By Hannah E. Jones

In a few weeks, Georgia Audubon is kicking off its month-long Georgia Bird Fest. From April 22 to May 21, the conservation nonprofit is hosting over 40 events around the state to celebrate birds and their habitats. Through these programs, the team hopes to help Georgia residents foster a greater appreciation for their local wildlife and greenspaces.

This year marks the eighth annual Georgia Bird Fest. (Courtesy of Georgia Audubon.)

Events span from the heart of the city to the coast, and the offerings cater to newbies and bird experts alike. The schedule includes in-person and virtual programs, like field trips, tours and workshops. 

For example, folks can sign up for a BeltLine biking tour, a live raptor show or a canoeing trip down the Chattahoochee River. There are also creative offerings like webinars on bird photography with professional nature photographer Eric Bowles and drawing workshops with an award-winning naturalist writer and illustrator Christy Baker Knight.

Georgia Audubon’s Director of Community Engagement Sheridan Alford is heading the festival this year and describes the 2023 Georgia Bird Fest with two words — inclusion and variety.

“Just as many bird species as you can see, they’re probably as many events,” Alford laughed. “We’re trying to make it a diverse event. That’s one of our main strategic goals — to make birds more accessible to all parties, not just any specific demographics.”

To that end, the team selected a variety of events to ensure that folks who want to participate can. This year, there is an emphasis on engaging kids and young adults and introducing them to the world of birding.

“We have quite a few teen events, like the Teens and Feathers Birding Trip. [We are also] providing events that aren’t only for advanced birders, we have a lot of events that are beginner-friendly so people who are just getting into it can feel comfortable there,” Alford said. “We do want…