Spring Festival : Celebrating Birds and Botany in the Methow Valley

June 1-3, 2012

Field trips, presentations, bird and plant field ID, poetry readings, live raptor demo, art projects and classes, games, activities for all ages, music, local food and more!

Only $5 for weekend of activities per person.  Food available for purchase.

Spring is a magical time to welcome our migratory birds back to the Northwest, and appreciate the new growth and blossoms of spring.  Celebrate the season with a weekend of festivities at the North Cascades Basecamp in Mazama, WA.  Birds and plants are the stars of the show as we explore their interactions and lives together. So get out your binoculars, loupes, and guide books and join in the weekend of activities!

Guest speakers and field trip leaders include: Dana Visalli (Naturalist and Educator), Joe Arnett (Program Manager for WA Natural Heritage Program), and Howard Ferguson (WDFW District Biologist Spokane); Scott Fitkin (WDFW District Biologist Okanogan), Steve Bondi (North Cascades Basecamp), Lisa Lindsay with Okanogan Wildlife League (OWL) and her live birds, John Adams (NW watercolorist), and volunteers from the North Central Washington Audubon Society and Washington Native Plant Society Okanogan Chapter.

Advanced registration required for Field Trips and Art Classes.  RSVP appreciated for evening presentations and dinners.  Call the North Cascades Basecamp at 996-2334;  or email info@northcascadesbasecamp.com

Weekend Schedule of Events:

Friday
5-6pm Lasagna Dinner
6:30-8pm  Presentation – “Adaptations of Birds and Plants” by Dana Visalli and Joe Arnett

Saturday
6-8am Early Birding Walk with Steve Bondi
8:30-11am Field Trips (advanced registration required):
-  Wildflower Walk led by Eric Burr
-  Interactions Between Plants and Birds led by Joe Arnett and Dana Visalli;
-  Birding by Ear and Recording Bird Songs – Victor Glick and Libby Shriner
11am – 4pm – Birding and botany activities, live birds, art projects, games and more
Noon – Tribute to Spring poetry readings ;  ‘Crown S Ranch’ BBQ or brown bag lunch
3-4:30pm – Live Raptor Demo – Okanogan Wildlife League
5-6pm Pizza Dinner
6:30-8pm  Presentation – “After Evolution: NW Birds and Their Habitats” by Howard Ferguson

Sunday
8-11am – Birding Field Trip led by Howard Ferguson and Scott Fitkin

Saturday & Sunday
10am – 4:00pmWatercolor Painting Birds and Their Habitats with John Adams$75/one day or $125 for both days

Lodging is available at the North Cascades Basecamp for the birding weekend.  Call Kim and Steve at 509/996-2334 or email at info@northcascadesbasecamp.com for more information.

This event is hosted by the North Cascades Basecamp, Okanogan Chapter of the Native Plant Society, Methow Biodiversity Project and the North Central Washington  Audubon Society.

Click HERE see photos of last year’s Spring Migration Festival with the Methow Valley Community School 3-4th graders.