Of course your chickens are the prettiest in the whole, wide world.
That turn of the beak. Those gorgeous eyes and amazing feathers.
Just in case someone has poultry that appears otherwise, an Ugliest Chicken contest is planned Saturday in Arlington. It’s part of the third annual Eagle Festival with art events, outdoor tours, library fun and presentations.
The bulk of the festival, offered by the city of Arlington and the Stillaguamish Tribe, happens all day this Saturday.
The Stillaguamish and Skagit watersheds host one of the largest concentrations of bald eagles in the lower 48 states. Wintering eagles take advantage of the abundance of spawning salmon in the Stillaguamish River.
As visitors drive toward Port Susan on Norman Road, keep a sharp eye out for eagles flying over the Stillaguamish River or perched in cottonwood trees. At the estuary at Port Susan, folks will be able to look through binoculars and spotting scopes to get a close look at the birds.
Here are the festival events:
10 a.m. to noon, judging at 2 p.m., the Ugliest Chicken contest is hosted by Co-op Supply in Arlington, 101 S. Olympic Ave. Bring your ugliest clucker in a cage or carrier.
10 a.m., children’s activities begin with Arlington Library staff, 103 E. Third St.
From 10 a.m. to noon, eagle expert Libby Mills and other volunteers will guide visitors at Port Susan Bay Nature Conservancy. To get there, follow Highway 530 west to Silvana, turn left at Norman Road, continue on Norman Road to the Marine Drive intersection. Go across Marine Drive and Norman becomes Boe Road. The Natural Conservancy is at the end of the road.
From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, the Arlington Arts Council hosts an art show at 103 E. Third St. Arlington Kiwanis will provide refreshments at the art show. Paul Nyenhuis will play his native flute.
At 11 a.m., the Arlington Arts Council will announce winners of the Something’s Fishy in Arlington fish art project at 103 E. Third St. There will be a slide show. The Sarah M. Arney Art Award will also be presented.
At 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., Sarvey Wildlife Center offers the chance to meet eagles and other birds of prey at the City Council chambers, 238 N. Olympic Ave.
At 12:30 p.m., Bill Blake with the city of Arlington and Pat Stevenson and Jason Griffith with the Stillaguamish Tribe offer a watershed presentation called “Salmon Habitat in the Stilly — Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” at 238 N. Olympic Ave.
At 2 p.m., Katie Kelleher with the city of Arlington will teach an educational program to introduce people to the Global Positioning System. She will explain how to use GPS, how to read a map, and how to find a geocache. The program is at 103 E. Third St. Geocaching is a treasure hunting hobby played around the world where folks use a GPS to hide and seek containers.
At 3 p.m., members of Pilchuck Audubon Society lead a bird-watching tour through the Portage Creek Wildlife Sanctuary in Arlington. From I-5, go east on Highway 530. Before town, turn south on 59th Avenue NE. Watch for the wildlife sanctuary on the right.
All day, there will be a “Fishy” scavenger hunt in downtown Arlington shops. Stop by the art show to receive clues to find the fish art.
All day, merchants offer wagon rides around town. Some stores offer Super Saturday sales and there are lunch specials in some restaurants.
And if you insist, cute and amazing chickens may also be shown at Co-op Supply.
Kristi O’Harran: 425-339-3451, oharran@heraldnet.com.
