| Sponsored By: | |||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 | ||||||
| |||||||
 |
| |
These are 2013 events. We will update our events for 2014 when we can. Make sure to check back for updates when BirdFest 2014 is near. BirdFest 2014 will be from April 4-6!
FESTIVAL EVENTS 2013
| | |||
| |||||||
 |
| |
Birding Sequim Bay and John Wayne
Marina Trip Friday, April 5, 1:00pm - 4:00pm Saturday, April 6, 8:30am - 11:30am AND 1:00pm - 4:00pm $25.00 Sequim Bay, one of the great, protected embayments of the North Olympic Peninsula, attracts a wonderful variety of shorebirds, alcids, gulls, and waterfowl. Shorebirds include plovers, dowitchers, yellowlegs, several sandpipers, Whimbrels, and godwits. The bay provides great opportunities to see Rhinoceros Auklets and Marbled Murrelets. Ducks include Barrow's Goldeneyes, Hooded Mergansers, Surf and White-winged Scoters, and Long-tailed Ducks. |
| |||
| |||||||
 |
| |
Nature Photography Workshop Friday, April 5, 12:30pm - 4:30pm (Sold Out) $40.00 National award-winning wildlife photographer Stephen Cunliffe will teach ways to improve your nature photography. Learn how to improve composition, exposure, and consistently take quality images. Stephen will analyze up to three images (in print or electronic form) for each participant. Please bring jpeg files no larger than 3 MB each, in a dedicated folder on a USB-drive or CD. Bringing cameras is recommended, in case an outing is favorable. In this session, Stephen will include an in-depth lesson on "Putting your Best Images to Good Use". Registration is limited to 12, so please register early. Stephen's "Avocet-Kiss" at left. Visit his website www.admiraltyimages.com |
| |||
| |||||||
 |
| |
Endangered Waterfowl Breeding Sanctuary
(Non-ADA facility) Friday, April 5, 1:00pm - 4:00pm (Sold Out) Sunday, April 7, 9:30am - 12:30pm (Sold Out) $25.00 Managed by Arnold and Debbie Schouten, this licensed facility near Port Angeles raises beautiful waterfowl, many of which are used for research programs or are sent to zoos. The sanctuary maintains and raises 15 species of waterfowl commonly known as sea ducks, which are rarely seen in captivity. These sea ducks spend most of their lives in salt water, coming to fresh water only during the breeding season. The sea duck group includes some of the most spectacular and highly specialized of all waterfowl - Harlequin and Long-tailed Ducks; and Spectacled, King and Common Eiders. How do you raise these awesome birds? Very carefully! Come see the special techniques at work, and have an intimate experience with these beautiful birds. |
| |||
| |||||||
 |
| |
Birding Dungeness Bay and Three
Crabs Trip Friday, April 5, 1:00pm - 4:00pm Saturday, April 6, 8:30am - 11:30am AND 1:00pm - 4:00pm $25.00 Dungeness Bay is a spectacular estuary at the mouth of the Dungeness River, one of the prime birding areas of the North Olympic Peninsula. Deemed an Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society, it is rich in birdlife throughout the year. Waterfowl gather here by the thousands, including Brant, who feed on eelgrass during migration and in winter. At the right tide, shorebirds feed in easy view, along with eagles and falcons. |
| |||
| |||||||
 |
| |
First Friday Sequim Art Walk (participate
in this monthly event!) Friday, April 5, 5:00pm - 8:00pm no registration necessary Visit Wind Rose Cellars www.windrosecellars.com to enjoy a display of the beautiful work of BirdFest's art instructors: Stephen Cunliffe's photography and Robert Amaral's watercolors. Also, view the winning artwork of the Sequim Student Art Show at Sunshine Cafe www.sunshinecafe.com and play Birdfest Birdquest by viewing the birds created by students of the Sequim High School ceramics class. For details of these and other First Friday Art Walk activities see www.sequimartwalk.com. |
| |||
|
|||||||
 |
| |
Birding Dungeness Spit and Recreation
