Saturday, February 8, 2014

Festive Occasions

Calliope Hummingbird, Rockport, TX
Festivals are fun and they offer opportunities for birders to add to their life lists with the help of others who know more about birding. The festivals usually include presentations by specialists and amateurs, along with workshops and walks. Often they include exhibits or vendors, allowing us to add to our collection of whatever bird we collect, try out binoculars and scopes, or discover new types of feeders. Some festivals like the HummerBird Celebration in Rockport, which got me started on my birding adventures, include both backyard birding and "in the wild" field trips. Without festivals I would never have known about the Calliope Hummingbird that decided to come to town. Nor would I have been able
Banding a Ruby-throat Hummingbird
to see a bander up close, allowing for this rare shot of a hummingbird hiney.

As I wind down some projects and ease a little more into "retirement," I hope to get to more festivals. To that end, I've started a list of birding festivals in the United States. It's one of the tabs at the top of the blog. I'll be adding to the list as time permits and as I find information, but feel free to share any festivals you know about. Maybe we'll spot some Green Jays or a Burrowing Owl together!

2 comments:

  1. Hi Jeannette, I am a friend of Irena's as well as a birder. Nice to meet you! Travis Audubon has its 14th Annual Songbird Festival from April 25th-28th this year, mostly at Balcones Canyonlands Preserve. Sadly, I will miss the great walks with experienced birders because we're visiting family in Florida on those dates. Perhaps you can enjoy this terrific festival: http://friendsofbalcones.org/festival

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  2. Sorry, Jeanette with one "n"!

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