Bird Walks and More For All
Mostly Free. Usually in Small groups. Beginners Welcome.
In addition to special events, the Festival partners with community and conservation organizations to offer free/low cost small-group bird walks and unique programs.
Small-groups walks can be a great way to get to know the birding and nature group in New England.
We try to add events at least 2 week in advance. If you’re signed up for our email, we do send special notices. Spaces for most events are limited, and registration is almost always required. We use your contact info to share parking details as well as weather and other updates.
We usually have binoculars to lend and welcome beginners and enthusiasts.
PRoGRAMS ON DECK
Castle Island Ramble
Join us for a winter bird walk at Castle Island in Boston, MA SAT. Jan 31 at 9:30 AM
WInter BIRDING ON THE Hull PENNISULA
SUN FEB 8 A winter bird walk in Hull for winter sea birds and migrants. Bundle up!
Duck Duck Goose in The Emerald Necklace
Join us as we explore the historic Olmsted Park area that includes Jamaica Pond, Willow Pond, Ward’s Pond, and Leverett Pond, and look for ducks. SAT, NOV 8
Weird and Wonderful Birds at Winthrop Shores RESERVATION
Join us for a 90-minute walk at Winthrop Shores Reservation in Winthrop as we look for some early winter specialities and scan the water for incoming seabirds. SAT, NOV 15.
Birdy Trivia Games At Tilde
Do you know your grackles from your grosbeaks and your crowns from your napes? Can you spot a tanager from 100 paces? Or are you more bird-curious? Either way, join us for a high-flying, bino-tingling Bird Trivia Night at Tilde in Cambridge, emceed by science journalist Cara Giaimo! THURS. NOV 6, 2025
October Birding at Greenways Conservation Land
October morning ramble in Greeways Conservation Land in Wayland, MA. We’ll look for lingering migrants and more. SAT. OCT 18.
EVENTS CALENDAR
Subscribe to our calendar
Click “Add to Calendar” in the lower left to have all BBF Events show up in your calendar. Each event will have a link for registration, and any changes will update your calendar automatically.
Click on any event for details and registration info.
Registration is required for most of our events.
Once you register, we can send you additional info. We usually send you additional details a day or two before—weather updates, leader info, background info, etc.
Thanks!
Want to Partner with Us?
The Festival offers unique programming often created in partnership with other organizations. Our topics are broad, but we emphasize birds, conservation, environmental justice, birding skills for beginning birders, science, and more—and we try to connect the dots.
Have a suggestion? Want to create something together? Let us know.
We aim to be a platform and an ally for organizations making a difference for birds and environmental justice. Click for details.
SPonsor a Program
If you are interested in supporting our programs, we’d love to talk. Your support makes it possible for the Festival to enhance its programming, keep much of it free, and meet our goals. Email us.
LOOKING AHEAD
Plan to join us for a special 2026 hybrid (in-person and virtual) Festival with lots of surprises and special guests.
We're busy incubating new programming and events--see below. So while you're waiting....
How About a LITTLE seabird quiz?
WALKS
Bird and nature walks in beautiful places. Learn about unique species and habitats.
Talks
Speakers and panels from a variety of disciplines sharing new discoveries and persepctives on on birds, habitat and more.
WORKSHOPS
Up your skills—from the basics to radar, recording, sketching and more.
Beginners
Beginners are welcome on all our trips. Loaner binoculars are usually available.
Fun & Games
Fun, games and social gatherings for birdy, bird-curious and birder-adjacent friends.
ADVENTURES
Pelagic trips. Overnights. And adventurous destinations. Watch this space.
Community
Join us a work day at a neighborhood park or beach clean-up, remove invasive species, or build nesting boxes. We share ways where birders can help others.
CERTIFICATIONS
The Festival is working with a number of organizations to offer educational programming and certifications. Stay tuned!
Photo Treks & Talks
Birders who want to photograph and photographers who want to bird and photograph birds. Add new skills, get feedback and discover how to use the power of images for impact.
Participatory Science
Birders can make a difference simply by birding. Your list for the day can inform conservation, research and even bring attention to community needs.
RABBLE ROUSING
Take action on behalf of birds, climate, and community greenspace. We're partnering wth community advocates and organizers to bring awareness to urgent issues.
BIRDING AND THE ARTS
From exhibitions to poetry to painting, music and architecture, the arts encourage us to appreciate birds in new ways and to understand the threats they face.
Seabird ID QuiZ
Seabirds are tricky to ID. They look different at different ages. Size can be hard to judge. You often have to look for them in winter, with the sun in your eyes, or while out at sea. Some hybridize to confound you. But seabirds are a lot of fun to watch—even if you don’t know what they are. They’re smart, fearless, athletic, brilliant problem solvers able to perform amazing feats of strength and agility—from flying sideways in formation to hovering in mid-air, diving deep under water, walking on water, and napping through a nor’easter. We’re lucky to have lots of them in New England.
ANSWERS
FIRST ROW
Herring Gull
Great Black Back Gull
Black-Legged Kittiwake
Lesser Black Back Gull
SECOND ROW
Manx Shearwater
Greater Shearwater
Common Tern
Roseate Tern
THIRD ROW
Iceland Gull
Glaucous Gull
Laughing Gull
Bonaparte's Gull