Birdiest Festival in America: Here's what to expect this year

Shake your tail feather, the 2024 Birdiest Festival in America starts Wednesday and ends Sunday.

Online pre-registration is closed, but onsite registration starts 2 p.m. Tuesday at South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center.

Registration is $40, with your badge covering all but separately priced field trips, workshops, dinner and keynote speaker.

Throughout the past seven festivals, birders have traveled across the nation from 30 states. This year, birders will also come from Alaska, Canada and Australia.

This year's keynote speaker is Cameron Cox, author of "The Beauty of Terns." His slot will be at 5:30 p.m. Friday. As a birding guide and nature photographer for the past 30 years, Cox has written several books and compiled lists of birding tips.

Other highlights of the Birdiest Festival include a South Texas BBQ dinner, vendors, Raptor Project presentations and Saturday $2 admission Family Fun Day.

To register and for more information, visit birdiestfestival.org.

John Oliva covers entertainment and community news in South Texas. Contact him at john.oliva@caller.com or X @johnpoliva.

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