Photograph by James A. Martin

Festival and Art Exhibit Opening Reception

Preview fine art, sample wines of the Napa and Sonoma Valleys and the Carneros region, enjoy good company at the opening of the Flyway Festival and its Fine Art Exhibit with our Opening Reception and Festival Host, Weston Solutions.

North Bay Wetlands and Wildlands Plein Air Paintout Silent Art Auction
Place bids in the Silent Art Auction till Sunday 2pm, Art Exhibition Hall, Building 897.

Start your bidding on the on the silent auctions and shop early with art and birding supply vendors in the Wildlife Expo Hall, Building 897.

Photograph by John Klycinski

Trip leader: Susan Young, Weston Solutions, Inc. and former Mare Island Shipyard worker
Repeats Saturday, 11:15am and 1:45pm and Sunday, 9:30am and 12:30pm
Join this unforgettable driving tour to the scenic highest point on the “original “ Mare Island planned as the Mare Island Shoreline Heritage Preserve. From this spectacular 360 degree vista point(barring fog), view the Carquinez Strait, the Al Zampa and the San Pablo Bay Refuge, the Art Tribute dedicated to Mare Island workers and the adjacent 18-hole golf course. Discover the history, learn about the environmental cleanup and help celebrate the 150th anniversary of the oldest naval cemetery in the West at this unique national historical site. Pre-sign in at the Weston Solutions Exhibit. Meet at the “Outing Tent” in front of Building 897.

Photograph by John Klycinski

Outing leader: Anne Sheldon will guide an ambitious 8 mile roundtrip hike from the Festival Headquarters through the historic shipyard to the top of the original Mare Island now planned as a regional park–the Mare Island Shoreline Heritage Preserve. Barring fog, scenic views of Mare Island, Carquinez Strait, Al Zampa Memorial Bridge and San Pablo Bay. Two miles of hilly terrain; paved roads and trails. Bring drinking water, lunch and backpack with rain gear; hike takes place rain or shine. Must stay together for the 2.5 miles in The Preserve, entering locked gates. See Sunday 10am description to hike just the 2.5 mile roundtrip in the Shoreline Heritage Preserve or meet Anne’s group at the gate at the dead end of Railroad Ave. at about 9:45am Saturday. For full 8-mile hike meet at the (Outing Tent) Building 897.

North Bay Wetlands Plein Aire Paintout Silent Art Auction and Festival Art Exhibit.
Silent Art Auction continues in Art Exhibition Hall, Building 897 till Sunday, 2:30pm.

Nature Art, Learning and Crafts for Kids
Led by Talia Peterson and assistants, Girl Scout Junior Bronze Award Project, Benicia Troop # 20304
Repeats Sunday 9am-3pm.
Kids learn about birds and nature through hands-on activities from pine-cone bird feeders to a bingo game to learn about bird species and habitat, and art. Grown-ups help their own kids at self-learning stations along with games led by Talia’s team. Kid’s Krafts Room off the exterior hallway of the Expo. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

U.S. Navy Mare Island Restoration Advisory Board Environmental Restoration Site Tour
Outing Leader: Michael Bloom, Navy BRAC Environmental Coordinator and Restoration Advisory Board Co-Chair
Repeats Saturday, 11:30am and 1:30pm
Join the Navy’s team for a behind the scenes tour by bus of some of the Navy’s current environmental cleanup sites on Mare Island. This is the type of tour Restoration Advisory Board members for Mare Island are given routinely, but this is a great opportunity for you to see what it takes to cleanup after more than 150 years of Shipbuilding operations. You will be able to get out at some stops. Pre-register at the Navy booth next to the Weston Solutions Exhibit. Meet at the Outing Tent in the Building 897 parking lot to board the bus.

Flyway Festival Self- Guided Walk Hosted by Weston Solutions, Inc. and Napa-Solano Audubon Society
Repeats Sunday 9:30am-2pm
Explore the wetland habitats of Mare Island on a self-guided walk with learning stations beginning at Building 505 entrance across Azuar Dr. from Building 897. Volunteer naturalist/biologists, will provide natural history information and scope viewing at some stations. All ages. Bring binoculars.

Photograph by Caroline Kopp

Walking Tour of Historic Mare Island Naval Shipyard
Repeats Sunday 10am-11am
Join Mare Island Historic Park docent Peggy O’Drain for a guided walk through the heart of the former shipbuilding operations at the oldest U.S. Naval facility in the Pacific, founded in 1854 and closed in 1996. See many of the 500 buildings and structures that led the National Park Service to designate Mare Island as a National Historic Landmark, including Alden Park, the Captain’s Row Mansions, the Drydocks and Building Ways where many of the ships were built. Meet at Alden Park at 8th Street between Railroad and Walnut Avenues.

