Acadia's birding community invites you and your family to celebrate the ecological wonders of the birds of the Gulf of Maine at the Acadia Birding Festival. Explore Mount Desert Island and its birds through numerous events and venues. Greet our warblers on early morning birding walks, visit with puffins and pelagic birds at sea, and observe Peregrine Falcons at an active breeding site in Acadia National Park. Our combination of lectures, walks, and adventures will connect you to Downeast Maine’s many bird species, diverse habitats and local birding experts.

Keynote Speakers 2025: Lilllian Stokes/Matt Young Kevin Karlson/Pete Dunne

Schedule of Events:

May 28, 2025: Pre-Fest

11:30am - 2:00pm: Boat Trip - Acadia Puffin Cruise (from Steuben 1.2 hr drive from MDI) - $90
6:00am - 1:00pm: Field Trip - Saddleback Mt - Bicknell's Thrush - $90
6:30am - 5:30pm: Island Trip - Monhegan Island TRIP - $125
4:00pm - 5:30pm: Social - Festival Center Social - registration pickup - $0

May 29, 2025:

6:00am - 4:00pm: Van Trip (#3) - Waldo County Hotspots - van Trip (All Day) - $95
6:00am - 4:00pm: Van Trip (#2) - Schoodic Peninsula - van Trip (All Day) with Seth Benz - $110
6:40am - 4:00pm: Van Trip (#1) - Swans Island (ferry ride) - van Trip (All Day) - $100
6:00am - 12:00pm: Van Trip (#4) - Hancock County Hotspots - van Trip (1/2 DAY) - $85
6:00am - 10:00am: Field Trip - - Sieur de Monts (ANP) - $30
6:30am - 10:00am: Field Trip - Jordan River Preserve (New) - $30
6:30am - 10:00am: Field Trip - Wonderland (ANP) (focus on Botany and Birds) - $30
6:30am - 10:00am: Field Trip - Seal Cove (Billy Helprin) - $30
6:30am - 10:00am: Field Trip - Otter Point (ANP) - $30
7:00am - 10:00am: Field Trip - Petit Manan Preserve (1+ hour drive from MDI) - $30
7:00am - 10:00am: Field Trip - Stone Barn Farm (New) - $30
7:00am - 11:00am: Field Trip - Sears Island (1+ hour drive from MDI) - $30
7:00am - 10:00am: Boat Trip - Canoe and Bird - Northeast Creek - $60
10:30am - 12:00pm: Field Trip - Kids "Birding Blitz" (Babson Creek Learning Forest) - $0
11:00pm - 12:00pm: Talk - Birding in Maine By Ear (Dan Gardoqui) - Live - $10
11:00pm - 12:00pm: Talk - Birding in Maine By Ear (Dan Gardoqui) - Virtual - $5
11:30am - 2:00pm: Boat Trip - Acadia Puffin Cruise (from Steuben 1.2 hr drive from MDI) - $90
12:00pm - 1:00pm: Pizza - Festival Center Social - PIZZA (first come, first serve) - $0
1:00pm - 2:30pm: Talk - Eastern Warbler Workshop (Kevin Karlson) - Live - $35
1:00pm - 2:30pm: Talk - Eastern Warbler Workshop (Kevin Karlson) - Virtual - $10
3:00pm - 5:00pm: Workshop - How to Draw Birds (with Rebekah Lowell) - $35
3:00pm - 5:30pm: Van Trip (#4) - MDI Wetlands - van Trip - $45
3:00pm - 5:30pm: Field Trip - Wonderland (ANP) - $25
3:00pm - 5:30pm: Field Trip - Seal Cove (Matt Young) - $30
3:00pm - 5:30pm: Field Trip - Ship Harbor (ANP) (focus on Botany and Birds) - $25
3:00pm - 5:30pm: Field Trip - Sieur de Monts Spring (ANP) - $25
3:00pm - 5:30pm: Field Trip - Clark Point Rd - $25
3:00pm - 5:30pm: Field Trip - Valley Cove/Flying Mt (ANP) - $25
3:00pm - 5:30pm: Field Trip - Otter Point (ANP) - $25
3:00pm - 5:30pm: Field Trip - Schooner Head & Great Head (ANP) (New) - $25
3:30pm - 5:30pm: Field Trip - Rockefeller Carriage Rd (ANP) - $25
3:30pm - 5:30pm: Field Trip - Blagden Preserve - $25
6:30pm - 8:00pm: Lobster - Lobster Dinner at Archie's - $50

