o What: Birdfest and Bluegrass festival.
o When: Oct. 9-10; a complete lineup of events and live music is available online.
o Where: Throughout Ridgefield.
o Cost: Fees for some tours apply, but many events are free. $10 for all bluegrass shows. Children 12 and younger receive free admission.
o Information: 360-887-9495 or http://ridgefieldfriends.org.
The Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge’s Birdfest and Bluegrass festival honors one bird each year. In the past, visitors have learned about eagles and great blue herons through activities and games at the two-day festival.
The bird at the heart of this year’s festival — the dusky Canada goose — has a special resonance with the refuge. It’s why the refuge was created in 1964.
o What: Birdfest and Bluegrass festival.
o When: Oct. 9-10; a complete lineup of events and live music is available online.
o Where: Throughout Ridgefield.
o Cost: Fees for some tours apply, but many events are free. $10 for all bluegrass shows. Children 12 and younger receive free admission.
o Information: 360-887-9495 or http://ridgefieldfriends.org.
The refuge was established to give the geese a safe, protected area to spend each winter, said Marguerite Hills, executive director for the Friends of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge.
A 1964 earthquake in Alaska, where the geese spend most of the year, damaged their habitat and made them more susceptible to predators, said Eric Anderson, instructional systems specialist at the refuge.
That created concern about preserving the dusky population; since the geese were already spending their winters in the Willamette Valley, the refuge in Ridgefield was one of four areas in the region established in part to help the bird.
Today’s population — about 9,000 — is down from its historical high of about 25,000 in the early 1960s, Anderson said. The number of dusky Canada geese has been slowly declining ever since the earthquake, he said.
“Their populations are certainly below historic levels, and we want to make people aware of them and their conservation,” he said.
To raise awareness, the festival will offer activities, games and crafts that shine a spotlight on the bird.
Visitors can learn goose calls and sit in on story-telling sessions.
The geese typically arrive at the refuge each October around the time Birdfest takes place, Anderson said.
“It’s not uncommon for me to see my first duskies of the year at Birdfest,” he said. “I’m hopeful.”
Visitors might be able to see the dusky Canada goose on one of the several bird tours offered over the two-day festival. They include guided bird walks, bus tours and van tours both days.
Many tours are free, but several have fees, ranging from a $5 suggested donation for a night hike of the refuge’s Carty Unit to $30 for guided kayak tours.
More music
The festival’s other attraction is live music, which expands this year.
Until this year, the “bluegrass” portion of the festival’s moniker was confined to its first day. This year, the second day features a lineup of bluegrass and gospel music, as well as a mandolin workshop with Brian Oberlin.
The decision to expand the festival’s music offerings was an easy one, Hills said.
“So many people have asked us,” she said. “It’s nice for when people come — and so many people come from out of town — it’s nice that they have two days’ worth.”
