See tabs below for additional details
We offer several registration options for your convenience:
Advanced Registration Preferred (Required for purchase of box lunch)
- For convenient online registration and payment, click here, or
- Call CNC at 651-437-4359 and ask to speak to Jennifer Vieth – Pay over phone OR on festival day
Walk-in Registration on Festival Day
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 – Ben Douglas – “Birding Your Way: Fulfilling Wants, Needs, and Giving Back”
9:00 – 9:15am Morning Field Trips Depart
11:45am – 1:00pm Lunch – Box lunches must be order with advanced registration
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 Program TBD
4:00 – 5:00pm Youth Birding Competition Awards Presentation & Interactive Species List Tally
FIELD TRIPS ARE FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED – ADVANCED REGISTRATION RECOMMENDED
FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 2023
7:00 – 9:00pm Woodcock Walk at Sand Coulee SNA – Dwight Smith, Kevin Smith, and Mathew Thompson
SATURDAY, APRIL 22, 2023
9:00 – 9:15am Morning Field Trips Depart
9:30 – 10:30am Learning to Bird with Accessibility at Carpenter Nature Center – Pam Albin, Loren Albin, and Tate Putnam
9:30 – 11:30am Special Habitat Means Special Birds at Sand Coulee SNA – Mathew Thompson and Tim Popp
9:30 – 11:30am Exploring the Largest North American Flyway at Mississippi River Flats – Walt Popp and Linda Whyte
9:30 – 11:30am Early Spring Songbird Migrants at Afton State Park – Ben Douglas and Tate Putnam
9:30am – 2:00pm Waterfowl & Shorebirds at Lake Byllesby/GWIP – Gerry Hoekstra and Steve Weston
12:45 – 1:00pm Afternoon Field Trips Depart
1:30 – 3:30pm Bluff Forest Park Access for All at Schaar’s Bluff – Tim Popp, Walt Popp, and Tate Putnam
1:30 – 3:30pm Target Birding (8 participant limit) at Various Locations – Ben Douglas and Linda Whyte
1:30 – 3:303pm Natural Wetland Migrant Stopover at 180th Street Marsh – Pam Albin, Loren Albin, and Tate Putnam
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
Count Periods
- CNC Count Circle – 12:00am – 4:00pm
- Backyard Birder – 12:00am – 11:59pm
Please carefully review the rules for the Youth Birding Competition 2023 and the ABA Code of Birding Ethics before participating!
REGISTRATION
Pre-registration is required
Sign your team up with our Online Registration Form, OR
Email Jennifer@CarpenterNatureCenter.org with the following information by no later than Friday, April 21 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
“Learn to Bird” training session is available for newcomers. This training will take place on April 15th from 1:00 – 3:00pm at the CNC Minnesota Campus. Binoculars and field guides will be available, and the guided hike will be on a paved trail for easy accessibility. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is required, so call 651-437-4359.