Area Trip Friday, April 5, 1:00pm - 4:00pm Saturday, April 6, 1:00pm - 4:00pm $25.00 One of the greatest sand spits in the world, Dungeness Spit juts five miles into the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Part of the Dungeness NWR, the Dungeness Spit combines birds of offshore waters with birds of inshore bays. We will scope inshore and offshore waters for loons, grebes, sea ducks, auklets, murrelets, and more. The Dungeness Recreation Area provides birds of upland rainshadow habitats, mixing thickets of forest with open grasslands and marshes. Where else can you see Black Scoters and Red-throated Loons at the same time as Northern Harriers and Golden-crowned Sparrows? |
| |||
| |||||||
 |
| |
Olympic Owl Prowl Friday, April 5, 9:00pm - 11:45pm (Sold Out) Saturday, April 6, 9:00pm - 11:45pm (Sold Out) $25.00 Venture into the foothills of the Olympic Mountains to talk to the owls. We hope to hear Western Screech Owls, Northern Saw-whet Owls, Barred Owls, and Great Horned Owls, plus maybe other night creatures. No guarantees, but we'll do our best to hear some tootin' and hootin'. |
| |||
| |||||||
 |
| |
Dawn Chorus at Railroad Bridge
Park Saturday, April 6, 6:00am - 7:30am Sunday, April 7, 6:00am - 7:30am $15.00 Rise and shine! The lower 11 miles of the Dungeness River pass through large stands of intact riparian forests, and has been designated an Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society. Railroad Bridge Park is one of the few public accesses to this habitat, where Bald Eagles, American Dippers, and Common Mergansers cruise the rivers and Brown Creepers, vireos, warblers, and other forest birds cruise the canopy. Join us for a lovely walk by the river. |
| |||
| |||||||
 |
| |
Birding Elwha River Mouth and Salt Creek
County Park Saturday, April 6, 8:30am - 11:30am $25.00 The Elwha River mouth is famous for superb views of gulls and waterfowl, along with a variety of other saltwater and freshwater birds. As many as 10 species of gulls roost at the river mouth; it is the most reliable spot for Thayer's Gulls in our area during winter. Offshore and rocky shoreline birds such as Marbled Murrelets and Black Oystercatchers are found at Salt Creek County Park. These are spectacular spots to see coastal birds in action. | | |||
| |||||||
 |
| |
Bays and Coasts of the Olympic Peninsula
(all day trip) (Sold Out) Saturday, April 6, 8:30am - 3:30pm $80.00 Winter resident and migrating waterfowl, shorebirds, and raptors are the focus of this all day field trip. Guided by Bob Boekelheide, the group will explore the very best coastal birding between Sequim Bay and the Elwha River. Dress in layers, be prepared for possible rain, bring lunch, snacks, and extra water for this all-day adventure. |
| |||
| |||||||
 |
| |
Bird Drawing Class (new event!) Saturday, April 6, 1:00pm - 4:00pm (Sold Out) $25.00 Join artist/instructor Robert Amaral in this workshop where he will focus on such fundamentals as seeing the bird's basic shapes, progressing from simple to complex forms, relating proportions and capturing the posture of our birds. There will be drawing demonstrations and you will draw birds from the Dungeness River Audubon Center's extensive collection of mounts. All skill levels are welcome and drawing materials will be provided by the Center. Enhance your enjoyment of birds by drawing them! Materials from Colors of Sequim, Fine Art Materials. Saw-Whet Owl drawings by Robert Amaral. |
| |||
| |||||||
 |
| |
Birding Ediz Hook and Port Angeles Harbor Saturday, April 6, 1:00pm - 4:00pm $25.00 Port Angeles Harbor is a classic northwest embayment, providing shelter inside Ediz Hook for a wide variety of diving ducks, alcids, loons, grebes, gulls, and shorebirds. Barrow's Goldeneyes, Harlequin Ducks, Red-necked Grebes, Rhinoceros Auklets, and Pigeon Guillemots swim the harbor waters. The harbor is full of surprises, where rarities such as Common Eider have shown up in the past. |
| |||
| |||||||
|
| |
Banquet, Silent Auction and Raffle, with guest
speaker, Kevin Schafer, award-winning wildlife photographer presenting
