Welcome to birding paradise
Pack your binoculars and favorite bird guide: We’re going to Leavenworth!
We all know Leavenworth for its Bavarian charm, particularly during Christmastime, but spring offers us another reason to visit this quaint Washington town. Springtime in Leavenworth is a beautiful backdrop for bird-watching. The fruit trees are showing off their full blooms into May, and this weekend the town hosts its Fifth Annual Spring Bird Fest. For beginning and expert birders, locals and visitors, friends and families — this event is sure to please.
Trips led by professional guides are available over the course of the three-day festival. Whether you want to go birding on a hike, on a bike, in a canoe, or in a room, there is an event that fits your needs.
In 2006, nearly 120 species were identified during the bird-watching trips. Other events and topics include wildflower walks, how to photograph birds, area geology, and more.
Leavenworth is one of the sites on the Cascade Loop of the Great Washington Birding Trail. The map of the Cascade Loop is beautiful showing full-color drawings of some of the bird species along the loop and descriptions of their habitat. Directions on how to get to and access the area from a main road are also included on the map.
The festival’s goal is to provide activities that focus on birds and their habitats while bringing awareness to the environmental issues that affect birding areas.
Keynote speaker for the festival is Dr. Gordon Orians from the University of Washington. Orians lectures all over the world on ecological and environmental topics and will present the keynote address “Birders and the Future of Biodiversity.” On Sunday morning Orians will lead a field trip.
The creative side
Music and art adorn the festival with a juried art show, a new Audubon musical called “Wild Goose Chase,” a variety of concerts, creative workshops, and an art walk showcasing more than 25 local, professional artists. “Wild Goose Chase” was written in Leavenworth and tells the love story of John James Audubon and his wife, Lucy. Scenes from the musical will be shown at Sleeping Lady Theatre. Cost is $10 for the performances, and all proceeds benefit the festival.