We invite you to join us (March 14 to 16), where you’ll find activities for all ages to enhance your outdoor experience and love of birding! Please check back soon for registration and event schedule information. To receive emailed notices with the most current information and updates, please sign up using the email link below. Also, check our Facebook page and Instagram for sneak previews and highlights. We look forward to seeing you in March!

Experience a Bird’s Eye View of Blaine Birch Bay & Semiahmoo as well as highlights of the Wings Over Water NW Birding Festival!

Schedule of Events:

8:00 am to 4:00 pm: BUS CHARTER GUIDED FIELD TRIP TO REIFEL BIRD SANCTUARY, Delta, B.C., Canada

(Return time is approximate due to unpredictable border wait times.)

Where: Departure at 8:00 am from Ben’s Market #17 & Truck Stop 1300 Boblett Street, Blaine (Off I-5, Exit 275 – Truck Route). Enter parking lot from Boblett Street. Please be at the departure area by 7:45 am. Please note: this departure location is new (different from previous years) and closer to the festival venue in Blaine.
Cost $60 Adults Only– 16 and up

Space is limited. Preregistration is required.
Registration fee includes bus charter, entrance fee and bag of bird seed

Experience a guided field trip to one of Canada’s top birding sites, George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, just 40 minutes across the border in Delta, B.C., Canada. Dress for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes. Please bring your own lunch (no glass). You may also purchase items for lunch, snacks and drinks in addition to Cinnabon cinnamon rolls at Ben’s Market. Important note: A passport or an enhanced driver’s license is required for crossing the
US/Canada border.

Sponsored by Phillips 66 - Ferndale Refinery

Hints: Bring binoculars, a camera, sturdy footwear (minor muddy conditions are possible), rain gear or umbrella (think Seattle weather). Dress in layers; it can be cool and windy. Water & snacks are good, too. There are limited snacks available at the sanctuary. Bathrooms are near the entrance of the sanctuary and there is usually a portable unit on the far side of the trail system.

1:30 pm to 3:30 pm: SEMIAHMOO SPIT, GUIDED BIRDING FIELD TRIP

Take a leisurely walk on a paved walking trail and along the beach to view birds close at hand. Led by Paul Woodcock and Pam Borso from North Cascades Audubon Society. This guided field trip offers both the novice and experienced birder the best opportunity to explore the abundance of birds along Semiahmoo Spit, a 1.25 mile natural land spit located between Semiahmoo Bay and Drayton Harbor. Dress for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes. Join us afterward for our Festival Opening and Featured Artist Reception at the Blaine Senior Center, 763 G Street, Blaine

6:00 pm to 9:00 pm: WOW FESTIVAL OPENING DINNER AND FEATURED ARTIST RECEPTION

Where: Blaine Senior Center, 763 G Street, Blaine
Cost: $35, Space is limited. Preregistration is recommended. Unsold tickets will be available at the dinner

Join us for the 22nd annual Wings Over Water Opening Dinner and Featured Artist Reception. Enjoy a catered dinner and no-host wine and beer. Meet this year’s featured artist, Forrest Chel Art, pyrography artist. Forrest Chel designs each original woodburned scene with whimsy and intention, drawing inspiration from details and patterns found in nature. Birds and their habits are of particular interest to Forrest Chel. Birds are featured in the art, carrying out tasks and caring for their young in natural habitats. Their artwork will be on display and for purchase during the reception and at the Birding Expo on Saturday.

The evening will also feature a silent auction and an inspiring presentation by Amy Eberling, Director and Founder of the Salish Sea School in Anacortes. Amy will share the school's mission of hands-on education and conservation, connecting students of all ages to the marine life of the Salish Sea. Through field trips, puffin excursions, and community-driven initiatives, the school promotes conservation, supports underserved communities, and fosters a deep understanding of our connection to the environment. Attendees will learn about local conservation efforts and discover ways to get involved, such as volunteering for surveys or joining efforts to protect the Salish Sea for future generations.