 NeNes are symbolic of the Hawaii Island Festival of Birds being held in Hilo on the big island. |
October is one of the best months to enjoy some social birding at a Birding Festival near you that brings birders together to share time at a birding hotspot during peak migration days. And there is so much to enjoy during events including information-packed workshops, children’s activities, featured speakers, banquets and food trucks, a birding marketplace, and guided field trips including photo-oriented outings. Every birding festival is different, but they are all created with opportunities for experienced and novice birders in mind.
Birding Festivals are a great opportunity to learn more about birds and other wildlife, while connecting with others interested in birds and birding – and learning more about how to be a better birder in the process. Take a look at the variety of October Birding Festivals and get more information about each of them by using the links provided below:
October 4 – California – Nature Fair: 100 Years of Birding at the Bottom of the Bay Festival, Santa Clara Valley Bird Alliance, California; see Centennial Celebration — Santa Clara Valley Bird Alliance (scvbirdalliance.org)
October 4 – Hawaii – Hawaii Island Festival of Birds, Hilo, Hawaii; see Hawai?i Island Festival of Birds 2025 - Hawai?i Island Festival of Birds (birdfesthawaii.org)
October 4 – Washington – BirdFest & Bluegrass Festival, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Ridgefield, Washington; see BirdFest & Bluegrass - Friends of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge (ridgefieldfriends.org)
October 5 – New Jersey – Meadowlands Birding Festival, Bergan County Audubon Society, Meadowlands Environmental Center, Lyndhurst, New Jersey; see birdfest-new-2025-schedule.jpg (2000×1545) (bergencountyaudubon.org)
October 5 – New York – Adirondack Loon Celebration, Paul Smiths College, Paul Smiths, New York; see Adirondack Loon Celebration — Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation (adkloon.org)
October 10 to 12 – California – Monterey Bay Festival of Birds, The Bird School Project, Monterey, California; see Monterey Bay Festival of Birds 2025 (ticketspice.com)
October 11 to 12 – Michigan – CraneFest, Big Marsh Lake, Kiwanis Youth Conservation Area, Bellevue, Michigan; see Crane fest – Kiwanis Club of Battle Creek, MI
October 14 to 19 – North Carolina – Wings Over Water Wildlife Festival, National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center, Manteo, North Carolina; see Wings Over Water Festival 2025 | Oct 14-19 | Encore Dec 5-7
October 16 to 19 – New Jersey – Cape May Fall Festival, Cape May Bird Observatory, New Jersey Audubon, Cape May, New Jersey; see Summary - 2025 Cape May Fall Festival (cvent.com)