You’ve heard them building nests in the trees, and now you’re invited to come watch at Wrangell’s 18th Annual Stikine River Birding Festival, from April 30 through May 3.
Activities for birders and non-birders alike are offered during the yearly celebration, which will include speakers, photo and art competitions, crafts, family activities, hummingbird banding and, of course, bird watching.
The Stikine River area sees over 120 species of birds during migratory time periods, and shorebirds stop on the river during the year by the millions. A birding guide put together by USFS and the City and Borough of Wrangell promoting the Stikine’s avians will be distributed during the festival and will be available at no cost in the USFS office and other locations.
The festival is put together by the United States Forest Service, City and Borough of Wrangell, Wrangell Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Nolan Center. Originally started as a Garnet Festival, over time the theme has evolved to become centered more on the community and wildlife education. A variety of guest speakers have been brought each year to discuss areas of research and management they specialize in.
“I try to change it up every few years and bring in different things,” explained Corree Delabrue, interpreter for the USFS in Wrangell. “In the past we’ve had artists come in”, sometimes experts in different species of birds.
“The big push this year is marine debris,” she said.
Guest speaker and University of Alaska researcher Veronica Padula will be presenting her findings on the effects of plastic debris on seabirds on May 1 in the Nolan Center at 7:30 p.m., and she will assist the community with marine debris cleanup the next morning. The week after, she will also deliver classroom presentations on the topic at Wrangell’s schools.
The festival formally begins at the SNO Building on April 30 with a potluck dinner and ShadowBox Theater performance held by the local Johnson O’Malley program. The group is raising money to attend the Native Youth Dance Celebration this summer. Soup, fry bread and beverages will be provided along with various potluck dishes.
The next day, Gwen Baluss from the Juneau Ranger District will present an introduction to birding in the Nolan Center at 6 p.m. Baluss will share pointers on how to spot birds, and her talk aims to help build confidence at identifying different varieties. Those skills can then be put into practice Saturday morning with the Breakfast With the Birds Walk at 7 a.m. at Muskeg Meadows Golf Course. A continental breakfast will be provided.
The Birding Festival Reception will follow Baluss’ Friday evening presentation at 7 p.m., where submitted art and photos will be displayed and winners of the photo contest announced.
At 11:30 a.m. Saturday, a craft workshop will be held at the Nolan Center, allowing people to construct their own bird feeders from recycled material. Participants are asked to bring a hammer from home.
Then at 1 p.m. quantitative ecologist Dr. Matt Reiter will deliver a presentation on the Migratory Shorebird Project, a 10-year, multi-partner research project to help guide shorebird conservation in ten countries.
That evening, Ducks Unlimited will be hosting a dinner at 7 p.m., with raffles and auctions to follow.
The morning of May 3 from 8 to 11 a.m., Baluss is planning to demonstrate putting leg bands on hummingbirds to track their migratory flight. The location is yet to be announced, as organizers have had trouble finding an active feeder.
“Unfortunately, we haven’t seen many hummingbirds at feeders,” Delabrue explained. If all else fails, Baluss may demonstrate how to use a mist net to capture songbirds. Residents with a particularly active hummingbird feeder willing to volunteer their yard are invited to contact Delabrue at 874-7550.
At 1 p.m., bird watchers can meet at City Park to search for spring shorebirds at high tide using spotting scopes.
The festival will end at the Nolan Center, with a recital featuring Odile Meister’s violin students and Karen Morse’s piano students at 1:30 p.m., and the Spring Music Fest at 3 p.m. featuring a variety of local musicians covering a selection of genres.
Further information and schedule details can be found at the festival’s website: http://www.wrangell.com/birdingfestival.
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