WorldBeat Center Takes Flight at the 2026 San Diego Bird Festival

The 2026 San Diego Bird Festival took place February 25

Through March 1 at the Mission Bay Conference Center,

Bringing together bird enthusiasts, conservationists, educators, and

community members who share a passion for protecting

birds and their habitats. The annual gathering continues to grow as a

space that not only celebrates birds, but  also

works to create a more inclusive and welcoming

representation of who belongs in the birding community.

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Throughout the week, participants enjoyed bird walks, workshops, and

opportunities to connect with others who share a love for the natural world.

One highlight was attending the Birdability

Walk at Santee Lakes, where participants observed San Diego’s

vibrant flocks of wild parrots and identified more than ten species

of birds in the surrounding trees using the Merlin Bird ID app.

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Events like this demonstrate how accessible birding can be

when tools, guidance, and community come together.

This year also marked an exciting step forward in the growing collaboration

between WorldBeat Cultural Center and the San Diego Bird Alliance. Together, the

organizations hosted two meaningful events that connected birding with culture,

community, and environmental stewardship.

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On February 26, WorldBeat Cultural Center

welcomed festival participants for a special

keynote gathering featuring Makeda Cheatom alongside Marilu Lopez

Fretts of the Celebrate Urban Birds Project from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. The

evening brought together culture and conservation through storytelling,

community dialogue, native drumming, and a special musical opening by local artist

Fre3styl3. 

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Guests also enjoyed a Caribbean soul food plate, creating a warm and

welcoming environment that reflected WorldBeat Center’s spirit of cultural

exchange and hospitality. The collaboration continued on the

sunny morning of March 1 with a community bird walk at Chollas Lake Park.

Guided by experienced bird leaders from the SoCal Bird Nerds, along with festival keynote speakers Dexter Patterson and Kenn Kaufman, participants explored the

lake and surrounding habitat while learning about the many bird species that thrive

in this important urban green space.

Beyond simply identifying birds, the walk became a moment of reflection and

connection. Many participants shared how the experience of quietly walking

around the lake, listening to birds, and

observing nature brought a deep sense of calm and inner peace. These shared

moments highlighted how birding can nourish both environmental awareness and

personal well-being.

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WorldBeat Center is grateful to Bushnell for sponsoring both events and providing

binoculars for participants during the Chollas Lake bird walk, helping

make birding accessible to everyone. Special thanks also go

to the park rangers whose support and participation helped make the

event a success.

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These collaborations reflect WorldBeat Cultural Center’s broader mission

to build bridges between culture, nature, and community. By bringing together

environmental education, cultural traditions, and inclusive spaces, WorldBeat continues

to demonstrate that caring for the earth is deeply connected to caring for one another.

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Birding is for everyone. When communities come together across cultures, generations, and

experiences, we not only deepen our connection to nature—we strengthen the collective effort to protect it.

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WorldBeat Cultural Center thanks all of the friends, collaborators, and participants

who joined us during the San Diego Bird Festival. We look forward to continuing this

journey and invite the community to stay tuned for future bird walks and nature

gatherings at Chollas Lake Park and beyond.

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