The FlywaySpring 2020

Quarterly newsletter for Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually and Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuges

More Salt Marsh Mud Animals Means Healthy EstuariesBy Lynn Corliss Associate Professor of Oceanography and Environmental Science, South Puget Sound Community College

Take a shovel and dig into the mud in an estuary and you might be surprised at all the organ-isms that live there. On the surface of the mud there are microbes and plankton that were left behind from the last outgo-ing tide. You will also see layers of seaweed and algae on the mud. If you dig deeper, you will find many different types of worms, crustaceans and clams. Most of the worms you encoun-ter belong to the phylum Annelida. Annelida includes the subclass Oligo-chaeta which includes the common earthworm that you find in your garden and many other marine worms. You can identify different worm species by their worm castings or the pattern of how they get rid of their waste at the opening of their burrow. Common crustaceans that burrow in our estuaries are both the blue mud shrimp and pink ghost shrimp. These shrimp can have simple U shaped burrows in the winter or very complex burrows in the sum-mer months. These burrows provide homes for other commensal animals

such as pea crabs, scale worms and even clams. Sometimes when you are digging for these shrimp, you end up digging up clams as well. There are so

many different species of clams or bivalves in Puget Sound. Some of the more common ones that you will come across are the purple varnish clams, little neck clams, and the non-native ma-nila clam. All of these macro-invertebrates are filter feeders that play an important role between the plankton that feed on nutrients from our estuaries and the larger organisms that we eat.

So, why do benthos or organisms that live

on the bottom of Puget Sound matter? Worms are excellent at bioturbation or the recycling of nutrients. They bring oxygen down into low oxygen, anoxic sediment, and create organic matter from their waste. Their waste is food for plankton and microbes. Mud shrimp and ghost shrimp also cycle oxygen down into their burrows as they move their tails and create a current. These shrimp also provide homes for many species and food for some our favorite commercial fish in Puget Sound. One of the most important seafood indus-tries in Puget Sound is our Shellfish

The 2020 Grays Harbor Shorebird and Nature Festival will be held April 24-26 in Hoquiam

Continued on page 8

ContentsSalt Marsh Mud Animals ............... 1

The Brown-headed Cowbird: ............... 2

Scientist in the Classroom ...... 3

Poem, “Little visitors” ...... 3

Spring Guided Walks and Weekend Programs .............. 4

Fostering a Visual Connection with Nature .................. 6

Yellow Flag Iris ..... 7

Grays Harbor Shorebird and Nature Festival ...... 8

Top: Manila Clams. Photo by Jenny Woodman. Below: Ghost shrimp. Photo from Friends of Netarts Bay Watershed.

2 The Flyway

Published quarterly by the Friends of Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge Complex. Phone: 360.753.9467 Fax: 360.534.9302 www.fws.gov/refuge/billy_frank_jr_nisquallywww.fws.gov/refuge/grays_harbor Volume 12, Number 1 Editor: Susie Hayes Editorial Advisors: Jennifer Cutillo, David True

Graphic design: Lee Miller

Save trees, think green.

To receive The Flyway electronically, email nisqually@fws.gov

The Brown-headed Cowbird: A Recent Resident from the Great PlainsBy David True

As springtime comes charging past winter, the woods and thickets around the Norm Dicks Visitor Center start to come alive with the voices of birdsong. It is not uncommon to hear the odd whistling “per-pree” sound of the Brown-headed Cowbird as the male sings his odd song on top of a small tree. Just as often, the cowbirds may make a harsh rattle as they fly past the trees to open fields where they may gather for feeding, often near agri-cultural areas where livestock can be found. For anyone who may have observed or heard this species, this may not be considered a joyous sound of spring. Cowbirds have a notorious reputation for a number of reasons, particularly for their role of laying their eggs in the nests of other birds (also known as brood parasitism), and they can sometimes be a pest around farmlands. Yet this subtly beautiful bird has a fascinating biology, and this aspect of their lives is worth presenting on how this species has learned to survive and succeed.

