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What makes this Festival special? It’s the magical combination of spring at the Point Reyes National Seashore and surrounding region plus the numerous outstanding birders and naturalists who give of their time and expertise to guide the field outings and present workshops and lectures.

Point Reyes is a much beloved destination because of its unique geography, extensive wildlands and ranches, pristine coastline, dunes, mudflats, bays, estuaries, freshwater wetlands, forests, grasslands, coastal bluffs and chaparral. Together, these habitats support one of the highest levels of bird diversity in the country. In the same weekend, you can see migrating shorebirds, lingering wintering waterfowl and seabirds (many in breeding plumage), resident and migrant landbirds, raptors, alcids, albatrosses and other seabirds.

Add to that the stunning wildflower displays and migrating whales, and you’ve got an unmatched birding and nature experience! 

Tickets are still available for many outstanding field outings, including birding trips to Five Brooks Pond, Bolinas Lagoon, Rush Creek and Coret Madera Marsh. Wildflower lovers can be guided by experts to botanical hotspots like Mt. Tam and, in the Point Reyes National Seashore, Chimney Rock and Bull’s Point. For general outdoors enthusiasts, there are field outings with top butterfly and dragonfly experts as well as nature hikes along Lagunitas Creek, and at Bolinas Lagoon and much more. 

Adults and families with children are especially encouraged to sign up for Rich Stallcup’s field walk and program on an exciting habitat restoration program involving local school kids. Other family-oriented field outings will focus on tracking, tidepooling, live mammals (to be briefly caught for observation), a Birdathon For Kids, and a nature walk to Abbotts Lagoon.

Monday’s pelagic trip to Cordell Bank, a nearby seamount, is likely to encounter black-footed albatross, Sabine’s gull, thousands of migrating pacific loons, tufted puffin, Cassin’s and rhinoceros auklet as well as humpback and gray whales, some accompanied by young calves.

Fascinating indoor programs during the afternoons will cover topics such as the plight of the coho salmon, high tech gadgets for birding, citizen science  projects going on in the Bay Area and more.

Not only is this Festival a fantastic opportunity for birders and nature enthusisasts, the funds generated support a great cause: the habitat conservation work of the Environmental Action Committee of West Marin (EAC).  You can read about some of EAC’s conservation work at www.eacmarin.org and http://www.savepointreyeswilderness.org

Check it all out and register at http://www.pointreyesbirdingfestival.org. But don’t delay, tickets are selling fast! Inquiries can be sent to prbnfestival@gmail.com.

And don’t forget to stop by and chat with the folks from Bay Nature!