It's a weekend for birds and the people who love them: The Urban Birding Festival of the Twin Cities is Friday through Sunday across the region.

"What I've seen is that people can get into it at any age and anywhere. ... There are birds everywhere, so it's the perfect gateway for getting people interested in nature overall and also getting them outdoors," said Joanna Eckles, Audubon Minnesota bird-friendly communities manager. "When you go to one of these events and you don't know what you are looking for, then it's like a perfect way to start. There is something for everyone."

The festival is a series of more than 40 independent events at 13 locations, from checking in on ospreys at Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park to birding at Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary in Minneapolis.

Find a helpful interactive map for the events, a schedule and more information at mn.audubon.org.