Woodpecker | Paul Bannick at Wings Over Water

The 2026 Wings Over Water Northwest Birding will take place on March 13, 14, 15 with field trips, birding and wildlife cruises; an all-day birding expo on Saturday with expert speakers, wildlife presentations, live raptor presentations, kids’ activities and more to enhance your outdoor experience and love of birding.

Since 2003, the Wings Over Water Birding Festival has taken place each spring in Blaine, Washington to celebrate the incredible variety of migratory birds that flock to the coastal waters of Drayton Harbor, Birch Bay and Semiahmoo Bay at the northwest corner of Washington State. This major stopover on the Pacific Flyway between Seattle, Washington and Vancouver, BC is designated as an Important Birding Area (IBA) and is the anchor for the North Cascades Loop of the Great Washington State Birding Trail.

KEYNOTE PRESENTATION, BY PAUL BANNICK
Saturday, March 14, 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Woodpecker: A Year in the Life of North American Woodpeckers.
Where: Blaine Community, Center, 763 G Street, Blaine
Cost: FREE, REGISTRATION NOT REQUIRED, BUT RECOMMENDED

Register here

Paul Bannick is an award-winning author, photographer, and highly sought-after national speaker. His most recent book, Woodpecker: A Year in the Life of North American Woodpeckers, brings together breathtaking photography, compelling video and audio, and the latest science to reveal the extraordinary lives of woodpeckers—one of North America’s most essential bird families, which Bannick calls the “heart of the forest.”

In this spellbinding presentation, Paul explores the often-secret lives of woodpeckers, capturing their charismatic behavior, vibrant displays, and sensitive habitats. Featuring more than 200 never-before-published images, he follows woodpeckers through every season—from courtship and nest selection in spring, to life in the nest during summer, fledgling in autumn, and the challenges of surviving winter. As an ardent conservationist, Paul also highlights the critical habitats woodpeckers depend on and what can be done to protect them.

Paul’s photography appears in numerous popular bird guides and has earned top honors from prestigious competitions, including Audubon Magazine and the International Conservation Photography Awards. He is also the author of two best-selling books: Owl: A Year in the Life of North American Owls, a Gold Medal winner at the 2017 Independent Publisher Book Awards, and The Owl and the Woodpecker: Encounters with North America’s Most Iconic Birds, which inspired traveling photography exhibits at Washington State’s Burke Museum.