Eastern Shore Birding and Wildlife Festival This Weekend

Magnolia Warbler by Sarah Cashwell, Broadwater Academy, Winner - 2013 Festival Art Contest

Magnolia Warbler by Sarah Cashwell, Broadwater Academy, Winner – 2013 Festival Art Contest

Based in Cape Charles, the Eastern Shore Birding and Wildlife Festival is the perfect opportunity to experience the wonders of wildlife—from the keynote presentation by Greg Miller whose own Big Year inspired the book and movie of the same name, to unparalleled guided tours, boat trips, nature hikes and much more.

It’s an incredible chance to catch sightings of species one may never have seen before. As one of the most important migration stop-overs on the East Coast, millions of songbirds and butterflies and thousands of raptors will converge here on their long journey south. With the Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge and Kiptopeke State Park nearby, this is a migration celebration to remember.

A number of trips for the Festival take place on National Wildlife Refuges which are closed during the government closure. As a contingency, alternate locations are being arranged for all scheduled trips affected by the government closure.

Schedule

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11

9 a.m. – 5 p.m. — Birding and Wildlife Festival Trips and Tours All Day. Please visit the Birding and Wildlife Festival website (www.esvafestivals.org) for a full listing of all trips and tours and to PURCHASE TICKETS.

9 a.m. – 5 p.m. — Eastern Shore Birding and Wildlife Festival Headquarters open at Cape Charles Volunteer Fire Department, 501 Mason Avenue

12 p.m. – 5 p.m. — Exhibitors and vendors at Festival Headquarters

6 p.m. — Reception with light refreshments and cash bar at Stage Door Gallery, 301 Mason Avenue

7 p.m. — Opening Program Keynote speech by Greg Miller, whose “Big Year” helped to inspire the book and movie of the same name

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12

6:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. — Eastern Shore Birding and Wildlife Festival Headquarters open at Cape Charles Volunteer Fire Department

7 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. — Birding and Wildlife Festival trips and tours all day. Please visit the Birding and Wildlife Festival website (www.esvafestivals.org) for a full listing of all trips and tours and to purchase tickets.

10 a.m.– 4 p.m. — Family Passport Program GREAT FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC — Birding Festival Headquarters (501 Mason Avenue) and Kiptopeke State Park. Visit our vendors and exhibitors to learn why the Eastern Shore of Virginia is so important to the migratory songbirds of the world. Learn about the flora and fauna (plants and animals) of our region. Make sure to pick up your family PASSPORT before embarking on this journey. If you get your PASSPORT stamped throughout our festival area you will receive a prize sponsored by the Eastern Shore Environmental Education Counsel!

10 – 10:45 a.m. — Virginia Living Museum Learning Experience, Birding Festival Headquarters, 501 Mason Avenue. Join the Virginia Living Museum for a live animal demonstration!

10 a.m. – 5 p.m. — Exhibitors and vendors at Festival Headquarters

11 a.m. – 12 p.m. — Flight of the Raptor  across Mason Avenue from the Birding Festival Headquarters. Witness this amazing display of raptors in flight. Birds will also be on display throughout the day. Find more information on Flight of the Raptor at www.flightofraptor.com or www.facebook.com/flightoftheraptor.

3-4 p.m. — Flight of the Raptor repeats

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13

7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. — Birding and Wildlife Festival Trips and Tours All Day. Please visit the Birding and Wildlife Festival website (www.esvafestivals.org) for a full listing of all trips and tours and to purchase tickets.

7:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. — Eastern Shore Birding and Wildlife Festival Headquarters open at Cape Charles Volunteer Fire Department

9 a.m. – 12 p.m. — Exhibitors and vendors at Festival Headquarters

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