Festivals and migratory events

Grays Harbor Shorebird Festival, May 6-8: Hundreds of thousands of Arctic-bound shorebirds descend upon Grays Harbor each spring to rest and feed in its estuary mudflats. The festival is headquartered in Hoquiam, with lectures and guided birding trips to Ocean Shores, Westport, Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge, the Quinault Indian Nation reservation and Lake Quinault.

Information: www.shorebirdfestival.com or 800-303-8498. Lodging advice: Grays Harbor Chamber of Commerce, 800-321-1924; Ocean Shores Chamber of Commerce, 800-762-3224; Westport-Grayland Chamber of Commerce, 800-345-6223.

Leavenworth Spring Bird Fest, May 6-8: Raptor demonstrations, birding and wildflower walks, a night-creatures search, lectures, art and music highlight this year's festival, which celebrates the birds that frequent the area's high alpine forests, Ponderosa pines and sagebrush-covered hills. Information: www.leavenworthspringbirdfest.com. Lodging advice: Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce, www.leavenworth.org/lodging/lodging.html or 509- 548-5807.

Skagit Valley swans, snow geese and raptors, October 2005-March 2006: No formal festival marks the annual arrival of about 27,000 snow geese to Fir Island, a river delta east of Conway. January and February are the peak viewing months for geese and trumpeter and tundra swans in this area, one of the most important winter habitats for waterfowl on the Pacific Flyway. Raptors — eagles, hawks and falcons — also abound in this area in winter. Best bets include the state Skagit Wildlife Area, wdfw.wa.gov/lands/r4skagit.htm. Lodging advice: www.mountvernonchamber.com/visitors/stay.php

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Upper Skagit Bald Eagle Festival, Feb. 4-5, 2006: Each winter, 300-500 bald eagles arrive to feast on Skagit River salmon, inspiring this annual celebration. Events include conservation displays, bus tours, walks, arts, crafts, food, Native American stories, music and speakers. Events are centered around Concrete, Marblemount and Rockport. Lodging advice: North Cascades Chamber of Commerce, www.marblemount.com/lodging.htm or 800-875-2448. Guided eagle-watching raft trips: www.marblemount.com/recreation.htm.

Othello Sandhill Crane Festival, mid-March 2006: This Eastern Washington birding event pays homage to the 25,000 cranes that each year spend about six weeks in the area around the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge, fattening up for their migration flight to Alaska mating grounds. The three-day festival features field trips and lectures. Festival and lodging information: www.othellosandhillcranefestival.org or 509-488-2802, ext. 100.

Wings Over Water Northwest Birding Festival, early April 2006: Thousands of migrating brant geese heading into the Arctic from Baja California visit the Blaine area early each spring, congregating along the shores of Semiahmoo Bay, Birch Bay and Drayton Harbor. The two-day event originally was called the Washington Brant Festival. Information: www.washingtonbrant.org.

Lodging advice: Blaine Chamber of Commerce, 800-624-3555.

— Diane Brooks