About the Festival
How do I sign-up for the festival?
First, select the Events tab, and purchase the 'General Admission' ticket. You can then go back to Events and sign-up for the walks you want to attend. A pop-up appears after signing-up and can be closed in the top-right corner. You will get an email for both the ticket sale and the Event RSVP.
Note: Only sign-up for one walk per time slot (e.g., one Saturday Morning walk). You won't be able to attend two walks at the same time!
Where does this festival take place?
The Southern Plains Birding Festival is held in Bent County, Colorado. Several excursions will take place on the SPLT preserves, which are located south and west of Lamar, Colorado. Additional excursions will take place at John Martin Reservoir and around Lamar. The exact coordinates for each excursion's meeting point will be shared after registration.
What happens to the festival if the weather is poor?
Southern Plains Birding Festival will have to be cancelled in the event of poor weather. The preserves are only accessible from county roads, which become impassable with heavy rain. In this circumstance, attendees will be notiified prior to May 9th and tickets will be fully refunded.
Do you offer festival t-shirts?
Yes! Please select the Lodging & Merch tab to purchase one (or two..). Not everyone can be at the "1st Annual" of something. Impress your friends.
Note: T-shirts will be handed to you at the festival. They will not be shipped to you.
Note: Last day to buy T-shirts is April 25th. This is due to shipping time constraints.
Can I bring more than one person with me to the festival?
Yes! The more the merrier. Just remember after purchasing that additional ticket, you must RSVP them for walks. If you only sign-up for yourself, they might miss out on a spot because the walk fills up. You will need to include their email, and name, for the groups to be handled correctly on the back-end.
Planning Your Visit
Where should I spend the night during the festival?
You are welcome to camp on SPLT's Heartland Ranch Nature Preserve by booking an admission + camping ticket. The conditions are basic (e.g., the preserve does not have potable water or electricity) . You can also opt for one of the two available rustic cabins on Heartland by booking an admission + cabin ticket. A more comfortable option is to book a hotel in Lamar, Colorado (Historic Cow Palace or the Holiday Inn) or drive to the campground at John Martin Reservoir. Of course, you can also get up early and drive straight to the festival the day of your chosen excursions.
What will the campsite, or cabins, be like? What amenities are available?
Cabins: The four cabins have a shared Port-a-Potty at the location. Additionally, there is a burn area for you to grill and have a fire. You must only have your grill and fire in this area. Pack in your own water. No electricity on-site. Very basic, but beautiful location. There are three cots within each cabins and you decide who you want to stay with you. Three people is the max per cabin.
Campsite: The campsite ticket is valid for two nights of camping (Friday May 8th and Saturday May 9th, 2026) for a 2-person tent. The camping conditions at Heartland are similar to backcountry camping, with no running water or electricity, and we request that you bring all of your own camping gear, food and drinking water, and pack out all of your trash at the end of your stay. There will be porta-potties available for attendee use. Please come prepared!
Will there be food at the festival?
We will have one or two food trucks on-site to sell food on Saturday afternoon and evening to festival attendees. However, we advise you to also bring your own food: breakfast, lunch, and dinner, snacks, and plenty of drinking water, as the Southern Plains Land Trust preserves do not have potable running water or restaurants nearby.
What are the accessibility levels of each excursion?
In the description of each excursion, we provide information on accessibility such as whether it’s a car excursion or a walking excursion. We also provide info on where you can use the restroom. Please note that most excursions take a full morning or full afternoon and you will endure a potentially hot and harsh climate.
What should I bring to the festival?
Please bring a hat, close-toed shoes, sunscreen and/or sunglasses, plenty of drinking water, snacks, as well as your binoculars, and optionally a camera. No electricity at the sites, so plan accordingly. If you bought a campsite for the nights, bring your tent!
What are the road conditions like?
Please bring a high-clearance vehicle (preferred). The roads are not well-kept and there will be off-road sections that we drive on as we explore the prairie. For the trips, we will carpool to each location so we stay as a group. Remember, these are county roads and two-lane tracks we will be driving on. No low vehicles.
Do I need a State Park Pass to attend?
You only need a State Park Pass if you signed-up for the John Martin Reservoir guided walks. There is no pass needed to visit the SPLT nature preserves.
On-Site Experience (Birds & Wildlife)
Which bird species will I encounter during this festival?
SPLT preserves represent some of the best-preserved shortgrass prairie in southeast Colorado. You will see birds that are grassland specialists, such as Grasshopper Sparrow and Cassin's Sparrow. You will also see birds that are associated with prairie dog colonies like Mountain Plover, Burrowing Owl, and Ferruginous Hawk.
What ecosystem should I expect?
The festival is held on shortgrass prairie, which is a native type of grassland with short grasses and shrubs. There are ephemeral and perennial streams, as well as small cliffs, and cottonwood groves. The SPLT preserves are home to lots of native wildlife such as bison, pronghorn, prairie dogs, and of course, more than 150 bird species!
What is the Southern Plains Land Trust (SPLT) and why are you organizing a festival?
We are an environmental nonprofit dedicated to gaining ground for prairie wildlife. It is our mission to create and rewild a network of prairie refuges across the Southern Plains. All proceeds from this festival will go directly toward SPLT's grassland bird conservation efforts such as buying land to protect rare and declining grassland birds like Lesser Prairie-Chicken or SPLT's bird-banding station for population monitoring and environmental education at the Purgatoire River Preserve.
Conservation & Involvement
Can I make a donation and how can I get more involved with SPLT?
Yes, you can donate! As a 501(c)3, all donations to SPLT are tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law. Visit southernplains.org to support us monetarily or by signing up as a volunteer. We organize multiple events throughout the year for supporters like you!