Louis Comfort Tiffany stained-glass windows in St. Peter’s Chapel. Photography by John Klycinski

Tours of St. Peter’s Chapel and Mare Island Shipbuilding Museum
Repeats Sunday 10am-3pm
St. Peter’s Chapel, the oldest Navy chapel built in 1900, is home to the most Tiffany glass on a single site in the West. Park across from the Chapel Park located at the south end of Walnut Ave beyond Captain’s Row mansions (requires right turn at end of Captain’s Row onto alley, then left turn and left turn again, onto Walnut Ave northbound to parking lot). Depending on the weather, monarch butterflies may be visible in the trees of Chapel Park. Museum is located in Building 46. Entrance across from Alden Park at 8th St. and Railroad Ave. Donation: $3 per person for each site.

Meet the authors of the book about Salty, the 2008 Flyway Festival Honorary Host

Discover Mare Island’s Historic Naval Ammunition Depot
Trip leader: Susan Young, Weston Solutions, Inc. and former Mare Island Shipyard worker
Repeats Saturday, 11:15am and 1:45pm and Sunday, 9:30am and 12:30pm
Join this unforgettable driving tour to the scenic highest point on the “original “ Mare Island planned as the Mare Island Shoreline Heritage Preserve. From this spectacular 360 degree vista point(barring fog), view the Carquinez Strait, the Al Zampa and the San Pablo Bay Refuge, the Art Tribute dedicated to Mare Island workers and the adjacent 18-hole golf course. Discover the history, learn about the environmental cleanup and help celebrate the 150th anniversary of the oldest naval cemetery in the West at this unique national historical site. Pre-sign in at the Weston Solutions Exhibit. Meet at the “Outing Tent” in front of Building 897.

Ecological Evolution of the North Bay: From Hay Harvest to Wetland Restoration

Presenter: Francesca Demgen, wetland biologist
In her slide show, Francesca will discuss the history of North Bay marsh reclamation, Outing Oyster Company, waterfowl for restaurants, special status species and restoration projects by the California Department of Fish and Game and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Wildlife Expo Building 897: Room next to Weston Solutions Exhibit.

U.S. Navy Mare Island Restoration Advisory Board Environmental Restoration Site Tour
Outing Leader: Michael Bloom, Navy BRAC Environmental Coordinator and Restoration Advisory Board Co-Chair
Repeats Saturday, 9:30am and 1:30pm
Join the Navy’s team for a behind the scenes tour by bus of some of the Navy’s current environmental cleanup sites on Mare Island. This is the type of tour Restoration Advisory Board members for Mare Island are given routinely, but this is a great opportunity for you to see what it takes to cleanup after more than 150 years of Shipbuilding operations. You will be able to get out at some stops. Pre-register at the Navy booth next to the Weston Solutions Exhibit. Meet at the Outing Tent in the Building 897 parking lot to board the bus.

Photograph by Caroline Kopp

Native Bird Connections Raptor Show "Raptor Speak"
Repeats Sunday 11:30am
Presenter: Jenny Papka, Curator, Native Bird Connections
Are you fascinated by birds of prey? Learn about the personal side of raptors in a fun and informative presentation. Live, non-releasable birds will join the presenters and offer an opportunity to see raptor behavior up close.

Wood Carving Demonstration
Demonstration by Festival Featured Artists, Jim and Bob Mariero at Wildlife Expo booth, Building 897. Repeats Sunday, 12:30-1pm

Seabirds of Alcatraz Island
Slide show presented by Sara Acosta, PRBO Conservation Science biologist
Wildlife Expo Building 897: Room next to Weston Solutions’ exhibit.

Photograph by Steve Farley

Discover the Back Country and Bay of Mare Island
Walk with Sierra Club leader Kenn Browne, through the planned Mare Island Shoreline Heritage Preserve on the remote “backside” of Mare Island. See historic Marine Barracks, Western Magazine and the shore of the Carquinez Strait - - on southernmost tip of Mare Island - - waterbirds and tribute to the salt marsh harvest mouse. Flat gravel/ paved trails. Bring backpack with rain gear and drinking water. No facilities. Group required to stay together, entering locked gates; plan to arrive early for prompt departure.

Directions: From Mare Island entrance, continue straight to Azuar Dr. Turn left. Continue to roadblock. Turn right onto Flagship Dr. Continue .9 mile to Nereus St. Turn left onto Nerueus. Park in lot.

