Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival

Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival Index
2010 Vendor Application - available in March
Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival Committee
2010 Schedule of Events - available March 22
2010 Event Descriptions - available March 22
2010 Event Location Map - available March 22
3rd Annual Kachemak Bay
Big Birding Challenge - available March 22
View 2010 Festival Artwork
2010 Speaker & Guide Bios - available March 22
2010 Sponsors - Available March 22
2010 Registration & Islands & Ocean Visitor Center Hours
Forms & Documents
Festival History
Funding for Birds

2009 Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival
2009 Junior Birder Results
2009 Photo Gallery
2009 Schedule of Events
2009 Event Descriptions
2009 Event Location Map
2nd Annual Kachemak Bay
Big Birding Challenge
View 2009 Festival Artwork
2009 Keynote Speakers & Special Guest Artist
2009 Speaker & Guide Bios
2009 Sponsors
2009 Registration & Islands & Ocean Visitor Center Hours
2009 Kachemak Bay Shorebird Survey
2009 Festival Shorebird Count
Tally Results
2009 Festival
Highlights from Previous Years

2009 Event descriptions

Field events, workshops and presentations are free of charge and sponsored by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service unless stated otherwise. Limited entry events are filled on a first come, first serve basis.

A current bird sightings list will be posted at the Island & Ocean Visitor Center.

Dress warmly, bring mud boots & your binoculars or spotting scope and please leave your furry friends at home!

Event Key


Field Events	Workshops &Presentations	Boat Tours

Entertainment	Family Friendly	Jr. Birder Badge

Thursday, May 7 - High Tide 2:33 pm

FESTIVAL REGISTRATION 8am-7pm. Homer Chamber of Commerce

Cranes and Croissants SOLD OUT 7am-10am. Seaside Farm.
View the large flocks of migrating Sandhill Cranes that feed and rest on the Seaside Farm hayfields each spring. Birder Mossy Kilcher will share her knowledge of cranes, as well as other local birds’ songs, calls and habits, during a bird identification walk. Coffee and continental breakfast included. Please note that participants are required to park and walk ¼ mile down a gravel road to access the Farm, and as such this event is not handicapped, physically-challenged or stroller accessible. Limit 23. $20pp. Sponsored by Seaside Farm.

Cold Duck Time SOLD OUT 8am-11am. Harbor, top of Ramp 2, MW.
As the shorebirds arrive in Kachemak Bay, sea ducks prepare to head north to their happy nesting grounds. Hop aboard for a tour of Kachemak Bay’s southern shore in search of the Mergini tribe. Goldeneye, Harlequin and Long-tailed Ducks are just a few of the fine feathered friends that inhabit our bays and coves. Dress warmly. Limit 6. $60pp. Sponsored by Mako’s Water Taxi.

Early Bird Sea Kayaking SOLD OUT 8am-1:00pm. Harbor Ramp 2, M/V Seabird.
During May, Kachemak Bay is normally the calmest early in the day. We'd like to take advantage of the smoothest water by striking out early. We offer fresh cookies, hot beverages, sealife and a gorgeous paddling route, with our experienced, friendly guides. Bring a personal water bottle and dress warm. Adults only. Limit 12. $95pp. Sponsored by St. Augustine’s Kayak & Tours.

Seabird Sidetrip SOLD OUT 9am-noon. Harbor, bottom of Ramp 3, to the right, M/V Torega.
Join local bird expert Karl Stoltzfus aboard the Torega as he shares his favorite birding places during a 3-hour cruise of upper Kachemak Bay. Enjoy looking for Kittlitz’s & Marbled Murrelets, eiders, loons, Red-faced Cormorants, some shorebirds, and many other species, with excellent close-up viewing opportunities for all passengers. Limit 12. $60pp. Sponsored by Bay Excursions.

Kachemak Bay Birding & Wildlife Natural History Tour SOLD OUT 9am-4pm. Harbor Ramp 6, slip EE-19, M/V Lady Hawke
Kachemak Bay at its best! This full-day birding and wildlife tour will take you to Aurora Lagoon, the Eldridge Passage/Yukon Island/Sadie Cove area, as well as through the southside community of Halibut Cove. Watch for several species of marine mammals, waterbirds and seabirds, as well as mountain goats, and learn about the fascinating geology and natural history of Kachemak Bay. Lunch provided. Limit 6. $150pp, $130 kids 12 & under. Sponsored by Seaman's Adventures.

Kayaking with Birds & Wildlife SOLD OUT 10:30am-3pm. Harbor Ramp 2, True North office.
Check in 30 minutes prior to departure time at the True North office behind Mako’s Water Taxi. Take a scenic boat ride to Yukon Island, where you’ll explore intricate coastlines with craggy rock arches and spectacular birds and wildlife. Wear warm, layered clothes and bring a water bottle. Snacks provided. All experience levels welcome. Limit 6. $90pp, $80 kids 12 & under. Sponsored by True North Kayak Adventures.

Shorebird Viewing Station 1:30pm-3:30pm. Mud Bay and Lighthouse Village.
Meet at the base of the Spit, where guides in orange vests will help you locate and identify shorebirds feeding in the mudflats. Spotting scopes, binoculars and guidebooks will be available for use. Rubber boots recommended. Please park only in designated areas.

Kayaking with Birds & Wildlife SOLD OUT 1:30pm-6pm. Harbor Ramp 2, True North office.
Check in 30 minutes prior to departure time at the True North office behind Mako’s Water Taxi. Take a scenic boat ride to Yukon Island, where you’ll explore intricate coastlines with craggy rock arches and spectacular birds and wildlife. Wear warm, layered clothes and bring a water bottle. Snacks provided. All experience levels welcome. Limit 6. $90pp, $80 kids 12 & under. Sponsored by True North Kayak Adventures.

Bird Is the Word Writing Workshop 2pm-3pm. Homer Public Library.
Join Homer writer Nancy Lord for this workshop which will assist shorebird participants in observing, making field notes, and writing about their birding experiences. Using visual aids, you'll practice finding words to describe birds and their behaviors, as well as making meaning from what you see. You'll also read some selected "bird poems" and use them as prompted for generating poetry and prose of your own. Bring paper and pens. Limit 20. No fee, but registration required. Sponsored by the Friends of the Homer Public Library.

Bird Songs: Local Music 2:30pm-3:30pm. Islands & Ocean Visitor Center.
Bird songs add new dimensions to nature experiences by enabling us to “see” and learn about individual birds through their songs. Local birder Mossy Kilcher will present the songs of our local songbirds with photos, bird song recordings, and bird stories.

