The 24th Annual Leavenworth Spring Bird Fest is THIS weekend, and while many events are full, there are still some fantastic opportunities to get out into the field or get creative at the Wenatchee River Institute (WRI) this weekend. Thursday, May 14th - Bird & Hike Icicle Ridge (7:00AM–2:00PM): Join us for spectacular views, birds, and wildflowers.
-
Upper Basin Birders Field Survey (7:15AM–4:30PM)*: Monitor forest and wetland bird habitats in the scenic Lake Wenatchee and White River area.
- Multi-media Field Journaling (1:30PM–4:00PM): Join practiced journalers with years of experience to practice "in the field" basic journaling techniques with added flair.
Friday, May 15th - Habitat Bike and Hike (7:00AM–4:30PM)*: A great way to cover more ground and see diverse bird habitats in the valley.
-
Badger Mountain (7:00AM–4:00PM): This trip with Jenny Graevell will explore sagebrush-steppe, dry ponderosa pine forests and the native riparian areas found within these habitats.
- Let Birding Draw You to Nature with 2026 Spotlight Artist (12:00PM–2:30PM): Join Carleen Ormbrek Zimmerman in the classroom for an introduction to field sketching and nature journaling.
-
Bird Fest Happy Hour and Game Night (3:00PM–7:00PM): Open to everyone with no registration required, this free event is the perfect place to drop in anytime to meet fellow birders and friends, old and new. Play the Wingspan game or stay for bird trivia. See the full schedule in the link above.
Saturday, May 16th - Birding by Large Canoe (7:00AM–10:00AM)*: Canoe at the Confluence of the Wenatchee and Columbia River.
-
The Community Fair (10:00AM–3:00PM) is the heart of the festival for families and youth. Several workshops still have space:
|
|
|
|
Painting Mini Bird Figurines | $15
Saturday, May 16
Drop in between 9:00AM-12:00PM |
|
| Make & Take a Lego Bird | $10
Saturday, May 16
Drop in between 9:00AM-11:30AM |
|
| Owl Pellet Dissection | $10
Saturday, May 16
10:00AM-11:30AM |
|
|
|
-
Keynote Address with Neil Paprocki (7:00PM–8:30PM): Join us for 'Wings Over Washington: Tracking the Movements of Two Iconic Hawk Species.' In-person tickets are sold out; register for virtual tickets to watch at your convenience.
Sunday, May 17th
- Birding Horse Lake (6:30AM–11:30AM): Explore the beautiful shrub-steppe habitat and spring wildflowers.
- Accessible Entiat Waterfront (7:00AM–11:00AM): A low-impact, high-reward birding walk along the Columbia River.
-
The Big Sit at the Fish Hatchery (7:00AM–10:00AM): Perfect for those who prefer to let the birds come to them. Grab a chair and help tally the species spotted from one fixed location!
|
|
|
|
*Use special code Email20 to get $20 off the trips with the asterisk.
If you choose to cancel one trip to sign up for a newly opened spot on another, please keep in mind that our standard cancellation policy still applies. |
|
|
|
Community Fair
Saturday, May 16th 10:00AM-3:00PM |
A highlight of the festival season is back! We invite you to the Bird Fest Community Fair—a gathering for families, youth, and adults to celebrate birds, wildlife, and beautiful North Central Washington.
Continuing our tradition of an extended schedule, the fair remains open later into the afternoon so you can head over straight from your morning birding field trips. Enjoy a full afternoon of art and nature activities, guided walks, and live music from local musicians. With a wide variety of artists and vendors on-site, there is truly something for everyone to enjoy.
Activity Passport: Pick up a passport and collect stamps as you explore different booths and activities around the fair!
"For Kids by Kids" Birding Event: Join us at 12:30 PM for a special birding session led by young enthusiasts, for young enthusiasts.
Live Music & Art: Join us for live music with Eric Link from 12-3PM on the River Haus Lawn and participate in nature-themed art projects throughout the event. See the schedule to register for the workshops.
2026 Organizations & Partners
Connect with our community partners including the Wenatchee River Institute, NCW Audubon Society, WA Native Plant Society, Wenatchee Pride, CAFE Wenatchee, Mountain Sprouts, Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery, Save Our Wild Salmon, Wenatchee YMCA, and the Xerces Society.
