After being named “America’s Birdiest City” for a decade, Corpus Christi is home to the perfect festival to celebrate BIRDS!
Corpus Christi's “The Birdiest Festival in America” is held every April in the Coastal Bend region! The fest brings birders to the Gulf Coast to experience amazing spring migration in perhaps the busiest flyway in the country, featuring numerous different field trips to famous South Texas ranch and coastal hot spots! Enjoy presentations, workshops, and bird walks.
If you love birds, nature, and the outdoors, this is the festival to be at. Here’s why:
1. The festival is PERFECTLY timed to coincide with spring migration
The migration window is only about two weeks for prime migration: the perfect time for a bird festival. Not to fear, as you are bound to see hundreds of species of birds during the festival.
2. There are literally hundreds of species of birds to see
Get a glimpse at the vibrantly-colored smaller birds such as warblers, vireos, orioles, grosbeaks and buntings; shorebirds moving along shoreline and interior ponds; peak raptor migration; and a majority of local species that can only be seen in South Texas! The inaugural year of 2017 had 246 species, 257 species in 2018, and 262 species in 2019, bringing this festival in the running to have the largest species count of any festival in the country.
3. Multiple Keynote Speakers
Enjoy a jam-packed schedule featuring multiple sessions like "ID by Sight and Sound", "Shorebird Identification", and hear from keynote speaker Tiffany Kersten talk about elevating women birders!
4. Take your family on a bird walk!
Gather your friends and family and take a bird walk nature stroll!
Bird Walk Schedule:
- 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at South Texas Botanical Gardens and Nature Center on April 27-29
- 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at South Texas Botanical Gardens and Nature Center on April 30
5. Oh yeah, the adults get to go on field trips too!
In addition to the relaxing outdoor venue filled with a multitude of birding opportunities, there are optional, separately-priced field trips to nearby birding hot spots like King Ranch, Fennessey Ranch, Port Aransas, the Guadalupe Delta Wildlife Management Area, and more. Experience the South Texas habitats unique to the birds, with local and regional birding experts providing their wisdom and insights for the trips! All attendees must register in advance for trips due to limited space. You can check out the many different field trips here.
6. Photographers, there’s lots of stuff for you too.
Photographers, rejoice. The Birdiest Festival will have several photography workshops. If you’re just someone who loves to take photos for fun, the workshops are for you! Learn from the pros on getting a magnificent shot of nature and birds and butterflies during the festival. Meet fellow photographers and snap photos of hummingbirds and more along the way. Limited seating available.
7. There’s a Family FUN Area for all the kids!
Bring friends and family of all ages to the Family Fun Area on Saturday for more activities and crafts for kids than ever!
8. All the Arts and Crafts Vendors!
Shop local and around nature during the Birdiest Festival in America! Happening Saturday only, the Artisan Market will be available at the South Texas Botanical Gardens.
For more information about registration to the festival, visit the event page!
