Headlands Birding Festival

The event celebrates fall migration as birds travel thousands of miles to their wintering grounds, as far away as South America. The Headlands/Mentor Marsh region hosts some of the highest diversity and volume of migratory birds in the state, with 352 species documented in Lake County. This event is for birders and nature enthusiasts of all ages and experience levels.

Keynote Speaker Peter Kaestner became the first person to document 10,000 bird species, covering nearly 190 countries and territories over a 36-year career as a diplomat. His travels took him to risky areas, narrowly escaping death on multiple occasions. While on a birding expedition near Bogotá, Colombia, he discovered a new bird species, the Cundinamarca Antpitta (Grallaria kaestneri). Peter will also speak to how birding has changed over the years, and how international birders can contribute to conservation. 

The festival is presented by Verdantas in partnership with Blackbrook Audubon Society, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Friends of Headlands Beach State Park, City of Mentor Natural Resources, Lake Metroparks, and Tour Lake County.

Registration opens July 1.