Schedule:

September 22, 2023

Pelagic Birding Trip

When: 700am - 3:00pm

Location: Pier E at the Port of Ilwaco located at 185 Howerton Way SE, Ilwaco

Join Captain Steve Sohlstrom of Sea Breeze Charters and Dr. Jen Zamon, a Research Fishery Biologist from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on this offshore adventure. Start your trip at the Port of Ilwaco and journey into the Pacific to see up to five species of shearwaters and two species of albatross along with phalarope, jaeger, auklets, storm-petrels and other pelagic birds not commonly seen near the shore.

The boat will go out rain or shine. Prepare for cool weather and open sea conditions.
Participants should pack a water bottle, lunch and sunscreen. Seasick medications or acupressure wrist bands as needed.

Cost: $150

Leadbetter Adventure

When: 12:00-3:00pm

Location: Oysterville Beach Approach, Ocean Park

Join biological staff of Willapa National Wildlife Refuge for an exciting journey to the tip of the Long Beach Peninsula, Leadbetter Point! This is a wild place with limited human access that creates a sanctuary for wildlife, rare plants, and hundreds of bird species, including the federally threatened western snowy plover and streaked horned lark. Bald eagles and peregrine falcons are often seen. Fall migration also brings shorebirds to our estuaries and sandy beaches. The guided tour includes information about the local ecology and ongoing habitat restoration activities.

Participants will ride in four-wheel drive vehicles provided by the refuge.
Participants must be able to walk in loose beach sand and uneven terrain for short distances.

Cost: $10

Ellsworth Creek Hike to the Giants

When: 12:30-3:00pm

Location: Willapa NWR Cutthroat Creek, located north of mile marker 24 on Highway 101

Hike into the 7,600 Ellsworth Creek Preserve. This is a 3.5-mile strenuous hike through an old growth Western Red Cedar and Sitka Spruce forest with some trees that are more than 800 years old. The Nature Conservancy purchased the entire watershed to protect old-growth forest which preserves habitat for coho and chum salmon, marbled murrelet, and large mammals like black bear, cougar, and Roosevelt elk. Along the way, Forest Manager Kyle Smith will share how a partnership between The Nature Conservancy and Willapa National Wildlife Refuge is restoring thousands of acres of forest and miles of stream.

Participants park at Cutthroat Creek then ride in four-wheel drive vehicles.
Expect a strenuous hike on uneven terrain in muddy, brushy, wet conditions.
Wear all-weather clothing and sturdy shoes.

Cost: $10

Meet the Wild Birds of Discovery Bay

When: 3:30-5:00pm

Location: Willapa National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters, 7112 67th Pl, Long Beach

This is a presentation for all ages so bring the entire family!  Get up close to some of the Earth's most amazing birds of prey. Discovery Bay Wild Bird Rescue is a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising and rehabilitating orphaned and injured wild birds. Their mission is to release the birds back to their natural habitat with the skills necessary to survive.  They also educate, engage, and inspire communities about wild birds and issues facing them. Some of their birds in care sustained injuries too severe for them to ever be released back to the wild and a few are imprinted on humans so they never learned how to be a wild bird. These birds have a permanent and loving home at Discovery Bay and many work Ambassadors for wild birds. Come and meet the Ambassador owls, hawks and falcons!

Cost: Free

Welcome Social and Check-In

When: 5:30 - 7:30pm

Location: Adrift Hotel, 409 Sid Snyder Drive, Long Beach

The Friends of Willapa National Wildlife Refuge (Friends) will kick off the annual Wings Over Willapa Festival on Friday, September 22, at the Adrift Hotel starting at 5:30 pm. This welcome social is a great opportunity to meet fellow nature lovers, birders, artists, and many of the Friends board. Some local artists will have their work on display and a cash bar will be offered by the Adrift. This is also an opportunity to ask questions about festival events and other happenings on the Long Beach Peninsula.

