California Festivals
California Birding Festivals and Events
Birding - Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer. Anytime is the right time to watch, study and appreciate nature's winged creatures who can fly. California offers many birding festivals and events in one of the nation's most critical areas where birds are in danger of losing their migration habitats. According to Audubon:
- California is the most biodiverse state in the U.S.
- California is 1 of 36 Global Biodiversity Hotspots.
- California is home to approx. two-thirds of all North American bird species (600 bird species).
- California has 175 Important Bird Areas (IBAs), the most in the Lower 48.
Within a single day its likely dozens of birds have dropped by your yard to look for seeds, berries, worms and bugs. Some birds annoy us when they wake us with their caws, tweets and chirps. They drop olives on our roof, drop their waste on our cars (or on us) as they fly through the air.
For all their annoyances, birds have played a vital role to humans. California miners in the Gold Rush took birds into mine tunnels to alert of dangerous gases such as carbon monoxide that would kill the birds first, and give miners a warning to exit the tunnels immediately.
CHICO
Snowgoose Festival
January 22-25, 2026
Festival of the Pacific Flyway at Patrick Ranch
snowgoosefestival.org
SALTON SEA: Salton Sea Bird Festival January 17, 2026
Where: Visitor Center
When: Salton Sea Bird Festival Call the Visitor Center, seaanddesert.org
MORRO BAY Annual Morro Bay Winter Bird Festival January 15-19, 2026
Registration desk, check-in, trip starters, and the Bazaar will be
located at the Morro Bay Community Center, 1001 Kennedy Way.
morrobaybirdfestival.org
Most events are held at the Morro Bay Museum of Natural History, and will be
free for kids; a small fee per adult for Museum entry. Family Day Activities may include: Introduction to Birding and Habitat Hike--Learn to use binoculars and
field guides and discuss habitat needs during a short walk from the Museum. | Learn to Track | Intermediate Birding | Bird for a Day | Bird, Learn, Make and Take | Introduction to Birding and Habitat Hike | Kayaking and Canoeing in the Bay | Critter Crawl | Rubbing Noses with Reptiles | Puppet Show | Family Day Finale Condor Hunt
GALT: Galt Winter Bird Festival January 29, 2026
Chabolla Community Center
610 Chabolla Ave.
Galt, CA
Free admission! reserve at ci.galt.ca.us/WBF and follow links
Free Children's Activities,
Arts & Crafts Vendors,
Tours,
Wild Animal Presentation,
Guest Speakers
Presentations: Backyard Bird Safari |
Going Batty |
Conservation Ambassadors |
Cal-Waste |
Hawks, Honkers and Hoots
Tours: Sunrise Photography Tour | Tall Forest and Riparian Habitat | Heritage
Oakes Bird Walk
View thousands of migratory birds that call Galt their winter home. Bus tours include: morning & sunset photo tours, a children's tour, wildlife tour of the Cosumnes River Preserve.
SAN DIEGO: San Diego Bird Festival February 25-March 1, 2026
Tour registration: sandiegobirdfestival.org plus Free Days!
The festival is held at the Marina Village Conference Center just steps away
from San Diego's species-rich San Diego River estuary. Estuary walks take place
daily Thursday through Saturday. Pre and post festival trips. Most events are
fee-based trips to see birds with varying prices. However, Family Day feature
many free events and activities. You can see live birds up close with Project
Wildlife and Living Coast Discovery Center. There will be guided walks, games,
workshops, and a raffle for great prizes. No pre-registration is necessary for
Family Day events, however, some field trips and workshops have limited
availability.