2026 Vendors Browse and shop with ZTEK Impressions, Laurel Mundy Illustration, Swarovski Optik, Jacob McHenry Photography, Buddies Cafe Cart, and Franks Franks. |
|
|
|
Artist Spotlight: Carleen Ormbrek Zimmerman |
We are thrilled to feature Carleen Ormbrek Zimmerman as this year’s Bird Fest artist. A self-described "birder with a sketchbook," Carleen’s work captures the delicate intersection of avian life and the natural world with remarkable intimacy. Throughout the weekend, festival-goers have several ways to engage with her unique perspective. -
Friday, May 15th: Let Birding Draw You to Nature Workshop (12:00–2:30PM). Registration required.
- Saturday May 16th: Drawn to Nature: Learn to See with a Pencil Workshop (12:30–3:00PM). Registration required.
- Saturday May 16th: Meet and Greet with Carleen (3:30–4:30PM)
- Sunday May 17th: Meet and Greet with Carleen (10:00AM–1:00PM)
|
|
|
|
Founders' Award Recipients |
We're thrilled to announce the winners of this year’s Founders’ Award! Established to honor the incredible team that launched the very first Leavenworth Spring Bird Fest in 2003, this award recognizes the volunteers and partners who go above and beyond to connect people with birds and the natural world. Please join us in celebrating our 2026 recipients: |
|
|
|
Mark Johnston Individual Volunteer |
Mark Johnston is a dedicated conservationist and long-time leader within the North Central Washington Audubon Society (NCWAS), where he has served as the Conservation Chair and led numerous field trips. As a 2026 Founders' Award recipient, he is recognized for his decades of expertise and his tireless work in protecting regional bird habitats and mentoring the next generation of birders. |
|
| Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery Professional Category |
Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery is being honored for its long-standing role as a cornerstone of environmental education and habitat preservation in the valley. A dedicated partner since the festival's inception, the Hatchery provides the essential grounds and expertise that allow Bird Fest to offer inclusive, high-quality outdoor experiences for the entire community. |
|
|
|
Support from local businesses and organizations make Leavenworth Spring Bird Fest possible. Spot some of these sponsors around town displaying a gold Bird Fest flag! Places to Stay: Sleeping Lady Mountain Resort, Hotel Pension Anna, Obertal Inn, Leavenworth / Pine Village KOA, Blue Elk Inn, Cashmere Mountain B&B.
Places to Eat: Munchen Haus, South Restaurants, Ludwig's German Restaurant, Icicle Brewing Company, Colchuck's, Whistlepunk Ice Cream Co., Leavenworth Coffee & Waffles, and Lost Pig Cafe.
Places to Shop: Sage Mountain Natural Foods, Schocolat, and A Book for All Seasons. |
|
|
|
We have so many upcoming events and happenings that we simply can’t fit them all into one email. Check out the calendar or Bird Fest schedule! |
|
|
|
Movie Night: "Listers: A Glimpse Into Extreme Birdwatching" Thursday, May 14th 6:00PM-8:00PM |
Join us for a free screening of the funny and insightful YouTube documentary sensation. Two brothers learn about competitive birdwatching by becoming birdwatchers—spending a year living in a used minivan, traveling the country to compete in a ‘Big Year'.
Fowl and foul language and drug use in the film. |
|
| Science on Tap: Secret Life of Community Cats Tuesday, May 19th 7:00PM-8:00PM Wenatchee, WA |
Join BJ Andersen, Executive Director of the Wenatchee Valley Humane Society, for an insightful look into the science of community cat management. Moving beyond anecdotes, this presentation dives into the data supporting Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) as a humane and effective strategy for stabilizing local cat populations.
|
|
|
|
Community Plant Starts Swap Saturday, May 23rd 10:00AM-12:30PM |
Join WRI and the Cascade Garden Club for a free Community Plant Starts Swap. This event is welcome for all!
