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303 2nd st.
San Francisco

(415) 872 - 9585

Grays Harbor Shorebird and Nature Festival

Plan to attend the next festival: May 1 - 3, 2026.
Picture
Black Bellied Plovers in Winter - Photo by J. Wieser

2023 Bird Surveys

Shorebird surveys at Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge are conducted every few days during spring migration, mid-April through mid-May. The Refuge Biologist and Volunteers are positioned along the Sandpiper Trail for up to three hours before the predicted high tide and may not be able to answer questions while they are counting shorebirds.
Shorebird Surveys from Sandpiper Trail
at Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge

Shorebird survey conducted on May 2, 2023 by volunteer J. Grettenberger.
Survey was conducted from 9:53am-12:53pm with high tide of 8.4 ft at 11:53am. Great day to be on the boardwalk- able to see thousands of migrating shorebirds! Highlights included a Peregrine Falcon hunting. Total Estimate- 12,748 Shorebirds!

The Peregrine Falcon was making birds nervous; the majority of them left the survey area and didn't return. The tide was high enough to clear roosting birds on Mini Moon Island; however, most did show up on the mudflat during the survey. High counts of species were early in the survey.

Bird
Bird Count
Black-bellied plover
2
Semipalmated Plover
209
Dunlin
4300
Western Sandpiper
5320
Least Sandpiper
5
Red Knots
0
Whimbrels
5
Dowitcher spp
15
Yellowlegs spp.
12
Unknown Shorebirds
2880 (Mini Moon Island)
April 30, 2023 survey by Ryan Munes, Refuge Biologist: 
High Tide (7.7 ft. @ 9:57).  Tide was 0.4 ft. higher than predicted. The weather started at 50 degrees, foggy and calm. Wind picked up and the survey ended with a 20-minute rain event. The tide didn't get high enough to clear roosting birds on Mini Moon Island; about 2,000 never made it close enough to identify. Estimate around 12,362 shorebirds.

Bird
Bird Count
Black-bellied plover
87
Semipalmated Plover
375
Dunlin
4850
Western Sandpiper
4500
Least Sandpiper
23
Red Knots
475
Whimbrels
11
Dowitcher spp
23
Yellowlegs spp.
4
Ruddy Turnstone
1
Unknown Shorebirds
2000 (Mini Moon Island)
Picture

Start planning to attend the next festival: May 1 - 3, 2026

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Copyright © 2023 Grays Harbor Shorebird
and Nature Festival

Partner Links
Grays Harbor Audubon Society
Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge
City of Hoquiam
Grays Harbor Tourism
Greater Grays Harbor, Inc.
Coastal Interpretive Center

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  • Home
    • Contact Website Editor
  • 2025 Festival
    • 2025 Best Times
    • 2025Schedule
    • 2025Field Trips Walks
    • MarketPlace 2025
  • Plan Your Trip
    • Ocean Shores
    • Westport
    • Grayland
    • Tokeland
  • Area Information
    • Local Attractions
    • Eateries
    • GH Lodgings
    • Maps
    • Shorebirdviewing
      • Shorebirds of Grays Harbor
      • 2025 Bird Surveys
      • 2024 Bird Surveys
      • 2023 Bird Surveys
      • Videos
  • Activities
    • Family Activities
      • Craft Activities
      • Story Maps
    • Poster Contest 2024
    • Poster Contest 2023
    • Poster Contest 2022
  • Partners and Sponsors
  • Contact us
  • Donation