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For a press release (PDF) regarding the event... click here.

Save the date for the next
BirdFest & Bluegrass

October 9 & 10, 2010

Bluegrass will be on Saturday October 9th.

BirdFest and Bluegrass

Join the Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge and the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge Staff as we celebrate the coming of fall and the wildlife that make the Refuge their winter home. BirdFest and Bluegrass is an opportunity to enjoy the sights and sounds of fall migration and bluegrass music throughout Ridgefield. Come meet people from near and far during our 10th annual BirdFest and Bluegrass.

The Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge will be free during BirdFest! Suggested Clothing: Appropriate shoes are suggested for any of the tours and walks. Dress in layers for the weather and carry water. Rain or Shine. Even if it is raining you'll have plenty to enjoy indoors.

Birders' Marketplace & Food Vendors

Birders' Marketplace will be open Saturday 10-5 and Sunday 11-5. Enjoy great food and nature inspired items to buy both days. Birdhouses, bird feeders, beautiful photographs and garden art will be for sale. Interesting displays from the Audubon Society, Naturescaping and many others will be dishing out the knowledge. Come learn something new!

Vendors will be at the Ridgefield Community Center and also outdoors.

SCHEDULE of EVENTS for BirdFest & Bluegrass - 3 locations

Downtown Ridgefield

Bluegrass Music - Saturday ONLY!

Children's Activities

10:00 to 4:00 at Davis Park Both Sat & Sun.

The Bald Eagle is the theme bird this year. All children's activities, including games and crafts, are free. Kids soar on over to Davis Park to learn all about our national bird, the Bald Eagle . . . and other interesting bird facts, too! All ages welcome with something for everyone.

*Younger kids enjoy making puppets, fish printing, and making your own Footprint Eagle.

*Older kids learn about birds at the "Touch Table/Learning Center", make a "Balancing Eagle", and fish printing.

*Bird ball game, Bald Eagle Fun Facts Challenge and "Feed the Birds"are games that all ages will enjoy.

Saturday 11:00 Bald Eagle Award Ceremony at Davis Park

BirdFest and Bluegrass sponsors will be honored with a gift from the Friends, and the winners for both the 2009 Adult and Youth Photo contest categories will be announced. Pro Photo Supply will be on hand to award the prizes. Afterwards the winning photographs will be on display at the Birders Marketplace.

Saturday - 1:30 and 3:30 and Sunday 12:00 and 3:00 Storytelling Tent at Davis Park

Join storyteller Nancy McQuillan for a fun session of stories starring birds, birds and more birds! Nature lovers of all ages are welcome to participate.

Saturday - 1:00 to 2:00 at View Ridge Middle School Live Raptor Show

Come see the Bald Eagle and other native Pacific Northwest raptors, including hawks and falcons. Let the experienced staff from the Oregon Zoo teach you about birds of prey and learn which ones are found on Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge during fall migration and throughout the year. You can get a close-up look at these magnificent birds, learn about their habitats, and find out about the zoo's conservation programs.

Saturday - 2:00 to 3:00 at View Ridge Middle School Life of the Bald Eagle

Join Frank Isaacs in a presentation of bald eagle biology and the status of the Columbia River population. Frank has conducted research and monitoring of bald eagles in Oregon and Washington for 30 years, is a senior faculty research associate with Oregon State University and is the co-founder of the Oregon Eagle Foundation. Learn about local eagles from a local expert!

Saturday - 12:00 to 2:00 Sidewalk Chalk Drawing

Friends of the Ridgefield Community Library hosts "Go Wild about Birds" the public is invited to pick up some chalk and create a drawing on the street or sidewalk on Main Street. Prizes will be awarded to all.

Saturday - 2:30 to 3:30, Sunday - 1:00 to 3:00 at Davis Park, Oregon Zoo "Raptors Up-Close Display"

You can get a close-up look at these magnificent birds, learn about theirhabitats, and find out about the zoo's conservation programs.

Sunday - 12:00 to 4:00 at Old Liberty Theater "Winged Migration"

Drop in, learn about the wonders of birds and see the movie - playing continuously.

Refuge Carty Unit & Cathlapotle Plankhouse

Children's Activities

Saturday and Sunday - 10:00 to 4:00

Children's activities and docent led tours of the Plankhouse will teach the lifestyle of the Chinookan culture through hands-on activities.

Scheduled Tours and Events

Saturday - 9:00 Audubon Guided Family Bird Walk

A family-friendly nature walk with Audubon naturalists. Bring your children and nurture their appreciation for the wonder and beauty of nature.

Saturday - 10:00 to 4:00 "Flint Knapping and Tool Making"

The Plankhouse will be hosting ongoing demonstrations by Flintknapper Dennis Torresdal from the Oregon Archaeological Society. He will demonstrate stone tool making technology and will emphasize projectile points, small scrapers, and knives, similar to ones recovered from Cathlapotle and other nearby Chinookan sites.

Saturday - 10:00 to 12:00 Guided Walk to Wapato Portage Site

Join an experienced guide on a walk to the site where the Lewis and Clark expedition camped for the night after visiting the Cathlapotle village. *Please be aware that this walk includes uneven terrain.

