BIRD FEST 2026
A Celebration of World Migratory Bird Day
Saturday, May 9, 2026 at Wild Birds Unlimited, 1311 Buckeye Ave., Ames, Iowa
EVENTS:
6 a.m. – Early Bird Warbler Walk at East River Valley Park, 628 Carr Drive (Meadowlane Avenue)
8 a.m. – Woodland Bird Walk at Brookside Park, 1325 Sixth St. (meet near the fire truck on the north side of the park)
10 a.m. – “Bluebird Basics” program with Dean Biechler, expert birder, who manages a 60-box trail near the Skunk River
11:30 a.m. – “Whoo’s That? Identifying Iowa’s Owls” program with Jenna Maag, rehabilitator for the Iowa Wildlife Center, and a guest EDUCATION OWL
1 p.m. – “Citizen Science: Get Involved!” with Hunter Wells, Iowa State University graduate student in wildlife ecology
2 p.m. – Prairie Bird Walk at Tedesco Environmental Corridor, 1815 Plaza Loop
7:30 p.m. – Urban Bird Walk & Talk at The Octagon Center for the Arts, 427 Douglas Ave. (meet in the alley behind the center)
EDUCATIONAL BOOTHS & PARTNERS:
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Big Bluestem Audubon Society; Chris Ewan Photography & Our Iowa magazine; City of Ames and Prairie Rivers of Iowa Pollinator Project; The Filling Station and Windmill Coffee; Iowa Wildlife Federation; Iowa Young Birders; Lights Out Iowa; Iowa Wildlife Center; Story County Conservation
Huge Sale throughout the store!
Enter drawings to win Binoculars, Bird Feeders, Bird Seed and more!
Kids’ bird bag of treats and activities