Winter Wings Festival, Oregon
The 2008 Winter Wings Festival, sponsored by the Klamath Basin Audubon Society and the Klamath Wingwatchers, is set to take place from 15 to 17 February 2008 at Klamath Falls, Oregon. The purpose of the Winter Wings Festival is to increase awareness of wildlife resources in the community with the focus on birds and bird-watching.
More than 350 species of birds are found in the Klamath Basin of Northern California and South Central Oregon. This area is renowned for the diversity and number of waterfowl on the lakes and rivers, as well as in the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuges. The Klamath Basin is also home to one of the largest groups of wintering Bald Eagles in the lower 48 states of the U.S.A.
The Winter Wings Festival, held on Presidents’ Day weekend, takes place at a time when waterfowl and eagles are wintering in the Klamath Basin. This gives visitors the opportunity to observe these magnificent birds on guided tours and learn more about them at the workshops that form part of the program. Other features of the Winter Wings Festival program include a keynote speaker, field trips, mini-sessions and special events. There will be many family-oriented activities and live bird displays. Expert tour leaders will take photography enthusiasts to areas where they will be best able to capture the abundant bird-life on film.
Raptor specialist, Trish Nixon, will be the keynote speaker at the Winter Wings Festival. Trish has been working at the Peregrine Fund’s World Center for Birds of Prey for the past ten years, where she has been responsible for the feeding, daily care and training of the seventeen hawks, eagles, falcons and owls that are used in the center’s education program. She has dedicated over 20 years of her life to caring for birds and has a passion for sharing her knowledge on the Peregrine Fund’s conservation projects.
The family activities include a 45-minute slideshow aimed at visitors who are new to the area, or new to the joys of bird-watching. Visitors can also have an up-close and personal encounter with the Great Horned Owl and American Kestrel that have been rescued and rehabilitated by the Badger Run Wildlife Rehabilitation facility. The vendor area will be displaying and selling artwork and crafts related to the beauty of nature. Charlie and Deana Thurston will be displaying the talents of their tame hand-raised ducks. There will also be a paper-making activity station, a migration obstacle course and many other hands-on activities.
Nature-lovers are invited to enjoy the multitude of activities organized for the Winter Wings Festival weekend. Visitors are sure to have loads of fun while being educated about the magnificent birds of the Klamath Basin.