The Salton Sea Bird Festival will return on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, offering birdwatchers and outdoor enthusiasts a rare look at one of the Pacific Flyway’s most critical stops during the peak of winter migration. The daylong event, organized through a partnership of state, federal, and nonprofit organizations, features a diverse lineup of field trips and educational activities designed to showcase the ecological significance of California’s largest inland lake. Among the day’s highlights is a guided public tour of the Species Conservation Habitat (SCH) project. Hosted by the Salton Sea Management Program (SSMP), the tour provides a behind-the-scenes look at the 9,500-acre aquatic restoration site located at the southern end of the sea.