Saturday - 10:30 Audubon Guided Family Bird Walk

(See description at 9:00)

Saturday - 1:00 to 3:00 Guided Walk to Cathlapotle Village Site

A guided walk to the Cathlapotle village site on theRefuge. A rare opportunity to visit this archaeological site. *Please be aware that this walk includes uneven terrain.

Saturday and Sunday - 1:00 to 3:00 Geo-Adventures

Embark on a Geo-Adventure! Anybody who likes to solve puzzles and enjoy the great outdoors will like this new refuge activity. It's not just a casual stroll along the trail, a mystery asks to be solved by visiting interesting locations within the Carty Refuge Unit. Supplies include a bag of clues and a mysterious journal that guide you and your family along your journey. Using a GPS unit and a set of clues, your task is to find the answers to the questions using navigational and logical skills. Fun for both teens and adults. Pick up your Archaeology or Biology focused Geo-Adventure Bag at the Carty Unit.

Saturday - 1:30 to 3:00 Guided Native Plant Walk

Saturday - 3:00 Audubon Guided Bird Walk

(See description at 9:00)

Sunday - 11:00 Geology Walk

"Missoula Floods on the Refuge - Montana Comes to Ridgefield". Guided by Jim Maul.

Sunday - 11:00 "People of the Plankhouse: Past and Present"

Sam Robinson, Vice-Chairman of the Chinook Indian Nation.

Sunday - 12:00 "When the River Ran Wild!

Indian Traditions on the Mid-Columbia and the Warm Springs Reservation." By Author George Aguilar Sr.

Sunday - 1:00 to 3:30 Autumn Salmon Bake

Join us for a Blessing by Vice-Chairman of the Chinook Indian Nation, Sam Robinson, as we roast and partake of the time-honored tastes of salmon, oysters, and clams. Complimentary samplings while supplies last. Traditional ways of roasting salmon. Taste a sample. Thank you Pacific NW Best Fish Co. for contributing the seafood.

Refuge River 'S' Unit

Scheduled Tours and Events

Saturday - 8:00 to 5:00 Refuge Guided Bus Tours

Be a Pioneer! On Saturday, October 10th, free guided bus tours of the River 'S' Unit's Auto Tour Route will run hourly from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm departing from the Ridgefield Community United Methodist Church at 1410 S. Hillhurst Rd. This is the first time guided tours will be the only access to River 'S' on Saturday the 10th. With BirdFest growing every year and approximately 4,000 visits during the weekend, the Auto Tour Route can be bumper to bumper during peak visitation. Take a bus tour of the River 'S' Unit guided by Refuge staff and bird-watching volunteers and learn about the Refuge, observe its wildlife, and enjoy nature. Please note: each tour will last approximately 1.5 hours. Park at the Community United Methodist Church to catch the bus.

Children's Activities Booth: Saturday and Sunday - 9:00 to 4:00

Children's Bird Bingo that all ages will enjoy. Play Bird Bingo as you travel around the River S Refuge Unit. Mark off birds you see - 3 in a row wins a prize!

Sunday - 10:00 to 4:00

Vancouver Audubon Society offers bird identification and bird viewing through spotting scopes at the David Dynes Blind.

Sunday - 9:00 Audubon Guided Bird Walk

A family-friendly nature walk with Audubon naturalists. Bring your children and nurture their appreciation for the wonder and beauty of nature.

Sunday - 10:00 Kiwa Trail - Photography Walk

Join photographer Roger Windemuth for his tricks of the trade.

Sunday - 10:30 Audubon Guided Nature Walk

Sunday - 3:00 Audubon Guided Bird Walk (See description above at 9:00)

Sunday - 8:00 to 5:00 Friends Introduces New Audio CD for Tour Route

Try out the new Friends' of RNWR new audio CD presenting the River 'S' interpretive tour. Pick up a CD at the entrance booth, and follow the markers around the auto tour route. Find out why this land became a Refuge, what are those big furry animals in the water, and why does the habitat look different in the winter and fall. Let us know what birds you see and give us comments on our script.

About the Refuge

Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge is operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and provides habitat to more than 200 species of birds. Established in 1965 for the protection of wintering dusky Canada geese and waterfowl and other migratory birds, the refuge offers excellent birding and heritage opportunities. In addition to our natural treasures, cultural treasures include the site of the Chinookan village of Cathlapotle visited by Lewis and Clark, two Lewis and Clark campsites (Wapato Portage and Post Office Lake) and the Cathlapotle Plankhouse. Enjoy the refuge and have a great time at BirdFest and Bluegrass.

About the Friends

The Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge (FRNWR) is a non-profit community group dedicated to supporting the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. We sponsor programs and activities that connect people with nature, restore important wildlife habitat and provide a living classroom to area children. We need your support as a member! Join now during our BirdFest and Bluegrass Membership Drive.

Food available this year will be:

• Starline for espresso and ice cream
• Vinnie’s Pizza
• Old Liberty Theater serving Coffee and Pastries
• Sportsman Bar & Grill serving BBQ sandwiches
• El Rancho Viejo with Mexican dishes
• Pioneer Street Cafe with Italian delights

Please visit this page for the Kayak & Canoe Tours.

Please visit the Special Tours and Events page for the Sandhill Crane Tours by Reservation Only.

Download a membership form here or contact us:
** phone (360.887.9495)
** email (rfriends@pacifier.com)
** mail - P.O. Box 1022, Ridgefield, WA 98642