Pancake Breakfast and Silent Auction         Special Event

7th Annual Fine Art Exhibit & Sale         Special Event

7th Annual Fine Art Exhibit and Sale – Admission: Free
Presented by Camano Arts Association’s Art in Public Places Committee   

Fine Art Exhibit. Photography, Sculpture, Ceramics, Watercolor, Acrylic, Oil, Mixed Media, Glass, and Jewelry

Birding Themed Arts & Crafts and
Avian Science Children’s Activities         Special Event

Birding Themed Arts and Crafts and Avian Science Activities

In the Meadow Room at Four Springs - Local Art Students and Community Volunteers will lead bird projects.   All supplies are provided.  Helpers will be on hand to assist.  All Ages Welcome!

1. Origami
   Peanut Butter Pinecone Bird feeders
   Twisted Pipe Cleaner Creations
   Birdie Bundles (Nesting material hanger)
   Owl Pellet Dissections
       (leader provided and supply donation accepted)
   Hike around the park Bird Fact Scavenger Hunt & Drawing for prize
   

2. Lots of information and knowledge to share!
   

Jim Watson - Bald Eagles - 102    Lecture/Speaker

As a Wildlife Research Scientist with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Jim specializes in statewide raptor studies. He has also work on Oregon spotted frogs and Washington ground squirrels.  He has spent the past 40 years studying raptors in the western United States and abroad.  His first research experience involved working with a graduate student studying golden eagles in Colorado, followed by research on rough-legged hawks in Idaho, and bald eagles in Oregon.

This presentation will provide an introduction to bald eagle identification, characteristics and status in Washington. Jim will focus on migration and ecology of eagles that winter here based on knowledge derived from satellite telemetry studies. There will be plenty of time to answer for bald eagle fact or fiction questions.    More About Jim Watson

Live Artist Demos                 Special Event

Meet Live Raptors with Kestrel Skyhawk         Guest Speaker

In the Meadow Room at Four Springs - Kestrel Skyhawk, from Sarvey Wildlife Center, returns to the Festival with some of her avian friends – birds that have been rescued by Sarvey, but are unable to be released back to the wild. This is a unique opportunity to see various birds at close range, and to learn about their unique characters and behaviors.  Learn more about Sarvey’s mission to rescue and rehabilitate injured wildlife, and what you can do to help.

How to Attract and Feed Wild Birds         Guest Speaker

In the Meadow Room at Four Springs - Matt Kerschbaum from Skagit Wild Bird Supply will speak about identifying birds, and demonstrate how to set up feeding stations.   Come learn techniques for attracting and feeding wild birds in your backyard.  Especially designed for the young birder, but everyone is welcome.  Come learn how to enrich your birding experience, something new or possibly share your technique!

Dan Froehlich - Puget Sound Bird Observatory     Lecture/Speaker

If not me then who?     
.    Citizen Scientists: Why Birding Matters in the 21st Century.

Birdwatching has gone mainstream in the past 30 years.  For many birders, birding is its own reward.  But is there more?  Birders can dispute identifications, compete for “Big-Day” species totals, and argue about the latest taxonomic shifts.  Or we can find ways to build meaning into our birding.  This presentation is about value-added opportunities for bird enthusiasts.  The internet phenomenon, the political climate, and, well, climate change itself all call for citizen engagement to better understand our avian neighbors and their needs.  Join me as we explore the role of citizen scientists in the 21st century.  While we’ll focus on the context for citizen science, I’ll also offer some resources for local engagement.    More About the Puget Sound Bird Observatory

Vasily Baranyuk - From Russia to the Stilly     Lecture/Speaker

Senior scientist with Russia’s Wrangel Island Nature Preserve, has spent more than 20 years observing the snow geese that migrate between Wrangel Island and North Puget Sound.  Mr. Baranyuk will talk about these iconic birds, their wintering grounds, and their current populations has received a grant from the Pacific Coast Joint Venture to give presentations in the North West. Don Kraege, Waterfowl Section Manager for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has designated the Port Susan Snow Goose & Birding Festival in Stanwood one of the main venues for his presentations.  Kraege reports that the 2012 presentation will include stunning slides and video along with updated population information that will give us a a glimpse of Wrangel Island and its rich nesting grounds.

