Port Susan Snow Goose & Birding Festival > Festival Event Information
> All Events
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Online Registration Begins Sunday Feb 3, 2013
Below is a complete listing of this year's activities sorted by activity type and beginning time.
To view detailed information and times - click on one of the "+" signs below.
Show: Saturday Events Only___________Show: Sunday Events Only
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Speakers & Seminars
+ From Russia to the Stilly with Vasily Baranyuk (Sunday Only)
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.
Note: This seminar/lecture is one that you do not want to miss!!Vasily is able to make another trip to the Pacific NW for the 3rd consecutive year. Make this a "must attend" event this year - due to funding we are unsure if/or when he may be back!!!!!
Note: This seminar/lecture is one that you do not want to miss!!Vasily is able to make another trip to the Pacific NW for the 3rd consecutive year. Make this a "must attend" event this year - due to funding we are unsure if/or when he may be back!!!!!
+ On the Water: Waterfowl I.D. (Sunday Only)
Can’t tell your buffleheads from your eiders. How about your mallard from the northern shoveler. Jason Otto will show you not only where to spot the many species of waterfowl in our area, but also how to identify them, on the water or on the wing. Jason, with his brother John, is the author of “An Otto Brothers collection of Waterfowl Reference”.
+ Owl Nest Box Workshop (Sunday Only)
Build your own Owl Nest Box – Sunday, February 24th at 1pm - Support native small owl populations by providing them with a home. This Puget Sound Bird Observatory workshop and volunteers will provide you with a pre-cut kit, instruction, and information needed to build and install your nest box in local landscapes with suitable habit.
Minimum Age of registered participants: Children and youth are welcome. Children younger than 16 will need adult supervision
To reserve your spot in this workshop please call: Snow Goose Bookstore 360-629-3631
Minimum Age of registered participants: Children and youth are welcome. Children younger than 16 will need adult supervision
To reserve your spot in this workshop please call: Snow Goose Bookstore 360-629-3631
+ Bald Eagles 101
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 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
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
+ Meet Live Raptors with Kestrel Skyhawk
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.
+ Shorebird I.D. Class
Guaranteed to help you identify common shorebirds found in North Puget Sound. Participate in a fun-filled presentation where biologists will give pointers on how to differentiate shorebirds based on their feeding ecology, habitat, and morphology. Charles Duncan, the Executive Director the Western Shorebird Reserve Network and a keynote speaker at the Saturday evening celebration, will be on hand to help out. Consider going on the shorebird tour following the class.
+ Shorebirds of the Greater Skagit/Stillaguamish Delta
This talk will discuss recent and future shorebird projects focused on the vast estuary complex of Port Susan and Skagit Bays. We will share what we’ve learned and describe ways in which citizen volunteers can become involved in shorebird conservation and monitoring in this region and how these efforts tie in with larger scale shorebird conservation objectives.
Speakers:
Gary Slater is the founder and Executive Director of Ecostudies Institute, a nonprofit organization dedicated to understanding and conserving birds and their habitats. He received a B.S. in Wildlife Science from Purdue University and a M.S. in Wildlife Ecology (1997) from the University of Florida. Gary oversees a diverse program of ecological research and outreach activities in Washington and Florida. Some of Gary’s current research focuses on monitoring shorebirds populations and their use of estuarine and agricultural habitats in north Puget Sound. He currently is coordinating a citizen-science based shorebird monitoring effort in Puget Sound as part of the Pacific Flyway Shorebird Survey.
Ruth Milner received her BS and MS Degrees from the University of Washington in Wildlife Science. She has been the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife District Wildlife Biologist for Snohomish, San Juan and Island Counties since 1992. Ruth works on a variety of game and non-game species. She has been conducting various projects on shorebirds over the last five years, including leading the effort to designate the Greater Skagit Delta as a Site of Regional Importance in the Western Shorebird Hemisphere Reserve Network (WSHRN).
Speakers:
Gary Slater is the founder and Executive Director of Ecostudies Institute, a nonprofit organization dedicated to understanding and conserving birds and their habitats. He received a B.S. in Wildlife Science from Purdue University and a M.S. in Wildlife Ecology (1997) from the University of Florida. Gary oversees a diverse program of ecological research and outreach activities in Washington and Florida. Some of Gary’s current research focuses on monitoring shorebirds populations and their use of estuarine and agricultural habitats in north Puget Sound. He currently is coordinating a citizen-science based shorebird monitoring effort in Puget Sound as part of the Pacific Flyway Shorebird Survey.
Ruth Milner received her BS and MS Degrees from the University of Washington in Wildlife Science. She has been the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife District Wildlife Biologist for Snohomish, San Juan and Island Counties since 1992. Ruth works on a variety of game and non-game species. She has been conducting various projects on shorebirds over the last five years, including leading the effort to designate the Greater Skagit Delta as a Site of Regional Importance in the Western Shorebird Hemisphere Reserve Network (WSHRN).
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Tours
+ 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.
