New River Birding & Nature Festival

A bird and nature watching event that highlights more than 100 bird species on a variety of birding tours.

It's our favorite week of the year and we like to think of it as a five-star nature vacation where you can nurture your mind and body.

A friendly birding outing for everyone, the week long event features guided birding and nature excursions, world-class speakers, the finest collection of guides, tasty food, and a back-porch atmosphere unmatched by any other birding festival. Signature guided bird watching experiences include the opportunity to visit a wide range of habitats, world class instruction for those wanting to enhance their birding skills, and the best guide-to-guest ratio. All skill levels are welcome.

Packages range from a single day without lodging to all week with private cabin accommodations. Each day offers a great field trip of your choice, three tasty meals, two knowledge and fun packed presentations, world-class experts you will call friends, and good times!

Since 2002, the annual New River Birding & Nature Festival takes place in and around the New River Gorge National River in the heart of the upland, hardwood forests that Cornell Lab of Ornithology identified as a crucial stopover habitat for the continued survival of species such as Golden-winged, Blue-winged, and Swainson's Warbler, as well as the Scarlet Tanager.

As a non-profit fundraising event, the Festival is the major funding source for the local 501C3 Fayette County Education Fund, Inc. Since the Festival's inception, participation supports the Fund's student environmental and leadership training programs.