Longest running Bird Festival in the nation - A must for Birders and Nature Photographers
Incredible event for bird enthusiasts of all stripes - The 2012 Winter Wings Festival is happening February 17 - 19 in Klamath Falls / Oregon

The Klamath Basin is home to the largest concentration of bald eagles in the lower 48 states. Over 100 species of birds counted each winter in this area in Oregon and California. Phenomenal birding / nature - related opportunities for all ages are yours at the Winter Wings Festival. Whether you are a beginning birder, a life-long birding enthusiast, or a photographer, you will be impressed by the rich diversity present in the Klamath Basin during wintertime.

The Winter Wings Festival is produced by the Klamath Basin Audubon Society and takes place each year over Presidents' Day Weekend. A small gathering that began as the Bald Eagle Conference over 30 years ago has now become an incredible event for bird enthusiasts of all levels. Over 500 people have registered for the festival in recent years to enjoy presentations, workshops, field trips, and free family activities. The Klamath Basin, located in southern Oregon and northern California, is a major migratory stop over in the Klamath Basin. Six national wildlife refuges covering nearly 200,000 acres attract an impressive variety of waterfowl and raptors, many in astounding numbers.

Friday Feb 17th
Afternoon: Arrive Klamath Falls and check in at your hotel.

Early Evening: Attend evening first timer's reception and a no host bar at OTI Oregon Institute of Technolgy. Learn about Klamath Basin birding from a local expert. Alternatively, walk around and see the vendors.

Evening: Attend keynote speech given by Darrell Guilin, one of the nation's top nature photographers, on Birds and Feathers.
Darrell is one of the foremost nature photographers working today, and is part of the Canon Explorers of Light program. His presentation on Friday night will focus on his experiences photographing birds in Antarctica, the Arctic, Australia, Africa, and the Pantanal of Brazil, with a special emphasis on feather patterns.

Saturday Feb 18th
Full Day Program: Visit of the Lower Klamath Lake Refuge. Lots of opportunities to see Bald Eagles and wintering waterfowl during this drive. During parts of the tour, the attendees may disembark to get a closer look at the birds. Continue to Tule Lake down through the Lava beds to see Petroglyphs or stay to see more waterfowl at the Tule Lake Refuge.

Evening: Attend keynote dinner and talk by Kenn Kaufmann: Kingbird Highway.

Kenn is a life-long naturalist, a world-renowned birder, and author of numerous books on birding. He will give the Saturday night presentation about his book Kingbird Highway, which describes his hitch ...hiking journey in the 1970s to try and break the North American Big Year record of over 600 species, on a budget of less than $ 1,000.


   
             

Sunday Feb 19th
Full Day Program: Join resident experts for a tour of the northern Klamath Basin as you loop around Upper Klamath Lake, the largest lake in Oregon. You'll get an introduction to the Volcanic Legacy of the area and learn the history of Fort Klamath which protected early settlers. Your leaders will also emphasize local geology and point out good areas for birding, including many stops on the Klamath Basin Birding Trail.  Optional visit to Two Rivers Gallery featuring local crafts.

Evening: Dinner on your own in Klamath Falls.