The E. Lorene Young Community Garden is located at the corner of Commercial St. and 12th St. in Leavenworth. If you have starts to swap, bring them and we will have tables set up for your plants. If you do not have starts, come on down to see what is available to take home! |
|
| Red Barn Event: "The Arctic: Our Last Great Wilderness" Film Screening (in-person ONLY!) Tuesday, June 2nd 7:00PM-8:30PM |
Experience the vast, untouched beauty of North America's wildest landscape through the first cinematic account of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Join us after the film for a discussion with local NCW Audubon Society members and naturalists. Having traveled through the Arctic personally, these speakers will share insights on the Coastal Plain and the vital need for its protection.
Film Access: Courtesy of Cosmic Pictures |
|
|
|
The energy at WRI is in full bloom! We are currently in "full swing" during these final weeks of our Spring Field Days, with students investigating local ecosystems and connecting with the land every day.
As the school year winds down, we are excited to transition into our Youth Summer Camps! It won’t be long before our campus is filled with a new season of outdoor adventure. Check the camps page to see the current list of camps with open spots. If the camp you are interested in is full, there’s a waitlist for each camp. From the calendar event, click the link to join the waitlist.
|
|
|
|
Grant Elementary School Wild Bird Program 3rd grade |
On April 28th and 29th, we were thrilled to host 84 third graders from Grant Elementary in Ephrata for our Wild Bird Field Day. These dedicated young naturalists traveled from afar, arriving early and staying through the end of the school day to fully immerse themselves in our spring youth programming. Throughout the event, students engaged in the high-energy "Migration Mayhem" game to understand the challenges of bird migration, practiced using binoculars to identify species, and guided their peers through bird-themed art projects. Their visit concluded with an adventurous bug hunt and a bird-watching trek along our riverfront trails, fostering a hands-on connection to the local ecosystem.
|
|
|
|
We partnered with the Cascadia Prescribed Burn Association for a Biochar Demonstration this past Friday, May 8th. We worked to process debris left over from the December storm at two locations: the Waterfront Park parking area (near Barn Beach) and by the ELY House (near the Community Garden).
|
|
|
|
Relive the magic of the 5th Annual Trashion Show at Wenatchee River Institute! See the 17 incredible upcycled masterpieces created by local teams and find out who took home the top prizes in our full event recap.
See more pictures in our Facebook album here. Article written by Hilary Meyerson, WRI Volunteer
Photos by Dave Masuda, WRI Volunteer |
|
|
|
Thank you to our donors from the last 2 weeks! |
|
|
|
Steve and Betsy Backstrom in honor of Arne Backstrom - Sustaining Gro Buer and Bruce Williams - Sustaining Christine Emmel - Sustaining Melissa Roe - Sustaining Julia Kast
Michael Karpinko and Lois Moore Howard Morris Diane and Herb Young - Sustaining
Orin and Lisa Melvin - Sustaining
Mandy Maxwell and Bill Riedel - Sustaining
Karen and Curt Haire - Sustaining
Lisa and Brian Koblenz - Sustaining Obertal Inn - Sustaining Connie Cogburn and Andy Day - Sustaining
Lexine Long and Nate Hough-Snee - Sustaining
Anne and Fran Hanchek Crunch Pak LLC
Hillary and Chris Clark - Sustaining
Annette Jouard and John Taylor - Sustaining Anonymous Donors |
|
| Lisi Ott - Sustaining Mark Weick and Carole Ann Borshard - Sustaining Stella Day Jim and Suzanne Ullrich in honor of Mark Oswood and Richard Scranton
Alana Springer and Brandon Hughes
Chuck and Candace Egner - Sustaining
David Stoller and Diane Patterson - Sustaining
Olga and Nathan Cox Kamuron Gurol - Sustaining
Kathleen Klaniecki Lisa and Jim Osse - Sustaining
Jill and Joel Martinez - Sustaining Connie McCauley
Charles Jinneman Peter Smytheman and Kate Evans
Paula and Steven Mikkelsen
Tim and Christine Walsh
Robes Parrish and Crissy Hill Michele McKay in memory of Ann Wheeler Jill LaRue and Tom Ettinger Suzann and Robert Lombard |
|
| |
Our Contact Information
*{{Organization Name}}*
*{{Organization Address}}*
*{{Organization Phone}}*
*{{Organization Website}}*
*{{Unsubscribe}}* |
|
| |
|
|
