How do you get the most out of your San Diego Bird Festival? This session will set you up for success.
We'll give a nice overview of what's going on in the 2026 San Diego Bird Festival, how to change or add things your schedule if you need to, and what happens in which spaces during the festival. We'll go for a little walk around the grounds so you can find all of the places that you'll be using, and we'll end in the courtyard in time to check in and attend the walk to the San Diego River for shorebird watching at low tide.
Drop in to see our exhibitors from Birding Business! We have two exhibit halls open: The Bayview room and the Dockside room.
Bayview exhibitors:
ABA
Opticron
Zeiss
Birds & Nature Portugal
The Biggest Week in American Birding
KS Nature Photography
Valley Nature Center
Kowa
Holbrook Travel
Hunt's Photo and Video
Aggressor Adventures
Red Hill Birding
Hawke Optics
Canopy Family
Swarovski Optik
Kite Optics
Neblina Forest
Rockjumper Worldwide Expeditions
Victor Emanuel Nature Tours
Wild Birds Unlimited
Land Sea and Sky
Sabrewing Nature Tours
Icaro Birding
Vortex
Magview Digiscoping
Dockside exhibitors:
Avian Behavior Conservancy
FM Roberts Publications
Christina Baal
Trogon Tours
Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival
Beakwings
Birding Uganda Safaris
Beaumont and Port Arthur CVBs
Jaggar Design
Jackpots Pottery
Canyonlands
Wild Delight
Belly up to the bar for a selection of wines and beers on tap.
Drop in and witness the birth of a new art work by David Lozeau.
Embark on an easy walk to the San Diego River Mouth, a prime spot for observing coastal and migratory birds, at low tide. This walk follows sidewalks to the street, crosses Quivira Way and proceeds on dirt paths along the river, stopping for views of shorebirds on the sand bars. The walk, approximately 1 mile round trip, takes you along the water's edge, offering a close-up view of diverse bird species, particularly on the sandbars exposed by the receding tide.
If you have mobility challenges, you can drive over separately and join us at the viewing site at approximately 4:00 pm. The viewing point is in a large dirt parking lot across from the Aquarius Grill on Quivira Way. Look for the big group of people with spotting scopes!
Enjoy some yummy appetizers and finger foods, browse the exhibit halls, and chat with other birders until the keynote program begins.
The featured Keynote for the evening is Jason Hall of In Color Birding, in the Starboard room at 6:00 to 7:30 pm A shuttle to and from the Dana Resort will be available from 3:00 to 7:30 pm.