Hastings Area Earth Day Birding Festival
and
Youth Birding Competition
Celebrate birds and conservation at the CNC MN Campus. Attend classes that introduce you to raptors, birding, bird banding, and go on guided bird trips through the Hastings area.
Registration
Admission is $5 per person, or $15 if ordering a lunchbox (must be ordered by Wed 4/23)
REGISTER ONLINE (CLOSED)
or
Walk-in Registration on Festival Day
2025 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 – Andy Forbes: Big Green Year
9:00 – 9:15am Morning Field Trips Depart
11:45am – 1:00pm Lunch – Box lunches must be order with advanced registration
12:00pm – 1:00pm Presentation– Joe Beattie: Discovering the School Property at 180th Marsh
12:45 – 1:00pm Afternoon Field Trips Depart
1:00 – 2:00pm Raptors of the Mississippi Flyway – CNC staff and LIVE animal ambassadors
2:00 – 3:45pm Youth Build-a-Birdfeeder Workshop – Free with Festival Admission or $5/child.
4:00 – 5:00pm Youth Birding Competition Awards Presentation & Interactive Species List Tally
Field Trip Schedule
FIELD TRIPS ARE FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED – ADVANCED REGISTRATION RECOMMENDED
All-Day Field Trips
Morning field trips depart from CNC at 9:00am.
| Waterfowl & Shorebirds | Lake Byllesby /GWIP – long day | 9:30 AM – 2:00 PM |
Morning Field Trips
Morning field trips depart from CNC at 9:00am.
| Learning to Bird with Accessibility for all | Carpenter Nature Center- morning | 9:30 – 10:30 AM |
| Exploring the Largest North American Flyway in Hastings | Hastings River Flats -morning | 9:30 – 11:30 AM |
| Early Spring Songbird Migrants | Afton State Park – morning | 9:30 – 11:30 AM |
Afternoon Field Trips
Afternoon field trips depart from CNC at 1:00pm.
| St. Croix Valley Gem with Prairie and Forest Birds | CNC Wisconsin – afternoon | 1:30 – 3:30 PM |
| Birds & Bison | Spring Lake Park – afternoon | 1:30 – 3:30 PM |
| Natural Wetland Migrant Trap | 180th St Marsh – afternoon | 1:30 – 3:30 PM |
Youth Birding Competition
Team up with friends and/or siblings to try and see the most bird species in one day. Prizes for all participants! All skill levels welcome!
COMPETITION STRUCTURE
Age Groups
- 10 years & under
- 11-15 years
- 16-18 years
Competition Categories
- CNC Count Circle – View map
- Backyard Birder
Count Periods
- CNC Count Circle – 12:00am – 4:00pm
- Backyard Birder – 12:00am – 11:59pm
Please carefully review Youth Birding Competition Rules 2025 and the ABA Code of Birding Ethics before participating!
REGISTRATION
REGISTER ONLINE, OR
Email Jennifer@CarpenterNatureCenter.org with the following information by no later than Friday, April 19 at 5:00pm:
- Team name
- Team location(s)
- Age division
- Area of play category – Backyard Birder or Pick Your Park
- Number of team members
- Adult guardian’s email and phone number