Quick index to Provincial EventsCanadian Birding Events - 2006 |
This page has been updated ( 4/22/2006 ) with current information. If you have additional information for events for the year 2006, please e-mail me all of the relevant information. Make sure your e-mail address is part of the message. Much of the the information below was obtained from the American Birding Association Birding Festivals Directory (Canada) url located at http://www.americanbirding.org/resources/evntfestdi4.htm . Other information was provide by festival organizers.
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Canada Wide Events
What is the Baillie Birdathon?It's a sponsored 24-hour count of bird species conducted anytime in May, anywhere in the world. Participants are sponsored by friends, family and just about anyone they know on a per species basis or by flat amount. All donations are tax-receiptable. Each participant recieves an official Baillie Birdathon T-shirt plus chances at a great list of prizes including a trip to Trinidad, a Bausch & Lomb ED Prime Telescope, Leica binoculars and much more. All sponsors are eligible to win one of several Brenda Carter limited edition prints.
What does Birdathon support?
The Baillie Birdathon is Canada's largest and best known annual fundraiser for the conservation of wild birds and their habitats. Since its inception in 1976, Birdathon has raised over $1.4 million for bird research and conservation by over 100 different organizations nation-wide. These include a growing network of bird observatories across Canada whose research is being coordinated by Bird Studies Canada (BSC). Data collected by these observatories will be analyzed by BSC scientists to provide a clear picture of the health of many of our native bird populations.
Birdathon is also the major source of funding for the James L. Baillie Memorial Fund which over the years has awarded over $237,000 in grants to amateur research and conservation projects related to birds. Projects range from protecting Piping Plover habitat in PEI to surveying Marbled Murrelets in BC and much more in between. The Baillie Fund is also a major source of support for the national network of bird observatories mentioned above.
In addition to these organizations, participants also have the opportunity to designate a conservation organization of their choosing to receive a portion of the money they raise. Whether it's a local naturalist club or a national organization, funds raised through Birdathon help support many different clubs and organizations across Canada.
Teachers and students can also get involved and can designate their school to receive a portion of the funds they raise. In addition, all Birdathon schools are eligible to win special prizes including class sets of Bushnell binoculars or Peterson Field Guides.
How can I get involved?
Simply contact the Birdathon Coordinator at Bird Studies Canada.
Contact information as follows:
Voice: 1-888-448-BIRD Fax: 519-586-3532 E-mail: generalinfo@bsc-eoc.org Website Address: http://www.bsc-eoc.org/brdathon.html Birdathon Kits are available which include all of the materials and information necessary to conduct your Birdathon. The Coordinator will also be happy to give advice on strategies to maximize your effort. The best advice we can give is that the Baillie Birdathon is meant to be an enjoyable experience. Count birds and solicit sponsors to the level you feel comfortable, knowing that every contribution provides valuable assistance towards conserving Canada's birds and their habitats.
Birdathon is a registered trademark of the Long Point Bird Observatory
Alberta
Beaverhill Lake Snow Goose Festival
Tofield, AB
last weekend in April (29th & 30th)Details of the following events will be added as they become available. Please also consult the Monthly Calendar and 2006 List of Events for additional information.
Contact City of Tofield at 780-662-3269
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tofield@supernet.ab.ca,
Brant Wildlife Festival
Qualicum Beach - BC
April 4-6, 2003The arrival of over 20,000 Brant Geese on oceanside beaches marks the occasion for the 13th Annual Brant Wildlife Festival. The festival focuses on the abundance and diversity of the natural world around us. Events include art, photography and wood carving exhibitions, a speaker's series, family events, Big Day Birding Challenge, a novice birding workshop and more.
Contact: Mid Island Wildlife Watch Society, Brant Wildlife Festival 174 Railway Street, Qualicum Beach, BC V9K 1K7 250-752-9171
Wings Over the Rockies
The Wings Over the Rockies Bird Festival celebrates its 10th anniversary May 1- 7. To make Wings’ birthday a BIG ONE two special days in April and an extra day in May have been added to give TEN fantastic BIG DAYS of bird watching activities!
Choose from over 80, high quality, educational events to enjoy with your family. Discover the world of birds through guided nature walks, Columbia River floats, voyageur canoe trips, nature from the saddle, art exhibits, evening presentations, live music, workshops, children's festival, wings gala banquet, birdathon and much more!
Our BIG YEAR features naturalist Brian Keating, one of Canada’s most eloquent advocates for the world’s wildlife & wilderness, and Reader’s Digest’s Environmental Hero of 2005.