+ Shorebird Tour (Guided Tour)
Join us as we venture out towards the estuary to seek out the large flocks of Dunlin moving across the mudflats in Port Susan Bay. We also will stop to see other iconic birds of the delta, such as swans, eagles, and other raptors. A member of the Pilchuck Audubon Society will lead the tours, and Rob Butler and Charles Duncan, the invited keynote speakers for the Saturday evening celebration, will be on hand to help out. Butler will help with the tour on Saturday and Duncan will be with us both days. Before the tour, consider taking the shorebird I.D. class on Sat morning.
+ 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.
+ The Big Ditch, Stanwood (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.
+ 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
+ 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.
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Youth Activities
+ Birding Themed Arts & Crafts, Avian Science
Birding Themed Arts and Crafts and Avian Science Activities stations will be set up for you to work on the projects of your choice.
We’ll meet you in the Meadow Room at Four Springs - Local Art Students and Community Volunteers will be on hand to lead you through bird themed arts and craft projects. All supplies are provided. Helpers are on hand to assist you with supplies and ideas if you need a nudge to get started. Work on your own or ask for their help. All Ages Welcome!
____Birdie Bundles (Nesting material hanger)
____Creative paper projects
____Origami
____Owl Pellet Dissections
____(leader provided and supply donation accepted)
____Peanut Butter Pinecone Birdfeeders
____Twisted Pipe Cleaner Creations
____Hike around the park Bird Fact Scavenger Hunt & Drawing for prizes
Come learn and create! We have lots of information
and knowledge to share!
We’ll meet you in the Meadow Room at Four Springs - Local Art Students and Community Volunteers will be on hand to lead you through bird themed arts and craft projects. All supplies are provided. Helpers are on hand to assist you with supplies and ideas if you need a nudge to get started. Work on your own or ask for their help. All Ages Welcome!
____Birdie Bundles (Nesting material hanger)
____Creative paper projects
____Origami
____Owl Pellet Dissections
____(leader provided and supply donation accepted)
____Peanut Butter Pinecone Birdfeeders
____Twisted Pipe Cleaner Creations
____Hike around the park Bird Fact Scavenger Hunt & Drawing for prizes
Come learn and create! We have lots of information
and knowledge to share!
+ Pigeon Release with Searl Lachausse
Outside on the lawn just south of the Meadow Room at Four Springs learn about the world of racing pigeons with Searl Lachausse from Sound Doves in Stanwood, WA. Meet some of these beautiful birds in person and watch the excitement as they take to the air!
Learn More About Sound Doves
Learn More About Sound Doves
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Special Events
+ Pancake Breakfast and Silent Auction
Safe Harbor Free Clinic for the 3rd consecutive year will be offering a Pancake Breakfast, Bake Sale & Silent Auction.
___This years menu will be:
________* Pancakes
________* Sausage
________* Fruit
________* Orange Juice
________* Coffee or Milk
The 2013 Auction will feature well known local artists, vacation packages, decor items and construction materials. Cash, checks & Credit cards will be accepted.
Safe Harbor Free Clinic was founded in October of 2008 by community leaders and medical practitioners as a facility providing quality, respectful and loving free health care and referral service to address the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the underinsured in a safe and welcoming environment. Safe Harbor Free Clinic provides free medical urgent care to the uninsured and the under insured in a welcoming and respectful manner.
_____Clinic hours are:
________* Friday night from 6:00p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
________* The 1st & 3rd Saturdays rom 9:00a.m. to 12:00 noon.
The clinic provides free referral services and conducts specialized care for podiatry,chronic care and a women's clinic. We work together with Medical Teams International to provide a dental clinic once a month to our patients of record. The clinic is supported through donations from supporters who believe in our mission.
Learn More About Safe Harbor Free Clinic
___This years menu will be:
________* Pancakes
________* Sausage
________* Fruit
________* Orange Juice
________* Coffee or Milk
The 2013 Auction will feature well known local artists, vacation packages, decor items and construction materials. Cash, checks & Credit cards will be accepted.
Safe Harbor Free Clinic was founded in October of 2008 by community leaders and medical practitioners as a facility providing quality, respectful and loving free health care and referral service to address the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the underinsured in a safe and welcoming environment. Safe Harbor Free Clinic provides free medical urgent care to the uninsured and the under insured in a welcoming and respectful manner.
_____Clinic hours are:
________* Friday night from 6:00p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
________* The 1st & 3rd Saturdays rom 9:00a.m. to 12:00 noon.
The clinic provides free referral services and conducts specialized care for podiatry,chronic care and a women's clinic. We work together with Medical Teams International to provide a dental clinic once a month to our patients of record. The clinic is supported through donations from supporters who believe in our mission.
