Spring Songbird Banding at the Beaverhill Bird Observatory (2026)

This annual spring migration of songbirds occurs from May until early June, with end of May being the peak in songbird abundance. Birds captured include warblers, chickadees, woodpeckers, thrushes, blackbirds, orioles, sparrows and more! Join our biologists for a morning in the woods to learn about the research being conducted on our feathery friends and see live birds up close and personal!*

Hot drinks and snacks will be provided. Chat with our biologists about our research initiatives and projects between net checks.  

Nets open 30 mins before sunrise and run for 6 hours, weather permitting.

You may arrive at any point during the 6 hours of banding, however, the earlier you arrive, the greater your chances are of seeing birds being banded as songbirds are most active in the first couple hours after sunrise.

SONGBIRD TICKETS CANCELLATION POLICY

Banding events will not be cancelled if the weather decides to rain on our parade (or nets). Don’t worry; we have an exciting lineup of activities to keep things lively! You can join us on a our daily census, explore our interactive specimen display, get up close and personal with our educational ambassador birds, and participate in a presentation on our research, brought to life by one of our amazing biologists. Rain or shine, there’s plenty to discover! 

Weather that would prevent us from opening or force us to shut down our nets include: rain/snow, wind >20km/hr, and temperatures below freezing. You are welcome to check the hourly weather forecast before you leave by looking at the weather forecast for Tofield, Alberta. If the overnight temperature is below freezing, we will open the nets once the on-site temperature is above 0c.

If you aren't able to attend the event, Tickets are non-refundable but are transferable to someone else. otherwise, the ticket cost will be considered a donation and a tax receipt can be issued if requested. Please note that our ticketing platform has a self-serve option where you can transfer or move your tickets if needed. 

TICKET PRICES (website fees included in price) - LIMIT of 20 tickets per morning

Adult (18+ years): $20 each

Youth (6-16 years): $10 each

Children age 5 and under are FREE

Seniors (65+ years): $15

Family Pass (2 adult, 2 youth): $50

DIRECTIONS on how to get to the BBO can be found on our website.

WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING:

• Warm clothing and water-resistant footwear– dress for the outdoors!

• A thermos/travel mug with your choice of warm beverage 

• Binoculars and/or a camera if you have them

Owl toques and hats, bird friendly coffee, and other merchandise will be available for sale

NO PETS allowed at events

*We do not guarantee that a bird will be captured during your visit. They are wild animals and are influenced by the time of year and weather patterns.