Presque Isle Audubon’s Festival of the Birds with Black River Audubon Society

 
 

Avoid the crowds at Magee Marsh, as this festival limits participants to 150.

Register for this trip and we will then register you for the festival.

Our short window for signup is due to the limited number of festival slots.

May 15-May 17, 2026

Participant Limit: 8
Activity Level: Moderate

Price: $699 per person (Double Occupancy)
$899 per person (Single Occupancy)

Registration Deadline March 1, 2026

Discover the joys of spring migration at the picturesque Presque Isle State Park, which BirdWatching Magazine rates as one of the top birding spots in the country! Situated along Lake Erie's southern shores in Erie, Pennsylvania, more than 320 species of birds have been recorded at the park! Presque Isle is also home to Gull Point, a sand plain sanctuary that hosts a wide variety of migrating shorebirds and seabirds and the only place in Pennsylvania where you'll find nesting pair/s of the federally endangered Piping Plover! Presque Isle is a designated Important Bird Area and is nicely located on a major migration corridor. Anything could show up!

What’s Included? Everything! Register at:

  • Transportation & Lodging (Courtyard or Sheraton Erie Bayfront or Homewood Suites by Hilton-we will stay together, hotel depends on availability at registration deadline)

  • All meals (alcoholic beverages excluded)

  • Festival Fees (including all offered activities and keynote speaker)

  • Departure: 6:00 am, 313 Hamilton Circle Elyria

    Cancellation: 100% (less CC fees) by 4/15/26 

    Min : 5    Max : 8 (full refund if min not met)

To Register

The 2026 festival features field trips to all the hotspots and workshops for every level, from:

  • Presentation: Rats with Wings and Trash Pandas

  • Presentation: Travels with BirdingApp

  • Presentation: Bird Joy: The key to unlocking our inner child

  • Field trip: Imperfect Quirky Bird Walk

  • Presentation: The extraordinary diversity of origins of our local mammals

  • Presentation: Birds and Words: Nature Writing for Pleasure and Publication

Witness science in action at Erie Bird Observatory's bird banding station. Watch raptors ride thermals way up, up, up into the sky at the Presque Isle Hawk Watch. Bring your own kayak (or rent one here) and paddle into the Presque Isle lagoons with us as we search for migrating waterfowl, secretive marsh birds, & more!

The scheduled 2026 Keynote is Amar Ayyash.

​All this plus good food, great camaraderie, a welcome reception on Friday evening with music and fun; lots of friendly helpful people and a small ticket auction, to boot.

We are a small festival, limited to 150 attendees. None of the crowds, all of the birds.  All skill levels welcome.

More Information about the Festival