Cowbirds are believed to have been originally a Great Plains species, a bird that was adapted to following large herds of grazing mammals, particularly bison. As

the large mammals walked, in their wake the grassland was disturbed for the Cowbirds to feed on seeds and insects. Since the large grazing animals would rarely settle down in one area long enough for the cowbird to raise a family in a nest, the bird adapted to laying its eggs in the nests of other birds. Fledgling cowbirds grow fast and large, and often they can outcompete

the other young birds that may be in the nest. Some fledgling cowbirds may even roll the egg of a sibling out of nest that it is in! An occasional host songbird may learn to recognize the egg of a cowbird in their nest and knock the egg out or even build a new nest around it. But enough young cowbirds endure to keep the species thriving throughout the seasons.

As mankind altered the Great Plains for agri-

culture and most of the large grazing mammals were eliminated, the new farms and open areas around the country were perfect opportunities for the cowbird to exploit. The birds moved east and west throughout North America utilizing livestock in place of bison and finding the open woodlands and agricultural areas per-fect for their lifestyles. It’s likely that cowbirds arrived in eastern Washington in the late 1800’s. They became common in the Puget Sound areas more recently in the mid-20th century.

Another interesting fact about cowbirds is how they learn their songs, since these birds are not raised by members of their own species. Many songbirds are believed to learn their songs somewhat from watching and listening to the songs of their own species as they go from fledglings to adults, but not the cowbird. Ap-parently they don’t need to learn their songs from their own species, and this has puzzled scientists on how this species can innately learn its song.

The Brown-headed Cowbird may not be a favorite with many, but nevertheless you have to marvel at how it has learned to persist in our world. Watching the fields near the Twin Barns may give you the opportunity to find these unique survivalists.

Cowbird photo by David True.

3Spring 2020

Scientist in the Classroom: Bringing the Refuge into Local ClassroomsBy Davy Clark

Many visitors to the Refuge know that this is a popular destination for local schools dur-ing the spring. Groups of students excitedly explore Refuge trails with our volunteers who are passionate about sharing nature with children. During these special outdoor learning experiences memories are formed that will last a lifetime: baby Wood Ducks leaping from a nest box, a Great Horned Owl whipping its head around and flashing its golden eyes, a Rufous Hummingbird feeding its young in that almost-impossible-to-find nest. These are just a few of the moments that can help young people form new and often powerful connections with nature. In the words of Rachel Carson “It is not half so important to know as it is to feel. If facts are the seeds that later produce knowledge and wisdom then the emotions and the impressions of the senses are the fertile soil in which the seeds must grow”.

Even in the coldest months of winter, when few schools plan a trip to the Refuge, our team of educators are hard at work bringing the wonders of the Refuge into local classrooms. This year we began a pilot program called “Scientist in the Classroom”, which involved visiting seven second grade classrooms four times each. During these visits students explored the wonders of local birds, frogs, insects, and the importance of habitat to all wildlife.

Our first classroom visit introduced students to how special National Wildlife Refuges are, and how they are a place where wildlife comes first. They carefully observed taxidermy bird mounts that we brought into their classroom. The Northern Pygmy Owl, Northern Flicker, and Mallard were among their favorites. We challenged the students to identify these birds using field guides, and they quickly proved themselves to be keen birders! We were so impressed by how care-fully students took time to notice the size, shape, and unique field markings of each bird. At the end of the

lesson we listened to bird calls and songs. As we played the “who-cooks-for-youuuuu” hoot of the Barred Owl and the pops and clicks of the Hooded Merganser, the classroom would erupt with joy and laughter at each recorded bird sound.

For our second visit we collected live underwater insects and other creatures found in the freshwater wetlands on the Refuge and brought them into the classroom. Coming back to one school, a student came

into their classroom, saw that we had returned for another lesson, and shouted, “Yes! We get to do SCIENCE today!” Building these positive associations with science learning is a big goal of what we do. During this lesson students enjoyed catching and viewing insects using spoons, pi-pettes, and microscopes. Screams erupted as they caught a glimpse of dragonfly nymphs dart-ing through the water magnified 40 times their normal size. One student

caught a damselfly larva in a spoon and squinted as they carefully brought it near their eyes. “So gross!” and all the while smiling and leaning in for a closer look. We deduced that day that things can be cool and gross at the same time.

Little visitors at the refuge with the BIG namepink painted butterflies on pale green bootscardboard binoculars, hanging from yarnmittened hands, soggy hatsplastic raincoats

four-year-olds, at play in the rain

more interested in kicking the puddles than the heron on the branchmore interested in stomping the puddles than two eagles in the treemore interested in jumping in the puddles than geese flying high

they loved the rainthey loved the Refugeand went home wet

—Helen Henry

Continued on page 5

Classroom Scientist. photo by North Thurston Public Schools.

