Tipton County Museum Bird Fest

10/22/2026

10/21/2026

We want to try something a little different as we are getting ready to plan next year's birdfest. We want to hear from you! What was your favorite/ least favorite thing about our festival? Favorite field trip? What would you like to see more/less of? Is there anything you want to see that we don't do. We want your thoughts, suggestions, and opinions! Do you want to volunteer? Send us an e message on messenger or email us at [email protected]! Drop us a line! Don't hesitate to let us know! We look forward to hearing from you!

Also we have set our festival dates for 2027 and already have some really cool things lined up! You dont want to miss this! Our festival will start Friday, April 30, 2027 and run through Sunday, May 2, 2027!!

Tipton County Museum Bird Festival offers an educational ornithological experience of West Tennessee birding located at 751 Bert Johnston Ave. Covington, TN 38019. The festival offers local hikes, educational lectures, and a diverse group of birding enthusiast. Join our birding adventures and share....

10/21/2026

Friends of the Museum will be having a bean/cornbread cook off on November 14, 2026 at the Tipton County Museum Veterans Memorial and Nature Center from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Entry fee is 25.00 to cook. Entry to the event is FREE.

There will be awards given as follows.
●1st place in beans category
● People's choice award in beans category
●1st place in cornbread category
●People’s choice in cornbread category
●Best table/booth

Set up begins at 9:30 AM that day. Please bring a table to set up, and an extension cord. Choose your theme and docorate your area. (No pop up tents please.) We will have a very small number of tables and cords to loan for the day. If you need a table or cord please contact the museum asap to reserve them.

A bowl for unlimited beans is $5.00 and a plate for unlimited cornbread is $2.00.

We will also have desserts, and there will be a cake walk as well.
All proceeds will go to Friends of the Tipton County Museum. Come join the fun and help us help this wonderful Museum.

To sign up to compete or for any questions please feel free to message Dexter Hartsfield at 901-672-3311 or call the museum at 901-476-0242.

05/10/2026

Here's a few more pictures I was sent! If i forgot toto tag anyone please feel free to tag them!

05/10/2026

Happy World Migratory Bird Day! Here's a few pics from this year's birdfest (a few from me and a few that people have given me.) If you have photos from the festival feel free to share! Also, feel free to tag people in the photos! I didn't take as many pictures as I usually do this year! I guess I was too busy birding! 😆 🐦

A few highlights this year- we got 133 species including a Sora! We had amazing BBQ Friday night cooked by Dexter Hartsfield , and Robert Rose's legendary Mac n cheese! Keith Paluso sang us some great songs and taught us some cool things about birds! Saturday we had some great birding hikes at the Tipton County Museum and Lower Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge in Lauderdale County with some amazing people. We even got a few new birders! Then back at the museum, Keith taught us about backyard birds and feeders. We ended the night with an awesome hayride learning about the history of Fort Pillow State Historic Park with Park Ranger, Tyson Weller who then took us on an awesome Pontoon ride where we heard several Barred Owls calling back and forth. Sunday, we a great time at Ted Turner 's farm birding from golf carts, where we saw a bobolink, and several other cool birds. Followed by a trip to Lower Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge in Tipton County were we saw and heard lots of different warblers and other species, including one "mystery" bird we heard that no one could 100% positively ID! We had a great picnic and then returned to the museum for a program by Sherl Rose on Pollinators, and a birds of prey show put on by Jewell West from Reelfoot Lake State Park. It was a great weekend and we can't wait til next year!

05/04/2026

The official species count is in for the 2026 Tipton County Museum Birdfest! 133 across all the days! 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

05/03/2026

Don't forget ! Birds of prey show starts in 15 mins! Come meet the American Kestrel and Eastern Screech owl! Brought to us by Jewell West from Reelfoot Lake State Park!

05/03/2026

05/03/2026

Today's volunteer spotlights are Dexter Hartsfield, Ted Turner, and Cindy Anne Day ! Dexter and Mrs. Ann have worked really hard before and throughout the birdfest, and we couldn't do it withoutthem!! Mr. Ted generously allows us to come to his farm every year during the birdfest for some great birding! To see their full bios check out tcmbirdfest.com!