The Snow Geese Are Coming!

Mark your calendars for the 7th Annual Port Susan Snow Goose and Birding Festival!  Coming up the weekend of February 25th and 26th, this festival honors the return of our region’s beautiful and beloved snow goose.  It’s always a guaranteed delight for avid birders and casual hobbyist alike!

A birding festival wouldn’t be a success without giving you the opportunity to go out into the field and see these lovely creatures yourself.  Luckily, the Historical Society has a variety of tours set up for the entire weekend.  A snow goose and trumpeter swan bus tour will take you through farming fields where thousands of birds are resting on their journey.  Guided tours are also offered, taking you to the Iverness Spit and the Nature Conservancy Port Susan Preserve – an area that is generally not open to the public.  And for those who want to explore at their own pace, you can pick up maps for self-guided tours of the Big Ditch and the English Boom.  Regardless of what you choose, just make sure to bring a camera!

The weekend will also feature guest lecturers speaking on a variety of topics that will pique the interests of both serious birders and curious beginners.  Learn all about snow geese, trumpeter swans, and eagles, as well as the migratory patterns of the honored snow goose.  If you’re looking to get into birding or just pursue it as a hobby, you can attend lectures on what you need to do to get started and how to attract and feed wild birds (nothing like birding from the comfort of your own home!)

One of the most exciting lecturers, in my opinion, is Kestral Skyhawk, who will be bringing in live birds from the Sarvey Wildlife Center.  Sure to delight kids – and kids at heart!  And just in case you’re wondering how to keep the children entertained, the Historical Society will have an arts-and-crafts area running the whole weekend with a variety of kid-friendly activities.

The Historical Society will also be providing reasonably priced breakfasts and lunches both days.  Saturday morning is the big Pancake Breakfast and Silent Auction, where $5 gets you a plate full of food and goes to benefit the Safe Harbor Free Clinic, helping those in need for nearly three years.  And if you want to continue the fun, Saturday evening will also feature a dinner and dance in the Meadow Room of the Four Springs.

For those who love art, several local artists will be displaying their wares and crafts throughout the weekend.  And for those who are participating in the Glass Quest, I’ve heard there will be a clueball hidden somewhere around the Historical Society for this final weekend of the challenge.

Head on over to the Snow Goose Festival website now to sign up for tours, lectures, and other special events – they will fill up fast!