Join us for the first annual Tipton County Museum Bird Festival! Explore the beauty of birds and nature through educational exhibits, guided trails, and interactive activities. Don't miss this exciting event for bird enthusiasts and nature lovers of all ages.

-- Door Prizes
-- Food Trucks
-- Bird Art
-- Bird Exhibit
-- Swag bags
-- Photo Exhibit

Schedule:

May 2, 2025

3:00 PM:
Kick-off bird hike at Fort Pillow State Park with Ranger Tyson Weller. Hikers will meet at the Fort Pillow Museum at 2:45 PM.

6:00 PM-9:00 PM:
Reception at the Tipton County Museum. Come join us at the museum for refreshments and mingle with other bird enthusiasts while checking out the Museum's bird and photography exhibits, and local bird art. Be sure to sign up for your favorite events, fill out your liability waivers, and pick up your bird check-off lists!

6:30 PM:
Waterfowl Migration and Banding. Jake Yoes, David Vandergrift, and Tyson Weller will discuss waterfowl migration, duck banding, and turkey banding.

May 3, 2025

30 Min. bef. 1st light: Facebook live event. Legend of the Nightjar with Bob Ford.

6:30 AM-7:00 AM: Arrival for morning hikers, sign-ups, light grab and go breakfast.

7:00 AM-11:00 AM:
Intermediate Bird Hike with Bob Ford at Lower Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge in Lauderdale County. Hikers will meet at the Tipton County Museum and drive to the refuge.

8:00 AM-10:00 AM: Beginner's Bird Hike with Jake Yoes at Lower Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge in Lauderdale County. Hikers will meet at the museum and drive to the refuge.

8:30 AM-11 AM: Photography Bird Walk with Watt Wallace, Julie Hartsfield, and Lily Yates. 11:00AM: Hikers will meet at the museum and drive to the refuge.

11:30 AM
Snake Program at the Tipton County Museum with Tyson Weller. Learn about snakes in West Tennessee and how to identify venomous versus non venomous snakes.

12:30 PM-2:00 PM:
Lunch and Mingle. There will be food trucks available for lunch or bring your own picnic and have lunch at the museum. There are also several local restaurants and fast-food places nearby.

2:00 PM:
Backyard Birds Program with Sherl Rose and Tyson Weller. Learn about local backyard birds, and how to care for birdfeeders and birdhouses. Then take a short hike through the woods on the Museum's nature trail.

4:00 PM: Quails, Habitats, and Conservation with Ted Turner at the Tipton County Museum.

6:00 PM: Sunset Bird Pontoon Ride and Hayride at Fort Pillow State Park with Tyson Weller. Meet at Fort Pillow State Park at 6:00 PM at the butterfly garden. This is a limited event. Pre-registration is required through the Tipton County Museum. This event is $7.00.

6:00 PM: Sunset Bird walk through the woods on the museum's nature trail.

May 4, 2025

6:00 AM-7:00 AM: Arrival for early hikers, sign-ups, and light breakfast.

7:00 AM-11:00 AM:
Bird Walk at Turner Game Birds with Ted Turner and Bob Ford. Limited numbers. Pre-registration is required. Participants will meet at the museum and travel to the farm. Carpooling is encouraged due to limited parking.

7:00 AM-11:00 AM:
If the Bird Walk at Turner Game Birds fills-up we will have a bird walk through the woods on the nature trail and walk the museum grounds.

12:30 PM-2:00 PM:
Lunch and Mingle. There will be food trucks available or bring your own picnic and have lunch at the museum. There are also several local restaurants and fast-food places nearby.

1:00 PM: Birds of Prey Show with David Haggard at the Tipton County Museum on the grounds.

2:00 PM-3:30 PM:
Pollinators and their Habitats with Sherl Rose at the Tipton County Museum. Learn all about pollinators and their habitats. Learn how to become a certified watchable wildlife habitat. Walk the museum grounds through the pollinator gardens.

3:30 PM-4:30 PM:
Songbird Migration and Endangered bird species with Bob Ford at the Tipton County Museum. Learn about songbirds and what endangered birds we have and the recently extinct Bachman's Warbler.

6:00PM:
Sunset Bird Pontoon Ride and Hayride at Fort Pillow State Park with Tyson Weller. Meet at Fort Pillow State Park at 6:00 PM at the butterfly garden. This is a limited event. Pre-registration is required through the Tipton County Museum. This event is $7.00.

6:00 PM: Sunset Bird walk through the woods on the museum's nature trail.

All Events are free with the exception of the limited bird pontoon and hayride. Feel free to walk the nature trail, browse the exhibits, and walk the grounds at any time during the event. Make sure to bring water and wear comfortable sturdy shoes. Everyone must sign-up with the museum and fill out a liability waiver for all events. Different vendors will be set up at the museum throughout the birdfest.

Speakers and Special Guests: Tipton County Museum: Katherine Markley, Museum Director, Sherl Rose, Naturalist, Dexter Hartsfield, Museum Volunteer. Hatchie River Conservancy: Bob Ford, Interim Director. Fort Pillow State Park: Robby Tidwell, Tyson Weller, Jackson Martin, Reelfoot State Park: David Haggard. Seasonal Interpretive Ranger: Lily Yates. TWRA: Jake Yoes, David Vandergrift. Turner Game Birds: Ted Turner. US Fish and Wildlife: Joe McGowan. Wildlife Photographers: Watt Wallace, Julie Hartsfield.

NO alcoholic beverages will be permitted.

Date: May 2-4, 2025

Venue:
Tipton County Museum
751 Bert Johnston Ave
Covington, TN 38019

RSVP

For more info https://kmarkley62.wixsite.com/tcmbirdfest/events.