16th Annual Colonel Samuel Smith Bird Festival

The City of Toronto will host the 16th Annual Spring Bird Festival at Colonel Samuel Smith Park on May 24, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. as part of the Toronto Bird Celebration. The festival is an opportunity to learn more about Toronto’s diverse population of birds during their peak spring migration. The fun, family-oriented day offers many guided bird tours, live bird and reptile exhibits, fun workshops and crafts, and a variety of educational displays. See festival website for the tour schedule. And remember to bring a mug for a cup of bird-friendly coffee or tea.

Toronto is perfectly nestled along the Atlantic bird migration route, a superhighway for thousands of birds including over 400 different species. Colonel Samuel Smith Park is an invaluable stopover for these birds due to its position on the lake and varied natural habitats. As a city, we’ve implemented the Bird Friendly Development Guidelines along with several other initiatives to protect and promote the wellbeing of birds; leading to our 2021 recognition as a Bird Friendly City by Nature Canada, their highest level of civic certification.

Several species you might encounter when attending the festival include Whimbrel, Red-winged Blackbird, American Goldfinch, Northern Cardinal, Long-tailed Duck, Tree Swallow, Baltimore Oriole, Red-necked Grebe, Northern Mockingbird, Yellow Warbler. There are many features that make these birds special. We will provide helpful tips for identification along with interesting facts about these amazing birds!

If you are planning on coming to the festival with your four-legged friend, remember to keep your dog on a leash.

The festival is hosted by the City of Toronto’s Parks, Forestry & Recreation Division, in partnership with Citizens Concerned about the Future of the Etobicoke Waterfront (CCFEW), Friends of Sam Smith Park (FOSS), Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), and generously supported by Birds and Beans.

Visit our website for more information.