Learn More About Safe Harbor Free Clinic
+ The Great Northwest Glass Quest
| You're invited to participate in the greatest treasure hunt in the Pacific Northwest! This is your opportunity to search for and find unique Glass Treasures hand-blown by Mark Ellinger, world-renowned glass artist. Now in it's fourth year, the Great Northwest Glass Quest joins an elite community of glass art treasure hunts, pioneered by Lincoln City, Oregon’s “Finders Keepers” and Jekyll Island’s “Island Treasures”. "Clueballs" will be hidden at a variety of host businesses and in community sites around the Stanwood-Camano area. Find a "Clueball" and return it to the location identified inside for an authentic limited edition Glass Treasure. The Official Event Guidebook identifying where the "Clueballs" are hidden will be available at both the Stanwood and Camano chamber offices and at both A Guilded Gallery & Snow Goose Bookstore in Stanwood and Camano Island Coffee Roasters starting February 15th. You can also find them at the Windermere Realtor offices at Terry's Corner. With booklet in hand you will be ready to start your Quest! And don't forget -- when you go to businesses that are participating in The Great Northwest Glass Quest, but do not find a "Clueball", ask your business host to stamp one of the three Official Entry Forms found at the back of your Booklet. Five stamps from five different host businesses will allow you to enter the drawing for one of the genuine Glass Treasures to be given away in March 2013. You do not need to be present to win the drawing. Your completed Entry Form also allows you to purchase a Glass Treasure at a reduced price, available at A Guilded Gallery,Camano Island Coffee Roasters, Glass Quest Hand Blown Art Studio. |
+ Live Music with Paul Nyenhuis
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.
+ Skagit and Stillaguamish Delta Celebration
Four Springs House and Meadow Room will host a special event to
celebrate the recent designation of the Skagit and Stillaguamish Delta
as a Site or Regional Importance in the Western Hemisphere Shorebird
Reserve Network (WSHRN). WSHRN is an international conservation
program for shorebirds.
The event (or your ticket) includes:
____* Hors d’oeuvres and a complimentary glass of wine or beer.
____* Art Show access - View the “Beaks and Bills” a fine art exhibit by
_____over 25 local artists.
____* Drawings for door prizes will occur over the course of the evening.
____* Official Recognition of landowners, volunteers, and the unveiling
_____of the WSHRN sign.
Two Keynote Speakers:
____* Dr. Charles Duncan, Executive Director of WHSRN, will confer the
____designation and speak about conserving shorebirds at grand scales.
____* Dr. Rob Butler, renowned shorebird expert, will weave a story
____about the migration of Western Sandpipers from its tropical winter
____home to the tundra breeding grounds.
Celebration Events
4:30pm - 5:50pm__Social mixer
_________________Catered menu
_________________(includes one complementary glass of wine or beer)
_________________Art show
_________________Meet the speakers
5:50pm - 6:00pm__Please be seated
6:00pm - 6:50pm__Welcome and Opening Remarks, Ruth Milner, WDFW
_________________Conserving Shorebirds at a Grand Scale,
_________________Dr. Charles Duncan, WSHRN
_________________Special Recognition of Our Partners,
_________________Bob Everitt, WDFW
_________________Sign Unveiling
6:50pm - 7:10pm__Coffee and Dessert
7:10pm - 8:00pm__Birds on the Wind,
_________________Dr. Rob Butler, Pacific Wildlife Foundation
celebrate the recent designation of the Skagit and Stillaguamish Delta
as a Site or Regional Importance in the Western Hemisphere Shorebird
Reserve Network (WSHRN). WSHRN is an international conservation
program for shorebirds.
The event (or your ticket) includes:
____* Hors d’oeuvres and a complimentary glass of wine or beer.
____* Art Show access - View the “Beaks and Bills” a fine art exhibit by
_____over 25 local artists.
____* Drawings for door prizes will occur over the course of the evening.
____* Official Recognition of landowners, volunteers, and the unveiling
_____of the WSHRN sign.
Two Keynote Speakers:
____* Dr. Charles Duncan, Executive Director of WHSRN, will confer the
____designation and speak about conserving shorebirds at grand scales.
____* Dr. Rob Butler, renowned shorebird expert, will weave a story
____about the migration of Western Sandpipers from its tropical winter
____home to the tundra breeding grounds.
Celebration Events
4:30pm - 5:50pm__Social mixer
_________________Catered menu
_________________(includes one complementary glass of wine or beer)
_________________Art show
_________________Meet the speakers
5:50pm - 6:00pm__Please be seated
6:00pm - 6:50pm__Welcome and Opening Remarks, Ruth Milner, WDFW
_________________Conserving Shorebirds at a Grand Scale,
_________________Dr. Charles Duncan, WSHRN
_________________Special Recognition of Our Partners,
_________________Bob Everitt, WDFW
_________________Sign Unveiling
6:50pm - 7:10pm__Coffee and Dessert
7:10pm - 8:00pm__Birds on the Wind,
_________________Dr. Rob Butler, Pacific Wildlife Foundation
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Art Shows & Exhibits
+ Live Artist Demos
Live Artist Demos - Inside the house at Four Springs Lake Preserve
+ 8th Annual Fine Art Exhibit & Sale
"Beaks and Bills" Art Exhibit and Sale – Admission: FREE!
Fine Art Exhibit. Photography, Sculpture, Ceramics, Watercolor, Acrylic, Oil, Mixed Media, Glass, and Jewelry
Fine Art Exhibit. Photography, Sculpture, Ceramics, Watercolor, Acrylic, Oil, Mixed Media, Glass, and Jewelry