To be part of the BIG celebration, come join us at the 10th annual Wings Over the Rockies Bird Festival - April 22nd, April 29th, May 1-7 and May 27th, 2006 For a full schedule go to www.WingsOverTheRockies.org
Osprey Festival
Creston - BC
June 14-15, 2003Celebrating Ospreys, Tads, Dads, and Ducks. Join us for a family weekend of guided bike rides, birding van tours, scavenger hunt, duck exhibit, birding seminars, bird-a-thon, family games, dinner, guest speakers and more.
Contact: Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area, Box 640, Creston, BC V0B 1G0 250-402-6900
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Delta Marsh Birding Festival
Delta, MB; 13-15 May 2005
Five good reasons why you should not miss the third annual Delta Marsh Birding Festival: timed to be the peak of the spring migration; located at Manitoba's premiere birding area; evening banquet and fish fry with international and local ornithologists; field trips; 150 species to be seen. Events to take place at Delta Marsh, near Portage la Prairie. Contact: University Field Station, Delta Marsh, PO Box 38, RR 2, Portage la Prairie, MB R1N 3A2 Canada.Phone: 204-857-8637. Fax: (204) 857-4683
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Award-winning Nova Scotia Birding Festival Returns to South Shore for 4th Annual
- March 31 - April 2
- Birding tours each day
- Community breakfasts, lunches & dinners
- Oen Kennedy & Nova Scotia Kitchen Party
- Brant goose fly-away spectacle
- Call toll-free at 1-866-732-7867.
The Fourth Annual Shelburne County Birding & Nature Festival is now being considered by some as one of the provinces event “success stories”. The annual event, celebrating its fourth consecutive year from March 31 to April 2 was recently awarded the “Best Community Event of 2005” by the Festivals and Events Council of Nova Scotia.
The three-day, county-wide festival, produced by Discover Shelburne County Tourism Association has grown in attendance and reputation over the years and features birding tours by local birders throughout the county, photography workshops, community suppers and breakfasts, entertainment featuring Oen Kennedy at The Osprey and a kitchen party in Clarks Harbour.
An addition to this year’s festival is the collaborative birding tour on Saturday with the Nova Scotia Bird Society, led by James Hirtle and Joan Czapaly.Birding tours at The Hawk, Baccaro, Matthews Lake and Port Joli will be led by local birders, including Murray Newell from Cape Sable Island and Gary Hartlan, of Northern Diver Birding Adventures.
This year's festival features more programming than last year, with no increase in cost, according to festival committee chair and DSCTA president, Shannon Van Buskirk. Festival passes for three full days of programming, meals, entertainment, taxes, etc., begin at $99. One day passes are $69.
Children 18 and under attend the festival well below half price. Several motels, inns and B&Bs have created special festival "packages", which include all programming plus accommodations. Children stay free for those packages.
Photography mini-workshops by Alan Delaney are scheduled, as are community breakfasts, dinners and suppers are planned for Shelburne, Sable River , Clarks Harbor and Barrington . Slide presentations from Pat Hudson of the Cape Sable Important Bird Area and birder Grant Milroy are also scheduled.
The Shelburne County Museum has coordinated a bird-oriented exhibet during the Festival, including carved birds and decoys, oil paintings and water colours, cross stitching, photographs and locally-built bird houses.
One of the great attractions of the festival is the Brant goose "fly-away spectacle", when 5-8,000 of this small goose species take flight each evening. They stop for approximately six weeks on Cape Sable Island on the way back north to feed off the eel grass around the island. Every night at dusk the Brant fly from one point at The Hawk out to sea where they rest each night. The birds will fly over head of the birders, making it an unforgettable birding spectacle. The area is also a popular birding spot for the American Oystercatcher, piping plover and dovekie.
There are 300 bird species along the Lighthouse Route , with prime birding spots featured in the Nova Scotia Birding brochure produced by SSTA. It gives a long list of birds you might see and at what times of the year. Tourists have picked it up and asked for it at visitor centres and there is increased awareness of Important Bird Areas all across Nova Scotia , especially the one on Cape Sable Island.
"Birding is so much more popular than most people understand," adds Lynne Perry, executive director of SSTA and herself an avid birder. “And we have some of the most impressive birding available in Canada . Projects like this festival will benefit the whole province, not just the South Shore region,” Perry adds. "The whole of south west Nova Scotia has the opportunity to build on this and Brier Island , Cape Sable and Sheffield Mills can work together. It's not just about the South Shore . Birders will go anywhere the birds are to see them."
The festival website at www.DiscoverShelburneCounty.com is already generating interest and reservations from Canada and the U.S. and the festival also has a toll-free telephone number at 1-866-732-7867.
Brant Winter Birding Festival
Cape Sable Island - NS
March 1-2, 2003The 1st Annual Brant winter Birding Festival takes place March 1 & 2 on Cape Sable Island, home to one of the most significant IBA's (Important Birding Area) in Canada. The festival will include guided and self-guided birding tours at the Hawk and other areas on CSI, seafood chowder luncheon and displays at the newly restored Heritage Center in Clark's Harbour.
