2nd Hawaii Island Festival of Birds Coming in September

The Second Annual Hawaii Island Festival of Birds is set for Sept. 15 through 17, 2017, at the Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa at Keauhou Bay.

“There’s so much to learn about Hawai‘i’s native birds,” said Rob Pacheco of Hawaii Forest & Trail. “And we’re thrilled that Hawai‘i is now recognized as part of the ABA Area by the American Birding Association. We look forward to welcoming ABA’s members and birding fans in general to the Hawaii Island Festival of Birds.”

The program will include expert guest speakers including Jeff Gordon, president of the ABA, and Kenn Kaufman, renowned author, artist and conservationist.

The three-day event will also include a trade show for outdoor and birding equipment, a children’s corner, bird-themed arts and crafts fair, photography and painting workshops, a birding film festival, time to interact with Hawai‘i Island naturalists and bird experts, and guided field trips on land and sea.

Friday and Sunday activities include guided birdwatching field trips along the newly created Hawaii Island Coast to Coast Birding Trail, a 90-mile trail that crosses Hawai‘i Island from Kona on the West Coast to Hilo on the East Coast, linking varied habitats from ocean to mountain top, from rainforest to lava plains. The trail, modeled after similar North American trails, follows a route that is a network of sites so users can join or leave the route at any point along the way. While birds will be the focal points, elements of Hawaii Island’s unique plants and trees, geology, history and, of course, scenic view points, will also be highlighted.

The trail, modeled after similar North American trails, follows a route that is a network of sites so users can join or leave the route at any point along the way.

While birds will be the focal points, elements of Hawai‘i Island’s unique plants and trees, geology, history and of course, scenic view points, will also be highlighted.

The event will also include guided boat trips out of Honokohau Harbor for seabird watching.

New this year will be a birding-focused film festival on Friday afternoon and evening at the Sheraton Kona, with documentaries about Hawaiian birds showing on Friday afternoon, and a feature film playing outdoors on Friday night.

Saturday’s workshops will include talks from Brian Sullivan, project leader for the Cornell Lab of Ornithology for eBird.org and a panel discussion on the last sightings of now extinct native Hawaiian birds.

Saturday’s program options include a hands-on Photography Workshop and an Art Workshop. Materials will be provided.

Saturday night’s Gala Dinner will be headlined by Kenn Kaufman speaking on the significance of Hawai‘i’s unique bird life.

Festival sponsors include the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, County of Hawai‘i, Hawaii Forest and Trail, Destination Marketing, Hawaii Wildlife Center, Alaska Airlines and others.

Download a copy of the schedule here.