Toronto Bird Celebration, the best urban birding event of the year returns this May

The end of another winter means that 50 million birds have begun to flock to the Greater Toronto Area, and migration season is on! Experience our winged visitors this spring at the Toronto Bird Celebration, a series of free events happening May 11-25th.

Now in its 8th year, this diverse and friendly festival of events coordinated by Birds Canada invites emerging birders and seasoned pros alike into Toronto’s top birding hotspots to make the most of this yearly spectacle! Join experts for guided walks, hone your skills through interesting webinars, and learn about ways you can support bird conservation at home. With more than 35+ events on the calendar, there is something for everyone to discover this May.

Swift Night Out

“Our “Swift Night Out” event is always a highlight,” says Natasha Barlow, Ontario Projects Biologist at Birds Canada. “The Chimney Swift has become a truly urban bird,, it’s also a species at risk. It’s a great opportunity to learn about birds in your neighbourhood and how you as an individual can support conservation!”

The Toronto Bird Celebration is coordinated by Birds Canada, delivered with the support of 20+ partner organizations in the GTA, and made possible with the generous support of TD Friends of the Environment Foundation, Kowa Optics, and Fjällräven Toronto.

Visit torontobirdcelebration.ca to find a full calendar of events and free online resources such as multilingual gardening guides for bird-friendly gardens and an interactive map of birding hot spots in Toronto. Birds Canada offers many more opportunities to learn and participate at birdscanada.org.

Toronto Bird Celebration 2024 Event Highlights:

Birding by Ear Webinar with Justin Peter [May 16 – 7-8pm]

Join Justin Peter, Director of Programs and senior naturalist of Quest Nature Tours, for a fun and informative webinar on identifying birds by their calls.

Fjällräven Walk at Tommy Thompson Park with Kyle Horner [May 19 – 9am-12pm]

Join Fjällräven and Birds Canada’s Kyle Horner for an afternoon along Lake Ontario at Tommy Thompson Park to view the many migrating species of Birds coming home for the summer. We will be joined by bird enthusiasts and photographers alike.

Rediscovering the Magic of our Common Birds Webinar with Julia Zarankin [May 20 – 7-8pm]

Julia Zarankin is the author of the bestselling memoir, Field Notes from an Unintentional Birder. In this webinar she’ll highlight why the often overlooked common birds deserve our respect (and awe!) and how they teach us to feel more present and connected to our local environment.

Swift Night Out in Moss Park with Birds Canada [May 21 – 7:30-9pm]

This fan favourite returns! Join Natasha Barlow, Ontario Projects Biologist at Birds Canada, to discover Toronto’s best-kept secret and witness the amazing spectacle of hundreds of swifts diving into a chimney to roost overnight!

Hindi Bird Identification & Photography Walk at Colonel Samuel Smith Park with Ankur Khurana [May 24 – 8-10am]

Join award-winning wildlife photographer Ankur Khurana for this hands-on bird identification and bird photography walk, delivered in Hindi!

More to Discover

For family-friendly activities, don’t miss the return of the Tommy Thompson Spring Bird Festival on World Migratory Bird Day on May 11th, and the Colonel Samuel Smith Spring Bird Festival on May 25th. Make sure to register for returning favourites including the “Lunch with Birds in Queens Park” walk series, and be sure to catch the beginner-friendly “Urban Big Sit” events in Toronto, Vaughan, and Brampton.

Attending events isn’t the only way to get in on the fun! The Celebirdy Contest is on now until May 27th. Be sure to head over to @Birds.Canada on Instagram with your migration sightings and enter the contest for a chance to win binoculars from Kowa Optics, Fjällräven gear, Firefly books and more!

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