The Wings Over Willapa Festival celebrates birds, nature, and art during a multi-day event held at the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge and other natural sites on Washington’s Long Beach Peninsula. The Festival has something for everyone who loves to explore in nature.

Events include expert-led bird walks and programs ranging from wildlife tracking to adventures at Leadbetter Point. Other highlights include a guided tour to Long Island to an old-growth cedar grove, Pelagic birding trip, hand building with clay to create your own bird bath, and a special Nature Play Day on Saturday for children and families.

Saturday's Keynote speaker features author Marina Richie. Join her for a headfirst dive into belted kingfishers over seven seasons on a home creek. Her photo-filled presentation threads natural history, memoir, and myth. She introduces the practice of deep birding leading to kinship with a wild neighborhood and personal transformation. By the water’s edge, the author healed from the loss of her naturalist father and tapped into her own powers. Halcyon Journey, In Search of the Belted Kingfisher earned the 2024 John Burroughs Award, awarded annually to the year’s most distinguished book of nature writing. It also earned a National Outdoor Book Award and a Foreword Indies Award.

The Friends of Willapa National Wildlife Refuge is hosting a raffle with themed baskets at the start of the event. Arrive early to enjoy Hors-d'œuveres, a complimentary beer or wine, and socialize with others before the presentation.

Schedule of Events:

Friday, September 20, 2024

7:30-10:30am: Leadbetter Adventure

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.

Location: Oysterville Beach Approach, Ocean Park

9:00am-12:00pm: Exploring Willapa Coastal Forest

Join Alex Barton and Josh Kling from Western Rivers Conservancy and Jackie Ferrier from Willapa National Wildlife Refuge for a behind the scenes look at the "Willapa Coastal Forest." This forest includes 2,366 acres of streams, wetlands and forest that became part of the Refuge earlier this year. Meet at the refuge headquarters where our adventure begins. We'll travel east to an area of the refuge not currently open to the public then hike to Bear River, an important spawning area for Chinook, coho, and chum salmon as well as steelhead, smelt and lamprey. Surrounding forests provide habitat for both resident and migratory birds as well as black-tailed deer and Roosevelt elk.

-Participants will ride in festival provided 4WD vehicles.
-Trail difficulty is rated as moderate. Participants must be able to walk on unimproved trail with uneven terrain with moderate slopes for two miles.
-Light snacks and water are strongly recommended.

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

12:30-3:00pm: Ellsworth Creek Hike to the Giants

Hike among giants in the 7,600-acre 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 meet at Greenhead Slough Trail parking area then ride in festival provided 4WD vehicles.
-Trail difficulty is rated as difficult. Participants should expect a strenuous 3.5 mile hike on uneven terrain in muddy, brushy, wet conditions.
-Wear all-weather clothing and sturdy shoes. Light snacks and water are strongly recommended.

Location: Willapa NWR - Greenhead Slough, Highway 101 between Bear River Bridge and Greenhead Slough Bridge near mile marker 20.

12:30-5:30pm: Discovering Long Island

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 a barge shuttles hikers to the island. The barge leaves at 1 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 refuge staff and local experts. The last barge to Cutthroat Creek leaves the island at 5 PM.

-Trail difficulty is rated as moderate to difficult in some areas.
-Participants must be able to walk on uneven terrain over a long distance (up to six miles round trip) with some 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.

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

3:30-4:30pm: Meet the Wild Birds of Discovery Bay

Great for all ages so bring the entire family! Get up close to some of the most amazing birds on Earth – 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 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 live owls, hawks, and falcons in person!

Location: Willapa NWR - Headquarters, 7112 67th Pl, Long Beach

5:30 - 7:30pm: Welcome Social

The Friends of Willapa National Wildlife Refuge kicks off the annual Wings Over Willapa Festival on Friday, September 20, at the Salt Hotel & Pub starting at 5:30 PM. Drop in anytime as this welcome social is a great opportunity to meet fellow nature lovers, birders, artists, and many of the Friends board members. Local artists will have their work on display and available for sale. Work such as glazed pottery, decorative and functional, and watercolor and acrylic artwork.

There will also be an opportunity to purchase raffle tickets for a lap quilt - pieced and quilted by local quilter Toni Healy. The detail of the quilting design is exquisite, showing marine creatures throughout the 'ocean' section.

