Peninsula Clarion Front Page – 33rd Shorebird Festival Starts Next Week

Homer in May is for the birds — literally. Visitors, both winged and otherwise, will soon be flocking in for the 33rd annual Shorebird Festival, held May 7–11. Registration for the festival remains open online.

Culminating each year from a partnership between the Alaska Maritime Wildlife Refuge and the Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges, the festival offers a wide range of activities for birders of all ages, abilities and experience, and includes multiple events hosted by additional local partner businesses and organizations.

141 bird species were identified during the 2024 festival — nearly the highest number recorded in the festival’s history, compared to 143 species sighted in 2021. Approximately 800 people also registered for last year’s program of events.

The 2025 Shorebird Festival welcomes keynote speaker Dr. Ben Mirin, featured artist Danielle Larsen, and Schantz Scholar Kristen Johnson.

Mirin, also known as the “Wildlife DJ,” is an ethno-ornithologist, musician, science communicator, and media producer. Associated with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and a member of the Ethno-ornithology World Atlas research group at the University of Oxford, his research focuses on community-based conservation through education and storytelling. Mirin is also the co-creator and host of the digital and television series Wild Beats on National Geographic Kids and Nat Geo Wild. Additionally, according to the festival website, he travels the world recording animal sounds and sampling their voices to create music that inspires conservation, and in his work explores how creativity can make science more inclusive for the future of life on Earth.

Mirin will host a wildlife sound recording session on Friday, May 9, from 9–11 a.m. in the Seminar Room at the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center. Participants will join Mirin on a sound walk and learn about the basics of sound recording equipment and techniques while beginning to build their own personal library of nature sounds. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own equipment; smartphones will suffice.

Join Mirin on Saturday, May 10, in the Homer High School Mariner Theatre for a live music performance and keynote lecture. In his talk, Mirin will share his personal journey into ornithology and how he blends disciplines to communicate science to audiences outside the tent of conservation. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Finally, stop by the AMNWR seminar room on Sunday, May 11, from 9–10 a.m. for “birder’s coffee” and morning snacks with Mirin, Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges, and other birders.

Learn more about Mirin at benmirin.com.

Danielle Larsen is an Alaska Native artist and amateur birder, drawing inspiration for her work from Alaska’s beauty and diverse wildlife. Larsen’s artwork will be exhibited during the festival.

Join Larsen for a hands-on bird drawing workshop on Friday, May 9, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the AMNWR lab. During this session, participants will explore the shapes, forms, and movement of Alaska’s shorebirds as Larsen demonstrates approachable techniques for sketching birds — from capturing their postures and proportions to experimenting with expressive lines and shading. No prior experience needed.

Friday evening, from 4–6 p.m., take the chance to view more art during the Festival Kick-Off at the Pratt Museum. Attendees may also tour museum exhibits, explore the Pratt botanical and homestead gardens and historic Harrington cabin, and walk through the museum’s forest trails. Music and light hors d’oeuvres will be provided. This event is free; a $5 donation per person is suggested.

The 2025 Art and Adventure Auction also features original festival artwork by Larsen, as well as other art pieces created by Alaskan artists and donated items from local businesses. Auction items may be viewed at the AMNWR Visitor Center during the festival or at Homer High School leading up to the keynote speaker talk. Bidding closes on Saturday, May 10, at 7:30 p.m.

For more information about Larsen as this year’s featured artist, visit kachemakshorebird.org/2025-featured-artist.

Kristen Johnson is a lifelong birder and an avid photographer and bander of multiple bird species, including several shorebird species. Currently conducting fieldwork on the East Coast, she graduated summa cum laude from Mount Holyoke College in 2023 and wrote her honors thesis on avian predators of piping plovers on Fire Island, New York.

Join her on Saturday, May 10, at 1 p.m. for “Band Resighting: Citizen Science Involvement,” where she will recount her experience resighting bands and explain the information needed to report sightings of banded birds.

Festival organizers offer several other new features and events this year, including first-come, first-served talks and activities honoring Alaska Native Plant Month.

This year, events marked as “included in registration” do not require pre-registration; attendees may show up first come, first served and show their general festival pass at the door.

In addition to hosting the Shorebird Festival, May is also Alaska Native Plant Month, and festival organizers have partnered with Homer Soil and Water and the Pratt Museum to celebrate it with activities planned to educate on native plants, birds, and the relationships between the two. For more details, check out the festival program.

Homer author Nancy Lord will host a writing workshop, open to teens and adults, on Thursday, May 8. Participants of all experience levels in birding or writing will explore bird-related poetry and prose and have the opportunity to write about the birds they’ve seen or hope to see during the festival.

Several new education events are also scheduled, including a lecture and hands-on investigation of seabird diets, a film screening on the world of migratory shorebirds with Flyaways, and a talk given by biologist Heather Renner on the murre die-off in 2015 and 2016.

Finally, Surfrider Kenai Peninsula, newly involved with the Shorebird Festival, will host a competitive beach cleanup at 11 a.m. on Sunday, May 11, where teams can earn prizes for picking up the most trash. Festival attendees may also join Surfrider on Friday, May 9, for a conservation talk on how coastal wetlands support shorebirds and what actions can be taken to protect them.

For more information, to view the festival program, or to register online, visit kachemakshorebird.org.