Specialty tours include Columbia National Wildlife Refuge/Potholes, Missoula Floods and the Channeled Scablands geology, Sage Grouse Lek, Lower Grand Coulee and Wahluke Slope/Shrub Steppe birding. Pre-registration is suggested.

Teachers can earn clock hours for attending the lecture series that covers diverse topics of natural and cultural history. We offer 32 different talks during 6 hours plus Friday evening and at the banquet. Pre-registration is required to receive credit. Contact Amelia Boksenbaum for details at 509.488.2668 x17, or e-mail: Amelia_Boksenbaum@fws.gov

This year we will have three optional Saturdays in addition to the main event weekend. Visit www.othellosandhillcranefestival.org. for registration or general information questions.

Pilchuck Audubon Society and Futurewise will be hosting a citizen’s summit focused on uniting people and organizations interested in developing a proactive agenda for a Livable Snohomish County. The summit is Saturday, March 24 from 9-3pm in Everett with continental breakfast, lunch, and a reception following.

Space is limited for this invitation-only event, so we encourage citizens and organizations actively involved with land use and environmental issues in Snohomish County to contact me as soon as possible at kristin@futurewise.org. Puget Sound BirdFest

Visit the rain shadow of the Olympic Peninsula to discover the birds of the coastal Pacific Northwest. Guided field trips, a boat cruise in the Strait of Juan de Fuca and a banquet with our partner, the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe. Contact the Dungeness River Audubon Center 360.681.4076;, info@olympicbirdfest.org, or www.olympicbirdfest.org.

Keynote Speaker Friday evening will be award winning bird and wildlife photographer, Paul Bannick. The festival also features field trips, lectures, vendors and exhibitors and a Saturday Evening Banquet and Auction. For more information, contact Dianna Moore at dlmoor2@coastaccess.com or 800.303.8498.

With March here, May isn’t far behind. So? Birdathon, of course! Birdathon comes in May, and March isn’t too early to start planning this year’s participation.

A reminder: Birdathon is PAS’ largest fundraiser of the year. ‘Thoners ask family, friends, and co-workers to sponsor them. Then you go on the most exciting and meaningful birding trip of the year—any 24 hours in May. The 24 hours can be in one endurance trip or accumulated over two or more days. Alone in a group—novice and experienced birder alike can reap the benefits of this great program. All money raised goes toward PAS’ educational and conservation programs.

More details are available at program meetings, in future issues of the Profile, or by contacting Birdathon chair Hilkka Egtvedt at 425.347.4944 or chegtvedt@comcast.net. Become to be a ‘Thoner this year, you’ll be very glad you did!

To print the Birdathon Pledge Form click here: Birdathon Form

International Migratory Bird Day. This year’s event includes the On Wing Juried Art Show throughout the month of May at the Edmonds Conference Center (201 - 4th Ave N), culminating with an artists’ reception, on Friday evening, May 18th. Following the reception Paul Bannick, Seattle nature photographer, will give a presentation entitled “Wild Wings, A Photographic Celebration of Northwest Birds”.

On Saturday, May 19th, guided walks and field trips take advantage of birding opportunities in local parks, wildlife reserves, along the Puget Sound shoreline and at the Edmonds Marsh. Indoor activities take place at the Frances Anderson Center (700 Main St), including speakers on topics ranging from Birdwatching Basics and Identification of Common Backyard Birds, to Bird-Friendly Gardening, Bird Photography, Raptor Education, and Birds of Puget Sound. Many of the activities will appeal to children, including “The Migration Game” at the marsh. For more information, and a complete schedule of activities, visit our website at www.pugetsoundbirdfest.org.