SEQUIM — A lot happens when Bob Boekelheide walks outside. It’s like the Carpenters’ song, “Close to You”: “Why do birds suddenly appear every time you are near?”
Chestnut-backed chickadees, golden-crowned Kinglets, kingfishers, a Bewick’s wren and a great blue heron all showed up on a recent morning at the Dungeness River Audubon Center, where Boekelheide is director.
So did quail, fox sparrows, juncos, towhees and song sparrows.
Then, when two humans were chatting with him, Boekelheide heard yet another flyover.
“Oh, listen — oh — look up,” he said. “Cooper’s hawk!”
Apparently Boekelheide has an ear in the top of his head.
Now Boekelheide is preparing to lead four of 11 Olympic Birdfest field trips from Friday, March 31, through Sunday, April 2: a Dungeness Bay foray Friday afternoon; an all-day Saturday trip to bird hot spots on the North Olympic Peninsula; Saturday night’s owl prowl; and an April 2 boat trip from Port Townsend to Protection Island.
The Birdfest also features an April 2 morning kayaking trip in Sequim Bay that is suitable for beginners, birding trips to Sequim Bay and John Wayne Marina, Ediz Hook and Port Angeles Harbor, Dungeness Spit and the Exotic Bird Breeding Program center near Port Angeles.
‘Dawn chorus’ walk
Boekelheide encourages birders of all levels to experience the “dawn chorus” walk next Saturday morning at the Audubon Center, 2151 W. Hendrickson Road.
Bald eagles, brown creepers, dippers and mergansers are among the birds he expects to appear between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. in Railroad Bridge Park, which surrounds the Audubon Center. At $10, the dawn chorus is the Birdfest’s cheapest trip.
A sunset salmon banquet will begin at 6:30 p.m. April 1 at the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribal Community Center, 1033 Old Blyn Highway, half a mile east of 7 Cedars Casino.
The evening will feature other organic foods from the Dungeness Valley, traditional storytelling by a Jamestown elder and a silent auction of bird portraits, guided trips and goodies from the Audubon Center. Tickets are $25.
At the other end of the Birdfest price spectrum is a free presentation at 7 p.m. next Friday in Sequim High School’s cafeteria, 601 N. Sequim Ave.
Jaye Moore of the Northwest Raptor Center will bring live birds of prey and explain the methods she uses to rehabilitate injured eagles, hawks and owls.
“We’re designing that for the community,” said Boekelheide.