Wings Over Willapa Festival

The Friends of Willapa National Wildlife Refuge and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are hosting the 5th annual Wings Over Willapa event.  This multi-day bird and art festival runs from Sept. 22-24, 2023, and is centered on Washington’s Long Beach Peninsula. Wings Over Willapa is both a great introduction to birding and an ideal way for advanced birders to experience fall migration in this spectacular region. 

Nature based events include guided bird walks, a barge trip to Long Island to walk through an old-growth cedar grove, a hands-on introduction to wildlife tracking, and 4×4 excursions to Leadbetter Point.  Art events may include pottery, ceramics, and needle felting. 

The keynote presentation is The Owl and the Woodpecker by Paul Bannick https://paulbannick.com/. Paul is an award-winning author and wildlife photographer specializing in the natural history of North America with a focus on birds and habitat. Coupling his love of the outdoors with his skill as a photographer, he creates images that foster the intimacy between viewer and subject, inspiring education and conservation. 

Registration is available here in early summer: https://friendsofwillapanationalwildliferefuge.wildapricot.org/Events