This local birding festival is an annual celebration of Spring Migration in the boreal forest including tours of the LSLBO, nature workshops, birding hikes, children’s activities, and of course, everyone favorite, the early bird Pancake Breakfast

Saturday, May 24Songbird Festival

Boreal Centre for Bird Conservation, Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park.

6:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Celebrate Spring Migration with a morning of birding fun at the Boreal Centre for Bird Conservation

Tours of the Lesser Slave Lake Bird Observatory

FREE Neal Knoot Pancake Breakfast plus BBQ Burgers – coffee and pancakes will be ready for the “early birds” that morning with tasty burgers available for lunch. Generously sponsored by Vanderwell Contractors (1971) Ltd.

Morning Guided Birding Walks Departing at 7 and 8 am. Head out with some of our favourite birders and spot some of the beautiful wood warblers arriving each day during spring migration. Participants will have the option of walking down to the LSLBO for a tour (2 km) and catching the bus back to the centre.

Lesser Slave Lake Bird Observatory Tours departing every hour ( 7 to 11 am) Hop on the bus for the chance to experience the work of our researchers at the station and hopefully experience these tiny songbirds up close!

NATURE WORKSHOPS starting at 10:00 am including:

  • 10:00 am – Bird Songs of the Boreal Forest: Ever wonder what bird is singing up in that tree? Join the LSLBO to find out why birds sing as we share some tips and tricks on learning some of the bird songs in the boreal forest.
  • 11:00 am – Family Birding Walk; Join Interpreter Luke for a family friendly bird walk on the Songbird Trail. Binoculars will be provided!
  • Noon – Whose egg is that? Why cowbirds and other brood parasites lay their eggs in other birds’ nests. Dorothy Hill, PhD from Mount Royal University.

FUN DROP IN ACTIVITIES FOR ALL AGES including:

Birdhouse and bird feeder building, special guests, nature art crafts, binocular Scavenger hunt, and lots of hands on activities for the whole family.

Download our 28th Annual Songbird Festival Poster Here!

For more information, contact us at info@borealbirdcentre.ca or 780-849-8240.

Sunday, May 25 – 19th Annual Bird Run/Walk (5K/10K)

Join us for this fun 5K/10K run/walk through the beautiful boreal forest trails around the Boreal Centre for Bird Conservation. Surrounded by the songs of birds, it is a great way to enjoy the arrival of spring! Trails are well marked with wide packed gravel and grass surfaces. This event is suitable for all ages and dogs are welcome as long as they are on a leash.

The “race” kicks off at 10:00 am sharp from the Boreal Centre for Bird Conservation.

Cost is $10/participant and includes race refreshments plus a lovely Adopt a Bird Certificate.

Download 2025 registration form here!

Registration forms can be brought with you on the Sunday Morning with your registration fee. Just make sure to arrive no later thank 9:45 am so we have time to process your registration.

Contact us at info@borealbirdcentre.ca or call 780-849-8240 for more information.

Thank you to our sponsors for the Songbird Festival!