Each spring\, hundreds of thousands of shorebirds stop to rest and feed along the Washington Coast and in the Grays Harbor estuary during their migration northward. Coming from as far south as Argentina\, these Arctic-bound shorebirds are among the world'\;s greatest migrants. Some birds travel over 15\,000 miles round trip! The concentration of birds during spring migration offers people a great chance to view a number of shorebird species. With luck you will also see the birds fly together in beautiful formations while trying to escape a Peregrine Falcon.
\n\nShorebird is the name given to the group of birds that are usually found along the shoreline. They include plovers\, turnstones\, sandpipers\, dowitchers\, and others. Some shorebirds can be found in Grays Harbor County all year\; others only during their migration. A good way to start learning the common shorebirds is to attend the Festival'\;s shorebird identification class and field trip.
\n\nThe shorebird spectacle happens every year at Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge and in other parts of the County. People from around the world come to view this event of hemispheric importance. The Festival works to bring people together for this incredible natural phenomenon.
\n LOCATION:Festival Headquarters On Friday\, until 3pm\, events start or are located at the Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge Office on Airport Way. On Friday starting at 4pm\, then all day Saturday and Sunday\, the Festival Headquarters is at Hoquiam Middle School\, 200 N. Spencer St.\, Hoquiam. From Aberdeen\, follow US 101 to Hoquiam. Stay in the left lane onto Highway 109 (Ocean Shores Hwy.)\, this is also Emerson Ave. Hoquiam Middle School is on the right 1.1 miles from that intersection. Park in the school lot. Maps can be found here. UID:e.26.12382 SEQUENCE:3 DTSTAMP:20260515T223541Z URL:https://chamber.graysharbor.org/events/details/25th-annual-grays-harbor-shorebird-and-nature-festival-12382 END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR