This year’s poster bird? The great spotted woodpecker, beautifully captured by wildlife photographer João Cosme, who’ll also be leading a workshop and screening his film Côa mais Selvagem on Saturday.

Expect a mix of field trips, talks, exhibitions, and hands-on workshops across the weekend. A few standouts include:

  • Talks & Field Sessions (April 12): Wildlife videographer Hannah Stitfall, journalist Ash Bhardwaj, and photographer Alejandra Rendón will each share stories from their work and take part in outdoor activities.
  • Seminar – “The Future is Natural” (April 11): A full day of conversation around nature-based solutions, with morning talks by experts in conservation and landscape planning, followed by afternoon workshops. Free entry, and teachers can earn accreditation.
  • Weekend Activities (April 12–13): From moliceiro boat rides and bird ringing demos to creative workshops with illustrators and biologists, there’s something for all ages, from the youngest ornithologists to active seniors with a penchant for birdwatching and nature exploring in general. Families with kids don’t want to miss the children’s book launch of My First Bird Book with its authors and illustrator present.

And yes, there's a tethered hot air balloon ride too. If the weather plays along and with the right binoculars, you may even be able to spot Casa dos Jacintos from up there - left of the Reserva Natural das Dunas de São Jacinto, the birdwatcher's paradise on our side of the lagoon.

Find the full schedule for ObservaRia 2025 and register at observaria.pt. 

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Birdwatching