Birds in the Hills, Sponsored by The Ohio Ornithological Society at Camp Oty’okwa – South Bloomingville, OH

Welcome to the Birds in the Hills Festival!

About the Festival:

Come join us on Friday, May 1, 2026, at 5 p.m., at the beautiful Camp Oty’Okwa in Hocking Hills for a fun-filled weekend celebrating the natural world and the spring migration.

Birds in the Hills welcomes individuals of diverse ages and backgrounds, providing a chance to explore the biodiversity of the Appalachian region through interactive nature activities led by local guides and naturalists. In addition to a variety of birding excursions, the festival provides family-oriented programming, food, camping, interactive workshops, live music, nature inspired vendors, an off-the-charts silent auction, and more!

Whether you’re a seasoned birder or just starting out, there’s something for everyone at this family-friendly festival. Grab your binoculars and get ready to immerse yourself in nature at the Birds in the Hills Festival.

Bird species that attendees may encounter include various warblers such as worm-eating, hooded, cerulean, black-throated green, prothonotary, blue-winged, magnolia, and blackburnian. Other notable species include the hermit thrush, rose-breasted grosbeak, and wood thrush.

We are thrilled to be partnering with the Ohio Ornithological Society to host this years Birds in the Hills Festival!​​​​

The Ohio Ornithological Society is offering two all-day field trips throughout the Hocking Hills on May 2, departing from Camp Oty’Okwa. These field trips are in addition to the regular programming typically offered during the Birds in the Hills Festival. See ticket add-ons for more information.

Saturday Evening Keynote: Nicole Jackson, How Birds Connect People to Place, Community, and Care

*Ticket prices do not include meals. Meal tickets are available as an add on option and must be purchased two weeks in advance of the festival. No meal tickets will be available after April 21st. Participants are welcome to bring their own food and alcoholic beverages into the festival. Glass is not permitted.

Onsite Lodging Options (Available with Registration, First-Come, First-Served)

Choose the stay that fits your style and comfort level:

• Sebring Hall: Heated Dorm-Style Bunk LodgesFour bunk style rooms, each accommodating up to 30 guests. Bathrooms are located inside each lodge, and shoes are stored at the entrance.
• Ivy Unit: Rustic Heated Bunk Cabins Four bunk style cabins with electricity and heat, each sleeping up to 12 guests. While there are no indoor bathrooms, a shower house and restrooms are just a short walk away.
• Tent Camping Pitch your tent in our open field or in the hammock garden.
• Car, Van & Small RV Camping Car camping, van camping, and small RVs are welcome. Please note that hookups are not available.

All lodging and camping options are first-come, first-served, so register early to secure your spot!

Donate: Your contribution to the 2026 Birds in the Hills Festival will help Appalachian Understories continue its mission to preserve local knowledge, create a sense of place, benefit human health, and bring revenue into our region. Click here to donate today.

2026 Schedule

Schedule is subject to change

Friday May 1st

5pm Check in and camp set up is open!

6:30-7:30pm David Ackerman Presents: General Wildlife and Bird Photography and Dinner

6:30-7:30pm Family programing and Dinner

7:30-8:30pm Bird Call Competition and Bonfire

Saturday May 2nd

5:00am-7:30am Using Photography as a Way to Connect with Nature During the Dawn Chorus Guided Hike by David Ackerman

-Start your day with a guided hike around camp as we take in the dawn chorus and look for ways to capture its beauty in photographic form. As we walk along we will experiment with the settings and techniques that were discussed on Friday evening.

7am Ohio Ornithological Society field trips leave

8am-11am Birding by Ear by Heather Aubke

-Do you want to learn how to identify birds by song, but aren’t sure how to get started? Then this hike is for you! We’ll talk about how to “tune in” to birdsong, strategies for learning various bird sounds, and about resources that can aid in developing and strengthening this skill. We’ll also talk about the Merlin app and how it can help you. Most importantly, we will spend time listening to and identifying the birds around us.

8am-9am Breakfast

9:30-10:30am Build Your Own Bird Feeder by Rowan Behrens

-We’ll have a Build-Your-Own Bird Feeder station set up all weekend long. Stop by anytime to create and take home your very own bird feeder!

12:30pm-1:30pm Lunch

2pm Ohio Ornithological Society field trips field trips return

2pm-3pm Meet Owl Capone the Barred Owl

-Meet one of the injured raptors that live at Hocking Hills State Park, learn how they live in the wild, where they sit on the food chain, and what kind of adaptations they have to keep them there!

3pm-5pm Wild Flower Hike by Mike Nicolai and Rowan Behrens

-Join us for an off-trail exploration of native wildflowers in the old growth forest/split rocks area of Camp Oty’Okwa. This off-trail hike will be strenuous with approximately 335 feet of elevation change. It includes a steep descent and climb. Sturdy footwear is strongly recommended. Trekking poles or a walking stick are also encouraged. This exploration will be approximately two hours.

4pm-5pm Beats of the Birds: A Mnemonic Drumming Circle by Lawrence Greene

-Join us for an interactive drumming circle inspired by bird songs and the mnemonic phrases we use to remember them. In this session, we’ll explore how rhythm and repetition can mirror the patterns of familiar bird calls, translating “who-cooks-for-you” and other classic mnemonics into engaging group beats. No drumming experience is necessary, just bring your curiosity and love of birds as we connect music, memory, and nature in a fun, hands-on experience.

5:15pm-5:30 Images from the Dawn Chorus: Participant Photo Showcase

-A showcase of images from the Dawn Chorus hike. Participants are invited to download and edit their photos in advance, then select their top three shots to share.This supportive, informal review is designed to celebrate everyone’s work, inspire new ideas, and reinforce techniques learned earlier in the day.

5:30pm-6:30pm Keynote Speaker: Nicole Jackson How Birds Connect People to Place, Community, and Care and Dinner

-Nicole draws from her unique background in nature connection, field-based education, and community outreach to explore how birds serve as powerful ambassadors for ecological and even self-awareness. She offers insightful strategies for using the hobby of birding to foster connection, curiosity, and conservation action in diverse audiences.

7pm-9pm Song of the Wood Thrush: An Evening Hike to Split Rock by Lawrence Greene

-Discription coming soon

8pm-11pm Chucks, Whips, and Moths, Oh My! by Homer Elliott

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Sunday May 3rd

6:30am-8am Dawn Chorus Guided Hike by Kevinn Fung

-Join Kevinn for a guided birding hike where we’ll focus on using the Merlin app for bird identification and practice responsible birding techniques. Along the way, Kevinn will share his insights on photographing birds both in the wild and in home settings.

7am-11am Bird Banding by Bob Scott

– Try your hand in collecting scientific data and have a chance to handle and get a closer look at a variety of bird species. Bob Scott will be leading the bird banding session to help in monitoring migration patterns of several bird species.

8am-9am Breakfast

9:30am-10:30am Build Your Own Bird Feeder by Rowan Behrens

-We’ll have a Build-Your-Own Bird Feeder station set up all weekend long. Stop by anytime to create and take home your very own bird feeder!

10:30am-11:30am Guided Nature Hike by Mike Nicolai and Allie Scott
-Want to explore the woods around camp? We will look for specific nature items with our scavenger hunt, or simply explore and appreciate the environment.