May 30, 2025:

6:00am - 4:00pm: Van Trip (#1) - Bangor Hotspots - van Trip (All Day) - $95
6:00am - 4:00pm: Van Trip (#4) - Waldo County Hotspots - van Trip (All Day) - $95
6:00am - 4:00pm: Van Trip (#2) - Schoodic Peninsula - van Trip (All Day) with Seth Benz - $110
6:00am - 12:00pm: Van Trip (#3) - Blue Hill and Beyond - van Trip (1/2 DAY) - $85
6:00am - 1:00pm: Island Trip - Frenchboro/Long Island (Island Trip) -3/4 DAY - $85
6:00am - 10:00am: Field Trip - Seal Cove - $30
6:00am - 10:00am: Field Trip - Pretty Marsh/ Long Pond Fire Rd (ANP) - $30
6:00am - 10:00am: Field Trip - Sieur de Monts Spring (ANP) - $30
6:30am - 10:00am: Field Trip - Stone Barn Farm (New) - $30
6:30am - 10:00am: Field Trip - Clark Point Rd (Lillian Stokes and Matt Young) - $40
7:00am - 10:00am: Field Trip - Ship Harbor Nature Trail (ANP) (focus on Botany and Birds) - $30
7:00am - 10:00am: Field Trip - Petit Manan Preserve (1+ hour drive from MDI) - $30
7:00am - 11:00am: Field Trip - Sears Island (1+ hour drive from MDI) - $30
7:00am - 10:00am: Field Trip - Beech Mountain (ANP) - $30
7:00am - 10:00am: Boat Trip - Canoe and Bird - Northeast Creek - $60
10:30am - 11:30am: Field Trip - Peregrine Falcon Viewing (ANP) - $10
11:00am - 12:00pm: Talk - Caught In Monhegan's Trap! (Brett Ewald) - Live - $10
11:00am - 12:00pm: Talk - Caught In Monhegan's Trap! (Brett Ewald) - Virtual - $5
11:30am - 2:00pm: Boat Trip - Acadia Puffin Cruise (from Steuben 1.2 hr drive from MDI) - $90
12:00pm - 1:00pm: Pizza - Festival Center Social - PIZZA (first come, first serve) - $0
12:00pm - 1:00pm: Book Sale - Book Sales (signed by authors) - $0
1:00pm - 2:00pm: Talk - Seabird ID workshop (Doug Hitchcox) - Live - $10
1:00pm - 2:00pm: Talk - Seabird ID workshop (Doug Hitchcox) - Virtual - $5
2:30pm - 5:00pm: Field Trip - Nature Journaling and Field Sketching - $35
3:00pm - 5:30pm: Van Trip (#3) - MDI Hotspots - van Trip - $45
3:00pm - 5:30pm: Field Trip - Fish Ladders in Somesville (Billy Helprin) - $25
3:00pm - 5:30pm: Field Trip - Ship Harbor (ANP) - $25
3:00pm - 5:30pm: Field Trip - Pretty Marsh/Long Pond Fire Rd (ANP) - $25
3:00pm - 5:30pm: Field Trip - Sieur de Monts Spring (ANP) - $25
3:00pm - 5:30pm: Field Trip - Wonderland (ANP) (focus on Botany and Birds) - $25
3:00pm - 5:30pm: Field Trip - Seal Cove (focus on common birds) - $25
3:00pm - 5:30pm: Field Trip - Otter Point (ANP) - $25
3:00pm - 5:30pm: Field Trip - Schooner Head & Great Head (ANP) (New) - $25
3:00pm - 5:30pm: Field Trip - Clark Point Rd - $25
3:30pm - 5:30pm: Field Trip - Blagden Preserve - $25
3:30pm - 5:30pm: Field Trip - Stone Barn Farm (New) - $25
7:00pm - 8:00pm: Keynote - Finches of US and Canada (Lillian Stokes & Matt Young) - Live - $30
7:00pm - 8:00pm: Keynote - Finches of US and Canada (L Stokes & M Young) - Virtual - $5