“In the Company of Animals" Saturday, April 6: Reception 5:30 – 6:30 pm, Banquet and program: 6:30 - 8:30 pm $40.00 (casual dress) Please register for this event by choosing either the banquet or the vegetarian banquet (Sold Out) - From 5:00 to 6:30 explore the spectacular Jamestown S’Klallam Tribal Center on Sequim Bay. View the Totem Carving Shed and visit the Art Gallery. During this time you can also make final bids at the Silent Auction. We have wonderful, nature-related items ... items for birders, private guided trips, bird-related arts and crafts, gift baskets, and items from our Dungeness River Audubon Center gift shop. The silent auction will also be on display from Wednesday until Friday at the Dungeness River Audubon Center and major items are on view at the website. (Click Here - Auction Items) Final bidding will occur at the banquet. Winning bidders who do not attend the banquet will be contacted. During this time you can also purchase raffle tickets and make final bids. - From 6:30 to 8:30 enjoy a delicious buffet dinner catered by Kokopelli Grill, in the Tribal Center’s spectacular Red Cedar Hall. Select a main entrée of EITHER Chicken Poblano, OR the vegetarian option, Eggplant Parmesan. Roasted garlic mashed potatoes, salad dressed with prickly pear vinaigrette, roasted seasonal vegetables and chocolate bread pudding will round out the meal. (This will be an alcohol-free event.) - After the meal, speaker Kevin Schafer will share some of his experiences "In the Company of Animals." Kevin is a delightful speaker, sure to make you think and laugh. His passion for nature and his special interest in little-known and endangered wildlife have taken him all over the world, from penguins in the Antarctic to river dolphins in South America and polar bears in the Arctic. His incredible vision and photographic skill have won him many honors, including North American Nature Photography Association’s Outstanding Photographer of the Year in 2006, and recognition for one of the ten best National Geographic pictures in 2009. He has written and photographed more than ten books about wildlife around the world. |
| |||
| |||||||
 |
| |
Protection Island Cruise 1 Sunday, April 7, 9:30am - 12:30pm $60.00 This 3-hour boat trip aboard the M/V Olympus will cruise around Protection Island, a U.S. National Wildlife Refuge. Marine birds and mammals will be the targets of this trip, and we should see Rhinoceros Auklets, Long-tailed Ducks, Common Murres, loons, cormorants, gulls, harbor seals, and possibly porpoises, elephant seals, and sea lions. The Olympus is an enclosed, comfortable boat (although the best wildlife viewing is done out in the weather), and snacks and beverages are available for a small price. This trip is limited to 30 persons and will probably sell out rapidly, so get your reservations early. |
| |||
| |||||||
 |
| |
Public Art Tile Project Sunday, April 7, 12:00pm - 4:00pm Come be a part of the Sequim Centennial Public Art Project by painting a commemorative tile. Aglazing Arts Studio of Port Angeles will be inside the Dungeness River Audubon Center to assist you in this project. The cost is $10 to paint a 6” X 6” tile. The studio will glaze and fire the tile which will be incorporated into a public art display at the completion of the Centennial year 2013. The goal is to have at least 1,000 tiles painted throughout the Sequim Centennial Celebration year. Everyone is encouraged to participate and to be a part of this once-in-a-lifetime community art project. |
| |||
|
|||||||
 |
| |
San Juan Islands Cruise (Sold Out) Sunday, April 7 through Tuesday, April 9 $600 per person double occupancy, $675 single occupancy Register separately at www.pugetsoundexpress.com/whale-watching-and-wildlife-tours/audubon Join us for a three-day, two-night nature cruise to the spectacular San Juan Archipelago on the M/V Glacier Spirit with naturalist Bob Boekelheide. Whales, porpoises, seals, and a myriad of sea birds await us. We depart from John Wayne Marina in Sequim at 9 AM on Sunday morning, April 7, stay two nights at historic Roche Harbor Resort, tour San Juan Island National Historical Park, visit Sucia Island (a WA State Marine Park), and cruise through Deception Pass on our way home. Cruise package includes all lodging, transportation, and breakfasts and lunches. Don't miss it! |
| |||
| |||||||
 |
| |
The Olympic BirdFest is a partnership of the Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society, Dungeness River Audubon Center and Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe. Proceeds from this festival help support the educational programs of the Dungeness River Audubon Center. | |