BIRD FEST

Hawkins Loop offers more than 60 acres of pasture and old growth forest, heavily populated by a wide range of birds and wildlife. Learn about the North Carolina Birding Trail and borrow binoculars thanks to Field Inclusive!

Learn how to use binoculars, identify common birds, and create a healthy habitat for wildlife in your own backyard. “Make and Take” workshops with North Carolina artists. Kids can earn a birdwatching patch from NC Youth Outdoor Engagement Commission.

Fuel up and cool down with coffee, tea, baked goods, sandwiches, snacks, and more from the Hawkins Loop Snack Bar and our fabulous food partners: Amity Coffee and The Butcher’s Daughter Market and Deli.

Pasture and wooded trails will be marked to provide guests easy access for walking, in addition to designated observation areas with accessible seating. Feel free to bring your own picnic blankets or chairs.

Watch the natural world wake up as the sun rises over the pond. Intentionally designed for quiet movement and reflection, please enjoy the trails for walking, birding, photography, journaling, meditation, or yoga.

Find out about other outdoor recreation, art, and environmental education opportunities in our area. While you’re here, check out The Kirby Cultural Arts Complex or nearby farms with the Visit NC Farms app.

Identify the birds you see or hear with the Merlin Bird ID app, featuring a global bird guide with photos, sounds, maps, and more. Answer three simple questions about a bird you are trying to identify and Merlin will give you a list of possible matches.

The North Carolina Birding Trail serves as a driving trail to link birders and nature-based tourists with great birding sites across the state and the local communities in which they are found. Hawkins Loop has served as an observation and data collection area since 2023 to help support conservation and bird research worldwide.