SATURDAY, October 18, 2025
Family Fun Day
1:00 to 4:00 PM

The Friends of Willapa NWR and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service invite you to a free, family-friendly afternoon at the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge at 7112 67th Place in Long Beach.

Join us for an afternoon full of adventure, discovery, and outdoor fun! 

•Meet Puddles the Blue Goose, the National Wildlife Refuge System mascot

•Be a bird in the Migration Game

•Investigate wild animal skulls

•Create a clay animal track

•Craft an egg carton owl

•Use microscopes to investigate creatures from the pond

And tune in to our presentations or join a hike! 

1:30 pm Porter Point Loop Hike (registration required)

Join Dawn Harris, Park Ranger for Willapa National Wildlife Refuge, as she guides you from Willapa Bay through the coastal forest from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm. The hike begins with scenic views across the bay, where shorebirds and raptors are often spotted. The trail then loops through a cedar swamp before climbing up and down to the ridgetop of Porter Point, where you can enjoy views of the bay, Long Island, and the Columbia River on a clear day! This hike is 2.4 miles long and moderately challenging. Meet at Willapa National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters. 

This hike is free, but space is limited. Please register at https://www.friendsofwillaparefuge.org/event-6363183 

2:00 pm All About Hummingbirds  

Learn about the only birds on earth that can fly backwards and so many more. Become a hummingbird expert with amazing facts about them in this presentation. Our presenter, Brenda Homes Stanciu, worked with hummingbird researchers and banders for decades. You will leave wanting to share your new knowledge with others. 

3:00 pm Is it a Bear or a Raccoon?

Kids are natural explorers, and this program invites them to step into the shoes of a wildlife detective! Professional tracker, Kirsti Freese, will teach children how to read the “stories” left behind by animals in the wild. This event is free and perfect for kids of all ages. Explore, learn about wildlife, and celebrate the beauty of our refuge while having fun!

Advanced registration is not required for Family Fun Day, except for the Porter Point Hike.

Photo: Puddles the Blue Goose Frolics in the Prairie, Melisa Rodriguez/USFWS, Public Domain, https://www.fws.gov/media/puddles-blue-goose-frolics-prairie

Evening Event
6:30 – 8 PM Live Birds of Prey Presentation by Discovery Bay Wild Bird Rescue

Meet live birds of prey in this presentation and learn about Discovery Bay Wild Bird Rescue’s incredible work rescuing and rehabilitating wild birds, from the smallest hummingbirds to the largest eagles and other birds of prey. You’ll meet some of their feathered ambassadors up close and hear their rescue stories, while discovering what makes these birds such vital parts of our ecosystems. This event is one of many activities sponsored by the Friends of Willapa National Wildlife Refuge and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to celebrate National Wildlife Refuge Week.

Before the presentation, Matt Lloyd, Acting Refuge Project Director, Willapa Wildlife Refuge, and Pat Welle, President of the Friends, will give brief updates on the Refuge and the Friends.

This family-friendly event at the Columbia Pacific Museum in Ilwaco is free and open to the public. Bring your curiosity and appreciation for these magnificent birds, and enjoy an unforgettable experience! This event is free, but space is limited. Please register at https://www.friendsofwillaparefuge.org/event-6363218

Photo: FWNWR
SUNDAY, October 19, 2025

Guided Hikes

Hike One: Birdwatching at Leadbetter Point

8 – 10 am
Sunday, October 19

Leadbetter Point is one of the best spots on the Pacific Coast for migratory birds. This guided bird walk starts at 8:00 until 10:00 a.m.  Led by Cindy McCormack, the Sandhill Crane Monitoring Scientist at the Columbia Land Trust, the two- to three-mile trip will wind through Leadbetter’s diverse habitats of bay, forest, and dunes, all the while looking for shorebirds, waterfowl, raptors, and songbirds.  

All levels of birdwatchers are welcome—bring binoculars and dress for coastal weather. The terrain is sandy and may be uneven and wet for the first two miles of this trip. This event is one of the activities sponsored by the Friends of Willapa National Wildlife Refuge and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to celebrate National Wildlife Refuge Week. A Washington State Discover Pass https://www.discoverpass.wa.gov/ is required for parking at the Leadbetter site, which is located at the end of Stackpole Road in Oysterville. This event is free, but space is limited. Register at https://www.friendsofwillaparefuge.org/event-6363237

Pat Welle/FWNWR

Hike Two: A Wildlife Tracking Journey - Field Trip

9 – 11 am
Sunday, October 19

This is a unique opportunity to learn from a Professional Level IV Wildlife Tracker, Kristi Freese. Kristi will lead you along the shoreline of Willapa Bay at Leadbetter Point, helping identify tracks of birds and mammals such as sanderlings, great blue herons, raccoons, deer, and many more. Meet at 9 AM at Leadbetter Point in the northernmost parking lot on Stackpole Road. The trip will last about two hours.

Walking is rated as easy. The terrain is sandy and may be uneven and wet. It’s an easy 2–3-mile hike on both damp and loose sand and a nature trail. Bring your favorite pair of binoculars, as there will be birds to discover. Dress for the coastal weather conditions. This trip is one of the events sponsored by the Friends and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to celebrate National Wildlife Refuge Week.

A Washington State Discover Pass https://www.discoverpass.wa.gov/ is required for parking at the Leadbetter site. This event is free, but space is limited. Register at https://www.friendsofwillaparefuge.org/event-6363238

Hike Three: Explore the Art Trail and Cutthroat Climb

9 – 11 am
Sunday, October 19

Enjoy a naturalist’s perspective along the most popular trails at Willapa National Wildlife Refuge.  The Art Trail features a beautiful and accessible boardwalk that winds along an estuarine creek, showcasing various art pieces that tell the stories of the habitat and its wildlife. From the boardwalk, Cutthroat Climb trail leads up a forested hill through the deep woods of old-growth hemlocks and ferns. This climb is rated as Moderate to Difficult, with steep stairs and trail portions. This walk begins at 9:00 a.m. and continues through 11:00 a.m. Meet at 9:00 a.m. Meet in the parking lot for Cutthroat Creek.

The trip is led by Dawn Harris, Park Ranger for Willapa National Wildlife Refuge. She’ll share information about the area’s natural history, including its trees, birds, and other wildlife.  Bring binoculars to get the best experience out of the trek.  This hike is one of the events sponsored by the Friends and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to celebrate National Wildlife Refuge Week. 

Meet at 3888 US-101, north of mile marker 24. This event is free, but space is limited. Register at: https://www.friendsofwillaparefuge.org/event-6363246

We are monitoring the federal shutdown. If it continues through October 14, we will need to cancel these events due to the lack of Refuge staff support. We'll let everyone know as soon as we make that decision.