FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The 14th Annual Godwit Days Spring Migration Bird Festival will be held April 17-19, 2009, at the Arcata Community Center, 321 Community Park Way, Arcata, CA. There will also be pre- and post-festival field trips offered April 16th, 20th, 21st, & 22nd. Godwit Days is held at the peak of spring migration for the Marbled Godwit and numerous other shorebirds. The festival is the North Coast's largest ecotourism event, attracting hundreds of out-of-town birders and local nature enthusiasts each year. Field guides lead small groups of 5 to 35 attendees on trips through the North Coast's towering redwoods, rocky ocean coasts, wild river valleys, expansive mudflats of Humboldt Bay, and the world-renowned Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary. Our region has recorded 450 species of birds, a figure that tops the lists for 40 states and 10 Canadian provinces. More than 270 species have been sighted at the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary. During previous festivals each April, over 235 species of birds have been observed around the county. A Godwit is a large, bright brown shorebird with a long, slightly upturned bi-colored bill. In flight, the underside of the wings is bright cinnamon-brown. Marbled Godwits nest from early May through July in wet meadows and grassy areas in the Prairie Pothole Region in Canada. They are coastal in winter, feeding in muddy bays, estuaries, salt marshes, and wet pastures. They move through Humboldt Bay by the thousands during the Godwit Days festival. However, the birding trips run the gamut of diverse bird species that reside on the North Coast. Godwit Days is about much more than Godwits! The 2009 Godwit Days program consists of over 100 field trips, workshops, lectures, boat trips, a banquet, and events like the “Big Day,” where participants travel by bus around the county to spot over 110 bird species. Free community events include an opening reception and Friday night lecture, Bird Fair vendor booths, art show, live birds of prey on display, family nature activities, and selected field trips and lectures. Bird art submitted by K-12 students from throughout Humboldt County will be on display, with awards presented Friday evening. The 2009 festival artwork was designed by local artist Sara Starr. Her image of two Marbled Godwits on the Arcata bay mudflats will appear on the festival poster, T-shirts, and various publicity for the festival. The keynote speaker will be Pete Dunne, director of Cape May Bird Observatory and well known author of such publications as Hawks In Flight. Details of his talk coming soon. He will speak on Saturday, April 18, at 7:30 p.m. in the Arcata Community Center main hall. A free ticket to the lecture is included in all registration plans or is available for $10 for non-registrants. “Godwit Days has helped Humboldt Bay become a major destination for birders and ecotourists from across the state and the country, both during the festival itself and throughout the year. The festival provides an environmental education experience for local residents, through the many free community events included in our schedule,” notes Rob Hewitt, Godwit Days Chairman. Visit the Godwit Days website, www.godwitdays.com, for more information about the festival and the area, and to review the event schedule. Registration will be available through the website or by calling 707-826-7050 or 1-800-908-WING. TRIP HIGHLIGHTS Humboldt “Big Day” Field Trips -- Includes bus transportation and box lunch. Join the Big Day teams as they attempt to exceed the 100 species mark! Travel up and down the coast visiting our area’s best spots. Pelagic Tour -- Pacific Ocean pelagic birds, including Black-footed Albatross, shearwaters, Cassin’s Auklet, Sabine’s Gull, and jaegers, are expected. Marine mammals such as migrating gray whales, dolphins, and seals are also likely. Come aboard the Shenendoah for this extraordinary all-day trip! Best Birding Spots in Central Coastal Humboldt -- Sample the birds at a half-dozen of the best birding spots in central coastal Humboldt County. Outer coast, spruce forest, cottonwood riparia, and freshwater marsh will be visited. Emphasis is on interpretation of each site, discussion of birding in an historical context, a relaxed pace, and ensuring each participant enjoys as many of the birds at each site as possible. Humboldt Bay Ecotours -- Focused on Indian Island, this true “Ecotour” by kayak presents the wildlife and incredible rookery of Humboldt Bay as well as the Native American history of the Wiyot tribe original inhabitants. A museum interpretive tour of the Native American collection at the Clark Museum will provide wonderful insight into this way of life. Klamath River Boat Tour -- Explore the dynamic river/ocean interface of the lower Klamath River estuary with its marine mammals, significant cultural landmarks, variety of shore and migratory birds while learning the history of the Yurok Tribe. Jet boat up river to the mouth of Blue Creek and directly observe the effects human activities have meant to biological, cultural, and aesthetic resources of the area. Spotted Owls Field Trip -- Visit excellent spots to observe Northern Spotted Owls in their nesting habitat. Offers superb photographic opportunities, as the owls have become accustomed to human presence over the years they have been studied. Local timber biologists work with several territories that are well distributed throughout local redwood forests. Easy on-line registration is offered at the Godwit Days website, www.godwitdays.com. There are two registration plans: a $80 Value Package that includes most events (other than bus and boat trips and the banquet) and an “a la carte” plan of a $45 base fee plus trips you select. Special rates are offered for students and single-day registrants.