It's a Bird Party! The 2nd Annual Toronto Bird Celebration is taking over sites around the city from May 12 - 27, which includes a variety of events at the Humber Arboretum.
Bird Celebration Events at the Humber Arboretum
The Humber Arboretum Bird Blitz - Saturday May 12, 8:30 a.m. (Free, please RSVP)
Kick off the city-wide Toronto Bird Celebration with a morning bird walk at the Humber Arboretum where we'll try to identify as many species as we can! All ages and skill levels are welcome. Bring binoculars if you have them; if not, we will have pairs available to borrow.
The Birds and the Bees Gardening Workshop - Saturday May 12, 10:30 a.m. (Free, please RSVP)
Join Humber Arboretum staff for a workshop on creating a garden with nature in mind. Learn how to choose plants and create structures that will attract and support birds, bees, and other wildlife.
Breaking Birding Boundaries - My Ontario Big Year with Jeremy Bensette - Wednesday May 16, 6 p.m. (Free, please RSVP)
Point Pelee area birder and naturalist Jeremy Bensette had a record-breaking Ontario Big Year in 2017, travelling to the far reaches of the province in pursuit of every bird species he could possibly cross paths with. Hear Jeremy speak about his competitive and very social birding journey, then join him for an informal Q&A/walk around the Humber Arboretum.
Backyard Chicken Workshop - Saturday May 19, 9 a.m. ($25, register online)
Domestic chickens are the most common bird in the world, so why not spend some time getting to know them? A coop and hens will be present for this fun learning experience that will teach you how to raise your own egg laying flock.
Bird Celebration Events at Lakeshore Campus
9th Annual Spring Bird Festival at Colonel Samuel Smith Park - Saturday, May 26, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. (Free)
Staff from the Humber Arboretum will be joining a variety of partners to offer programming at the stunning waterfront park surrounding Humber College's Lakeshore Campus. Free activities include hourly guided bird walks, live birds, reptiles and amphibians, backyard habitat building, art workshops, children’s activities, and educational displays.
More to Enjoy on Saturday May 12
The two May 12 events at the Humber Arboretum are also part of the City of Toronto's Ravine Days Celebration. Weather-permitting, Humber Music Alumni Claire Coupland will be performing two acoustic sets inside the entrance to the Arboretum on Saturday, one at 9:45 a.m. to entertain post-walk Bird Blitzers and early workshop attendees, and the second at 11 a.m. for other Arboretum visitors.
Plus, come for the birds and stay for the science! After your bird walk, musical interlude, and gardening workshop, drop by the Univeristy of Guelph-Humber Atrium for Science Rendezvous, a free science festival for all ages that runs from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Saturday May 12.
More Information:
The Humber Arboretum is located behind Humber College North Campus and offers extensive gardens, naturalized walking trails, and programming related to horticulture, nature, and ecology. Visit Humber.ca/arboretum
For the full slate of Toronto Bird Celebration events across the city, visit torontobirdweek.ca
For more on Ravine Days visit the City of Toronto Festivals & Events Calendar
For more about the UofGH Science Rendezvous Festival visit the event page on the Science Rendezvous website