BAKERSFIELD: Spring Nature Festival March 21-22, 2026
Wind, Wolves Preserve
16019 Maricopa Highway
Bakersfield, CA
wildlandsconservancy.org
All day on Saturday and the first half of Sunday. This festival is perfect for a
family outing, you don't want to miss the biggest event of the year
Free educational programs and activities
Exhibit booths
Hikes
Tours
Wildflower displays
Restoration project
ARCATA: Godwit Days April 16-19, 2026
Arcata Community Center
321 Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway
Arcata, CA 95521
Main Hall Free admission
Tour registration & payment: godwitdays.org
Celebrate the Marbled Godwit and explore the lush Redwood Coast. Observe many
bird species and wildlife through field trips, lectures, workshops, and boat
excursions led by experienced local guides. Tour the expansive mudflats, the
wild river valleys and the rocky ocean coast of this sector of the Klamath
bioregion in northwest California. Nearly 100 trips to choose from, Bird Fair,
banquet, art show and more
LONE PINE: Owens Lake Bird Festival April 17-19, 2026
Lone Pine, Ca
$,
friendsoftheinyo.org
Celebrate the migration of thousands of birds as they alight at Owens Lake
during their transcontinental journey. They migrate along the Pacific Flyway,
which extends from Alaska to Patagonia. Festival outings include botany,
photography, geology, local history and culture, and more.
Annual Owens Lake Bird Festival celebrates migrating shorebirds.
As they move between hemispheres, Owens
Lake is an Important Bird Area and highlight. The significance of the Owens
Lake story and the return of a threatened habitat are integral to this
festival's learning opportunities.
DAVIS: Yolo Basin California Duck Days April 25, 2026
Yolo Basin Foundation
45211 Co Rd 32B (Chiles Road)
Davis, CA 95618
Free,
yolobasin.org
Outdoor festival with activities for people of all ages:
Field trips led by experienced birders and naturalist
On-site activities for families
Interactive exhibits
Wetland themed arts and crafts
Trout fishing in ponds
California Duck Days is an annual wetlands festival consisting of a day filled with workshops, field trips, exhibit hall and special events. Interactive displays from 20 area environmental organizations feature Mallard ducklings, as well as live raptors.
Over a dozen field trips to sites around the region, such as waterfowl. Special workshops
range from a bat talk to falconry, and a kids' fishing activity.
POINT REYES STATION: Point Reyes Birding & Nature Festival April
24-26, 2026
Environmental Action Committee of West Marin
65 Third Street, Suite 12
Point Reyes Station, CA
pointreyesbirdingfestival.org
Typically held the third week of April,
Point Reyes Birding & Nature Festival celebrates spring bird and wildlife migrations along the Pacific Flyway in Marin and Sonoma counties. See migrating seabirds, waterfowl, resident and migrant land birds, raptors, alcids, and owls.
40+ field events and workshops at Point Reyes National Seashore and
surrounding areas. This time of year presents stunning wildflower displays, butterflies, dragonflies, migrating whales, elephant seals, sea lions and Tule elk. Point Reyes National Seashore is an ecological treasure--one of only ten federally protected seashores in the United States, where more than 54% of all North American bird species have been sighted.
CALIFORNIA: International Migratory Bird Day May 9, 2026 (2nd Saturday
in May)
migratorybirdday.org
SACRAMENTO: Walk on the
Wildside May 16, 2026, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Bufferlands
Turn left at signs opposite Cliff's Marina (8651 River Rd.,
Freeport) Sacramento, CA
Free, sacsewer.com
Free, family event featuring walking tours, conservation
exhibits, live music, and viewing of a rare heron and egret rookery - one of
only four in Sacramento County. This rookery contains over 120 active nests of
great blue herons, great egrets and double crested cormorants.
LEE VINING: Mono Basin Bird Chautauqua June 18–21, 2026
- Mono Lake Committee Information Center and Bookstore, 51365 Highway 395 3rd Street, Lee Vining, CA
- Mono Basin Scenic Area Visitor Center, 1 Visitor Center Drive, Lee Vining, CA
- Mono Lake Indian and Lee Vining Community Center, 296 Mattly Ave, Lee Vining, CA
monolake.org | birdchautauqua.org
Over 90 field trips! An amazing array of birding and bird related activities includes everything from campfire stories to drawing birds, image editing, bird walks, talks and even some squawks. The schedule of educational and entertaining events fills three incredible days.
