Nesting Warblers of the Allegheny Plateau: Where Birding Began in America - the Home of Roger Tory Peterson

 

The third annual Roger Tory Peterson Birding Festival, continuing the celebration of Roger Tory Peterson’s contributions to the world of birding, began with a tour of the grasslands of the Piney Tract in Pennsylvania and concluded with American Birding Association President Jeff Gordon’s banquet talk on bringing Roger Tory Peterson’s work into a digital age. In between were the field trips and workshops that have come to define the Festival. The Whirlwind Warbler Tour into Allegheny National Forest, a lengthened Allegany State Park tour, as well as trips to Woodchuck Hill, Akeley Wetlands and Watt’s Flats provided remarkable opportunities for close encounters with birds. Also new to the Festival was a post-festival trip to Niagara Falls that highlighted geology and botany as well as birds. The weekend weather was again ideal (We continue to believe that Roger may have something to do with this).The total number of species seen on the field trips was 123.

 

 

The workshops and talks were particularly appealing. At the opening reception, John Rappole injected some cartoon humor into a presentation on the lives of birds after they have raised the young and before they migrate. Michael Smith, whose photograph of “The Mad Bluebird” has assured his fame, showed us the equipment he uses and told of the patience required to obtain iconic photographs like his. Sarah Morris, ornithologist and Audubon lecturer gave tips on how to identify the “brown” birds and Vicky MacDonald exhorted us to look closely at the individual variation in birds that will never be captured in a scientific paper in which the statistics reduce bird behavior to averages. Jeff Gordon talked about the ability of birders to rapidly send and receive reports via electronic media not available in the early days of birding and ornithologist Scott Stoleson reprised his previous festival discussions on the connection of birds to habitat.

 

Friday’s events at the Institute, running parallel with the longer field trips, were devoted to beginning birders. Bird banding and a display of live raptors contributed to the educational possibilities. Following Friday night’s Pizza Party, which included a Bird Quiz produced by Tim Baird, many of us enjoyed clips from the re-mastered Peterson film Wild Africa, along with additional commentary on current conditions in Africa by Jeff Gordon and Bruce Peterson. It was a great Festival, you should have been here!

 

Michael DeSha

 

 

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The Comfort Inn located at Exit 12 on I-86 is holding a block of rooms just for Birding Festival participants at the rate of $90 per night.  To take advantage of the offer contact the Comfort Inn directly, rather than their website and tell them you's like the "Roger Tory Peterson Birding Festival Rate."  The Inn is approximately 4 miles from the Festival.  You can contact the comfort Inn at:

 

Comfort Inn

2800 North Main Street Exstention

Jamestown, NY 14701

(716) 664-5920

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I'm reminded of the upcoming June 9-12 Birding Festival, even during these blustery late winter days,  when I hear the courtship sounds of the American Woodcock in the evening and see the drake Hooded Mergansers displaying for the females on Chautauqua Lake.  Both species nest in the Chautauqua Allegheny region and have been recorded during the past 2 Festivals. If you are interested in observing these 2 species and most of the the other 177 birds on the Festival Checklist contact me for more information.  Jim Berry - jberry@rtpi.org - (716) 665-2473 x225.

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I want to provide a glimpse of last year's festival to whet your appetite for the exciting upcoming 2010 event. This was  originally written for the Roger Tory Peterson Institute Newsletter.

                                                                         Mike DeSha, Festival Committee Chair

  

THE INAUGURAL ROGER TORY PETERSON BIRDING FESTIVAL

     The inaugural Roger Tory Peterson Birding Festival celebrating the centennial of Roger Tory Peterson's birth is now history - spectacular history. It was an exciting weekend for all of us attending; so exciting that the Festival Committee is already planning the second annual Birding Festival. In all, 170 participants registered for at least one event, with nearly 100 people attending both Friday's keynote speech by Kenn Kaufman and Saturday's keynote speech by Pete Dunne. Kenn treated us to remarkable photographs of an assemblage of personalities he had encountered in the course of his birding career, each character bearing a distinct resemblance to Kenn himself. (You really should have been there to see them.) Pete Dunne delivered his tribute, entitled Golden Wings, to the greatest teacher-naturalist the world has ever known (Pete's words), his friend and World Series of Birding teammate, Roger Tory Peterson. A standing ovation followed his moving speech delivered appropriately in the area where Peterson was born.

     The weather for the Festival weekend was ideal; perhaps Roger had something to do with it. Under the leadership of Jim Berry, Scott Stoleson, Tom Simmons, Tim Baird, Don Watts, Linda O'Brien, Willie D'Anna and Betsy Potter, Mike Morgante, Mary Grishaver, Jerry Lazarzyck and Jeanine Smith, along with many volunteers, enthusiastic birders dispersed on field trips to find a remarkable 131 species and 24 warbler species plus one hybrid warbler. Many participants reported seeing life birds. Mark Baldwin led birders in the footsteps of Roger Tory Peterson, visiting Jamestown sites associated with a very young Peterson. Lingering Blackpoll Warblers at Presque Isle State Park in Erie Pennsylvania extended the warbler species list beyond what we expected to find in June. The pre-Festival Whirlwind Warbler Tour into Pennsylvania garnered rave reviews for the birds seen and the beauty of the Hearts Content Scenic Area. Many of us also enjoyed the re-mastered Peterson film Wild America.

      The presenters at this inaugural Festival were top of the line. John Rappole, told us of research he is doing on range expansion of species in Texas and New York State.  Scott Stoleson, an ornithologist with the National Forest Service, related bird species, and particularly warblers, to particular habitats. Many of those in attendance wanted hard copies of his presentation so they could study it at home. Lang Elliot, famous for his nature recordings and guides to bird songs, presented his favorite night sounds - a selection from his years of nature recording and a veritable top-forty of nature sounds- to delighted attendees. Kenn Kaufman and Solon Morse reviewed warbler identification and Terry Mosher approached birding from the point of view bird song. John Ruska, President of the New York State Bluebird Society, talked about Bluebird management and Don Watts covered nest boxes. Doug Carlson, a biographer of Peterson, entertained with stories of Peterson.  The only problem with the workshops was how to select among them.

     Pete Dunne led a workshop on The Art of Pishing that I attended. It is hard to imagine an hour-long presentation devoted to the topic, but there we were - all of us pishing away to our utmost because of Pete's threat that if we didn't all participate there would be "Karaoke pishing" and it might not be pretty. Invoking the picture of St. Francis attracting all the birds to alight around him, Pete Dunne convinced us that we too may be able to achieve rewarding bird sightings if we purse our lips and blow or inhale a special way.  It was a totally delightful experience. From my perspective, that goes for the entire Festival as well!  We'll see you next year!

 

 

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In March 2010 the paperback version of Liz Rosenthal's "Birdwatcher" will be out. Peterson colleague, Field Guide author and well known naturalist George Harrison terms it... a "brilliant, definitive biography."

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The American Birding Association is now a Sponsor of the Roger Tory Peterson Birding festival. The ABA is pursuing a new policy of partnering with a few "up and coming" birding festivals strategically located geographically so they can go to where their members are and also introduce their services to potential new members. Look for more announcements on this exciting partnership.

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