Schedule Shorebird Festival

Friday May 6

Shorebird Festival Opening Reception & Presentations

7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Darwin Café at Tofino Botanical Gardens $10 per person, cost includes dessert reception & non-alcoholic beverages. Cash bar. Tickets available at the door.

 

7:30 Overview of the Tofino Mudflats and area – Josie Osborne

8:00 Black Oystercatcher Presentation - Peter Clarkson Join Pete Clarkson of Pacific Rim National Park for an illustrated talk about the engaging Black Oystercatcher and learn why our area is globally significant for this species of concern. Pete has been studying Black Oystercatchers for 15 years. His presentation will include results from long term nest monitoring, tracking individual birds through leg bands and the use of radio telemetry..

 

 

 

Luzna Orchestra

 

 

 

Doors at 9:00 pm Clayoquot Orca Lodge, 1254 Pacific Rim Highway $15, tickets available at the door

 

 

Getting the crowd moving is a passion for Luzna, a group fast-becoming known as Vancouver Island’s premiere Latin-Soul Ensemble. With a pure-Latino blend of Salsa, Son, Cumbia, Latin-jazz, Bolero and more, this multi-national orchestra delivers plenty of soul with unbeatable, show- stopping energy. 

 

Saturday May 7 

 

Birding by Kayak to Arakun Flats

With kayak guide and naturalist Andy Murray

8:30am – 12:30pm Tofino Sea Kayaking, 320 Main St., Tofino COST: $75 + tax

 

The Arakun Flats are a kilometer wide sand and mudflat that lie alongside Meares Island, on the east side of Lemmens Inlet. Part of the Tofino Mudflats Wildlife Management Area, they are accessible by water only, and provide habitat for dozens of species of waterfowl and migratory shorebirds. This four hour sea kayaking tour will take you through the rocky islands of Tofino’s harbour and alongside the flats which border untouched ancient rainforests of giant Western Redcedars, Sitka Spruce, and Western Hemlocks. Sea kayaking experience is not necessary. Because you will be in double kayaks, you can alternate with your partner in paddling and birdwatching! 

 

Rocky Intertidal Shorebird Walk to Schooner Cove

With Pete Clarkson and Josie Osborne

9:00am – 12:00pm Meet at Schooner Cove Parking Lot, Pacific Rim Nat’l Park Reserve (16 km south ofTofino)

 

Join Pete and Josie on a 1.0 km boardwalk through lush rainforests and over streams down to Schooner Cove, with several rocky islets and bluffs home to Black Oystercatchers, Black Turnstones, and Rock Sandpipers. Please wear appropriate shoes and bring your daypack with binos, spotting scopes, water, and a snack.

 

EarlyBird ‘Birders’ Luncheon at Sobo

 

 

Hosted by Artie Ahier and George Bradd

11:00am – 12:00pm Sobo Restaurant, 311 Neill St., Tofino COST: $15 +tax/gratuity, beverages not included.

 

Sobo features imaginative, world wise dishes expertly prepared with simple, fresh, locally produced- often wild- ingredients. Sobo not only represents the style of culinary integrity and relaxed ambiance that Artie and Lisa Ahier have cultivated – it also reflects the personality of Tofino itself.

 

Anchor Park Shorebird Viewing Station

12:30pm – 2:00 pm Anchor Park (a.k.a. Third St. Vista), located directly across from the intersection of Third and Main Streets, Tofino By donation.

 

Anchor Park provides a clear view across the Tofino Harbour with its myriad islands and rocky outcroppings. Bring your binoculars and spotting scopes down for an informal session of birding with local naturalist Silva Johansson and visiting shorebird biologists Samantha Franks and Nathan Hentze.

 

Family/Children’s Shorebird Viewing Station at the Tofino Mudflats

With George Bradd and Josie Osborne

2:00pm – 5:00pm Bottom of Sharp Rd., Tofino (look for the Dolphin Motel). By donation ($10/family suggested)

 

A new wildlife viewing platform in the Tofino Mudflats Wildlife Management Area provides a view across Doug Banks Flats and into Jensen’s Bay, and across to the Jensen’s Bay salt marsh. The rising tide pushes shorebirds up towards the rocky shore, providing us with excellent viewing. This afternoon’s expedition is especially oriented to children and families (it’s never too early to learn about birds!) – but all are welcome.

