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BUFFALO, NY — Birds on the Niagara (BON), North America’s only international winter bird festival, is proud to announce the 2026 festival schedule, taking place February 12–16, 2026, across the Niagara River Corridor.
The festival invites birders of all experience levels, families, and community members to enjoy a long weekend of guided walks, tours, scope stations, films, art workshops, and community socializing at some of the most important winter birding sites in North America. Many events are free or donation-based, with activities taking place on both sides of the U.S.–Canada border. Registration is required for most events.
“Birds on the Niagara is about more than birding — it’s about connection,” said Marcus Rosten, local naturalist and festival organizer. “Connection to place, to wildlife, and to each other, especially during a season when the natural world can feel quiet but is actually at its most spectacular.”
Festival Kickoff
The festival begins Thursday evening, February 12, with The Flyway Film Forum, a community film screening and discussion highlighting birds, conservation, and the Niagara region’s global importance for migratory species.
2026 Keynote Event: “Flock and Forage — Loving by Nature”
The centerpiece of the 2026 festival is the Saturday lunchtime keynote, Flock and Forage: Loving by Nature, featuring Corina Newsome, wildlife biologist, conservation communicator, and co-founder of Black Birders Week.
In her keynote, Newsome explores how birds and wildlife model lessons in community, resilience, cooperation, and care, drawing connections between ecology, conservation, and people.
“Corina Newsome brings a powerful perspective that connects birds, science, and people,” said festival organizer Ruth Goldman. “Her work challenges us to think differently about conservation and community.”
The keynote includes lunch and opportunities to engage with local environmental organizations. Walks and birding activities will take place before and after the event.
Festival Highlights
Throughout the weekend, participants can expect:
● Guided winter bird walks along the Niagara River, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario
● Spotting Scope stations at key viewing areas for waterfowl and gulls
● Family-friendly and beginner-accessible programs and art workshops
● Community social events, including The Gaggle, hosted by Feminist Bird Club Buffalo
U.S.-based programs will take place at outdoor locations including Niagara Falls State Park, Beaver Island State Park, Stella Niagara Nature Preserve, highlighting the region’s world-class winter birding locations.
Why Niagara?
The Niagara Region’s birds are extraordinary. Each winter, tens of thousands of waterfowl and gulls concentrate on the Niagara River, often in striking breeding plumage. Many of these birds travel from as far as the Arctic and boreal forests, making the region one of the most significant winter birding destinations in the world.
The Niagara River is designated a Globally Significant Important Bird Area, a distinction shared with places such as Yellowstone, the Everglades, and the Galápagos Islands.
“When people see these birds up close — especially in winter — it changes how they understand conservation,” Rosten noted. “This festival helps people see the Niagara River as the global ecological treasure that it is.”
Conservation, Community, and Inclusion
Birds on the Niagara emphasizes the importance of local and regional conservation strategies in a globally connected system. Birds that winter in Niagara may breed in the Arctic or migrate through Central and South America, making conservation a shared international responsibility.
The festival also centers cultural inclusion, recognizing that conservation is strongest when people from all backgrounds are welcomed into learning, leadership, and decision-making.
“Just like birds, people thrive in mixed flocks,” Goldman said. “Birds on the Niagara is a place where everyone belongs and provides an opportunity to discover a new hobby and community.”
Learn More
A full schedule of U.S. events and registration details can be found at:
https://bird-niagara.org/2026-festival-u-s-schedule/
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