Family Day Weekend, February 17 – 20, will definitely be for the birds, as the sixth annual Birds On The Niagara International Festival (BON23) takes place on both sides of the border, offering free family-friendly activities for the entire four days. The Canadian and American programs can be found at birdniagara.org. The festival was created to celebrate the wonderful winter presence of birds and the nature that sustains them. We are grateful for our partners, Niagara Parks and the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority for hosting some of the events.
The Festival kicks off on Friday, February 17th, 6 pm, with a Birds and Beer get together at Blackburn Brew House in Niagara Falls, Ontario. The evening starts out with a social hour followed by well know birder Justin Peter from Quest Nature Tours giving a presentation about gull identification.
Throughout the weekend, a Scavenger Hunt Bingo will be ongoing, with prizes awarded at the end of the Festival. Also Bird Kingdom, located in Niagara Falls, has also joined in the festivities and is offering a 25% discount on admission with the code WNYYBC25.
On Saturday and Sunday, February 18th & 19th, guided hikes will be offered in various locations. An outdoor family-friendly event, featuring games and educational activities, is also scheduled on Saturday.
The final event on the Canadian side will be held on Monday afternoon, 12:45 pm, at the School of Horticulture where there will be displays from the three local nature clubs and an impressive roster of speakers.