Despite the ongoing world of COVID, we are finally be able to host our 25th Annual Songbird Festival this spring. 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 28 – 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.
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: Boreal Forest Jeopardy – team up with your families or friends and test your knowledge of the boreal forest for fun and fabulous prizes!
- 11:00 am: Medicinal Plant Walk: Join the Lesser Slave Lake Forest Education Society for a walk through the boreal forest followed by a cup of tea! This program will introduce you to some of the traditional and medicinal uses of some of the different plants along the Songbird Trail. Learn some tips on how to find and identify common plants and sample some boreal forest teas to wrap up!
- 12:15 am: Introduction to the Bird Songs of the Boreal Forest: Birding in the Boreal Forest can be a real challenge. You can hear them, but you just can’t see them to identify them! Join us to learn how and why birds sing, the difference between a call and a song and most importantly, and tips on how to learn bird songs. Then head out on the trail with us to test out your new found skills (and the Merlin Bird ID app)
FUN DROP IN ACTIVITIES FOR ALL AGES including:
- Birdhouse and Bird Feeder building
- Bird Silhouette Painting
- Top 10 Bird Scavenger Hunt
- Migration Obstacle Course
Pre-registration is not required, just show up for the fun. For more information, contact us at info@borealbirdcentre.ca or 780-849-8240.
Sunday, May 29 – 16th 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.
Entry Fee: $10/person
Download registration form here!
Entries can be mailed to: LSLBO, Box 1076, Slave Lake, AB T0G 2A0 or dropped off no later than 9:30 am on Sunday morning.
Entry Fee includes refreshments during/after event and a certificate for an adopt-a-bird from the boreal forest!
For more information, Phone: (780) 849-8240
Thank you for supporting the Lesser Slave Lake Bird Observatory!