Extreme Volunteering: Nesting Albatross Census at Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge
3pm-4pm. Islands & Ocean Visitor Center.
Join Betty Siegel as she shares images and her experiences as a volunteer on a recent three-week count of all active Laysan and Black-footed Albatross at Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge. Both physically and emotionally challenging, this experience was "NOT a walk in the park", but where else can you walk among a million huge birds, at the largest colony of both species in the world?

Beginners’ Bird Walk Beluga Lake 4pm-5:30pm. Airport Viewing Platform.
Kenai National Wildlife Refuge biologists Elizabeth Jozwiak & Toby Burke will help participants search for migratory songbirds, waterfowl and other birds by sight and by sound. Binoculars and rubber boots recommended.

"Bird Locally, Eat Globally" 5pm-7pm. Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies.
Enjoy this free Shorebird Festival kick-off reception, with food from a variety of cultures. Special presentation by this year's Festival artwork artist, Alaskan Aleutiq Orville Lind, on the cultural importance of birds past and present. Sponsored by the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies.

Mr. Whitekeys 7pm-8pm. Alice's Champagne Palace.
Mr. Whitekeys brings The Shorebird Follies to the 2009 Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival, and this year's show will be bigger and better than ever. Featuring cheesy songs, tacky costumes, a whiz-bank digital multi-media show, and oodles of shorebird fun. Joining Mr. Whitekeys on stage will be fabulous chanteuse Miss Crissy Ditmore. According to Mr. Whitekeys, she's the ultimate shorebird entertainer: "She sings like a nightingale, she eats like a bird, and she has been known to lay an egg or two." Crissy has preformed at Disney World, Universal Studios, Busch Gardens, and once saw a Fork-tailed Storm Petrel on the way to Valdez. Mr. Whitekeys has performed extensively throughout Alaska. Highlighted appearances during this past winter have included the Romig Middle School 8th Grade career Fair and a political fundraiser in the living room of a guy named Vito. Tickets available via the Festival registration form and at the Homer Chamber of Commerce.
21 & older only. $26pp. Sponsored by World Wildlife Fund & Alice's Champagne Palace.

Friday May 8 - High Tide 3:14 pm

FESTIVAL REGISTRATION 8am-7pm. Homer Chamber of Commerce

Homer Hot Spots Tour SOLD OUT 7am-9am. Islands & Ocean Visitor Center.
Hop on the bus with local bird guides Rich Kleinleder and Dale Chorman to find the hottest spots for all kinds of birds in Homer's wetlands and forests. You’ll have the opportunity to get off the bus and do short walks, so bring your binoculars. Rubber boots are recommended. Limit 22. $20pp.

Overlook Park Hike 7am-3pm.
Meet at the Islands & Ocean Visitor Center for transportation to the trailhead. Spend the day enjoying this guided, strenuous, 6.5 mile hike along the north shore of Kachemak Bay to visit Overlook Park, an undisturbed pocket of native coastal habitat, and a remote unit of the Alaska State Park system. View shorebirds, sea ducks, marine mammals, ravens and eagles along the shore and bluff, as well as early songbird migrants and waterfowl around the ponds in the Park. This all-day hike is considered strenuous due to length, steep and uneven terrain, creek crossings and unimproved trail. Bring binoculars, lunch, water, raingear and sturdy, waterproof knee boots. Proceeds benefit the management of Overlook Park. Limit 12. $10pp. Sponsored by the Kachemak Bay Conservation Society and Alaska National Wildlife Refuge.

Barren Island Birding SOLD OUT 7am-5pm. Harbor, Ramp 2, Slip C-5, M/V Sizzler.
Visit the Bird Rookery on Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge at the Barren Islands. This is a great birding opportunity to view pelagic seabirds, whales and more during this over-100 mile round trip with a naturalist on board. Dress warm with rain gear and bring binoculars, bird books and cameras. Lunch included. Limit 20. $149pp. (In the event that Friday’s tour is cancelled due to weather, a Saturday tour will take place, weather-dependent, with Friday’s ticketed participants having first opportunity.) Sponsored by Rainbow Tours.

Early Bird Sea Kayaking 8am-1:00pm. Harbor Ramp 2, M/V Seabird.
During May, Kachemak Bay is normally the calmest early in the day. We'd like to take advantage of the smoothest water by striking out early. We offer fresh cookies, hot beverages, sealife and a gorgeous paddling route, with our experienced, friendly guides. Bring a personal water bottle and dress warm. Adults only. Limit 12. $95pp. Sponsored by St. Augustine’s Kayak & Tours.

Alaska's Amazing Seabirds 9am-10am. Islands & Ocean Visitor Center.
Homer naturalist and birder Carmen Field will bring to life the world of Alaska's seabirds. From Pelagic
storm-petrels and the ever-present gulls, to animated puffins and their relatives.

Birding Beluga Slough, Bishops Beach SOLD OUT 9:30am-11am, Meet at the Islands & Ocean Visitor Center.
This guided walk will follow the Beluga Slough trail and roads to Bishop’s Beach. View migrating shorebirds and waterfowl with naturalist Betty Siegel. Fine tune your bird ID skills while learning about shorebird food resources and shorebird habitat conservations efforts around Kachemak Bay. Binoculars and rubber boots recommended. Limit 20. No fee, but registration is required. Sponsored by Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges.

Digiscoping: Capturing the Image 10am-11am. Islands & Ocean Visitor Center.
Wondering how to take those amazing close-ups of birds? Eagle Optics’ Ben Lizdas will share his secrets during this workshop. Instruction will begin in the classroom, where Ben will review the basics of digiscoping, from what it is, to equipment selection, to adapting your camera and scope and, finally, to using the equipment to get high quality images. After the classroom session, participants will head outdoors to practice their new-found skills. Sponsored by Eagle Optics.

Digiscoping Field Workshop 11am-noon. Islands & Ocean Visitor Center.
Bring your digiscoping gear - camera and scope - outside with Leica Optics’ Jeff Bouton. This field trip is a great follow-up to the digiscoping classroom session. Sponsored by Leica Optics.

Wizards of the Wild - The Life History of the Merlin Noon-1pm. Islands & Ocean Visitor Center.
Wildlife biologist Tim Craig presents on Merlins. Small in size, but big attitude, this little falcon preys almost exclusively on other birds, often catching them on the wing after a high speed pursuit. In medieval times, noble women commonly used Merlins in falconry, but today most people are unfamiliar with this little raptor. Merlins are circumboreal in distribution, nesting at northern latitudes around the world, including over much of Alaska.

Intermediate/Advanced Birders’ Shorebirding Walk SOLD OUT Noon-2pm. Mud Bay Spit.
Expert birder George Matz lead this walk, geared for intermediate to advanced birders, out on to the small sandy spit that stretches into Mud Bay. Rubber boots recommended. Limit 20. No fee, but registration required.

