Trips, workshops and a gaggle of expert speakers will be on the agenda for those who attend the second annual Roger Tory Peterson Birding Festival this weekend, hosted by the Roger Tory Peterson Institute and headquartered at nearby Jamestown Community College.
Themed Warblers of the Allegheny Plateau Region, the festival aims to take participants in the footsteps of Peterson himself - visiting many of the same sites he did when he was growing up in the area.
The festival will begin Thursday night with a reception at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute on Curtis Street. RTPI President Jim Berry will give a presentation on The Peterson Collection, during which he will unveil some of the rarest pieces of Peterson art and memorabilia, speaking about their significance. Also featured during the opening-night reception will be Dr. Jerome Jackson of Florida Gulf Coast University, author of "In Search of the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker."
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Themed Warblers of the Allegheny Plateau Region, the second annual Roger Tory Peterson Birding Festival will take place this weekend. Hosted by the Roger Tory Peterson Institute and headquartered at nearby Jamestown Community College, it will begin Thursday night with a reception at RTPI on Curtis Street.
Submitted photo
Other featured speakers during the four-day festival will include noted Canadian ornithologist Dr. Bridget Stutchbury, the author of the book "The Private Lives of Birds," who will speak Saturday night at JCC's Hamilton Collegiate Center; Dr. Ted Floyd, editor of Birding magazine and author of nearly 150 articles on birds and other natural history topics, who will speak Friday and Saturday afternoons; John Ruska; Dr. Eugene Morton; Dr. David Swanson; Lee Peterson; Lang Elliott; Dr. John Rappole; and Dr. Scott Stoleson.
In addition to the many speakers who will present during the festival, participants will have the opportunity to take part in a number of field trips to various scenic locations in the region to birdwatch. Field trips will not be overly strenuous, but those who go are asked to prepare for varying terrain with occasional wet spots and other typical walking trail obstacles. They should also bring water, snacks, a hat, rain gear and comfortable shoes.
Morning field trips will be taken to the JCC 100-Acre Lot and Roger Tory Peterson Institute grounds, Akeley Swamp state game lands, Allegany State Park, Chautauqua Lake Outlet, Conewango Swamp, Jamestown Audubon Sanctuary, Newbold Estate, Watts Flats Wildlife Management Area and Woodchuck Hill.
There will also be an opportunity to take part in a birding float with canoe and kayak on the Chadakoin River, courtesy of Evergreen Outfitters, on Friday morning. Another option will be the ''Whirlwind Warbler Tour,'' a prefestival bus trip event on Thursday with trip leaders Dr. Scott Stoleson and Don Watts.
Birding workshops will be offered during the afternoons, with other featured events including a viewing of ''Galapagos, Wild Eden'' - a motion picture produced, filmed and narrated by Roger Tory Peterson - on Friday evening and a guided tour of the RTPI archives on Sunday.
For more information or to register for the second annual RTPI Birding Festival, visit birdfest.rtpi.org or call 665-2473.
Other area events include:
What: Dine for Audubon
When: 5 to 8 p.m. today
Where: Friendly's Restaurant, 10 S. Main St.
Cost: Cost of dinner
A portion of each bill will be donated to the Jamestown Audubon Society.
For more information, call 569-2345 or visit www.jamestownaudubon.org.
* .1 miles from downtown Jamestown
What: Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy Demonstration Project Tours
When: 5:15 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. Wednesday
Where: Participants should meet at 5:15 p.m. in the parking lot of Cadwell's Cheese House on Route 430, Dewittville
Cost: Free
Learn more about two stream bank and lakeshore erosion control projects funded by county's 2 percent bed tax. Tours will be held rain or shine - except tunderstorms. Must pre-register.
For more information, call 664-2166.
* 16.5 miles from downtown Jamestown
What: Coldspring Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary Clambake Fundraiser
When: 2 p.m. until gone Saturday
Where: Coldspring Volunteer Fire Department, Route 394, Steamburg
Cost: $20 per person - includes admission, clams and seafood buffet, drinks (keg available for ages 21+) and live entertainment by Barefoot Sarah from 2 to 5 p.m.
Event will raise money to support costs of community events and local volunteer fire department needs.
For more information, call 354-5425.
* 23.3 miles from downtown Jamestown
What: Creative Journaling Workshop
When: 1 to 2:30 p.m., adult class; 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., student class
Where: Infinity Cafe
Cost: $55, adults; $30, students
For more information, call 664-0991.
* 0 miles from downtown Jamestown
What: Kidney Challenge Walk
When: 12 p.m. Sunday
Where: Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena, 311 W.?Third St.
Cost: $20
For more information, call 397-0701.
* 0 miles from downtown Jamestown