Galt Winter Bird Festival to be a week-long event

Dec. 28—The Galt Winter Bird Festival returns in late January, and the event will be running a bit longer than it had in previous years.

Now in its 17th year, the festival begins Jan. 29 with a week's worth of activities and events, culminating on Feb. 4 at the Chabolla Community Center.

In the festival's program, City of Galt special events manager Jackie Garcia said the festival was expanded to a week in order to enhance community involvement and education.

Chabolla Center, located at 610 Chabolla Ave., will serve as festival headquarters, and will provide a starting point for preserve tours and educational presentations, she said.

The week-long celebration will begin with a Backyard Bird Safari on Jan. 29 at 10 a.m. at the Chabolla Center, where Sacramento landscape architects Mike and Annette Heacox will provide tips on how to design the ultimate bird or wildlife garden.

On Jan. 30 at 10:30 a.m., families are invited to the Galt Public Library for "Honk! Honk! A Story of Migration," about a girl who migrates to the snowy north with a flock of geese.

At 10:30 a.m., children of all ages can learn how to grow bird-friendly plants when they make pots and plant seeds, then watching them grow. A location for the presentation will be announced later.

Test your knowledge of all things bird on Jan. 31 at 6 p.m. for Bird Trivia Night at the Barsetti Vineyard Tasting Room, 400 4th St. Suite 150. Tickets are $10 per person, and each game is 90 minutes long. The top three teams will win prizes.

On Feb. 1, paint, sip wine and create door hangers at the "Welcome to My Bird Nest and Wine Night" at the Chabolla Center. Tickets are $45 per person, and registration is required at www.cityofgalt.org.

The next day, join Cosumnes River Preserve docents for breakfast and a journaling trip from 9-11 a.m. at 13501 Franklin Blvd. Tickets are $25 per person, and registration is required at www.cityofgalt.org.

On Saturday, Feb. 3, there will be a variety of presentations to attend as the festival winds down for the week at the Chabolla Center.

Everything kicks off at 9 a.m. with "Going Batty," presented by Yolo Basin Foundation program director Corky Quirk, who will provide a close-up look at bats and the benefits of inviting them to farms and backyards.

At 10 a.m., Kelli Moulden will have owls, hawks and water birds on-hand to provide an up-close look at the animals during "Hawks, Hinders and Hoots."

At 11 a.m., Gabriel Kerschner of Conservation Ambassadors will share how wild creatures that have sustained injuries or were kept as pets illegally have been prevented from surviving in the wild.

The festival will conclude with two keynote speakers Saturday afternoon.

At noon, Kate Rutter will share how journaling can enhance the birding experience and open up new ways to celebrate birds, and at 1:30 p.m., Michelle Dodge will present a photographic look into the lives of birds in the Sacramento Valley.

In addition to presentations, there will be vendors offering arts, crafts, and food, a youth art display, an art photo exhibit and and educational booth at the Chabolla Center from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Throughout the Feb. 3-4 weekend, a variety of tours will be offered at the Cosumnes River Preserve, Staten Island and Stone Lakes in Elk Grove as well.

For more information, visit tinyurl.com/GaltWBF2024.