Contact: South Shore Tourism Association, , Cape Sable Island, NS B0W 1P0 902-634-8844
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Presqu'ile Provincial Park Events
http://www.friendsofpresquile.on.ca/events.htm
Festival of Birds
Leamington - ON
May, 2006This month long festival celebrates the arrival of some of the highest concentrations of migrating songbirds found in North America. More than 150 special events, hikes and birding programs.
Contact: Point Pelee National Park, 407 Robson St., RR 1, Leamington, ON N8H 3V4 519-322-2365
May 26th to 29th and June 1st to 4th, 2006
A Spring Celebration Check link above for details.
Almaguin Highlands, Birding Weekend Getaway
Discover the Almaguin Highlands, Birding Weekend Getaway – Join us at the NW access to Algonquin Park while our great diversity of local breeding birds burst into song. Friday June 16th - Sunday 18th, 2006 ~ make it a romantic weekend getaway, take the photo birding vacation you’ve been promising yourself or come to flock with other birding enthusiasts. Our local guides offer easy bird watching introductions for those new to the hobby and regional expertise that will delight experienced birders. From $240 including a range of comfortable accommodations at local B&Bs, delicious meals, expert birding guides, gorgeous hiking, outdoor fun & indoor comforts combined. Book soon as there is a limited group size, ensuring a ‘lifer’ of a birding tour in Ontario, Canada.
For more information or to reserve, Call 1-866-311-8519 or check out http://www.visit-almaguin-highlands.com
Wye Marsh Festival
Midland, ON; September 16th & 17th, 2006
Join us for an environmental celebration at the 16th annual Wye Marsh Festival. Birds of prey demonstrations, bird house building, Canadian woodcarving championships, folk music, and more. Contact: Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre, Box 100, Hwy.12, Midland, ON L4R 4K6 Canada. 705-526-7809. www.wyemarsh.com
Birding: Prince Edward County Festival
May 13 – 22, 2006
www.thecounty.ca/birding
1-866-845-6644Prince Edward County, Ontario has gone to the birds! Birders Get Banded!
Birding and outdoors enthusiasts are anxiously anticipating the second annual Birding: Prince Edward County Festival! From May 13th to May 22nd, the festival will offer a wide variety of birding activities both the serious and amateur birder will enjoy. Birding: Prince Edward County Festival gives you and your family an opportunity to discover The County and its birds!
“Birding: Prince Edward County Festival is a fantastic way for visitors to experience the area’s famed spring migration and to discover the beauty and dynamism of the County,” says Rebecca LeHeup-Bucknell of Taste the CountyTM, the festival’s organizing body.
Birding: Prince Edward County Festival is sure to captivate young and old birders alike. Birdhouse City¾a collection of over 100 whimsical birdhouses is sure to capture children’s imaginations. At Prince Edward Point, children can learn about spring bird migration and see birds up-close and personal. Building a birdhouse, watching the falconry demonstration and Indian River Reptile show will thrill youngsters.
There are plenty of activities for experienced birders too. You can compare your bird count at various Birder Happy Hour locations or enjoy Ron Parlane’s gallery of hand-carved birds. The For the Birds concert features some of eastern Ontario’s favourite performers and will have you flapping your wings in no time.
Like the birds at Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory, you too can be ‘banded’. In your case, your band won’t monitor your migratory route, but will get your free guided tours, admission to Sandbanks Provincial Park (from May 13th to May 19th), discounts on workshops and concerts and much more. Wristbands are $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for children and a good for the duration of the festival.
Support the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory and purchase a ticket for your chance to win a Swarovski EL 8.5 x 42 WB Binocular, donated by Title Sponsor Swarovski Optik™ and worth $2550.00.
Don’t let this opportunity fly by. Migrate to The County and see why Prince Edward County has gone to the birds! Visit www.thecounty.ca/birding for more information.
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Shorebirds and Friends Festival
Wadena - SK
May 2006Come join us in welcoming the over 250,000 shorebirds that return to the Quill Lakes each spring! The festival is fun for the whole family with nature walks, childrens activities, tours of the new nature center, a farmers market, and a pancake breakfast. Just a ten minute drive from Wadena, this natural oasis has boardwalks, walking trails, viewing towers, and an inviting picinic area. See you at the festival
Check website for details
Contact: Town of Wadena, P. O. Box 730, Wadena, SK S0A 4J0 306-338-2145
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Celebration of Swans April 15-23rd 2006
Whitehouse, YK867-667-8291,
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todd.powell@gov.yk.ca,
http://www.environmentyukon.gov.yk.ca/viewing/Swan%20Haven.html
