Festival of the Birds

Hosted by Presque Isle Audubon Society and PA DCNR

2019 Festival of the Birds
Keynote Speaker: Yve Morrell

Festival dates: MAY 10, 11 and 12, 2019

Yve Morrell is a retired Landscape Architect with an extreme passion for birding. She recently completed an American Birding Association “Big Year” in 2017, which included Hawaii for the first time. She ended the year having seen 817 species. This puts her in third place all-time for Big Year efforts.

She now makes her home in Naples, Florida. Yve is an adventurer, avid birder, athlete, dancer, wine enthusiast and foodie. She has one daughter.

KEYNOTE

800 is the New 700
ABA Big Years have always captured the imagination of avid birders. Reaching 700 species or more in one calendar year used to be the “gold standard.” In 2017, the American Birding Association decided to include Hawaii in the ABA Region (which previously only included the Continental U.S. and Canada). This decision has changed ABA Big Years forever.

Morrell’s presentation will highlight the role and significance of Alaska and Hawaii in Big Year efforts, and explain her resolution to include Hawaii in her 2017 Big Year, which was mainly to raise awareness for the plight of endangered birds. She added 56 species in the Hawaiian Islands, bringing her final total to 817.

Fun Festival Reception
with live music by Joe Frisina Jazz,
plus good food and great friends!

Festival Registration

Good Times:

Friday:

Fun Festival Reception with live music by Joe Frisina Jazz, good food and great friends!

Saturday:

Birds and Beans coffee and light breakfast served 6.30am-10.30am at the Rotary Pavilion.
Be kind to the environment: remember to bring your own mug.
Bird Tally, Dinner and Keynote Address.
Keynote Program:
Yve Morrell
800 is the New 700

Sunday:

Birds and Beans coffee and light breakfast served 6.30am-10.30am at the Rotary Pavilion.
Be kind to the environment: remember to bring your own mug.
Casual Pizza Party Lunch & Final Bird Tally

Workshops:

Saturday: 1:00 & 3:00 pm

Birding for Beginners
Waterfowl on Presque Isle
Drawing Naturally
Shorebird ID
Spring Migration and Bird ID
Yoga for Birders' Necks

Workshops subject to change

Workshops

Field Trips:

Field Trips to Presque Isle's Hottest Birding Spots.

Friday Afternoon
Saturday
Sunday

We like to keep out festival cozy,
12 - 15 people per trip.

Friday:

Field trips leave the Tom Ridge Environmental Center

Saturday and Sunday:

Birds and Beans coffee and light breakfast served 6.30am-10.30am at the Rotary Pavilion.
Be kind to the environment: remember to bring your own mug.
Trips leaving simultaneously
from 6:30 am - 10:30 am at the Rotary Pavilion.
Each trip will visit multiple locations throughout the park.

Field Trips

Plus...

Special Oportunities:

Do Lagoon Birding from a Pontoon Boat
Visit the Bird Banding Station
Special Birds of the Night Field Trip on Friday
Trek to Gull Point, a sanctuary for migrating shorebirds and terns

2018 Sponsors
Great Blue Heron
TREC Foundation

Red-Headed Woodpecker
Christina Clark
Janet Price

Black-throated Blue
   Wild Birds Unlimited
   Nancy Andersen
   Mary Birdsong
   Quinn Law Firm
   Line-X Erie

Yellow Warbler
   Sue DeArment
   Channellock, Inc.
   Marion Gallivan
   David Gustafson
   Carolyn Sturtevant
   Dolores Tavares
   Joao Tavares
   Pat Howell

What to Bring:
Be sure to bring comfortable shoes or boots for walking and any birding gear you desire. The average high temperature in Erie in May is 56 and temperatures at Presque Isle are often lower than on the mainland. Be prepared for cold & rainy weather. Presque Isle is home to deer ticks so you may want to bring insect repellent and plan to tuck your pants into your socks when using the trails on the park.