Outdoor Painting Demonstration with Benicia Plein Air Group
Repeats Sunday 11am and 1pm
Jerrold Turner, member of the plein air group “The Outsiders” will give a painting demonstration near the Wildlife Expo. No pre-registration required. Meet at Benicia Plein Air Group “daGroup” booth to learn demonstration location and buy raffle tickets for an oil painting raffled at their booth. Visit the Flyway Festival silent auction to bid on two small oil paintings contributed by artists from the “daGroup”.

Photograph by James A. Martin

The Islands of San Francisco Bay
Repeats Sunday 1-2pm

Slide show presented by James A. Martin, Photographer and a past Flyway Festival Honorary Host. Photos from the recently published book "The Islands of San Francisco Bay". Take a quick tour of the 48 Islands in the Bay and view images that show their unique island ecology, history and boost the environmental awareness of these isolated lands. Check out his “Images from the Islands of San Francisco Bay” photo exhibit in the Festival Expo. Slide show in Wildlife Expo Building 897: Room next to Weston Solutions’ exhibit.

Suisun Wildlife Center Slide Show and Live Wildlife Visit Wildbird Show Stage

Monique Liguori, Executive and Education Director assisted by Rehabilitation Director Cindy Forrest focuses on the 27-year effort of the Wildlife Center to care for and return to the wild injured and orphaned wildlife in Solano County. Non-releasable wildlife will be shown and the general principles of wildlife rehabilitation will be discussed. The Center’s education programs reach 8-12,000 children and adults annually.

Petaluma's Public Wetlands - a Birders Paradise
Slide show presenter: Gerald Moore, Petaluma Wetlands Alliance 
Petaluma’s two adjacent wetland areas open to the public, Shollenberger Park and Alman Marsh are about 250 acres and contain 3 miles of trails, several types of wetland habitats, and about 180 bird species. In 2009 an additional 250 acres will open to the public when the Ellis Creek Water Recycling Facility and Wildlife Sanctuary is completed. The wetlands are supported and interpreted by a citizens group, the Petaluma Wetlands Alliance (www.petalumawetlands.org), a committee of Madrone Audubon Society. This show will present the beauty, diversity, and stewardship of this great wetlands site.

U.S. Navy Mare Island Restoration Advisory Board Environmental Restoration Site Tour
Outing Leader: Michael Bloom, Navy BRAC Environmental Coordinator and Restoration Advisory Board Co-Chair
Repeats Saturday, 9:30am and 11:30am
Join the Navy’s team for a behind the scenes tour by bus of some of the Navy’s current environmental cleanup sites on Mare Island. This is the type of tour Restoration Advisory Board members for Mare Island are given routinely, but this is a great opportunity for you to see what it takes to cleanup after more than 150 years of Shipbuilding operations. You will be able to get out at some stops. Pre-register at the Navy booth next to the Weston Solutions Exhibit. Meet at the Outing Tent in the Building 897 parking lot to board the bus.

Discover Mare Island’s Historic Naval Ammunition Depot by Van Tour
Trip leader: Susan Young, Weston Solutions, Inc. and former Mare Island Shipyard worker Repeats Saturday, 10am and 12noon and Sunday, 10:30am and 12:30pm

Waterfowl Drawing
Learn waterfowl drawing from wildlife artist and winner of the 2005 CA Duck Stamp Competition, Rich Radigonda. No experience needed to have a great time learning to draw wildlife. Understand and practice the basics of creating your own waterfowl artwork and enjoy the process of drawing. All ages. Special focus for children. Pencils and drawing pads will be provided. Building 897: Wildlife Drawing Room along outside hallway.

Audubon at Home
Presented by Cheryl Harris, President Napa-Solano Audubon Society
Make the connection between your yard and the health of wetlands, rivers, the bay while you invite birds and other wildlife to visit and even stay awhile. This Backyard Habitat workshop will include a power point presentation along with handouts & examples of plant material. 

Guadalcanal Village Wetland Restoration Marsh Shorebird Observation
Join Refuge volunteers to view the Caltrans Guadalcanal Village wetland restoration site. Information about the restoration and telescopes for shorebird viewing will be provided. A Refuge van shuttle will leave from the “Outing Tent” in front of Building 897 every 30 minutes for transport to and from the site, or drive and park.

Driving Directions from Festival Expo: Turn one-way right from Building 897 eastern exits from parking lots onto Walnut Ave. Turn left onto G Street. Turn left at flashing stoplight onto Railroad Ave. Continue north through North Gate. Make immediate left onto Hwy 37 overpass. Turn left into parking lot at end of overpass. No facilities. Due to high tides on Sunday, there will be no scheduled viewing, but get a great perspective from a viewing platform reached by climbing the spiral staircase onto the Mare Island Overpass from the parking lot.

