International Migratory Bird Day

International Migratory Bird Days (IMBD) are festivals dedicated to increasing public awareness of birds and their conservation throughout the Western Hemisphere. Originally created by the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center in Washington, D.C. and first celebrated in 1993, the event has grown with over 330 festivals registered in 2008 from Canada to South America. Sponsored by the Friends of Madera Canyon and U.S. Forest Service, the Madera Canyon IMBD is one of several Arizona celebrations.

The Madera Canyon IMBD is held on the second Saturday in May. Recreation and site use fees are waived by the Forest Service for the day’s events. Guided morning bird walks in the canyon’s premiere birding areas kick off the festival. IMBD activities center on the White House Picnic Ramada, where participating organizations set up displays, sale items, and kid’s activities. Friends natural history docents lead hourly birding and nature walks around the White House Nature Loop. 

One of the 2009 highlights was the dedication of the beautiful new Amphitheater Bridge. Built well above the creek to avoid floods, the bridge’s location high in the tree canopy creates a new and unique canyon birding opportunity. Bridge-crossers can get an eye-level look at birds foraging up in the Evergreen Oak Woodland.

By all accounts the 2009 IMBD birding was fabulous; participants got good looks at a great variety of canyon residents, migrants and rare “celebrities” from canyon trails and lodging feeders. Birding highlights for the 2009 IMBD included Arizona Woodpecker, Magnificent Hummingbird, Blue-throated Hummingbird, Painted Redstart, Lazuli Bunting, Yellow-breasted Chat, Flame-colored Tanager, two pairs of Elegant Trogon, and displaying male Wild Turkeys. As expected, a variety of warblers, vireos, flycatchers, tanagers, and other Madera Canyon birds were also seen by birders.

For information and updates about the Madera Canyon International Migratory Bird Day festival, please refer to the Event Calendar on this website.