NEAH BAY — If you’ve ever wanted to see a living bald or golden eagle in the wild but never managed to spot one, Saturday is the day to come out to Neah Bay.
Eagle Fest 2015 organizers guarantee eagle sightings.
The annual festival will celebrate the dozens of eagles that have descended upon Neah Bay with hikes, lectures, a bazaar, halibut meals and children’s activities.
About 50 bald eagles and golden eagles have taken up spring residence this year in Neah Bay, said Dawn Laurence, an organizer of Eagle Fest.
“There is an eagle nest in a tree just above Washburn General Store. Sometimes you can see the parents in the nest,” Laurence said.
Washburn General Store is located at 1450 Bayview Ave.
Convocation of eagles
There are eagles on the beaches, in the trees and flying overhead, Laurence said.
And when watching eagles and taking photographs of the majestic birds of prey begins to get repetitive, there are activities scheduled to celebrate the season of eagles.
Eagle education, a bazaar, traditional eagle art, a guided hike and a dinner will celebrate the Neah Bay eagles.
Full event schedules will be available beginning at 9:30 a.m. at Eagle Fest headquarters at the Makah Marina.
Saturday events
Highlights for Saturday include:
■ 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. — At the Eagle Fest Bazaar at the Makah Tribal Community Center, 81 Third Ave., artwork, T-shirts, crafts, books and jewelry will be on sale.
■ 9:30 a.m. — A guided hike of the Cape Flattery Trail will begin at the trailhead parking lot, 6 miles west of Neah Bay on Cape Flattery Road.
A guide from the Makah Cultural and Research Center, 1880 Bayview Ave., will provide details about plants, animals and birds in the vicinity of the trail.
The hike is free, but tips for the guide are appreciated.
■ 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. — Makah Cultural and Research Center exhibits open.
■ 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Children’s activities, location to be announced.
■ 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. — Halibut chowder and buckskin bread lunch will be offered at the Makah Marina.
■ 1 p.m. — Julia Parrish, a University of Washington seabird researcher, will give a free lecture on eagles at the Makah Community Gym, 1394 Bayview Ave.
■ 2 p.m. — Makah storytelling, location to be announced.
■ 6 p.m. — A halibut or baked ham dinner will be available for $15 at the Makah Community Gym.
Pass required
Use of hiking trails and visits to Cape Flattery beaches require a Makah Reservation Recreation Use Permit for each car.
The pass is good for a year and can be purchased for $10 at any business in Neah Bay that displays a sign advertising the pass.
The stores are clearly marked with sandwich boards in front.
Breeding season
The annual Eagle Fest is held at the height of the breeding season.
“April is the best time to see them,” Laurence said.
Breeding eagles look like they are fighting, she said, then they fall together to complete their mating flight — a common sight in Neah Bay.
Bald eagles and golden eagles are common to the Pacific Northwest, but not usually in the numbers that have been seen in Neah Bay this spring, she said.
Golden eagle plumage is dark brown with a golden sheen on the back of the head and neck, while the American bald eagle sports its signature white head and tail feathers.
Bald eagles, which average 9 to 14 pounds, are built more lightly than their golden cousins, which weigh between 10 and 15 pounds.
In both species, the females are larger than the males, have wing spans of up to 8 feet in the largest birds and can measure 40 inches from beak to tail feathers.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arice@peninsuladailynews.com.
