there has been no further news on this.
• Puffin Festival Iceland – This is not a birding event but a celebration of the excessive puffins all over Iceland. Therefore, it is more like a carnival and festival.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Ireland

• Corncrake Festival – This birding event in Ireland aims to allow birders and visitors to hear and see this iconic bird while raising awareness of the plight of this endangered species. Known as the Inishbofin Corncrake Festival, it happens for four days at the end of May at the Dolphin Hotel. Birders spend weekends at the Dolphin Hotel, including early morning and afternoon walks to corncrake habitats. There will be after-dinner talks and midnight walks to hear the nostalgic crex-crex call. As well as corncrakes, the beautiful island of Inishbofin attracts breeding birds such as wheatear, skylark, chough, lapwing and ringed plover. More on the Corncrake Festival in Ireland.
• Cliffs of Moher Seabird Festival – In the month of May, over 60,000 seabirds can be seen at the Cliffs of Moher during the breeding season, including Puffins, Guillemots, Razorbills, Kittiwakes and Fulmars nesting at different levels of the cliffs. The last known festival was held before the Covid-19 pandemic, and there has not been any further news about any other Cliffs of Moher Seabird Festival since then. If anyone knows anything, please let me know, and I will update this list.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Italy

• Comacchio International Birdwatching and Nature Tourism Fair – Also called Fiera del Birdwatching, this is the only specific and professional event held in Italy dedicated to birdwatching, wildlife photography and environmental tourism and is held in Comacchio, Po Delta Park in the Province of Ferrara. It seems like the last Comacchio International Birdwatching and Nature Tourism Fair was held in 2020. There has not been any news since then, but the International Birdwatching and Nature Tourism Fair could come back in 2024. Please get in touch with the organisers for more info.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Kosovo

• There are no known bird festivals or events in Kosovo – Back in 2010, the World Bird Migratory Day event was held in Prizred, Kosovo, from 8-9 May. Activities included birdwatching sessions at the river of Drini, talks and children’s programs. No other news is available, plus no other birding events in Kosovo.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Latvia

• Latvia International Birdwatching Race – A 14-hour long bird race which was last organised in 2018 saw five teams from Latvia and Lithuania participate. This was also the 7th time that Latvia’s State Forests Bird Rally has been held here in Latvia, making it the only birdwatching event in Latvia. The last Latvia International Birdwatching Race also took place in the western part of Vidzeme.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Lithuania

• Festival of the Stork – This is more of a cultural celebration event because the white stork (gandras) is the national bird of Lithuania; therefore, Lithuanians have a special day to honour it, the 25th of March every year. The small-scale celebration is called the Festival of the Stork, as thousands of storks return home from the south around this day. Again, this birding event in Lithuania is more of a cultural celebration and is called Stork Day.
• Returning Birds Festival – In March of 2013, a special birding festival in Lithuania called Returning Birds Festival took place in Dzūkija National Park and Čepkeliai State Nature Reserve, which was close to the Belarus border. There is no other information on this; it seems like it was never carried on.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Luxembourg

• There are no bird events or festivals in Luxembourg – Except for EuroBirdwatch, which is considered to be one of the biggest birding events. The last event saw more than 15 thousand people attend the EuroBirdwatch 2023, the biggest European birdwatching event, held all over Europe and Luxembourg. The next EuroBirdwatch 2024 takes place from 5-6 October.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Macedonia

• International Vulture Awareness Day – This is one of the birdwatching events in Macedonia that is promoted for conservation and awareness among the people of this country. There are quite a number of other conservation and awareness events related to birds in Macedonia, such as World Migratory Bird Day and Stork Day. This landlocked country sits north of Greece and has not been fully explored regarding birding. However, several companies offer birdwatching tours in Macedonia for anyone interested.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Moldova

• International Bird Day – This event has been celebrated in Moldova for over a hundred years since 1906 the International Convention on Birds Protection was signed. It was one of the first international ecological documents. Since then, April 1 has been celebrated as International Bird Day in Macedonia. One of the main objectives of the “International Day of Birds” is to draw attention to the dangers threatening birds worldwide to help protect them and their habitat.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Monaco

• Monaco has no bird events or festivals – I don’t expect a bird fair or event here, but if you know of any, please share the information with me.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Montenegro

• There are no bird events or festivals in Montenegro – On the positive side, there are 352 bird species in Montenegro, and several companies offer birdwatching as part of the tour activities. There’s camping and glamping with birdwatching, while the official Montenegro tourism website promotes birdwatching around this beautiful country.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in the Netherlands

• Wadden Bird Festival – This Dutch bird festival is held at Texel, which has 380 different species of birds, so it has more birds than anywhere else in the Netherlands. Texal offers nutrient-rich mudflats that are great stopovers for migrating birds. This Netherland bird event offers visitors lots to do, including bird walks, birding markers, equipment, lectures, talks and more. The Wadden Bird Festival also takes place in early May.
• Dutch Birding Bird Day – This bird fair and event occurs in Leiden, Netherlands. On this first floor (foyer) and on the second floor from the hall (the balcony), you will find a birdwatchers’ fair, complete with books, optical equipment, fellow bird organizations, and bird tours. There will also be many lectures and talks going on around the Butch Birding Bird Fair Festival.
• Dutch Birding Bird Weekend – This birding event in the Netherlands provides educational lectures on bird identification and bird watching to anyone who attends. The Dutch Birding Bird Weekend will also be held in the autumn month of October in Eierlandsche Huis and the Bird Information Center in De Cocksdorp Texel.
• Dutch Bird Fair – This birding fair was held only once in Holland in 2014. Since then, there has not been another Dutch Bird Fair (http://www.dutchbirdfair.nl/)

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Norway

• Gullfest Artic Bird Festival – This unique birding festival in Norway is held in the Varanger Peninsula of Arctic Norway. The birding event here is organised by Biotope. It also offers a blend of international bird experts meeting local people during three to five days of talks, exhibitions, trips, bird ringing, and much more. However, the last known Gullfest Bird Festival was held in 2019, before the pandemic, and there is no known information to date.
• Lista Bird Festival – This birding festival takes place in the south of Norway; the last event was held in September 2023. This full-scale birding event also hosts the Lista Bird Race, among many other activities like bird talks, kids events, a birding equipment market, and even an outdoor barbecue. This two-day Lista Bird Festival is the most popular birding event in Norway.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Poland

• Spring Wildlife Festival Poland – One bird event qualifies for a Poland birding festival in the east of Poland bordering Belarus. The Spring Wildlife Festival in Poland takes place in mid-May for nine days as spring breaks around the Białowieża Primeval Forest. There is a fee to join this festival, and many activities are being offered. Based on the previous Poland bird festival, over 150 bird species were seen here in just 9 days, making this one of the best places for birdwatching. There are self-guided walks, bird trips, UNESCO site visits and many other nature-related activities. The Spring Wildlife Festival in Poland is also great for the all-around nature lover.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Portugal

• Sagres Birdwatching Festival – Known also as a nature festival, this is the biggest nature event in Portugal that takes place for three days in October. This Portugal Bird Festival has field trips, boat tours, workshops, talks, environmental education activities, bird ringing sessions, and much more. There are also hikes, photography courses, history-themed guided tours, and dolphin watching, all happening during the Sagres Birdwatching Festival in Portugal.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Romania

• National Bird Day – There is no actual birdwatching festival in Romania, but there is the National Bird Day celebrated in Romania on 1 April every year. This is also due to an old tradition, and the organisers decided to include this National Bird Day event in the World Migratory Bird Day celebration. The Romanian birding event offers several activities meant to attract people’s attention to birds and the need to protect them.
• Făgăraș Fest – This is more of a nature festival that takes place in the Avrig Valley of Romania. While it’s an overall mixed event, it celebrates nature with mountain hikes, guided animal tours, botanical tours, bird-watching sessions, trips to the local museum, and picnics with unusual stories. The three-day Făgăraș Fest takes place in July and attracts a lot of locals. There is not much information available about the birdwatching tours at this event.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in San Marino

• No birding events or festivals in San Marino – Even with 130 bird species in San Marino, there are no birding festivals or events here. Maybe there is, but in their own language, so if anyone knows of any San Marino birdwatching events, please let me know.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Scotland

• Scotland’s Big Nature Festival – This is or was a two-day event run by the RSPB Scotland, which includes the Scottish Birdfair (first held back in 2012) and was held at the beautiful Musselburgh Lagoons by the Firth of Forth and famous Musselburgh as one of the venues. The last known event was back in 2016, and no news after that.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Serbia