This is also an opportunity to ask questions about festival events and other happenings on the Long Beach Peninsula. Food for purchase and a cash bar is available at the Salt.

Location: The Salt Hotel & Pub, 111 Howerton Ave, Ilwaco

Saturday, September 21, 2024

7:00am - 3:00pm: Pelagic Birding Trip

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.

Location: Sea Breeze Charters, 185 Howerton Way SE. Pier E at the Port of Ilwaco

7:30 - 9:30am: Wildlife Tracking

Join Kristi Freese, a Professional Level IV tracker, for a wildlife tracking adventure at Leadbetter Point. Kristi provides 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 are birding opportunities along the way.

-Washington State Discover Pass required for parking.
-Trail difficulty is rated as easy. Participants must be able to walk on wet sand and natural trail for up to one mile.
-Insect repellent is recommended.

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

7:30 - 9:30am: Good Morning Birds

Join Cindy McCormack 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 you’ll visit three different habitats including forest, estuary, and grassy meadow. Songbirds, shorebirds, ducks, and birds of prey are most likely to be encountered. 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. Cindy is a monitoring biologist for Columbia Land Trust and spends much of her free time outdoors. Her previous experience includes other wildlife and botanical fieldwork in the wonderful variety of habitats of the Pacific Northwest. She leads field trips and bird walks for Vancouver Audubon and Washington Ornithological Society, serves on the Washington Bird Records Committee, and volunteers as a regional reviewer for eBird.

-This walk will be at a slower pace, the trail is rated as moderate.
-Trail surface ranges from gravel to natural Bring binoculars if you have them for the best experience.

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

10:00am - 11:00am: Getting to Know the Tiny Fliers: Shorebirds of the Willapa Bay

Shorebirds, some no larger than a sparrow, are among Earth’s great long-distant migrants. In autumn, we can witness a dazzling array of these birds as they make their way south from their Arctic breeding grounds. At first glance, all these little brown birds may look alike. But with a little practice, you can identify different shorebird species and grow your enjoyment of this intriguing bird group. Join Monica Iglecia, US Coordinator for Pacific Birds Habitat Joint Venture, and Vanessa Loverti, USFWS Regional Shorebird Coordinator, to learn more about the shorebirds that rely on Willapa Bay and the Pacific Flyway. This presentation helps you differentiate both local and migrant shorebirds by size, shape, color, and behavior. You'll also get insights into recent monitoring efforts and how biologists are using MOTUS technology to learn more about these tiny fliers.

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

10:00am - 12:00pm: A Naturalist's Perspective: Art & Cutthroat Climb Trails

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 is about 1.5 miles total, on the boardwalk and then steep-sloped natural trails.

-Wear all-weather clothing and sturdy shoes.
-A portion of this trail is rated as strenuous with steep inclines.
-Sturdy shoes are recommended.

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

10:00am - 12:00pm: Birds of Fog Forest

Delve into Cape Disappointment's old-growth forests and the birds that rely on them. During this 2-mile guided walk Park Ranger Reyn Nielsen will point out plants and birds of the park. Participants will see huge Sitka Spruce trees over 10-foot diameter, views of the Columbia River Estuary, and a famous trading spot where Chinook Indians met European and American vessels. Bring your binoculars and meet at the Coastal Loop Trailhead on SR100spur, right across from the Cape D. Cafe.

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

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

11:00am - 3:00pm: Nature Play Day

Join this family-friendly free event and take part in crafts, games, and other activities to learn about the diverse environment and wildlife of the Long Beach Peninsula! Learn from refuge staff, interns, and volunteers! Local community groups will be joining us, bringing their own nature-themed activities for you to do.

Make your way through activity stations where you will learn about the habitats and critters that live in them, get creative with crafts and projects such as building your own bird box, migrating like a bird through a life-size board game, taking home a personalized Wings T-shirt, meeting LIVE birds of prey, and so much more!! All ages are welcome, bring your friends, family, and neighbors!

