Wings Over the Rockies

The Wings Over the Rockies Festival 2013 was a huge success with record participation and perfect weather. The theme of the 17th annual festival - Celebrating, Mountains, Wetlands and Wildlife explored the changes that are occurring in climates and natural environments and how birds and animals are adapting.

The program offered a full week of field trips, paddles, workshops, lunch and evening presentations culminating with a Gala Banquet at the Fairmont Hot Springs Resort Ski Chalet. Our keynote speaker, George Sirk, is an avid birder, naturalist and polar bear specialist from Victoria who has navigated over 15,000 miles of the Arctic Archipelago.

The scope of the Wings Festival is quite broad including informative and entertaining events while not ignoring the past favourites. Such events offer a great opportunity for visitors and locals alike to learn more about the Columbia Valley, our backyard – the envy of the world. The focal point for the Festival is the historic Pynelogs Cultural Centre for evening presentations, some workshops and registration of events.

Columbia River Wetlands

The Columbia River Wetlands, one of the longest undisturbed wetland ecosystems found in North America, stretches over 180 km in length from Canal Flats to Donald, BC. This impressive ecosystem gained international recognition when it was chosen as a Ramsar wetlands in 2005 and represents one of the few remaining intact portions of the Pacific Flyway critical to migrating birds.

Click on the images below to view a collection of birds and activities enjoyed at last year's Wings Over the Rockies Festival. Images of this year's events and birds seen will be posted soon.

Dates for the Wings Over the Rockies Festival in the next two years:

May 5 to 11, 2014

May 4 to 10, 2015