By Chris McDaniel
Peninsula Daily News
SEQUIM — City residents and visitors might have noticed rather well behaved wild birds roosting inside several stores.
The ceramic figurines are the subject of two ongoing games leading up to Olympic Peninsula BirdFest 2015 at the Dungeness River Audubon Center, 2151 W. Hendrickson Road this Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
BirdFest will feature nearly two-dozen guided trips, workshops, classes and tours.
The games — BirdFest Bird Quest and BirdFest Bird Quest Junior Eagle Eyes for Kids — are both in progress and conducted by the Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce.
“These events are meant to be enjoyed by the whole family,” said Diane Fatzinger, president of the chamber.
Bird Quest players will use a game card to match wild bird figurines with the 11 businesses in which they are being displayed. Game cards are available at each location.
Upon completion of the game card, players drop it in the entry box at The Co-op Farm & Garden, 216 E. Washington St., by 5 p.m. Saturday for a chance to win the grand prize, a bird’s-eye view of the Dungeness Valley and the North Olympic Peninsula during a scenic airplane tour with Sequim pilot Emily Westcott.
One winner, who must be at least 18 years old to win, will be drawn at 12:30 p.m. Sunday during BirdFest. The winner need not be present.
“We also ask folks to vote for their favorite sculpture” after visiting each location, Fatzinger added.
A space will be provided on the BirdFest Bird Quest game card to write the name of the player’s favorite bird figurine.
The figurines were crafted by the ceramics students in teacher Jake Reichner’s classes at Sequim High School.
The Sequim-Dungeness Valley Merchant Group will award cash prizes to the top three student artists.
First place will receive $100, second place will receive $75 and third place will receive $50.
The figurines are at A Dropped Stitch, 136 S. Second Ave.; Blue Whole Gallery, 129 W. Washington St.; Colors of Sequim, 139 W. Washington St.; Fieldnotes, 123 E. Washington St.; and Hart’s Fine Books, 161 W. Washington St.
Also, Heather Creek, 122 W. Washington St.; Pacific Pantry, 229 S. Sequim Ave.; Purple Haze Downtown, 127 W. Washington St.; Sequim Spice & Tea, 121 W. Washington St.; Solar City, 135 W. Washington St.; and That Takes the Cake, 171 W. Washington St.
BirdFest Bird Quest Junior Eagle Eyes for Kids is a scavenger hunt for children up to 12 years old.
“We held a similar game at Christmas called ‘Elk on a Shelf,’” Fatzinger said. “It was well received.
“We often heard how grateful parents were to have something to do with their kids.”
Twelve identical bald eagle figurines from the Co-op Farm & Garden are in 12 businesses in Sequim and the surrounding area.
Children will be asked to find 10 of the 12 plastic eagles. Each time a child spots an eagle, the child gets another stamp on the game card.
Once 10 stamps have been collected, a child can enter a prize drawing.
The contest, already in progress, will run through Saturday at 5 p.m.
Winners in three age groups will be announced Sunday following a drawing at the Dungeness River Audubon Center at 12:30 p.m.
Prizes are contributed by the river center, the Northwest Raptor & Wildlife Center and the Olympic Game Farm, all in Sequim.
Prizes are the choice of one of three summer camps for the 9-to-12-year-old winner, a family tour of the raptor center for the 6-to-8-year-old winner and four tickets to the Olympic Game Farm for the winner who is 5 or younger.
Eagle figurines are at Bauer Interior Design, 119 N. Sequim Ave.; Ben’s Bikes, 1251 W. Washington St.; Doodlebugs, 138 W. Washington St.; Dungeness Kids Co., 163 W. Washington St.; Dungeness River Audubon Center; and Maggie May’s Espresso & Outfitter Food Truck at 190 Priest Road.
Also, Tom’s Plaza Jewelers, 511 E. Washington St.; Pondicherri West, 119 E. Washington St.; R & T Crystals, 158 E. Bell St.; Remote Control Hobbies, 680 W. Washington St.; The UPS Store, 1400 W. Washington St. Suite 104; and We Do Fudge, 11 Valley Center Place.
For more information, visit http://tinyurl.com/PDN-birdfestgames or the BirdFest Bird Quest Facebook page.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-681-2390, ext. 5052, or cmcdaniel@peninsuladailynews.com.
