Bird enthusiasts to land at Maple Hall for Birding Festival

Bird lovers will flock to Maple Hall Feb. 3 and 4 for the La Conner Birding Festival. The festival marks the local return of the Skagit community’s celebration of winter birds. Art, education and family activities promise to inspire residents and visitors to appreciate the migratory birds that winter here.

Doors open Saturday and Sunday at 10 a.m. Photographers, painters and other artists will display their work upstairs. Downstairs families will find bird-related activities for kids. Some of the birding educators will bring birds.

“I want it to be a family fun activity,” said Lisa Judy, La Conner Chamber of Commerce board chair and festival organizer. “I want to get the kids excited. I want them to understand and learn, because they’re a big part of our communities.”

About 2017, a countywide group brainstormed ideas for a winter bird festival. The plan combined economic development with conservation education to bring bird enthusiasts to Skagit County to see the thousands of snow geese and trumpeter swans, spend money at local businesses and learn about birds.

Each community could offer its own approach to the theme, such as Mount Vernon’s bird-inspired art walk.

According to Judy, this has worked for La Conner. “Birding is a large part of a lot of communities,” said Judy. It brings visitors, and the chamber of commerce is glad to carry the festival forward.

Jed Holmes was an organizers of the first Birds of Winter efforts, including developing a website and a Facebook group. He grew up in the Valley and always loved birds. “You can’t walk outside and not see a bird,” said Holmes. He has heard people say, “Birds are a gateway drug to conservation.” They connect people to the landscape and conservation. Birds also can promote farmland appreciation. Holmes liked the idea of using birds as a way to educate people about the central role farms play in making Skagit Valley ideal habitat for birds.

La Conner’s birding festival takes this educational mission seriously. Besides the instructive activities for kids, at 6 p.m. Saturday adults can hear the award-winning author and acclaimed artist Tony Angell. He will speak on “For Ravens, Crows, and Other Birds, Timing Is Crucial.” Angell’s expertise will be on full display. He has spoken here before, so many in the local birding community are excited to hear him again.

The La Conner Chamber of Commerce is hosting the festival and is committed to making this an annual event the first weekend in February. “We want to bring people to town to be part of our community and to support our businesses,” said Judy.

“I’m happy to see it come back,” said Holmes.

Sponsors include the Pacific Northwest Quilt & Fiber Arts Museum, Fine Feathered Friends and the Skagit Audubon Society.

A Facebook page for the La Conner Birding Festival contains more information: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553491007268&paipv=0&eav=AfYMwsiBUfBc8V-ZnH-iiP8tBRT4Y9JPpfXdccFWWtAyk0gKASnyWRFzcgXKyx2XtNw&_rdr. Email [email protected].

The festival ends 4 p.m. Sunday.