4 The Flyway

AprilSunday, April 5th Raptors of the Delta1:00 pm – 2:00 pmThe Peregrine Falcon, the Bald Eagle, the Northern Harrier, and the Great Horned Owl are amazing rap-tors found on the delta. Each story of these amazing birds has a story to tell. Experienced birder and Refuge volunteer Richard Cormier will reveal unique aspects of a raptor’s journey through life in this short, illustrated program. Meet in the Visitor Center auditorium.

Saturday, April 11th Birds of a Feather: Take Flight on a Bird Walk8:30 am – 12:00 pm Experience the thrill of seeing Peregrine Falcon (the world’s fastest bird) or hearing a woodpecker pecking away (up to 20 pecks per second)! Join experienced birder and Refuge volunteer David Richardson for a guided walk full of sights and sounds of one of the Ref-uge’s largest treasures—the birds! Meet at the landing overlooking the pond at the Visitor Center.

Saturday, April 18th Beaver at Work11:00 am – 12:00 pmBeavers are one of the few animals besides man that can change their environment. Beaver are mostly noc-turnal but at Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge the signs of beaver are common, even if the animal is not easy to observe. Join Refuge volunteer Mark Hunter to learn and watch for the signs of beaver activity and learn how beaver can affect all the other species in an area, including mankind.

Sunday, April 19th The Nisqually and Medicine Creek: Where Nature, Culture and History Converge1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Learn about the events surrounding the signing of the Medicine Creek Treaty; explore how the Nisqually people came to the Nisqually delta and how their lives changed with the settlement of Europeans. Refuge vol-unteer Lynn Corliss leads you down history’s winding path, where you will discover important things about the people who enjoyed this land before you did.

Sunday, April 26th Pollen Love with Pollinators 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Do you love insects, birds and bats? So do we! Come explore the Refuge with Refuge volunteer Amanda Higgs to try to learn about pollination from the perspec-tive of a pollinator. This program will include a thirty minute guided walk to discuss the importance of vari-ous pollinators for flowering plants. We will also dis-cuss the benefits of pollinator conservation and things we can do to protect these vital species.

MaySunday, May 3rd The Nisqually and Medicine Creek: Where Nature, Culture and History Converge1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Learn about the events surrounding the signing of the Medicine Creek Treaty; explore how the Nisqually people came to the Nisqually delta and how their lives changed with the settlement of Europeans. Refuge vol-unteer Lynn Corliss leads you down history’s winding path, where you will discover important things about the people who enjoyed this land before you did.

Spring Guided Walks and Weekend ProgramsSpring is here and with it, spring interpretive programs have begun at the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge. There are no additional fees for participating in a program, only the cost of admission to the Refuge.

Also keep a look out for our Critter Cart, which will be brought outside when volunteers are available. You’ll find animal skins, skull and egg replicas, and pictures. Come out and learn more about the world around you at Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge.

Note: All programs will begin next to the flagpole unless otherwise noted in the program description.

5Spring 2020

Saturday, May 9th A River Runs Through It1:00 pm – 2:00 pmDo you know that the Nisqually River is the only river in the United States that begins in a National Park and ends in a National Wildlife Refuge? Join Refuge volun-teers Amanda Higgs and Vic Merolla on a stroll along the Nisqually River as they interpret natural history along our beautiful river.

Saturday, May 16th How the Delta Was Formed11:00 pm – 12:00 pm Join Refuge volunteer Mark Hunter for this interesting presentation on the natural history of our Nisqually Delta and how it has changed over time. This program will include a short walk along with an inside talk as well.

Saturday, May 23rd Pollen Love with Pollinators 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Do you love insects, birds and bats? So do we! Come explore the Refuge with Refuge volunteer Amanda Higgs to try to learn about pollination from the perspec-tive of a pollinator. This program will include a thirty minute guided walk to discuss the importance of vari-ous pollinators for flowering plants. We will also discuss the benefits of pollinator conservation and things we can do to protect these vital species.

