BirdNote is an independent nonprofit organization that brings joy, inspiration, and hope to millions of people around the world who value birds and the environment we share. BirdNote operates on the simple premise that the joy of birds is a unifying force between people of all walks of life. Birds connect us with the joy and wonder of nature. By telling vivid, sound-rich stories about birds and the challenges they face, BirdNote inspires listeners to care about the natural world – and take steps to protect it.
To Support and Inspire Birders – BirdNote is offering a FREE 2023 Calendar for the first 50 Registrants of Birdiest Festival in America 2023!!
Spring will be here before we know it. This is always the favorite time of year for a birder, as we all know what happens in the Spring...
Migration Time!
The special time of year when birds are fluffing their feathers to make their trek thru South Texas. The Birdiest Festival in America 2023 eagerly awaits their arrival.
Last year’s feathered attendance at the Birdiest Festival was 267 species, just four shy of our record year in 2021. Despite not having any cold fronts, and dealing with strong south winds every day, we scored a total of 33 warbler species, including the rare Townsend’s Warbler. The waterways, while giving us 25 shorebirds, also gave several rarities: Brown Booby, Pomarine Jaeger, Lesser Black-backed Gull and Sooty Tern. Some late guests to the Birdiest Festival were Bufflehead, Wood Stork, Willow Flycatcher, Black-tailed Gnatcatcher and American Crow, all at our new venue, the Q5 Barnhart Ranch.
The Pre- and Post-Trips of 2022 to the Rio Grande Valley and Upper Texas Coast added another 15 species for a grand total of 329. The star of these trips was a Painted Redstart. Some other good birds from the Valley included Scaled Quail, Glaucous Gull, Gray Hawk, Elf Owl, and Red-billed Pigeon. The Upper Texas Coast added Red-headed, Downy, Hairy and Pileated Woodpeckers, Red Knot, Blue Jay, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Nelson’s Sparrow, and Black-throated Blue Warbler.
Since 2017, the Birdiest Festival, not including Pre- and Post-Trip numbers, has recorded a total of 309 bird species.
A Southern "Welcome to Texas" BBQ will kick off the Festival. We are looking forward to an extravaganza of land and/or water Field Trips (Full and Half Day), (AM & PM!), Presentations, Workshops, nature-related Exhibitors, and as always, the thrilling Raptor Project Show.
Our Keynote Speaker this year is the June 2022 cover of Texas Monthly and National Record Holder for 726 Species Spotted, Tiffany Kersten. Not only will she be delivering our Keynote address, “Birdie Big Year: Elevating Women Birders”, but she is also going to guide three of the birding Field Trips. Be sure to sign up quick before they sell out!
So much to see!
Whether by foot, vehicle, or boat, South Texas is sure to have something for Everyone’s Birding Pleasure!!
APRIL 26-30, 2023
