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The extensive cliffs, shrub -steppe, and riparian cottonwood forests provide a rich mixture of <br />habitats. Particularly important are the immense basalt cliffs and talus slopes interspersed with <br />shrub -steppe vegetation, which support a diverse assemblage of birds and obligates associated <br />with this habitat, including White -throated Swift, Cliff Swallow, Rock Wren, Canyon Wren, and <br />twenty-one species of raptors. Ten of these raptor species breed in and around the canyon, <br />including two pairs of Golden Eagles and five pairs of Prairie Falcons. The cliffs and shrub -steppe <br />habitat also support dense populations of Red-tailed Hawks, American Kestrels, and Great - <br />horned Owls. Up to twenty Bald Eagles winter along the river, subsisting primarily on trout. The <br />riparian habitats along the river and its tributaries support a high diversity and abundance of <br />passerines (songbirds). <br />Yakima River Canyon Bird Fest will be a free, family -friendly event targeting birders throughout <br />the Pacific Northwest and from around the world. Birders travel thousands of miles to add to <br />their 'life lists' and our festival will fall right in between two complimentary festivals — the Grays <br />Harbor Shorebird Festival in late April and the Leavenworth Bird Festival in late May. Birders <br />plan their travel calendars to engage in as many birding opportunities as they can, and this <br />festival in May is the best time to see colorful, diverse and rare bird species in the Canyon. <br />Yakima River Canyon Bird Fest will feature Friday afternoon registration at festival <br />headquarters based in Helen McCabe Park. Most attendees will camp on site at Helen McCabe <br />Park, in the Canyon or at the Yakima River RV Camp. In addition, we will secure partnerships <br />with Canyon River Ranch Lodge and other local hotels to provide reduced and/or group rates for <br />festival attendees. Friday evening activities will include owl hooting and bat field trips as well as <br />music and drinks at a local venue to be determined. Saturday morning will begin with very early <br />field trips (the early bird gets the worm!), and activities will continue throughout the day <br />capping off the evening with our keynote speaker. Complementary GISS activities occur on <br />Saturday as well. Sunday morning will have more early morning field trips and the festival will <br />wrap up at noon on Sunday. This schedule will ensure our attendees will stay over both Friday <br />and Saturday nights. <br />Yakima River Canyon Bird Fest will be funded primarily through sponsorships, grants, in-kind <br />donations, and vendor fees. Limited numbers of festival activities will have participation fees <br />(floating trips, social gatherings and field trips that require shuttles). KEEN and our partners will <br />offer various sponsorship levels to bird/wildlife watching companies and vendors. We will bring <br />in world-renowned speakers who will attract a large crowd of eager bird watchers. We will use a <br />customized Eventbase App to ensure our attendees can find their way around to venues, track <br />their attendance at field trips, and provide an additional opportunity to highlight our sponsor's <br />logos and websites. <br />County -wide Lodging Tax Application P a g e 111 <br />