Great Blue Heron. Photo by David Rice
Georgia Bird Fest Summit 2026
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Friday and Saturday, April 24 and 26 on Jekyll Island
9:00 AM to 3:30 PM, with pre-summit field trips
Location: Villas By The Sea, Jekyll Island, GA
Pricing:
Regular Registration: $100
Regular Student rate: $62*
*If you are choosing the student rate, you must use your student (.edu) email address to register.
Registration will close at midnight on Wednesday, April 23.
The Georgia Bird Fest Summit is headed to the coast! We'll convene at Villas by the Sea on Jekyll Island on April 25 and 26 for the second annual Georgia Bird Fest Summit.
Friday, April 25
If you are able to get to the coast on Friday we have some amazing trips scheduled to help you get acquainted with your coastal feathered friends before the conference on April 26th. Trips include:
10:00 AM to 1:30 PM: Hampton River Boat Ride - St. Simon's Island, ($80 per person in addition to Summit registration fee)
11:45 AM to 4:45 PM: Cumberland Island Trip - St. Mary's, GA, travel about 4.5 miles, accessibility wheelchair available (This event is free to attend with Summit Registration, but participants must make their own ferry reservations and expect to pay a $37 to $50 ferry fee to Cumberland Island making the reservation.)
3:30 PM to 6:00 PM: Altamaha WMA - Townsend, GA (Free with Summit registration)
3:00 PM to 4:300 PM: Rookery Tour - St. Mary's, GA, travel about 2 miles (Free with Summit registration, separate waiver required)
Saturday, April 26
7:00 to 9:00 AM - Participants may choose from the following optional pre-Summit Field Trips occurirng on Jekyll Island on Saturday, April 25:
9:30 AM - Opening Remarks
10:00 to 11:00 AM - Keynote Address by Janisse Ray
11:00 AM - Tabling Hour and Book signing with Janisse Ray
Janisse Ray's publications will be available for purchase on site.
12:00 to 12:40 PM - Breakout Session I
1:00 PM to 2:00 PM - Lunch and a feature film showing of Wings Over Water
Wings Over Water tells the story of the epic journeys of three amazing bird families – the Sandhill Crane, the Yellow Warbler and the Mallard Duck – with extraordinary footage of their fascinating behaviors. Narrated by Michael Keaton.
2:00 to 2:40 PM - Breakout Session II
2:50 to 3:10 PM - Acknowledgments/Awards Ceremony
3:30 PM - Event Ends
About our Keynote Speaker:
Janisse Ray is an acclaimed writer, naturalist, and environmental activist whose work blends personal narrative with ecological themes. Born in 1962 in Baxley, Georgia, her deep connection to the southern Georgian landscape profoundly shapes her writing. In addition to her memoirs, Ray has authored poetry and essays featured in over 40 anthologies, with her works translated into multiple languages. She lives on a family farm in southern Georgia, practicing organic farming and seed saving, aligning her lifestyle with her environmental values. An inductee of the Georgia Writers Hall of Fame and recipient of a Pushcart Prize, Ray inspires through her writing and teaching, championing stories as tools for ecological and social change.
Lunch is included in Summit registration fee.
Lodging: Villas by the Sea
Guests must call the Villas by the Sea to make their own reservations. Reservation Phone: 912-635-2521
Please mention Group Code: BIRDS when calling.
A credit card is required to guarantee reservations. Guests are responsible for their own charges.
All lodging room accounts with a balance must be paid in full at check-in.
Rates are subject to 7% Sales Tax, 5% Hotel Occupancy Tax & 5% Resort Fee. 2-night minimum stay.
RESERVATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY March 25, 2025 THEREAFTER ROOMS NOT PICKED UP OR WITHOUT A DEPOSIT WILL BE RELEASED.
Cancellation Policy:
Please note the special cancellation policy for this event due to meal guarantee dates at Villas By The Sea: If you need to cancel your registration more than 10 days prior to the event (on or before April 15), we will refund the registration and trip fees less a 20% processing fee. Cancellations nine (9) days or less (on or after April 16) prior to the event are non-refundable.. All events/classes are rain or shine unless otherwise noted. If a class or event must be cancelled because of weather or other unforeseen circumstances, registered participants will receive a full refund.
