Tofino Shorebird Festival 2012

May 4-6, 2012
Every year from late April through May, flocks of sandpipers, plovers, Whimbrels, and many other shorebirds pass through the Tofino area . Thousands stop here to feed and rest as they make their impressive journey from South and Central America northward to their Arctic breeding grounds.

The protected forests, expansive mudflats, long sandy beaches, and rocky shorelines of this area create the right combination of habitats to draw over 40 species of shorebirds to the area, including the largest migratory concentrations of Whimbrels anywhere in British Columbia and impressive flocks of Western Sandpipers, Dunlin and more. The threatened Red Knot is also a regular visitor each spring, as well as Rock Sandpiper in winter. In 2010, local bird expert Adrian Dorst listed at least 30 species of shorebirds!

Come out to the Tofino Shorebird Festival and marvel at these birds, learn more about them, and learn why Tofino is one of the very best places in western Canada for bird watching.

EVENT SCHEDULE

click here for a printable schedule of events

Friday May 4, 2012:

"Oystercatcher Calling” Artists Reception with Anne Hansen and Pete Clarkson
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm, Darwin Café at Tofino Botanical Gardens

“Shorebirds of the Western Hemisphere” special presentation from the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network
8:00 pm – 10:00 pm, Darwin Café at Tofino Botanical Gardens

Saturday, May 5:

Birding by Kayak With kayak guide and naturalist Andy Murray
8:00am – 12:00am; Location Grice Bay, Pacific Rim National Park. Please book through Tofino Sea Kayaking, 250-725-4222; COST: $75 (a portion of the proceeds are donated to the Raincoast Education Society and the Tofino Shorebird Festival).

Rocky Intertidal Shorebird Walk With Pete Clarkson and Josie Osborne
9:00am – 12:00pm; Location Kwisitis Centre, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.
No charge, but you must purchase a Park Visitor Pass (available in the parking lot). Join Pete and Josie on a walk through lush rainforests to several rocky islets home to Black Oystercatchers, Black Turnstones, and Rock Sandpipers. Please wear appropriate shoes and bring your daypack with binos, spotting scopes, water, and a snack.

Anchor Park Shorebird Viewing Station With Dan Harrison
12:30pm – 2:00 pm Anchor Park (a.k.a. Third St. Vista), located directly across from the intersection of Third and Main Streets, Tofino Free of Charge

“People of a Feather” Movie Night
8:00pm – 9:30pm; Clayoquot Community Theatre,
380 Campbell St., Tofino $10 Per Person

Sunday, May 6:

Guided Voyage to Cleland Island Seabird Colony with Warden Pete Clarkson
9:00am – 12:00pm $55 incl. tax per person.
Please book through Jamie’s Whaling “ at 1-800-667-9913 or info@jamies.com.
Cleland Island Ecological Reserve is the best spot in the region for seabirds, where we often see spectacular Tufted Puffins, Marbled Murrelets, Rhinoceros Auklet, and Black Oystercatchers. This three-hour trip is lead by Cleland Island Warden Pete Clarkson.

Building Better Birding Skills on the Tofino Mudflats With Andy Murray and Adrian Dorst 9:30am – 11:30am; Bottom of Sharp Rd., Tofino (look for the Dolphin Motel).
Free of charge

Questions? Please contact the Raincoast Education Society: 250-725-2560 or info@raincoasteducation.org

Visit www.tofinomudflats.com for more information about birding in the area.

Our Festival Partners (in alphabetical order):





			Tofino Shorebird Festival 2012 May 4-6, 2012 Every year from late April through May, flocks of sandpipers, plovers, Whimbrels, and many other shorebirds pass through the Tofino area . Thousands stop here to feed and rest as they make their impressive journey from South and Central America northward to their Arctic breeding grounds. The protected forests, expansive mudflats, long sandy beaches, and rocky shorelines of this area create the right combination of habitats to draw over 40 species of shorebirds to the area, including the largest migratory concentrations of Whimbrels anywhere in British Columbia and impressive flocks of Western Sandpipers, Dunlin and more. The threatened Red Knot is also a regular visitor each spring, as well as Rock Sandpiper in winter. In 2010, local bird expert Adrian Dorst listed at least 30 species of shorebirds! Come out to the Tofino Shorebird Festival and marvel at these birds, learn more about them, and learn why Tofino is one of the very best places in western Canada for bird watching. EVENT SCHEDULE click here for a printable schedule of events Friday May 4, 2012: "Oystercatcher Calling” Artists Reception with Anne Hansen and Pete Clarkson 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm, Darwin Café at Tofino Botanical Gardens “Shorebirds of the Western Hemisphere” special presentation from the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm, Darwin Café at Tofino Botanical Gardens Saturday, May 5: Birding by Kayak With kayak guide and naturalist Andy Murray 8:00am – 12:00am; Location Grice Bay, Pacific Rim National Park. Please book through Tofino Sea Kayaking, 250-725-4222; COST: $75 (a portion of the proceeds are donated to the Raincoast Education Society and the Tofino Shorebird Festival). Rocky Intertidal Shorebird Walk With Pete Clarkson and Josie Osborne 9:00am – 12:00pm; Location Kwisitis Centre, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. No charge, but you must purchase a Park Visitor Pass (available in the parking lot). Join Pete and Josie on a walk through lush rainforests to several rocky islets home to Black Oystercatchers, Black Turnstones, and Rock Sandpipers. Please wear appropriate shoes and bring your daypack with binos, spotting scopes, water, and a snack. Anchor Park Shorebird Viewing Station With Dan Harrison 12:30pm – 2:00 pm Anchor Park (a.k.a. Third St. Vista), located directly across from the intersection of Third and Main Streets, Tofino Free of Charge “People of a Feather” Movie Night 8:00pm – 9:30pm; Clayoquot Community Theatre, 380 Campbell St., Tofino $10 Per Person Sunday, May 6: Guided Voyage to Cleland Island Seabird Colony with Warden Pete Clarkson 9:00am – 12:00pm $55 incl. tax per person. Please book through Jamie’s Whaling “ at 1-800-667-9913 or info@jamies.com. Cleland Island Ecological Reserve is the best spot in the region for seabirds, where we often see spectacular Tufted Puffins, Marbled Murrelets, Rhinoceros Auklet, and Black Oystercatchers. This three-hour trip is lead by Cleland Island Warden Pete Clarkson. Building Better Birding Skills on the Tofino Mudflats With Andy Murray and Adrian Dorst 9:30am – 11:30am; Bottom of Sharp Rd., Tofino (look for the Dolphin Motel). Free of charge Questions? Please contact the Raincoast Education Society: 250-725-2560 or info@raincoasteducation.org Visit www.tofinomudflats.com for more information about birding in the area. Our Festival Partners (in alphabetical order): BC Parks Habitat Conservation Trust Fund Just Birding Nature Trust Pacific Rim National Park Reserve of Canada Sobo Restaurant Tofino Botanical Gardens Tofino Mudflats Wildlife Management Area Tofino Sea Kayaking Tourism Tofino