LA GRANDE — At first listen, the marsh is calm and quiet on a recent spring morning.

But suddenly the sounds carry on the breeze — chirps and tweets and honks and lovely songs as the creatures of Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area wake up with the sun.

And some birds are awake long before the sun warms Grande Ronde Valley, which is why the annual Ladd Marsh Bird Festival begins bright and early — access opens at 4:45 a.m. — on Saturday, May 18.

More than 200 species call the marsh home, and this yearly festival is a good chance to explore the marsh — including areas generally closed to the public — and learn from local birding experts.

“Friday and Saturday are really a treat,” said Mike Daugherty, board chair for Friends of Ladd Marsh, which organizes the festival.

Friday, May 17

Festivities and registration begin Friday, May 17, from 6-8 p.m. at the Union County Senior Center, 1504 N. Albany St. in La Grande. This is the place to receive a free passport for the weekend, register for field trips and hear guest speaker Zoe Johnson-Ulrich talk about bird cognition. The evening also includes music, snacks and merchandise for Friends of Ladd Marsh.

Saturday, May 18

On Saturday, the area opens at 4:45 a.m. and the information trailer will be open by 6 a.m. Birding stations across the marsh will be open from 6 a.m. to noon. Participation is free, and the passport can be used in place of the parking permit, which is typically required in the marsh.

The marsh closes to the public at 8:45 p.m.

Sunday, May 19

The final festival day starts early for field trips in the marsh and around the valley. Participants are asked to arrive 15 minutes before start time. Register in advance at friendsofladdmarsh.org or in person at the Friday night event.

Also, the marsh will be open from 4:45 a.m. to 8:45 p.m. for those with a festival passport.

Here’s a look at the schedule:

• 5 a.m.: Rhinehart Canyon for Early Risers. Meet at Union County Senior Center. $35
• 6:30 a.m.: Grande Ronde Valley Hotspots. Meet at Peach Lane registration area. $25
• 7 a.m.: Inside the Marsh. Meet at the Peach Lane fishing pond. $25
• 7 a.m.: Birding for Beginners. Meet at Union County Senior Center. $25
• 9 a.m.: GROWISER (Grande Ronde Overlook Wildflower Institute Serving Ecological Restoration). Participants drive their own vehicles to the starting point — for details, visit www.growiser.net. $25
• 10:30 a.m.: Rhinehart Canyon for Afternooners. Meet at Union County Senior Center. $35

Friends of Ladd Marsh

FOLM is a nonprofit group “dedicated to natural resource education and enhancement, conservation, and public enjoyment of the Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area.”

Membership is $40 family, $25 individuals or $15 for students/seniors. A family membership includes an ODFW wildlife area parking permit, which is good for the calendar year and required to park at Ladd Marsh (a $30 value).

The parking permit can be purchased online, at an ODFW office or sales agent. A daily permit is $10 and an annual permit is $30.

For more information about the bird festival or FOLM, visit friendsofladdmarsh.org.