Eagle Festival salutes majestic bird and its habitat
Published on Tue, Jan 24, 2012 by Beckye RandallRead More Communities
Winter heralds the return of bald eagles to the Stillaguamish River and its environs, as the majestic birds take advantage of salmon coming back to the river to spawn. It also means it's time for the 5th Annual Eagle Festival in Arlington.
Sponsored by the City of Arlington, the Stillaguamish Tribe, the Pilchuck Audubon Society and the Arlington Arts Council, the weekend celebration kicks off Friday, Feb. 3, with an artists reception and wine tasting from 5 to 8 p.m. at Magnolia Hall, 225 E. Third Street in downtown Arlington.
The art show and contest, open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, showcases eagle-centered work by local artists and photographers. Prizes of up to $100 will be awarded in several categories, including Best of Show and Best Eagle Photo.
Also on Friday and Saturday, entries in the Nature Poetry Contest will be on display at Fogdog Gallery's new location, 233 N. Olympic, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
A rare opportunity to tour the Port Susan Preserve is offered Saturday, Feb. 4, from 10 a.m. to noon. Not currently open to the public, the Port Susan Bay Preserve safeguards some of the finest estuarine habitat in the Puget Sound. Three of the largest rivers in the Puget Sound (the Stillaguamish, Snohomish, and Skagit) empty into Port Susan Bay.
Flocks of snow geese gather at nearby fields, along with raptors, from peregrine falcons to short-eared owls. Wildlife biologists and volunteers will give guided tours, and guests are urged to dress warmly and bring binoculars.
Bill Blake, Arlington's Natural Resources manager, will lead a tour of the city's new stormwater wetland system and Eagle Trail beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday morning, starting just west of Haller Park, 1100 West Avenue.
This storm water wetland has been designed to filter harmful chemicals, sediment, and other pollutants from water flowing through its cells. Storm water previously deposited directly into the Stillaguamish River will now flow through the wetland, where native species plants will help filter it. __
Tour yet another wildlife area on Saturday at the Lower Pilchuck Wildlife Preserve, west of I-5 at Exit 210. The guided walk through the Pilchuck Preserve will inform visitors of the history, recent activity, and future of the land, as well as describe what functional floodplain, forest and salmon habitat it entails. Join Franchesca Perez, Outreach Biologist for Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources, from noon to 1 p.m. or from 1 to 2 p.m. at the northwest corner of Exit 210. Turn right (north) from 236th Ave. NE onto 6th Ave. NE. Preserve is on the left just after the road crosses Pilchuck Creek.
Meanwhile, in the City Council Chambers at 238 N. Olympic Avenue, various nature organizations will host exhibits and displays, including the Grizzly Bear Outreach Project, Sound Salmon Solutions, Pilchuck Audubon Society and Wolf Haven International. Visit City Hall from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to find out more about these and other local agencies and organizations.
In the same location, Sarvey Wildlife Care Center staff will have several rescued birds on display for observation and information, along with a few small mammals, from noon to 4 p.m.
All ages can enjoy hands-on craft projects from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Old Co-Op building at 101 S. Olympic Avenue on Saturday, or take a nostalgic horse-drawn wagon ride around downtown, courtesy of Sugar and Spice draft horses and the Downtown Arlington Business Association.
Just south of downtown, the Stillaguamish Valley Pioneers welcome visitors to the park's outdoor displays, including pioneer logging equipment and a three-dimensional settlers' map, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Pioneer Hall, built in 1923, will be open for a performance of Native American flutes and smudging demonstrations. A smudging ceremony is a Native American tradition believed to cleanse away any negative energy using burning sage. The park is located at 20722-67th Ave. NE in Arlington.
Professional chainsaw carvers from all over the Northwest will carve eagles especially for the Eagle Festival at Studio Tremko, 315 N. West Ave, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.