Yup'ik Eskimos and their Birds on the Bering Sea Coast of Alaska 1pm-2pm. Islands & Ocean
Visitor Center.
In the Lower Yukon, birds are a part of the way of life of the Yup'ik people. Avid birder and retired teacher Frank Keim will share some of his poetry, inspired by Yukon Delta birds and images of the Yup'ik people from the villages that he taught in.

Creatures of the Dock 1pm-2pm, Harbor Ramp 2.
Join Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies trained naturalists for a visit to the fascinating animal community below and attached to the docks in the Homer Boat Harbor. Special emphasis is on those creatures favored by birds for their meals. Limit 20. $10pp, $5 kids 10 & under, toddlers free. Sponsored by the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies.

Field Sketching for Adults SOLD OUT 1pm-2:30pm. Islands & Ocean Visitor Center.
Meet at the Islands & Ocean Visitor Center and head out with this year's featured Shorebird Festival artwork artist, Alaskan Aleutiq Orville Lind. Learn how to see and sketch shorebirds. Orville has taught art to children and adults in Alaska's culture camps and schools. Ages 16 to Adult. Limit 15. No fee, but registration is required.

Gull Island Getaway 1:30pm-3pm. Harbor, Ramp 1, Slip C22, M/V Northern Star.
Join the crew of the Northern Star and enjoy a narrated natural history and bird watching cruise to Gull Island to view nesting seabirds. Learn about the Homer harbor and habits of the seabirds that visit Gull Island. Limit 24. $30pp, $15 kids 12 & under. Sponsored by Homer Ocean Charters.

Kayaking with Birds & Wildlife 1:30pm-6pm. Harbor Ramp 2, True North office.
Check in 30 minutes prior to departure time at the True North office behind Mako’s Water Taxi. Take a scenic boat ride to Yukon Island, where you’ll explore intricate coastlines with craggy rock arches and spectacular birds and wildlife. Wear warm, layered clothes and bring a water bottle. Snacks provided. All experience levels welcome. Limit 6. $90pp, $80 kids 12 & under. Sponsored by True North Kayak Adventures.

Raptors of Alaska 2pm-3pm. Islands & Ocean Visitor Center.
Join Jeff Bouton as he explores the finer points of identifying Alaska' twelve common diurnal raptor species: Northern Harrier, Osprey, Bald and Golden Eagles, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Northern Goshawk, Red-tailed and Rough-legged Hawks, American Kestral, Merlin, Peregrin Falcon and Gyrfalcon. Special emphasis will be given on ageing Bald Eagles by plumage characteristics, and separation of confusing dark and intermediate plumages on Rough-legged and Red-tailed Hawks. Beyond plumage, Jeff will describe behavioral cues to aid in identification. Whether just beginning or an experienced field observer, all should be able to take something away from this thorough review.

Birding from the Bus 2:30am-4pm. Meet at the Islands & Ocean Visitor Center.
This tour is for limited mobility participants only. Join local bird expert and historian Daisy Lee Bitter & local lifelong birder Dan Thorington on this guided tour bus tour to several bird watching spots by the roadside. Daisy Lee and Dan will share the natural history of Homer and point out historic markers along the way. A limited number of binoculars will be available. Limit 10 seats, 2 wheelchairs. No fee, but registration required. Sponsored by the Homer Senior Center, Friendship Terrace.

Homer Hot Spots Tour SOLD OUT 2:30pm-4:30pm. Islands & Ocean Visitor Center.
Hop on the bus with local bird guides Rich Kleinleder and Dale Chorman to find the hottest spots for all kinds of birds in Homer's wetlands and forests. You’ll have the opportunity to get off the bus and do short walks, so bring your binoculars. Rubber boots are recommended. Limit 22. $20pp.

Shorebird Viewing Station 2:30pm-4:30pm. Mud Bay and Lighthouse Village.
Meet at the base of the Spit, where guides in orange vests will help you locate and identify shorebirds feeding in the mudflats. Spotting scopes, binoculars and guidebooks will be available for use. Rubber boots recommended. Please park only in designated areas.

Optics 101 3pm-4pm. Islands & Ocean Visitor Center.
Sorting through the myriad of choices available to today’s birders or naturalist can be overwhelming. An avid birder and sales representative for Eagle Optics, Ben Lizdas will talk about the options and considerations to make when looking for the binoculars or spotting scope that will best suit your needs and your budget. With years of product knowledge to his credit, Ben will present a clear understanding of today’s optics options.

Junior Birder Discovery Lab 3pm-5pm. Islands & Ocean Visitor Center.
Kids ages 5 to 10 will have the opportunity to earn a Junior Birder Badge during this year's Festival. Join us for this hands-on, family-friendly Birder Discovery lab that will kick off family Festival activities and is one of the required activities for the Badge. A Jr. Birder Badge Activity. To learn more about Junior Birder Badge Requirements, click here. Sponsored by Kachemak Bay Research Reserve & Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge.

Of Mudflats & Statutes: The Law of Shorebird Habitat Protection 4pm-5pm.
Islands & Ocean Visitor Center.
Staff from Cook InletKeeper, a Homer nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the Cook Inlet watershed, will provide an overview of the state and federal laws and policies governing shorebird habitat protection, with emphasis on recent rollbacks requiring legislative attention.

Tour Gull Island SOLD OUT 4pm-5pm. Harbor Ramp 1, corner of A&C Float, M/V Danny J.
Enjoy a one hour boat ride aboard this classic wooden boat that will take you to Gull Island to view kittiwakes, murres, puffins and other seabirds. Limit 34. $10pp, $5 kids 12 & under. Sponsored by Kachemak Bay Ferry.

Welcome Reception for Keynote Speakers 4pm-6pm. Pratt Museum, upper level.
Meet this year's Keynote Speakers, Jack Dalton and Paul Baicich, as well as Festival special guest artist Tommy Joseph. Enjoy refreshments, live music and browse the current Pratt Museum exhibit: "Reflections of a Spill: 20 Years Later" during this Festival welcome reception. Jack and Paul will be available to sign merchandise purchased in the Pratt store, and watch the carving skills of special guest artist Tommy Joseph. This is your last chance to purchase your $20 lottery tickets for the 5:30pm drawing to be one lucky winner to bring a guest and join Keynotes Jack and Paul for dinner Saturday night, 7pm-9pm. Individuals looking to join a Kachemak Bay Big Day Birding Challenge team, or Big Day teams looking for additional people, please check in at the Pratt Museum’s front desk at 5:30pm. Thanks to Homer's talented musicians for providing music. Sponsored by World Wildlife Fund, Chevron, Taiga Communications and the Pratt Museum.

