Nature lovers will soon flock to the North Coast to attend the 17th annual Godwit Days Spring Migration Bird Festival, which will be held next Thursday through April 25 in Arcata. Field trips are scheduled throughout the week around Humboldt County, and special events will be held next Friday through Sunday at the Arcata Community Center.
The festival is named for the marbled godwit (Limosa fedoa), thousands of which stop over each spring on their annual migration. With the birds come groups of people from as far away as New Zealand and Japan, descending upon the region’s marshlands, forests and rivers in the hope of catching sight of the area’s well-known species like the spotted owl, marbled murrelet and ruffed grouse. These groups are led by trained professionals, local biologists, and experts in bird and other wildlife identification.
”For many, birdwatching is a hobby, one might even say obsession,” said Robert W. Hewitt, a biologist and Godwit Days board member and founder. “Some seek the sighting of a ‘lifer’ bird, a bird species seen for the first time in one’s life,” he added. “This is always a real thrill, with the goal to always increase one’s life list. It can be a testament to one’s devotion and aptitude at birding.”
The festival also attracts casual birders and those who just want to explore the rich ecological gems of the Northern California coast. The 2012 program offers more than 100 field trips, workshops, scientific and informational lectures, boat trips, a banquet, and events like the “Big Day,” where participants travel by bus around Humboldt County to spot more than 120 bird species.
By partnering with other environmental nonprofits in the area, Godwit Days is able to offer a variety of sessions on birding and other topics, including sessions on reptiles and amphibians, botany, mammals, drawing and decoy carving. There are various activities geared toward children.
The 2012 festival artwork was designed by local artist Allison Reed, whose image of marbled godwits at the shore (pictured at right) appears on the festival posters and T-shirts.
Begun by the city of Arcata to promote ecotourism on the North Coast, Godwit Days has grown exponentially since it first started with 60 visitors in 1996.
This year’s keynote speaker is Dr. Keith Woodley, manager of the Miranda Shorebird Centre on the Firth of Thames, New Zealand. His recent studies include the bar-tailed godwit, which makes the longest known nonstop flight of any bird and the longest journey without pausing to feed by any animal — 7,258 miles — along a route from Alaska to New Zealand. The lecture is at 7:30 p.m. Saturday (April 21) and is free to anyone registered for the festival, or $10 for non-registrants.
Free events for the local community include the opening reception and lecture, as well as access to the exhibit hall with vendors, decoy carvers, live bird-of-prey displays and family nature activities. Additionally, there are free field trips and lectures, some of which require pre-registration to reserve a spot.
Visit www.godwitdays.org to review the event schedule and register. Registration also can be done by phone at 826-7050 or 800-908-9464.
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Festival Highlights
While people usually think of driving — or maybe walking — somewhere to look for birds, Godwit Days offers many boat trips to search for birds, whales and other wildlife. Promoting local ecotourism is one of the nonprofit organization’s two main purposes. To that end, Godwit Days has enlisted several local companies (and one nonprofit organization) to take registrants out on rivers, sloughs, lagoons, bay and ocean: Humboats Kayak Adventures, Humboldt Baykeeper, Kayak Zak’s, Redwoods & Rivers Rafting and Adventure’s Edge. According to Godwit Days board member and founder Rob Hewitt, the nature outfitters involved with the festival keep prices close to their cost, with the free add-on of their birding expertise.
* Small-group water trips run the gamut from a one-hour boat tour of Humboldt Bay to an all-day trip on the open ocean, with plenty of two- to four-hour excursions in between. Some are by motorboat, others by kayak, and two are by raft, with all equipment provided. Areas visited include Humboldt Bay, Mad River Slough, Faye Slough, Trinidad Bay, Big Lagoon, Mad River and Redwood Creek.
* Landlubbers have plenty of events to choose from, too, as Godwit Days takes on its second purpose of educating the public about birds, plants, habitat conservation, and ecology. Space remains in some of the field trips and workshops, but as the kick-off date draws closer events are beginning to sell out. Registration plans range from $11 for a student one-day basic, to $80 for a value package that includes a choice of more than 80 land trips. There are a fair number of free trips and workshops as well (though pre-registration is required), and community members are invited to attend the opening reception on Friday starting at 5 p.m.
* The Bird Fair — featuring vendors of birding supplies and artwork, plus informational booths by local nonprofit organizations — will be open from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. During these times, live hawks and owls from the Humboldt Wildlife Care Center will be on display, as will more than 700 (a new record) entries in the ninth annual Student Bird Art Contest co-sponsored by Friends of the Arcata Marsh and the Redwood Region Audubon Society.
* Free events aimed at children include two kids’ birding trips to the Arcata Marsh, an owl pellet dissection workshop, a drawing workshop and a FOAM-sponsored family nature crafts session from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday. Drop in to make a fish print, string a water cycle bracelet, create a peanut butter pine cone bird feeder, put together a wooden bird call, paint an owl rock and craft a refrigerator magnet.
* Saturday evening keynote speaker Keith Woodley will give a presentation on “Bar-tailed Godwits.” Enjoy a catered dinner by Abruzzi starting at 5:30 p.m. before listening to the lecture.
* Bid on donated goods and services in the silent auction area. All proceeds from the 2012 festival will go toward producing next year’s event.
For complete information on tour topics, times, prices, how to register and much more, visit www.godwitdays.org or call 826-7050.
