GALT, CA (MPG) - The organizers behind Galt’s upcoming 18th annual Winter Bird Festival are putting out the call for local photographers with an eye for ornithology. 

Photographers can try their hand at showcasing their unique perspectives and eye for their avian subjects by taking part in an art exhibition at the annual event. The organizers are looking for photos of birds across Northern California as well as scenes of nature across the Sacramento Valley region. 

The photos must be framed to display, and each applicant is allowed up to four entries. An application can be found on the city’s website and the deadline is Jan. 20. 

The art exhibition is just one part of the larger festival, which has drawn bird enthusiasts to Galt for nearly two decades. 

The festival will begin on Friday, Jan. 31 at McCaffery Middle School and provides an opportunity for local bird enthusiasts to share their interests with others while taking part in workshops and bird watching events. 

Nine tours are scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 1, including a botany walk, paddling tours and a tour of restoration work in the Cosumnes River Preserve. 

On Sunday, Feb. 2, the San Francisco Bay Area Nature Journal Club is hosting a free field trip to the Sacramento Valley to explore the active bird life and wetlands of the Cosumnes River Preserve. The tour will meet at 10 a.m. at the preserve’s visitor center and will explore the wetlands throughout the morning. The event will wrap up at 4 p.m. following a potluck lunch and journaling discussion. 

The event also gives the opportunity to catch the migration of Sandhill Cranes that call the area home for the winter. 

David Lee, a world-renowned birder who currently owns the distinction as one of the top birders in the Central Valley, is the event’s keynote speaker. Lee has authored books on the subject, including “Annotated Checklist of the Birds of San Joaquin County.” He also has served as the editor of “North American Birds, Northern California Region."

The festival includes plenty of events for children, including a live animal show, an opportunity to create a bird feeder and an art contest. The entries in the latter event will have their work showcased on the city’s website.  

On Jan. 31, the Marion O. Lawrence Library is hosting a reading of “Honk, Honkl! A story of Migration” for children. Kids can also participate in an art contest through local school district; entries will be showcased on the city’s website.  

For more information, see cityofgalt.org/our-city/community-events/winter-bird-festival/art-exhibit or contact the city of Galt’s Special Events Division at 209-366-7161.