Special guest artist Tommy Joseph at Welcome Reception for Keynote Speakers.
4pm-6pm. Pratt Museum
Tommy Joseph is of the Eagle Moiety, Kaagwaantaan Clan and lives in Sitka, Alaska. He's been actively engaged in Northwest Coast carving since the 1980's, and has produced a wide range of artwork, including 35-foot totems, smaller house posts, intricately carved and inlaid masks and a wide range of bentwood containers. Watch Tommy carve, demonstrate and interpret Northwest Coast art. Sponsored by Taiga Communications.

Mr. Whitekeys SOLD OUT 7pm-8pm. Alice's Champagne Palace.
Mr. Whitekeys brings The Shorebird Follies to the 2009 Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival, and this year's show will be bigger and better than ever. Featuring cheesy songs, tacky costumes, a whiz-bank digital multi-media show, and oodles of shorebird fun. Joining Mr. Whitekeys on stage will be fabulous chanteuse Miss Crissy Ditmore. According to Mr. Whitekeys, she's the ultimate shorebird entertainer: "She sings like a nightingale, she eats like a bird, and she has been known to lay an egg or two." Crissy has preformed at Disney World, Universal Studios, Busch Gardens, and once saw a Fork-tailed Storm Petrel on the way to Valdez. Mr. Whitekeys has performed extensively throughout Alaska. Highlighted appearances during this past winter have included the Romig Middle School 8th Grade career Fair and a political fundraiser in the living room of a guy named Vito. Tickets available via the Festival registration form and at the Homer Chamber of Commerce.
21 & older only. $26pp. Sponsored by World Wildlife Fund & Alice's Champagne Palace.

Hot Tuna & Loudon Wainwright III 8pm-11pm. Homer High School Theatre.
Bring the entire family to this all-ages acoustic concert featuring Hot Tuna members Jorma Kaukonen (guitar), Jack Casady (bass) and Barry Mitterhoff (mandolin). Jack and Jorma came to prominence in the 60's as founding members of Jefferson Airplane. Their music is rooted in blues and American roots. Loudon Wainwright III is an American songwriter, folk singer, humorist, and actor. These artists have all contributed greatly to American music and culture, and Jorma, Jack and Loudon Wainwright III have had careers that continue to thrive and grow. This in itself is not easy, when your career starts off as founding members of Jefferson Airplane, one of America's most influential rock bands. As for Loudon Wainwright II, within 2 years of his first record release in 1972, he had a role on the TV comedy M.A.S.H. and was a musical guest on Saturday Night Live. $42pp all ages. Tickets available via the Festival registration form and at the Homer Chamber of Commerce. Sponsored by Downward Dog Productions, with a percentage of proceeds to benefit the Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival.

Saturday, May 9 - High Tide 3:52pm

FESTIVAL REGISTRATION 8am-7pm. Homer Chamber of Commerce

Kachemak Bay Big Day Birding Challenge 6am-4pm.
Register your team of 2 to 4 people for the Shorebird Festival's 2nd Annual Kachemak Bay Big Day Birding Challenge. Registration packet, including entry form, bird checklist and rules is available beginning April 13th at www.homeralaska.org/shorebird.htm, at the Homer Chamber of Commerce and at the Islands & Ocean Visitor Center. Registration packets will be available Festival weekend during registration hours at the Homer Chamber of Commerce and the Islands & Ocean Visitor Center. Individuals and teams may also register the day of, beginning at 5:30am at the Islands & Ocean Visitor Center. Participants can enjoy coffee at the optional "send off" 5:30am at the Island & Ocean Visitor Center. Interested participants will also have the opportunity to join a team on Friday, May 8th at 5:30pm during the Keynote Welcome Reception at the Pratt Museum. Awards and prizes will be presented to the top 3 adult teams (ages 19 & older), to the top 3 youth teams (ages
11-18), and to the top team of mixed adult and youth, Sunday May 10th at 10:45am at the Islands & Ocean Visitor Center. $15 team registration fee. Sponsored by Kachemak Bay Birders.

Intermediate/Advanced Forest Songbird Walk SOLD OUT 8am-9:30am. Baycrest Trailhead off
Rogers Loop Road.
Join expert birder George Matz for this intermediate to advanced level guided bird walk through the upland habitats of the Baycrest ski trails, looking for songbirds and other forect dwellers. Hiking boots recommended. Limit 20. No fee, but registration is required.

Cold Duck Time SOLD OUT 8am-11am. Harbor, top of Ramp 2, MW.
As the shorebirds arrive in Kachemak Bay, sea ducks prepare to head north to their happy nesting grounds. Hop aboard for a tour of Kachemak Bay’s southern shore in search of the Mergini tribe. Goldeneye, Harlequin and Long-tailed Ducks are just a few of the fine feathered friends that inhabit our bays and coves. Dress warmly. Limit 6. $60pp. Sponsored by Mako’s Water Taxi.

Upper Kachemak Bay Wildlife Tour 8am–12:30pm, Harbor, Ramp 2, Slip E-1, M/V Rainbow Connection.
Join us aboard the 65’ M/V Rainbow Connection for a trip to the rich shorebird feeding area in front of the Fox, Sheep and Bradley Rivers. We’ll explore the head of Kachemak Bay with a visit to Bear Cove, Aurora Lagoon, Glacier Spit and a stop at the Gull Island bird rookery. Continental breakfast included. Limit 80. $60pp, $35 kids 12 & under, infants free. Sponsored by Rainbow Tours.

Family Bird Walk SOLD OUT 9am-10am. Mariner Park.
Bring the entire family out for this guided bird walk that will have you out on the edges of the woods and shrubs, the Beluga Slough mudflats and adjacent grasslands and Bishop's Beach. Join Lisa Matlock, Educational Specialist for Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge and Tamara Zellar, outreach biologist for U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service for this informative, informal, kid-friendly fun walk that is one of the Junior Birder Badge activities. Bring field guides and binoculars if you have them. Some field guides and binoculars will be available for use during this workshop. Rubber boots recommended. Limit 30. No fee, but registration is required. A Jr. Birder Badge Activity.

Kachemak Bay Outer Coast Tour 9am-4pm. Harbor Ramp 6, slip EE-19, M/V Lady Hawke
The quiet, outer waters of Kachemak Bay are a spectacular place in the spring. This bird and wildlife tour will take you to the outer Kachemak Bay coast, from Seldovia Bay to Point Adam. Many species of marine birds are likely to be seen, as well as a variety of mammals, including sea lions, sea otters, harbor seals, harbor porpoises, and mountain goats. With luck, you may even see some black bears or whales. Box lunch will be provided. Limit 5. $200pp, $150 kids 12 & under. Sponsored by Seaman's Adventures.

