Olympic BirdFest

The North Olympic Peninsula, a strip of coastlines and forests between million-acre Olympic National Park and the Strait of Juan de ****, is widely known as a great place for bird watching.

The April dates of Olympic BirdFest are timed to overlap wintering birds such as Harlequin and Long tailed ducks, songbirds, and seabirds with spring migration. Rufous hummingbirds arrive in this area from Mexico with the blooming of wild red-flowering currants in early April.

Field trips are planned for Sequim Bay, Port Angeles Harbor, Dungeness Bay, Ediz Hook, Dungeness Spit and the Elwha River, as well as trips through wooded areas and fields to view songbirds.

Two cruises around Protection Island National Wildlife Refuge are available on Sunday, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

In addition to the field trips, birders may participate in presentations, workshops and a banquet with a speaker and raffle.

Sequim is the ancestral home of the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe (a partner of the non-profit Dungeness River Nature Center). Their Tribal headquarters are at the head of Sequim Bay at Blyn. A tour explaining traditional Northwest Coast totemic art (totem poles, masks, and signage) at the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribal Center and their Seven Cedars Resort properties will also be offered.

Schedule of Events:

3:30 PM - 5:30 PM: Birdwatching is fun and cheap: Basics for you!

As a solitary pursuit, or with friends on a field trip, birdwatching hits all the marks for a great way to spend your time. To be successful all you need is curiosity, an inexpensive pair of binoculars and perhaps a field guide to help Identify what you are observing. If you are new to birding or want to see what it’s all about, then this is the class for you! Learn the basics in this “beginning birds” class and you’ll be ready to step out the door: where to look, how to look for small flickering movements, shapes, colors and habitat, strategies for identification, how to purchase and use binoculars, references, digital resources, and how to identify 20 common birds of the Pacific Northwest. Taught by Dungeness River Nature Center Director, Powell Jones.

Location: Dungeness River Nature Center - Rainshadow Hall

Price: $20.00

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Our Favorite Loon Stories

Speakers: Daniel Poleschook, Jr. and Virginia (“Ginger”) R. Poleschook

Daniel Poleschook, Jr. and Ginger Poleschook have been conducting research on Common Loons in the Pacific Northwest for 30 years.  They studied stressors of the species on the southwestern edge of its breeding range and have used their determinations to direct active conservation measures for a small, banded population in Washington.  Their applied conservation efforts, favorable natural and anthropogenic factors, and the great natural ability of Common Loons to persist and be successful have resulted in a steady population growth of the species in the region.  Daniel and Ginger conducted continual comprehensive surveys and coordinated banding in their research area in northeast Washington from 1995–2024 while being scientists for Biodiversity Research Institute (www.briwildlife.org).  They made positive identification of all Common Loon territorial adults and determined their longevity, productivity, and behavior over those years by acquiring photography and video using high-quality cameras and high-magnification telephoto lenses, while benefiting from having a substantial part of the territorial pairs and juveniles in Washington banded, to compile a robust demographic data set.

Rather than presenting a rigorous compilation of scientific results of their studies, as they have provided each year to biologists of state and federal wildlife agencies, their presentation will feature what they call “Our Favorite Loon Stories.”  You will learn about how Common Loons are very territorial, and yet they can be very social.  You will hear about incidents that demonstrate their very high intelligence and remarkable memory.  You will also learn of their incredible navigation success on their migration pathways across western North America, and about many other amazing capabilities.

Daniel and Ginger will also talk about the photographic equipment they have used to compile a collection of nearly two million loon and other waterbird images and discuss some of their image processing techniques.  Their loon and waterbird photography has been featured in four loon books, numerous scientific journals, in the production of their website LoonConservation.org and several other websites including MontanaLoons.org and OthelloSandhillCraneFestival.org!

Plan to join Daniel and Ginger for this highly educational and entertaining presentation.  It will be a very memorable event!

Location: Dungeness River Nature Center - Rainshadow Hall

Price: $20.00