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⏎ Wildlife Tracking (Sold out)

Saturday, Sept. 23: 8:00 - 10:00am

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.
  

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⏎  Discovering Long Island. (Sold out)

Saturday, Sept. 23; 9:00am - 2:30pm

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.
  

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⏎  Gulls, Loons and More

Saturday, Sept 23; 10:00am - 12:00pm

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. 

Image of a Western Gull by Stephen Lester

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

Saturday, Sept. 23; 10:00 - 11:00am

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.

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⏎  Waves, Tides & Currents

Saturday, Sept. 23; 10:00am - 12:00pm

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.
  

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⏎  Nature Play Day

Saturday, Sept. 23; 11:00am - 3:00pm

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.

Unlimited

⏎  Your Birding Digital Toolkit

Saturday, Sept. 23; 12:30 - 2:30pm

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.
  

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⏎  Decorating with Nature: Handbuilding Clay
Canceled

Saturday, Sept 23; 12:30 - 2:30pm and
3:00pm - 5:00pm

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.

10 each session

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

Saturday, Sept. 23; 3:00 - 4:00pm

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. 

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⏎  Forest Fog Hike (Sold out)

Saturday, Sept. 23; 3:00 - 5:00pm

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.
  

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⏎  Naturalist Beach Walk(Sold out)

Saturday, Sept. 23; 3:00 - 5:00pm

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.

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