By Janette Turner

This weekend we honor the winged animals that cross our skies each day. To celebrate those feathered friends, Puget Sound Birdfest is hosting a free kickoff event, “Owls of Washington,” with keynote speaker Paul Bannick in the Edmonds Library Plaza, Friday, 7-8 p.m. His book, “The Owl and the Woodpecker,” was one of five finalists for a Washington State Book award, and his photo of a Northern Pygmy Owl won first place in Audubon’s Magazine Photography Awards 2011.

Birdfest is organized by the City of Edmonds Parks & Recreation and Economic Development Departments. A full listing of guided walks and events is below, along with more Edmonds activities for the coming week.

Official Birdfest pendant by Mona Fairbanks available at Cline Jewelers

Friday, Sept. 7
7-9 p.m.
Edmonds Plaza Room
Opening Reception and Keynote Speaker:
Paul Bannick, “Owls of Washington” FREE

Saturday, Sept. 8
7:30-10 a.m.
Puget Sound Birding Cruise
$10 advance registration fee

7:30-10 a.m.
Guided Walk: Edmonds Marsh, Willow Creek, Pt. Edwards
$5 advance registration fee

8-10 a.m.
Guided Walk: Pine Ridge Park
FREE

8-10 a.m.
Tour: Birds of the Kruckeberg Botanic Garden
$10 advance registration fee

8-11 a.m.
Field Trip: Meadowdale Beach and Lund’s Gulch
$5 advance registration fee

9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Bird Viewing and Interpretive Activities at Edmonds Marsh

9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Optics Demonstration by Seattle Audubon at Edmonds Marsh
FREE

10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Exhibits and Birder Central (FAC lower level)

10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Kids Activities (FAC rooms 114 and 115)
FREE

FREE PRESENTATIONS:

11 a.m.-noon
Up-CLOSE – Owls: Who Are They? (FAC 115)

11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Bird Photography Basics (FAC 206)

1-2 p.m.
Long Lens Photography (FAC 206)

1-2 p.m.
Priority Habitats and Species (FAC 302)

2:30-3:30 p.m.
Getting Started in Birding (FAC 206)

2:30-3:30 p.m.
Birds of the Edmonds Waterfront (FAC 302)

4-5 p.m.
A Kid’s Guide to Birding (FAC 115)

4-5 p.m.
Top Picks for Bird Feeders and Nest Boxes (FAC 206)

4-5 p.m.
Bird Songs and Calls (FAC 302)

5:30-6:30 p.m.
Guided Walk: Yost Park – Family-oriented birding
FREE

Sunday, September 9
7:30-10 a.m.
Guided Walk: Edmonds Marsh, Willow Creek, Pt. Edwards
$5 advance registration fee

8 – 10am
Guided Walk: Yost Park
FREE

8-10:30 a.m.
Guided Walk: Scriber Lake Park
FREE

10 a.m.-noon
Workshop: Owl Box Building – Session I (Willow Creek Hatchery)

1-3 p.m.
Workshop: Owl Box Building – Session II (Willow Creek Hatchery)
$5 advance registration fee + $10 supply fee

Venue location information can be found on the Event Map page.

Driftwood Players: “Murder on the Nile” opens Friday

A rich heiress is killed on board a steamer in Agatha Christie’s “Murder on the Nile,” opening Friday at the Wade James Theatre. The production kicks off the Driftwood Players’ season Friday night and plays at 8 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays; Sundays at 2 p.m., through Sept. 23.  Tickets at www.driftwoodplayers.com. For a preview of this killer mystery directed by David Alan Morrison, see his interview here.

Swedish/Edmonds outdoor movie: “Despicable Me” plays Friday

Swedish/Edmonds finishes its run of outdoor movies with “Despicable Me” playing Friday on the patio, at 7:15 p.m. The event is free, but bring a blanket to keep warm as the sun goes down.

North Sound Church: Free pancake feed Sunday before car show

Cars and pancakes are an American dream combo. Fans of both are invited to the corner of 4th and Bell for the North Sound Church pancake breakfast from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. during the Edmonds Classic Car Show. Stick around for the Jaguars, Porsches, Fords and Chevys all around the downtown area, which will cause you to drool for something other than fried dough. Auto awards are handed out at 4:30 p.m.

Gallery North: Artists feted on Saturday

Gallery North welcomes colored pencil artist Paula Parks and fused glass master Gayle Franklin in a joint show, titled “Color and Light.” The public is invited to a reception on Saturday from 1-4 p.m. in the gallery to honor Parks, Franklin, and “loft” artists Karen Kahn-Rice and Noah Rice.

Landfill Art: No longer sleeping with the fishes

Not content to depict birds, resident artist Mona Fairbanks has brought images of fish to life as part of a nationwide Landfill Art Project. Here is a quick interview with the artist:

My Edmonds News: How did you get involved in the Landfill Art project?

M.F.: I heard about the Landfill Art Project from a fellow Edmonds artist Mary Peterson. The art community in Edmonds is an amazing wealth of knowledge and I have found that they are always eager to share experiences and ideas.

My Edmonds News: Tell us about the process with the Landfill Art Project.

M.F.: The process was so easy and personable. I just emailed the Ken Marquis, the artist who dreamed up the project at https://www.landfillart.org/index-1.html and he personally emailed me back with information and I received my hubcap within a few days. The really appealing idea about this project was that there were no guidelines at all, just here is the hubcap – have fun. As you can see from the web site the possibilities are incredible and each one is unique.

My Edmonds News: What happens with all of the art pieces?

M.F.: Marquis’s idea is to have 80 percent of the hubcaps done by traditional artists and the other 20 percent done by disabled people from all across the country and around the world. His goal is 1,041 hubcaps at the end of the project and (he will) publish a book showing them all. Then 200 will be selected for a traveling show. I was so excited and proud to be included in this concept and my work can be seen on page 43 on the web site. The idea that so many artists are willing to be part of such a global project and do truly important work is a privilege.

More info here.

Cole Gallery: Harakuju street fashion

Aficionados of Japanese Harakuju will enjoy the artwork of Michael Fitzpatrick at Cole Gallery. The artist’s “walking paintings” may or may not remind you of the First Day of School in Edmonds just past. You can learn more about the pieces from the artist at an opening reception on Sept. 15 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Advance notice: Senior Center Auction on Sept. 28

As we head into auction season, you may be tempted to pace yourself, but it’s not advised. If you are an Edmonds citizen, you know your presence at the numerous non-profit benefits is a perk of residency. With that in mind, one of the first auctions of the fall season is the Edmonds Senior Center Young at Heart Dinner and Auction on Sept. 28. As always, it is for a great cause.

Advance notice: ECA Gala on Sept, 29

Want to go to Palm Desert, gain an instant cellar, or enjoy a Woodway keggar? You will get the opportunity to bid on those items as John Curley plays auctioneer at the Edmonds Center for the Arts Gala and Auction on Sept. 29.

As we get info on more galas and goings-on about town, we promise to keep you updated.

Arts reporter Janette Turner is your guide to local culture. In addition to covering visual, performing and literary events for My Edmonds News, Janette is managing director of EPIC Literary Series and a member of the Swedish Hospital Art Committee. (Photo by Jennifer McKinney)