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Celebrating the 14th Annual Tofino Shorebird Festival
May 6-9: Tofino Shorebird Festival
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!
Be Cool! Get yourself a silk-screened Tofino Shorebird Festial t-shirt!
Josie was wearing one Friday night at the first event of the festival and we all had to have one. They are very cool.
Tofino Shorebird Festival Events
May 7: Birds of Vancouver Island, with Mike YipSlideshow and Book Sales, 7:00pm – 9:00pm, Darwin Cafe, Tofino Botanical Gardens By donation ($5 suggested)
Mike Yip discovered birds and bird photography in 2003. Since then he has produced a website Vancouver Island Birds; self-published three successful books on Vancouver Island Birds; contributed photos to environmental and educational projects around the world; and provided many PowerPoint presentations to groups all over Vancouver Island. He is also a bimonthly columnist for the North Islander. Mike's goal is to increase public awareness of birds on Vancouver Island with the hope of fostering greater concern for nature and conservation. The success of his books and the popularity of his newspaper column and presentations indicate that he is on the right track!
May 8: Pelagic Voyage: A Six-Hour Offshore Birding Voyage
8:00am – 2:00pm $250 per person. Please book through "Just Birding" at 250-725-2520 or info@justbirding.com
A six hour trip offshore and to Cleland Island Ecological Reserve (our exact route is weather dependent). Offshore, albatross, shearwaters, storm petrels, auklets, murres, jaegers, and fulmars can be found and will be identified by your guide. We'll also take you to the best spots for seabirds, where we often see Wandering Tattler and Surfbird on this tour. Come see the Spectacular Tufted Puffin, Marbled Murrelets, Rhinoceros Auklet, and Black Oystercatchers. During migration long lines of loons and scoters fill the horizon and Harlequin Ducks play in the rocky shorelines. Limited to 13 people only, must be at least 13 yrs old.
May 8: Mudflat Interpretive Walk
With Kimberly Johnston, 10am – 11:30am, Tofino Botanical Gardens
$11 adults, $6 students; free for children 12 yrs and under. Includes three-day admission to TBG.
The Tofino Mudflats are more than just mud; they're one of the little-known jewels of Clayoquot Sound. Thousands of migrating shorebirds depend on these mudflats, and migrating grey whales use them too! What are they eating in the mud? Come down to the Tofino Botanical Gardens and join naturalist Kimberly Johnston to find out! Great for families, kids and mud-enthusiasts of all ages. Sturdy shoes are recommended; gumboots are not necessary as we will walk NEXT to the mud but not necessarily ON the mud (parents are advised to bring some extra clothes for kids). Thanks to the Tofino Botanical Gardens Foundation.
May 8: Shorebird Viewing Station: Sandy Intertidal and Rocky Outcroppings
1 pm to 3 pm, Wickaninnish Interpretive Centre, Pacific Rim Nat'l Park Reserve
No charge, but you must purchase a Park Visitor Pass (available in the parking lot or in the Interpretive Centre).
Join naturalist and interpreter Silva Johansson with your binoculars and scopes at the Interpretive Centre. Depending on the weather, we may walk down onto the beach or stay on the Interpretive Centre platform. Afterwards, walk through the newly redesigned interpretive centre, or walk down to South Beach or along the Nu-chah-nulth Trail.
May 8: Building Better Birding Skills and Coastal Waterbird Survey
With Andy Murray and Adrian Dorst, 2:00pm – 5:00pm, Bottom of Sharp Rd., Tofino (look for the Dolphin Motel).
Free of charge. The BC Coastal Waterbird Survey aims to coordinate the efforts of people who care about waterbirds in British Columbia. On the second Sunday of every month, the Raincoast Education Society undertakes the Coastal Waterbird Survey for Tofino, while others take on surveys in other parts of BC. he goal of such coordinated collective efforts is the conservation of coastal waterbird populations in British Columbia. Join us at our new wildlife viewing platform in the Tofino Mudflats Wildlife Management Area.
May 8: "More than Just Mud" Photo Fiesta
7 pm – 9 pm Location: Harbour Lounge at Weigh West Marine Resort, Cover charge $5
Join us for an evening of celebration, viewing all the entries in the "More than Just Mud" 2011 Photo Contest. The "More Than Just Mud" Contests are part of the Raincoast Education Society's Tofino Mudflats Wildlife Stewardship Program. Our goal is to raise awareness about the wide array of habitats and wildlife of the Tofino Mudflats, and to increase stewardship amongst the residents of Tofino and surrounding area in caring for them and using them sustainably. Click here for more information about the contest (deadline for submissions is late April).
May 9: Movie: The Wild Birds of Telegraph Hill
Doors 7:30 pm, Movie at 8:00 pm Clayoquot Sound Community Theatre, 370 Campbell St., Tofino
$6 for theatre members, $7 for non-members
The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill is an award-winning feature documentary about the remarkable relationship between a homeless street musician and a flock of wild parrots in San Francisco. The "bona fide sleeper theatrical hit of 2005" (New Video), Wild Parrots is the fourth highest-grossing theatrical documentary about animals — after Penguins, Winged Migration, and Grizzly Man. You won't be disappointed by this heart-warming movie.
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