Shorebird Identification 9:30am-11am. High School Theatre.
Anchorage Audubon Society’s Buzz Scher will help you learn which species of shorebirds are likely to be seen in the Kachemak Bay area during the Festival, and how to identify them. Buzz has led this class every year since the Festival began in 1993, so if you love shorebirds you won’t want to miss this workshop.

Live Bird Presentations 10am-11am. High School Choir Room.
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to bring the entire family to get up close and personal to a trio of live birds! Wildlife rehabilitators from the Anchorage Bird Treatment & Learning Center will introduce their wild birds and discuss their behaviors. This year's featured birds include a snowy owl, a bald eagle and a great horned owl. $3pp. A Jr. Birder Badge Activity. Sponsored by the Bird Treatment and Learning Center in Anchorage & World Wildlife Fund.

Gull Island Getaway 10am-11:30am. Harbor, Ramp 1, Slip C22, M/V Northern Star.
Join the crew of the Northern Star and enjoy a narrated natural history and bird watching cruise to Gull Island to view nesting seabirds. Learn about the Homer harbor and habits of the seabirds that visit Gull Island.
Limit 24. $30pp, $15 kids 12 & under. Sponsored by Homer Ocean Charters.

Special guest artist Tommy Joseph at the Arts & Education Fair 10am-noon.
Tommy Joseph is of the Eagle Moiety, Kaagwaantaan Clan and lives in Sitka, Alaska. He's been actively engaged in Northwest Coast carving since the 1980's, and has produced a wide range of artwork, including 35-foot totems, smaller house posts, intricately carved and inlaid masks and a wide range of bentwood containers. Watch Tommy carve, demonstrate and interpret Northwest Coast art. Sponsored by Taiga Communications.

Whoo-o-o's for Lunch? 10am-noon. Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies.
This Open House will provide fun, hands-on birding activities for kids of all ages to explore the wonderful world of shorebirds and other local favorites. Activities will include owl pellet dissection, bird crafts, hands-on explorations and bird displays. Sponsored by the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies.

Arts & Education Fair 10am-5pm. High School Commons.
A wide variety of arts, hand crafted goods, optical equipment and food will be offered along with numerous educational exhibitsy. The Fair is the gateway to birding workshops and presentations, the live bird presentations by Bird Treatment & Learning Center in Anchorage, Keynote Jack Dalton's Storytelling performance: "The Boy Who Ate Too Much", special guest Tlingit artist Tommy Joseph and more.

Family Birding Station 10:15am-11:15am, Lighthouse Village.
Dress warmly bring the whole family outdoors to view hungry shorebirds, colorful waterfowl, and graceful Sandhill Cranes. Refuge education specialist Lisa Matlock will greet you with spotting scopes, binoculars, and the low-down on these marvelous migrating birds. Kids must be accompanied by an adult. Rubber boots recommended. Please park in designated areas. A Jr. Birder Badge activity.

Kayaking with Birds & Wildlife SOLD OUT 10:30am-3pm.
Harbor Ramp 2, True North office.
Check in 30 minutes prior to departure time at the True North office behind Mako’s Water Taxi. Take a scenic boat ride to Yukon Island, where you’ll explore intricate coastlines with craggy rock arches and spectacular birds and wildlife. Wear warm, layered clothes and bring a water bottle. Snacks provided. All experience levels welcome. Limit 6. $90pp, $80 kids 12 & under. Sponsored by True North Kayak Adventures.

Birding for Absolute Beginners 11am-noon. High School Classroom A104.
If you can't tell a crow from a raven, if you think all gulls are sea gulls, and if the only bird you can name with any confidence is the bald eagle, then this lighthearted program by long time Alaskan birder Andrea Swingley is for you. This hands-on classroom workshop will introduce you to and provide you with practice using basic birder tools: field guides, checklists, and binoculars, to identify birds. Bring field guides and binoculars if you have them. Some field guides and binoculars will be available for use during this workshop.

Conversation with a Craniac 11am-1pm. Cranehaven Studio, 58335 Cranewings Court, 4.5 miles East End Road.
Homer artist and crane enthusiast Mavis Muller will host an Open House at her Cranehaven Studio. View Sandhill Cranes as they fly by, land, feed and dance in the grassy field outside the studio. Mavis will share original poetry, stories and legends of “crane teachings”, as well as her exhibition of photography, basketry, dvds and books. Limit 20. $15pp.

Live Bird Presentations 11:15am-12:15pam. High School Choir Room.
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to bring the entire family to get up close and personal to a trio of live birds! Wildlife rehabilitators from the Anchorage Bird Treatment & Learning Center will introduce their wild birds and discuss their behaviors. This year's featured birds include a snowy owl, a bald eagle and a great horned owl. $3pp. A Jr. Birder Badge Activity. Sponsored by the Bird Treatment and Learning Center in Anchorage & World Wildlife Fund.

Family Bird Walk SOLD OUT 11:30am-12:30pm. Islands & Ocean Visitor Center.
Bring the entire family out for this guided bird walk that will have you out on the edges of the woods and shrubs, the Beluga Slough mudflats and adjacent grasslands and Bishop's Beach. Join Andrea Swingley and Kenai National Wildlife Refuge biologist Toby Burke for this informative, informal, kid-friendly fun walk that is one of the Junior Birder Badge activities. Bring field guides and binoculars if you have them. Some field guides and binoculars will be available for use during this workshop. Rubber boots recommended. Limit 30. No fee, but registration is required. A Jr. Birder Badge Activity.

Kid's Bird Calling Contest 12:30pm-1:30pm. High School Theatre.
Calling all kids! We want you to share your best bird call to win fun prizes. Keynote Jack Dalton will be one of the judges looking for accuracy of species call and behavior. An optional Junior Birder Badge activity.

Keynote Jack Dalton: The Boy Who Ate Too Much 1pm-2:30pm. High School Theatre.
Yup'ik Storyteller Jack Dalton shares a traditional Yup'ik story that has delighted people of all ages through the ages. See why audiences of children and adults alike all around the world can only say, "WOOOW!" After a long winter of hunger, a young Yup'ik boy goes out to hunt for food, only to eat everything he has caught ... without sharing. Eventually, he must face the truth and return home to his Grandmother, only to learn everlasting lessons that bring a laugh and a smile to everyone's face. This is one of Jack's most popular stories. DVD's of The Boy who Ate Too Much will be available for purchase and signing after the presentation. $6pp. Sponsored by World Wildlife Fund.

