Outdoors
It’s no secret I’ve got a serious crush on Edison. And why not—its people and places keep luring me back with promises of stunning scenery, delicious eats and world-class art.
And now I have a reason to love the Skagit locale even more than I did before. Sure, I was excited when I heard about the inaugural Edison Bird Festival, but that was nothing compared to the stirring I felt in my heart when I found out they were kicking the whole thing off with a “Keep Your Chicken in Line” poultry parade.
I figure if I leave Bellingham by 9:30am Saturday morning, that’ll give me plenty of time to take a leisurely meander down Chuckanut Drive, find parking, pick up a pastry and hot beverage at Breadfarm and secure a spot to watch the action (this time around, I’ll leave my own hens at home).
Berit Ness, the manager at Smith & Vallee Gallery and one of the organizers of the event, says those lining the short-but-sweet streets of the small town should expect to see owners herding chickens to the finish line. As for who’ll be leading the feathered fowl—well, let’s just say the creature has four legs, hooves, floppy ears and a large hump on its back.
But back to the birds. Ness says the idea for the festival came about when business owners Jim and Lisa Kowalski (Farm to Market Bakery) and Wesley Smith and Andrew Vallee (Smith & Vallee, obviously) decided to honor the winter birding culture of the Skagit Valley with a smorgasbord of free, feather-related fun.
“The birding community is one that is very devoted to their cause, and we also feel like it will also be an opportunity for everyday bird enthusiasts to learn more about the wonders of this area,” Ness says of the two-day event, which will not-so-coincidentally coincide with the Skagit Flats Hawk Census.
With a tagline of “art, conservation and fascination,” the opportunities to experience all three of these focal points will abound.
In addition to North Cascades Institute-led birding tours, there’ll be live bird presentations by the Woodland Park Zoo, open studio time and demos with artists Todd Horton, Andrew Vallee, and Theo Jonsson, a reception for “Of Birds and Flight,” a talk with renowned snowy owl researcher Denver Holt and Falcon Research Group’s Bud Anderson, and, come closing night, a fancy dinner.
Ness points out that winter in Edison has as much to offer as in the warmer months, and says the bird bash is for one and all.
“We hope it’ll entice regular birders who are already entrenched in the community as well as people who have an everyday interest in the birds around us,” Ness says. “I think this is a very inclusive festival for everyone, really—starting with the chicken parade.”
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