KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Sponsored by:

Richard Crossley

Past, Present and Future

Wednesday, January 25th, 6:30-8pm, $20

A story told in a Yorkshire brogue through a camera lens that loves color and art. Tales of lessons learned while growing up in the wild British birding scene - from travels around the world to living in Cape May. With humor and depth it highlights the thoughts behind the revolutionary "The Crossley ID Guide" series. But is changing how we look at books and birds enough? "Heck, no!" says Richard. Come listen to his past, perhaps it will change your thoughts on the future! Read more ›

Sponsored by:

Paul J. Baicich

The Ten Most Important Things You Can Do For Birds and Bird Conservation

Thursday, January 26th, 6:30-800pm, $20

Doomsday predictions and personal self-denial are not necessarily the best approaches to addressing our modern bird-conservation problems. To save birds you are not required to slash your wrists. In this talk, Paul Baicich will first identify the five most serious threats to birds today and then outline ten modest - but highly effective - things we can all do that will help birds, their habitats, and, ultimately, their future... as well as our own. It's all understandable, doable, and can lead to a better future for the birds and us. Read more ›

Sponsored by:

James Currie

Rare Birds of the World

Friday, January 27th, 6:30-8pm, $20

Join TV celebrity James Currie as he features rare birds from his latest series of the popular TV show, Nikon's Birding Adventures. From Colombia and Ecuador to Jamaica and the USA James will take you on a fascinating journey of discovery to remote birding destinations, unique cultures and elusive birdlife. Nikon's Birding Adventures TV focuses on destination and adventure bird-watching. Explore the best exotic birding destinations on the planet; the most unusual, rare and highly sought after bird species; amazing cultures and wildlife. Nikon's BATV portrays a unique blend of information and adventure, making bird-watching refreshing, contemporary, interesting and exciting. The program has a strong conservation emphasis and highlights the importance and urgency of preserving the planet's incredible birdlife. Whether trawling the pine flat-woods of South Florida for the endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker or creeping through the undergrowth of moist, primary rain forest in Madagascar in search of bizarre Ground-rollers, hold on for the birding ride of your life. Read more ›

Sponsored by:

Victor Emanuel

The Greatest Birding Experience of My Life

Saturday, January 28th, 6:30-8pm, $20

On the evening of March 22, 1959 I received an amazing phone call from my friend Ben Feltner. He told me that he and Dudley Deaver had seen a bird off Galveston Island that they were convinced was an Eskimo Curlew. I had known Ben for several years and knew he was an excellent observer. I also knew that many bird books described this species as "probably extinct". I had no reason to doubt Ben's sighting, but for some unknown reason I did not go to look for the bird until April 5, almost two weeks later. I went with Ben and a few other friends. We located the bird in question in another field and after much study became convinced that Ben's original identification was correct. Over the next three weeks this bird was seen by a number of local birders and a few from other parts of Texas. Only a few birders came to see it from other states. There were Eskimo Curlew sightings on Galveston Island in late March and April for three more years. Each sighting involved only one individual, but one year another individual was seen a few miles away. In 1960 Don Bleitz obtained the only photos ever taken of this species. In this talk I will discuss the events surrounding these sightings and the history of the Eskimo Curlew. Read more ›