Owl Prowl and More at the San Pablo Bay Discovery Center
Join Robin Leong and Wally NeVille, Napa-Solano Audubon Society Birding Guides and former Naval Shipyard workers to look for and listen for whatever wildlife we can find; possibles include Northern Harrier, Virginia Rail, Sora, Clapper Rail, Barn Owl, Short-eared owl, and Great Horned Owl. See if you can discover other creatures of the night. Meet at Building 505 entrance.

Directions for all Saturday evening outings: Walk or drive from Festival parking lots across Azuar Dr. to I St. entrance to Building 505 driveway beyond yellow gate.

Mare Island Nocturne

Photograph by Tim Baskerville

Introductory Night Photography Workshop on Mare Island
With Tim Baskerville, Founder/Director of The Nocturnes

Location: Mare Island Naval Shipyard, established in 1854, was the first naval facility on the Pacific Coast. At one point in its history, more than 40,000 men and women worked at the island’s drydocks, shops and warehouses. The Navy closed its doors in 1996, surrendering it, in various parcels, to the City of Vallejo in the subsequent years. The U.S. Navy’s flag was lowered at the former shipyard for the last time on April 19, 2002.

Tuition and Registration FREE introductory Night Photography workshop - offered by The Nocturnes and the SF Bay Flyway Festival. To register for this workshop - fill out our Registration Form and send or FAX it in to Pacific Media Arts (form must be received no later than January 30th). To speak to a live person, call Susan Nichols at Pacific Media Arts - (707) 645-9860.

North Bay Wetlands Plein Aire Paintout Silent Art Auction
Silent Art Auction continues in Art Exhibition Hall, Building 897 till 2:30pm.

Hosted by the Vaca Valley Volks chapter of the California and American Volkssport Associations. Route includes our Self-Guided Wetland Walk and historic and new Mare Island neighborhoods. Start 9am-12noon Saturday and/or Sunday. Finish by 4pm Saturday and 3pm Sunday. Register at Building 897. Anyone can walk the route at no charge. For the route info just click on the printable 5k & 10k Flyer (PDF format; Adobe Acrobat Reader required) or pre-register using the 5k & 10k Registration Form, fill it out and mail or bring it with you - ready to go. Fee $3-$7 for AVA credit and/or awards. For information visit www.ava.org, call Luanne Johnson, 707-748-0949 or email: LuanneJ@sprynet.com.

Flyway Festival Self-Guided Refuge Walk Hosted by Weston Solutions, Inc. and Napa-Solano Audubon Society
Repeats Saturday 9:30am-3pm

Explore the wetland habitats of Mare Island on a self-guided walk beginning at Building 505 entrance across Azuar Dr. from Building 897. Nine stations with volunteer naturalist/biologists at 4 stations provide natural history information and scope viewing. New wetland creation overlook. All ages. Bring binoculars.

Photograph by Caroline Kopp

Walking Tour of Historic Mare Island Naval Shipyard
Join Mare Island Historic Park Foundation volunteers for a guided walk through the heart of the former shipbuilding operations at the oldest U.S. Naval facility in the Pacific, founded in 1854 and closed in 1996. See 500 buildings and structures that led the National Park Service to designate Mare Island as a National Historic Landmark. Meet at the “Outing Tent” at Building 897.

A Leisurely Sunday Morning Wakeup Climb to the Hilltop
Join avid Mare Island Shoreline Heritage Preserve advocates Carola May and Isaac Nyden for a morning walk to the top of Mare Island’s highest point in the planned regional park. The paved route winds its way from sea level to 285 ft. which doesn’t sound like much until you arrive at the hilltop with stupendous views of 7 Bay Area counties, Mt. Diablo, Mt. Tamalpais, Mt. St. Helena, the Coast Range, East Bay Hills, the Carquinez Bridges and the Sonoma and Napa Valleys. Make a stop along the way at the Mare Island Naval Cemetery that turns 150 in February. Visit the Spirit Ship Art Tribute to Mare Island shipyard workers and a geological marker placed in 1852 by the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, the precursor to NOAA. Imagine the Mare(s) of Mare Island grazing the slopes with California tule elk more than 200 years ago. Rain or shine. Only heavy rain cancels. No facilities. Meet at the gate at the end of Railroad Ave. at before 10am. See Sunday 12:45pm hike for directions.

