UPDATE: Birding and Blues Fest Starts Today in Pacific City, Oregon Coast

Published 04/21/2017 at 4:33 AM PDT - Updated 04/21/2017 at 5:33 AM PDT
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff

(Pacific City, Oregon) – Three days of awesome blues and birding - and communing with nature on a whole new level begins today. One of the biggest festivals of the entire Oregon coast kicks off in tiny Pacific City and runs for three days: the famed Birding and Blues Festival combines nature and music in a heady way, and runs all weekend from today through Sunday.

Events center around the Kiawanda Community Center, 34600 Cape Kiwanda Drive in Pacific City. Visitors venture into the field with experts and attend workshops and lectures in this bird watcher’s paradise with up to 140 current resident species. Then, on Saturday night, everyone gathers back at the center for an evening of rigorous and rockin' blues entertainment.

This the 13 year of the annual festival, which includes driving excursions along the Three Capes Route, birding by Dory Boat in the Nestucca Bay, free educational presentations for the whole family, free children’s art activities, and a live bird-of-prey presentation. The Saturday evening headliner event boasts The Joanne Bruh Blues Band, performing from 8 to to 11 p.m.

Over the years, 340 different species have been observed in the area where birds are attracted to the rocky coastlines, numerous bays, fertile fields and lush forested mountains of this part of the north Oregon coast. The Portland Audubon Society includes several Tillamook County locations in their “Important Bird Areas” guide including the Tillamook Bay.

Birders and nature enthusiasts can enjoy multiple guided field trips on Saturday and Sunday to surrounding natural areas, paddle trips, and nature presentations hosted by birding professionals.

A sampling:

Paul Bannick is keynote speaker with “OWL: A Year in the Lives of North American Owls,” happening on Saturday from 1:30 - 2:45 p.m.

Bannick is an award-winning and widely published wildlife photographer specializing in the natural history of North America with a focus on birds and habitat. He has received the Canon Prize of the International Conservation Photography Awards, as well as first place in the “Birds and Their Habitat” category in Audubon magazine’s annual contest.

On Saturday morning from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., Patty Newland, Avian Conservation Program Manager for the Portland Audubon, will lead a beginning bird class. Here, you will learn how to spot the differences among birds through their unique field marks and behavior, as well as where and how to watch birds. Patty has been leading bird walks in the Portland area as a volunteer for Portland Audubon and Metro since 2004. Since 2011, she has been co-leading Audubon Ecotours.

On Saturday afternoon, expert Joe Liebezeit will make a presentation about “Oregon’s Black Oystercatchers: Unveiling its Mysteries to Help Protect a Species of Conservation Concern, from 3 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. Liebezeit is Avian Conservation Program Manager for the Portland Audubon.

Another big and fascinating event happens on Sunday from 12:15 to 1 p.m. with photographer Tom Carrico talking about “How to Enjoy the Upcoming Great American Eclipse and Safety.” (503) 965-6247. http://birdingandblues.org. Pacific City Hotels, Lodging for this event - Where to eat - Map and Virtual Tour

More About Pacific City, Oceanside, Netarts, Tierra Del Mar Lodging.....

More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining.....

 

 

LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles

Back to Oregon Coast

Contact Advertise on BeachConnection.net
All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright BeachConnection.net Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted

Oregon Coast Lodging
Rentals
Specials

Dining

Events Calendar

Oregon Coast Weather

Travel News

Search for Oregon Coast Subjects, Articles

Virtual Tours, Maps
Deep Details