Do you want to learn what birds are in your backyard? Do you want to help researchers take a snapshot of their populations? You can do both, and more for Bird Fest. The event goes from 10 am – 2 pm at the Burien Community Center and offers families, friends and neighbors an opportunity to learn about their local birds and plants while participating in the annual Great Backyard Bird Count. The Environmental Science Center has coordinated Bird Fest with sponsorship from the City of Burien to spread awareness on watershed health through creating native habitat for birds.

There will be hourly bird walks, presentations, family nature walk, booths, crafts and hands-on activities for all ages. Participating organizations include the City of Burien Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services, and more to come!

Schedule of Events:

Bird Walks:

Join Eileen Lambert (South Sound Nature School) and ESC naturalists to learn bird identification skills and put them to practice during guided walks at Dottie Harper Park! We’ll go over how to identify birds by both sight and sound while logging which species are found in our area to contribute to the Great Backyard Bird Count database. Spend time in nature, learn about birds, and contribute to community science! Great for ages 13+.

10:30-11:15am: Bird Walks

11-11:45am: Family Nature Walk

11:30-12:15pm: Bird Walks

12:30-1:15pm: Bird Walks

Presentations:

10:30 AM: Backyard Birds and Plants that Attract Them

This spring why not plant trees, shrubs or flowers that will attract our native birds to your yard for years to come? Master Gardener, photographer, and Rainier Audubon member Marie West-Johnson will share her photos of the many bird species that visit her yard, and the plants that attract them.

12:00 PM: The Knowledge of Corvids: Smarter Than Your Average Bird

What group of birds can plan strategies, invent and use tools, hold funerals, dream, have long memories, and differentiate friendly humans from enemy humans?  Crows, Ravens, Jays and Magpies! Join Ed Dominguez and explore the lives of these intelligent, playful, and sometimes aggravating smarty-pants birds.

1:15 PM: So You Want to Get into Birding

Bird watching is a fantastic way to spend time in nature while participating in an activity that has been shown to have many physical and mental health benefits. But how do you know where to start? Which birds are common for our area and how do you identify them? Join the Environmental Science Center to learn the basics and start your birding journey!

Fest Date: February 17, 2024

Time: 10am - 2pm

Location: Burien Community Center, 14700 6th Avenue South West, Burien, WA 98166

Click here for more information.