Global Events

California Birding Festivals – Winter 2025

Snow Goose Festival of the Pacific Flyway, Chico Ca. | Jan 23-26, 2025 | snowgoosefestival.org

San Diego Bird Festival | Feb 26-Mar 6, 2025 | SanDiegoBirdFestival.org

More Annual Events

GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT – Feb 14-17, 2025 | birdcount.org

EARTH DAY – April 22, 2025 |earthday.org

WORLD MIGRATORY BIRD DAY (WMBD) – May 10, 2025 | migratorybirdday.org

NATIONAL POLLINATOR WEEK – annually in June |#PollinatorWeek

NATIONAL MOTH WEEK – last week of July 19-27, 2025 |nationalmothweek,org

INTERNATIONAL BAT NIGHT – last weekend in August

NATIONAL HUMMINGBIRD DAY – Sept 6, 2025 | hummingbirdsociety.org 

SFBBO’s CALIFORNIA FALL CHALLENGE – September | sfbbo.org

WORLD MIGRATORY BIRD DAY – October | migratorybirdday.org Twice per year in May and October

BAT WEEK – Oct 24-31 | batweek.org

MIGRATIONS & BREEDING SEASONS

SPRING MIGRATION – Feb-June

Our San Francisco Bay Area Spring migration happens from late February through early June. There is a change in the species found in your backyard as many of the species that wintered with you will soon migrate away to their breeding grounds in the north and east. Also, we’ll see a return of the birds that wintered elsewhere as they migrate back to here to feed and or nest in your neighborhood. You will also notice a change in bird plumages and an increase in bird song as this is also the start of the breeding season. The males sing to attract a female.

NESTING SEASON– Begins in April

Nesting season in the SF Bay Area starts in April. Owls, raptors, and hummingbirds may start as early as December. Habitat is the single most critical factor for successfully attracting certain bird species to nest in your yard. The kinds of trees and vegetation, on and near your property, will determine what kinds of birds will nest in your yard. Sparrows, towhees, and juncos may even nest directly on the ground and need safe places to hide underneath garden shrubs. Other birds, like doves, robins, and orioles, make their nests up in the trees using branches or mud and even plant fibers. Woodpeckers, Chickadees, Titmice, Violet-Green Swallows, and Wrens require cavities in trees to make their nests. If you do not have natural cavities in your yard, you can offer these birds a man-made nest box as a substitute.

BREEDING SEASON – May-August

Breeding season is roughly from May to August with some Hummingbird species starting as early as December. Neighborhoods come alive with bird song and courtship. If birds are not able to successfully breed during this time, their numbers decline. We can help birds increase their numbers if we work together by keeping cats inside, and trimming trees and shrubs before the breeding season starts.

FALL MIGRATION – Begins in August

As the days get shorter, Fall Migration begins as birds leave their northern breeding grounds and head south. Offering food, clean water, and a place to rest helps many on their journey through the Bay Area. You may recognize birds in your yard that return to spend their winter with you.