Headlands Birding Festival
FAQ
Here are the answers to some of our most frequently asked questions about the festival.
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Yes! All levels and ages of birders are welcome!
While the parks are still open to the public during the festival, the small registration fee helps cover the cost of the festival and nets you a cool festival sticker. Registration also assists with estimating attendance. Having accurate attendance data is helpful when soliciting funding and sponsors for future years.
All donations received from registration go to the Friends of Headlands Beach State Park and will help offset the cost of this year’s and/or next year’s festival.
The location for each activity is listed under the title in the festival Agenda. Detailed meeting instructions are given in the description unless the activity requires a ticket or registration, then detailed instructions will be sent with the confirmation email.
The planning committee consists of representatives from ODNR, Tour Lake County, Friends of Headlands Beach State Park, City of Mentor Department of Natural Resources, Blackbrook Audubon Society, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, and Lake Metroparks as well as individual Lake county birders.
In the festival Schedule, under the description for each event or session, it will either list the cost or say whether it is free or free but requires registration. If there is a cost or registration is required, continue on to the registration page to get tickets and/or reserve your spot.
All the walks and outings are in the morning. The talks will be in the afternoon and evening. The location for the Saturday afternoon talks will list the location as a tent in the festival Agenda.
We will have the list of names of participants, but having your digital email confirmation or printout handy is helpful.
Any of the bird walks at Veterans Park, Chagrin River Park, and Painesville Township Park are ADA accessible. Check the description of the walk for detailed accessibility information.
Well, there’s no such thing as a “birder uniform,” so just be comfortable. While typically warm or hot, the weather in September can fluctuate, so wearing layers is a good way to ensure your comfort no matter what Ohio weather throws at us. You’ll want a comfortable pair of hiking or sturdy shoes for long hours of birding!
While most birds on the boardwalk will be at eye-level (sometimes a few inches from your face!), binoculars are extremely helpful for seeing fine details and birds far away.
We don’t expect anyone to leave their cell phone behind. However, we ask (for the enjoyment of others) to turn cell phones off or to vibrate.
Identification tips, field guide and binocular use, photography, birding by ear, conservation actions, art skills… Everything you could hope for and more!
There are no concrete rules other than state and federal laws that protect habitat and wildlife. The American Birding Association has developed a Code of Ethics for birding, aimed at preserving a positive birding experience for both people and wildlife.
It depends. September weather can fluctuate, and rain could last for 30 minutes or all day. Inclement weather such as thunderstorms and tornadoes will prompt a trip cancellation. But a light drizzle shouldn’t postpone a trip.
We ask participants to arrive and check in at least 15 minutes before the start time of an activity to insure a prompt schedule. If you’re going out birding on your own, then feel free to go anytime during daylight hours – and even after dark if you’re looking for nighttime birds like owls!
If you need to cancel a program, please contact friendsofheadlandsbeachsp@gmail.com. You can use the Contact Us link on the website or send an email directly to us. Please include the name and email the registration was billed under, the program(s) you need to cancel, and the reason you are canceling (this will help us understand how we can better prepare our programs for next year). All refunds are issued back to your original payment method. It may take up to 5 business days for the refund to be completed, depending on your payment method.