• Slano Kopovo Crane Festival – This unique birding festival takes place yearly in November at Special Nature Reserve Slano Kopovo in Serbia. At the end of autumn, thousands of cranes flock together and spend a few months migrating from northern Europe to Africa in the Slano Kopovo special reserve in Novi Bečej, Serbia. This sparked the Slano Kopovo Crane Festival as up to 14,000 common cranes were spotted during one season, and you can also find ducks, geese and other shorebirds. There is very little information about the Slano Kopovo Crane Festival in Serbia.
• Days of the Taraška Rode Event – Taraš was declared the European stork village in 2015 because the largest number of nesting pairs of white storks in Europe was recorded in this village. This event is also organized by the Taraš Local Community and the “Taraška Rode” Citizens’ Association. The settlement of Taraš was also declared one of the 15 European stork villages and is one of the leaders in terms of the number of storks in this region. Not much information is available, but the Days of the Taraška Rode Event (Dani taraških roda) is a multi-style event with several other activities happening in June.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Slovenia

• International Wild Flower Festival in Bohinj – For some strange reason, this is the only birdwatching festival in Slovenia that I found after doing much research. It is focused on the flowers, but there seem to be birdwatching excursions in the itinerary as birds and flowers do go along. Best to check with the organisers of the Wildflower Festival in Bohinj if you plan to experience birding in Slovenia via this festival.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Slovakia

• No bird festivals or events in Slovakia – Unfortunately, there are no birding events in Slovakia unless there are, and I totally missed it. I did a check and did not find anything in English. Maybe there is or was; if anyone knows, please share the information with me.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Spain

• Extremadura Birdwatching Fair – The International Ornithological Tourism Fair (FIO), known as the Extremadura Birdwatching Fair, is a great meeting point in Spain for tourism related to nature and birdwatching, an activity in which Extremadura is a leader because of its natural resources and specialized tourism. Activities include participation from national and international tourist destinations, specialized companies, manufacturers and distributors of photographic equipment and other optics, conservation associations, and nature artists. For three days, there are conferences and colloquia on nature, tourism, art, cinema and photography, guided tours and birding viewpoints in different parts of the National Park, workshops for adults and children, entertainment shows, exhibitions, book presentations and a workshop for national and international companies specialized in nature tourism to meet local businesses. The next Extremadura Birdwatching Fair will be in February 2024.
• Caceres Bird Festival –  The monumental city of Cáceres was declared a Special Bird Protection Area for its Lesser Kestrel colonies, and this is the venue for the Careces Bird Festival or Festival de las Aves de Cáceres, held in the western part of Spain. This Spanish bird festival includes various programs open to all audiences, including technical conferences, exhibitions, a photographic marathon, children’s workshops, birdwatching activities, and ornithological routes.
• Delta Birding Festival – This Spanish birding event is held in September each year at Delta de l’Ebre in Catalonia, Spain. The Delta Birding Festival attracts bird watchers and photographers from around the world. During the Delta Birding Festival, there are conferences, talks and courses available for visitors to attend. The proceeds from ticket sales go back into local birds and wildlife conservation. The Delta is well known as a key Mediterranean bird-watching site, home to flamingos and ibis, and a breeding ground for the largest colony of Audouin’s gull in the world.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Sweden

• Falsterbo Bird Show – This bird festival in Sweden is also a Nature and Environmental fair that takes place for three days in September every year. The bird show event is supported by Vellinge Kommun, the Swedish Ornithological Society – Birdlife Sweden – and the Scanian Ornithological Society, which includes Falsterbo Bird Observatory. This bird show features over 40 exhibitors and vendors located in the parking area next to Falsterbo Camping Resort. The next Falsterbo Bird Show 2024 is in early September.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Switzerland

• Festival der Natur Switzerland – This nature festival in Switzerland has a theme for 2024: Birds of the Rottensan, Southwest of the country. The bird festival in May is in cooperation with the Valais branch of the Swiss Ornithological Institute and takes place as part of the “Fête de la Nature or Festival der Natur“. Birders will experience a birdwatching tour through the Rottensand and along the wild Rhone to spot birds such as the common sandpiper, the Eurasian plover, the hoopoe, the wryneck, the woodlark, the red-backed shrike and the bunting.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Ukraine

• No Bird Festival or Fair in Ukraine – Thanks to what’s been going on since 2023, there are no birding events in Ukraine, and there have not been any in the past either. However, there are some interesting birding sites found here.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Vatican City

• No Bird Festival or Fair in the Vatican City – You guessed as much: there is no actual birding event in the Vatican City. However, the good news is that there are 103 bird species in Vatican City for anyone planning to do some birding here. For sure, you will encounter a lot of peace doves here and other birds which are usually visitors.

Eastern Europe Region

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Armenia – There are no known birdwatching festivals, events or fairs in Armenia when writing this list.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Azerbaijan – There are no known birdwatching festivals, events or fairs in Azerbaijan when writing this list.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Kazakhstan

• Wings of Alakol Festival – This is possibly the only birdwatching festival and event in Kazakhstan that is held in early May during the Spring migration season at the Alakol Lake shoreline. But for 2024, it will be held in June, and there is no date set by the organisers as of writing this in February 2024. During this festival in the Almaty region, there are bird trip excursions, talks and lectures.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Kyrgyzstan

• Festival of Migratory Birds Kyrgyzstan – This is also the only birdwatching event that occurs in May, but while writing this in February 2024, there is no official date announced yet. The location of the Festival of Migratory Birds in Kyrgyzstan is at Kara-Talaa, Ton district in the Issyk-Kul region. For more info, please contact Bakyt Choytonbaev Tel: +996 700 267795, +996 778 267795.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Russia

I am quite sure there are many birdwatching events in Russia, but because of the language, it is hard to identify and locate them. Perhaps if someone from Russia who finds this article can let me know what are the main birdwatching events in Russia, that would be really helpful.

• International Birds Day in Russia – April 1 was chosen as International Birds Day as the night frosts are still strong, and the forest is filled with unbridled fun. In April, blackbirds, robins, greenfinches, and buntings fly around. The Smolensk Poozerie National Park, close to the border of Belarus, is the main venue for International Bird Day.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Tajikistan – There are no known birdwatching festivals, events or fairs in Tajikistan when writing this list.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Turkmenistan – There are no known birdwatching festivals, events or fairs in Turkmenistan when writing this list.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Uzbekistan – There are no known birdwatching festivals, events or fairs in Uzbekistan when writing this list.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in the United Kingdom

• Global Birdfair – The biggest bird fair in the world and was previously called the British Bird Fair. This is a must-visit for bird industries, tour companies, optics, equipment, etc and attracts thousands of visitors to Rutland in the UK. It is also a wish list or ‘Lifer’ for many birders to attend this auspicious birding event. The Global Birdfair is one event that event Birdwatching Asia would love to attend.
• Leeds Birdfair – After a 4-year gap, the Leeds Birdfair is back and teaming up with the wonderful Rodley Nature Reserve, a private Trust run entirely by hard-working volunteers. The Leeds Birdfair aims to celebrate the wildlife and green spaces of Leeds, and we’ve been able to do this successfully from 2016 to 2019 and then again in 2023 after the Covid-19 pandemic. Many exhibitors and activities are offered, including free guided birdsong walks around the one-day event.
• Spurn Migration Festival (MIGFEST) – Bird migration is one of the great wonders of the natural world, and the Spurn Peninsula on Yorkshire’s East Coast is arguably the best place in Britain to witness this spectacle. This fantastic festival has something for everyone – walks, talks, stalls, food from the amazing Spurn Ladies and hopefully lots of birds for you to see. The next Spurn Migration Festival takes place from 6-8 September 2024.
• North West Bird Watching Festival – Birders come here to watch the spectacle of thousands of geese leaving the roost before heading for breakfast in Mere Side Café at Swan Lake. Attendees have much to do here as there are guest speakers, exhibitors, photography workshops and guided reserve walks during this bird festival in Lancashire. The North West Bird Watching Festival also takes place in October.
• Martin Mere North West Bird Watching Festival – Also known simply as the North West Bird Watching Festival, which takes place over a weekend in October at WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre in Lancashire, UK. Activities include guest speakers and exhibitors, photography workshops, and guided reserve walks; there’s a whole range of activities for everyone.
• Bath Bird Fair – This birding event in Bath was done north of the Bath Racecourse back in 2010, and it never continued. Therefore, there is no information, but at least you know there was once a bird fair in Bath, UK.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Wales

• No bird fairs or festivals in Wales – Unfortunately, there are no birding events in Wales. Maybe there were, or there are smaller events, and if you know of any, please let me know.

