The 13th annual San Diego Bird Festival will fly by from March 5-8 to celebrate the more than 500 bird species that live or make an appearance in San Diego County for the winter. The festival expects to attract more than 400 bird watchers to the four-day affair of bird watching fieldtrips and workshops. Outings include trips to the Salton Sea and Imperial Valley to search for more than 100 species, including the Snow Geese, Sandhill Crane, White-faced Ibis and Burrowing Owl. Other daytrips will send bird enthusiasts to the Whelan Lake Bird Sanctuary, Anza-Borrego Desert and Camp Pendleton. Three-day excursions will lead bird enthusiasts across the border to spot birds in tidal mudflats, fresh and saltwater marshes, sage scrub and grasslands in Mexico. Workshops will feature topics like bird topography, bird calling, spring wildflowers, digiscoping, bird blogging and “Why Woodpeckers Don’t Get Headaches.” The festival will be headquartered at Marina Village in Mission Bay. San Diego is home to a wealth of bird species, especially during the winter months. The area’s diverse environment of ocean, desert, mountains and lakes provides a wealth of habitats for bird species. Of the 750 bird species in America, 500 reside in San Diego County that includes the highest number of rare or endangered species in the country. The county is also a flyaway for migrating birds. In the winter, birds from as far away as Alaska and Canada will journey through San Diego County on their way to the warmer climates of the Americas. Bird author, illustrator and expert David Allen Sibley is the keynote speaker who will discuss the challenges of creating a field guide to birds. In an interview with the San Diego Audubon Society, Sibley said the fact that birds can fly enthralls him. “Since they move so effortlessly and quickly in and out of view, you never know what you’ll find when you go for a walk,” Sibley said. Sometimes you’ll be able to watch it for minutes, or sometimes just get a fleeting glimpse.” Sibley named some of his top favorite birds: warblers for their bright colors and indicating the arrival of spring; owls for their mystery; ravens for their character; and gulls for their endless identification challenges. Prices range from $25 for workshops to $90 for daytrips to $400 for three-day trips. Registration is limited. For more information visit www.sandiegoaudubon.org or call the Audubon Society at (619) 682-7200.