The Leavenworth Spring Bird Fest, put on by the Wenatchee River Institute and North Central Washington Audubon Society, occurs every 3rd weekend in May. Planning is underway and we can't wait to see you all.

The annual Leavenworth Spring Bird Fest promotes conservation through educational and recreational activities about birds, wildlife, and their environments.

Come bird with us, discovering the natural beauty and wonders of North Central Washington!

Celebrate the return of migratory birds in the midst of peak wildflower season. Enjoy the excitement of birding field trips and workshops. Take part in speaker events, music, visual arts, picnics, and activities for all ages and abilities. All of this is happening in beautiful Leavenworth, WA and throughout the Wenatchee River Valley. Bird Fest happens in association with World Migratory Bird Day. Bird Fest contributes a list of all birds seen during the festival to eBird, the world’s largest biodiversity-related community science project.

2025 Keynote Speaker: David Lukas

Join us for the 2025 Bird Fest Keynote Address with David Lukas. This is a HYBRID event. You may join us in the Wenatchee River Institute's Red Barn or livestream virtually. Registration is required for this event.
Saturday, May 17th at 7:00pm-8:30pm. Doors at 6:30pm.
Tickets price: $20 for in-person, or $10 for virtual. 

Under the Surface with Bird Bones and Skeletons

Birds are exquisitely designed creatures of the air, but have you ever thought about how the underlying structure of a bird’s bones and skeletons help birds move and fly? Flight is not just a matter of flapping your wings harder, it actually requires many special adaptations and compromises that impact all aspects of a bird’s life.

In this fascinating presentation we will learn about some of the adaptations we can observe as we look at bird skulls, beaks, eyes, wings, legs, and feet. Many of these features are hidden by feathers, yet they uniquely shape every aspect of what we see when we watch birds. Expect to come away with a new understanding and appreciation for the hidden mechanics of how birds eat, sleep, and move, along with an understanding of how feathers interact with a bird’s skeletal structure.

David Lukas is well-known naturalist and author based in the Methow Valley. He has written seven books and contributed chapters to another forty books on a tremendous range of nature topics. He has also led thousands of natural history tours, classes, workshops, and presentations. David’s most recent project is producing two weekly nature newsletters at www.lukasguides.com and www.methownaturenotes.com. You can also find him on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. 

Registration for the Keynote, as well as field trips, is now open! Find the registration page here

2025 Artist Spotlight: Heather Murphy

We are so excited to have Heather Murphy of Walleye Cards at Bird Fest 2025 as our Artist Spotlight! You've probably met Heather guiding some amazing Bird Fest trips in years past.

See some of her nature-inspired work here and be sure to check out the daily Spotlight Artist's Gallery in the River Haus at Wenatchee River Institute to see her work in person May 15-18!

During Bird Fest, look for Heather at the following events and trips. See the Bird Fest Schedule for more details.
 
Saturday May 17

Sleeping Lady and Team Naturaleza Bird Walk, 8:30am-11:30am (free, but registration is required)
 
Artist's Reception with Bird Fest Spotlight Artist Heather Murphy, 1:00pm - 5:00pm. Stop by during the Community Fair and before Birders' BBQ to meet Heather, see some of her completed works and in-progress nature journals, and maybe even create some art yourself! Heather will be around to chat about her art, and she will have a table set up for community members to add their own observations and creativity to the Bird Fest Journal. 

Schedule:

Saturday, May 17, 2025

Self-Led Bird Walk at Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery ^ +
All day | Free

Spotlight Artist's Gallery ^ +
Saturday May 17
9:00am - 5:00pm

Kayaks and Birds
Saturday, May 17
7:00am - 9:30am | $55

Feathered Friends of Icicle Creek ^ +
Saturday, May 17
7:30am - 9:30am | Free

Morning Birding by River Raft
Saturday, May 17
8:00am - 11:00am | $65

Sleeping Lady and Team Naturaleza Bird Walk
Saturday, May 17
8:30am-11:30am | Free, registration required

Magnificent Migrations ^ +
9:30am-11:00am | FREE

Bird Fest Community Fair ^ +
Saturday, May 17
10:00am - 3:00pm
Wenatchee River Institute

This year, we are bringing back one of our favorite Bird Fest traditions with a new twist! Introducing the Bird Fest Community Fair. Like Family Day, the Community Fair is an opportunity for families, youth, and adults to gather and take part in a variety of activities focusing on birds, wildlife, and their environments.

What's new in 2025? We extended the festivities by an hour so more people can stop by after a day of birding. We also hope to have more artists and vendors than ever before! Join us for The Bird Fest Community Fair on Saturday, May 17th. Attendees can expect a plethora of learning (and fun) activities throughout the whole afternoon. From art and nature activities, to guided nature walks, and even live music from local musicians, Family Day has something for everybody.

Contact Info
 Mason Powers
[email protected]
509-548-0181 ext. 7

Wildflower Walk on Ski Hill
Saturday, May 17
11:45am - 3:00pm | $30

Steller's Jay Felt Craft Workshop ^
Saturday, May 17
12:00pm - 1:00pm | $15

Landscaping for Birds and Wildlife ^
Saturday, May 17
12:30pm - 1:45pm | $10

Geology Tour
Saturday, May 17
12:30pm - 3:30pm | $30

Spotlight Artist's Reception with Heather Murphy ^ +
Saturday, May 17
1:00pm - 5:00pm | Free, no registration required

Composition in Bird Photography ^
Saturday, May 17
2:00pm-3:00pm | $10

Beginner Bird Photography in the Field ^
Saturday, May 17
3:00pm - 5:00pm | $20

Birders' BBQ
5:00pm-6:30pm | $25
*RSVP by May 9th*

Keynote Address with David Lukas
Under the Surface with Bird Bones and Skeletons
Saturday, May 17
7:00pm - 8:30pm | $20 for in-person, $10 for virtual

Register Now

^ Denotes a trip that is more physically accessible than others. These trips and events have lower physical activity requirements, and might be suitable for those with mobility issues or people who want less-strenuous activities. Please read the trip description for more details and reach out to us via phone or email if you'd like to know more about accessibility of any of our trips
*Denotes a trip that is more physically difficult than others. This could be due to the walking mileage, elevation gain, trip length, or a combination of factors. Please read the description and reach out if you need any clarification. Difficulty references physical activity of the trip - birders of all birding skill levels are welcome on any Bird Fest trip. 
+ Denotes a trip that does not require registration and is free. Participants can join day of!