Africa Region

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Egypt

• Port Said International Bird Watching and Photography Festival – This birding event in Egypt is set to return for its second edition in February 2024, coinciding with the arrival of migratory birds seeking refuge during the winter season. The Port Said International Bird Watching & Photography Festival is a collaboration between the Port Said Governorate, the Egyptian General Authority for Tourism Activation, Ashtum Al Gamil Natural Reserve, and two NGOs, Nature Conservation Egypt (NCE) and the Wildlife Photography in Egypt Association.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Gambia

• Gambia International Bird Festival – This African bird festival happened on October 21-26, 2016, at Tendaba Camp, located in the Lower River Region of the Gambia. This birding event offered birdwatchers the rare opportunity of seeing over 540 species of birds in relatively close proximity, including sacred ibis, African finfoot, white-backed night heron, shining blue kingfisher, Goliath heron, and Pel’s fishing owl, among others. The Gambia International Bird Festival ran twice from 2016 to 2017 and was organised by the Gambia Tourism Board. There were no further events after that.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Nigeria

• Nigerian Bird Festival 2023 – In November of 2023, a bird festival was held at the IITA Forest in Nigeria, which is an internationally acclaimed Key Biodiversity and Important Bird Area. The two-day Nigerian Bird Festival succeeded as it aimed to create awareness and galvanize communal support for conserving birds and their natural habitats. This birding event saw more educational awareness among students as there were talks on conservation and birds, bird walks and many other activities.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Uganda

• African Birding Expo – The 4th edition of the African Birding Expo will be held in Uganda. This expo has become a meeting point for a spectrum of the birdwatching community within and outside Africa. Activities include a massive exhibition, FAM trips, bird clinics, nature photography clinics, birding competitions, an African birding business forum, a birding business dinner, birding & conservation awards, and bird walks. The African Birding Expo will occur in Uganda from 11-14 December 2024.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in South Africa

• African Bird Fair – In 2023, the bird fair was made into a hybrid event with exciting speakers, exhibitors, and even some educational workshops on birding identification. The event is brought to you by BirdLife South Africa in partnership with MSC Cruises, featuring both a virtual platform and an in-person event at the Country Club Johannesburg – Woodmead. The in-person event included guided bird walks, optic sponsor areas, mini-exhibitions, book signings, quizzes, and workshops. The next African Bird Fair will occur in July and possibly in Johannesburg again. If we are not mistaken, this was once called the Sasol Bird Fair.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Zambia

• Southern Zambia Birding Festival – In 2023, the third event was successfully run along with the Livingstone Museum’s biennial waterbird count – which has been running for nearly thirty years. This last Zambia bird festival was held in late November or early December. At the Southern Zambia Birding Festival, activities include exhibitions, talks, field workshops and demonstrations, birding lectures, bird tour operators and more.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Zimbabwe

• No bird festivals or fairs in Zimbabwe – But there are several birding locations around Zimbabwe that are quite good, as the African country is home to 708 species of birds. Birdwatchers and photographers can find several national parks and bird reserves here, including birding at Harare and Victoria Falls.

North America Region

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Canada

• Birds on the Niagara Festival –  This is North America’s only international birding festival that actually brings together participants from the US and Canada. The recent Birds on the Niagara Festival 2023 was held from February 17-20.
• Greater Vancouver Bird Celebration – This is a two-week series of events to celebrate Greater Vancouver’s birds with workshops, walks, talks, exhibitions, and lectures across the Lower Mainland. The Vancouver Bird Celebration is organized by the Vancouver Bird Advisory Committee, in partnership with the City of Vancouver and the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation and held on the second week of May.
• Creston Valley Bird Fest – The Creston Valley is a vital birdwatching site, important bird area, and staging area for migratory birds with over three hundred species recorded. The Creston Valley Bird Fest celebrates this incredible diversity in an environmentally sensitive manner, inviting residents and visitors to expand their interest in the world of birds during the second week of May in BC, Canada.
• Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory Spring Birding Festival – The annual Spring Birding Festival is a fun and educational event, open to novice and experienced birders alike and indulges in guided bird walks (including accessible ones), bird-banding demonstrations, activities for kids, food, and bird-related merchandise. The Spring Birding  Festival is held in the second week of May at the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory in Ontario, Canada.
• Victoria Bird Week – This annual birding event is dedicated to celebrating and learning about birds and bird conservation on southern Vancouver Island. Activities include banding demos, birds of prey from the Pacific Northwest Raptors, guided birding walks with experienced locals, online presentations on topics like Bird Parenting and Migratory Bird Sanctuaries, and a keynote presentation at the University of Victoria. This is a one-day Victoria Bird Week event that will be held in BC, Canada.
• Huron Fringe Birding Festival – This special two, four-day weekend birding event is to celebrate spring in Ontario, Canada. The Huron Fringe Birding Festival offers an incredible 90+ events over two 4-day weekends in late May and early June. A banquet with a keynote speaker and a silent auction are held on the opening Saturday of the festival, which takes place at the MacGregor Point Provincial Park in Port Elgin, Ontario, Canada.
• Colonel Samuel Smith Bird Festival – This Canadian bird festival celebrates the return of avian residences with guided bird walks, live birds, reptiles and amphibians, backyard habitat building, art workshops, children’s activities, and educational displays. This festival is part of the annual Toronto Bird Celebration, with activities running throughout May. The one-day Colonel Samuel Smith Bird Festival occurs at Colonel Samuel Smith Park in Etobicoke, Toronto, Ontario.
• Spring Bird Festival – This bird festival is a free public event held at Tommy Thompson Park (TTP) to raise awareness of and celebrate the phenomenon of spring bird migration. Activities include guided bird walks, live birds, reptiles and amphibians, backyard habitat building, art workshops, children’s activities, and educational displays. The next Spring Bird Festival is on 25 May 2024 in Toronto, Canada. https://trca.ca/spring-bird-festival/
• Festival of Birds Point Pelee Nationa Park – Many do not know that Point Pelee is a renowned birding destination and is considered one of the best places in North America to see migratory birds because of its position sticking out into Lake Erie It is the first point of landfall for birds migrating across the lake. The next Point Pelee Festival of Birds will be held in early May.
• Vancouver International Bird Festival – This takes place at the Grouse Mountain Refuge for Endangered Wildlife and will be showcasing a variety of bird-focused demonstrations and activities. I am unsure if this event is ongoing or if they have changed it to the Van Bird Fest. Please let me know if someone knows so I can update this.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Hawaii

• Hawaii Island Festival Of Birds – This unique birding festival in Hawaii started in 2016 to showcase Hawai‘i’s bird species, encourage nature and environmental awareness and promote the Hawaii Island Coast to Coast Birding Trail. The event incorporates additional cultural elements, celebrating the deep connections of native birds to the islands’ history and people. The one-day Hawaii Island Festival of Birds is held at the Grand Naniloa Hotel Hilo in Hawaii, USA.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in the United States

