Celebrate birds and conservation at the CNC MN Campus

2026 Event Schedule

7:00am – Noon Registration/Check-in

8:00am – Noon Bird Banding Demonstrations – On-going throughout the morning

8:00 – 8:15am Opening Address – Representatives from HEP, CNC & MOU

8:15 – 9:00am Keynote Speaker – Tom Lewanski | Natural Resources Manager of Dakota County Parks

9:00 – 9:15am Morning Field Trips Depart

9:00am – 12:30pm Stationary Bird Count at Carpenter Nature Center– Ben Douglas

11:45am – 1:00pm Lunch – Box lunches must be order with advanced registration

12:45 – 1:00pm Afternoon Field Trips Depart

Time TBD Raptors of the Mississippi Flyway – CNC staff and LIVE animal ambassadors

2:00 – 3:45pm Youth Build-a-Birdhouse Workshop – Free with Festival Admission or $5/child

4:00 – 5:00pm Youth Birding Competition Awards Presentation & Interactive Species List Tally