Cost: Free

September 23, 2023

Good Morning Birds

When: 7:30 - 9:30am

Location: Willapa NWR at Tarlatt Slough and South Bay trails. Meet at the kiosk at the end of 95th street.

Join professional wildlife artist and photographer Ram Papish for an early morning walk to look for and listen to birds of Willapa National Wildlife Refuge. During this 2+ mile stroll along Tarlatt Slough and South Bay trails youíll visit three different habitats including forest, estuary, and grassy meadow. Songbirds, shorebirds, ducks and birds of prey are most likely to be encountered. Likely highlights are bald eagle, great blue heron, western sandpiper, cedar waxwing, spotted towhee and pacific wren. Bring binoculars, wear sturdy walking shoes and dress for cool weather.

This walk will be at a slower pace, the trail is rated as moderate. Trail surface ranges from gravel to natural.

Cost: Free

Wildlife Tracking

When: 8:00 - 10:00am

Location: Leadbetter Point, northern most parking area on Stackpole Road

Join Kristi Freese, a Professional Level IV tracker, for a wildlife tracking hike at Leadbetter Point. Kristi will provide a short presentation on tracking, then you'll set off along the shoreline of Willapa Bay to identify tracks of recent birds and mammals such as sanderlings, great blue herons, racoons, deer, and many more. Bring binoculars as there will be birding opportunities along the way.
Washington State Discover Pass required for parking.
This walk is rated as easy. Terrain is sand and may be uneven and wet.

Cost: $10

Discovering Long Island

When: 9:00am - 2:30pm

Location: Willapa NWR Cutthroat Creek, located north of mile marker 24 on Highway 101

Visit the largest estuarine island on the Pacific Coast that features an ancient grove of western red cedars, some over 1,000 years old! This longer hike starts at Cutthroat Creek where hikers will be shuttled in small groups by barge to the island every 15 minutes between 9 AM-11 AM. The last barge shuttle back from the island is at 2:30 PM. Once on the island, hike at your own pace 6 miles roundtrip through the heart of Long Island and the Ancient Cedar Grove, one of the last remnants of old growth coastal forest in southwest Washington. Discover information along the way from local experts.

Participants must be able to walk on uneven terrain over a long distance. Trail is rated at moderate to difficult with some steep hills and exposed roots.
All participants MUST wear a Personal flotation device (PFD) on the boat. If you don't have a PFD, the festival will provide one.
Wear all-weather clothing and appropriate footwear.
Participants are encouraged to bring water, snacks, binoculars, camera, and insect repellant.

Cost: $25

Gulls, Loons and More

When: 10:00am - 12:00pm

Location: Oysterville Road Beach Approach in Ocean Park, WA and Leadbetter Point parking area.

Join John Rakestraw for a guided walk to look for and learn about the birds of our nearshore ocean and sandy shoreline. Get guidance on how to differentiate between gull species and the nuances of immature gull plumage. Begin with a short walk on the beach to scan the horizon for a variety of shorebirds, gulls, and raptors, and if lucky, a western snowy plover or two. Then you'll hop back into your cars and migrate over to the northern-most Leadbetter Point parking area on Stackpole Road. The hike will continue on Bay Loop Trail on Willapa National Wildlife Refuge which provides viewing opportunities for shorebirds, waterfowl, and songbirds along the shoreline through a shore pine forest. John worked as a naturalist in Kansas and Ohio before settling in Oregon. He ís a freelance writer, author of Birding Oregon, and leads classes and workshops on birding.

Washington State Discover Pass required.
Easy 2 to 3 mile hike on both wet and loose sand and a nature trail.
Bring a pair of binoculars (spotting scopes will be provided).