Sunday, May 31st Home Sweet Home11:00 am – 12:00 pm Enjoy a short walk through the various habitats of the Refuge with Refuge volunteer Sue Stone, exploring all there is to see! Along the way, hear some tales of the Squalli Absch natives, farmer Brown, and the events surrounding the Medicine Creek Treaty.

June Sunday, June 14th The Nisqually and Medicine Creek: Where Nature, Culture and History Converge1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Learn about the events surrounding the signing of the Medicine Creek Treaty; explore how the Nisqually people came to the Nisqually delta and how their lives changed with the settlement of Europeans. Refuge vol-unteer Lynn Corliss leads you down history’s winding path, where you will discover important things about the people who enjoyed this land before you did.

Sunday, June 28th Raptors of the Delta1:00 pm – 2:00 pmThe Peregrine Falcon, the Bald Eagle, the Northern Harrier, and the Great Horned Owl are amazing rap-tors found on the delta. Each story of these amazing birds has a story to tell. Experienced birder and Refuge volunteer Richard Cormier will reveal unique aspects of a raptor’s journey through life in this short, illustrated program. Meet in the Visitor Center auditorium.

For our third visit students worked in groups as teams of highly specialized scientists to become an expert in a local habitat. Some students took on the role of ornithologists, others entomologists, herpetologists, or botanists. Each group explored boxes filled with items from one particular habitat. For example, our “Ripar-ian Forest” box included field guides, a North American Beaver skull, an American Robin nest, a Red-breasted Sapsucker wing, and a model frog. Students researched their habitat learning about all the plants and animals that lived there and how they are interconnected.

For our final visit we decided to have our culminating activity be a celebration of wildlife through art. We asked students how art can help scientists learn about the world. Some of their responses included:

“When you draw things it makes you look at them more closely.”

Scientist in the ClassroomFrom page 3

“If you draw an animal you’ll remember it forever, that way you don’t have to take it from its habitat.”

“Drawings help you show other people what you saw.”

Students then learned about native amphibians like the Pacific Chorus Frog and Long-toed Salamander. Each student carefully drew a native amphibian species of their choice. Many of their drawings will be entered into the Nisqually Watershed Festival Poster Contest. Every entry will be on display at the Refuge at the next Nisqually Watershed Festival, held on the last Saturday of September, so be sure to stop by and check out these works of art!

Our “Scientist in the Classroom” program is new, and we look forward continuing to visit second grade class-rooms in future years. We will grow this special oppor-tunity for the wonders of the Refuge to find their way into classrooms.

6 The Flyway

Putting the Field Guide Down: Fostering a Visual Connection with NatureBy Grace Demeo

Students are asked both in the Grays Harbor Education Program and in the Scientist in the Classroom program a deceptively simple question: how can art help scientists? Most students come to the conclusion that art helps a sci-entist slow down and notice details. Particularly clever stu-dents note that art can help scientists monitor changes in the environment or help scientists learn identification markings and skills. Develop-ing an appreciation for the visual aspects of nature can help foster a connection with nature that is unique from other forms of nature appreciation. In simpler terms: interesting sights create inter-esting memories.

I am both an environmental edu-cator and a freelance visual artist. While I find joy in scientifically categorizing species and tracking coveted birds to check off my list, most of my nature walks consist of looking for visually intriguing scenes. I leave my binoculars behind and explore the world of nature using an artist’s lens.

ColorThe bright petals of a red-flower-ing currant in spring. A rainbow lurking in the iridescent feath-ers of a Bufflehead. The gentle white blanket of snow resting on dark-colored branches. Looking for evocative colors outside is one of the simplest joys on a nature walk, and arises at a very early age. One of my favorite memo-ries during a preschool field trip was watching one student point at leaves and jubilantly yell, “GREEN!” It did not matter to them that the plant was a snow-berry bush or that the leaves provide shelter for winter-ing song sparrows; the leaves were green!

Next time you are on a walk in nature, consider what colors are around you. Which ones do you like? Why do certain colors hold memories for you? Have any of the colors changed since you were last there?

ShapesStudents, like many adults, get frus-trated by the fear of the blank page. Being asked to draw or describe an entire great horned owl brings to mind a phrase we have all said at some point: “It’s too hard, I’m not an artist.” When students pose this frustration, I ask them to look more closely at what they are trying to capture. While we look closely at a single talon on the bird’s foot, we notice that it is shaped like a crescent moon. Then I ask if they feel up to the challenge of draw-ing a crescent moon. We track down more shapes, and draw the bird one shape at a time.

