The festival is located at the south end of the park.
Enjoy a day of guided bird walks, live birds, reptiles and amphibians, backyard habitat building, art workshops, children’s activities, and educational displays. Bird walks start regularly. Check the following table for details. If you are planning on coming to the festival with your four-legged friend, remember to keep your dog on a leash. This festival is part of the annual Toronto Bird Celebration that has activities running throughout May.
| Date | Event | Time | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 11 | Virtual Learning Series | 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. |
Gearing up for the Spring Bird Festival celebrating the spring migration, we’re welcoming back Emily Rondel to present about listening in birding. Bird calls are as distinctive as bird feathers. Each species has a unique set of vocalizations, ranging widely from guttural groans of the double-crested cormorants to dainty whispers of the golden-crowned kinglet. By learning to listen one can glean what birds are around, well before you’re able to spot them. Emily will share her wealth of field experience and knowledge, mnemonics, and tips for learning the wide range of local bird calls. |
| May 27 | Opening Circle | 10 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. | Join Cat Criger from the Cayuga Nation for opening remarks to ground the festival, and gathering together to celebrate and honour the land that we are sharing with all creatures. |
| May 27 | Hourly Bird Walks |
one hour each |
Join local bird enthusiasts for a walk to look, listen and learn about birds. You’ll talk about birding in the City, etiquette, locations, and tips. You’ll track common species you can expect to find, and the migratory birds that are just stopping by for a rest. Binoculars are suggested but not required. |
| May 27 | Adult-Centred Indigenous Learning Walk | 10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. | Join Cat Criger from the Cayuga Nation for an exploration of birds in Indigenous culture. Stories, observations, and retellings with be shared, and braided into your understanding of the world around you. |
| May 27 | Family Bird Walks |
30 minutes each |
Join local bird enthusiasts on a bird venture appropriate for all ages of birders. We’ll learn to listen, where to look, and how to behave to spot birds in the park, and around your home. Together we’ll get thinking about birds, and understanding how they live, build their nests, and move around over the seasons. Bring the whole family for this fun introduction to the world of birds. |
| May 27 | Kids Nature Walk: Wildlife Detectives with TRCA |
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Join Toronto and Region Conservation (TRCA) and become Wildlife Detectives as we explore the trails at Colonel Sam Smith Park! We’ll carefully scout the trail, searching for animal clues and learning about the different types of evidence our local wildlife can leave behind. What can these clues tell us about these animals? We’ll also learn about what we can do to protect wildlife habitats at home, at school, and in our communities! |
| May 27 |
Tree Swallow Talk
|
11:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. | Join Terry Smith from Friends of Sam Smith Park for a guided visit to the ‘Swallow Field’ to learn about the large population of Tree Swallows nesting there. Colonel Sam Smith Park is a premier birding location in Toronto and the Tree Swallows are spectacular, dynamic aerialist that breeds in the park after their spring migration from winter grounds in the south. Learn more about these beautiful insectivores with a community expert while they fly all around you! |
| May 27 | Discovering Samuel Smith Park, History and Futures. |
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Join the Lakeshore Grounds Interpretive Centre for a tour through Colonel Samuel Smith Park. Visitors will be introduced to the park’s history, its transformation into a diverse ecological zone, and where the wildlife that calls the park home can be found. Come discuss the human impact on the natural environment and discover the meaningful role of parks in our lives. |
| May 27 | Youth-Centred Indigenous Learning Walk | 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. | Join Cat Criger from the Cayuga Nation for stories and teachings geared toward younger people. You’ll discover the history and tales of the land and animals around you. You’ll see how birds hold more secrets than meet the eye. |
