Whiting said that “hundreds of thousands of migratory birds” will make their way to Kachemak Bay during the spring migration.

This year’s festival has a wide variety of activities and events that make it a good fit for the whole family. Five events make their festival debut, in addition to the more than 50 returning events. The new choices are: beginning bird watching for kids, intermediate beach birding, field sketching, low tide beach birding and sunset dessert birding by boat.

Renowned sociobiologist, author and bird expert, Bernd Heinrich, is the keynote speaker for the festival. Heinrich’s presentation is titled “The Behavioral Biology of Ravens, the Wolf-birds.” Whiting said that the relevance of the presentation comes from the theme of this year’s festival, “Ravin’ about Birds” and the fascination Alaskans have with ravens and raven mythology.

Although the focus of the festival is birds, there are ways for people with all different interests to enjoy it. Coffee? Beer? Music? From a birders’ coffee and birders’ beer bash to the “On the Wing” concert, visitors can choose their style of birding education.

Other festival highlights include a nature film festival, kids’ concert, boat tours, beach walks and the Migration Fun Run.

In the registration packet there is a survey for people to give comments and suggestions for next year’s festival. Fill it out and there will be a drawing on the last day of the festival for a shorebird grab-bag.

“We’re always looking to improve the festival,” said Whiting.

Whiting said that often the only complaint is that people don’t have enough time to do all the things they want to do.

“I don’t think that you can really ever offer people too many opportunities,” said Whiting. “We try to offer something for everybody.”

The festival involves more than 100 volunteers, and Whiting said that more are still needed. No birding skills are required.

“Come on out and let’s all have a fun weekend of birding,” she said.

Although it is a separate event, the Wooden Boat Festival shares the weekend with the Shorebird Festival, and is celebrating its 14th year as well.

“It’s a great day to talk about and experience boating,” said Dave Seaman, former president of the Kachemak Bay Wooden Boat Society.

The boat festival has its own activities, perhaps in smaller quantities than the shorebird events, but no less interesting. The weekend includes sea chanteys and storytelling at the Salty Dawg, high seas film night at the Heritage RV Park, nearly 50 wooden boats, a boat raffle and guest Steve Lloyd, who will talk about shipwrecks around Cook Inlet.

“As we get more experience at this we’re attracting more interesting keynote speakers,” said Seaman.

Lloyd is the owner of Title Wave Books in Anchorage and also the diver who discovered the 1910 wreck of the “Farallon” at the mouth of Iliamna Bay.

Seaman said the weekend will be “fine, fun days, all about boats — and bring your kids!”

For more information on the Shorebird Festival and the Wooden Boat Festival see the insert in this week’s Homer News. Additional registration forms and tickets are available at the Homer Chamber of Commerce.