Birds & Birding at Joppa Flats

As one of the most important migration stopovers on the "Atlantic Flyway," Joppa Flats hosts a wide variety of birds year-round. Join us on an upcoming birding program or go birding on your own. Whichever you choose, bring the checklist of birds you might see at the sanctuary!

Learn About Local Birds & Birding

Familiarize yourself with common birds and best practices for birding, bird feeders, and more. Learn more

Get Mass Audubon's Bird Checklist

Track the birds you encounter at Joppa Flats, and throughout the state, with Mass Audubon's Bird Checklist. Get the free checklist

Share Your Sightings

After your visit, take a few minutes to submit your sightings to Mass Audubon's eBird page, a collaboration with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Submit your sightings

Annual Birding Events

Superbowl of Birding (January)

Winter is a wonderful time to bird in northeastern Massachusetts and southeastern New Hampshire. Our annual competition celebrates the season and its birds. 

Merrimack River Eagle Festival (February)

Every year in February we host a grand event marking the return of the Bald Eagles. We hope you'll join us in celebrating these very special winter residents. 

Wednesday Morning Birding

For more than 20 years, our weekly outings have given birders of all skill levels excellent exposure to the hotspots in one of the most productive birding areas in America. We focus our birding adventures on the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Plum Island, the Merrimack River estuary, and other locations around Essex County. Keep an eye on our program catalog or sign up to receive email updates.