Volunteers sought for annual Edmonds-based Birdfest

Puget Sound Bird Fest in Edmonds, an annual celebration of the birds and nature found on Puget Sound, is set for Sept. 6-8.

Volunteers are needed for kids’ activities, registration table, monitoring presentations, set-up and clean-up, and a few other tasks. If you can help, email Ila Osburn at iosburn@comcast.net.

Among the numerous activities during the three day event are tours of local birding areas. Registration for these tours begins Aug. 1. Tours being offered are:

Puget Sound Birding Cruise, Saturday, Sept. 7, 7:30-10 a.m.
Small boats will embark from the Port of Edmonds for a two-hour cruise, courtesy of members of the Edmonds Yacht Club. A birding guide will be present in each boat. We will explore the near shore waters of Puget Sound to look for resident and winter migrants such as gulls, terns, auklets, murres, murrelets, golden eyes, and mergansers plus the fish eating raptors such as the bald eagle and osprey.

Edmonds Marsh, Willow Creek Fish Hatchery, and Pt. Edwards Guided Walk, Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 7 and 8, 7:30-10 a.m.
The walk, led by an experienced birder, will be a little more than two miles of easy walking with a short hill from the fish hatchery to the Pt. Edwards walkway. A variety of birds will be seen in the different habitats at the marsh, in the woods around the creek, and in the bushes along the walkways.

Kruckeberg Botanic Garden in Richmond Beach, Saturday, Sept. 7, 8-10 a.m.
Join a docent from the Kruckeberg Botanical Garden Foundation for an early morning walk through this 4 acre garden in nearby Richmond Beach. Learn how the naturalistic design of the garden provides excellent habitat for birds and what you can do to encourage birds to visit your garden.

Register for these Bird Fest tours by calling Edmonds Parks and Recreation at 425-771-0230 or online at www.reczone.org

Further information including a complete description and schedule of events can be found at the Bird Fest website: www.pugetsoundbirdfest.org.