• Detroit Lakes Festival of Birds – The 2023 birding event here was the 26th year it has been taking place here in Detriot, USA. The lakes are also nestled in the heart of a transition zone between tallgrass prairie, northern hardwood and conifer forest ecosystems, meaning many kinds of birds exist. The next Detroit Festival of Birds takes place in May 2024.
• Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival – This birding festival has been around for over 25 years, offering multiple experiences for birders and birdwatchers. There are fantastic professional guides, reunion-like socials, keynotes, workshops, a huge trade show, and lots of goodies in the silent auction held at the Harlingen Convention Center in Harlingen, Texas, during November. The Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival is not to be missed if you truly enjoy birding because it offers more than 100 field trips.
• California Swan Festival – This three-day birding festival is a must-see for bird and animal lovers alike. The California Swan Festival timing and location were thoughtfully set to create the best opportunity to see the most swans anywhere in California. The festival will have a variety of tours and activities for all interest levels and ages. Families with children can enjoy free hands-on learning experiences and crafts that will inspire the budding birdwatcher.
• North Shore Birding Festival – This Florida birding festival highlights the St. Johns River Water Management District’s 20,000-acre Lake Apopka North Shore, an Important Bird Area and the top eBird hotspot in Florida. All levels of birders, nature photographers and other outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy the field trips, which include a Sunday afternoon Beginning Birding trip at Wekiwa Springs State Park. The North Shore Birding Festival is held at Mount Dora in Florida.
• San Quintin Bay Bird Festival – San Quintin Bay is located 4 hours from San Diego, California. Between October and December, the bay provides an amazing backdrop for the Bird Festival 2023, which falls on 1 December, with the opportunity to witness the fall migration. More than 35,000 migratory shorebirds rest and feed in this natural and beautiful sanctuary in Baja California. The San Quintin Bay Bird Festival is an opportunity for participants to enjoy activities focused on birds and nature, such as hiking, guided bird walks, boat tours, and photography.
• Morro Bay Bird Festival – Located on the Pacific Flyway, Morro Bay is a Globally Important Bird Area and a designated State and National Estuary. Morro Coast Audubon Society ranks in the top five for the yearly Audubon Christmas Bird Count. In most years, over 200 different bird species are spotted during the festival. The next Morro Bay Bird Festival 2024 is from 11-15 January.
• Wings Over Willcox Birding & Nature Festival – This bird festival was established in 1993 and is one of the oldest festivals in Arizona. This winter celebration of birds and nature brings together people from around the state, country, and world to share in the experience. Thousands of Sandhill Cranes, dozens of raptors on treetops and power poles, and numerous skulking sparrows are highlights of the Wings Over Willcox Festival 2024, held from 11-14 January.
• Everglades Birding Festival – South Florida is one of the top 10 birding destinations in the U.S., where you can see unusual birds and the unique Everglades. The Everglades Birding Festival 2024 target species include Limpkin, Short-tailed Hawk, Red-whiskered Bulbul, Mitred Parakeet, Grey-headed Swamphen, Burrowing Owl, Painted Bunting, Wood Stork, Roseate Spoonbill, and an average of 140 birds over the 5 days from 11-15 January 2024.
• Salton Sea Bird Festival – This venue is home to over 400 species of birds; the Salton Sea is one of the perfect spots for bird-watching enthusiasts worldwide. The Salton Sea Bird Festival is hosted by the Salton Sea State Recreation Area and the Sea and Desert Interpretive Association. This non-profit group promotes education and outreach about the Salton Sea.
• Space Coast Birding And Wildlife Festival – For decades, the Space Coast has been pairing the curious amateur with the top expert birders in the country for five days of fun and camaraderie. Festival activities include fabulous birding field trips and speaker presentations, connections with Central Florida wildlife, workshops, photography, and unique birding-by-boat trips. This year, the 25th Space Coast and Birding Wildlife Festival will be held at the Sandhill Crane.
• Galt Winter Bird Festival – The Annual Galt Winter Bird Festival advances public awareness of conserving the region’s wildlife. This area is a critical stop for many important species of birds commuting on a diverse chain of habitats called the Pacific Flyway. The Galt Winter Bird Festival brings tours, vendors, programs, and presentations for guests to enjoy. Wildlife entertainment will be art, food, and more for all ages.
• Laredo Birding Festival – Laredo is home to hundreds of local and migratory bird species and is considered part of North America’s “birdiest” corridor. The prized birds include the Morelet’s Seedeater, Scaled Quail, Gray Hawk, Audubon’s and Altamira Orioles, Green Parakeets, Muscovy Duck, Red-billed Pigeon, and Clay-colored Thrush, among many others. Laredo is also the only place in the U.S. to have boasted four species of kingfisher: the Ringed, Belted, Green and Amazon. The 4-day Laredo Birding Festival is truly one of the events not to miss.
• San Francisco Bay Flyway Festival – Mare Island in Vallejo, California, is where the San Francisco Bay Flyway Festival will be held. The three-day event celebrates the return of over one million shorebirds and hundreds of thousands of ducks, geese, hawks, and songbirds that migrate through winter in the San Francisco Bay Area.
• Hammock Coast Birding Festival – South Carolina’s Hammock Coast is known as an important area that’s home to more than 300 species of birds throughout the year. This is also one of the locations where the increasingly rare Red-cockaded Woodpecker can be found, as well as other birds, such as the Swallow-tailed Kite and Roseate Spoonbill. The Hammock Coast Birding Festival offers tours and access to Brookgreen Gardens, Hobcaw Barony, Huntington Beach State Park, and the Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center. The event is held in early February.
• Birds On The Niagara International Bird Festival – The Birds on the Niagara Festival celebrates winter birding with both indoor and outdoor programming on both sides of the border. The focus is on birds and the conservation needs and progress in the International Niagara River Corridor. The Birds on the Niagara International Bird Festival also promotes social inclusion programming, including events for people of all ages, with the LGBQT+ community, indigenous peoples programs, and with people of colour.
• California Botanic Garden Family Bird Fest – One of the beginner events to enjoy a day outdoors with hands-on experiences, activities, and educational opportunities for young beginners and bird enthusiasts is the California Botanic Garden Family Bird Festival. This is a one-day event in February.
• San Diego Bird Festival – Known as one of the very active birding events in the USA, with field trips to every corner of the county, lectures, skill-enhancing workshops, and social events. The San Diego Bird Festival is a celebration of the wild birds and habitats of San Diego County and is held at the Marina Village Conference Center in San Diego.
• Wings Over Water Northwest Birding Festival – Participants and visitors can experience a birding adventure along the coastal areas of Blaine, Birch Bay, and Semiahmoo in the northwest corner of Washington State. This premier birding area is the anchor to the North Cascade Loop of the Great Washington Birding Trail and offers the opportunity to intimately view an abundance of bird species. The Wings Over Water Northwest Birding Festival is a three-day event in March.
• Harney County Migratory Bird Festival – The festival was first held in 1981 ​to celebrate the large annual migration of birds passing through Harney Basin on the Pacific Flyway. Harney Basin is one of the three most important areas left in the western United States for spring migratory birds stopping on their way north. Over 300 species of birds use the refuge each year, making Harney Basin a birdwatcher’s paradise. The Harney County Migratory Bird Festival takes place for three days in April.
• Matagorda Bay Birdfest – The Matagorda County CBC has been #1 in the bird species count for the Audubon Christmas bird count in 26 of the last 30 years. The festival will offer expert-guided tours by boat, kayak, and land, including tours to Powderhorn Ranch and to the Nature Conservancy’s Mad Island Marsh. The Matagorda Bay Birdfest will be held for three days in April.
• Great Texas Birding Classic – This birding event is known to be the biggest, longest, and wildest birdwatching tournament between April 15 and May 15 during peak spring migration. There’s a tournament category for everyone from beginning birders to competitive aces. Registration fees raise money for Texas bird and birding conservation project grants. Visit the Great Texas Birding Classic website for more information.
• Grand Isle Migratory Bird Festival – The best spring migration birding across the southeastern United States, the Grand Isle Migratory Bird Festival offers guided birding tours from Elmer’s Island, the Nature Conservancy’s Maritime Forest and Birding Trail to the Grand Isle State Park. Bird species in abundance: warblers, vireos, woodpeckers, Painted Buntings, wading birds, gulls, and raptors. Over 100 species are seen in a day. In past years, 168 bird species were identified during Louisiana’s Grand Isle Migratory Bird Festival.
• Birdiest Festival In America – Experience amazing spring migration along the Texas Gulf Coast in the busiest of U.S. flyways, with four-day pre- and post-trips; field trips to famous South Texas ranch and coastal hot spots; presentations and workshops; bird walks; and Jonathan Wood Raptor Project shows. The Birdiest Festival In America takes place for five days in April.
• Florida Birding & Photo Fest – There will be more than 110 exciting photography and birding events, including field workshops, classroom sessions, and night and action photography. The Florida Birding & Photo Fest takes place for five days at the end of April. Classroom sessions include Photoshop & Lightroom, composition, processing, printing, composition, and flash techniques for beginning to advanced photographers.
• Florida Birding and Nature Festival – Taking place in West Central Florida, this four-day festival offers field, canoe, and boat trips, presentations, a special one-day turtle symposium, and a nature expo of vendors and exhibits. The Florida Birding and Nature Festival happens in the Tampa Bay Area in October.
• Red Cliffs Bird Fest – The Red Cliffs Bird Fest at Greater Zion will showcase the birding habitat of Greater Zion during spring migration, where the beauty of the birds is truly matched by the beauty of the scenery. Field trips will offer access to all these ranges, including guided trips in Zion National Park and the famous Lytle Ranch Preserve, along with Peregrine Fund biologist-guided tours of the condors of the Vermilion Cliffs. The Red Cliffs Bird Fest lasts three days at the end of April in Utah.
• Verde Valley Birding And Nature Festival – The Verde Valley Birding & Nature Festival is presented each April by Friends of the Verde River, a nonprofit working to preserve one of the last perennial flowing rivers in the American Southwest. This beloved celebration of birding and nature during peak migration in the Verde Valley began as a celebration of birding at Dead Horse Ranch State Park in 2001. The Verde Valley Birding And Nature Festival is organized by Friends of the Verde River with a planning committee made up of community volunteers.
• Hatchie BirdFest – This is a unique outdoor adventure, and over 200 species of birds await you at the Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge. Events will include speakers and demonstrations, hikes, canoeing, and exhibitors. Bird watching and nature walks are geared for both beginners and experts. Excursions originate at the West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center and visit the Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge and other natural sites in the area. The Hatchie BirdFest is a three-day event at the end of April.
• Stikine River Birding Festival – Stikine River Delta has the largest springtime concentration in North America, with thousands of bald eagles, followed by sandhill cranes, snow geese, and shorebirds. The festival celebrates spring in southeast Alaska and is the perfect opportunity for adventurous birdwatchers to observe millions of shorebirds, which migrate to the delta each spring. The Stikine River Birding Festival is a four-day festival in Alaska at the end of April.
• Ohio Valley Birding Festival – The Ohio Valley Birding Festival is a two-day event at the end of April focusing on birdwatching and hiking. In cooperation with Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve and John James Audubon State Park in Henderson, Kentucky, the Evansville Audubon Society is sponsoring this birding event in Ohio.
• Great Dismal Swamp Birding Festival – This fun birding event in Virginia focuses on bird walks, family activities, exhibitors, and a self-guided nature walk around the Pines Trail. There will also be guest speakers from the Virginia Native Plant Society and the VA Department of Wildlife Resources. There is also a Wildlife Drive Bus Tour of Lake Drummond Wildlife Drive to learn about the area’s unique cultural, historical, and natural history during the Great Dismal Swamp Birding Festival.
• New River Birding & Nature Festival – The Annual New River Birding & Nature Festival takes place in and around the New River Gorge National River in the heart of the upland; hardwood forests are identified as crucial stopover habitat for the continued survival of species, such as Golden-winged, Blue-winged, and Swainson’s Warblers, as well as the Scarlet Tanager here in West Virginia.
