FAIRHOPE, Ala. — There’s no reason to feel disappointed if you failed to book passage on one of the excursions planned this week as part of the four-day, sixth annual John L. Borom Alabama Coastal BirdFest. Although all the journeys are booked solid, the weekend will bring with it new possibilities for discovery.

Downtown Fairhope will be the site of the free Bird & Conservation Expo, scheduled for Saturday, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., on the campus of Faulkner State Community College. Some guest lectures will take place within a short walking distance of the primary expo site.

“The whole idea of BirdFest is to help educate the public about the value of stewardship,” said Dr. John Borom, BirdFest chairman. “We can all make a difference through our actions.”

Many activities designed for adults and children alike are planned throughout the event.

Among them are raptor demonstrations from the Alabama 4-H Center, shows on Alabama snakes, birdhouse building for the kids and touch tanks from the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Marine Resources Division.

There will also be informative displays from other divisions of the Department of Conservation, including Marine Police, State Parks and State Lands.

Vendors will be on hand with birding and garden supplies, artists will display their work and exhibitors from various organizations will have interesting displays and activities for kids.

In the afternoon, organizers plan workshops about owls, and will explore why birds have different kinds of feathers.

Even the Fairhope Museum of History is getting in on the act, with an ongoing activity all day designed to show children how they might have learned about nature 100 years ago.

“We have experts coming from the University of South Alabama, the 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center and the Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve,” Borom said. “This will be a learning experience.”

The Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo will be on hand with tropical birds, he added, and Jeff Bouton will share his experience watching birds as well as other bird-watchers.

Greg Lein assistant director of Alabama State Lands, will talk about Alabama’s Forever Wild land conservation program. Borom said, “We need to understand where the money is coming from — not from taxes, but from oil and gas revenue — and the importance of voting to renew the program.”

BirdFest and the Friends of the Fairhope Public Library will gather at 11:30 to award top prizes in the second annual Third Grade Art Contest. Finalists, selected from each third grade class in Fairhope schools, are on display in the children’s department of the library through the end of the month.

All other entries will be displayed at the expo, with some on the main campus and others at the Fairhope Museum of History.

“Nearly 200 third-grade students participated this year, and the entries are just wonderful.” It will be difficult to choose our three winners,” said Mary Gregg, a Friends member working on the contest. “We hope kids, parents and teachers will come cheer on their school.”

Borom said, “You promote stewardship at an early age. Our actions make a difference. You can do good or not.”

The John L. Borom Alabama Coastal BirdFest is made possible by many supporters and sponsors, including Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources State Lands Division, Legacy, NOAA, Weeks Bay Foundation, The Forum, Faulkner State Community College, Mobile Bay National Estuary Program, Baldwin County Commission, Mobile County Commission, Alabama Coastal Heritage Trust, Conoco Phillips and Wolf Bay Watershed Watch.

For more information about BirdFest, along with the full schedule of activities for the Bird & Conservation Expo, visit www.alabamacoastalbirdfest.com.

Schedule of Events

Don’t miss these speakers and workshops at the free Alabama Coastal BirdFest Bird & Conservation Expo on Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Faulkner State Community College Fairhope Campus.

•9 a.m: “Learn to Bird” — Got a spouse who’s not a birder or a child who just doesn’t understand? John Winn has birded around the world, and shares his best “Birding 101” tips in this workshop. Class is suitable for older kids as well as adults.

Location: Centennial Hall, Classroom 1.

•11 a.m: “Forever Wild” — Greg Lein, assistant director of Alabama State Lands tells how this amazing program has protected and preserved thousands of acres of Alabama, keeping the areas “wild and beautiful” for you, your grandkids, and their grandkids. Learn more about this important Alabama program, what it means to our state, and how you can help protect it.

Location: Giddens Conference Room/Fairhope Public Library.

•1 p.m.: “Come Out and Play” — Explore opportunities for fun at three great sites on the Alabama Gulf Coast (5 Rivers Delta Center, Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and the new Hugh Branyon Backcountry Trail in Orange Beach).

Hank Burch, manager of 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center will talk about the trails, facilities and ways to enjoy the woods and water of the Mobile-Tensaw Delta.

Phillip West, coastal resources manager for the City of Orange Beach, will highlight the new Hugh Branyon Backcountry Trail, a joint venture of the city, Gulf State Park and local landowners.

L.G. Adams, manager at Weeks Bay Estuarine Research Reserve, will talk about all the ways to have fun in the outdoors at Weeks Bay.

Location: Giddens Conference Room/Fairhope Public Library.

•3 p.m.: “Adventures in Birding” — Jeff Bouton spent two decades working as a seasonal field research biologist and bird tour leader before joining the Leica Sport Optics team as their U.S. representative to the birding and nature markets in 2004. Bouton now travels the world guiding bird tours and offering presentations at over 20 major bird festivals annually.

He writes a featured column in WildBird magazine (Adventures with Austin), and has written dozens of articles for varying wildlife publications. He writes a bird blog on the Bird Watcher’s Digest Web site, and was a contributing author to Houghton Miflin’s “Good Birders Don’t Wear White.”

His photos have been printed in numerous nature and birding magazines.

Location: Giddens Conference Room/Fairhope Public Library.

• “Alabama Snakes!” Shows at 9:30, 12:30 and 2:30. — Dr. David Nelson, professor emeritus in biology at the University of South Alabama, and friends will introduce you to some of the coolest snakes in Alabama. Get up close and personal with big and little snakes that share our local environs.

Location: Centennial Hall Auditorium.

• “Live Raptor Demonstrations” at 10, noon and 2. This is one of the most popular shows. Enjoy hawks, falcons, owls and other raptors up close with friends from the Alabama 4-H Center and Coosa River Science School.

Location: Faulkner front yard.

• “Owl Pellet Dissection Workshop” at 1:30 and 3 p.m. (Please arrive to start promptly.) — All ages love this workshop that explores the lives of owls through a look into their diets. Dr. Henry Spivey, instructor of biology at Faulkner State Community College, leads this fun and fascinating workshop.

Location: On Faulkner campus, Fowler Science Building.

• “Birds of a Feather Workshop” at 1:30 and 3 p.m. (Please arrive to start promptly.) — Barbara Gibbs, instructor of biology at Faulkner State Community College, explores why birds of a feather flock together. What makes a hummingbird’s feathers different from those of a mockingbird, or a great blue heron? How do feathers on a duck help keep them dry? Does a feather’s shape help a bird fly better? Find out in this workshop.

Location: On Faulkner campus, Thomas Science Building.