19th Copper River Delta Shorebird Festival takes flight May 8

May 02, 2008 at 10:15AM AKST

"The shorebirds are coming. The shorebirds are coming."

The Cordova Chamber of Commerce, the U.S. Forest Service Cordova Ranger District and the Prince William Sound Science Center invite visitors to come along for the ride.

The 19th annual Copper River Delta Shorebird Festival begins Thursday, May 8, with opening receptions of two art shows:

• The Senungetuk Art Show from 4-6 p.m. at Orca Book and Sound

• "Bird Flew" from 5-7 p.m. at The Cordova Library meeting room.

The Ilanka Cultural Center is presenting a storytelling of Feathered Legends at 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday.

The action begins Friday, May 9, with Salmon Chile in the Cordova High School Commons, a benefit for education programs at The Prince William Sound Science Center.

Local biologist/photographer Milo Burcham will present a pictorial introduction to Prince William Sound and the Copper River Delta at 6:30 p.m., followed by a talk on the ecology and evolution of Prince William Sound by Paul Meyers of the Cordova Ranger District.

The avian world of migratory movements is explored at 8 p.m. when Kevin Karlson begins his keynote presentation, "Birds on the wind: The miracle of migration."

Saturday, May 10, is International Migratory Bird Day as well as a day filled with shorebird-related activities.

The Birder’s Breakfast kicks off the day at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, followed by the Ikumat Dancers at the Ilanka Cultural Center and the Shorebirds by Impression Workshop and the International Bird Presentations at the Masonic.

Bird Academy at the U.S. Forest Service Building and the Children’s Art Workshop at the Masonic Lodge are designed to educate younger birders.

The Birder’s Sunset Cruise on Cordova’s fast ferry, Chenega, will take visitors on a two-hour cruise featuring Cloud 9’s hors d’oeuvre buffet, a silent auction, live music by Kinda Celtic, guided birding and wildlife viewing.

Allen Marquette, from Prince William Sound Science Center, will speak on the evolution of birds on Sunday, May 11, at the Masonic Lodge. On Sunday afternoon, art viewing at "Bird Flew" and the Senungetuk Art Show will remain available.

Festival partners include the Cordova Chamber of Commerce, the U.S. Forest Service Cordova Ranger District, the Prince William Sound Science Center, Alyeska Pipeline Services, ConocoPhillips, Alaska Airlines and ERA Aviation.

A complete schedule of events, tickets for the Sunset Cruise and general information is available at the Cordova Chamber of Commerce, (907) 424-7260, with information online at www.cordovachamber.com.