The 9th Annual Hiking Spree Kickoff Event
Stephen J. Wortham Park
FLORIDA
BIRDING & NATURE
FESTIVAL
October 17 - 20 , 20246650 Dickman Rd, Apollo Beach
Four days of field and boat trips, expert seminars, keynote speakers, and a free nature expo!
Despite two hurricanes, WE ARE HAVING A FESTIVAL! The nature expo is on, the seminars, and the Keynote events. If an individual field trip has been cancelled, you will be notified.
Representative Lindsay Cross' Welcome Letter
"Burrowing Owl" © Luminas Art
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...
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 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Friday & Saturday.
The free bird shows will take place on Saturday at 11:00am and 2:30pm.
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.
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 5:30 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 2024 Schedule Details. And click here to meet this 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 May 15, or sign up for our email list now (scroll to bottom).
A Schedule Overview
Of the Florida Birding & Nature Festival
THU
Day-1
Oct-17
1:00 PM
First Field Trip Begins
6:30 PM
Sunset Cruise Begins
FRI
Day-2
Oct-18
7:30 AM
First Field Trip Begins
9:00 AM
Seminars Begin
10:00 AM
Free Nature Expo Opens
5:30 PM
Keynote Presentation and Buffet
SAT
Day-3
Oct-19
7:30 AM
First Field Trip Begins
9:00 AM
Seminars Begin
10:00 AM
Free Nature Expo Opens
11:00 AM
Free Bird Show
2:30 PM
Free Bird Show
5:30 PM
Keynote Presentation and Buffet
SUN
Day-4
Oct-20
7:30 AM
First Field Trip Begins
0
0
0
0
This Year's 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.)
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
Hampton Inn & Suites
We have a great discounted rate with the Hampton Inn & Suites Ruskin Make sure to book before September 20, 2024.
Hotels Map
Firehouse Cultural Center - for the keynote events
Address: 101 1st Ave NE
Ruskin, FL 33570, United States
Come see this year's vendors and exhibitors at the EXPO. 2024 registration NOW OPEN! 
Saturday ONLY! Free BIRD SHOW!
Featuring a wide variety of birds: Hawks, Owls, Vultures, Falcons, and Eagles, in a 30-45 minute demonstration.
TWO SHOWS 11:00am and 2:30pm.
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 3-hours, and you can volunteer on more than one day.
LOCATIONS: Day shifts are at the Suncoast Youth Conservation Center at 6650 Dickman Rd in Apollo Beach. Evening shifts are at the Firehouse Cultural Center at 101 1st Ave NE in Ruskin.
Volunteer spots are assigned on a first-sign-up basis. Sign up now to grab the spot(s) you want.