• Copper River Delta Shorebird Festival – About 5 million shorebirds will journey tremendously from points as far as South America and Mexico to this stopover site of hemispheric importance on the Copper River Delta, the largest undisturbed wetland in North America. Workshops and community events are offered throughout the Copper River Delta Shorebird Festival here in Cordova, Alaska.
• Birding The Border – This birding event takes place each spring in Val Verde and Kinney counties, which is in the middle of the Central Flyway and at the intersection of 3 different eco-regions, providing our participants with the opportunity to see a wide variety of birds in the borderlands of southwest Texas. Birding the Border begins in early May at the Del Rio Civic Centre in Texas.
• Grays Harbor Shorebird Festival – Every spring, hundreds of thousands of shorebirds stop to rest and feed along the Washington Coast and in the Grays Harbor estuary during their migration northward. Coming from as far south as Argentina, these Arctic-bound shorebirds are among the world’s greatest migrants. Grays Harbor Shorebird and Nature Festival takes place over three days in early May in Washington, USA.
• The Biggest Week In American Birding – This is a 10-day birding festival in northwest Ohio dubbed “The Warbler Capital of the World!” The event offers some of the best birding North America has to offer, with bird identification workshops, guided birding trips, birding by canoe, daily walks at the world-famous Magee Marsh, American Woodcock field trips, keynote presentations, a Birder’s Marketplace, Optics Alley, Bird Tattoo Contest, Birder Prom, Bird Trivia Night, evening socials with free food and music. Held in the first week of May, The Biggest Week In American Birding event takes place at the Maumee Bay Lodge and Conference Center in Ohio, USA.
• Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival – This is Alaska’s largest bird festival. It is held at Kachemak Bay (near Homer, Alaska) and provides miles of shoreline and intertidal habitat for migrating birds. Kachemak Bay’s unique ecology, easy accessibility to beaches, and the scenic landscapes of Homer make it a prime location to experience this annual migration. The Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival is held on the second week of May at the Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges in Homer, Alaska.
• Horicon Marsh Bird Festival – This weekend-long birding event provides family-friendly activities and educational experiences designed to showcase Horicon Marsh’s role as an important habitat for birds and wildlife. The festival includes birding, paddling, Live birds of prey, and smaller, intimate guided tours. The Horicon Marsh vast wetland is both a State Wildlife Area and a National Wildlife Refuge. Originally established as a habitat for migrating and nesting ducks, it has since become a stopover for Canada Geese. The Horicon Marsh Bird Festival is held on the second week of May at Horicon, Wisconsin, USA.
• Yakima River Canyon Bird Fest – The Yakima River Canyon is an Audubon Important Bird Area (IBA) with some of the state’s highest densities of passerines and birds of prey. Birds include White-throated Swift, Cliff Swallow, Rock Wren, Canyon Wren, and 21 species of raptors. Ten of these raptor species breed in and around the canyon, including two pairs of Golden Eagles and five pairs of Prairie Falcons. The cliffs and shrub-steppe habitat also support dense Red-tailed Hawks, American Kestrels, and Great Horned Owls populations. The Yakima River Canyon Bird Fest is held on the second week of May at Helen McCabe Park in Ellensburg, Washington, USA.
• Northwoods Birding Festival – This birding event includes sunrise warbler walks, field trips to local birding hotspots, youth and family activities, workshops by local experts, and keynote speakers. The Northwoods Birding Festival takes place during the second weekend of May at the North Lakeland Discovery Center in Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin.
• World Series Of Birding – This event began four decades ago to raise awareness of the importance of protecting birds in a fun, competitive venue. It is now an annual 24-hour competition where upwards of 100 teams compete to count as many bird species as possible while raising awareness and funds to help protect birds. Held on the second week of May, the World Series of Birding is a one-day event held in Cape May, New Jersey.
• Derby Hill Bird Festival – This birding event in New York celebrates the spring migration at one of the Northeast’s best birding locations. Visitors can explore the trails and habitats of this premier birding location with experienced leaders. The Derby Hill Bird Festival event is located at the southeastern corner of Lake Ontario; Derby Hill is one of the premier hawk watch sites in the northeastern United States.
• Leavenworth Spring BirdFest – This birding event sees the vast array of returning migratory birds in the midst of the peak wildflower season in the incomparable natural beauty of North Central Washington’s Wenatchee Valley. Activities include field trips led by area birding and wildlife experts, wildflower walks, art events, and family activities to ensure fun and learning for birders and outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels. The Leavenworth Spring BirdFest five-day event takes place at the Wenatchee River Institute in Leavenworth, Washington.
• Ute Mountain Mesa Verde Birding Festival – This event is hosted by the Cortez Cultural Center, the festival. It includes day and overnight birding tours to various birding hotspots to fit various abilities, ages, and interests. Some tours combine birding with regional archaeology, ecology, and history. Early evening lectures, a keynote speaker, social hours, a bird-themed art show, and a banquet are the other activities during the five-day Ute Mountain Mesa Verde Birding Festival in Cortez, Colorado.
• Detroit Lakes Festival Of Birds – This birding festival in Minnesota offers birding, presentations, morning field trips, and Friday and Saturday night keynote addresses. Birds include Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Rough-legged Hawk, LeConte’s and Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrows, Golden-winged and Northern Parula Warblers, Alder Flycatcher, Greater Prairie Chicken, and Black-backed Woodpecker. The three-day Detroit Lakes Festival Of Birds is held in Minnesota.
• Pikes Peak Birding And Nature Festival – A birding festival that offers a diversity of bird species found in short-grass prairie, forested foothills, deep canyons, and riparian forests of Colorado. Field trips include the 440-acre Kane Ranch Open Space, the rarely-accessible Jimmy Camp Creek Open Space, Corral Bluffs Open Space, and the Paint Mines Interpretive Park restricted-access portion. The four-day Pikes Peak Birding And Nature Festival is in mid-May at Fountain Creek Nature Center, Colorado.
• Indiana Dunes Birding Festival – This birding festival occurs along the shores of Lake Michigan to celebrate the area’s rich biodiversity and bird-watching opportunities within the Indiana Dunes National Park. Among the activities are a keynote presentation, more than 150 guided tours to view migrating birds, workshops, live birds of prey, a vendor marketplace, evening excursions, social events, and an art exhibition. The four-day Indiana Dunes Birding Festival takes place in Porter, Indiana.
• Great Salt Lake Bird Festival – This birding event offers field trips to some of the best birding areas in northern Utah, 2 days of workshops, vendors, keynote speakers, and youth activities. Field trips include “Behind-the-Gates” trips to areas not normally open to the general public. The four-day Great Salt Lake Birding Festival takes place at the Eccles Education Center – Utah Division of Wildlife in Farmington, Utah.
• Festival Of The Birds At Presque Isle – This event sees the songbird migration and opportunities to see waders, raptors, waterbirds, and shorebirds at Presque Isle State Park, a Lake Erie hotspot in northwestern Pennsylvania. The Festival Of The Birds At Presque Isle is a three-day event at the Presque Isle State Park in Lake Erie, Pennsylvania.
• Ladd Marsh Bird Festival – This bird event is held at the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area, located about 7 miles south of La Grande, Oregon and provides opportunities to see an abundance of ducks, geese, raptors, passerines, and shorebirds. During past festivals, upwards of 150 species of birds have been seen over the weekend. The Ladd Marsh Bird Festival occurs over three days at the Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area in La Grande, Oregon.
• Urban Birding Festival Of The Twin Cities – This community birding event offers a weekend full of fun and educational activities celebrating the birds living in Saint Paul and Minneapolis. This event is an opportunity to meet neighbours, connect with nature, and increase our understanding of how our lives intersect with the lives of birds. The two-day Urban Birding Festival Of The Twin Cities takes place at dozens of sites throughout the Twin Cities, including the Minnesota Valley Refuge Education and Visitor Center in Bloomington.
• Down East Spring Birding Festival – This birding festival provides a unique birding experience during spring migration and the breeding season with four days of guided hikes, boat tours, and presentations, all led by local guides with local knowledge. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife has named the Down East Spring Birding Festival one of the best in the country. The four-day Down East Spring Birding Festival occurs at Cobscook Community Learning Center in Trescott, Maine.
• Dean Hale Woodpecker Festival – This unique birding event offers a variety of tours over four days to see as many as 11 different species of woodpeckers as well as 200 other bird species who make their homes in the spectacular forests, burn areas and diverse habitats in the Sisters and Central Oregon’s Cascade Mountains and high desert region. Common woodpeckers include Hairy and Downy, but also much rarer species like White-headed, American Three-toed, and Black-backed Woodpeckers can be seen. The three-day Dean Hale Woodpecker Festival is held at Creekside Park in Sisters, Oregon.
• Acadia Birding Festival – The Acadia National Park offers some of the best birding wonders of Maine, from boreal to ocean warblers, puffins and more. There are field trips, pelagic trips, paddling trips, talks, social events, and evening presentations by keynote speakers during this event. The three-day Acadia Birding Festival takes place at Southwest Harbor, Maine.
• Pennsylvania Society For Ornithology’s Birding Festival – This event attracts birders from all over Pennsylvania, and field trips are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday morning in Washington County. Apart from keynote speakers, there will also be photography sessions and a drawing session on weekend mornings. The two-day Pennsylvania Society For Ornithology’s Birding Festival takes place end of May at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Pittsburgh-Meadow Lands, Washington, Pennsylvania.
• Adirondack Boreal Birding Festival – This New York birding event occurs at the Adirondack State Park, Hamilton County, the third largest yet least populated county in New York State. The event features birding hikes, walks, safaris, outings, field trips and seminars throughout the county. The four-day Adirondack Boreal Birding Festival occurs in Hamilton County, Lake Pleasant, New York.
• Rangeley Birding Festival – The Rangeley Lakes region is the premier birding destination for rare and sought-after species in New England that include northern specialities like Black-backed Woodpecker, Bicknell’s Thrush, Spruce Grouse, and Boreal Chickadee, as well as breeding warblers including Cape May, Bay-breasted, and Mourning. Activities include top-notch guides, birdwatching on trails and the Kennebago River by canoe or kayak, and an eBird presentation. In June, this three-day Rangeley Birding Festival occurs at the Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust in Rangeley, Maine.
• Snake River Raptor Fest – This birding event is an amazing, family-friendly event filled with live birds, live music, local food and drink, kids’ activities, nonprofit partners, and local arts and crafts. There are presentations from friends and partners, including Boise State University, Intermountain Bird Observatory, the Peregrine Fund, and the Idaho Army National Guard’s Environmental Management Office. The one-day Snake River Raptor Fest occurs at Indian Creek Winery, Kuna, Idaho.
• Mono Basin Bird Chautauqua – This birding event brings birders together to enhance appreciation and understanding of the Mono Basin’s diverse and abundant bird life and to educate the public about this area’s value to birds and people. Mono Basin Bird Chautauqua offers over 90 field trips, workshops, and presentations with renowned bird guides, naturalists, and artists. The four-day Mono Basin Bird Chautauqua takes place at Lee Vining, California.
• Land Between The Lakes Hummingbird Festival – The event celebrates the great hummingbird migration through Land Between the Lakes. August brings hundreds and hundreds of hummingbirds as they migrate south to Central America. Visitors can see as many as 200 of them in a single day at the Nature Station here. The two-day Hummingbird Festival occurs at Woodlands Nature Station, Cadiz, Kentucky.
• Southeast Arizona Birding Festival – This birding event highlights Southeast Arizona’s Sonoran Desert monsoon specialities, which include Elegant Trogons, Five-striped Sparrows, and Red-faced Warblers. Activities include professionally led field trips, programs, keynote speakers, photography workshops, and an extensive Nature Expo. This five-day Southeast Arizona Birding Festival occurs at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Tucson – Reid Park in Tucson, Arizona.
• Point Reyes Birding & Nature Festival – This annual fundraising event celebrates spring bird and wildlife migrations along the Pacific Flyway in Marin and Sonoma counties. It benefits our nonprofit mission to protect and sustain the unique lands, waters, and biodiversity of West Marin. Point Reyes and the surrounding area have been named the National Audubon Society’s #1 birding hotspot for multiple years, where 54% (490 of 900 species) of all North American bird species have been seen and recorded. The three-day Point Reyes Birding & Nature Festival occurs at Point Reyes Station, California.

