CARRINGTON, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Four days of open prairie and wetland await birdwatchers from all over during the Birding Drives Dakota Festival this month.

Every year, the festival brings watchers from across the nation and sometimes, across world.

Carrington Chamber Executive Director Laurie Dietz helps organize the event each year. She says they expect watchers to come from California, New Mexico, Washington, Ohio, Kentucky, the Carolinas and more.

With more wildlife refuges than any other state, Dietz says the opportunity to see more than 100 different types of birds is hard to pass up for those completing their “life list”.

Dietz says the event has been a nice event for their area, but for the state of North Dakota too.

Dietz says the tour is more regional with buses heading in multiple directions each day.

The festival runs from June 13th through the 17th in Carrington, ND. New and seasoned bird watchers are encouraged to attend with several guest speakers and experts leading the tours in the region.

For more on the festival, visit birdingdrives.com. You can also listen to a full interview with Laurie Dietz on the festival below:

Click here for photos from the 2017 Birding Drives Dakota event.