Five-year-old Cassidy Allmendinger with confidence strolls to the mic on a makeshift-outdoor phase. She’s the very first candidate of Homer’s yearly bird-calling competitors.
“First I will be doing the sandhill crane,” she says. “Coooh coooh coooh.”
Allmendinger says she found out that a person from her granny. It’s an unique spring call lots of Homerites acknowledge, as the striking gold and gray cranes go back to mate on the coasts of Kachemak Bay.
The bird-calling competitors is a fan favorite of the annual Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival, that consists of 4 days of assisted trips, discussions and family activities for birding lovers. The competitors included residents and visitors of any ages showcasing their preferred bird calls – lovely, mystical and whacky alike.
“Next I’m going to be doing the chickadee. Chicka dee dee dee, chicka dee dee dee.”
A big crowd collected outside the Homer Brewing Company for the competitors, loudly cheering each candidate. Some have actually simply originated from birding workshops or kayak journeys as part of the four-day Shorebird Festival.
Seventeen-year-old Marina Steffy steps up with another unique and familiar call – a seagull.
The bird-calling competitors draws candidates of any ages. Some have bird-themed Tee shirts and field glasses still spending time their necks. Four judges, seated at a table to the front, are all dressed up in intense plume boas.
Some bird calls are major, some are amusing. Some are quickly recognized, while others leave the crowd thinking.
That was a golden-crowned sparrow, understood for its unique three-note trill. There’s likewise a remarkable impression of a European starling, total with an outfit coat glued with plastic stars. One candidate, who presented himself as Mr. Oystercatcher, uses red leggings and black plume boa, with a brilliant orange beak glued to a hat.
“I didn’t plan to participate, but when you show up to a bird calling contest dressed up as a bird, people are going to have expectations,” he said. “So here’s my best oyster catcher impression…Chee chee chee chee.!”
“Hopefully there’s points for flair,” he said, and the crowd cheered.
After a long and mindful consideration, the judges reveal the winners. Penny Gage of Anchorage took home among the leading rewards for her eagle call.
“I practiced that call in Sitka working on a tour boat in the summer, and I’m really glad to see it come into use today,” she said laughing. “And I love the shorebird festival, and I love migratory birds, and I’m really happy to be here!”
One of the judges is Cindy Mom, a bird guide and owner of Seldovia Nature Tours. She’s holding pages of notes on the candidates.
“Like, everybody has a star! Look at how many we circled!” Mom said. “Yeah it was all so good, we were like how are we going to do this?”
Seventeen years of age Marina Steffy – who did that remarkable seagull impression – was likewise a reward winner.
“I did the gray jay, I did a raven, and then I did the seagull, which is a pretty easy one. And then I did a magpie,” she said.
She says she matured birding on her grandparents property in Kenai. This is her very first bird-calling competitors, and she says she wants to learn more bird calls and complete once again.
“I’m into a lot of birds,” Steffy said. “Because I had chickens growing up, and I have a turkey right now. But I love birds, like the robbins and the chickadees, I even rescue birds now and then.”
There were lots of ties and runners up. Judges given out rewards consisting of specialized chocolate, bird Tee shirts and present certificates to locations around town.
As a light rain begins to fall, the crowd distributes, some heading to more celebration occasions. Others turn in for the night, getting ready for more morning birding the next day – delighted to experience the birds of Kachemak Bay.