The Oregon Shorebird Festival, one of the longest running bird festivals in Oregon, will celebrate 20 years in September. Birdwatchers of all skill levels are encouraged to join us and experience firsthand the wonder of shorebird migration on the scenic south coast from September 8, 9, and 10. The festival is headquartered at the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology in the small fishing community of Charleston, OR. The festival usually attracts between 50 to 90 visitors from all over the nation but primarily from the Pacific Northwest. The Festival is small compared to the larger wildlife festivals that have premiered in the past ten years; keeping the festival intimate so visitors are able to interact more closely with field trip leaders, guest speakers and other festival attendees.

Activities include expertly guided field trips to Bandon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge, New River and the Coos Bay area; a Saturday pelagic trip hosted by The Bird Guide, Inc.; SEA watches for seabirds and marine mammals and evening programs on current bird research. The Friday evening presentation will be given by Ram Papish, Wildlife Artist, Seabird Biologist, and Bird Enthusiast. The photography-filled presentation is titled "The Birds' Turn: The wildlife of Tern Island" and will show glimpses of Tern's wildlife while describing on-going conservation efforts. The Keynote presentation on Saturday features Dr. Dennis Paulson, Director Emeritus of the Slater Museum of Natural History and author of Shorebirds of the Pacific Northwest. Dr. Paulson will present "Birds of the Wind and the Tides" a natural history of shorebirds, primarily those of the Pacific coast.

Bring your best pair of binoculars as Bandon Marsh and Coos Bay are renowned for shorebird watching and each year a few rarities have delighted festival attendees, rarities have included Ruff, Curlew sandpiper, Mongolian plover, and Hudsonian godwit. Regular migrants include Black-bellied plover, Semi-palmated plover, Pacific golden-plover, Western sandpiper, Least sandpiper, Dunlin, Whimbrel, Long-billed dowitcher, and Red-necked phalarope. Please join us on the southern coast of Oregon for a weekend of birding fun and challenges. To register for the festival or for more information please visit our website or contact Dawn Grafe at 541-867-4550.