Thinking about next year's festivals?

Have you ever attended a birding festival? I recommend going to at least one in another part of the country, because you'll likely be able to visit sites with knowledgeable guides who can help you learn about the locations and the specialty species.

That's part of the appeal of attending the American Birding Association's annual convention. I attended my first convention in Tucson in July 2005 and joined the goings-on in Bangor in June 2006.

The 2007 convention will begin April 23 in Lafayette, La., and details already appear here. I'm already perusing the field trip descriptions and looking forward to the Cajun culture.