From Orange Audubon
In Summary:
Orange Audubon Society’s 10th annual North Shore Birding Festival is set for December 11–15, bringing 70 field trips, workshops, and special events to the region’s premier birding locations. Organizers highlight access to the Lake Apopka North Shore and nearly 30 other sites, along with an experienced lineup of 61 trip leaders—many of them rising young naturalists. Attendance has steadily increased since the festival began in 2016, and organizers say this year’s event will continue expanding its national reach while supporting Orange Audubon’s future nature center.
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Orange Audubon Society’s 10th annual NORTH SHORE BIRDING FESTIVAL is coming up. The field trips run from Thursday through Monday, December 11-15.
Related: Audubon Center for Birds of Prey releases 800th Bald Eagle since 1979.
Many trips are full, but with 70 trips available, some still have space. Most trips are for birding, but a number are tailored for photographers. We also offer Nature Journaling and Drawing from Nature. Visit the festival website at https://northshorebirdingfestival.com/.
On the website, two short promotional videos are posted by Filmmaker Jim Cunningham. An older Big Year birder in one of the videos calls our festival one of the top three in the country!
Orange Audubon thinks two points make its festival rise above the rest:
First is our great birding locations, including access behind locked gates to the bird-rich Lake Apopka North Shore, as well as nearly 30 other locations within a 1 1/2-hour drive from Apopka.
Second is the quality of our trip leaders. This year, we have 61 leaders, with all but the professional guides donating their time. Something special is how many of our leaders are under 30, bringing a fun energy to the festival. Our youngest trip leader, now age 15, co-led with his father.
Several trip leaders who started with us have gone on to guide at larger festivals and for prestigious companies.
Since its 2016 launch, the festival’s attendance has grown steadily, with 350 participants in 2024 from 18 states and over 70 Florida cities.
The festival aims to expand its national reach, bring ecotourism dollars to the area, spark return visits, and raise awareness of Central Florida’s natural treasures. It showcases the region’s conservation value and habitat protection efforts.
Approximately 70% of 2025 registrants are returning, and 30% new. When people know what to expect and love something, it makes it all the more fun.
Community Impact
A birding festival brings together a critical mass of leaders and participants to catch up on their common interest—birding. Once Orange Audubon’s nature center is built, the festival will include a free Expo Hall with displays from optics and tour companies, fostering additional community engagement.
The start location for most field trips is the McDonald Canal Pavilion, 24600 CR 448A, Mount Dora, FL 32757. Orange Audubon has again been able to rent the Wekiwa Springs State Park Youth Camp to house out-of-town leaders. On Friday, Orange Audubon is hosting a simple Dinner with the Leaders, Pizza, and Salad. The Saturday Keynote is by Alex and Mary Marine of Osceola County. Their topic will be conservation of the Florida Grasshopper Sparrow, one of Florida’s most endangered birds. Those attending the dinners at Wekiwa Springs State Park have to enter the gate before the park closes at 5:30 p.m. AND secure a day pass online. To allow a fuller experience of the park, there are workshops and trips before dinner. Also, the park concessionaire's Guest Services has offered a discount code for kayak rental to festival registrants.
Proceeds of the NORTH SHORE BIRDING FESTIVAL support Orange Audubon’s nature and environmental center fund. If you have any questions, visit northshorebirdingfestival.com, email festival@orangeaudubonfl.org, or call (407) 637-2525.
Key Points:
- The 2025 festival features 70 trips over five days, including birding excursions, photography sessions, nature journaling, and art workshops.
- Exclusive access behind locked gates at the Lake Apopka North Shore and dozens of additional sites set the event apart from other birding festivals.
- The festival boasts 61 volunteer and professional leaders, including a notable number of young guides, with the youngest just 15 years old.
- In 2024, the festival drew 350 participants from 18 states and more than 70 Florida cities, with about 70% of registrants returning in 2025.
- Proceeds support Orange Audubon Society’s planned nature and environmental center, with special events at Wekiwa Springs State Park and a keynote on Florida Grasshopper Sparrow conservation.