The hunt for shapes is a delightful chase through the outdoors. Photog-raphers often speak of the miracle moment when birds are perfectly “framed” on a branch. During the winter time I love looking for “borbs”- birds that have puffed up to the point that they are a perfectly round orb.

Pick a shape next time you are outside and see if you can find it in nature. Can you find it in more than one place? Does it appear anywhere you don’t expect?

Pattern A pattern is the reassuring idea that there is something regular or not random in nature. Patterns can be mesmerizing; following sedge’s zig-zagging motion can lead to discovery at its base. Ripples in a pond are clues to a hunt for the creature that made them. Visual patterns can be just as valuable as chronological patterns. Seeing a flower emerge from the same tree as last year brings a reas-

surance that spring will continue to come.

Next time you are outside, consider what patterns are there to hypnotize you. How long can you follow a rip-

7Spring 2020

ple in the water until it disappears? Do the shadows of leaves make patterns as you walk? What small patterns are there? What big patterns?

ImaginationWhen walking in the woods with her nephew, Rachel Carson would point at baby trees and together they would decide which trees would make excellent Christmas trees for squirrels. Without identify-ing the trees or the squirrel, they would use their visual imagination to create memories in nature. Using your visual imagination can lead to new discoveries and theories, re-gardless of if they are correct or not.

At the Refuge, there is an enormous dead maple tree with a gaping hole in the center of the trunk. One of our volunteers says every time she sees it, that there must be a portal to another world in it. As soon as she told me this, I wanted to jump through the

jagged cut just to find out!

Set down your begrudging reason and give way to wonder next time you are in nature. What creatures are hiding just be-yond the tree line? What epic battles are taking place underwater?

The best part about looking for a visual connection with nature is that nature is always changing. One day the pond might be full of ripples, and another day it might be full of bubbles. We challenge our students in our education program to see “one brand new thing” every time they go outside, because we know that na-ture is in a constant state of flux. See what colors, patterns, shapes and

imaginary scenes evoke joy and wonder for you.

All photos by John Whitehead

Yellow Flag Iris: A beautiful MenaceBy: Ryan Munes

Removing invasive species is an important step to man-aging habitat for wildlife. Plants brought to new places by people sometimes are so wildly successful that they outcompete the native spe-cies. These super-successful plants actually reduce the quality of habitat by de-creasing diversity, threaten-ing important food sources, and taking up important (and sometimes scarce) nutrients. With the help of our Washington Conserva-tion Corps Crew and many dedicated volunteers the Refuge has made progress along the Black River Unit south of Olympia in slow-ing the spread of one such plant: Yellow Flag Iris. This aquatic perennial plant has long thin leaves that are similar to cattail with distinc-tive yellow flowers and large seed pods reminiscent of giant snap peas.

The Refuge manages property along the Black River as part of the Black River Unit of Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge Complex. Removal of this species there is labor intensive and often just getting to the plant is

nearly impossible from land. Instead of walking in on foot, removal of Yellow Flag Iris often involves floating in by canoe to cut stalks, flowers, and seed pods. We estimate that through the efforts of our hard-working Washington Conservation Corps Crew members and volunteers that the following was ac-complished in 2019 over nine days:

• 21,000 pounds of Yellow Flag Iris shoots were removed

• 10,000 individual Yellow Flag Iris stalks were removed

• 125,000 Yellow Flag Iris seed pods were removed

• 12,600,000 Yellow Flag Iris seeds were removed and will not be able to dis-perse along the Black RiverThis is one step to managing a unique river system and ensuring that vital habitat will be available for the wildlife whose lives depend upon it. In the years to come there will be a continued effort to remove invasive species and increase the quality of habitat along the Black River.

A Washington Conservation Corps Crew member enjoys removing Yellow Flag Iris, by USFWS

8 The Flyway

25th Annual Grays Harbor Shorebird and Nature FestivalCelebrating the natural world and the spring shorebird migration

From the MudFrom page 1

industry. Shellfish have contributed over $184 million in economic benefits to the State of Washington in recent years (WA Shellfish Initiative, 2016). Shellfish are important to the economy and the environment. One oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water in one day. The more shellfish, the cleaner our water is.

