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!
