2026 Fernald Preserve Winter Bird Fest

Families, feathers, and fun combined with bird lovers from the greater Cincinnati, Southwest Ohio, and Kentucky areas to celebrate the second annual Fernal Preserve Winter Bird Fest. Despite cold temps and some imposing weather, more than 1,500 attendees visited the Fernal Preserve site to participate and enjoy in a menu of activities geared for bird lovers of all ages. Throughout the week, attendees benefited from the expertise of individuals like Fernal Preserve ecologist Brian Wolker, who presented a workshop on the Merlin Sound ID tool for birding by ear. On Family Day, February 8th, Chris Rollins performed songs and puppetry for the kids, blending entertainment with environmental education, followed by a workshop featuring his special brand of art instruction. Other events throughout the week included an owl walk, led by Fernal Preserve staff, and a presentation featuring tips and experiences from Connor Fox, a birder who achieved the monumental goal of finding over 600 species in the lower 48 U.S. states in a single year. A popular owl pellet dissection activity allowed participants to explore owl diets using microscopes and tweezers, and the week wrapped up on Valentine's Day with a virtual presentation by author Laura Erickson on The Love Lives of Birds, discussing avian courting and mating habits. The Fernal Preserve is a critical habitat for 260 species of birds who stop over or winter at the site, with more than 100 species nesting here. Special feathered guests include waterfowl, shorebirds, and an impressive array of raptors, including owls, hawks, falcons, and eagles. The Fernal Preserve hosts Winter Bird Fest and similar events as part of the site's commitment to engage and educate the community. The Winter Bird Fest event is a powerful testament to the site's remarkable transformation from a former uranium processing facility into a vibrant example of beneficial reuse. During cleanup efforts more than two decades ago, community members envisioned a future for Fernal that would effectively control residual contamination while creating an ecologically restored regional destination for educating future generations. Bird Fest helped fulfill that vision. Winter Bird Fest is provided with the collaboration and support of event partners, including the Audubon Society of Ohio, Cardinal Land Conservancy, Cincinnati Public Library's Bird Nerds and Children's Library, Metro Parks of Butler County, Midwest Native Plant Society, Northern Kentucky Bird Club, the Ohio EPA, and Oxbow Incorporated Land Trust.