Other events planned for the weekend include classes in photography, a video about wolves, live entertainment at the Mirkwood & Shire Café, and a display of aircraft and vintage tractors next to City Hall.
Visit www.arlingtonwa.gov to see the full schedule of events.
Sponsored by the City of Arlington, the Stillaguamish Tribe, the Pilchuck Audubon Society and the Arlington Arts Council, the weekend celebration kicks off Friday, Feb. 3, with an artists reception and wine tasting from 5 to 8 p.m. at Magnolia Hall, 225 E. Third Street in downtown Arlington.
The art show and contest, open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, showcases eagle-centered work by local artists and photographers. Prizes of up to $100 will be awarded in several categories, including Best of Show and Best Eagle Photo.
Also on Friday and Saturday, entries in the Nature Poetry Contest will be on display at Fogdog Gallery's new location, 233 N. Olympic, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
A rare opportunity to tour the Port Susan Preserve is offered Saturday, Feb. 4, from 10 a.m. to noon. Not currently open to the public, the Port Susan Bay Preserve safeguards some of the finest estuarine habitat in the Puget Sound. Three of the largest rivers in the Puget Sound (the Stillaguamish, Snohomish, and Skagit) empty into Port Susan Bay.
Flocks of snow geese gather at nearby fields, along with raptors, from peregrine falcons to short-eared owls. Wildlife biologists and volunteers will give guided tours, and guests are urged to dress warmly and bring binoculars.
Bill Blake, Arlington's Natural Resources manager, will lead a tour of the city's new stormwater wetland system and Eagle Trail beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday morning, starting just west of Haller Park, 1100 West Avenue.
This storm water wetland has been designed to filter harmful chemicals, sediment, and other pollutants from water flowing through its cells. Storm water previously deposited directly into the Stillaguamish River will now flow through the wetland, where native species plants will help filter it. __
Tour yet another wildlife area on Saturday at the Lower Pilchuck Wildlife Preserve, west of I-5 at Exit 210. The guided walk through the Pilchuck Preserve will inform visitors of the history, recent activity, and future of the land, as well as describe what functional floodplain, forest and salmon habitat it entails. Join Franchesca Perez, Outreach Biologist for Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources, from noon to 1 p.m. or from 1 to 2 p.m. at the northwest corner of Exit 210. Turn right (north) from 236th Ave. NE onto 6th Ave. NE. Preserve is on the left just after the road crosses Pilchuck Creek.
Meanwhile, in the City Council Chambers at 238 N. Olympic Avenue, various nature organizations will host exhibits and displays, including the Grizzly Bear Outreach Project, Sound Salmon Solutions, Pilchuck Audubon Society and Wolf Haven International. Visit City Hall from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to find out more about these and other local agencies and organizations.
In the same location, Sarvey Wildlife Care Center staff will have several rescued birds on display for observation and information, along with a few small mammals, from noon to 4 p.m.
All ages can enjoy hands-on craft projects from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Old Co-Op building at 101 S. Olympic Avenue on Saturday, or take a nostalgic horse-drawn wagon ride around downtown, courtesy of Sugar and Spice draft horses and the Downtown Arlington Business Association.
Just south of downtown, the Stillaguamish Valley Pioneers welcome visitors to the park's outdoor displays, including pioneer logging equipment and a three-dimensional settlers' map, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Pioneer Hall, built in 1923, will be open for a performance of Native American flutes and smudging demonstrations. A smudging ceremony is a Native American tradition believed to cleanse away any negative energy using burning sage. The park is located at 20722-67th Ave. NE in Arlington.
Professional chainsaw carvers from all over the Northwest will carve eagles especially for the Eagle Festival at Studio Tremko, 315 N. West Ave, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.
Other events planned for the weekend include classes in photography, a video about wolves, live entertainment at the Mirkwood & Shire Café, and a display of aircraft and vintage tractors next to City Hall.
Visit www.arlingtonwa.gov to see the full schedule of events.
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