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.
If you are thinking about attending but worried that our plans might change due to wildfires or smoke, signup for updates at our Eventbrite page! We will send out email updates to anyone who has “purchased” a ticket on any major changes to our plans. Or watch our Facebook page!
Saturday, May 27 – Songbird 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.
6:30 am to 1:00 pm: FREE Neal Knoot Pancake Breakfast plus BBQ Burgers – coffee and pancakes will be ready for the “early birds” with tasty burgers available for lunch. Generously sponsored by Vanderwell Contractors (1971) Ltd. Donations gratefully accepted!
7 am and 8 am: Guided Birding Walks – Head out with some of our favourite birders and spot some of the beautiful wood warblers arriving each day during spring migration.
Lesser Slave Lake Bird Observatory Tours departing hourly from 7 am to 11 am: Hop on the bus for the chance to experience the work of the researchers at the station and hopefully experience these tiny songbirds up close!
NATURE WORKSHOPS:
- 10:00 am Spring Migration: Patti Campsall, LSLBO Executive Director: Why do these tiny songbirds travel all the way up to the boreal forest each spring and how do they manage to navigate these incredible distances. Join us to learn more about some of our favourite migration marvels!
- 11:00 am Family Birding Walk: Fisher Stephenson, LSLBO Interpreter Want to know who is singing the beautiful songs you are hearing in the forest? Join our interpreter Fisher for a family friendly birding walk on the Songbird Loop and discover why so many people are getting into bird watching! Binoculars will be provided.
- 12:15 pm Nesting and Home Range of Barred Owls in Managed Forests of Alberta: Lisa Priestley, Strix Ecological Consulting. Join Lisa to explore the ecology of the Barred Owl and how this collaborative research project is helping us learn more about the nesting and home ranges of this special species in Alberta’s forests. Over the past two years, LSLBO staff have been assisting with field work for this exciting project in the Slave Lake area.
FUN DROP IN ACTIVITIES FOR ALL AGES including bird house build, crafts and family fun.
- Birdhouse and Bird Feeder building: A beloved Songbird Festival tradition, build a wooden bird house or bird feeder for your family! Generously sponsored by West Fraser Mills
- Crafts, Scavenger hunts, games.
For more information, contact us at info@borealbirdcentre.ca or 780-849-8240.
Sunday, May 28 – 17th 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 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.
