This year, the festival runs seven days: May 12-17. Tours range from sold-out kayak trips on the Great Salt Lake to daylong bus trips and bird walks. Booths will be on display at the Davis County FairPark, and birder Al Batt will be the keynote speaker on Saturday.

Fenimore is donating time and two tours to the festival this year. "I want people to enjoy it," he said. "The bird festival is a wonderful opportunity for a family and individual to come out and have, under one roof, a whole lot of different resources they can learn about."

Providing opportunity is also why Fenimore opened the Layton Wild Bird Center. His mission is helping individuals and families enjoy wild birds and "fostering appreciation for the natural world among people of all ages."

"I've been a birder ever since I've been a kid," said Fenimore. "When I decided to retire from my professional career, my wife and I talked about what I was going to do. I wanted to retire, but while I'm still young, do things that give back to the community. What would be better than showing my love of birds and how interesting it is as a hobby."

He describes birding as a "keyhole to introduce kids to nature."

Adults can also peek through and discover the hobby.

Wendy Loomis of Layton has been birding for the past 15 years. On a recent Saturday, she went on a walk with Fenimore and six others around the Kaysville ponds. "It's a neat way to see birds and other parts of nature and how things interact with each other," she said.

On that day, Loomis spotted a great-tailed grackle — a bird uncommon to the area. She added it to her "life list" of birds she's spotted.

Susan Bird joined the walk with a friend, Karen Jensen of Fruit Heights. While Jensen has been watching birds in her back yard most of her adult life, Bird describes herself as a novice.

That Saturday was her second bird walk.

"I think the appeal of it is that wherever you go, there's always birds, and it's something that's part of nature," Bird said. "There are so many different varieties, and I think as you get to know the name of the bird and a little about it, it kind of endears you to them."

Added Fenimore, "It's kind of like a Columbo-type detective story, and you get so excited when you figure out the bird."

Bird was taking notes as she walked around the Kaysville ponds. She plans to add the 15 or so birds she saw to her life list. She may also go to the bird festival.

Lynn Abrahamson of Brigham City said the Saturday outing was well-organized and educational. While he's been into birds most of his life, it's fun to go with an expert, he said.