NEAH BAY — The eagles of Neah Bay are so plentiful they have inspired their own festival.
“Pretty much you can look up and see an eagle anywhere,” said Tinker Lucas, president of the Neah Bay Chamber of Commerce.
The chamber sponsors Neah Bay Eagle Fest, which will be from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday.
This time of year, bald eagles and golden eagles “are usually out on the docks or on the masts of the boats. There’s a few in the trees,” Lucas said.
“This is the best time for this festival because they’ve finished mating, and they are nesting now,” she said.
The festival is coordinated with the Earth Day Washington Coast Cleanup on Saturday, which will include volunteer work at Hobuck Beach and other nearby areas.
“While people are out here, they have all these other activities they can do after helping to clean up the beach,” Lucas said, adding that the cleanup is expected to draw about 100 people to Neah Bay.
Events in the third edition of Eagle Fest will be at four locations.
Makah Marina
■ Eagle lecture — Wildlife biologist Rob McCoy, wildlife division manager for the Makah tribe, will talk about eagles at 10 a.m. at the marina at 1321 Bayview Ave.
■ Chowder and bread — A traditional halibut chowder and buckskin bread meal will be available for a fee from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
■ “Walk with a Doc” — Participants can walk about 1 mile with Dr. Jessica Ange at 11 a.m. and ask questions and get ideas on how to improve their lifestyles.
■ Bird walks — Guided bird walks with naturalist Jon Scordino will begin at 1 p.m.
■ Fish dinner — A fish dinner with live Irish music will be served from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Jazz music also is planned, as well as a jam session after the meal.
“It will be kind of a fun evening,” Lucas said. “It’ll stop when it wants to.”
The cost of the meal is $10 in advance and $15 at the door.
Advance tickets are available from any chamber of commerce member. Also, Lucas will sell dinner tickets and Eagle Fest T-shirts from about 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Makah Community Hall.
Makah Community Hall
A bazaar with at least 10 vendors selling goods that include native art, activities for children such as a coloring contest and crafts using feather, and food such as Indian tacos, hot dogs and chili will be available from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Makah Village Market
■ Eagle nest watching — From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Lucas said several eagle nests are in the area of the village market, which is set up in front of Washburn General Store at 1450 Bayview Ave.
■ Crab plate lunch with bread — From noon to 1 p.m., hosted by the Neah Bay Community Garden Club, which also will sell plants. $15.
Makah Museum
An eagle exhibit is available for viewing from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Makah Cultural and Research Center at 1880 Bay View Ave.
Admission is $5.
Neah Bay is at the west end of state Highway 112, at the most northwestern tip of the contiguous United States.
The state highway becomes Bayview Avenue, the main roadway through Neah Bay.
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Managing Editor/News Leah Leach can be reached at 360-417-3531 or at leah.leach@peninsuladailynews.com.