Louis Comfort Tiffany stained-glass windows in St. Peter’s Chapel. Photograph by John Klycinski

Tours of St. Peter’s Chapel and Mare Island Shipbuilding Museum

Repeats Saturday 10am-3pm

St. Peter’s Chapel, the oldest Navy chapel built in 1900, is home to the most Tiffany glass on a single site in the West. Donation: $3 per person.

Directions: Chapel is located at the south end of Walnut Ave. beyond Captain’s Row mansions (right turn at end of Captain’s Row onto alley, then left turn and left around traffic circle, then turn right onto Walnut Ave. northbound to parking lot on right). Depending on the weather, Monarch butterflies may be visible in the trees of Chapel Park. Museum is located in Building 46. Ask docent at Chapel or at Historic Park booth for directions.

Outdoor Painting Demonstration with Benicia Plein Air Group local artist, Iris Sabre

Repeats Saturday 1pm and Sunday 1pm.

Meet at Benicia Plein Air Group “daGroup” booth to learn demonstration location and buy raffle tickets for an oil painting raffled at their booth. Visit the Flyway Festival silent auction to bid on two small oil paintings contributed by artists from the “daGroup”. No pre-registration required.

Mare Island Mushroom Walk
Join Milan Pittman, California Native Plant Society-Napa Chapter field trip leader for a mushroom scouting outing on Mare Island. Meet at the “Outing Tent” at the front of Building 897 to form carpool.

Presenter: Jenny Papka, Curator, Native Bird Connections
Are you fascinated by birds of prey? Learn about the personal side of raptors in a fun and informative presentation. Live, non-releasable birds will join the presenters and offer an opportunity to see raptor behavior up close.

Visit by National Wildlife Refuges Blue Goose Mascot Visit

Get a hug, shake a hand and get a Blue Goose bookmark. Show the bookmark at the San Pablo Bay Refuge booth to get a Blue Goose tattoo.

Wood Carving Demonstration
Demonstration by Festival Featured Artists, Jim and Bob Mariero at Wildlife Expo booth, Building 897. Repeats Sunday, 12:30-1pm

Photograph by John Klycinski

Join Peggy O’Drain, Mare Island Historic Park volunteer at the Mare Island Naval Cemetery, the Navy’s oldest cemetery in the Pacific, founded 150 years ago this year. Peggy is writing a book about its history and those buried there, including the first recorded burial, Quartermaster George David of Massachusetts, on February 12, 1856.

Directions: Exit Festival parking lots onto one-way Walnut Ave. or from north gate continue on Walnut Ave. to stop sign at G St. Turn left. Continue past flashing stoplight one block to Nimitz Ave. From main entrance to Island turn at first left onto Nimitz Ave. Continue on Nimitz to 15th St. Turn right. Continue one block to Railroad Ave. Turn left. Continue to gate at deadend of Railroad. Walk through gate to cemetery on right .25 miles.

Outdoor Painting Demonstration with Benicia Plein Air Group local artist, Catherine Fasciato
Repeats Saturday 1pm and Sunday 11am.

Meet at Benicia Plein Air Group “daGroup” booth to learn demonstration location and buy raffle tickets for an oil painting raffled at their booth. Visit the Flyway Festival silent auction to bid on two small oil paintings contributed by artists from the “daGroup”. No pre-registration required.

The Islands of San Francisco Bay
Wildbird Show Stage

Repeats Saturday 1-2pm

Photograph by John Klycinski

Let’s Go Birding with Lisa Myers
Lisa will lead a bird walk throughout the wildlife rich habitat of Mare Island wetlands.  While spotting species Lisa will discuss all the aspects of getting into this sport from optics to field guides to clothing and bird identification. Lisa teaches birding classes in the South Bay, owns Let’s Go Birding and serves on the board of the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory.  Lisa's easy-going style and humor make it fun for anyone to go out into the environment and find birds and learn more about America's fastest growing past time. Bring your binoculars and scopes or borrow ours. Meet at the “Outing Tent” in Building 897 parking lot.

Repeats Saturday 12:30-2pm

Join Joyce Giles, Mare Island Historic Park docent, at the Mare Island Naval Cemetery, the Navy’s oldest cemetery in the Pacific, founded 150 years ago this year.

Directions: Exit Festival parking lots onto one-way Walnut Ave. or from north gate continue on Walnut Ave. to stop sign at G St. Turn left. Continue past flashing stoplight one block to Nimitz Ave. From main entrance to Island turn at first left onto Nimitz Ave. Continue on Nimitz to 15th St. Turn right. Continue one block to Railroad Ave. Turn left. Continue to gate at deadend of Railroad. Walk through gate to cemetery on right .25 miles.