Cost: $10

The Reverse Bucket List: How I Learned to Love Alligator Farms

When:  23; 10:00 - 11:00am

Location: Willapa NWR Refuge Headquarters, 7112 67th Place, Long Beach

Roadside attractions can be surprisingly great places to enjoy birds. This program explores the unexpected side of Florida's fabulous bird life from nesting building to fledging. Ram Papish is a professional wildlife enthusiast whose varied career includes biologist, educator, photographer, and wildlife artist. An avid traveler, Ram has a passion for observing and photographing wildlife worldwide. He lives in Oregon on a stream-side property that features 8 bird feeders, 8 parrots, 18 chickens, and 800 rhododendrons. His major achievements include being chosen as to appear in the 2024 Chicken Daddies calendar.

Cost: $5

Waves, Tides & Currents

When: 10:00am - 12:00pm

Location: Seaview Beach Approach, end of 38th Place in Seaview

Explore the windswept beach ecosystem at the mouth of the Columbia River on this easy 1-hour walk with Interpretive Specialist Aaron Webster. We'll learn about how waves, tides, and currents combine in surprising ways to make this one of the most dangerous stretches of ocean on the planet. With views of the ocean, river mouth and dunes, this hike offers ample birding opportunities.

Easy 1 mile walk on wet sand.

Cost: $10

Nature Play Day

When: 11:00am - 3:00pm

Location: Veterans Field 111 3rd St SE, Long Beach

Join this family-friendly free event and take part in crafts, games, and other activities to learn about the diverse environment of the Long Beach Peninsula. Make your way through stations where you learn about the habitats and critters that live in them! Get creative by building your own recycled sculpture, play a life-size bird migration game, build your own bird box, and so much more! Kids will collect stamps at each activity, earning a Jr. Ranger badge at the end of their adventure!

Drop-in activity, most families spend at least 2hrs at Nature Play Day. No registration required.

Cost: Free

Your Birding Digital Toolkit

When: 12:30 - 2:30pm

Location: Willapa NWR Refuge Headquarters, 7112 67th Place, Long Beach

Join Hannah Buschert and Erik Ostrander for an introductory presentation on how birding has changed in the digital world and what technologies exist that can be used to enhance your birding experience. We will introduce using eBird to explore local locations and your own personal target species, creating a list for your own birding outing and more. Please bring an internet capable mobile device and download the eBird, Merlin and iNaturalist apps prior to joining the talk.

After the introductory presentation Hannah and Erik will lead the group to Porter Point Loop (a 2.4 mile loop) where we will see forest birds including chestnut-backed chickadee, Steller's Jay, dark-eyed junco, northern flicker and more. While out on the trail we'll use your smartphone to track birds seen and heard and answer any questions about adding these tools to your birding toolkit.

Hannah and Erik have been birding for 13 years and travel the globe to see birds, meet folks, and explore all there is to see. They share these experiences and what they've learned on their podcast, 'Hannah and Erik Go Birding', to encourage others to get out and appreciate birds. They believe birding is about the places you go, people you meet, and birds you see. When not globetrotting, they are third generation hoteliers in Cannon Beach, Oregon.

Porter Point Loop is 2.4 miles long. Trail surface is gravel and natural. Itís rated as moderately difficult with some elevation gain.

Cost: $5

Decorating with Nature: Handbuilding Clay

When:

12:30 - 2:30pm and
3:00pm - 5:00pm

Location: Ilwaco Artworks, 109 First Ave N., Ilwaco

Learn handbuilding techniques to create your own bowl or mug and then decorate it with a variety of natural objects like flowers and feathers. Working with clay is a great way to connect with yourself, exploring your creativity and focusing your attention to the task at hand. This is a fun filled class for all ages! Participants will create one bowl or mug during the class, then it will be fired and glazed. Items will be available for pick-up approximately 2-3 weeks after event.

Cost: $40

Identifying Gulls (No, they don't all look alike!)