Nature Conservancy Port Susan Preserve    Guided Tour

Not currently open to the public, the Port Susan Bay Preserve safeguards some of the finest estuarine habitat in the Puget  Sound. Its emergent marshes, vast mudflats, and tidally influenced channels support hundreds of thousands of birds, Western sandpipers, dunlins, and dowitchers swoop over the mudflats. Wrangel Island snow geese gather by the thousands on nearby fields. And raptors, from peregrine falcons to short-eared owls, add to the drama. Dress warmly and bring your binoculars.  Learn More

English Boom, Camano Island   Self Guided Tour  

This newly renovated Island County Park with it’s boardwalk provides an ideal location for viewing eagles, diving ducks, loons, heron and more. Parking is limited.   

Snow Geese and Trumpeter Swans    Bus Tour 

Leave the driving to us! Take a bus to see thousands of Snow Geese and Swans feeding in fields and farmlands near Stanwood. Your tour guide is biologist who has been guiding these tours since the Festival began.  The relationship between farmers and birders is a delicate one, and we encourage you to join us on a tour designed to get you close to the birds without invading a working farm.

Iverson Spit, Camano Island   Guided Tour

This walk provides the opportunity to view a variety of habitats including marshland, bay and wooded walk.   Visitors will see dabbling and diving ducks, hunting raptors, heron and frequently snow geese. Dress warmly and bring your binoculars.

The Big Ditch   Self Guided Tour   

A long walk along the dike between farmlands, a river and the bay, the Big Ditch is often a great spot to see snowy owls, short-eared owls, harrier hawks, dabbling ducks.  This can also be a good location to see snow geese passing by in large “V’s” or in the nearby fields.

Let’s Eat Dinner             Special Event

In the Meadow Room at Four Springs - Cyndy’s Broiler has prepared a delicious dinner.  Everything you’ll need to squelch that hungriness.

1. Box Dinner - 
   

2. Slow-Cooked Tender Choice Beef Sandwich with optional BBQ Sauce served with Award-winning Seafood Chowder and Sweet & Tang Homemade Coleslaw. 
   
   Dessert - Stanwood Cupcakes (available until 6pm or supplies run out!)
   

3. Try one of Stanwood Cupcakes’ special made mini cupcakes prepared for the festival.
   

Live Music! - South End String Band        Special Event

Live Music!  South End String Band performance

They’re back in Four Springs’ Meadow Room!   This infamous local band is back!  They will perform their stylish Camano Root Music for your toe tapping enjoyment. 

Martha Jordan - Trumpeter Swan Society     Lecture/Speaker

The Trumpeter Swan is North America's largest waterfowl and one of its rarest native birds. To many people, it is the embodiment of grace, beauty, and unspoiled wildness. It is also an inspiring reminder that we can save some species that have been reduced to near extinction.

A well known swan biologist, Martha will present a slide program on Washington’s native Trumpeter and Tundra swans. You will learn about their life history, biology and some swan identification tips. She will shed some light on the problems and controversies these birds face on their wintering grounds and what is needed to insure their future. Get updated on the swan lead poisoning die-off, habitat issues and more. Martha will share some excellent slides that help clarify the difficult identification these swans. Come share and learn the facts, myths and legends of the swans of Washington’s winter.        More About the Trumpeter Swan Society

Puppet Play: Lessons from the Geese                 Special Event

        – with Stanwood Librarian, Ms. V

In the Meadow Room at Four Springs -  Sno-Isle Libraries Presents a Puppet Play: Lessons From The Geese  Join Ms. V, Children’s Librarian at the Stanwood Library, for a puppet play featuring Snow Goose, Canada Goose, and a surprise visitor or two!  Stick around to fold an origami flapping bird.  For All Ages

Live Music – Paul Nyenhuis                 Special Event

Inside Four Springs House enjoy the artwork, a cup of Camano Island Roaster’s Coffee, and Paul Nyenhuis play his beautifully handcrafted Native American wooden flutes.  Paul’s flutes are a fine work of art themselves, but watch them shine as Paul’s innermost thoughts and feelings take wings, for all to enjoy.  

Pigeon Release with Searl Lachausse              Special Event

Date: Sunday Feb 26, 2012

    Time: 2:30pm

    Location: Four Springs Lake Preserve

    Cost: Free

Outside on the lawn just south of the Meadow Room at Four Springs learn about the world of racing pigeons with Searl.  Meet some of these beautiful birds in person and watch the excitement as they take to the air!