Grays Harbor Shorebird and Nature Festival

Start planning to attend the next festival: April 25 - 27, 2025

2024 Grays Harbor Shorebird and Nature Festival
Schedule of Events

A shuttle bus is available between Hoquiam Middle School (200 Spencer St., Hoquiam) and the beginning of the Sandpiper Trail at Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) on Saturday and Sunday from 9:00am to 4:00pm. The ride takes approximately 15 minutes.

Friday, 3 May 2024
6:31 am - 12:31 pm       Best Shorebird Viewing at Grays Harbor NWR (high tide @ 9:31 am)
7:00am - 3:00pm           Festival Information, Nature Shop,
                                        and Registration at Grays Harbor NWR on Airport Way
7:30am - 3:30pm           Field Trip to Tokeland, Grayland, and Westport Loop, $50
8:00am - 3:00pm           Field Trip to Ocean Shores, $40
8:30am - 10:30am         Beginner Bird Walk at Bottle Beach State Park  Free
4:00pm - 6:30pm           Festival Information and Registration at Hoquiam Middle School
6:45 pm - 7:30 pm         Dessert Reception at Hoquiam High School Free
7:30 pm - 9:00pm          Keynote Speaker Hoquiam High School Theater $20

Saturday, 4 May 2024
7:43 am - 1:43 pm         Best Shorebird Viewing at Grays Harbor
                                        NWR (high tide @ 10:43 am)
7:30 am - 5:00 pm         Festival Information and Registration at Hoquiam Middle School
8:30 am - 3:30 pm         Field Trip to Ocean Shores $40
8:30 am - 9:30 am         Presentation: Shorebird Identification Basics (Teal Waterstrat &
                                        Jennifer Lang)  Free
9:00 am - 11:30 am       Habitats and Birds of the Refuge:
                                        A Guided Walk with Spanish Interpreter (Jessinia Lopez) Free
9:00 am - 4:30 pm         Free Shuttles between Hoquiam Middle School
                                           and Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge
9:00 am - 5:00 pm         Birding Marketplace with Vendors and Exhibitors
9:00 am - 5:00 pm         Nature Fun Fair
10:00 am - 1:00 pm       Shorebirds for Beginners - Guided Walk with Teal Waterstrat & $15
                                             Jennifer Lang
11:00 am - 4:00 pm       Mudflat Meals at Nature Fun Fair
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm         Orchard Mason Bees (Carrie Morlang) Free
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm.        Music by Salmonberry Band (Please sing along)
2:45 pm - 3:45 pm         Adaptive Strategies of Shorebirds (Dave Slater) Free
2:45 pm - 3:45 pm         Photographing Birds in Motion (Diana McPherson) Free
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm         Keeping a Field Notebook (Madison Mayfield) Free
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm         Seabirds (Peter Hodum) Free
5:30 pm - 7:00 pm         Social and Dining at Hoquiam Brewing Company,
7 pm                                Annual Fundraising Dinner Program begins
7:30 pm  - 8:30 pm        Guest Speaker: Dennis Paulson
                                            Hoquiam Brewing Company (624 K. St.)
                                            We are taking over one of the best restaurants in town
                                                  for some bird talk and fun.
                                            $15 seat reservation (on registration form, see above)
                                                  + cost of your dinner from the menu)
                                            Their full menu will be available and the food is top notch.
                                            Check it out https://www.hoquiambrews.com/

Sunday, 5 May 2024
8:49 am - 2:49 pm         Best Shorebird Viewing at Grays Harbor
                                           NWR (high tide @ 11:49 am)
8:00 am - 4:00 pm         Information and Registration at Hoquiam Middle School
9:00 am - 4:00 pm         Free Shuttles between Hoquiam Middle School
                                           and Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge
8:00 am - 3:00 pm         Field Trip to Tokeland, Grayland, Westport Loop $50
9:00 am - 4:00 pm         Birding Marketplace with Vendors and Exhibitors
9:00 am - 4:00 pm         Nature Fun Fair
10:30 am - 12:30 pm     Guided Walk with Dennis Paulson (with Spanish Interprter,
                                           Jessenia Lopez $15
11:00 am - 4:00 pm       Mudflat Meals at Nature Fun Fair
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm         Shorebird Poster Contest Awards Ceremony
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm         The Art of Photographing Birds (Karen Ulvestad) Free
2:15 pm - 3:15 pm         Family Drawing Workshop (Hannah Kirsekorn) Free
2:15pm - 3:15pm           Washington's Contaminated Site Cleanup Law
                                        and Contaminated Sites in Grays Harbor (Lee First) Free

Free Shuttle Bus between Hoquiam Middle School
                              and Grays Harbor NWR:
9am ‐ 4pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Ride takes approximately 15 minutes
Suggested donation $1 per rider

Download pdf of schedule

(Schedule is subject to change)

Festival Registration