Celebrate the Holidays With December Bird Festivals
December is a minor month for birding festivals, since many communities, birding organizations and birders themselves are busy with holiday celebrations and family plans rather than birding travel or wildlife events. Those festivals that are held in December are still fine events, however, and can bring outstanding birding opportunities to anyone who takes advantage of them. If there are no suitable festivals near you, be sure to check with local birding organizations or casual birding clubs to learn about regularly scheduled walks, presentations or holiday events that can be great birding activities even when a larger festival is not on the calendar.
Below is a list of December bird festivals that offer field trips, lectures, speakers and other activities, but events vary from year to year – check each festival’s updated website or contact its organizers for specific information, schedules, registration details and costs. Note: Only a few general features of each festival are mentioned below; many more are on each festival’s complete schedule!
Festivals are listed in chronological order according to the date they begin; scroll down for festivals later in the month, and don't forget to check birding festivals in November for events that start late in the month and may extend into December as well.
Is your favorite December birding festival not on this list? Email me to have it added to the directory!
A celebration of the state's diverse cultures, the Hornbill Festival is also a tribute to the great hornbill, a threatened species sacred to many of the region's tribes. While not a birding festival, hornbills feature prominently in many art displays, dances and other cultural events during the festival.More »
A one-day event in the afternoon, this excursion specifically to find golden eagles can give all participants extraordinary views of these remarkable raptors, as well as bald eagles that may use similar habitats and roosts. The trip is led by an expert guide and is a project of the National Eagle Center. After the trip, light refreshments are served.More »
The Christmas Bird Count takes place in many individual locations, each one hosting a single day bird census led by experienced local guides. The actual activities associated with each count can vary greatly, and contacting a local National Audubon Society chapter is the best way to find a nearby CBC and any related dinners, raffles or other activities.More »
Below is a list of December bird festivals that offer field trips, lectures, speakers and other activities, but events vary from year to year – check each festival’s updated website or contact its organizers for specific information, schedules, registration details and costs. Note: Only a few general features of each festival are mentioned below; many more are on each festival’s complete schedule!
Festivals are listed in chronological order according to the date they begin; scroll down for festivals later in the month, and don't forget to check birding festivals in November for events that start late in the month and may extend into December as well.
Is your favorite December birding festival not on this list? Email me to have it added to the directory!
•Hornbill Festival
- Dates: December 1-10, 2015
- Location: Kisama Heritage Village, Kohima, Nagaland, India
A celebration of the state's diverse cultures, the Hornbill Festival is also a tribute to the great hornbill, a threatened species sacred to many of the region's tribes. While not a birding festival, hornbills feature prominently in many art displays, dances and other cultural events during the festival.More »
•Golden Eagle Field Trip
- Dates: December 13, 2014
- Location: Wabasha, Minnesota
A one-day event in the afternoon, this excursion specifically to find golden eagles can give all participants extraordinary views of these remarkable raptors, as well as bald eagles that may use similar habitats and roosts. The trip is led by an expert guide and is a project of the National Eagle Center. After the trip, light refreshments are served.More »
•Christmas Bird Count
- Dates: December 14, 2015 to January 5, 2016 (various dates for individual events)
- Location: Various locations
The Christmas Bird Count takes place in many individual locations, each one hosting a single day bird census led by experienced local guides. The actual activities associated with each count can vary greatly, and contacting a local National Audubon Society chapter is the best way to find a nearby CBC and any related dinners, raffles or other activities.More »