When:
Sept. 23; 3:00 - 4:00pm

Location: Willapa NWR Refuge Headquarters, 7112 67th Place, Long Beach

The West Coast hosts a great variety of gull species in the fall and winter, but some birders shy away from trying to identify these birds. While young gulls can be a little tricky, and a few individuals stump even the experts, most gulls are easy to identify if you know what to look for.  Join guide John Rakestraw for this presentation that will introduce you to all the local gulls and provide tips for identifying each one. It ís time to let go of your fear and embrace your inner gull lover.

Cost: $5

Forest Fog Hike

When: 3:00 - 5:00pm

Location: Cape Disappointment State Park - Costal Loop Trailhead on SR100 spur, across from the Cape D cafe

Delve into Cape Disappointment's old-growth forests for a moderate 2-mile guided walk with Parks Interpretive Specialist, Aaron Webster. Participants will discover how this forest is part of a complex global system that keeps us all alive. With views of the river, estuary and the surrounding forest, birding opportunities abound so bring your binoculars. Meet at the Coastal Loop Trailhead on SR100 spur, right across from the Cape D. Cafe.

Washington State Discover Pass required for parking area.
Trail is rated as moderate.  Participants must be able to walk on uneven terrain 2 miles round trip.

Cost: $10

Naturalist Beach Walk

When: 3:00 - 5:00pm

Location: Loomis Lake State Park, 184th Place, Long Beach

Long Beach offers a wide range of wonders for nature enthusiasts! Join Master Naturalist Rebecca Lexa as she shares some of the secrets of the coast; keep your eyes open for shorebirds, gulls, eagles, and more on a ramble through pine forest, dune grass, and shoreline. This hike will be about 2.5 miles round trip on uneven trail on the beach with loose or wet sand.

Cost: $10

The Owl and The Woodpecker

When:  6:00 - 9:00pm

Location:
Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum, 115 Lake St SE, Ilwaco

Paul's presentations on owls and woodpeckers take audiences on a visual and auditory exploration of habitats of North America through the owls and woodpeckers that most define and enrich these places. This photographic field report celebrates the ways the lives of these two iconic birds are intertwined with one another, and their role as keystone and indicator species for their environment.

Audiences are immersed in the sights and sounds of forest, grassland, arctic, and desert, and in the entertaining and informative details of Paul's narrative. The hidden life of these birds is obvious for those who know how to find it. Paul knows how to find it, and how to bring it to life for his audiences through photos, sound, and story. Paul has developed a new program titled 'The Owl and The Woodpecker Revisited' which uses entirely new photos, information and stories gleaned from the several years since Owl and Woodpecker's release, while following the same themes.

Paul Bannick is an award-winning author and wildlife photographer specializing in the natural history of North America with a focus on birds and habitat. Coupling his love of the outdoors with his skill as a photographer, he creates images that foster the intimacy between viewer and subject, inspiring education, and conservation. 

Heavy hors-d'ouver and a complimentary beer or wine are included with registration.  
A cash bar is available.
The Friends will be hosting a silent auction to start the event, with time for socializing, eating and drinking before the presentation.
Signed copies of The Owl and the Woodpecker will be available for sale along with other Beautiful books on owls by Paul.

Cost: $35

September 24, 2023

Oyster Boat Excursion

When: 7:30 - 11:00am

Location: Port of Peninsula; 3311 275th St, Ocean Park

Experience Willapa Bay from the view of an oyster boat as we travel from the working port of Nahcotta with a crew from the Northern Oyster Company. We will explore channels of the bay where oysters are grown and harvested, while learning of the value of this special bay to the oyster and shellfish community. We will also be looking for local birds. Trip is approximately 2 hours on the water, with boat loading starting at 7:45 am, and return to the boat ramp around 10:30.

Wear all-weather clothing and appropriate footwear for being on a boat; trip will go regardless of weather conditions.
Participants MUST wear a Personal floatation device (PFD) on the boat, and are encouraged to bring their own. If you don’t have a PFD, the festival will provide one.
Participants are encouraged to bring binoculars, camera and water.
Restrooms are available at the boat launch area, but NOT on the boat.

