Late April and early May are filled with ways to enjoy birds and nature. Here are just a few of the many events that celebrate Spring near Pittsburgh.
Celebrations:
- Earth Day at Frick Park, April 21, 11:30am – 4pm
- Perspectives on Silent Spring at 50, National Aviary and Chatham University, May 11 & 12. Celebrate 50 years of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring, the book led to a curb on pesticides and the restoration of bald eagles, ospreys and peregrines.
- Apple Blossoms and Orioles at Latodami Environmental Education Center, North Park, May 5, 2pm – 4pm
- BirdFest at Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve, May 12, 10am – 3pm
Festivals: Want to see a lot of birds? Want to learn from the top birders in North America? Here are three birding festivals within a half-day drive of Pittsburgh, listed in date order.
- The New River Birding and Nature Festival, April 30 – May 5, Fayetteville, WV. In its 10th year at the New River Gorge National River, West Virginia.
- The Biggest Week in American Birding, May 4 – 13, Oregon, Ohio. On Lake Erie’s south shore from Maumee Bay to Magee Marsh, Ohio. The hottest warbler hotspot is Magee Marsh boardwalk, pictured above.
- Festival of the Birds at Presque Isle, May 11-13, Erie, PA. Field trips and speakers at Pennsylvania’s Lake Erie hotspot.
And there are plenty more birding festivals in the works. Check out the Festival Finder at Bird Watchers’ Digest to find one near you.
Happy birding!
p.s. Did I miss something? Leave a comment to tell us about your favorite event.
(photo of birders at the Magee Marsh boardwalk linked from BirdWatchingDaily.com. Photo courtesy of the Biggest Week in American Birding. Click on the image to see the original and accompanying article.)