Eiders & Otters 1pm–5pm, Homer Ramp 2 Slip E-1, M/V Rainbow Connection.
Common, Stellers and King Eiders winter off the high bluffs of Homer. The elusive King Eider is our target, along with several other seabird species and lots of otters. Come help us find the King! Limit 80. $50pp, $25 kids 12 & under. Sponsored by Rainbow Tours.

Special guest artist Tommy Joseph at the Arts & Education Fair 2pm-4pm.
Tommy Joseph is of the Eagle Moiety, Kaagwaantaan Clan and lives in Sitka, Alaska. He's been actively engaged in Northwest Coast carving since the 1980's, and has produced a wide range of artwork, including
35-foot totems, smaller house posts, intricately carved and inlaid masks and a wide range of bentwood containers. Watch Tommy carve, demonstrate and interpret Northwest Coast art. Sponsored by Taiga Communications.

Sun & Fun in South Texas: A Shorebird Winter Vacation 2:30pm-3:30pm. High School Theatre.
This year's Time Schantz Memorial Scholarship winner, Peggy Kuhn, discusses the main shorebird wintering areas in South Texas, and touches on some of the other tropical birds found in the region. Sponsored by Tim Schantz Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Field Sketching for Teens Ages 12-15 2:30pm-4pm. Islands & Ocean Visitor Center.
Meet at the Islands & Ocean Visitor Center and head out with this year's featured Shorebird Festival artwork artist, Alaskan Aleutiq Orville Lind. Learn how to see and sketch birds. Orville has taught art to children and adults in Alaska's culture camps and schools. Ages 12-15. Limit 15. No fee, but registration is required.

Shorebirding by Ear SOLD OUT 3pm-4:30pm. Islands & Ocean Visitor Center.
Local bird experts Dave Erikson & Dale Chorman will tell you about the vocalizations of some of our common shorebirds. The classroom session is followed by a field trip to prime shorebird feeding spots where you'll have a chance to lend your ears to the birds. Limit 25. $2pp.

Shorebird Viewing Station 3pm-4:45pm. Mud Bay.
Meet at the base of the Spit, where guides in orange vests will help you locate and identify shorebirds feeding in the mudflats. Spotting scopes, binoculars and guidebooks will be available for use. Rubber boots recommended. Please park only in designated areas.

Family Birding Station 3pm-4:45pm. Lighthouse Village.
Dress warmly and bring the whole family outdoors to view hungry shorebirds, colorful waterfowl, and graceful Sandhill Cranes. Refuge education specialist Lisa Matlock will greet you with spotting scopes, binoculars, and the low-down on these marvelous migrating birds. Kids must be accompanied by an adult. Rubber boots recommended. Please park only in designated parking areas. A Jr. Birder Badge activity.

Birds in Alaskan Culture - 150 Years of Changing Attitudes 3:30pm-4:30pm. High School Theatre.
Join U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services Regional Archaeologist Debbie Corbett as she speaks on the fascination that people have with birds, and how every society has its own relationship with birds. She'll look at the relationship of Alaskans with our birds, starting with the way Alaska's Native people related to birds. The arrival of Euro-Americans brought a new kind of relationship, one that has changed dramatically over the last 150 years. Debbie will examine how this relationship with birds led to the creation of the National Wildlife Refuges, and how the relationship continues to change.

Tour Gull Island 4pm-5pm. Harbor Ramp 1, corner of A&C Float, M/V Danny J.
Enjoy a one hour boat ride aboard this classic wooden boat that will take you to Gull Island to view kittiwakes, murres, puffins and other seabirds. Limit 34. $10pp, $5 kids 12 & under. Sponsored by Kachemak Bay Ferry.

Keynote Paul Baicich: "Celebrating Birds in our Culture" 5pm-6:30pm. High School Theatre.
Keynote Paul Baicich presents on how birds have played an important role in many cultures, from ancient to modern and at many levels of intensity. The range of possibilities is vast: painting, music, sculpture, poetry, drama, you name it!! Cave paintings, the Bible, Italian Renaissance art, Shakespeare, the conquest of the Americas by Europeans, the earliest days of the USA ... all have included birds as part of unfolding, all are part of our rich cultural experience. In this presentation, Paul will emphasize the role that birds have played in recent American culture, from popular literature, to music, to TV, to movies. You'll leave with an appreciation of birds in the context of the grand ... and the everyday!! $6pp. Sponsored by Chevron.

Shorebird’s Sing at the Salty Dawg Saloon 7pm-8pm. Salty Dawg Saloon.
Tune up your vocal cords with your favorite bird call or make up your own and come out to the Salty Dawg Saloon for the 3rd Annual “what the heck kind of bird was that?” bird call competition. Categories for both serious and not-so-serious bird callers, with prizes for top competitors and all participants win. Registration starts at 6:30pm; competition begins at 7pm; awards and prizes given out at 8pm. Contact the Salty Dawg at 235-6718 with questions. Bar food available. Sponsored by the Salty Dawg Saloon.

Dinner with the Keynotes for Lottery Winner 7pm-9pm.
One winner and their guest will join Keynote Speakers Jack Dalton and Paul Baicich for dinner and dessert at a local restaurant. Tickets $20 - available via the Festival registration form and in person at the Homer Chamber of Commerce until 3pm on Friday, May 8th, and then during the Keynote Welcome Reception at the Pratt Museum between 4pm and 5:30pm, with winner drawn at 5:30pm. Winner must be 21 or older and their guest may be under 21, but please note that wine will be served. Winner need not be present to win. Winner will be notified by telephone, and their name posted on the front doors of the Homer Chamber of Commerce, the Pratt Museum, and the Islands & Ocean Visitor Center Friday evening. Sponsored by World Wildlife Fund, Chevron & Bear Creek Winery.

On the Wing – Celebrating Birds and Spring with Poetry and Song 8pm-10pm.
Bunnell Street Arts Center.
This 7th Annual concert, featuring life-long Homer musicians Sunrise Kilcher-Sjoberg and friends, will showcase a variety of primarily vocal music along with readings by contributing poets. Poets are invited to present their original bird-related work during the concert. If interested, please contact Sunrise at 907-235-7326 by April 24^th. $10pp. Proceeds benefit the Shorebird Education and Conservation Fund. With support from Bunnell Street Arts Center and Fresh Sourdough Express.

Sunday, May 10 - High Tide 4:30pm

FESTIVAL REGISTRATION 8am-4pm. Homer Chamber of Commerce

Morning at the Marsh 7am-8:30am. Airport Viewing Station.
Spend an early morning birding the wetlands of Beluga Lake with Wilderness Birding Adventures tour leader Aaron Lang. Scan the marsh for the many species of waterfowl and shorebirds that use this rich habitat as a migratory stopover. The adjacent spruce forest could harbor a number of passerines, including White-winged Crossbill, Pine Grosbeak, Boreal Chickadee and Gray Jay.