VALLEJO: San Francisco Bay Osprey Days June 19-21, 2026 Mare
Island
San Francisco Bay Flyway Festival Go Wildly Live Outdoors February 13-15, 2026
Mare Island Preserve
167 O'Hara Ct. at Azuar Ave.
Vallejo
CA
facebook.com/ SanFranciscoBayOspreyDays
mareislandpreserve.org | sfbayospreydays.org
San Francisco Bay Osprey Days
offers a mix of free guided walks in the Mare Island Shoreline Heritage Preserve and guided car caravans to Island nest sites,
plus (4) two-hour Dolphin Charters boat trips, $45 Call 510-527-9622
Guided Osprey, Great Blue Heron and Great Egret viewing hike in Mare Island
Preserve | Lecture: Threats to Successful Osprey Nesting on Mare Island Strait |
Driving Tour of Mare Island Osprey Nests | Guided Hike in Mare Island Shoreline
Heritage Preserve.
Held near the last full weekend in June at Mare Island Preserve, Vallejo,
Bay ospreys are celebrated with guided walks and driving tours, boat trips,
science and educational presentations.
Location: The Mare Island Preserve visitor center, Building A-167, 167 O'Hara
Ct. at Azuar Dr. at the southernmost end of Mare Island.
LAKE ALMANOR / CHESTER: Lake Almanor Grebe Festival August 7-9, 2026
Almanor
Recreation Center (ARC)
400 Meadowbrook Loop
Chester CA
plumasaudubon.org
Presented by Plumas Audubon Society
Most fieldtrips
and activities meet next door to Almanor Rec and Parks District office. Event includes walks, boat tours and interactive learning and observation
opportunities in one of the richest locations in California for watching grebes.
MONTEREY: Bay Birding Festival October 9-11, 2026
Field trips, workshops and lectures take place in and around Watsonville and
nearby birding areas
montereybaybirding.org
Field trips, workshops and lectures take place in and around Watsonville and
nearby birding areas
LODI: Sandhill Crane Festival November 6-8, 2026 lodisandhillcrane.org
The highlight to Sandhill Crane Festival is undoubtedly watching these graceful, large birds. The tours charge fees, but the other events happening at Hutchins Street Square Event and Conference Center (hutchinsstreetsquare.com), including the Reception, Art Show, workshops, presentations, and Exhibit Hall, are free.
MARYSVILLE: California Swan Festival Festival November 6-9, 2025 | 2026 tba
Bird cruises & tours
BOLSA CHICA WETLANDS
Huntington Beach Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in Orange County is home to migratory birds and waterfowl. Free guided tours are regularly offered by several non-profit organization on some Saturdays and Sundays. Free first Saturday tours are offered by Amigos de Bolsa Chica (amigosdebolsachica.org). They also provide free last Saturday tours each month. Bolsa Chica free guided walking tours on the third Sunday of each month are provided by Bolsa Chica Land Trust (bolsachicalandtrust.org)
CACHUMA LAKE BIRD WATCHING CRUISE
Autumn is a spectacular time to watch the migrating birds in California. In California birding opportunities abound, but there's one special place that allows you to hop aboard the Osprey boat for a two hour guided tour of Cachuma Lake, located a short drive outside the city of Santa Barbara. The tours are scheduled to go out daily and make for a unique change from city attractions during a Santa Barbara vacation.
COLEVILLE: Birding First Friday 8-9 a.m.
Meets at Sweetwater Coffee Shop, 107537 US-395, Coleville, CA
See schedule: northernmonochamber.com
Come watch
and enjoy the birds in the Antelope Valley. There is a larger variety of birds to
see in Coleville, CA
DAVIS (nearby) Yolo Basin Tours 2nd Saturday (some exceptions)
Tour times: October through April, 9 a.m. -Noon
yolobasin.org/ybwa-tours/
Tour the Yolo Wildlife Area with an experienced field trip leader the second Saturday of the month from September through June.
View flooded seasonal and permanent wetlands, native grasslands and young riparian forests. Depending on the season, look for migrating and resident waterfowl, shorebirds, songbirds, raptors, and wading birds.
During periods of inclement weather or flooding, call (530) 758-1018 the morning of the trip for a recorded message for trip cancellations or additional information.
Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.