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Join Jack Stephens to bird some short trails at the Willow Creek Fish Hatchery and the Wildlife Habitat & Native Plant Demonstration Garden, and a short walk uphill to a paved path for a good view of the marsh from the south and a couple of ponds. The Edmonds marsh also has level paved walkways and boardwalk. We will drive between the marsh and the hatchery/garden area to avoid walking along highway 104. Less than two miles. Playback might be used sparingly by walk leader. Bring binoculars.

Register here (FULL, add your name to the waitlist)

The urban forest and wetlands of this 22-acre park provide habitat for a variety of wildlife, including waterfowl, wading birds and songbirds. May include excursions to adjacent small parks. Led by Jeff and Eileen Hambleton, this walk will focus on building essential skills for beginners. Bring binoculars if you have them. (We won’t have any loaners available this year). Easy level trails and boardwalk, may cross urban streets with crosswalks to explore two additional parks, less than two miles. No “pishing” or playback of vocalizations will be used to attract birds.

Register here (FULL, add your name to the waitlist)

Join Joe Sweeney for 2-3 leisurely paced miles, including some hills and steps. We will first walk the main paths and steps in this very scenic park. Then, we’ll return to our cars, grab our spotting scopes, and walk the short distance to the beach for some seabird watching overlooking the Puget Sound. The weather is usually cooler on the beach, so wear layers and rain gear, if necessary. Bring binoculars, of course, and a scope, if you have one. However, a pair of binoculars is all you need to enjoy the walk. Over by 9:30 a.m. Playback will not be used.

Register here (FULL, add your name to the waitlist)

Join Bruce Bohmke for this walk in an undeveloped, forested county park located within Edmonds. The trails include a wider, relatively level path and some narrower trails that include some short elevation changes which can be muddy if it has rained. Will include crossing the street that bisects the park. “Pishing” or playback may be used by the walk leader. Total walking likely less than 1.5 miles.

Edmonds Marsh, 180 W Dayton St in Edmonds

Location: Frances Anderson Center gymnasium

Browse the informational booths, kid’s activities, and local artists and merchants!

Location: Edmonds Plaza Room

Registration is not required, but space is limited so please arrive early to get a seat. Doors open at 10 am.

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From a quick review and discussion on the remarkable family of crows that thrive in our community I will select some remarkable examples of how birds use the niche of time to carry out life sustaining activities - the focus of my latest collaborative book with Mark Hauber entitled: Bird Day published by The University of Chicago Press.

Advance copies of Bird Day will be available for purchase and signing along with my previous book: House of Owls, winner of the 2015 National Outdoor Book Award.

Location: Edmonds Plaza Room

Ingela Wanerstrand is the Owner of Green Darner Garden Design. She is a horticulture instructor at Edmonds College, an expert on pollinators and landscaping with native plants for people and wildlife.

Donald Norman is the owner of Go Natives! Nursery and also on the board of Puget Sound Bird Observatory.

Their talk, "Right Plant Right Bird" will discuss recent studies on birds and native plants, as well as important grounds management taken from the work of Doug Tallamy and others. The talk will be presented in an enjoyable banter but full of great stories about making your backyard more bird friendly with native plants.

Location: Edmonds Plaza Room

Although Washington is blessed with a rich community of breeding and wintering seabirds, relatively little is known about the ecology and conservation status of many of the species, particularly the burrow-nesters. This relative lack of knowledge extends to iconic species such as the Tufted Puffin, a species listed as Endangered by Washington State. Moving between islands, seascapes and species of the waters of Washington, Peter Hodum, Ph.D., shares stories about a collaborative research program focused on improving our understanding of the ecology and conservation status of species such as the Tufted Puffin, Rhinoceros Auklet, Marbled Murrelet and Leach’s and Fork-tailed Storm-Petrels.

Dr. Hodum is a professor in the Biology Department and the Environmental Policy and Decision-Making Program at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington and the Chile Program Director for Oikonos Ecosystem Knowledge, a conservation nonprofit organization. His research focuses primarily on the conservation and ecology of threatened seabirds and island ecosystems in Chile and Washington State. His work also has a strong focus on community-based conservation, including how communities can be more effectively and authentically involved in conservation.

Location: Edmonds Plaza Room

All the wonderful features of Turkey Vultures and the benefits of having them in our world. They are Natures’s clean up crew. Join us to learn all about the life styles and important facts in the biology of these important raptors. Meet Aura, our non-releasable member of Sarvey’s educational team.

Barbara Ogaard is a naturalist and board member at Sarvey Wildlife Care Center and Bats Northwest.