Toxic storm water runoff is one of the biggest threats to water quality of Puget Sound. Much of those toxins that end up in our waters come from our daily activities. When we drive our cars we produce Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) from our car exhaust. PAHs are persistent organic compounds that bioaccumulate or magnify through the food chain. When we use herbi-cides we are producing carcinogenic chemicals. When we do not pick our pet waste we are producing patho-gens or bacteria that can run into our waterways. By allowing these chemicals to runoff in our waters we are not only harming aquatic animals but ourselves. All of these activities are amplified in an urban environment where ninety percent of the surface can be impervious. Studies have shown that Coho salmon can die in as little as three hours when coming in contact with urban run-off. One solution is to make sure that these toxins do not make it into our waterways in the first place. Having buf-fers of vegetation that absorbs the runoff before it gets into our rivers can make a huge difference. Also having

some type of filtration system with gravel, straw bales, or sand can filter out large volumes of toxins. All of these methods can help create cleaner water and healthy sedi-ment for estuarine organisms.

All of the benthic organisms are indicators of how healthy Puget Sound is. The more biodiversity of macro-invertebrates (worms, crustaceans and bivalves) the better off we all are. If we have healthy sediment, then we have a healthy invertebrates and more commercial fish. It all comes down to the mud in the estuaries and what we do on a daily basis to our land and our lawns. Using a weed eater instead of herbicides, washing your car on your lawn instead of in the road, riding your bike or walking instead of driving your car, and picking up your dog waste can move us in the right direction for a healthier Puget Sound. What goes down your drain does matter. Toxic chemicals and pharmaceutical drugs should not go down the drain (see enclosed link for proper disposal). These small invertebrates that live in our estuaries and future generations are depending on all of us!

Department of Ecology State of Washington. (n.d.) Toxics and Waste. Household Waste and Toxics. Find a House-hold Hazardous Waste Disposal Site.

https://ecology.wa.gov/Waste-Toxics/Community-waste-toxics/Household-hazardous-waste-MRW/Find-a-household-hazardous-waste-site

Each spring, hundreds of thousands of shorebirds stop to rest and feed along the Washington Coast and the Grays Harbor estuary during their migration north-ward. Coming from as far south as Argentina, these Arctic bound shorebirds are among the world’s greatest migrants. Some birds travel over 15,000 miles round trip! The concentration of birds during spring migration offers people a great chance to view a number of shore-bird species. With luck you will also see the birds fly together in beautiful formations while trying to escape a hungry Peregrine Falcon. Shorebirds, the name given to the group of birds usually found along the shoreline include: plovers, turnstones, sandpipers, dowitchers, and others. Some shorebirds can be found in Grays Har-

bor County all year, others only during their migration. A good way to start learning the common shorebirds is to attend the Festival’s free shorebird identification class. The shorebird spectacle happens every year at Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge and in other parts of the county. People from around the world come to view this event of hemispheric importance. The Fes-tival works to bring people together for this incredible natural phenomenon. All proceeds from the Shorebird and Nature Festival help fund the Shorebird Education Program, which is free to participating schools. The dates for this year’s Shorebird and Nature Festival are April 24th–26th. See back page for additional information for this our 25th annual festival.

9Spring 2020

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Friends of Nisqually NWR Complex

is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established

in 1998 to promote conservation of the natural

and cultural resources and fund educational and

outreach programs at Nisqually National

Wildlife Refuge Complex.

Friends of Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge100 Brown Farm RoadOlympia WA 98516

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PAID Olympia WA Permit #206

... conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people...

25th Annual Grays Harbor Shorebird & Nature Festival April 24-26, 2020

• Keynote Speaker Gerrit Vyn, “The Global Life of Birds”

Friday at 7:30pm• Annual Fundraising Dinner

Speaker Barb Ogaard, “Tales from a Bat Cave”

Saturday at 5:30 pm (Advanced tickets required)

“Lone Bird on an Early Flight” by Ezri Carroll, Grade 6, St. Mary School, 2019 Best of Show, GHSNF Poster Contest.

For more, visit our website www.shorebirdfestival.com

and download the 2020 Festival Brochure to find a full list of events,

or call: 360-289-5048