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 PUGET SOUND BIRD FEST

 SEPTEMBER 11-13, 2009

Where can you go out on the water and see 800 Western Grebes in the morning, spend the afternoon listening to great speakers and finish the day watching 10,000 Vaux’s Swifts fly into a brick chimney for the night? At Puget Sound Bird Fest in Edmonds, of course! The 2008 event took place under sunny skies and ideal conditions for observing and enjoying Pacific Northwest birdlife. Guided walks and field trips took place Saturday morning, with more offered on Sunday in addition to self-guided backyard wildlife habitat tours.

There were plenty of family friendly activities, suitable for all ages, including young children, and a special children’s activity area on Saturday featuring owl pellet dissections, Bald Eagle puppet and bird mask making, and fall “treat garlands” for backyard birds. With a diverse mixture of locals and out-of-town visitors, experienced birders and beginners learned from each other and made new friends. Some comments made by those who attended the 2008 Puget Sound Bird Fest were:

“This was my first Bird Fest – met so many interesting people and learned so much. I’ll be back next year!”

“So many things to pick from, I missed some things. I want to see it all, and will be back next year.

“Awesome and inspiring backyards.”

“My favorite event was the trip to Monroe to see the swifts.”

“Thank you everybody! I want to attend over and over. Love, Love, Loved it”

Below is a partial list of the birds observed during Puget Sound Bird Fest, September 13-14, 2008:

Canada Goose, American Wigeon, Mallard, Green-winged Teal, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Red-throated Loon, Red-necked Grebe, Western Grebe, Brown Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Osprey, Cooper’s Hawk, Virginia Rail, Killdeer, Western Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, Wilson’s Snipe, Red-necked Phalarope, Bonaparte’s Gull, Heermann’s Gull, Ring-billed Gull, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Pigeon Guillemot, Rhinocerous Auklet, Rock Pigeon, Band-tailed Pigeon, Barred Owl, Vaux’s Swift, Anna’s Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Steller’s Jay, American Crow, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Black-capped Chickadee, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Bewick’s Wren, Winter Wren, Marsh Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Orange-crowned Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Townsend’s Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, House Finch, Pine Siskin, American Goldfinch

We hope you’ll join us for the 2009 Puget Sound Bird Fest!

Puget Sound Bird Fest is a celebration of birds and nature organized by The City of Edmonds Parks & Recreation and Economic Development Departments.  Edmonds is stop #1 on the Cascade Loop of the Great Washington State Birding Trail.  While you’re in town, visit our historic Main Street shops and restaurants and plan a convenient stay in one of our local hotels.

The contents on this website and festival schedule are being continually updated, so check back here for more details as the festival nears.  We look forward to seeing you at Puget Sound Bird Fest!