May 4 - 6, 2012

We are pleased to annouce the 2012 Keynote Speaker

Richard Crossley
Author, Birder and Photographer

Past, Present and Future -
My Life of Birding and Lessons Learned From World Travels

Past, Present and Future is a story told in a Yorkshire brogue through a camera lens that loves color and art. Tales of lessons learned while growing up in the wild British birding scene - from travels around the world to living in Cape May.  With humor and depth it highlights the thoughts behind the revolutionary ‘The Crossley ID Guide’ series. But is changing how we look at books and birds enough? ‘Heck, no!’ says Richard. Come listen to his past, perhaps it will change your thoughts on the future!

The Crossley ID Guide will be for sale during the Festival and the Richard Crossley will be available for signing books on Friday evening.

EACH SPRING, hundreds of thousands of shorebirds stop to rest and feed in Grays Harbor estuary on their migration northward. Coming from as far south as Argentina, these Arctic-bound shorebirds are among the world's greatest migrants. Some birds travel over 15,000 miles round trip! Tens of thousands of shorebirds feed on the open mudflats in the estuary. This concentration of birds offers people a great chance to view a number of shorebird species, and with luck, to see the birds fly together in beautiful formations while trying to escape the fastest creature on earth, the Peregrine Falcon.

The banquet and live auction held on Saturday night is a very important fundraising event for the festival. In 2011 $2,422 was raised for the Grays Harbor Shorebird Festival. This money is used to fund the next festival and fund the AmeriCorps position at Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge. During the auction, the education program at Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge also brought in $2,750 in donations, ensuring the support of another year of field trips and classroom presentations throughout Grays Harbor County. This was the most donations ever raised! Thanks to all those who participated in the past! We hope to see you again this year!

Of course seeing shorebirds is why most people participate in the Grays Harbor Shorebird Festival. Shorebird migration in Grays Harbor County begins around April 21 and continues for about 3 weeks. Each year, field trip leaders and observers at the Refuge post their bird sightings. Click here to download the detailed list of birds seen on the 2011 Field Trips and by observers at the Refuge.

Field trips Lectures Nature Fun Fair Keynote Speaker and Reception Banquet and auction Shorebird viewing Birding Marketplace Poster Contest

Grays Harbor Audubon Society, Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge, and the City of Hoquiam work with a host of other local sponsors to bring you the Grays Harbor Shorebird Festival. This event is timed to match the annual migration of hundreds of thousands of shorebirds as they pause at the Grays Harbor estuary to feed and rest before departing for their nesting grounds in the Arctic.

This wildlife spectacle happens every year at Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge and other parts of Grays Harbor County. People from around the world come to view this event of hemispheric importance. The Shorebird Festival works to bring people together for this incredible natural phenomenon.
 
A portion of revenues in excess of festival expenses helps to fund education programs and scientific research at Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge and helps pay for continuation of construction of the boardwalk, benches and interpretive signage.

Best Shorebird Viewing Times

At Grays Harbor NWR, shorebirds can be viewed best during the period about 2 hours before to 2 hours after high tide. During high tide, birds are closer and more concentrated for better viewing. The peak in migration typically occurs the last week in April.

NOTE: Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge is open from sunrise to sunset.

Click here to see a detailed schedule of the Best Shorebird Viewing Times of Spring 2011.

Shorebirds on Mudflats at Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge, photo by Matt Holt

Shorebird Formations at Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge, photo by Matt Holt

Short-billed Dowitchers, photo by Don Johnson