Birding by Ear SOLD OUT 7am-8:30am. Islands & Ocean Visitor Center.
Local bird experts Dale Chorman & Rich Kleinleder will help you identify the most common local songbirds by their songs and calls. A short classroom session will be followed by a field walk. Limit 25. $2pp.

Barren Island Birding 7am-5pm. Harbor, Ramp 2, Slip C-5, M/V Sizzler.
Visit the Bird Rookery on Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge at the Barren Islands. This is a great birding opportunity to view pelagic seabirds, whales and more during this over-100 mile round trip with a naturalist on board. Dress warm with rain gear and bring binoculars, bird books and cameras. Lunch included. Limit 20. $149pp. Sponsored by Rainbow Tours.

Shorebird Festival Bird Tally 8:30am-9am. Islands & Ocean Visitor Center.
Bring your sightings and gather with fellow birders to find out which bird species have been seen during this year's Festival.

A Little Bird Told Me 9am-10am. Islands & Ocean Visitor Center.
Birds hold a very important place in human myths and storytelling. Information is passed from generation to generation using birds as metaphors. But how do birds pass information among themselves? Do birds have culture? Do they lean from one another? Recognition of predators, new food resources and tool making may be all passed from one generation to the next. Susan Sharbaugh with the Alaska Bird Observatory in Fairbanks shares fascinating tales of social learning in the avian world.

Migration Run 9am-10:30am. Fishing Lagoon, Homer Spit.
Celebrating its 13th year, the Migration Run is a certified 5k run, great for serious runners, casual runners, walkers and families. The Run migrates along a northbound 5-kilometer route from the paved Spit trail to the Lighthouse Village. Come on out in your best shorebird costume for a chance to win special prizes. Refreshments, awards and prizes await participants at the finish area, and a free shuttle bus is available to return participants to the start. Pre-registration: $10pp, $5 kids 10 & under, $20 families. Day-of-event-registration: $15pp, $5 kids 10 & under, $30 families. Sponsored by Homer High Cross Country Team, with support from McDonalds.

Birders’ Coffee 9am-11am. Islands & Ocean Visitor Center.
After a morning in the field, warm up with hot beverages and fresh pastries, and join Festival speakers and fellow birders in sharing bird sightings and stories. Meet the feathered guests from the Bird Treatment & Learning Center in Anchorage and check out the display of optics. View the new photo exhibit celebration 100 years of conserving Alaska's wildlife and wildlands - Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. This will also be your last chance to buy tickets for the Festival raffles: the spotting scope, the Birders’ Basket and the Across the Bay Getaway. Sponsored by Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, Kachemak Bay Research Reserve & World Wildlife Fund. With support from Captain’s Coffee, Fresh Sourdough Express and Two Sisters Bakery.

Special guest artist Tommy Joseph at the Birders’ Coffee 9am-11:30am. Islands & Ocean Visitor Center.
Tommy Joseph is of the Eagle Moiety, Kaagwaantaan Clan and lives in Sitka, Alaska. He's been actively engaged in Northwest Coast carving since the 1980's, and has produced a wide range of artwork, including
35-foot totems, smaller house posts, intricately carved and inlaid masks and a wide range of bentwood containers. Watch Tommy carve, demonstrate and interpret Northwest Coast art. Sponsored by Taiga Communications.

Gull Island Getaway 10am-11:30am. Harbor, Ramp 1, Slip C22, M/V Northern Star.
Join the crew of the Northern Star and enjoy a narrated natural history and bird watching cruise to Gull Island to view nesting seabirds. Learn about the Homer harbor and habits of the seabirds that visit Gull Island. Limit 24. $30pp, $15 kids 12 & under. Sponsored by Homer Ocean Charters.

Junior Badge Awards Ceremony 10:15am-10:30am. Islands & Ocean Visitor Center.
The Festival’s 2nd Annual Junior Bird Badge Awards. Keynote Jack Dalton joins U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service staff in presenting patches and awards to kids ages 5 to 10 who have completed all of their badge requirements during the Festival weekend. Come show your support to these future birders. Sponsored by Kachemak Bay Research Reserve & Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge.

Kachemak Bay Big Day Awards Ceremony 10:30am-10:45am.
Islands & Ocean Visitor Center.
Keynote Paul Baicich joins Kachemak Bay Birders volunteers in presenting awards and prizes to competitors of this year's 2nd Annual Birding Challenge. Show your support for our very own Big Day'ers. Sponsored by Kachemak Bay Birders.

Kayaking with Birds & Wildlife 10:30am-3pm. Harbor Ramp 2, True North office.
Check in 30 minutes prior to departure time at the True North office behind Mako’s Water Taxi. Take a scenic boat ride to Yukon Island, where you’ll explore intricate coastlines with craggy rock arches and spectacular birds and wildlife. Wear warm, layered clothes and bring a water bottle. Snacks provided. All experience levels welcome. Limit 6. $90pp, $80 kids 12 & under. Sponsored by True North Kayak Adventures.

Keynote Paul Baicich: "The Ten Most Important Things You can Do for Birds & Bird Conservation" 11am-noon. Islands & Ocean Visitor Center.
Doomsday promotion and self-denial over current ecological disasters around us are not the best approaches to addressing our modern bird-conservation problems. In this talk, Paul Baicich will identify the five most serious threats to birds and then outline the modest but effective things everyone can do that will help birds, their habitats and ultimately, their future, as well as our own. Limited seating. Sponsored by Chevron.

Friendship Beach Walk 11am-4pm. Harbor, top of Ramp 2, MW.
Take a 30-minute cruise across the Bay and brake for birds along the way. Guided by experienced ornithologists, you’ll tour two lagoons, trace the Glacier Spit shoreline and take a detour into the forest to experience a variety of unique habitats, while helping to support an important organization. Bring a lunch.
Limit 15. Suggested donation $60pp. Proceeds benefit Friends of Kachemak Bay State Park.

Keynote Jack Dalton: "Quack! You're Welcome: The Role of Migratory Birds in the Yup'ik Culture of Alaska 12:30pm-1:30pm. Islands & Ocean Visitor Center.
Dalton's final Festival presentation. For thousands of years, migratory birds have been an important part of the lives and cultures of Alaska Native peoples. In a presentation peppered with oral history and humor, world renowned Alaska Native storyteller, Jack Dalton, gives insight not only into the uses of migratory birds in the Yup'ik culture, but the deeper relationship between the "Real People" and the wildlife that sustained them. In doing so, we can have a deeper understanding of our modern relationship to the world around us. Limited seating. Sponsored by World Wildlife Fund.