-Discovery Bay Wild Bird Rescue will be in attendance with live birds from 11am - 1pm.
-Drop-in activity; most families spend at least 2 hours at Nature Play Day.
-Kids will collect stamps at each activity in their Activity Passport, earning a Jr. Ranger badge at the end of their adventure!
-Our wildlife refuge mascot, Puddles the Blue Goose, will be making a special appearance as well!

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

12:30 - 3:30pm: Six Things About My Bird Book That Might Surprise You

Join author Sarah Swanson for a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of a bird book, specifically her local field guide, Best Little Book of Birds: the Oregon Coast. Sarah will also share some of her favorite birding hotspots along the northern Oregon Coast for all seasons.

After the presentation Sarah and Max will lead the group to Porter Point Loop where you will see forest birds including chestnut-backed chickadee, Steller’s Jay, dark-eyed junco, northern flicker and more. Sarah cares deeply about the conservation of birds and their habitats and has pursued this passion as an author of bird books, an environmental educator, and a fundraiser and event manager for conservation nonprofits. Sarah’s most recent books are: Best Little Book of Birds: the Oregon Coast and Best Little Book of Birds: the Cascade Range and Columbia Gorge and will be offered for sale. Max is an ecologist working for the Rocky Mountain Research Station on projects related to water and wildlife in the western U.S. He is from Butte, MT but has been an Oregonian for 18 years. He loves birding with Sarah, especially at the coast and in central Oregon.

-Trail difficulty is rated as moderate.
-Participants must be able to walk on gravel and natural surface with some uneven terrain for 2.5 miles.

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

2:00 - 5:00pm: Wind Chimes from Clay

Learn hand building techniques to create your own Wind Chime out of clay! 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, and no experience is necessary! Ages 14+ solo, and ages 10-13 with an adult. Participants will create components for one wind chime during the class, then it will be fired and glazed by the studio. Items will be available for pick-up approximately 2-3 weeks after event.

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

3:00-5:00pm: Birds of the Fog Forest

Delve into Cape Disappointment's old-growth forests and the birds that rely on them.  During this 2-mile guided walk Park Ranger Ryen Nielsen will point out plants and birds of the park. Participants will see huge Sitka Spruce trees over 10-foot diameter, views of the Columbia River Estuary, and a famous trading spot where Chinook Indians met European and American vessels. Bring your binoculars and meet at the Coastal Loop Trailhead on SR100spur, right across from the Cape D. Cafe.

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

Location: Cape Disappointment State Park - Coastal Loop Trailhead on SR100 spur

5:30pm to End: Keynote: Kinship with Kingfishers

Join award-winning author Marina Richie for a headfirst dive into belted kingfishers over seven seasons on a home creek. Her photo-filled presentation threads natural history, memoir, and myth. She introduces the practice of deep birding leading to kinship with a wild neighborhood and personal transformation. By the water’s edge, the author healed from the loss of her naturalist father and tapped into her own powers.

Halcyon Journey, In Search of the Belted Kingfisher earned the 2024 John Burroughs Award, awarded annually to the year’s most distinguished book of nature writing. Her book also earned a National Outdoor Book Award and a Foreword Indies Award. Sixteen illustrations by artist Ram Papish illuminate the hidden world of a secretive and skittish bird. Marina will sign and sell books at the event. Hors-d'œuveres and a complimentary beer or wine are included with registration.

Marina is a nature writer living in Central Oregon with an affinity for the coast. Growing up in a National Park Service family influenced Richie’s passion for protecting wildlife and wild places. Her articles, essays and poetry appear in literary and popular magazines, blogs, newspapers and in three book collections. She’s also written wayside exhibits and led communication efforts for wildlife conservation campaigns. In addition to Halcyon Journey, she authored two children’s books, Bird Feats of Montana and Bug Feats of Montana. She earned an M.A. in Journalism from the University of Montana and a B.A. in Biology from the University of Oregon. To read her bi-monthly prose and poetry blog and learn more, visit www.marinarichie.com.

-Arrive early to enjoy Hors-d'œuveres, a complimentary beer or wine, and socialize with others before the presentation.
-A cash bar is available.
-The Friends of Willapa National Wildlife Refuge is hosting a raffle with themed baskets at the start of the event. Artists from the Friday Welcome Social donated an item for the raffle baskets.

