Grays Harbor Shorebird Festival features exhibits, speakers, auction and, yes, birds

The Grays Harbor Shorebird Festival is Friday through Sunday at Hoquiam High School on Emerson Street in Hoquiam.

Bird watchers can get close up views at the Grays Harbor Wildlife Refuge and other surrounding parts of the county. Many of these birds are migrating northward, and some come from as far south as Argentina.

The keynote speaker at Saturday night's banquet will be Dr. Stephen W. Kress, vice president of bird conservation for the National Audubon Society.

Activities include guided field trips, a fun fair for kids, lectures, live auction at the banquet, exhibits, vendors, poster contest, shorebird viewing, book signings by authors and much more. Details: 800-303-8498 or www.shorebirdfestival.com

Those looking to dig for razor clams should head to Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks and Copalis beaches Friday through Sunday. Digging will also be open Monday at Twin Harbors and Mocrocks only. All beaches are open during morning tides and will close at noon.

Kalaloch Beach will not reopen to razor-clam digging this season, due to concerns about low numbers of clams on the beach in recent months.

Low tides: Friday, minus 1.8 feet at 7:36 a.m.; Saturday, minus 1.8 at 8:21 a.m.; April 30, minus 1.6 at 9:06 a.m.; and May 1, minus 1.1 at 9:50 a.m.

The Washington Butterfly Association is hosting a free presentation on identifying butterflies with Jon Pelham, 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Center for Urban Horticulture, 3501 N.E. 41st St. in Seattle. Details: 206-364-4935 or www.naba.org/Chapters/nabaws

The Washington Trails Association is offering high-school students volunteer vacations in the Puget Sound region.

Participants will learn about building and maintaining hiking trails in a safe, teamwork-oriented environment in the Cascade Mountains. The association provides experienced crew leaders, some camping gear (tents and sleeping pads) and meals.

Cost is $125 for non-members, and $100 for WTA members. The weeklong trips begin June 25 through Aug. 20. Details: 206-625-1367 or www.wta.org

The Wild Steelhead Coalition meeting is 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Center for Urban Horticulture, 3501 N.E. 41st St. in Seattle. Phil Davis, executive director of the Hoh River Trust, will discuss how to help protect wild steelhead for the future. Details: www.wildsteelheadcoalition.com

The Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge in Olympia offers guided nature walks every weekend through June. The programs are free, but a $3 entrance fee per family is required. Details: 360-753-9467 or www.fws.gov/nisqually

The Sky Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited and Lavro Boats are hosting a free kids' trout fishing event 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday at Lake Tye on Fryelands Boulevard in Monroe. Open to children 12 and younger. An adult derby will be held from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., and costs $10. Details: 360-794-6378 or 360-794-5525.

The Port Angeles Halibut Derby, part of the Northwest Salmon Derby Series, is May 27-28 at the Port Angeles yacht Club. Cost is $30. Largest fish is worth $5,000. Derby tickets are available at Swain's Outdoor in Sequim and Port Townsend and Ted's Sports Center in Lynnwood. Details: 360-457-4260 or www.portangeles.org

Mark Yuasa can be reached at 206-464-8780; e-mail: outdoorsnotes@seattletimes.com; fax: 206-464-3255; address: P.O. Box 70, Seattle, WA 98111.