SPECIAL EDITION E-NEWSLETTER:

Leavenworth Spring Bird Fest

May 19-22, 2022

20th annual Leavenworth Spring Bird Fest

WRI and North Central Washington Audubon Society (NCWAS) are excited to present the 20th annual Leavenworth Spring Bird Fest! Join us in celebrating the return of migratory birds and take part in birding field trips, workshops, art classes, family activities, and more!

Already registered? The Bird Fest schedule is a living document and more trips and events have been added since registration opened. Check back to see if there are any more events you'd like to take part in.

Some open field trips include: 

• Thursday, May 19th: Snow Birds
• Friday, May 20th: Birding Horse Lake Reserve
• Friday, May 20th: Local Habitat Restoration Projects Tour
• Friday, May 20th-Sunday May 22nd: Birding by River Raft
• Saturday, May 21st: Birds & Wine Leavenworth
• Saturday, May 21st: Neighborhood Bird Walk
• Sunday, May 22nd: Hike and Draw Mountain Home

Pre-Festival and Beginning Birder Trips

May 16th-22nd

This year, there will be FREE to LOW-COST field trips the week leading up to Bird Fest and throughout the weekend! These trips are designed for people new to birding, students, working people, locals, and even youth. Many trips will provide FREE loaner binoculars! These trips will be offered throughout the Wenatchee Valley. Beginning birder trips with space include:

• Monday, May 16th: Intro to Birding at Horan*
• Tuesday, May 17th: Intro to Birding at Horan
• Wednesday, May 18th: Wednesday Wakeup Bird Walk*
• Wednesday, May 18th: Birding Walla Walla Point Park with Wenatchee Valley College
• Thursday, May 19th: Intro to Birding at Porter's Pond (Morning)
• Friday, May 20th: Exploring the Entiat Waterfront
• Friday and Saturday, May 20th & 21st: Fish Hatchery Bird Walks
• Saturday, May 21st: Birding the Americas*

*= English and Spanish

Bird Fest Family Day

Saturday, May 21st

10:00AM-2:00PM

WRI Lawn

As Bird Fest is in full swing, take a break from the hustle and bustle and come meander and learn at Family Day! You can expect many fun activities for youth and families offered throughout the whole afternoon. It will be an opportunity to take part in art and nature activities, embark on a free guided nature walk, learn about local birds, and enjoy LIVE music from local musicians, Eric Link and Gavin McLaughlin!

Birders' BBQ

Saturday, May 21st

5:00PM-6:30PM

WRI Lawn

Join us to celebrate Bird Fest and enjoy a BBQ dinner. Socialize with your fellow birders before the Keynote Address begins and enjoy LIVE music with Corban Welter! Dinner from Cashmere's Country Boys BBQ will feature pulled pork, chicken, and assorted sides, with pie for dessert. It will cost $20 per person. Register by end of day TOMORROW, May 12th!

A Thousand Blended Notes: A Life of Birds and Poems

Saturday, May 21st

7:00PM-8:30PM

Hybrid Event

Join us in person in the WRI Red Barn or virtually via Zoom for the 2022 Bird Fest Keynote Address! Poet and birder, Derek Sheffield will give a presentation on the unique and ancient connection that exists between poets and birds. This talk will combine personal observations with more general ones and include poems by Sheffield in addition to those by other contemporary poets.

Sheffield is an acclaimed author, poet, naturalist, and professor at Wenatchee Valley College. A Book for All Seasons will be selling Sheffield's books at the event. NO registration is required for this FREE event!

Bird Fest Art Workshops & Opportunities

Bird Fest Workshops

Along with field trips and art classes, Bird Fest offers several workshops! Workshops require registration and cost $5 each. This year's workshops (and presentation) include:

• Chelan-Douglas Land Trust and Habitat Conservation 
  • Friday, May 20th from 2-3pm in the WRI Red Barn
• The World of Hummingbirds
  • Friday, May 20th from 4-5pm in the WRI Red Barn
• Bird Fest Evening Program: Malheur National Wildlife Refuge
  • Friday, May 20th from 6:30-8pm
  • Hybrid Event: in-person in the WRI Red Barn or livestream via Zoom
  • FREE and no registration needed.

Submit Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination

All Bird Fest field trip & workshop participants and leaders are required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. More detail can be found at the link below. The reason we do this is because the majority of Bird Fest events are led by volunteers. A vaccine requirement is what our volunteers have requested of us, so we are honoring their wishes. If you have registered for an event during Bird Fest, or plan on doing so, you can submit your verification by clicking the button below. 

Thank you for your cooperation!

Thank you, Bird Fest Sponsors!

Financial support from local businesses and organizations makes the Leavenworth Spring Bird Fest soar! You can spot Bird Fest Sponsors by finding a gold Bird Fest flag hung at their business or office. Please help us support these businesses!