Wings Over Water returns to in-person festival

Wings Over Water Northwest Birding Festival will return with in-person events for the first time in three years. The annual festival educates community members and visitors about migratory birds that travel through Blaine and Birch Bay.

This year’s festival will take place Friday, March 18 through Sunday, March 20, with most of the activities occurring Saturday, March 19. Guided wildlife tours, youth activities, raptor presentations and a birding expo with vendors at the Blaine Community Pavilion will be included in the weekend-long event. 

Wildlife author and photographer Paul Bannick will return as the keynote speaker with the presentation, “Washington’s Bird Habitats: Through the Eyes of Owls.” The historic Plover ferry and San Juan Cruises’ Salish Sea will offer offshore birding cruises.

Event organizers canceled the event in 2020 and made it strictly virtual in 2021. Masks are strongly encouraged at this year’s event, which will include more outdoor options than previously offered.

“Last year it went really well having a virtual festival but there’s something about interacting with people in person that we really, really miss,” festival coordinator Debbie Harger said. 

Registration information and schedules can be viewed at wingsoverwaterbirdingfestival.com. For more information, contact festival coordinator Debbie Harger at wingsownw@gmail.com or 360/220-7663.