Gazette file photo A common sight in Houghton is gulls on the canal. One of many avian species in the area. With Houghton's recent designation as a Michigan Bird City, birds of all kinds will be celebrated Saturday with the first Spring on the Wing.

HOUGHTON — The debut of “Spring on the Wing” will take place Saturday in downtown Houghton. Coinciding with World Migratory Bird Day, the new event features a variety of activities including guided bird experiences, local vendors and educational aviary opportunities.

The event also celebrates Houghton’s recent designation Houghton as a Michigan Bird City, the only such designation in the U.P. The City of Houghton received the designation from the Michigan Audubon and the Bird City Network.

Community and Business Development Manager for the City of Houghton, Danielle Perkowitz, said this event is for everyone — both experienced and inexperienced birders.

“I think the seasoned birder would really enjoy it,” she said. “I also think if you’re new to birding, it’ll help you feel more connected to the activity and feel like you have a little more knowledge.”

Things start early Saturday. At 7 a.m., there will be an Early Bird Walk at the Nara Nature Boardwalk, where visitors can experience the beauty of the Pilgrim River as it flows into Portage Lake. Following the walk, there will be a Bird Banding Demonstration at 9:30 a.m. — also at Nara.

Perkowitz said birding has a history here in the Keweenaw and the Bird City designation is a timely, added touch. “I would say there is a history of birding culture here,” she said. “Especially because this is such an important corridor for migration.”

Starting at 11 a.m. at the Houghton Pier, there will be a Stopover Space, home to activities including a binocular and spotting-scope try-it station, information about Bird City, a kids’ table and other tables with conservation partners.

Local vendors with food as well as other creative activities on the pier. Jewelry, local artwork and farm-sourced goods will be a part of the celebration. Live music from Finding Feathers will start at 11 a.m. providing a soundtrack to the day.

According to Perkowitz, the festival stated out small, but it grew and expanded to encompass an important outdoor activity people in the Copper Country love. “We thought of it as like a very small, educational festival, but it’s just sort of grown,” she said. “I think [it] just shows how many people are into birding up here.”

Additional activities include guest speaker, Jospeh Youngman, at the Carnegie Museum of the Keweenaw at 3 p.m. He will be giving a talk about regional conservation, migration patterns and community-level stewardship.

The day will be capped off at local wine lounge, Beviamo Vino, with bird-themed trivia at 5:30 p.m.