Each birding festival provides opportunities to see new birds and new birding locations, season by season (American Avocet photo by Paul Konrad).

Always a big month for a variety of birding festivals, October features some of the premier and longest running birding fests that provide excellent opportunities to learn more about birds and see new birds in each area with the help of expert area guides. In addition, participants always learn valuable information about birds from knowledgeable speakers and others who make each birding festival unique during enjoyable workshops and insightful equipment presentations. A variety of social meetings, food vendors, and entertainment also help to round out any birding festival experience.

You can learn more about the scope of each birding festival at the links provided below:

October 6 – New Jersey – Meadowlands Birding Festival, Meadowlands Environmental Center, Lyndhurst, New Jersey; see Meadowlands Birding Festival | Facebook

October 9 to 13 – California – Western Field Ornithologists Conference, San Diego, California; see Conference | Western Field Ornithologists

October 11 to 13 – California – Monterey Bay Festival of Birds, Santa Cruz to Monterey, California; Registration — The Bird School Project

October 12 and 13 – Michigan – CraneFest, Battle Creek, Michigan; see Cranefest XXIX | Facebook

October 13 – New York – Adirondack Loon Celebration, Paul Smith’s College, New York; see 2024 Adirondack Loon Celebration — Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation (adkloon.org)

October 17 to 20 – Florida – Florida Birding & Nature Festival, Tampa Bay area of Florida; see Florida Birding & Nature Festival (floridabirdingandnaturefestival.org)

October 17 to 20 – New Jersey – Cape May Fall Festival, New Jersey Audubon, Cape May, New Jersey; see Cape May Fall Festival | New Jersey Audubon (njaudubon.org)

October 22 to 27 – North Carolina – Wings Over Water Wildlife Festival, 6 National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, Manteo, North Carolina; see Wings Over Water Wildlife Festival - Wildlife Tours, Nature Education

October 26 – Hawaii – Hawaii Island Festival of Birds, Hilo, Hawaii; see Hawai?i Island Festival of Birds - (birdfesthawaii.org) Facebook

October 30 to November 3 – Louisiana – Yellow Rails and Rice Festival, Jennings, Louisiana; see Birding Festival | Yellow Rails and Rice Festival