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

Sunday, September 22, 2024

8:00 - 11:00am: Leadbetter Adventure

Journey along with staff of Willapa National Wildlife Refuge for an exciting trip to the outermost tip of the Long Beach Peninsula, Leadbetter Point! This wild place with limited human access results in 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 estuaries and sandy beaches. The guided tour includes information about the local ecology and ongoing habitat restoration activities by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

-Participants will ride in festival provided 4WD vehicles.
-Participants must be able to walk in loose beach sand and uneven terrain for short distances.

Location: Oysterville Road Beach Approach in Ocean Park

8:00 - 10:00am: Meet the Giants of Teal Slough

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.

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

8:00 - 10:00am: Look, It's a Loon!

Join Cindy McCormack for a guided walk to look for and learn about the birds of our nearshore ocean and sandy shoreline. Loons, grebes, gulls, and shorebirds are often seen on this trip. The two-hour bird walk starting with a short walk on the beach to scan the horizon for a variety of ocean loving birds. 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.

Cindy is a monitoring biologist for Columbia Land Trust and spends much of her free time outdoors. Her previous experience includes other wildlife and botanical fieldwork in the Pacific Northwest. She leads field trips and bird walks for Vancouver Audubon and Washington Ornithological Society, serves on the Washington Bird Records Committee, and volunteers as a eBird regional reviewer.

-Washington State Discover Pass required.
-Trail difficulty is rated as easy. Participants should be prepared to walk up to 1.5 miles on both wet and loose sand and a natural surface nature trail.
-Bring binoculars if you have them for the best experience.

Location: Oysterville Road Beach Approach in Ocean Park

8:00 - 10:00am: Good Morning Birds

Join Sarah Swanson and Max Smith 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 you’ll visit three different habitats including forest, estuary, and grassy meadow. Songbirds, shorebirds, ducks, and birds of prey are most likely to be encountered. Highlights are bald eagle, great blue heron, western sandpiper, cedar waxwing, spotted towhee, and pacific wren.

Sarah cares deeply about the conservation of birds and their habitats and has pursued this passion as an author of bird books, an environmental educator, and a fundraiser and event manager for conservation nonprofits. Sarah’s most recent books are: Best Little Book of Birds: the Oregon Coast and Best Little Book of Birds: the Cascade Range and Columbia Gorge. Max is an ecologist working for the Rocky Mountain Research Station on projects related to water and wildlife in the western U.S. He loves birding with Sarah, especially at the coast and in central Oregon.

-This walk will be at a slower pace, the trail is rated as easy to moderate.
-Participants must be able to walk for two miles on a trail that ranges from gravel to natural surface.
-Bring binoculars if you have them for the best experience.

Location: Willapa NWR - Tarlatt Slough, South Bay Trails, end of 95th Street, Long Beach

9:00am - 11:00am: White-tails and Red-tails

Hike with refuge manager Jake Bonello at the Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for the Columbian White-tailed Deer. Our sister refuge offers a chance to see unique habitat and wildlife along the lower Columbia River. Jake is an avid birder and photographer and will share stories about the refuge as you walk three miles along a trail rated as easy. The trip will take you along a corridor of open water, intertidal wetlands, lowland forest, and open pastures that offer the opportunity to see the threatened Columbian white-tailed deer and many species of migrating birds such as cackling geese, shorebirds, and birds of prey.

-The Julia Butler Hansen refuge is about a one-hour drive east from the city of Long Beach,
-WA Trail difficulty is rated as easy. Participants should be prepared to walk up to 2 miles on gravel.

Location: Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for the Columbian White-tailed Deer. 46 Steamboat Slough Road. White-tail trail parking lot. Trailhead is 2 miles NE of the refuge office along Steamboat Slough Road.

10am - 1:00pm: Bird Baths with Clay

Learn hand building techniques to create your own Bird Bath or Pollinator Dish out of clay! 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, and no experience is necessary! Ages 14+ solo, and ages 10-13 with an adult. Participants will create a bird bath or pollinator dish during the class, then it will be fired and glazed by the studio. Items will be available for pick-up approximately 2-3 weeks after event.

Location: Ilwaco Artworks, 109 First Ave N, Ilwaco

Date: September 20-22, 2024

Location: Various Towns in Washington

Click Here For Registration

Click Here For More Information