2010 Festival Schedule

Look for marsh birds, migrant songbirds, and other species.

Bus tour will begin at Domaine Meriwether Festival grounds and travel to several prime birding spots around the Fern Ridge Reservoir. Trip leaders Jim Maloney and Kat Beal will discuss the various habitats, conservation efforts, and history that have made this a designated “Important Bird Area.” You will visit Fern Ridge Wildlife Area office, Coyote Creek Trail, Perkins Peninsula Park, Kirk Park and Fisher Unit to learn about the locations and look for birds.

Registration for this event has ended!

For thousands of years, seasonal gatherings of birds have used this 380-acre property on the banks of the Long Tom River. The site floods several times during most winters and includes wetlands, uplands, forests, and open meadows. There will be all sorts of interesting things to see in this magical setting. Leaders will include botanist and ecologist Bruce Newhouse, wildlife ecologist Peg Boulay, Rick Ahrens and staff from the Oregon Country Fair.

Learn about the species of birds that breed and use the wetland habitats of Fern Ridge. Dave Bontrager, a former biologist and educator with the National Audubon Society and former research biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, will lead the walk. Dave currently teaches a variety of bird and natural history classes in Eugene.

Come watch birds with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) biologist Roberta Swift. The large Royal Avenue platform has a 360-degree view of wetland habitats. See numerous species of waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors, terns, and other birds at this site. Bring your spotting scopes, binoculars, and field guides, or borrow the ones provided.

Join Daniel Farrar and Vjera Thompson in search of numerous species of waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors, terns, stilts, and other birds.

Free Fun for the whole family! Food from “Our Daily Bread” will be available at the site! Visit booths from the Cascades Raptor Center, Lane County Audubon Society, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Willamette Resources Education Network (WREN), and Nearby Nature.  

Featured poster artist, Becky Uhler will have artwork on display and items for sale!

Crow Schools student bird artwork project will be displayed!

Free Bird walks around the grounds, led by Anne and Dan Heyerly and other Lane Audubon field trip leaders.

The tasting room will be open all day for the wine tasting enjoyment of attendees. 

Visit and see the displays of mounted birds, free bird checklists, maps to trails of woodlands and wetlands. A great opportunity to become better acquainted with your local wildlife area. The area is entirely open this time of year for self-guided walks. 

Leader Kevin Roth is a Fish and Wildlife Senior Technician and Assistant Manager of the Fern Ridge Wildlife Area.

Join speaker Louise Shimmel, Dan Gleason and an all-winged cast from the Cascades Raptor Center.

The Kid-friendly bird walk is led by Kris Kirkeby. Meet at the Lane County Audubon Society booth.

See the plans for new construction at the festival grounds.

“Raptors: Who they are and how to know them.” Louise Schimmel and an all-winged cast from CRC.  Click Here for Directions

Bus tour will load at Domaine Meriwether, then travel to Sweet Cheeks, Lavelle and Sylvan Ridge wineries and finish at Domaine Meriwether. Visit the tasting rooms, hear about each winery, and enjoy the afternoon tour! Must be 21 or older.

Tour fascinatingly diverse Willamette Valley wet prairie habitat with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers botanist Wes Messinger. Wear waterproof boots.

Great way for kids to learn about area birds with Lane Audubon’s Leila Snow and Kris Kirkeby.

Learn about the production of sparkling wines by Domaine Meriwether owner, Buzz Kawders. Tastings included; must be 21 or older.

Former Lane Audubon president Dick Lamster will discuss bird feeders, bird boxes, and attracting wildlife with landscape ideas.

Presenter Cameron Bishop will dispel common preconceptions of our often-misunderstood flying mammalian neighbors. Topics will include bat biology, physiology, bat species richness in our area, some beneficial services bats provide us, and the physical adaptations that allow members of this amazing mammalian order to persist in our area. Cameron, who has participated in efforts to monitor bats in the Northwest, is a Natural Resources Specialist for the Army Corps of Engineers Willamette Valley Project.