• Alabama Coastal BirdFest – Birders and nature lovers from across the United States and Canada flock to south Alabama every year to experience one of the prime birdwatching opportunities on the Gulf Coast during fall migration. More than 370 bird species have been spotted at various locations along the Alabama coast. BirdFest guides expertly lead attendees on boat and walking trips to some of the best birding spots in the area, including locations along the Alabama Coastal Birding Trail.  The Alabama Coastal BirdFest takes place in October.

• Zugunruhefest Birding Festival – As part of the Atlantic Flyway, the Lowcountry serves as a predictable thoroughfare for migrating raptors and shore birds during fall migration passage. The South Carolina Bird Festival has onsite vendors with adult and children’s activities. The Zugunruhefest Bird Festival will include three days filled with naturalists, ornithologists, bird walks, flight demonstrations, informative lectures and programs, and more. The festival also hosted a panel of avian experts in a round-table discussion and reception. This bird festival was held in 2016 and 2017, with no further news.

• Leelanau Peninsula Birdfest – This birdfest has a mission to save birds. All activities occur at the Saving Birds Thru Habitat Discovery Center in Omena, Michigan during the event. The event has guided field trips, talks, trivia, and dinners. The three-day Leelanau Peninsula Birdfest takes place in May.

• Tawas Point Birding Festival – The Michigan Audubon and one of its chapters, AuSable Valley Audubon (then called Iosco Audubon), decided to collaborate in creating an event for birders to help put Tawas and Iosco County on the map for birding, particularly during spring migration in Michigan. Tawas Point is well known for high concentrations of migrating warblers during the month of May. Species highlights have included Kirtland’s Warbler, Cape May Warbler, Golden-winged Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, White-crowned Sparrow, numerous raptors, shorebirds, and more. Many of these species were repeatedly seen at the Tawas Point State Park. The Tawas Point Birding Festival takes place in May.

• Tualatin River Bird Festival – Located near Portland, Oregon, Tualatin River NWR is one of only a few urban national wildlife refuges in the U.S. Situated within the floodplain of the Tualatin River, the refuge supports some of the most abundant and varied wildlife in the watershed. Activities include guided bird walks, conservation exhibits, crafts, demonstrations and food vendors. The one-day Tualatin River Bird Festival is in May at the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge in Sherwood, Oregon.

• Olympic BirdFest – The North Olympic Peninsula, a strip of prairie and forest between the million-acre Olympic National Park and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, is widely known as a great place for bird watching. The April date of Olympic BirdFest is timed to overlap wintering birds such as Harlequin and Long-tailed ducks, songbirds, and seabirds with spring migration. Rufous hummingbirds arrive in this area from South America with the blooming of wild red-flowering currants in early April. Activities include guided bird walks, presentations, workshops, a banquet with a speaker, and a raffle. The Olympic Peninsula BirdFest also takes place during the second week of April.
• Puget Sound Bird Fest – This bird fest is quite interesting. It offers presentations from local authors, artists, scientists and naturalists. There are also educational exhibits, optics, and bird-themed art for sale, kids’ activities that include crafts, games and hands-on exploration, guided walks, viewing stations, boat cruises and even a native plant sale. The two-day Puget Sound Bird Fest takes place in June at Edmonds, Washington, USA.
• City Nature Festival – This nature and birding will offer presentations by educators from Utah’s Hogle Zoo and the Natural History Museum of Utah. Join experienced educators from Tracy Aviary on a bird walking tour along the Jordan River. The City Nature Festival takes place in Utah in April.
• Oshkosh Bird Fest – This half-day bird event takes place in May by the Fox River in the city of Wisconsin. At the previous event, there were sessions for bird spotting, a bird walk, bird banding demonstrations, student art exhibition, kids activities and a live birds of prey session. The Oshkosh Bird Fest is one of the small-scale family birding events great for kids and adults.
• Berkeley Bird Festival – This is a free public birding event in Berkely, California, to honour and celebrate our local birdlife through bird-themed activities, including birding field trips, family-friendly art and craft activities like building your own birdhouse, chalk art, and many other activities. For more, please visit the Berkeley Bird Festival website.
• Owens Lake Bird Festival – Held at Owens Lake near Los Angeles, this birding event celebrates the thousands of migratory birds travelling through the Owens Valley and the rich and precious natural environment of the Eastern Sierra. The Owens Lake Bird Festival covers topics including birding, botany, photography, geology, local history, and more. Over three days, over 150 participants will explore the unique natural landscape surrounding the Lone Pine area.
• Whiting Forest of Dow Gardens Birding Festival – At this birding event, distinguished conservationists, naturalists, researchers, photographers, and environmental educators are invited to share their expertise. Trips include sailing, birding by kayak, and golf cart tours for mobility-limited participants. The Whiting Forest of Dow Gardens Birding Festival is held in Midland, Michigan.
• Monterey Bay Birding Festival – A simple birding event in Watsonville, California, that offers field trips, workshops and other activities. It was mentioned that the 2024 Monterey Bay Birding Festival was cancelled with no other information.
• Cape May Fall Festival – Cape May is one of the great bird migration spots, so New Jersey Audubon’s Fall Festival is the longest-running birding festival in the US. Cape May is a bird funnel for migrating songbirds. The Cape May Fall Festival takes place for 4 days in October.
• Smith Point Hawk Watch Celebration – 2023 marked the 27th year that this bird festival has been running. The hawk watch, located in Candy Abshier Wildlife Management Area, is situated on a natural concentration point for southwardly moving raptors in fall migration. The Smith Point Hawk Watch Celebration takes place in early October.
• Houston Bird Week – This amazing birding event celebrates the important role Houston plays in the journey of billions of migratory birds and the everyday lives of resident birds. In addition to Houston’s vital location along the Gulf of Mexico, the growing popularity of planting native plants, restoring prairies, bird-friendly education programs, and Houston’s Lights Out for Birds program were among the many efforts and programs that gained Houston the Bird City designation in 2020. Houston Bird Week also takes place in the last week of September.
• Migratory Bird Fest – This birding event in Mitchell Lake, Texas, kicks off the spring migration with a free community festival filled with live birds and animals, games, crafts, 20+ vendors, native plant sale, nature book sale, food trucks, nature walks and golf cart tours of the wetlands. The one-day Migratory Bird Fest happens in March from 9 am to 1 pm.
• Balcones Songbird Festival – The Texas Hill Country is a rest stop for migrating birds, and the 4,000-acre Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge provides critical habitat for two endangered songbird migrants—the Black-capped Vireo and the Golden-cheeked Warbler. The 3-day Balcones Songbird Festival takes place in April.
• Galveston FeatherFest Birding & Nature Photography Festival – Galveston is one of the top locations in the country for birding because it hosts a diverse variety of habitats in a small geographical area where some 300 species make their permanent or temporary home throughout the year. The Galveston FeatherFest Birding & Nature Photography Festival has also been running for 21 years; the next one is in April. It also offers 100+ expert-led birding and nature photography activities on beaches, bays, Bolivar Flats, High Island, and more.
• Spring Chirp – Weslaco in the Rio Grande Valley is an ecological crossroad where subtropical, Gulf Coast, Great Plains, and Chihuahuan desert climates come together. Birds from the Central and Mississippi flyways go right through the area on their way to and from Mexico, Central and South America. The Spring Chirp birding event offers field trips and educational activities for both beginners and experts and is held for four days in April.
• Wings Over Surfside – Held at Surfside Beach in the Brazoria County of Texas, this birding event offers speakers, crafts, wine tasting, various vendors, games, giveaways and other fun activities. The Wings Over Surfside event will be held at the Surfside Bird and Butterfly Trail at Surfside Beach.
• Hastings Earth Day Bird Festival – This one-day event requires a ticket entry. $5 for normal entry and $15 for lunch box entry. There will be keynote speakers, bird banding demonstrations, guided birding field trips and a live raptor presentation. There are also several competitions at the Hastings Earth Day Bird Festival that take place in April.
• Great Adirondack Birding Celebration – This birding event in New York is designed to introduce birders of all ages and skill levels to the unique boreal bird species and habitats in the Adirondack Park. The celebration features eight different birding field trips to local Important Bird Areas (IBAs), with full (Friday) and half-day trips (Saturday and Sunday) and presentations by accomplished ornithologists. The Great Adirondack Birding Celebration occurs in June at Paul Smith’s College VIC.
• Festival of Birds at Rookery Bay – 2024 marks the 20th year of this bird festival in Florida, and it comes packed with bird-themed activities and workshops all month long. There will be a watercolour painting class, guided field trips to wildlife hotspots around Southwest Florida, and a nature film series coordinated by the Wildlife Conservation Film Festival with a keynote address by actress and conservationist Holly Marie Combs. The Festival of Birds at Rookery Bay takes place in mid-January.
• Jamaica Bay Shorebird Festival – Not in Jamaica but in New York at a place called Jamaica Bay. This shorebird festival takes place in August, which is also the perfect time to explore the diversity of New York City’s shorebirds! The Shorebird Festival at Jamaica Bay is a partnership among NYC Audubon, American Littoral Society, Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy, and Gateway National Recreation Area. The Jamaica Shorebird Festival is kid-friendly and can be enjoyed by the whole family.
• Washington Island Birding Festival – In Wisconsin, a birding festival takes place at the Art and Nature Centre on the island during May, at the same time as the World Migratory Bird Day. This local bird festival in Washington has been going on for several years with a lot of activity. The Washington Island Birding Festival is fully sponsored by the Art & Nature Centre here.
• Wings Over Whidbey Festival – This birding festival in Washington is a newcomer in the birding scene. This is a two-and-a-half-day community birding event with educational and informational presentations, guided birding tours, and a bird photo contest for children and youth.  The Wings Over Whidbey Festival also occurred from 18-20 May 2023.
• Finger Lakes Birding Festival – Onondaga Lake is an Audubon Important Bird Area that provides habitat for up to 100 Bald Eagles and thousands of waterfowl during the winter and early spring seasons. During the past decade, 90 acres of wetlands and shoreline have been restored, and several miles of trails traverse the lake, which provide a great opportunity to experience bird migration. Sadly, due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, this event stopped and never continued. No updated information is available on the Finger Lakes Birding Festival in New York.

Caribbean Islands

• Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival – This birdwatching event in the Caribbean is organised by BirdsCaribbean with the objective of increasing awareness and appreciation of the region’s unique bird life through an annual Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF). The theme for this year’s festival was “Water: Sustaining Birdlife”, as the organisers want to highlight the importance of water conservation to both humans and birds. BirdsCaribbean has hosted this festival for more than 20 years, and the month-long celebration starts on April 22 and ends on May 22 in more than twenty countries. The event celebrates the 176 bird species that are found only in the Caribbean, known as endemics.

