E V E N T S 2010

Field Trips

PLEASE NOTE: Friday and Sunday field trips leave from and return to the Grays Harbor NWR Office on Airport Way. Saturday field trips leave from and return to Central Elementary School.

Tokeland, Grayland and Westport Loop - $45
Friday, 9am - 5pm
           Field Trip Leaders: Tim O'Brien, Bruce LaBar, and Alan Richards
This field trip will take you to the best shorebird viewing areas along the coast! Target birds are 22 species of shorebirds including Snowy Plover, Willet, and Long-billed Curlew. Good numbers of waterfowl and other water species will be encountered along the way. "Streaked" Horned Larks and Lapland Longspurs will also be sought after at Midway Beach Road. There will be some walking at Midway Beach Road; the remainder of the day will involve short visits to key areas in search of shorebirds. Bring a lunch and dress appropriately.

Ocean Shores - $35
Friday, 10:30am - 5pm
          Field Trip Leaders: Bill Shelmerdine and Phil Kelley
Saturday, 10:30am - 5pm
          Field Trip Leaders: Tim O'Brien and Lonnie Somer
This beautiful coastal resort town hosts some of the best birding spots on the West Coast with more species per location than anywhere else in the State of Washington. The tour will visit a variety of habitats and upwards of 60 species may be found. Highlights on this trip include: Semipalmated Plover, Whimbrel, Marbled Godwit and Sanderling. Wandering Tattler, Surfbird, and Rock Sandpiper are possible on the Jetty.

Point Grenville - $40
Saturday, 9am - 3pm
          Field Trip Leaders: Marcus Roening, Faye McAdams Hands, and Diane Yorgason-Quinn
Point Grenville is a great vantage point from which to observe sea birds over the open ocean. Pelagic Cormorants, Common Murres and Tufted Puffins nest in the scenic seastacks. This may be the southern-most nesting area for the "Sooty" Fox Sparrow. Point Grenville is on Quinault Tribal lands and a Tribal guide will accompany the trip. Uneven, easy to moderate path; wear appropriate footwear.

Lake Quinault and Rain Forest - $25
Saturday, 9:30am - 3:30pm
          Field Trip Leaders: Mary O'Neil and Diane Schwickerath
The finest temperate rainforest is at the foot of the Olympic Mountains. The natural history of the old growth forest, especially plant life, will be emphasized on short hikes with views of majestic trees, forest birds, and breeding habitat for owls and murrelets. Birds possibly seen on this trip include: Steller's Jay, Chestnut-backed Chickadee and Winter Wren. With luck, we may also find American Dipper, Gray Jay, and Merlin. Trails are easy to moderate walking; wear appropriate footwear.

In Search of Coastal Raptors - $20
Saturday, 10am - 3pm
          Field Trip Leader: Dan Varland, Executive Director, Coastal Raptors
With the wind of migration in our wings, we will search for birds of prey by visiting Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge, the mouth of the Humptulips River, Ocean Shores and points north along the coast. We will hone our field identification skills and learn about the behavior and ecology of our local raptors. Our travels will take us to habitats where Bald Eagles, Red-tailed Hawks, Peregrine Falcons, Merlins, and Northern Harriers are seen. Note: Pack a lunch or bring money to buy something quick along the trail. All proceeds from this trip will go to the non-profit organization Coastal Raptors (www.coastalraptors.org).

Westport - $35
Saturday, 10:30 - 5:00
   Field Trip Leaders: Phil Kelley, Jan McMillian and Ann Haarer
Sunday, 10:30am - 5:00pm
          Field Trip Leaders: Dainna Moore, Rachel Lawson and Whittier Johnson
  Another special coast town, Westport is famous for its picturesque marina, fishing, and whale watching trips. Excellent birding places are the Westport (South) Jetty and Half Moon Bay, Johns River Wildlife Area, and Bottle Beach State Park. Scores of species will be found including: Greater Yellowlegs, Red Knot, Sanderling, and Western Gull.

Shorebirds for Beginners - $15
Saturday 2:3opm - 4:30pm
          Field Trip Leaders: Matt Pike and Rachel Lawson
  The bus takes you to the Sandpiper Trail at Grays Harbor NWR where you will walk to the prime shorebird viewing area at the tip of Bowerman Pennisula. As the shorebirds gather on the mudflats, you can learn to distinguish a Western Sandpiper from a Dunlin. Other possible birds include: Least Sandpiper, Black-bellied Plover, Red Knot, and Peregrine Falcon.

 Lectures, Seminars and Workshops

Carving and Painting Waterfowl and Shorebirds
Saturday, 11am - noon - $10
Listen to the inner artist in you and join this fun and interesting lecture. You will learn tips and tricks from the experts at the International Wildfowl Carvers Association.