May 31, 2025:

6:00am - 10:30am: Boat Trip - Pelagic Seabird Boat Trip - $125
6:00am - 9:30am: Van Trip (#4) - MDI Hotspots - van Trip - $45
6:40am - 4:00pm: Van Trip (#1) - Swans Island (ferry ride) - van Trip (All Day) - $100
6:00am - 10:00am: Field Trip - Seal Cove - $30
7:00am - 10:00am: Field Trip - Blagden Preserve - $30
7:00am - 11:00am: Field Trip - Sears Island (1+ hour drive from MDI) - $30
7:00am - 10:00am: Field Trip - Sieur de Monts Spring (ANP) - $30
7:30am - 10:00am: Field Trip - Fish Ladders in Somesville (Billy Helprin) - $30
11:30am - 12:30pm: Field Trip - Peregrine Falcon Viewing (ANP) - $10
12:00pm - 1:00pm: Pizza - Festival Center Social - Pizza (first come, first serve) - $0
12:00pm - 1:00pm: Book Sale - Book Sales (signed by authors) - $0
1:00pm - 2:00pm: Talk - Becoming a Finch Forecaster (M Young & S Benz) - Live - $10
1:00pm - 2:00pm: Talk - Becoming a Finch Forecaster (M Young & S Benz) - Virtual - $5
1:30pm - 4:00pm: Boat Trip - Acadia Puffin Cruise (from Steuben 1.2 hr drive from MDI) - $90
3:00pm - 5:00pm: Workshop - How to Draw Birds (with Rebekah Lowell) - $35
3:00pm - 5:30pm: Van Trip (#2) - Birding BLITZ Leaders Choice - van Trip - $45
3:00pm - 5:30pm: Van Trip (#4) - MDI Wetlands - van Trip - $45
3:00pm - 5:30pm: Field Trip - Pretty Marsh/Long Pond Fire Rd (ANP) - $25
3:00pm - 5:30pm: Field Trip - Becoming a Finch Forecaster (M Young & S Benz) - $40
3:00pm - 5:30pm: Field Trip - Sieur de Monts Spring (ANP) - $25
3:00pm - 5:30pm: Field Trip - Schooner Head & Great Head (ANP) (New) - $25
3:00pm - 5:30pm: Field Trip - Seal Cove - $25
3:00pm - 5:30pm: Field Trip - Valley Cove/Flying Mt (ANP) - $25
3:00pm - 5:30pm: Field Trip - Long Pond loop at Pump Station (ANP) - $25
3:00pm - 5:30pm: Field Trip - Fish Ladders in Somesville (Billy Helprin) - $25
3:00pm - 5:30pm: Field Trip - Jordan River Preserve (New) - $25
3:00pm - 5:30pm: Field Trip - Rockefeller Carriage Rd (ANP) - $25
3:00pm - 5:30pm: Field Trip - Clark Point Rd - $25
3:00pm - 5:30pm: Field Trip - Beech Mountain (ANP) - $25
3:00pm - 5:30pm: Field Trip - Ship Harbor (ANP) (focus on Botany and Birds) - $25
7:00pm - 8:00pm: KEYNOTE - Shorebirds of North America (K Karlson & P Dunne) - Live - $30
7:00pm - 8:00pm: KEYNOTE - Shorebirds of North America (K Karlson & P Dunne) - Virtual - $5
8:30pm - Midnight: Van Trip (#1, #2) - Owl and Night Creature Prowl - $55

