If birds are your “thing,” you might want to check out the LaConner Birding Showcase next weekend (January 27 and 28), 11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Sunday. Keynote speaker Paul Bannick will present on Saturday at 3 p.m. with a program that offers video, sound and amazing images from the field based upon his latest book. Owl: A Year In The Lives Of North American Animals.” Among others, there will also be a presentation by Martha Jordan with the Northwest Swan Conservation Association (Sunday at 1 p.m.), Birding Q & A with Bob Hamblin is Saturday at noon. The LaConner Birding showcase takes place at Maple Hall in downtown LaConner. Tickets are $5 per person (children 10 and under are FREE). Don’t forget to get stamped and you can attend both days. (I took this photo of swans a couple of years back on Heart Lake.)