Godwits:

The Marbled Godwit is a large shorebird with a long, slightly upturned bill. During Godwit Days, they are in Humboldt Bay by the thousands, before they head off to their nesting grounds in the central U.S. and Canadian prairies. Marbled Godwits winter on the Pacific Coast and a distinct population (the slightly smaller subspecies beringiae) winters predominately at the Arcata Marsh & Wildlife Sanctuary and on Humboldt Bay.

History:

The City of Arcata started the Godwit Days Spring Migration Bird Festival in 1996 to promote the diversity of bird species at the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary while creating an eco-tourism niche. The Arcata Marsh system was developed as a way to reclaim lost wetlands and to treat Arcata’s sewage using tertiary treatment. It now provides a resting spot and home to over 300 bird species and migratory visitors.

As the festival grew out of City Hall, it became a 501C3 with a board of directors possessing expertise in natural resource management, wildlife biology, wetlands preservation, organization and economic development. The City of Arcata has remained a major valuable sponsor of the festival.

The festival provides a perfect opportunity to see tens of thousands of shorebirds in migration, the occasional rarity, pelagic birds, visit Spotted Owls in the Redwoods, learn bird calls, photograph birds at all elevations, identify dragonflies and damselflies, search for amphibians, recognize coastal flora, view children’s artwork, learn from renowned keynote presenters and numerous government and non-profit organizations, see 100+ birds on the Big Day trip and add to your life list.