Mudflat Meals: See What Shorebirds Have for Dinner Workshop
Saturday, 2pm - 3pm; Free
Estuaries are teaming with life even in the most unexpected places. Some mudflats are estimated to contain as many as 40,000 organisms per cubic inch of mud! Learn about the amazing critters living in the mudflats. Don't take it from me, come and see them yourself through microcopes. Great for kids.

Shorebird Identification Basics
Saturday, 1pm - 2pm; $10
Shorebird identification can be tricky. With the help of experienced birder Matt Pike, you will become familiar with the more common shorebirds so that you, too, can identify them in the field! You are encouraged to follow up this lecture with the "Shorebirds for Beginners" Saturday field trip to Grays Harbor NWR.

Other Events

Keynote Speaker and Dessert Reception - $15
Friday, 7pm - 9m
The evening will start with a dessert reception at 7pm. At 7:30pm, the keynote speaker, Craig Lee will present his program Bird Conservation Without Borders. (Read more at the bottom of this page.)

Guided Walks at Grays Harbor NWR - Free
Friday,2:30pm - 4:30pm
Sunday, 3pm - 5pm
Join a naturalist along the Sandpiper Trail during peak shorebird viewing times. The trail is flat and easy walking, about 2 miles round-trip. Bring binoculars. Meet at the Refuge Kiosk on Airport Way.

Shorebird Festival Run
Saturday, 9am - $15 pre-registration; $18 day of race
This event includes 10K, 5K and 2 mile runs. There is also an over 70 age division for males and females. Awards will be given to overall winners of each race as well as 1st-3rd in each age division. Pre-register (360-532-5700, ext. 240) for a Shorebird Festival T-shirt!

Nature Fun Fair - Free
Saturday, 9am-5pm
Wildlife art projects and activities including Shorebird on a Stick, thumbprint art, button making, and more! Great for families.

Shorebird Festival Poster Contest Awards Ceremony - Free
Saturday, 1pm - 1:30pm
Grays Harbor County students, grades 1-6, design Shorebird Festival Posters for competition. Winning posters are displayed and awards are given during the Shorebird Festival.

Birding Marketplace - Free
Saturday, 9am-5pm
Exhibitors and vendors of bird and nature items (such as bird feeding supplies, books, wildlife art, and crafts) will be present to sell their goods and answer your questions.

Click here to see a list of vendors and exhibitors!

Banquet Dinner, Auction - The Elks in Hoquiam
Saturday, 5:30pm-9pm; $25
Doors open at 5:30pm with a no-host bar followed by dinner at 6:30pm. A live auction, with great items from local businesses, will follow dinner. Pre-registration is strongly recommended for this event. The Elks is located at 624 K Street in downtown Hoquiam. All proceeds benefit the Shorebird Festival and Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge.

 

Bird Conservation Without Borders Keynote Speakers Craig Lee and Rosabel Miro We all know that shorebirds migrate and that our conservation efforts at Gray’s Harbor seek to secure an essential stopping point along the route. But without comparable efforts all along the Pacific coast of the continent, these avian travelers could easily be lost – permanently. Luckily for those of us who appreciate the seasonal shorebird spectacle in Washington State, and value the survival of each species, National Audubon Society has an international program that helps unite conservation efforts throughout the Hemisphere. This presentation will illuminate the challenges that migrating shorebirds face, the places they go – as they have for millennia – and the dedicated conservationists who are working to ensure that the journey remains safe. About the Speakers Craig Lee is the founder and director of National Audubon Society’s International Alliances Program (IAP) and a national Vice President. His program builds the effectiveness of organizations working on the conservation of birds and biodiversity in Latin America and the Caribbean.  IAP is currently active at Important Bird Areas in seven countries. Before joining Audubon, Craig served for two decades as Vice President and Northwest (U.S.) Regional Director for the Trust for Public Land.  Craig has advised the start-up and organizational development of over 40 land trusts and conservation organizations in Canada, the U.S., and Latin America.  He currently serves on the Executive of the Americas Council of BirdLife International and on the boards of Bahamas National Trust and American Friends of Canadian Land Trusts.   Rosabel Miro has a degree Business Administration and a Master’s degree in Environmental Management. She has been a member of the Panama Audubon Society since 1994 and has served on the board of directors, as President, and now as Executive Director.  She has worked in environmental education on issues related to the conservation of birds and their habitats. Rosabel also works locally on numerous issues including wetlands and birds conservation.   Shorebirds at Panama Bay, Panama (courtesy of Panama Audubon Society) Situated along 40 miles of Panama’s Pacific coast, the wetlands of the Panama Bay support over 80% of all migratory shorebirds that pass through this crucial isthmus connecting North and South America during their annual flights.