o What: Birdrest and Bluegrass, a celebration of wildlife, Native American culture and bluegrass music.
o Where: Downtown Ridgefield and the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge.
o When: The weekend kicks off Friday night with a free 7 p.m. showing of Hitchcock’s “The Birds” at the Old Liberty Theater. Tours, workshops, nature walks and other events continue Saturday and Sunday, with most activities between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m.
o Cost: Most events are free; some events require preregistration and cost between $10 to $35. Sandhill crane tours are $25.
o Information: ridgefieldfriends.org/birdfest. You can also listen to the sounds of the belted kingfisher at www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/belted_kingfisher/sounds.
o What: Birdrest and Bluegrass, a celebration of wildlife, Native American culture and bluegrass music.
o Where: Downtown Ridgefield and the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge.
o When: The weekend kicks off Friday night with a free 7 p.m. showing of Hitchcock's "The Birds" at the Old Liberty Theater. Tours, workshops, nature walks and other events continue Saturday and Sunday, with most activities between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m.
o Cost: Most events are free; some events require preregistration and cost between $10 to $35. Sandhill crane tours are $25.
o Information: ridgefieldfriends.org/birdfest. You can also listen to the sounds of the belted kingfisher at www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/belted_kingfisher/sounds.
Birdfest is back at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge after last year’s government shutdown — and that’s not the only thing that’s going back to normal at the popular celebration of nature and Native American culture.
Bluegrass, which had long been part of the festival, will also be return after a two-year hiatus due to a music industry licensing issue.
“We had a committeewide vote that bluegrass needed to come back this year, but it needed to stand on its own,” said Julie Almquist, a spokeswoman for Birdfest and Bluegrass. “So we worked with the Old Liberty Theater, and we’ll have three bluegrass concerts at the event.”
The event, run by the Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, couldn’t afford licensing fees for the outdoor bluegrass shows that were once a signature of the festival, so it had to shut them down. The Old Liberty Theater already has a license for the music, so the groups worked together to bring it back in a different way.
“It’s been downsized quite a bit since years past, but this year we wanted to bring it back, so we funded it through a separate committee,” said Don Griswold, owner of the Old Liberty Theater. “So it’ll be three concerts rather than all day long. But it will be great. Bluegrass really lends itself to the festival.”
Concerts will cost $12 each.
Using a bit of what he admits is twisted humor, Griswold said he also set up a free screening of Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds” at 7 p.m. Friday to kick off the weekend.
“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” Griswold said. “It’s this weird-humor thing, but I thought I’d finally do it. I think it will be pretty comical.”
Also returning to the festival are the popular sandhill crane tours, which were canceled last year because of the federal budget shutdown. The friends group did hold several events last year, but they had to move everything to Ridgefield city parks when the refuge closed, said Sarah Hill, Cathlapotle Plankhouse coordinator.
“This year feels like a breeze compared to last year,” Hill said. “We’re really excited.”
Some special events this year include a workshop on bird language and another on watercolor painting. Around the Plankhouse, there will be a flint mapper and bow maker. At noon Sunday, there will be a screening of “The Lost Fish,” about the slowly vanishing Pacific lamprey, inside the Plankhouse.
And across the refuge, there will be a variety of other guided walks, educational sessions and tours.
“This event really has something for people with a wide range of interests,” Hill said. “There’s music, outdoor activities, crafts, arts, volunteering, education and more.”
The featured bird this year is the belted kingfisher, which is one of Hill’s favorites, she said.
“It’s awesome,” Hill said. “It has one of the most distinctive calls. It’s rattling and high-pitched.
“They like to hover above water looking for fish or bugs. And they’re just this brilliant blue with a really great crest on their heads.”
The birds are unique to ecosystems in our region, and only one of hundreds of species that dwell in the refuge, she added.
“We really hope people will come out and enjoy Birdfest and Bluegrass,” Hill said.
“Please come! It will be a great time.”
