Bird is the word in Vancouver this coming week as the long-awaited 27th International Ornithological Congress and the inaugural Vancouver International Bird Festival touch down in the city.
Everything offically kicks off Monday with the opening ceremony starting with the Parade of Birds. Stilt walkers in elaborate bird costumes will parade from Harbour Green PArk starting at 3:20 p.m. and arriving at Jack Poole Plaza at 4 p.m. From there Aeriosa Vertical Dance group will descend from the building. The festivities will also include a First Nations greeting, Canada Post will launch new bird-themed stamps and the Vancouver Symphony Brass Quintet will perform a specially-written fanfare.
The festival and congress, which runs through to Aug. 26, include a jam-packed schedule of events.
Highlights include the Stars of the Bird World Speaker Series, more than 50 bird tours, the unveiling of a massive mural, called Silent Skies, which includes a collection of almost 700 paintings of endangered birds and the Bird Expo taking place at the Vancouver Convention Centre Aug. 22 to 25.