Please note that you must register for the Georgia Bird Fest Summit separately from other events.
9:00 AM to 3:30 PM, with pre-summit field trips
Location: Villas By The Sea, Jekyll Island, GA
Pricing:
Regular Registration: $100
Regular Student rate: $62*
*If you are choosing the student rate, you must use your student (.edu) email address to register.
Registration will close at midnight on Wednesday, April 23.
The Georgia Bird Fest Summit is headed to the coast! We'll convene at Villas by the Sea on Jekyll Island on April 25 and 26 for the second annual Georgia Bird Fest Summit.
Friday, April 25
If you are able to get to the coast on Friday we have some amazing trips scheduled to help you get acquainted with your coastal feathered friends before the conference on April 26th. Trips include:
10:00 AM to 1:30 PM: Hampton River Boat Ride - St. Simon's Island, ($80 per person in addition to Summit registration fee)
11:45 AM to 4:45 PM: Cumberland Island Trip - St. Mary's, GA, travel about 4.5 miles, accessibility wheelchair available (This event is free to attend with Summit Registration, but participants must make their own ferry reservations and expect to pay a $37 to $50 ferry fee to Cumberland Island making the reservation.)
3:30 PM to 6:00 PM: Altamaha WMA - Townsend, GA (Free with Summit registration)
3:00 PM to 4:300 PM: Rookery Tour - St. Mary's, GA, travel about 2 miles (Free with Summit registration, separate waiver required)
Saturday, April 26
7:00 to 9:00 AM - Participants may choose from the following optional pre-Summit Field Trips occurirng on Jekyll Island on Saturday, April 25:
- South Beach **Patron Only Event**
- Clam Creek
9:30 AM - Opening Remarks
10:00 to 11:00 AM - Keynote Address by Janisse Ray
11:00 AM - Tabling Hour and Book signing with Janisse Ray
Janisse Ray's publications will be available for purchase on site.
12:00 to 12:40 PM - Breakout Session I
1:00 PM to 2:00 PM - Lunch and a feature film showing of Wings Over Water
Wings Over Water tells the story of the epic journeys of three amazing bird families – the Sandhill Crane, the Yellow Warbler and the Mallard Duck – with extraordinary footage of their fascinating behaviors. Narrated by Michael Keaton.
2:00 to 2:40 PM - Breakout Session II
2:50 to 3:10 PM - Acknowledgments/Awards Ceremony
3:30 PM - Event Ends
About our Keynote Speaker:
Janisse Ray is an acclaimed writer, naturalist, and environmental activist whose work blends personal narrative with ecological themes. Born in 1962 in Baxley, Georgia, her deep connection to the southern Georgian landscape profoundly shapes her writing. In addition to her memoirs, Ray has authored poetry and essays featured in over 40 anthologies, with her works translated into multiple languages. She lives on a family farm in southern Georgia, practicing organic farming and seed saving, aligning her lifestyle with her environmental values. An inductee of the Georgia Writers Hall of Fame and recipient of a Pushcart Prize, Ray inspires through her writing and teaching, championing stories as tools for ecological and social change.
Lunch is included in Summit registration fee.
Lodging: Villas by the Sea
Guests must call the Villas by the Sea to make their own reservations. Reservation Phone: 912-635-2521
Please mention Group Code: BIRDS when calling.
A credit card is required to guarantee reservations. Guests are responsible for their own charges.
All lodging room accounts with a balance must be paid in full at check-in.
Rates are subject to 7% Sales Tax, 5% Hotel Occupancy Tax & 5% Resort Fee. 2-night minimum stay.
RESERVATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY March 25, 2025 THEREAFTER ROOMS NOT PICKED UP OR WITHOUT A DEPOSIT WILL BE RELEASED.
Cancellation Policy:
Please note the special cancellation policy for this event due to meal guarantee dates at Villas By The Sea: If you need to cancel your registration more than 10 days prior to the event (on or before April 15), we will refund the registration and trip fees less a 20% processing fee. Cancellations nine (9) days or less (on or after April 16) prior to the event are non-refundable.. All events/classes are rain or shine unless otherwise noted. If a class or event must be cancelled because of weather or other unforeseen circumstances, registered participants will receive a full refund.
Please note that you must register for the Georgia Bird Fest Summit separately from other events.
