BIRD lovers and nature enthusiasts are in for a treat as the Mornington Peninsula gears up to host its inaugural Bird Festival, featuring guided trips, an art show, expert talks and beginner-friendly workshops.
Running on the weekend of 22–23 November, the event will shine a spotlight on the diverse birdlife of the region, offering visitors of all ages a chance to connect with nature in meaningful and exciting ways.
All events and activities will be based at Coolart Homestead and wetlands.
This includes bird watching with well-respected bird guides both mornings, plus a trip on Western Port and another to French Island.
Other highlights will be three presentations each day, with themes ranging from conservation, photography, and general information.
Peter Menkhorst, author of The Australian Bird Guide, will be talking about how to get the most out of field guides.
The Friends of Coolart will host a “Bird’s Eye View” art show at Coolart Homestead, and Georgia Angus, local artist and author, will run a bird drawing workshop.
Kirsty Costa, presenter of The Weekend Birder, will be running the activity “Mindfulness in Birding”.
Lynne Murdoch, convenor of BirdLife Mornington Peninsula, will be leading a discussion about how to become a birder — talking about knowledge development, equipment, where to look for birds, and more.
On the Saturday, community conservation groups will also have the chance to display what they do.
On Sunday, alongside the walks, tours and speakers, organisers are inviting the community to enter “The Big Bird Bake Off”, where they use their baking skills to create a bird-themed food item. There will be three to four categories to enter.
There will also be a Saturday night dinner held at Toscanos in Hastings. Dorothy Bedford from the USA, co-sponsor of the event, will be speaking on “Puffin Love”.
“This event has something for everyone,” said Penny Gillespie, one of the organisers.
“Whether you are a twitcher itching to get onto the Western Port mud flats, want to learn a bit more about birds, keen on beautiful wildlife art, or want to know how you can be involved in environmental conservation on the Mornington Peninsula, we have you covered!”
The guided bird walks, speakers and dinner are ticketed. Tickets are now on sale at www.intix.com.au.
To learn more about the festival and for a full schedule of events, visit www.birdfestmp.org or follow along on Facebook and Instagram via Mornington Peninsula Bird Festival.
First published in the Mornington News – 9 September 2025
