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San Diego Bird Festival


See you February 17-21, 2027!

Online registration begins November 1st.

Each year, the San Diego Bird Festival brings birders and nature lovers from across the country to Southern California. In 2026, we welcomed over 2,500 guests from 37 states and 6 countries. Hosted by the San Diego Bird Alliance, the festival is a celebration of birds, habitats, and the people who care for both. We welcome participants of all backgrounds, abilities, orientations, and beliefs.

A group of people, including a woman with binoculars, gathered outdoors near a marina with sailboats, palm trees, and clear blue sky.

Celebrate birds.

Connect with nature.

Meet bird-friendly people at the San Diego Bird Festival.

Celebrate birds. Connect with nature. Meet bird-friendly people at the San Diego Bird Festival.

Two blue-footed boobies standing on a rocky shoreline, with a body of water in the background. They are tied with blue plastic bands on their feet.

What we offer:

A group of people standing outdoors near a marina with sailboats, some are observing with binoculars, wearing hats, backpacks, and casual clothing, under a clear blue sky.

Field Trips

See San Diego’s birds with some of the best guides in the county!

We have several special pre- and post festival field trips:

A presentation slide titled 'Our Goals' outlining four objectives about urban bird conservation, with a photo of a smiling person with large wing-like bird wings, surrounded by a seated audience in a conference room.

Presentations & Classroom Programs

You’ll enjoy skill building workshops, lectures on bird behavior, talks about great places to see bird, and cultural explorations of the relationship between birds and people!
A woman smiling, with dark hair and earrings, wearing a dark top and a blue scarf, standing with her arms crossed in front of a dark background with blurred green and blue lights. 
We have enjoyed presentations from keynote speakers from across the country and across the world. They have spoken on subjects like how birding makes us better, their experiences with conservation projects, inclusivity in birding, and beyond.

Keynote Speakers

Black and white logo featuring a stylized bird, with the words 'Detroit Bird' in a circular arrangement around it.

We support the mission of the San Diego Bird Alliance to defend our region’s birds, wild habitats, and unique biodiversity.

  • "An incredible few days at the San Diego Bird Festival. We had an amazing time connecting with such a passionate and welcoming birding community, sharing stories, learning, and getting outside together. The scenery, the energy, and the people made it an experience we won’t forget.."

    —2026 Participant

  • " So well-organized and participants and visitors were really engaged and enjoying themselves. We loved the diversity of activities related to birding and also having food there as well."

    —2026 Participant

  • "Such an amazing event! It was so great! So much fun! It was such an honor to be a part of this amazing event! Thank you for having me! 💚 We had such a wonderful time! We met so many wonderful people! Thank you to everyone involved!❤️🙌👏💡"

    —2026 Participant

2027 Special Guests and Presenters

  • A man in outdoor clothing with binoculars around his neck, standing outdoors with trees and a cloudy sky in the background.

    Amar Ayyash

  • A woman with long brown hair and bangs, wearing a red jacket and blue jeans, sitting on dry grass outdoors, looking to her left with her hand touching her hair.

    Bonner Black

  • A man standing in a grassy field with mountains in the background, wearing a brown sweatshirt with yellow writing, a cap, and binoculars around his neck.

    Jason Hall

  • A man with a beard and dark hair outdoors, shielding his eyes from the sun with his hand. He is standing in front of large rocks and a tree, wearing a gray t-shirt, a light-colored button-up shirt, and a red backpack, under a bright blue sky.

    Billy Libby

  • A man outdoors holding binoculars, smiling, surrounded by green trees and foliage.

    Tommy Siegel

  • A woman with gray hair and a black jacket looking at a large white telescope outdoors with a natural landscape background.

    Krisztina Scheeff

  • A man smiling outdoors with greenery in the background.

    Marco Wendt

Learn More

2027 Sponsors

  • Close-up illustration of a hawk's head with brown feathers and fierce orange eye, surrounded by a red circular border.

    Golden Eagle Sponsors

  • Logo with letters 'S' and 'D' in blue, alongside yellow, orange, and teal curved shapes.

    City of San Diego CCSD

  • Logo for Quest Nature Tours featuring a stylized bird in flight above the text 'Quest' in large green letters and 'Nature Tours' in smaller green letters.

    Quest Nature Tours

  • Digital illustration of a red and brown bird, likely a flamingo, with a pinkish background and a red circular border.

    Reddish Egret Sponsors

  • Logo of the American Birding Association featuring a bird silhouette and text.

    American Birding Association

  • Your logo could appear here

  • Illustration of a seagull head with red eyes and an orange beak, encircled by a red and white warning symbol.

    Heermann's Gull Sponsors

  • Logo for Front Range Birding & Optics featuring an orange mountain silhouette and a bird silhouette.

    Front Range Birding and Optics

  • Black and white logo with a stylized vortex symbol above the word "VORTEX" in capital letters.

  • Your logo could appear here

  • A stylized image of a bird, possibly a sandpiper, with a long beak and brown and white feathers, on a light background with a red circle border.

    Ridgway's Rail Sponsors

  • Banner for Naturalist Journeys LLC, featuring silhouetted people with binoculars and camera against a sunset background, and text with the company name and website.

    Naturalist Journeys

  • Close-up of red text reading 'Hunt's' on a black background.

    Hunt's Photo and Video

  • Holbrook Travel logo with green background and dark blue symbol

    Holbrook Travel

  • Logo for Nature Tours featuring a stylized mountain and animal silhouette.

    Sabrewing Nature Tours

  • The logo features a leaf design with shades of green and the words 'Canopy Family' in green text.

    Canopy Family

  • Logo of Tranquilo Bay Eco Adventure Lodge with a green tree illustration, establishment year 2005, and text indicating location in Isla Bastimentos, Panama.

    Tranquilo Bay

  • RSL outdoor logo in stylized font with gradient colors

    Kite Optics

  • Red Hill Birding logo with a bird perched on a branch.

    Red Hill Birding

  • Zeiss logo in white on a blue background.

    Zeiss Sport Optics

  • Red text spelling 'Kowa' inside an oval outline.

    Kowa

  • Opticon logo on a green background with white text and underline

    Opticron

  • Logo for Wild Birds Unlimited Nature Shop featuring a birdhouse with three stylized birds in red, blue, and yellow around it.

    Wild Birds Unlimited

  • Hawke logo with a circular icon containing a plus sign and the word 'HAWKE' in uppercase.

    Hawke Sport Optics

  • Your logo could appear here

  • Illustration of a woodpecker with black and white feathers and a red crown, inside a red circle.

    Nuttall's Woodpecker Sponsors

  • Birds & Nature logo with a stylized bird illustration and text 'Tours in Portugal, Spain & Beyond'.

    Birds & Nature Tours Portugal

  • A stylized green hummingbird illustration with the words 'Spring Chirp' written in red cursive font.

    Spring Chirp

  • Birdfy logo with a birdhouse and bird inside, text reads 'Birdfy'.

    Birdfy

Prepare for the future by checking out field gear, books, feeders, and bird-centric tours in our exhibit hall.

Meet and enjoy spending time with others who share your enthusiasm for birding.

Follow the San Diego Bird Festival on Social Media

Located at beautiful Marina Village on Mission Bay in San Diego

1936 Quivira Way

San Diego, CA, 92109

Click here to learn more about the venue.