FLORIDA

BIRDING & NATURE

FESTIVAL

October 17 - 20 , 2024
6650 Dickman Rd, Apollo Beach

Four days of field and boat trips, expert seminars, keynote speakers, and a free nature expo!


"Burrowing Owl" © Luminas Art
In partnership with Tampa Electric Company, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Suncoast Youth Conservation Center, and Hillsborough County's Conservation and Environmental Lands Management/Environmental Lands Aquisition and Protection Program - come celebrate the wonders of the birds, wildlife, and natural lands that we enjoy in West Central Florida.

A four-day festival offering seminars keynotes field trips boat trips a free nature expo a fundraising sale
where you can learn from renowned professionals, experience peak migration, and shop unique products...

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU REGISTER

Expert Seminars

Two days of seminars from experts in their fields. Attend live on Friday and Saturday, from 9 am to 6 pm. All seminars are included with registration, including access to YouTube talks after the Festival. Look over the schedule to not miss your favorites!

Free Nature Expo

Free of charge, our Expo will be full of nature organizations, original artwork, and more. Come meet the groups working hard to protect the environment, and shop! Open 10 am to 5 pm Friday & Saturday.

Fundraising Sale

Donations have come in from vendors, individual supporters, and more. Items will be on display during the Expo, with buy-it-now pricing and an auction option.

Field & Boat Trips

After registration, add-on a field or boat trip (Thu-Sun) - many of which will take you to sites not normally accessible to the public - for $25 to $60. Many of our popular trips sell out, so get your tickets early!

Check out the birding checklist from the 2021 Festival.

Keynote Events

At 6 pm on Friday & Saturday, come enjoy a buffet and then listen to renowned experts give a Keynote presentation (at the Firehouse Cultural Center in Ruskin). Registration is not required. Keynotes are $40 with the full buffet, plus access to YouTube presentations after the Festival. Our new KEYNOTE SERIES ticket saves you money! Check the KEYNOTES.

Other details...

Lunch will be available for purchase from 11 am to 2 pm on Friday and Saturday.

Scroll down for the Schedule Overview and use the button for the full 2023 Schedule Details. And click here to meet last years' experts!

NEW this year...

The PLATINUM PASS!

Purchase the PLATINUM PASS for $275 and have the entire Festival covered! The registration fee, all the seminars, the Thursday pre-festival trips, both Keynote events with buffet, and every field or boat trip you care to sign up for. There's a possible savings of $250! Watch for registration to open, or sign up for our email list now (scroll to bottom).

A Schedule Overview

Of last year's Florida Birding & Nature Festival

THU Day-1 Oct-12
7:30 AM
Bus Trip Begins
5:30 PM
Sunset Cruise Begins
FRI Day-2 Oct-13
7:30 AM
First Field Trip Begins
9:00 AM
Seminars Begin
10:00 AM
Free Nature Expo Opens
6:00 PM
Keynote Presentation and Buffet
SAT Day-3 Oct-14
7:30 AM
First Field Trip Begins
9:00 AM
Seminars Begin
10:00 AM
Free Nature Expo Opens
6:00 PM
Keynote Presentation and Buffet
SUN Day-4 Oct-15
7:30 AM
First Field Trip Begins
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0
0
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Our 2023 Sponsors

The Florida Birding & Nature Festival could not exist without our wonderful sponsors who generously contribute financial aid and in-kind services! Consider joining our great sponsors!


(Click on a logo to open their website in another tab.)

2024 Venues

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Suncoast Youth Conservation Center

FWC's Suncoast Youth Conservation Center - for the seminars and free nature expo

Address: 6650 Dickman Rd
Apollo Beach, FL 33572, United States

Get Directions

Hotels Map

Firehouse Cultural Center - for the keynote events

Address: 101 1st Ave NE
Ruskin, FL 33570, United States

Get Directions




EXHIBITORS & VENDORS
TECO Manatee Viewing Center
Tampa Audubon Society
Friends of Tampa Bay National Wildlife Refuges
Peter R Gerbert Art
Wild Birds Unlimited Tampa
Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center
Lower Rio Grande Valley Nature Center
Realistic Bird Carvings
SWFWMD
Manatee County Natural Resources
Holbrook Travel
Tampa Bay Conservancy
Swarovski Optik
Tampa Bay Aquatic Preserves
Tampa Bay Sierra Club
Hillsborough County CELM
Eagle Audubon
St. Petersburg Audubon Society
Little Red Wagon Native Nursery
Land Sea & Sky Binoculars
Birding with David Simpson
Wild Planet Creations
Raptor Center of Tampa Bay
Florida Birding Trail
Wings Over Florida
Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County
Sun City Center Audubon Club
Carefree Birding
Florida Ornithological Society, Inc.
Jennifer Goodhue Art
Seaside Seabird Sanctuary
Chicago Zoological Society's Sarasota Dolphin Research Program
Book Lovers Bookstore
Solarizers
Audubon Florida
All Walks of Light Fine Art Photography
Asherita Viajera

Our kindhearted Festival volunteers get free access to the seminars or a keynote talk - outside of their shift(s) on the day they work.

Day shifts also get a free lunch. Evening keynote shifts get a free buffet. Most shifts are approximately 4-hours, and you can volunteer on more than one day.

Volunteer spots are assigned on a first-sign-up basis.


2024 volunteer positions coming soon.