 

Birds of Vancouver Island, with Mike Yip

Slideshow and Book Sales

7:00pm – 9:00pm Darwin Café, Tofino Botanical Gardens By Donation – suggested $5

 

Mike Yip discovered birds and bird photography in 2003. Since then he has produced a website Vancouver Island Birds; self-published three successful books on Vancouver Island Birds; contributed photos to environmental and educational projects around the world; and provided many PowerPoint presentations to groups all over Vancouver Island. He is also a bimonthly columnist for the North Islander. Mike's goal is to increase public awareness of birds on Vancouver Island with the hope of fostering greater concern for nature and conservation. The success of his books and the popularity of his newspaper column and presentations indicate that he is on the right track!

 

Sunday May 8

 

Pelagic Voyage: A Six-Hour Offshore Birding Voyage

8:00am – 2:00pm $250 per person. Please book through “Just Birding” at 250-725-2520 or info@justbirding.com

 

A six hour trip offshore and to Cleland Island Ecological Reserve (our exact route is weather dependent). Offshore, albatross, shearwaters, storm petrels, auklets, murres, jaegers, and fulmars can be found and will be identified by your guide. We’ll also take you to the best spots for seabirds, where we often see Wandering Tattler and Surfbird on this tour. Come see the Spectacular Tufted Puffin, Marbled Murrelets, Rhinoceros Auklet, and Black Oystercatchers. During migration long lines of loons and scoters fill the horizon and Harlequin Ducks play in the rocky shorelines. Limited to 13 people only, must be at least 13 yrs old.

 

Mudflat Interpretive Walk

With Kimberly Johnston

10am – 11:30am Tofino Botanical Gardens $11 adults, $6 students; free for children 12 yrs and under. Includes three-day admission to TBG.

 

The Tofino Mudflats are more than just mud; they’re one of the little-known jewels of Clayoquot Sound. Thousands of migrating shorebirds depend on these mudflats, and migrating grey whales use them too! What are they eating in the mud? Come down to the Tofino Botanical Gardens and join naturalist Kimberly Johnston to find out! Great for families, kids and mud-enthusiasts of all ages. Sturdy shoes are recommended; gumboots are not necessary as we will walk NEXT to the mud but not necessarily ON the mud (parents are advised to bring some extra clothes for kids). Thanks to the Tofino Botanical Gardens Foundation.

 

Shorebird Viewing Station: Sandy Intertidal and Rocky Outcroppings

1 pm to 3 pm Wickaninnish Interpretive Centre, Pacific Rim Nat’l Park Reserve N

 

Join naturalist and interpreter Silva Johansson with your binoculars and scopes at the Interpretive Centre. Depending on the weather, we may walk down onto the beach or stay on the Interpretive Centre platform. Afterwards, walk through the newly redesigned interpretive centre, or walk down to South Beach or along the Nu-chah-nulth Trail.

 

Building Better Birding Skills and Coastal Waterbird Survey

With Andy Murray and Adrian Dorst

2:00pm – 5:00pm Bottom of Sharp Rd., Tofino (look for the Dolphin Motel). Free of charge

 

The BC Coastal Waterbird Survey aims to coordinate the efforts of people who care about waterbirds in British Columbia. On the second Sunday of every month, the Raincoast Education Society undertakes the Coastal Waterbird Survey for Tofino, while others take on surveys in other parts of BC. he goal of such coordinated collective efforts is the conservation of coastal waterbird populations in British Columbia. Join us at our new wildlife viewing platform in the Tofino Mudflats Wildlife Management Area.

 

“More than Just Mud” Photo Fiesta

7 pm – 9 pm Location TBA Cover charge $5

 

Join us for an evening of celebration, viewing all the entries in the “More than Just Mud” 2011 Photo Contest. The "More Than Just Mud" Contests are part of the Raincoast Education Society's Tofino Mudflats Wildlife Stewardship Program. Our goal is to raise awareness about the wide array of habitats and wildlife of the Tofino Mudflats, and to increase stewardship amongst the residents of Tofino and surrounding area in caring for them and using them sustainably. 

 

Monday May 9

 

Monday Night Movie: The Wild Birds of Telegraph Hill

Doors 7:30 pm, Movie at 8:00 pm Clayoquot Sound Community Theatre, 370 Campbell St., Tofino $6 for theatre members, $7 for non-members

 

The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill is an award-winning feature documentary about the remarkable relationship between a homeless street musician and a flock of wild parrots in San Francisco. The “bona fide sleeper theatrical hit of 2005” (New Video), Wild Parrots is the fourth highest-grossing theatrical documentary about animals — after Penguins, Winged Migration, and Grizzly Man. You won’t be disappointed by this heart-warming movie.