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Wings Over Willapa Festival

September 22 - 25, 2022

Mission: Connecting people with birds, art, and nature in celebration of Willapa National Wildlife Refuge

This multi-day bird festival in one of the richest bird destinations in North America happens in the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge and sites on Washington’s Long Beach Peninsula. The Festival has something for nature lovers of all ages and skill.

Events include expert-led bird identification walks in the Refuge and classes ranging from beginning birding to bird-friendly landscaping. Other highlights include a guided tour to Long Island to an ancient old-growth cedar grove, a hands-on introduction to wildlife tracking, a guided 4x4 excursion to Leadbetter Point, and art experiences including pottery, ceramics, and needle felting. This year we have “Taking Flight”, a social and artist event on Thursday evening and a special Nature Play Day on Saturday with fun-filled activities for children and families. 

Friday evening’s keynote speaker at the Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum is expert birder Noah Stryker, an author and entertaining and knowledgeable lecturer. In 2015 he set a record for the World Big Year of birding, seeing 6,042 species in a single year!! We will offer light snacks and a drink and cash bar. For lodging, dining, and other destination information, please visit www.visitlongbeachpeninsula.com.

Registration and Visitor Information

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

  • You can register yourself as well as guests. You are referred to as the "Account Contact/Agent".
  • You need to add yourself as an "attendee" before you select events. 
  • To register guests add them as an “attendee” and then select their events.
  • Clicking on the Progress Bar in the upper right of the registration pages will allow you to jump to a specific page.
  • Use the "Dashboard" link in the upper left of the registration screen to check the registration status of attendees.
  • You can return to this page any time and log in to add events and manage the attendees.


NEW - Pacific County Birding Pass

Download the Birding in Pacific County Virtual Pass to use while joining select programs! Using the pass, developed by the Pacific County Tourism Bureau, will earn you prizes depending on how many check-in locations you visit! See their website for more info, and look for the logo on our programs descriptions for qualifying programs.

https://www.visitlongbeachpeninsula.com/pacific-county-birding/

Preview the Festival events here and scroll to the bottom of the page to register.


The attached is a list with descriptions of all the events Wings Festival Events 2022.docx


The table below is an overview with times and locations

Questions? wingsoverwillapa@gmail.com

Thursday Programs
5:30-8:00pm Taking Flight: Welcome Social and Meet the Artists E The Salt Hotel & Pub Free***
Friday Programs
8:30-10:30am Leadbetter Adventure T Oysterville Beach Approach $10
8:30-11:00am Wildlife Tracking T Leadbetter Point Parking Area** $10
8:30-11:00am Birding Basics: Finding Focus P&T Salt Hotel & Pub and Port of Ilwaco $10
10:00-11:00am Waves, Tides and Currents Walk T Seaview Beach Approach $5
11:00am-4:30pm Discovering Long Island T Willapa NWR - Cutthroat Creek $25
1:00-2:30pm From Flowers to Feathers P Willapa NWR Headquarters Free*
1:00-3:00pm Ellsworth Creek Hike Into the Giants T Willapa NWR - Cutthroat Creek $15
2:00-4:00pm Feather Raku Pottery A Karen Brownlee Studio $35
2:00-4:00pm Loomis Lake Beach Walk T Loomis Lake State Park** $5
3:00-4:00pm Your Shorebirds Count P Willapa NWR Headquarters Free*
4:00-6:00pm Feather Raku Pottery A Karen Brownlee Studio $35
6:30-9:00pm Noah Strycker: Birding Without Borders E Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum $35
Saturday Programs
8:30-11:30am Birding Basics: Finding Focus T Willapa NWR Headquarters & Parker Slough Trail Free*
10:00am-12:00pm Fog Forest Hike T Cape Disappointment State Park-Coastal Loop Trailhead** $5
10:00am-12:00pm Shorebird Identification T Ocean Park Beach Approach $5*
10:00am-2:00pm Nature Play Day for Kids & Families E Veterans Field Free***
10:30am-2:00pm Glazed and Amazed A Bay Avenue Gallery $30
10:30am-2:00pm Movies: The Big Year & Disneynature Wings Of Life E Neptune Theater Free***
11:00am-3:30pm Long Island Expedition T Willapa NWR - Cutthroat Creek $35
Sunday Programs
8:00-11:00am Leadbetter Adventure T Oysterville Beach Approach $10
9:00-11:00am Adventures for Young Birders T Seaview Beach Approach $5
10:00-11:00am Wild Landscaping T Willapa NWR Headquarters Free*
10:00am-12:00pm South Bay Eco-exploration T Willapa NWR - Tarlatt Free*
10:00am-12:00pm Shorebird Identification T Ocean Park Beach Approach $5
11:00am-1:00pm Stream Needle Felting A North Jetty Brewery $35
*  Free event registration required at wingsoverwillapa.org
**  Discovery Pass required to park
***  These free events do not require pre-registration 		T: Tour
A: Arts/Crafts
P: Presentation
E: Event
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