We are honored to announce that Nate Swick will be the keynote speaker for the Black Belt Birding Festival 2026!

Nate is the Education & Digital Content Coordinator for the American Birding Association (ABA) and the host of the popular American Birding Podcast, which airs every Thursday and features in-depth conversations with birding experts, rare bird roundups, and the latest association news.

He is the author of A Beginner’s Guide to Birding and the ABA Field Guide to Birds of the Carolinas. Nate also serves on the North Carolina Bird Records Committee, previously as chair, and works as an eBird reviewer for the state.

Based in Greensboro, North Carolina, he and his family are perfectly positioned between the biologically rich southern Appalachian Mountains and the world-renowned pelagic birding of the Outer Banks.

Festival attendees can look forward to Nate’s keynote address and insights drawn from his extensive experience in birding, education, and conservation.