June 1, 2025:

6:00am - 4:00pm: Van Trip (#3) - Bangor Hotspots - van Trip (All Day) - $95
6:00am - 12:00pm: Van Trip (#4) - Hancock County Hotspots - van Trip (1/2 DAY) - $85
6:00am - 4:00pm: Van Trip (#2) - Schoodic Peninsula - van Trip (All Day) with Seth Benz - $110
6:00am - 12:00pm: Van Trip (#1) - Blue Hill and Beyond - van Trip (1/2 DAY) - $85
6:30am - 10:00am: Field Trip - Blagden Preserve - $30
6:30am - 10:00am: Field Trip - Seal Cove (Billy Helprin) - $30
6:00am - 10:00am: Field Trip - Sieur de Monts Spring (ANP) (focus on Botany and Birds) - $30
7:00am - 10:00am: Field Trip - Valley Cove/Flying Mt (ANP) - $30
7:00am - 10:00am: Field Trip - Babson Creek Learning Forest (New) - $30
7:00am - 10:00am: Field Trip - Petit Manan Preserve (1+ hour drive from MDI) - $30
7:00am - 11:00am: Field Trip - Sears Island (1+ hour drive from MDI) - $30
7:00am - 10:00am: Field Trip - Rockefeller Carriage Rd (ANP) - $30
7:00am - 10:00am: Field Trip - Beech Mountain (ANP) - $30
7:00am - 10:00am Boat Trip - Canoe and Bird - Northeast Creek - $60
7:30am - 9:30am: Field Trip - Manchester Pt Feeder & Sea Watch (D Reis & P Dunne) (New) - $25
9:30am - 12:00pm: Boat Trip - Acadia Puffin Cruise (from Steuben 1.2 hr drive from MDI) - $90
10:00am - 12:00pm: Big Sit - Big Sit with Pete Dunne - $0
10:30am - 11:30am: Field Trip - Peregrine Falcon Viewing (ANP) - $10
11:00am - 12:00pm: Talk - Native Plants & Birds in New England (Evan Dalton) - Live - $10
11:00am - 12:00pm: Talk - Native Plants & Birds in New England (Evan Dalton) - Virtual - $5
11:30am - 2:00pm: Boat Trip - Acadia Puffin Cruise (from Steuben 1.2 hr drive from MDI) - $90
12:00pm - 1:00pm: Lunch - Lunch provided by Manomet Conservation Sciences - $0
1:00pm - 2:00pm: Talk - The Courage of Birds (Pete Dunne) - Live - $10
1:00pm - 2:00pm: Talk - The Courage of Birds (Pete Dunne) - Virtual - $5
2:30pm - 5:00pm: Field Trip - Nature Journaling and Field Sketching - $35
3:00pm - 5:30pm: Field Trip - Seal Cove - $25
3:00pm - 5:30pm: Field Trip - Clark Point Rd - $25
3:00pm - 5:30pm: Field Trip - Otter Point (ANP) - $25
3:00pm - 5:30pm: Field Trip - Sieur de Monts Spring (ANP) - $25
3:00pm - 5:30pm: Field Trip - Ship Harbor (ANP) (focus on Botany and Birds) - $25
3:30pm - 5:30pm: Field Trip - Blagden Preserve - $25
3:30pm - 5:30pm: Field Trip - Valley Cove and Flying Mountain (ANP) - $25
3:30pm - Midnight: Van Trip (#1) - Hancock Hotspots & Night Prowl - van Trip - $95

June 2, 2025: Post-Fest

11:30am - 2:00pm: Boat Trip Acadia Puffin Cruise (from Steuben 1.2 hr drive from MDI) - $90

Dates: May 29, 2025 - June 1, 2025

Location:

Wendell Gilley Museum, 4 Herrick Road, Southwest Harbor, ME 04679.
Red Barn at Causeway Club, 10 Fernald Point Rd, Southwest Harbor, ME 04679.

Registration Fee: $25

Click Here to Register

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