Cost: Free

Meet the Giants of Teal Slough

When: 8:00 - 9:30am

Location: Willapa NWR Cutthroat Creek, located north of mile marker 24 on Highway 101

This forested slope at the northern tip of the Bear River Ridge in the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge protects a handful of giant trees that were spared from the saw.  Massive in girth and height, these giants provide habitat for marbled murrelets.  Join refuge staff on a walk to learn more about these incredible trees and listen and look for birds along the way.

The trail is 0.5-mile with slight elevation gain and a natural surface.
Due to limited parking at the trailhead, meet in the parking lot at Cutthroat Creek.  
Participants will ride in vehicles provided by the refuge. 

Cost: Free

Art Trail and Cutthroat Climb

When: 8:00 - 10:00am

Location: Willapa NWR Cutthroat Creek, located north of mile marker 24 on Highway 101

East of Willapa Bay, the Willapa Hills rise covered in cedar, hemlock, and alder. Master Naturalist Rebecca Lexa reveals the ecology of this quiet, stately forest and the lush wetlands nearby. You'll walk the boardwalk of the Art Trail to enjoy metal sculptures celebrating local ecology, and then head uphill on the Cutthroat Climb trail for a more rugged woodland experience.

This hike will be about 1.5 miles total, on the boardwalk and then steep sloped natural trails.
The Art Trip Boardwalk is accessible.
Wear all-weather clothing and sturdy shoes.

Cost: Free

Meet Our Wildlife Protectors

When: 10:00am - 12:00pm

Location: Willapa NWR Cutthroat Creek, located north of mile marker 24 on Highway 101

Join us for this family-friendly event to meet our local 'Wildlife Protectors!' Refuge staff have various roles that benefit our habitats and wildlife, including Law Enforcement Officers and Biological Technicians. They are here to keep our communities and wildlife refuges safe, welcoming, and optimal habitats for the wildlife that depend on them. Check out the tools and vehicles that they use (including an air boat!), ask them questions, and earn a Jr. Ranger Badge!

Drop-in activity, plan for at least 45 minutes to 1hour. No registration required.

Cost: Free

Wild Landscaping and Work Party

When: 10am - 12:00pm

Location: Willapa National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters, 7112 67th Pl, Long Beach

The plants you select matter when constructing landscapes for wildlife. Join Kathleen Sayce, local ecologist, for a walk around the new Willapa National Wildlife Refuge office. Learn about the different species and why they were planted in particular areas and envision what the landscape will look like in years to come. Native plants will be featured to enhance insect and pollinator diversity, which improves habitat for birds and other wildlife. The wild lawn is a mix of naturally low growing grasses and perennials; all can take one fall mowing per year and thrive. For details and plant lists, come and tour the site.

Optional: At 11AM join in on the effort to help wildlife by helping identify and remove invasive or undesired plants from the area. Gloves and tools provided, bring your own if youíd like.

Cost: Free

Needle Felting

When: 10am - 12:00pm

Location: North Jetty Brewery 4200 Pacific Way, Seaview, WA

Learn to paint a beautiful ocean scape with wool with Cheri Lloyd. Participants will learn basic skills and complete an ocean scape wool painting in a step-by-step workshop. This workshop is suitable for beginners, but also enjoyable for an experienced felter. Participants will leave with a beautiful work of art ready to be displayed. Included in Cost: printed diagram, two color-coded felting needles, felting wool, wool fabric backing, high quality 7-inch wooden hoop, and felting foam mat surface.

Cost: $35

Registration Information:

We require a $5 general festival registration, nominal fees for some of the classes, and a $35 registration for the keynote speaker Paul Bannick. All Nature Play Day activities are free.

- Free Event/Registration Required Free Event/No registration required Discovery Pass Required to park

Date: September 22 - 24, 2023

Location: Various Towns in Washington

Click here for Registration

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