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Wings Over Willapa, hosted by the Friends of Willapa National Wildlife Refuge and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is set for the weekend of Sept. 20-22, but space is very limited for some events. See the full schedule and register at WingsOverWillapa.org. A $10 registration fee is required. Some of the classes and tours are free, while nominal fees are charged for others.

The Wings Over Willapa Festival celebrates birds, nature and art. “Wings Over Willapa brings the wildlife refuge into the community and the community onto the wildlife refuge. We strive to introduce new audiences to nature through a variety of events that engage different interests and skills,” said Hope Presley, visitor services specialist at Willapa National Wildlife Refuge.

The festival has something for all who love to explore the outdoors. Events include expert-led bird walks and programs ranging from wildlife tracking to adventuring at Leadbetter Point. Other highlights include a barge trip to Long Island and a hike to its ancient grove of cedars, a pelagic birding trip to see birds rarely seen from shore, hand building with clay to create your own bird bath, and a special Nature Play Day.

Friday is packed with activities, including a first-ever behind-the-scenes look at the new Willapa Coastal Forest. The forest has 2,366 acres of streams, wetlands and forest that became part of the refuge earlier this year and are important for spawning for Chinook, coho and chum salmon as well as steelhead, smelt and lamprey. Later that day, bring the family to learn about and meet live owls, hawks and falcons from Discovery Bay Wild Bird Rescue. A Welcome Social takes place Friday evening at the Salt Hotel & Pub in Ilwaco. Saturday brings Nature Play Day, a free event with nature-themed games and crafts for kids and “kids at heart” in downtown Long Beach, as well as more guided hikes for bird and plant lovers.

Saturday evening’s keynote, “Kinship with Kingfishers,” is presented by Marina Richie. Join her for a headfirst dive into belted kingfishers over seven seasons on a home creek. Her photo-filled presentation threads natural history, memoir and myth. She introduces the practice of deep birding leading to kinship with a wild neighborhood and personal transformation.

Marina’s book, “Halcyon Journey, In Search of the Belted Kingfisher” inspired her presentation and earned the 2024 John Burroughs Award, awarded annually to the year’s most distinguished book of nature writing. It earned a National Outdoor Book Award and a Foreword Indies Award. Marina will sign and sell books at the event. Hors-d’œuveres and a complimentary beer or wine are included with registration.

The Friends of Willapa National Wildlife Refuge will host a raffle with themed baskets at the start of the keynote event. In addition, the 2024 Wings Over Willapa Signature Quilt will be raffled. This year, the quilt depicts a beach scene with pelicans, a boat and sea creatures. It was created and donated by local quilter Toni Tweedle Healy. “We have been lucky for the past five years to receive a quilt from Toni. The quality of her work is amazing” said Sylvia Pelizza, Friends of Willapa National Wildlife Refuge Board of Director.

The quilt is displayed at the Ocean Beach Hospital (July/August) and Peninsula Senior Center (August/September).