Central America Region

Bird Fairs and Festivals in the Bahamas

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Belize

• Belize Birding Festival 2023 – The third Belize Birding Festival eagerly returned on October 7th, 2023. Far more than a mere date on the calendar, this birding event in Belize is an exuberant celebration that draws birding enthusiasts worldwide, offering a rich array of engaging activities suitable for all ages. The Belize Birdwatching Festival hosted guest speakers, hands-on workshops, diverse vendors, art exhibitions, and expertly guided tours at Old Belize, Mile 5 on the George Price Highway. The Urban Birdwatch 2023 in Belize City is organised by the Belize Audubon Society.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Bermuda – There is no information about any birdwatching fair, festival or event in Bermuda as of writing this article. Please let me know if someone is reading this and knows of any.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in the Cayman Islands – I believe the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival represents most of the island around here.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Costa Rica – As Costa Rica is one of the birding hot spots in the world, several bird festivals and events have taken place here over the years. But recently, I have been unable to find any birdwatching fairs or events in Costa Rica.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Cuba

Bird Fairs and Festivals in the Dominican Republic

Bird Fairs and Festivals in El Salvador

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Guatemala

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Haiti

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Honduras

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Jamaica

• Endemic Bird Festival at Salt River, Jamaica – There was once a bird festival in Jamaica to showcase the region’s endemic birds. The event involved a number of activities, including talks about the birds and visiting Bird Hides. This program was under the Jamaica National Commission for UNESCO, which was held in May 2022. The Endemic Bird Festival at Salt River seems like a one-time event, as no further news is available.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Mexico

• Chiapas Birding & Photo Festival – Chiapas’ territory has 70% of all the bird species recorded in Mexico, and it is a region known for its stunning natural landscapes and rich biodiversity, with seven of the twelve ecosystems that characterize the country. The Chiapas Birding & Photo Festival aims to promote sustainable tourism in Chiapas, the care and conservation of birds and their ecosystems, support local communities, and encourage the local society’s love for birds.
• Oaxaca Birding Festival – This annual birding event, which celebrates the region’s rich birdlife, is held in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico. The festival usually takes place in mid-January and is organized by the Oaxaca Birding Club in collaboration with local authorities, conservation groups, and other stakeholders. There is no official website for the Oaxaca Birding Festival.
• Vallarta Bird Festival – This birding event is a registered, non-profit, public-benefit Mexican Corporation that a volunteer Board of Directors and Officers administers. This event was started by a small group of birdwatchers and nature lovers who got together in Puerto Vallarta in 2012 to find ways to raise awareness and appreciation for the unparalleled natural resources in the Bay of Banderas and surrounding Cabo Corrientes. The next Vallarta Bird Festival will take place on 25 February 2024.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Nicaragua

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Panama

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Puerto Rico

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Turks and Caicos Islands

South America Region

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Argentina

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Bolivia

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Brazil

• Avistar Bird Festival Brasil – This Brazilian bird fair brings together exhibitors from all over Brazil and Latin America to promote and present their destinations, inns, operators and other forms of artistic and cultural production related to birds and nature. The last Avistar Brazil Bird Fair was held in São Paulo from 19-21 May, 2023.  Please contact the organisers for more detailed information.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Chile

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Colombia

• Colombia Birdfair – Colombia Birdfair is a four-day annual event to promote civil society’s interest in observing and conserving birds, birdwatching tourism as a strategy for conservation and sustainable rural development, and raising funds for bird preservation projects in Colombia. There are 993 bird species recorded only in Valle del Cauca, the state whose capital is Cali. There are about 1,920 bird species in Colombia. Attendees can enjoy free lectures, workshops, business meetings, stores and birding trips. Experts in different fields, such as ornithology and tourism, give the lectures. Cali, the capital of the Valle del Cauca department, boasts many bird species: over 1,000 and 50% of the birds of Valle del Cauca birds can be found in Cali, making it the city with the most bird species in the world. More than 400 bird species can be seen during the Colombia Birdfair, which is held during the second week of February.
• Medellín Bird Festival – Colombia has the greatest diversity of birds on the planet! Over 1,900 bird species inhabit this wonderful country; out of the total number, 80 species of birds can only be seen in Colombia. The Medellin Bird Festival (Festival dhttps://sao.org.co/festival-de-las-aves/e las Aves Medellín) was created by the Antioquia Ornithological Society. This is a space where new scientific findings on birdlife are shared, the birdwatching tourism sector is explored, and valuable community tourism initiatives based on sustainable development are promoted. Activities offered during the bird festival include lectures, panel discussions, open mics, workshops, birdwatching trips, bicycle trips, exhibitions, a bird photography contest, and a film festival.
• Risaralda Bird Festival – This bird festival in Colombia was created in 2017 with the aim of encouraging the development of a culture towards the knowledge and protection of birds. A major goal of Risaralda and the fair organizers is to be a world model in biodiversity conservation. Attendees will enjoy lectures with national and international guests and field trips to the birdwatching routes. Risaralda hosts over 850 bird species, 25 of which are endemic, and is improving its infrastructure for birdwatching tourism.
• Bogota Bird Fest – This birding event was first held in May 2018. which sought to raise awareness about the importance of birds and included the celebration of Global Big Day, art exhibitions and shows, workshops and field trips.
• Cundinamarca Bird Festival – This event is a sample of inter-municipal teamwork in order to showcase the regional biodiversity and strengthen the avitourism sector in the town of Choachí in Cundinamarca.
• Birdland Summit Colombia – This birding event was launched in January 2020 by Sociedad Tequendama, together with Procolombia, Bogotá Ornithology Association, Audubon and Colombia Productiva, which aim to boost tourism in Colombia and highlight the bird diversity in the country.
• Birdwatching Congress Colombia – This is a specialized event for training in birdwatching, presentation of world-class success stories, exhibition of scientific projects, inclusion of citizen science, participation of multiple stakeholders, keynote lectures, workshops, forums, education symposium, and scientific poster exhibition on display. The Birdwatching Congress Colombia is held in Caldas, Columbia, South America.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Ecuador – The recent South American Bird Fair was held in Ecuador in 2023 while another bird festival in 2019 has been held. Not much is known about fairs or festivals here, and if you know of any, please let me know.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in the Falkland Islands – There are no known bird watching fairs or festivals at the Falkland Islands. Still, the tourism board of the Falklands has participated several times at the Global BirdFair in the UK to promote Birdwatching in the Falkland Islands.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Paraguay – No known local bird events, but the South American Bird Fair has been held here in Paraguay. Please let me know if you know of any birdwatching fairs or events.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Peru – Again, the South American Bird Fair has been held in Peru, but no other known bird fairs or festivals are here. There is one controversial bird festival called the Blood Festival or Yaway Fiesta, which is a cultural event and when you do a search for bird festival, this is the one that comes up most.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Trinidad and Tobago – The Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) is the main birding event that takes place in Trinidad and Tobago and the other Caribbean islands. There is no specific birdwatching fair or festival found here.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Uruguay

• 3rd Gaucho Bird Watching Meeting Uruguay – This Uruguay birdwatching event was held from September 7th to 9th, 2023  and included an incredible program, including lectures, round tables, and field trips to observe birds in Parque do Espinilho. There is not much information on this, and I recommend contacting the organisers for future bird events in Uruguay.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in Venezuela

• The Festival of Migratory Birds and Shorebirds of Venezuela was held back in 2020.  Not much information is available, and I would love to get more. Please contact me if you know more about this or other birdwatching festivals or fairs here in Venezuela.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in the Artic

• Arctic Gullfest – Back in 2012, there was the only Arctic birding event, Arctic Gullfest, held from April 13-17, 2012. There were five days of great birding experiences at the Arctic Birding Event, including inspiring and educational talks and slide shows. This event was held in the town of Vardø, one of the most bird-rich places in the famous birding destination of Varanger Fjord. Since then, there has not been any other news after the last Arctic Gullfest 2018.

Bird Fairs and Festivals in the Antarctica

• You guessed as much as there is no actual bird festival in Antarctica. If ever there is one being organised, please let me know. From what I researched, there are several birding trips to Antarctica, which are special trips which cost quite a bit.
• Australian Antarctic Festival – This is on the Australian side, where it is more like a family fun day and a free event in August. The event is also held in Tasmania at the concourse adjacent to the Waterside Pavilion and the lawns outside the Mawson’s Huts Replica Museum in Hobart, Tasmania. It’s not a birding event, but there is information about the birds of Antarctica highlighted and shared here.

Conclusion

The above list of bird fairs and festivals around the world was compiled by Birdwatching Asia and is for your reference only. We recommend visiting the fair website or their Facebook page for more detailed times, dates and information.

Not all of the birding festivals and events are ongoing, as some have taken a break since COVID-19, while others may have tried but did not manage to continue for several reasons. However, this list also serves as a master database of the birding events worldwide.

Our role is purely as an information provider, and our mission is to share the worldwide list with everyone interested in this beautiful hobby and interest. If you are an organiser of a birding event or fair and would like to be listed here, please contact us; we will help add your information.

If you would like a special feature or article on your event or fair, you can also contact us to get our rate card for various advertising or promotional services we offer.