The annual Down East Spring Birding Festival provides a unique birding experience during spring migration and the breeding season with four days of guided hikes, boat tours, and presentations, all led by local guides with local knowledge. The Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife has named the Downeast Spring Birding Festival one of the best in the country, and the festival was listed by Yankee Magazine as an Editor’s Choice event. The Spring Festival is planned by 20+ community members from 10 partnering organizations, promising an event reflective of the naturalists who treasure this region.

Festival Headquarters

Friday, May 23, 5:30 am - 8:00 pm Eastern
The Commons will be open during this time for water and bathrooms. Help desk hours today are 10am - 5pm.

Saturday, May 24, 5:30 am - 4:00 pm Eastern
The Commons will be open during this time for water and bathrooms. Help desk hours today are 10am - 4pm.

Sunday, May 25, 5:30 am - 8:00 pm Eastern
The Commons will be open during this time for water and bathrooms. Help desk hours today are 10am - 5pm.

Monday, May 26, 5:30 am - 10:30 am Eastern
The Commons will be open during this time for water and bathrooms.

Schedule:

Friday, May 23, 2025

Friday Morning

Campobello Island with Susan Cline, Pete Colman
6:00 am - 10:00 am Eastern
Canada

Edmunds Division with Maurry Mills, Becca Cusick, Rebecca Cusick
7:00 am - 10:00 am Eastern
Eastern Region

Klondike Mountain with Colin Brown
7:00 am - 10:00 am Eastern
Eastern Region

Lily Lake Warbler Walk with Louise Barteau, Bridget VerVaet
7:00 am - 9:00 am Eastern
Eastern Region

Morong Cove Unit of the Cobscook Bay Wildlife Mgmt Area with Chris West
7:00 am - 10:00 am Eastern

Machias Seal Island Boat Trip with Chris Bartlett, Kyle Lima, $250.00
8:00 am - 1:00 pm Eastern
Eastern Region

Friday Afternoon and Evening:

Orientation Session with Bob Duchesne
12:30 pm - 1:00 pm Eastern
Festival Hq

Birding By Ear Workshop with Bob Duchesne
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Eastern
Festival Hq

Orange River Watershed Trail Paddle with Colin Brown, Spencer McCormick, Cathy Lookabaugh, $40.00
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Eastern
Eastern Region

Edmunds Division Walk with Maurry Mills, Rebecca Cusick, Becca Cusick
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Eastern
Eastern Region

Mowry Beach Habitat Walk with Louise Barteau, Pete Colman
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Eastern
Eastern Region

Friday - Welcome Dinner, $30.00
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm Eastern
Festival Hq

Key Note
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Eastern
Festival Hq

Woodcock Nightcap with Sandi McRae Duchesne
8:15 pm - 9:15 pm Eastern
Festival Hq

Saturday, May 24, 2025

Saturday Morning:

Campobello Island with Susan Cline, Pete Colman
6:00 am - 10:00 am Eastern
Canada

Boot Head Hike with Doug Hitchcox, Bridget VerVaet
7:00 am - 10:00 am Eastern
Eastern Region

Reynolds Brook with Bob Duchesne, Sandi McRae Duchesne
7:00 am - 10:00 am Eastern
Eastern Region

Roaming Baring Division with Maurry Mills, Rebecca Cusick, Becca Cusick
7:00 am - 11:00 am Eastern
Northern Region

Vining Lake with Colin Brown, Kyle Lima
7:00 am - 10:00 am Eastern
Central Region

Machias Seal Island with Woody Gillies, $250.00
8:00 am - 1:00 pm Eastern
Eastern Region

Dennys Bay Paddle with Spencer McCormick, Lexie Morrill, $40.00
9:00 am - 1:00 pm Eastern
Eastern Region

Saturday Afternoon:

Head Harbor Boat Trip with Minquansis Sapiel,  with Chris Bartlett, Louise Barteau, Minquansis Sapiel, $100.00
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Eastern
Central Region

Habitat Management and Wildlife Monitoring at the Northern Maine NWR Complex with Maurry Mills, Kyle Lima
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Eastern
Northern Region

Least Tern Decoy with Laurie Bragg, Abby McBride, Norma Marshall, $12.00
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Eastern

Vinyasa Yoga with Ginny Raichart, $10.00
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm Eastern

Saturday Evening:

Bird Trivia with Colin Brown, Cathy Lookabaugh
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm Eastern
Central Region

Rails, Wrens, Nighthawks, and More with Maurry Mills, Woody Gillies, Rebecca Cusick, Becca Cusick
6:30 pm - 9:00 pm Eastern
Northern Region

Sunday, May 25, 2025

Sunday Morning:

Eagle Hill Bog Bird Walk with Louise Barteau, Bridget VerVaet, Rebecca Cusick, Becca Cusick
7:00 am - 10:00 am Eastern
Canada

Songbirds on Commissary Point with Doug Hitchcox, Valerie Watson
7:00 am - 10:00 am Eastern
Festival Hq

Pike Lands with Woody Gillies, Pete Colman
7:00 am - 10:00 am Eastern
Eastern Region

Blueberry Barrens with Chris Bartlett, Kyle Lima
7:00 am - 10:00 am Eastern
Western Region

Boot Head with Bob Duchesne, Sandi McRae Duchesne
7:00 am - 10:00 am Eastern
Eastern Region

Machias Seal Island with Colin Brown, $250.00
8:00 am - 1:00 pm Eastern
Eastern Region

Vinyasa Yoga with Ginny Raichart, $10.00
10:00 am - 11:30 am Eastern

Sunday Midday:

Eagle Hill Bog Plant Walk with Louise Barteau, Rebecca Cusick, Becca Cusick
11:00 am - 1:00 pm Eastern
Canada

Sunday Afternoon:

Petit Manan Boat Trip with Chris Bartlett, $120.00
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm Eastern
Western Region

Least Tern Decoy Painting with Laurie Bragg, Abby McBride, Minquansis Sapiel, Norma Marshall, $12.00
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Eastern

Sunday Evening:

Where to go on your Next trip to Maine with Bob Duchesne
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm Eastern

Bird Tally Dinner Celebration, $20.00
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Eastern
Festival Hq

Woodcock Walk with Woody Gillies, Rebecca Cusick, Maurry Mills, Becca Cusick
8:00 pm - 9:30 pm Eastern

Monday, May 26, 2025

Blueberry Barrens Tour with Maurry Mills, Woody Gillies
7:00 am - 10:00 am Eastern
Western Region

Edmunds Division North Trail with Bob Duchesne, Sandi McRae Duchesne
7:00 am - 10:00 am Eastern
Eastern Region

Pottle Tree Farm with Fred & Linda Gralenski, Valerie Watson
7:00 am - 10:00 am Eastern

Commissary Point with Bridget VerVaet, Pete Colman
8:00 am - 10:00 am Eastern
Festival Hq

Petit Manan Boat Trip with Woody Gillies, Maurry Mills, $120.00
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm Eastern

Date: May 23 - 26, 2025

Location: Various Venues in Lubec, ME 04652

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