Stanwood, Camano celebrations will brighten the winter lull

STANWOOD — February is a month of treasure hunts and winged visitors here.

While most communities slip into a late winter lull before spring and summer festivals, Stanwood and Camano Island are ready to put on two of the area’s biggest events of the year.

The back-to-back celebrations have different themes. One honors migrating snow geese that flock to the tideflats, and the other entices people to hunt for clues to colorful, fragile treasures.

The Great Northwest Glass Quest runs from Feb. 13 to 22. A father and son duo of local artists, Mark and Marcus Ellinger, have crafted hundreds of glass floats that serve as the treasure in this 10-day quest. Plastic clue balls are tucked among the trails at parks or mixed into the merchandise at businesses. People who find clue balls win a float.

Guide books for the quest can be picked up at most Stanwood and Camano Island businesses or downloaded online at www.thegreatnwglassquest.com.

This year, at least one new questing spot has been added, event coordinator Gayle Picken said. Kayak Point Regional Park will have clue balls. Locations that have been part of the quest in the past, including Camano Island and Cama Beach state parks, also are on this year’s list. About 40 businesses participate.

The floats come in a variety of colors and every one is unique, Picken said.

“The repeat questers love this,” she said. “We have people come and bring their kids or friends or parents. It’s a treasure hunt, and it’s so much fun.”

People have about a week to recover from questing before the 10th Annual Port Susan Snow Goose and Birding Festival starts. The two-day celebration is scheduled for Feb. 28 and March 1.

Tens of thousands of snow geese migrate down the west coast in the winter, landing in droves among Stanwood’s fields and tideflats. The area also is home to a variety of other birds. February is a good time for viewing eagles, hawks, ducks and great blue heron as well as snow geese.

Presentations during the festival including “Feathered Architects: The Fascinating World of Bird Nests” and “Are Polar Birds on Thin Ice?” Organizers are putting together a birding photography class and several guided tours of the Port Susan Nature Conservancy. A bus tour to spot snow geese and trumpeter swans is in the works, and maps are available at local businesses for popular birding areas like Iverson Spit and English Boom Park on Camano Island.

Tours tend to be the most popular part of the festival, said Kristine Kaufman, one of the coordinators. Speakers also draw crowds, and there are experts this year on birds in the far northern climes of Russia and on southern species in Antarctica and South America. “It’s sort of pole to pole this year,” Kaufman said.

A complete list of activities is online at www.snowgoosefest.org. People should bring warm clothes, cameras, binoculars and water bottles.

“This has just grown year after year,” Kaufman said. “Our one piece of advice is layer — the classic Pacific Northwest instruction.”

Kari Bray: 425-339-3439; kbray@heraldnet.com

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Everett mall renderings from Brixton Capital. (Photo provided by the City of Everett)
Topgolf at the Everett Mall? Mayor’s hint still unconfirmed

After Cassie Franklin’s annual address, rumors circled about what “top” entertainment tenant could be landing at Everett Mall.

Everett
Everett man sentenced to 3 years of probation for mutilating animals

In 2022, neighbors reported Blayne Perez, 35, was shooting and torturing wildlife in north Everett.

Dorothy Crossman rides up on her bike to turn in her ballot  on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett leaders plan to ask voters for property tax increase

City officials will spend weeks hammering out details of a ballot measure, as Everett faces a $12.6 million deficit.

Starbucks employee Zach Gabelein outside of the Mill Creek location where he works on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mill Creek Starbucks votes 21-1 to form union

“We obviously are kind of on the high of that win,” store bargaining delegate Zach Gabelein said.

Lynnwood police respond to a collision on highway 99 at 176 street SW. (Photo provided by Lynnwood Police)
Police: Teen in stolen car flees cops, causes crash in Lynnwood

The crash blocked traffic for over an hour at 176th Street SW. The boy, 16, was arrested on felony warrants.

The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County: Everett mining yard violated order to halt work next to school

At least 10 reports accused OMA Construction of violating a stop-work order next to Fairmount Elementary. A judge will hear the case.

Imagine Children's Museum's incoming CEO, Elizabeth "Elee" Wood. (Photo provided by Imagine Children's Museum)
Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett to welcome new CEO

Nancy Johnson, who has led Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett for 25 years, will retire in June.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.