Outdoor Birdwatching Classes and Trips
The National Aviary offers in-person birdwatching outings, ecotourism trips, and a variety of engaging classes for people of all skill levels!
Upcoming Outdoor Classes
Birdwatching Kayak Tour with L.L.Bean
$75 per person | North Park Lake | All Equipment Provided
- FEW SPOTS REMAIN!!! Sun., April 27 | 9 am – Noon | Register Here
- FEW SPOTS REMAIN!!! Sun., May 18 | 8 – 11 am | Register Here
- Sun., June 22 | 5:30 – 8:30 am | Register Here (Sunrise Edition!)
- Sun., July 27 | 6 – 9 pm | Register Here (Sunset Edition!)
- Sun., August 17 | 6 – 9 pm | Register Here (Sunset Edition!)
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Birdwatching Kayak Tour with L.L.Bean Details
Picture this: the beautiful sounds of chirping birds, jumping fish, and win blowing through the trees blissfully fills your ears as you gently glide down North Park Lake via kayak.
Take to the water with the National Aviary and L.L.Bean for a birding adventure unlike any other! L.L.Bean’s experienced and professional guides will provide on-land instruction on kayak equipment, basic strokes, and safety guidelines before a National Aviary expert leads kayakers out on North Park Lake in Allegheny County. Kayakers will scan the shoreline and surrounding forest for birds as an Aviary expert assists with bird identification tips and tricks.
L.L.Bean will provide all necessary equipment, including kayaks, paddles, safety floatation devices, and L.L.Bean Discovery Binoculars.
Green Heron on the shores of North Park Lake
Participants must be 8 years or older; those under 18 must be accompanied by a registered adult companion.
Birding Expedition Bus Tour: Presque Isle
SOLD OUT!!! Sat., May 3 | 7 am – 2:30 pm | Members: $134; Non-Members: $149 per person | Presque Isle | Transportation and Packed Lunch from Atria’s Included
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Birding Expedition Bus Tour: Presque Isle Details
Presque Isle is a bird migration hotspot prized by birders in our region and beyond! Meet up with National Aviary experts for a morning of birdwatching. Hone your bird identification skills and learn birding tips and tricks as you explore some of western Pennsylvania’s most beautiful locations. Plus, our experts will help you identify the many native and migrating birds you see throughout the scenic views!
Meet up and leave the driving to us!
This program is designed for ages 6 and up, under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Birding Expedition Bus Tour: Cook Forest
Sun., June 8 | 7 am – 2:30 pm | Members: $134; Non-Members: $149 per person | Cook Forest | Transportation & Lunch from Atria’s Included | Register Here
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Birding Expedition Bus Tour: Cook Forest DetailsCook Forest is well known for its towering stands of ancient hemlocks and pines. These woods are a crucial breeding ground for many of Pennsylvania’s most sought-after songbirds.Meet up with National Aviary experts for a morning of birdwatching in this pristine forest. Hone your bird identification skills or learn birding basics as you explore some of the area’s most beautiful locations. Meet at the National Aviary and leave the driving to us: our experts will share their knowledge and stories of birding during the ride!
This program includes some light hiking on Cook Forest State Park trails, which are unpaved and uneven surfaces. Designed for ages 6 and up, under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Birding Expedition: Powdermill Avian Research Center
Sat., September 27 | 8:30 – 11:30 am | Members: $50; Non-Members: $55 per person | Powdermill Avian Research Center | Register Here
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Birding Expedition: Powdermill Avian Research Center Details
Meet up with National Aviary Ornithologist Bob Mulvihill for a morning of birdwatching. Hone your bird identification skills or learn birding basics as you explore some of western Pennsylvania’s most beautiful locations.
Powdermill Avian Research Center, the field station of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, is located just 1.5 hours east of Pittsburgh in the Ligonier Valley and has been in operation for more than 60 years. Ornithologist Bob Mulvihill helped operate the bird banding station at Powdermill for almost 30 years. Join Bob to see a wide variety of migratory birds (like warblers, thrushes, vireos, and flycatchers) up close with an experienced bird bander – watching as researchers record valuable data. Plus, learn about the important research conducted at Powdermill that is helping scientists understand migratory birds and their conservation needs.
Birdwatchers may also tour the Powdermill Nature Center and visit additional birding hotspots nearby!
This Birding Expedition is open to participants 6 and older; those under 18 must be accompanied by a registered adult.
Birding Expedition: Blue Spruce State Park
Sun., November 2 | 8:30 – 11:30 am | Members: $50; Non-Members: $55 per person | Blue Spruce State Park | Register Here
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Birding Expedition: Blue Spruce State Park Details
Meet up with National Aviary experts for a morning of birdwatching. Hone your bird identification skills or learn birding basics as you explore some of Western Pennsylvania’s most beautiful locations.
Join us for this very special birding experience at Blue Spruce County Park in Indiana County. At this location, chickadees have been taught to come to people for sunflower seed handouts! Having birds land on your outstretched hand and take a seed from it is a very special and memorable experience for ALL ages that you don’t want to miss! Of course, this is near the height of fall bird migration, so we will also explore the area, looking for waterfowl and other birdwatching opportunities.
This program includes some light hiking on Blue Spruce State Park trails, which may have uneven surfaces. Designed for ages 6 and up, under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Birding Expedition Bus Tour: Goddard State Park
Sun., December 7 | 8:30 am – 3 pm | Members: $134; Non-Members: $149 per person | Goddard State Park | Transportation & Lunch from Atria’s Included | Register Here
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Birding Expedition Bus Tour: Goddard State Park Details
Goddard State Park has a gem of a birding habitat – Lake Wilhelm. The lake attracts a large variety of water birds, including gulls, terns, waterfowl, shorebirds, and wading birds. For most people, the main attraction is the chance to see Bald Eagles. During the height of winter, Bald Eagles can reach high numbers searching for fish amongst the gaps of ice in the frozen lake. Join us for the unique opportunity to see these large birds of prey and more of Pennsylvania’s avian winter residents.
Join the National Aviary for a day of birding! Hone your bird identification skills or learn birding basics as you explore some of Western Pennsylvania’s most beautiful locations. Meet us at The National Aviary and leave the driving to us! Our experts will share their knowledge and stories from years of birding during the ride! Lunch at a nearby restaurant is included.
After a morning of birding and exploring around Lake Wilhelm, we will warm up at a nearby restaurant for lunch, which will include a sandwich, salad, and a slice of pie. Then, we will stop by a local birding shop where you can stock up on supplies before heading home!
This program includes some light hiking on Goddard State Park trails, which may be uneven surfaces. Designed for ages 6 and up, under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Upcoming Trips
Visit Iceland with the National Aviary and AAA Travel
June 10 – 20, 2025 | Call 1-800-354-8761 to contact AAA Travel today
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Visit Iceland Details
Pack your bags and embark on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure to Iceland with the National Aviary’s Dr. Pilar Fish! Journey to the land of fire and ice, where you’ll witness the breathtaking beauty of lava fields and massive glaciers that have sculpted mountains, valleys, and powerful waterfalls. Are you ready to explore this awe-inspiring country? Call 1-800-354-8761 to contact AAA Travel today!
Visit our FAQ section of our website for our cancellation policy.
In cases of insufficient registration, the National Aviary reserves the right to cancel any program. Under these circumstances, you will receive a full refund.