Register here (FULL, add your name to the waitlist)

Do you want bird images that stand out, show compelling bird behaviors or unique perspectives? Would you like to be able to take images of birds that evoke emotion and distinct bird characteristics? If you are looking to take your images a step further to stand out and reflect the interesting things you see when you are watching them, this workshop will give you ideas and skills to do this. We will examine some of the following questions:

• How do you overcome the challenges of bird photography?

• How do you allow birds to be comfortable enough for you to get unique images?

• How do you learn to see differently?

Join Ann Pultz Kramer, award-winning bird and wildlife photographer, for a one day workshop to introduce you to the exploration of capturing the images you see in your mind. We will spend the day at Montlake Fill at Union Bay in Seattle. Ann has been honored for her work in Audubon National Plants for Birds contest, North American Nature Photographers Association annual contest, Share the View national contest and placed Best in Show in her local camera club competitions. She is a supporter of ethical bird photography and practices ethical field practices.

Register here (FULL, add your name to the waitlist)

Centennial Trail in Snohomish County is built on the old Burlington-Northern railroad line. We’ll look and listen for the birds who live here year-round, such as Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Bewick’s Wren, American Robin, Dark-eyed Junco, Black-capped Chickadees, Yellow-rumped Warbler, American Goldfinch, Cedar Waxwing. Neither “pishing” nor playing recordings will be used. This leisurely walk, led by Whitney Neufeld-Kaiser and Elaine Chuang, will be from the Getchell Road access point to Lake Cassidy and back, which is 3.5 miles round trip. The trail is 10 feet wide and graveled, with benches along the way and no change in elevation. A porta-potty is available in the parking lot. The 11am end time is approximate.

Register here (FULL, add your name to the waitlist)

Join Bev Bowe for a guided birding walk along the service road and paved path of Yost Park. Much of the service road is paved, and the remainder is usually hard packed. While not entirely level, the slope is short from the parking lot to the main portion of the service road. Birding from the service road allows some viewing into the mid canopy and even the top of some trees of the ravine. Yost Park provides habitat for numerous species of resident and migratory birds including Cooper’s Hawks, Pileated Woodpeckers, Chickadees, Pacific Wrens, and a variety of other forest birds. While there are no benches, we plan to be no further than 0.25 miles from the cars. Option to bird a little farther on a gently sloping dirt trail near the end of the service road.

Register here (FULL, add your name to the waitlist)

Join Jack Stephens to explore the Edmonds waterfront. While we won’t have the seabird diversity of the winter months, the Edmonds waterfront can sometimes offer close views of some birds such as Marbled Murrelet or Rhinoceros Auklet. In addition, Edmonds can have hundreds of Heerman’s gulls around the breakwater who arrive after breeding season before they depart for their wintering grounds. Most of the walk will be on paved paths or a fishing pier, there may also be minimal walking on sand.

Register here (FULL, add your name to the waitlist)

Join Roniq Bartanen to explore the Union Bay Natural Area, nicknamed "The Fill" - Seattle's former garbage dump. 260 bird species have been reported at this urban birding hot spot. We’ll spend time exploring this unique area rich in bird and wildlife. Tips for identifying birds will be included but our main focus will be on a more mindful birding practice which includes observing native habitat, bird song and behavior. Any age and level of birding experience welcome! Dress for weather and wear appropriate shoes. A hat/sunscreen is recommended as much of the area is out in the sun (shade spots will be sought out when available). Trails are mostly flat, packed dirt and gravel and can be seasonally muddy and wet. Please leave dogs at home as they may scare off our feathered friends.

Please note: Restrooms and water fountain are closed on Sundays at this location. There may be a nearby port-a-potty, however, we cannot guarantee that, so please plan accordingly.

At the Edmonds Wildlife Habitat and Native Plant Demonstration Garden, located at 95 Pine St in Edmonds. Plants will be provided by Go Natives Nursery.

Location: 95 Pine St at the Willow Creek Hatchery

Don Norman, owner of Go Natives Nursery and founding member of the Puget Sound Bird Observatory, will talk about birds and native plants using examples in the Edmonds Wildlife Habitat and Native Plant Demonstration Garden.

Register here

The Puget Sound Bird Fest – in collaboration with Puget Sound Express – hosts a special birdwatching cruise on Sunday, September 10. The cruise will run 3-6pm to get the optimal viewing of sea birds returning to their nests.

The three-hour cruise departs from the Edmonds Marina. Volunteer Bird Guides from the Puget Sound Bird Fest will be on board to share their knowledge about the birds and nature of Puget Sound. We will be using our newest high-speed vessel Swiftsure to travel to either Smith Island or Protection Island (depending on weather and recent sightings of birds), before returning to Edmonds. On-board we have inside seating, a snack bar and 3 restrooms available.

Note: Any change in the itinerary for weather is at the Captain’s discretion.