Feathers & Folding 1pm-3pm. Pratt Museum.
Join Museum staff and volunteers for an afternoon of "Feathers and Folding". This annual shorebird event offers kids and companion adults the opportunity to learn about bird feathers and make an origami bird. For more information contact Ryjil Christianson at (907)235-8635 or education@prattmuseum.org. Museum admission applies, members free. Sponsored by the Pratt Museum.

e-Bird: Birding for Conservation 1:30pm-2:30pm. Islands & Ocean Visitor Center.
Alaska eBird is a great way to record your birding observations, manage your life list and help contribute to avian monitoring and conservation in Alaska. e-Bird is a real-time, online checklist program that has revolutionized the way that the birding community reports and accesses information about birds. Each observation submitted to Alaska e-Bird contributes to an international network which is one of the largest and fastest growing biodiversity data resources in existence. Join e-Birder Taldi Walter as she demonstrates how to use e-Bird and contribute to avian conservation in Alaska and on a global scale.

Kayaking with Birds & Wildlife 1:30pm-6pm. Harbor Ramp 2, True North office.
Check in 30 minutes prior to departure time at the True North office behind Mako’s Water Taxi.
Take a scenic boat ride to Yukon Island, where you’ll explore intricate coastlines with craggy rock arches and spectacular birds and wildlife. Wear warm, layered clothes and bring a water bottle. Snacks provided. All experience levels welcome. Limit 6. $90pp, $80 kids 12 & under. Sponsored by True North Kayak Adventures.

Intermediate/Advanced Birding in Anchor Point 2pm-3:30pm.
Meet at the Anchor Point beach parking lot.
Naturalist John Wenger and National Park Service Ranger Elizabeth Wasserman will help intermediate/advanced birders to find and identify shorebirds, seabirds and waterfowl that can be found at this interesting site where the Anchor River runs parallel to the beach. Binoculars and rubber boots recommended. Participants will need to provide their own transportation. On your way back out to the highway, stop at the Anchor River Lodge and view the eagles nesting fifty yards off the deck, with the Cook Inlet and Mt. Iliamna as the backdrop.

Tour Gull Island SOLD OUT 5pm-6pm. Harbor Ramp 1, corner of A&C Float, M/V Danny J.
Enjoy a one hour boat ride aboard this classic wooden boat that will take you to Gull Island to view kittiwakes, murres, puffins and other seabirds. Limit 34. $10pp, $5 kids 12 & under. Sponsored by Kachemak Bay Ferry.

Other Things to do in Homer

Birders’ Art Walk at Homer’s downtown art galleries, Friday, May 8, 5pm-7pm. Homer’s art community welcomes birders. Enjoy complimentary refreshments and door prizes while browsing each gallery’s featured exhibits. A Gallery Guide and list of featured exhibits is available at the Homer Chamber of Commerce. Sponsored by Art Shop Gallery, Bunnell Street Arts Center Fireweed Gallery, Picture Alaska Gallery and Ptarmigan Arts and Pratt Museum.

Celebrate the Birds Return at Cranehaven Studio, Friday & Sunday, May 8 & 10, noon-4pm, 58335 Cranewings Court, 4.5 mile off East End Road. Basket and story weaver Mavis Muller celebrates the birds return with a fun basketry class. View Sandhill cranes while you weave a nest-like basket using natural materials such as wild grass, nettles and alder. This four hour class is designed for beginners, ages 9-90. Class fee is $35, all materials provided. Registration required, call Mavis at 907-235-5132. Sponsored by Cranehaven Studio of Art & Nature.

Garden & Wildlife Viewing at Fritz Creek Gardens, Thursday-Sunday, May 7-10, open 10am-6pm, 8.5miles out of town, off East End Road. Fritz Creek Gardens is world renown for its 16 gardens, and over 500 varieties of perennials, trees, shrubs and roses that are for sale. The natural habitat gardens and ponds attract waterfowl and songbirds. Sponsored by Fritz Creek Gardens.

Going to the Birds 3rd Annual Bird Art Competition at the Ring of Fire Meadery, May 7-10, 178 E Bunnell Ave. Entry deadline is April 28 at 6pm. Bird Art will be on display at the Ring of Fire Meadery throughout the month of May. Stop by the Meadery between noon and 6pm during the Festival weekend to sample honey wine and vote for your favorite piece of original artwork submitted during this year's competition. The Award Ceremony will take place on Saturday, May 9 at 4pm with prizes awarded. Call 907-235-2656 for more information. Sponsored by the Ring of Fire Meadery.

Mother’s Day Brunch at Land’s End Resort, Sunday, May 10, 10am-3pm, Land’s End Resort’s Chart Room Restaurant at the end of the Homer Spit. Watch seabirds from your table while you enjoy this special Mother’s Day Brunch featuring prime rib, eggs Benedict, fresh fish, homemade desserts and much more. All Mom’s will receive a free rose. $22.95pp, $14.95 kids 7-12, kids 6 and under free. Reservations required, call
907-235-0406. Sponsored by Land’s End Resort.

Open House at Land’s End Condos Thursday, May 7, noon to 4pm, units 612 & 712. Bay Realty presents an open house at the Land’s End Condos, with food by the new Boardwalk Bakery and door prizes including a one night stay at a Lands End condo and Eagle Lady memorabilia compliments of Consignment World. Realtors will be on hand with MLS hooked up to share information about other listings in Homer and the surrounding area. Sponsored by Bay Realty.

Shorebird Festival 14th Annual Amateur Photo Contest at NOMAR. Accepted categories are Alaskan Wildlife, Alaskan Scenic, and Black and White. Entry deadline is May 4, 6pm, with cash prizes awarded. Exhibit will be on display May 7-31 at NOMAR, 104 E Pioneer Ave. Entry forms available at NOMAR, Eagle Eye Photo and the Homer Chamber of Commerce. Contact NOMAR at 907-235-8363 or nomar@xyz.net for more information. Sponsored by NOMAR Canvas Products and Eagle Eye Photo.

Wine Tasting & Winery Tour at Bear Creek Winery, Friday & Saturday, May 8 & 9, noon-6pm, 60203 Bear Creek Drive, just over 3 miles out of town, off East End Road. Visit Alaska's favorite tasting room and experience the delightful wines made from local fruits and berries. Try the Alaskan clover-strawberry mead (made with Alaskan honey) and our special Shorebird wind. For more information call 907-235-8484. Sponsored by Bear Creek Winery.