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Dear Friend and Fan of the Flyway Festival:
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Photograph by Connie Pugh |
This 12th annual event celebrates the migration of more than
one million shorebirds and hundreds of thousands of ducks and geese,
hawks and even butterflies, through the San Francisco Bay Estuary.
If you’re a return visitor, welcome back! If you’re
a first-timer, welcome to the party!
Rest assured that the beautiful and amazing wildlife
is back, along with our experienced and enthusiastic wildlife guides.
Discover some of the best wetlands, wild lands, open spaces and historic
sites in the Bay Area by participating in guided birdwatching outings,
hikes and tours.
Get up-close and personal with wildlife at the wild-bird shows, which
are a part of our Wildlife Exploration and Birding Expo. You won’t be
disappointed! Be assured that many of the non-profit organizations,
natural resource agencies, and vendors selling wildlife inspired art,
jewelry and birding supplies will return along with our silent auction
and incredible art show.
Spend time with thousands of other people enthusiastic about the wild
and wide-open spaces of San Francisco Bay and its mysterious “north
shore.” Many of our nearly 70 outings are free and don’t require
pre-registration, making it a an outstanding option for beginning
birders. Our informational slide presentations are inspirational and
educational. Plus, the festival was chosen as the site for two days of
American Volkssport Association-sanctioned walks. Totally cool!
You may ask, “Why are there no registration or entry fees?” It’s simple.
I don’t think you should have to pay to fall in love. I am passionate
about keeping the Flyway Festival fees to a minimum. For the past 11
years, the generous support of our sponsors has ensured this vision.
However, each year it’s a little harder to make ends meet. We need your
support, the same as many other worthwhile causes. Think of the Flyway
Festival as a way to fight global-warming, and water and air pollution.
Make it your personal energy-conservation and habitat-protection
project. This is something that each of you, individually, can do to
really make a difference. I invite you to make a donation to help ensure
that the Flyway Festival continues to be -- now and for the future
-- free-of-charge.
There are also big financial changes ahead for the festival; another
reason why we need your help. The building which has housed the festival
for the past seven years is slated for demolition after this year’s
festival. Though sad to lose our old friend, we are excited about the
future. With your generous gift, we can begin searching for a new
location for next year’s festival. So, with this invitation to you, we
begin on a new and exciting migration of our own. Won’t you join the
Friends of the Flyway Festival, now? Your gift is tax-deductible.
Bring a check or cash to place in the donation barrel, or ask about
contributing by credit card.
On behalf of our outstanding sponsors, guides and presenters who really
go above and beyond, and our exhibitors from fine art to friends of our
rivers and refuges, I ask you to join in helping us host this great
party for our wild neighbors and migrating visitors. You will have the
best time getting to know them all, from those who dive to the murky
depths of the bay to those who fly in the highest skies. And, from the
smallest little Salty, the salt marsh harvest mouse, our Honorary
Festival Host this year, to the great raptors above, I hope you meet
someone special at our Flyway Festival and fall in love.
Warmly,
Myrna Hayes
Festival Co-founder and Coordinator
On behalf of Arc Ecology
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